USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
332
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
viewed as heretical and worthy to receive thirty stripes, which were subsequently inflicted on Mr. Holmes and others with great severity.
The charge preferred against this church was " in their com- municating with excommunicated persons." Now, it is not probable that the church in Newport would receive into their communion, persons of immoral character, but rather individ- uals that had thought proper to exercise their own private judgment in matters of conscience. This was a point which gave offence to the churches in Massachusetts, and led them to view the church in Newport, as unworthy of their fellowship, having abandoned a vital principle of Christianity. There is displayed a spirit of dictation by the Congregational churches of Massachusetts towards this church, which preeminently characterizes their history. They came to Newport to brow- beat this church, but the church would not recognize them as brethren of the same faith and order with themselves. They were Anna-Baptists as early as this period, for in no other sense can we reconcile their conduct towards the churches of Massachusetts, which is well-known were Pædo-Baptist, and held to the ordi- nance of infant sprinkling as a matter of infinite importance.
The First Baptist Church in Providence has assumed two points, which she is unable to maintain : First, her existence being prior to that of the church at Newport; secondly, that the church was founded by Roger Williams. Comer, the first, and for the early history of our denomination, the most reliable of writers, ascribes distinctly and repeatedly, this priority to the Newport church. He had formed the design, more than a hun- dred and twenty years ago, of writing the history of the Ameri- can Baptists, and in that work which he only lived to commence, but which embraces an account of this church, he says in one place, that it is the first of the Baptist denomination ; and clos- ing his history of it, he says : " Thus I have briefly given some account of the settlement and progress of the First Baptist church on Rhode Island, in New England, and the first in America."
, From the way in which he asserts it, the priority of the New- 1
port church must have been a universally conceded fact. He was careful to excess, not to record as certain, that on which any suspicion rested, and yet this father of American Baptist
333
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEWPORT.
history, whose veracity has never been questioned, states that in age it was prior to any other Baptist church in America. It is true, and I was sorry to see it, some later hand has added in a note : " Excepting that of Providence." Who wrote this, I will not say, but no one should touch Comer's writings, unless he is a more reliable witness than that pains-taking and impartial man.
Besides his general carefulness, he was, when he wrote the above, on the most favorable terms with the Providence church, while a difficulty had occurred between him and the Newport church, which caused him the most painful feelings.
This interpretation of the writings of Comer, in order to give the priority to the church at Providence, is most certainly an unchristian act, and shows to what miserable shifts they were driven to obtain the honor which justly belongs to another. This, however, is not the first attempt to pluck the laurels from the brow of the people of Newport, and which they have too long passively submitted to ; but a redeeming spirit is at work, which will be put forth in defence of her just and lawful claims, as the first to rear the Baptist standard in this land, as well as the first to publish to the world the great principle of the rights of conscience.
Rev. Mr. Adlam has shown conclusively that the present First Baptist church of Providence has existed only from 1652, and thus it cannot be the oldest of the Baptists in America. Dr. Hague, late pastor of that church, in his " Historical Discourse," prepared with great care, and received with uncommon satis- faction and respect by his people, does not deny a single state- ment that Comer, or Callender, or Backus have made, but as far as he refers to this subject harmonizes with them.
The First Baptist church in Providence has been called the " Roger Williams' Church," implying that he was its first patron and founder, and this, until very recently, has been the generally received opinion. Stephen Hopkins, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, grandson of Wickenden, uniformly affirmed that Wickenden was the first elder of the existing church, and asserted this in his " History of Providence," published in 1765. Moses Brown, that venerable Nestor of Providence, as he is called by Knowles, always held that his ancestor Chad Brown, was the first elder of the Providence Baptist church. John
334
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Angel, born in 1691, claimed the same honor for his grand- father, Gregory Dexter, ancestor of Nathaniel G. B. Dexter, Esq., of Pawtucket, R. I.
Callender, in 1738, says : " The most ancient inhabitants now alive, some of them above eighty years old, who personally knew Mr. Williams, and were well acquainted with many of the ori- ginal settlers, never heard that Mr. Williams formed the Bap- tist church there, but always understood that Mr. Brown, Mr. Wickenden, or Wigginton, Mr. Dexter, Mr. Olney, Mr. Tilling- hast, &c., were the first founders of that church."
" This shows that the general opinion of Roger Williams being the founder and first pastor of that church is a modern theory ; the farther you go back, the less generally is it believed, till coming to the most ancient times, to the men who knew Wil- liams, they are such entire strangers to it, that they never heard that he formed the Baptist church there. .
" Among the evils that have resulted from the wrong date of the Providence church, has been the prominence given to Roger Williams. It is greatly to be regretted that it has ever entered into the mind of any one to make him, in America, the founder of our denomination. In no sense was he so; well would it be for Baptists, and for Williams himself, could his short and fitful attempt to become a Baptist, be obliterated from the minds of men. A man only four months a Baptist, and then renouncing his baptism forever, to be lauded and magnified as the founder of the Baptist denomination in the New World ! There is another name long, too long concealed by Williams' being placed before him, who will in after time be regarded with unmingled affection and respect, as the true founder of the Bap- tist cause in this country.
"That orb of purest lustre will yet shine forth, and Baptists, whether they regard his spotless character, his talents, his learn- ing, the services he rendered, the urbanity and the modesty that distinguished him, will mention John Clarke, as the real founder of our denomination in America. And when Baptist history is better known than it is at present, every one pointing to that venerable church, which on one of earth's loveliest spots he established, will say: " This is the mother of us all !"-Rev. S. Adlam, on the Origin of the Baptist Churches.
Having presented the proof of the priority of the First
1
:
335
PASTORS OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Baptist Church in Newport, we will proceed to notice the most important events connected with its history
Dr. John Clarke was its first pastor.
The first house erected to the worship of God, was built at Greenend ; they sold the house, and built a new one in 1708, on the lot in Tanner-street, now used as a burial place for the pastors of the church. The ground was the gift of John Clarke. . Mr. Obadiah Holmes was the second pastor of this church, and was called to that office very soon after Mr. Clarke sailed for England. In him the church found a bold and fearless ad- vocate for truth, and a faithful and indefatigable pastor ; which office he continued to discharge, until, in 1682, he was removed from the scene of his sufferings and toils by death, in the seventy sixth year of his age. Hle lies buried on the Holmes Farm, in Middletown, now owned by Gideon Peckham, Esq., where a tomb is erected to his memory.
Mr. Holmes was educated at the University of Oxford, in England, and seems to have been well adapted to the times in which he lived,-times which tried men's souls. The name of Holmes has now become extinct on the island, but his descen. dants, in the male line, are still numerous in New Jersey ; some of his descendants, in the female line, are still living in Newport.
After Mr. Holmes' death, the church seems to have been without a pastor, until about the year 1690, when Mr. Richard Dingley became their pastor. He continued with them only four years, when he left, and went to Charleston, South Caro- lina. After Mr. Dingley left, the church being few in number, and without any one to administer to them the word of life, they concluded to sit under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Hiscox, of the Sabbatarian Church.
In 1711, this little band were again permitted to go up to the Zion they loved, and sit under the ministry of the Rev. William Peckham, who was ordained to the pastoral care of the church that same year.
Mr. Peckham continued faithfully to discharge the duties of his office, until the increasing infirmities of age rendered assist- ance indispensable to his own happiness, and the prosperity of the church.
In May, 1718, it appears from the records of the church,
336
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
that a Mr. Daniel White was received to her fellowship, by a letter from a church in England, and was soon after invited by the church to assist Elder Peckham in the discharge of his ministerial services ; but he proved a very troublesome man, and created a division in the church.
In 1724, a meeting-house was erected for Mr. White, in which he continued to hold meetings for about four years ; when, having but one individual member of his church left, he sold the meeting-house, and left the place.
In 1725, the church invited Mr. John Comer to become the colleague of Mr. Peckham, which invitation he accepted, and entered upon the duties of his office the following spring. Mr. Comer was a man of talents, and eminently successful as a minister of Jesus. Under his ministry, the number of the church was increased. He also commenced the records of the church before alluded to, and to him we are indebted for much of her early history. But the prosperity and happiness of the church, under Mr. Comer's administration, was soon interrupted by a sermon, delivered by him on Lord's day, November 17th, 1728, in which he maintained the doctrine of imposition of hands on baptized believers, as indispensable to church member- ship, &c. This discourse gave great uneasiness to the church, and finally resulted in his dismission, which occurred on the 8th of January, 1729 ; they, however, parted with their late pastor in love and peace.
The sixth pastor of this church, was the Rev. John Callender, nephew of the Rev. Elisha Callender, of the old Baptist Church, in Boston. Mr. Callender was a native of Boston, and received his education at Harvard University, in Cam- bridge., He accepted the invitation of this church to become their pastor on the 4th of July, 1731, and on the 13th day of October following, was set apart to that office, by fasting, and prayer, and the imposition of hands. The churches of Boston and Swanzey, by their ministers and messengers, were invited to participate in the services.
Mr. Callender ministered in this church, during the period of almost seventeen years, and was very evidently attended with the approbation and blessing of God. Like his divine master, Mr. Callender was poor in this world's goods, " but rich in faith, and hejr to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled,
337
REV. JOHN CALLENDER.
. and that fadeth not away." His passage through this vale of tears, though not protracted to great length, was one of adver- sity, sickness, and pain. His departure from the toils and sorrows of earth, to that rest which remaineth for the people of God, was on the 26th of January, 1748, in the forty-second year of his age. Mr. Callender not only lived to secure the reputation of the scholar and gentleman, but what is infinitely more valuable, the reputation of a liberal-minded, pious, and devoted christian.
His Historical Sermon, preached in March, 1738, has immor- talized his name. It breathes the same spirit of religious freedom and liberality of sentiment, that distinguished the names of Clarke, Coddington, and their associates.
His remains lie in the burial place in Tanner-street, Newport, beside John Clarke, which render it a consecrated spot.
The following inscription was composed by Dr. Moffat, a celebrated physician of Newport :
" Confident of awakening, here reposeth,
JOHN CALLENDER,
Of very excellent endowments of nature, And of an accomplished education, Improved by application, in the wide circle Of the more polite arts, and useful sciences, From motives of conscience and grace, He dedicated himself to the immediate service Of God, In which he was distinguished as a shining And very burning light, by a true and faithful Ministry of seventeen years, in the First Baptist Church of Rhode Island ; where the purity And evangelical simplicity of his doctrine, confirmed And embellished by the virtuous and devout tenor Of his own life, Endear'd him to his flock, and justly conciliated The esteem, love, and reverence of all the Wise, worthy, and good. Much humility, benevolence, and charity Breathed in his conversation, discourses, and Writings, Which were all pertinent, reasonable, and useful. Regretted by all, lamented by his friends, and
-
---
338
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
Deeply deplored by a Wife, and numerous issue, He died In the forty-second year of his age, January 26th, 1748, Having struggled through the vale of life
In adversity, much sickness, and pain, With fortitude, dignity, and elevation of soul,
Worthy the Philosopher, Christian, and Divine."
Mr. Callender was succeeded in the pastoral office by the Rev. Edward Upham, who continued with them for more than twenty years, when, by death, he was removed from his labors, to that rest that remaineth for the people of God.
The eighth pastor of this church, was the Rev. Erasmus Kelley. He accepted the call of the church in 1771, and con- tinued in the faithful discharge of his duty until 1778, when the meeting-house being used as a barrack for the troops of King George, he removed to Warren. But, in a few months, the enemy followed him to that place, and burnt the house in which he resided, and destroyed his valuable furniture.
In 1784, Mr. Kelley returned to Newport, and resumed his pastoral labors among his flock. But they were, however, of short continuance, for, on the 7th of November following, he was removed by death.
The ninth pastor was the Rev. Benjamin Foster, D. D. Mr. Foster commenced his labors with the church on the first sabbath in January, 1785, and, on the 5th of June following, was installed to the pastoral office. He contineud with them for three years, when he received and accepted a call from the First Baptist Church in New- York. Mr. Foster was a man of superior intellect, and of high literary attainments. He was well versed in the Greek, Hebrew, and Chaldean languages.
In 1789, the Rev. Michael Eddy became the pastor of this church, the duties of which office he continued to discharge for almost half a century. He possessed a liberal mind, was a pleasant companion, and in the sick-room, and at the bedside of death, he excelled. Mr. Eddy departed this life on the 3d day of June, 1835, in the seventy-fifth year of his age
339
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
respected and beloved by his friends, in the church and congre- gation, and by the inhabitants of Newport. If greatness consists in goodness, then was Elder Eddy worthy of the appellation. During his labors of love in the church, he bap- tized more than five hundred, many of whom have been removed by death, and some remain unto this day. He was assisted one year, by the Rev. J. M Kensie, of Newport
The Rev. Arthur A. Ross was installed March 11th, 1835, and remained with them a few years.
The present pastor is the Rev. S. Adlam, who continues to be popular with his people.
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. 1
In 1656, twenty-one members of the First Baptist Church in Newport, withdrew themselves, and formed the Second Baptist Church in this town. These brethren objected to the original church, in her use of psalmody, restraints upon the liberty of prophesying, and holding the laying on of hands a matter of indifference, which they regarded as binding on all believers.
The grounds for this schism will be looked upon at this day as too trivial to cause a separation. This very church, now, has an organ, agreeably to the directions of the sweet singer of Israel, " Praise Him upon the organ, and let every thing that hath breath, praise the Lord." It shows the progress which has been made in the science of music, by conforming to the letter and spirit of the Bible. It was viewed by these brethren as sin for any to engage in sacred music but the professed members of the church, and this without the least regard to order. A choir was looked upon as an infringement, and at variance with the teachings of the apostles. The tuning fork, the pitch-pipe, was horrible, and when the big fiddle, as it was then called, was introduced into the sanctuary, it was an innovation, which could not for a moment be tolerated. But, alas ! those days of scriptural simplicity have fled, and now the organ is thought to be a necessary appendage, and its absence rendeps the services far less interesting. It is stated, that when Bishop Berkeley was in this country, he offered an organ to the
-
------
340
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND
Congregational Church, in Berkley, Massachusetts, which they refused to accept. It was then presented to Trinity Church, Newport. How are the times changed ! The town of Berkley was named in honor of the prelate.
The first pastor of this Church was the Rev. William Vaughan, who continued with them till his death, in 1677.
The second was the Rev. Thomas Baker, who subsequently settled in North Kingston. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Harden, who died in 1700.
The fourth pastor was the Rev. James Clarke, nephew of Dr. John Clarke. He was assisted in the discharge of his pastoral duties by the Rev. Daniel Whitman, who succeeded him in that office, in 1704.
In 1729, Mr. John Comer became a member of this church, and as Mr. Whitman was now aged and infirm, the church invi- ted Mr. Comer to assist him in the ministry. Mr. Clarke died in 1736, aged eighty-seven years.
After the death of Mr. Clarke, thechurch invited Mr. Nicho- las Eyers to become the colleague of Mr. Whitman, in which he continued until Mr. Whitman's death, in 1750. Mr. Eyers died in 1759.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Gardiner Thurston, who con- tinued to discharge the duties of a minister of Jesus Christ with great faithfulness and success for more than forty years, when increasing infirmities of age pressed heavily upon him, and he applied to his beloved flock to procure an assistant, to relieve him from some part of his arduous labors. Mr. Thurs- ton was not distinguished for superior talents ; but he possessed, in a very eminent degree, what is infinitely more valuable-a heart deeply imbued with the spirit of his divine Master, which led him to labor untiringly in his service. Under his ministry, the church was united in love, and many were the trophies of redeeming grace, through his instrumentality. He was assist- ed for a few months by the Rev. Thomas Dunn ; after him, by the Rev. William Peckham, a licentiate and member of the church.
In 1799, the Rev. William Collier, of Boston, was invited to labor as the assistant of Mr. Thurston. But in 1801, the ven- erable servant of God, knowing that the time of his departure was at hand, earnestly entreated his people to procure a pastor,
-
-
341
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
and release him from the responsibilities of his charge. Ac- cordingly, in May of that year, he was permitted to witness the settlement of the Rev. Joshua Bradley as his successor in the pastoral office. Mr. Thurston died the following year, aged eighty-two. " The memory of the just is blessed."
In October, 1807, the Rev. Mr. Gibson became their pastor ; which office he held till March, 1815, when he requested and received a discharge from the pastoral charge of the church. Mr. Gibson was very successful in building up the cause of Christ, and many will have occasion to rejoice forever, who were made recipients of divine grace through his instrumentality.
The Rev. Samuel Widown was his successor, who continued with the church until 1817, when the Rev. Mr. Elton was invi- ted to become its pastor, and was ordained on the 11thof June, of the same year. During the year 1820, more than one hun- dred were added by baptism. In 1822, Mr. Elton, having re- ceived a call from the Baptist Church in Windsor, Vermont, requested a dismission, which was reluctantly granted by his affectionate people.
Mr. Elton was succeeded in the pastoral office by the late lamented Gammell, December 10, 1823. Mr. Gammell's ca- reer was short, but brilliant ; on the 31st of May, 1827, he sud- denly expired, in the full hope of a glorious immortality. Mr. Gammell was no ordinary man; what was wanting in classical education, was more than made up in native talent. That stiff- ness and formality which is often the result of an imperfect training, was not witnessed in his case. There was an inde- pendence of character displayed in his public efforts, which showed that he felt his accountability to his God, and not to man. His death was not only deeply afflicting to his family and the church of God, but lamented by thousands who had with pleasure hung upon his lips, as the ambassador of Heaven, and listened to the impassioned eloquence of his soul.
On the 27th of September following, the Rev. J. O. Choules was inducted into the pastoral office. On the 3d of January, 1833, Mr. Choules tendered his resignation as pastor of the church, which was accepted on the 25th of the same month.
In December, 1833, Rev. John Dowling was called to the pastoral charge, which call he accepted. On the 27th of March following, he was publicly recognized as their pastor. On the
342
HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
20th of July, 1836, Mr. Dowling tendered his resignation, which was accepted.
The Rev. Timothy G. Freeman was invited to become pastor of this church, on the 15th of January, 1837, which invitation he accepted, and was set apart to that office on the 16th of March following.
There is a ministerial fund of $8,000, loft by the late Judge Taber, as also $1,000 for a poor fund, for the benefit of the church.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS.
The exact time when the Society of Friends or Quakers formed themselves into a body for church government, cannot now be actually stated. When William Leddra and Marma- duke Stephenson came to Newport, in the year 1658 or '59, they found their brethren here; and Daniel Gould, the first minister they have any account of in Newport, went to Boston with them, where the two first named were hanged, and Gould severely whipped at the carriage of a great gun, as appears by his account, written by himself, and published in 1700. The first records of the monthly meeting commenced in the year 1676.
But it is evident that they were formed into ,a society previ- ous to that time, as John Burnyeat, a minister here from Eng- land, speaks in his journal of attending a yearly meeting in Newport, as early as 1671; and George Fox the following year, 1672, which was held at the house of William Codding- ton. In early times, the society was very large. About one- half the population, in 1700, were of that persuasion, and in that year they built the meeting house in which they now wor- ship.
There have been many ministers, and other conspicuous mem- bers of that society, who lived in Newport and its vicinity. The most distinguished ministers who appeared among them, were Daniel Gould, John Hewlett, Ebenezer Slocum, Thomas Cor- nell, Samuel Freeborn, William Anthony, Gov. John Wanton, Joseph Wanton, Dr. Clarke Rodman, John Casey, Christopher Townsend, Joseph Michel, Isaac Lawton, David Buffum, Ja- cob Mott, and many others. The Mott family have ever been
343
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
highly respectable ; the property has continued in the family from the early settlement of the Island, and the sixth Jacob now occupies the homestead. General Nathaniel Greene's mother was Mary, the daughter of Jacob Mott, of Portsmouth, R. I. Like Mary, the mother of Washington, she gave an im- press to his character, which rendered him highly distinguished. He was brought up in the religious principles of the Society of Friends, of which his father was a preacher. He early be- came fond of a military life, and was most active in forming the military company known as the Kentish Guards. General Greene's abilities soon attracted notice, and he was particularly distinguished by George Washington, who deservedly placed great confidence in his talents and judgment. When the army was formed, he was appointed Major-General. Gen. Greene was born at Potowamet, in the township of Warwick, R. I., on the 22d of May, 1742. The estate is. still in possession of his family. He died at Savannah, Geo., aged forty-seven years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.