History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

68 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1735.
(balcony) at the end." The exact dimensions of the buihling
were left to the judgment of the committee appointed
to carry the vote into effect. This body was composed of
Col. John Stoddard, Eben' Pumroy, Capt. John Clark,
Capt. Preserv'^ Clapp. Ensigne Eben'' Parsons, Ensigne
Ebenez'' Clark. & Joseph Wright.
The Probable Rea- Probably the determining cause of the
son for Building, above votc was the extraordinar}^ revival of
religion that prevailed during the summer
of 1735.^ Under a state of feeling where sixty, eighty and
one hundred persons presented themselves for admission to
the church at successive communion seasons,^ the absolute
need of larger accommodations for Sunday services, was
apparent.
Before the decisive vote was passed, proba-
Committee sent to
view Meeting- "jjiy during the two ycars which elapsed
after the first one was adopted, and the final
decision to build reached, Joseph Wright and Nathaniel
Curtis, undoubtedly under instructions from the selectmen,
" viewed " many meeting-houses with reference to procuring
a plan for tlie proposed building. Without doubt they
examined some of those more recently erected. It is only
known that Curtis went to Lebanon, Ct., and that they
were allowed 60s. for expenses and services. Both were
master workmen, and were employed in building the new
house. With the final vote to build was coupled another
authorizing the expenditure of £100 for the purchase of
glass and nails.
©atheriug Materials.
Duriug the succeediug wiutcr and spring
materials were gathered for the edifice.
Timber was cut on the commons, and men were paid by the
load, both for cutting and carting. Some of it was brought
from "over Beaver Brook," some from the south side of
Manlian River, some from "over Robert's Meadow," and
some was obtained at a nearer point. There are accounts
for carting eighty loads of timber, "5 loads of sleepers,"
1 The entire population seemed to be under conviction of sin. "There was
scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned
about the great things of the eternal world."— Rev. Jonathan Edwards' Narrative of
Surprising Conversions, p. 13.
2 Ibid, pp. 18, 19.