2008-2009 Program

SEP • OCT • NOV • DEC • MAR • APR • MAY • JUN

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 - 10:30 AM
Tour of First Church in Salem
Members and guests will attend the morning church service followed by a tour of one of the oldest churches organized in North America. Roger Williams was the third minister of this church in 1635. Explore and enjoy lunch in Salem for the remainder of the day. Round-trip transportation from a Rhode Island location will be available. Please respond via email before September 14th to Mary Channing, mchanning@snet.net, if you are interested in traveling with the group from Rhode Island to Salem for the day. You may also leave a message for Mary at 203-834-0545. Complete details regarding cost and departure location and time will be made available after the number of participants has been determined.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 - 11:00 AM
Founders' Day Followed by Lunch, Program and a Meeting at the Church
We will observe Founders' Day at First Baptist Church in America, which is located at 75 North Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Following the service, the Family Association invites its members, friends, and members of First Baptist Church to join us for a deli luncheon. After a short business meeting, we will enjoy a talk by the Historian of the Church, Stanley Lemons, PH. D., on "The Founding of Providence: The Trying Times." (It should be noted that the date of Founders' Sunday is being changed from May to October.) If you are planning to attend, please call Barbara McCurdy at (401) 682-2404) by October 18.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2008 - 10:30 AM
Tour of The Redwood Library and Athenaeum
Members and guests will meet at The Redwood Library, 50 Bellevue Avenue in Newport for a guided tour of the oldest lending library in America, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country. The library was designed by Peter Harrison (1716-1775), America's first architect, and is considered by many to be one of the most architecturally influential buildings in America. Following the tour we will conduct a brief business meeting and enjoy lunch at LaForge Casino Restaurant, 186 Bellevue Avenue, Newport.
Directions: The Redwood library offers free parking to our visitors. Street parking is also available. From the South or West: Follow Rt. 95 North to exit 3A in RI. Take Rt. 138 East. Follow until intersection at Rt. 1 and turn left on Rt.1 North. Look for Jamestown/Newport Bridge exit. Off Newport Bridge take Fall River exit and turn left at light in front of Jai Alai. Follow until Broadway intersection and turn right. Follow Broadway until end and bear right. By Thames St. intersection make a U-turn left near the movie theaters. Go straight through Touro St. and it becomes Bellevue Ave. Redwood is on the left. Parking on Redwood St. From the North: Take Interstate 93 South out of Boston to Rt. 24 South and follow to Rt. 114 South. Leading onto the island, follow West Main Road until you enter Newport and it becomes Broadway. Go straight as in the directions above.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 - 2:00 PM
Holiday Celebration
Members and guests are cordially invited to meet at Marilyn & Clifford Brown's home at 180 Brown Street, Providence, RI, for a festive seasonal occasion featuring a brief business meeting, a musical program, a Christmas carol sing-along, and a delicious array of refreshments.
Directions: From Rte. 95 north or south, take Rte. 195 to the Wickenden Street exit; turn left onto Wickenden Street; after four blocks, turn left onto Hope Street; proceed about a mile and turn left at light onto Lloyd Avenue; go two blocks and turn right onto Brown Street; proceed one block; house is across Keene Street on your left. Parking is legal on the south side of Brown Street and on Keene Street. For directions from other locations, please call (401) 331-1253.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009 - 11:00 AM
Religion and Architecture: Two Centuries of New England Meeting House Design
This illustrated lecture by Dr. Clifford Brown will feature photographs of many famous (and less famous) New England meeting houses and churches, from early colonial times through the Federal era. Dr. Brown's presentation will take place at the historic Chepachet Meeting House, home to the Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church (built 1821), at 1213 Putnam Pike/Rte. 44 in Chepachet, Rhode Island. Following the lecture we will have a 1:00 PM lunch and business meeting at Chepachet's historic Tavern on Main (Dorr's headquarters during the Dorr rebellion in 1842), leaving plenty of time afterwards for visits to the historic Brown & Hopkins General Store and several antique stores in the village. Please contact Frank Stevenson for luncheon reservations at 401-568-4016 by March 21.
Directions: Route 44 West through Greenville and into Chepachet Village in Glocester (Route 44 merges with Route 102 in Chepachet); follow Main Street, then left at traffic light where Routes 44 and 102 diverge, staying on Route 44; proceed 200 ft to church on right.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2009 - 10:45 AM
Tour of the John Brown House Museum
The John Brown House was one of the grandest mansions in Providence when it was completed in 1758. We will take the RI History Tour of the house to learn about the Brown family and life in Providence in the 18th and 19th centuries. Admission is $8 per person and $6 for seniors. After the tour our group will have a meeting and dine at the Rue de l'Espoir Restaurant at 99 Hope Street in Providence.
Directions: From Route 95 take Exit 22 towards Downtown/Providence Place. Merge onto Memorial Boulevard toward downtown. Turn left at Washington Place. Continue straight onto Waterman Street. Turn right at Benefit Street, then right onto Power Street. The John Brown House is at 52 Power Street. To get to the restaurant, continue on Power Street. Turn right onto Hope Street. The restaurant is located two blocks down on your left. Parking is available along Hope Street and side streets.

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 - 10:00 AM
Roger Williams Park & Zoo and Betsy Williams Cottage
We will meet at 10:00 at the Betsy Williams Cottage in Roger Williams Park to hear an update on the renovations taking place. We will proceed to the Museum for a business meeting. After the meeting we will enter the zoo to enjoy the annual Butterflies in Bloom exhibit and enjoy a picnic lunch (self-catered). Our group rate is $10.00 per person plus a nominal fee to enter the butterfly exhibit.
Directions: From Providence, take Route 95S; exit to Elmwood Avenue and follow signs to Roger Williams Park From south: Route 95N, take exit 16, Elmwood Avenue, bear right, left at light, park entrance is half a block on right. Upon entering park, follow signs to Betsey Williams Cottage.

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009 - 11:00 AM
Annual Meeting and Presentation by Ranger John McNiff
Members and guests will meet at the Roger Williams National Memorial at 282 North Main Street in Providence for a presentation by Ranger John McNiff. Ranger McNiff and guest presenter will be representing Roger Williams vs. Cotton Mather in their great debate published in "The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution For Cause Of Conscience, discussed in a conference Between Truth and Peace" as written by Roger Williams. Lunch and the Annual Business Meeting will follow. Please bring a picnic lunch and a lawn chair for lunch on the park grounds.
Directions to the Memorial: From Route 95N, take the State Office exit. Go straight across Orms Street at end of exit. Turn left onto Smith Street. Turn right at bottom of hill onto Canal Street, then immediate left into Memorial's parking lot.