USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 42
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The constitution, by-laws and charter were largely the production of Christopher Robinson, who was president of the society till 1840. Public worship was somewhat irregular till April 8th, 1840, when a church edifice costing $6,000 was dedicated. Since that time there has been no interruption of the proper work of a religious society. The church, situated at the corner of Main and Church streets, has been several times enlarged, remodelled and refitted, and is now worth $25,000. Its seating capacity is somewhat over five hundred, and the pews are always well rented. The average of annual current expenses for the last score of years, at least, has not been less than $4,000. This sum, large for a country parish, has been raised so promptly that an empty treasury has never been known by the pres- ent pastor. Indeed, the financial management of the society has been almost phenomenal. Before the house was dedicated, the money question was debated, and it was decided that Christians could scarcely show their interest in religion better than by prompt payment of their debts. It was voted to pay one quarter's rents and subscriptions in advance, and that the treasurers rigorously enforce the rule. Un- der these instructions the work has been a success in the charge of W. O. Bisbee four years; L. W. Ballou, five years; C. H. Metcalf, two years; Bradford Knapp, 20 years; H. L. Ballou, 18 years.
The society has received bequests as follows: Willis Cook, six years president of the society and 31 years chairman of its prudential committee, $4,000; Hannah Law, $500; W. A. and J. A. Miller, $1,000; Francis M. Perkins, member of the prudential committee and chair- man for 22 years, real estate valued at $7,000; Ira B. Peck, $1,000. These bequests are set apart as memorials of the donors, and are known as funds bearing the names of these generous friends, the in- come of which alone is devoted to the work of the church and Sunday school.
From the first the society has been fortunate in having prominent business men identified with it. Its first president, Christopher Rob- inson, now living at a venerable age, for a long time a leader of the
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Rhode Island bar, a member of congress and consul at Peru, still maintains his interest in the society. John Burnham, for one year president, was for many years the loved and honored postmaster. Willis Cook, the next chairman, was president of one of our banks, and member of the firm of Willis & Lyman Cook. Aaron Rathbun was a successful manufacturer. L. W. Ballou, LL.D., for 38 years president, and now holding that position, has been member of con- gress, and is treasurer of the Woonsocket Institution for Savings, and cashier of the Woonsocket National Bank. Edwin R. Thomas and Charles Nourse, vice-presidents, were superintendents of great cor- porations. John Ellis, Elijah Newell, A. D. Vose, J. B. Aldrich, H. L. Ballou, F. M. Perkins, J. W. Ellis, Charles E. Thomas, G. A. Whip- ple, W. N. Cook, holding important offices in the society, were men at the front in all that belongs to the best interests of the city. These men and many others of kindred spirit have taken and still take a pride in doing their part toward making the financial management of the society a success. The society, though recently greatly afflicted in the loss by death of some of its most active and influential mem- bers, still maintains full and hopeful ranks. Thus far there never has been anything but harmony in its membership.
The church connected with the society was formed November 22d. 1843, with 42 members, of whom Sarah J. Boyden (widow of Reverend John Boyden), L. W. Ballou, Cyrus T. Cook, G. W. Davis and wife, Louisa Jenckes, Alvira Newell and Arnold Jillson were living in the summer of 1889. Nelson Jenckes and Benedict Roys were the first deacons. Willis Cook was appointed in April, 1855, upon the death of Nelson Jenckes; E. R. Thomas, in 1858, upon resignation of Mr. Roys; George L. Bartlett, 1859; A. D. Vose, 1862; W. N. Cook, 1879; Charles E. Thomas, 1887. The last four are still living in the faithful discharge of their duties.
The church had in 1889 252 living members; 129 have died or been transferred. The church undertakes to cultivate the religious life, to watch over and encourage its membership and to carry the gospel to the destitute. It cares for the poor, visits the sick and aids in many reforms. It has full charge of the Sunday school, which for many years has numbered from 350 to 413 pupils, L. W. Ballou having been its superintendent for 47 years. F. E. Luke, A. D. Vose, W. G. Bar- rows, and H. L. Ballou have served as assistant superintendents; F. M. Perkins, Charles E. Ballou, E. Charles Francis, Samuel P. Cook, John R. Boyden, S. G. Smith and A. F. White as librarians or assist- ant librarians. There have been 321 children baptized. Over 100 have entered the church from the Sunday school. The Sunday school has been self-sustaining since 1840, when it was organized.
The church has an active Ladies' Association, numbering 79 mem- bers, a Home Mission, numbering about 60 members, a Girls' Humane Society, whose object is to aid the hospital, the Society for the Preven-
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tion of Cruelty to Children, and the Society to Prevent Cruelty to Ani- mals, also a Young Peoples' Mutual Improvement Association, whose exercises are literary and social. Temperance has always had a hearty advocacy in this church. From the first communion to the last no wine with alcohol has been used. The church has repeatedly declared the duty of its membership to abstain from all intoxicating beverages, and 237 of the pupils in its Sunday school have taken the pledge of total abstinence.
There have been but two pastors; the Reverend John Boyden, who died September 28th, 1869, and Reverend Charles J. White, who began his pastorate in February, 1870. Mr. Boyden was almost an ideal pastor. "The root of the matter was in him." Spiritual minded, consecrated, indefatigable, loving everybody and every good thing, he won a crown of glory in the eyes of all who honor good- ness. His name became a household word in the vicinity, and the denomination to which he belonged delighted to think of him as a saint. Written upon his monument, in Oak Hill Cemetery, are the appropriate words, "Being dead, he yet speaketh." His presence was like a benediction to his congregation and his preaching was characterized by a devout belief in the fullness of the fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. In 1870 the church in- stituted the pleasing custom of setting aside a day for the purpose of decorating the beloved pastor's grave, which has yearly been observed with unabated interest.
For over 20 years pastor White has faithfully served this people and, in the language of one of his parishioners, " By his urbanity, his kindness, and his many virtues he has endeared himself to all with whom he has come in contact." *
The following sketch of St. James Episcopal church was prepared from notes by the rector.
The first meeting of Episcopalians in the present city of Woon- socket was held at the house of Miss Adelphia Warren, in a room she had set aside for a private school. She was a Congregationalist, but was willing to aid in the advancement of the good work by any act that Christian courtesy could suggest and, hence, hospitably offered the use of this room, on the corner of High and Arnold streets. Later meetings were held in a room in the Bernon Mills, until the Bernon school house was built, when that was used.
Doctor Crocker, of Providence, was one of the pioneer ministers who was urged by his devotion to the church to visit this place to ad- minister its rites. He frequently walked from Providence after his service in the morning at that place to hold meetings here in the afternoon. Remaining all night with his good friends, the Greenes, he would return to his home on foot the next day. Such zeal could not fail of good results and the organization of the parish of St. James followed, April 1st, 1832.
* Richardson, p. 83.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
In May, the same year, it was duly chartered by the general as- sembly, on the petition of: Samuel Greene, James Wilson, Jr., Joseph M. Brown, Rufus Arnold, Ariel Ballou, Jr., Philip C. Bryant, Willard B. Johnson, Edmund Bacon, Aaron White, Jr., Edward Harris, Darius Sibley, Philip B. Stevens, Thaddeus C. Bruce, John W. Buffum, Daniel Wilkinson, Stephen H. Smith, Henry Williams, Alexander S. Streeter.
At this time, Joseph M. Brown was the minister and thus became the first rector of the parish. He was much interested in the building of a church, which it was voted, September 7th, 1832, to erect, and ad- vanced considerable money from his personal resources to that end, taking the ownership of a number of pews as a return. He resigned his rectorship August 15th, 1835, and long after he had left there was difficulty in effecting a settlement to the mutual satisfaction of him- self and the parish.
The church was consecrated with impressive ceremonies, May 16th, 1833, by Bishop A. N. Griswold, of the Eastern diocese, assisted by the rector and visiting ministers from the neighboring churches, who, to- gether with the vestry and corporation, marched in procession to the new place of worship. In 1838 later repairs were made on the build- ing, so as to afford better support for the roof and tower, and the gal- lery was extended. Again, in the spring of 1848, the church was enlarged by the addition of transepts, and the old organ was replaced by a new one, costing $800. An exchange of property with the Woon- socket Company also took place, putting the real estate in different shape from its first purchase. A donation of a fine communion set, by Mrs. Samuel Greene, in 1851, was one of the principal events of that year.
In 1856 the church edifice was extensively remodeled. The tran- septs were removed, and one of them was taken to Hamlet, where it serves as a school house. Towers were added to the lengthened build- ing, the architecture of which was now changed to the Romanesque order. With its stained glass chancel window and its modernized in- terior, the church presented an attractive appearance. There was a seating capacity for 600 persons, and about $4,000 was spent in mak- ing these improvements. A pleasing incident in connection with these repairs was the presentation of a fine clock for the gallery loft, by Perley Matthewson, of Providence, as a memorial of his experience in this church.
During the Dorr troubles, in 1842, when a company of soldiers was stationed at Woonsocket, some of them were quartered in churches and school houses. St. James' church was one of the last so used, and when Samuel Greene, as one of the officials of the church, was applied to for permission to occupy the building, he replied to the demands of the quartermaster: "There hang the keys; but as one of the war- dens of the church, I protest against the use of the church for such a purpose." The night Mr. Matthewson spent in this building was
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
dreary and long, with no means of telling the passing hours. Hence his conception of the fitness of the gift of a clock, though he expressed the hope that no one might ever wish for one in the church under the same circumstances that placed him there.
The church was again consecrated December 31st, 1856, by Bishop Clark, the congregation meantime having worshipped in the Congre- gational church in Globe village. Other improvements of a temporal nature were soon after made through the liberality of friends of the parish, among them being the gift of a rectory by Crawford Allen, who also was the donor of a chapel and minor gifts, in 1868, which have since kept him in grateful remembrance. In 1875 repairs to par- ish property to the amount of $900 were carried on by the Woman's Aid Society; and in the same year new by-laws for the corporation were drawn up by Doctor Ariel Ballou. In 1883 the Edwin Aldrich house was purchased for a rectory, at a cost of $4,500, and the parish being freed from debt and having an active disposition, various im- provements have been projected which will be realized in the near future. Chief among these are the renovation of the chapel and the building of a parish house, containing parlors, gymnasiums and read- ing rooms, which will greatly enhance the already valuable parish property, and permit the exercise of a practical Christianity toward the community at large.
The parish was without a rector from the time Rector Brown left, August 15th, 1835, until the fall of 1835, when the Reverend Henry Waterman took the rectorship, which he held until November 1st, 1841, when he took charge of St. Stephen's church, Providence. In this period 64 persons were confirmed, the largest number, 23, being in 1839. He was succeeded by the Reverend Aziel Dorr Cole, from November 1st, 1841, to July 1st, 1845, about four years, when there were 21 persons confirmed, and the number of communicants was 77. The fourth rector was the Reverend Baylies P. Talbot, who entered upon these duties September 7th, 1845, and continued until his death, September 5th, 1865. A few months previous, while sitting in his study, he was injured by a stroke of lightning and never recovered from the shock, but passed away while on a visit to Claremont, N. H. He was an active, earnest man, consistent in all his works, and the memory of his good deeds is well preserved by a mural tablet in the church. During his ministry 211 persons were confirmed.
In the latter part of September, 1865, the Reverend Robert Murray became the fifth rector and so continued until July, 1872, when he resigned on account of ill health. His earnest work in this period was crowned by the confirmation of 116 persons, the largest number being 29 in 1866. His successor was the Reverend James F. Powers, from September, 1872, until July, 1873, when he resigned to take charge of a church in Philadelphia, Pa. He was a man of splendid oratorical attainments, and had greatly endeared himself to the con-
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gregation in the short time he was the rector, in which office he was succeeded by the Reverend Joseph Lyons Miller, the rector from January 5th, 1874, until January, 1883. In that period 97 persons were confirmed. The Reverend Charles W. K. Morrill became the eighth rector, September, 1883, and remained until September 1885, confirm- ing in that period 16 persons.
The ninth and present rector, the Reverend William Sheafe Chase, entered upon his duties in St. James parish December 1st, 1885. His earnest labors have brought an increase of membership, 93 persons having been confirmed up to July, 1889, making the entire membership of the parish 322. At the same time the Sunday school had 306 mem- bers: For many years Waldo V. Wales was its superintendent. Horace F. Simonds was at the head of the school in 1889.
At the first meeting of the vestry, held under the charter, Samuel Greene was elected senior warden, which position he held till his death, in 1868, except during the year 1843, when William Booth held that position. The office of junior warden has been held by the fol- lowing persons: Thaddeus Bruce, 1832; James Wilson, Jr., 1833; Eli Pond, 1834-41; William Booth, 1842; George S. Wardwell, 1844-59; Peleg W. Lippitt, 1860-1; Lyman A. Cook, 1862-8; P. J. Congdon, 1869-71; Stephen N. Mason, 1872-6; Doctor Ariel Ballou, 1877-82; Henry Andrews, 1883. The clerks have been: Daniel Wilkinson, 1832-3; Henry P. Baldwin, 1835-7 ;* Welcome B. Sayles, 1838-42; John B. Walker, besides being treasurer six years, served 31 years as clerk, 1843-74, and the carefully kept records of the vestry and corporation attest the fidelity of his service; George B. Arnold, 1874-87; James E. Cook, 1888. The office of treasurer has been held as follows: Philip B. Stiness, 1833; Jesse Whiting, 1834; John B. Walker, 1836-41; Ran- dall Holden, 1842-3; Stephen N. Mason, 1844-50; Brigham Spalding, 1851-3; George C. Wilson, 1855-6; Stephen N. Mason, 1857-73; Joseph L. Brown, 1874-8; Edgar M. Slocomb, 1879-88; N. D. Woodworth, 1889.
There have been some long terms of service on the vestry, notable among them being those of Eli Pond, from 1834 to 1876; Wil- liam Booth, 1838-54; William Booth, Jr., 1858-81; Stephen N. Mason, 1840-76; Hardin Knight, 1855-85; L. C. Tourtellot, 1837-48, and from 1876 to the present time. Among other names which appear as mem- bers of the vestry, are those of Isaac M. Bull, 1868-78; R. K. Ran- dolph, 1877-81, and Paul Greene, 1870-75.
In 1889 the vestry was composed of Lyman A. Cook, senior warden, first elected to vestry in 1859; Henry Andrews, junior warden, 1876; L. C. Tourtellot, 1837; O. J. Rathbun, 1861; George H. Miller, 1876; George W. Miller, 1878; Edgar M. Slocomb, 1879; John North, 1882; James E. Cook, 1886; Mark Hough, 1886; George M. Welles, 1886; Charles F. Ballou, 1887; Henry P. Abbott, 1888; H. F. Simonds, 1888; Seth Arnold, 1888; James E. Cook, clerk; N. D. Woodworth, treasurer; Mrs. Ida M. Teston, assistant treasurer.
*Removed to Michigan and became governor of that state.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The parish has a number of societies connected with it, which are valuable auxiliaries in promoting general or specific work of the church. The principal ones are: St. Andrew's Brotherhood, embracing among its members some of the leading young men of the city; St. James Guild, the Girls' Friendly Society, and the Woman's Aid So- ciety. The latter is a very effective organization and was brought into existence soon after the church was formed, as a sewing circle, but after 1873 changed its name to the present title. The presidents have been: Mrs. Samuel Greene, Mrs. B. P. Talbot, Mrs. Charles E. Aldrich, Mrs. Henry G. Ballou, Miss Mary Brownell and Mrs. Lettie Arnold.
The Globe Congregational Church .- About 1830 there came to Woonsocket a woman of strong Christian character, who had much to do with the introduction of Congregationalism, and who was for many years a devout member of the church she helped to organize several years later. Miss Delphia Warren first established a Sunday school at her house, on the corner of Arnold and High streets, and there on the 24th of December, 1834, the following eight persons were consti- tuted the above church: Miss Delphia Warren, Mrs. Adelia Pike, Abner Rawson, Mrs. Martha Rawson, Joseph Greene, Joseph R. Greene, Miss Martha A. Greene and Mrs. Mary A. Hill. Six had a former church connection, presenting letters, and two united on profession of faith. The same day the Reverend E. P. Ingersoll was ordained their first pastor. On the 4th of January, 1835, the holy communion was administered to this band for the first time, the meeting being held in the Dexter Ballou school house, which was the general preaching place until a church was provided.
The pastorate of Mr. Ingersoll was dissolved at the end of nearly ten months, October 13th, 1835, the congregation having at that time 23 members. For a period of about six years there was no pastor and no public services were held. In consequence the interest had so much decreased that when the Reverend Seth Chapin began his labors as a missionary of the Rhode Island Home Mission Society he found that there remained in the village February 14th, 1841, but eight members, just the original number, which led him to say: "This is a striking instance of the fulfillment of God's gracious promise, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. Like the burn- ing bush, they had not been consumed." Five days later, at a meet- ing held at the house of the faithful Delphia Warren, it was voted to resume the ordinances of the church. In July, the same year, at a meeting held at Adelia Pike's, also one of the original members, the Reverend Seth Chapin was invited to act as pastor during his continu- ance with them, and a committee was appointed to secure means to erect a church. This project was so far encouraged that in October, 1841, the Congregational Society of Woonsocket, in Smithfield, was ·constituted a corporate body by legislative enactment. The corpora-
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tors were: Samuel Withington, Edward Sprague, Silas W. Plympton,. Lyman Cook, George W. Steere, Arnold Briggs, Edward H. Adams, Ozias M. Morse, Simeon Newton, Thomas A. Paine, Hiram Bennett, Daniel F. Knapp, David Daniels and Seth Chapin. The society was empowered to hold property of every description, not to exceed in value $20,000. Funds were collected at home and abroad, some of the contributions being very liberal. At Providence good Deacon Chapin headed the list with $1,000. In 1842 the Reverend Perry was the stated supply and December 1st, the same year, the Reverend Edwin Leigh, of Andover Seminary, was invited to become the pastor.
The church edifice, a frame structure, on the hill above the Globe Mills, was completed for dedication in June, 1843, and on the same day the Reverend Leigh was ordained pastor, which position he occupied until May 22d, 1844.
On the 10th of August, 1843, it was voted that new articles of faith be adopted, and that unfermented wine should be used at communion, thus early taking a radical position on the temperance question. At this meeting Silas W. Plympton was ordained a deacon of the church.
Following the Reverend Leigh came the Reverend James M. Davis, as a supply, in October, 1844, and as settled pastor June 10th, 1845. He had preached with so much acceptance that there were 80 mem- bers, and the congregation was admitted to membership in the Rhode Island Consociation, Simeon Newton being the first delegate. Mr. Leigh's pastorate was dissolved after six years, much against the wishes of the congregation, which greatly esteemed him and his wife. In this period, April 5th, 1848, Robert Blake was ordained deacon, and since that time has consistently discharged the duties of that office.
For a period the church had no pastor, but the pulpit was supplied, in the summer of 1852, by the Reverend William W. Belden; and December 21st, 1853, the Reverend Levi Packard was installed and remained as pastor until October 16th, 1855, when he was compelled to retire on account of poor health. The church was now closed most of the time until April 15th, 1857, when the pulpit was again occu- pied by supplies, until July 19th, 1857, when the Reverend Theodore Cooke commenced a pastoral service which continued about eight years. He was a scholar, with broad and liberal views, very sympathetic and devoutly consecrated to his work. The memory of his worth continues until this day.
The Reverend James E. Dockray next filled a year's pastorate, be- ginning August 1st, 1867. Two weeks later letters of dismission were granted to 14 persons, members of the church, for the purpose of per- mitting them to unite with others in forming a new Congregational church in the Cumberland part of Woonsocket. In September, the same year, Daniel N. Paine and Lyman Cook were elected deacons of the old church.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
After a period without a pastor the Reverend H. E. Johnson began a ministry in 1869, which was continued about three years, when he became pastor of the East Providence church. He was an unassum- ing man, but exemplary in his life, and had the esteem of the entire Christian community. On the 27th day of January, 1873, the Rever- end W. S. Stockbridge became pastor, and so continued until July, 1874. He was a large-hearted man, and a practical Christian, but there was no particular growth in this period.
November 15th, 1874, the Reverend B. F. Parsons became the joint pastor of this church and Plymouth chapel, and remained two years. This arrangement conduced to the general good of both societies, as it resulted in bringing them together, thus forming one strong church in the place.
On the 10th of October, 1877, the Reverend George W. Brooks, of the Andover Theological Seminary, was here ordained and installed pastor of the church. Under his ministry new life was infused in the united church and it became self-supporting, the first time in its his- tory. To celebrate this freedom from dependence on the Rhode Island Home Missionary Society, which had aided it 40 years, an ap- propriate jubilee meeting was held January 25th, 1882. Mr. Brooks was a most faithful pastor, but he was constrained to leave, and his relations to the church were dissolved by a council held May 8th, 1883. He was not only a good pastor, but was ever ready to aid what- ever tended to promote the general good and education, and temper- ance always found in him a warm friend.
After a vacancy of a year the Reverend M. S. Hartwell became the pastor in April, 1884, and served with acceptance two years. In December, 1884, the church celebrated its first semi-centennial anni- versary, and was at that time in a prosperous condition.
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