History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654; History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;
198 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749. disorderly in tlie time of public worship, that are above the age of 16 years before a Justice of the Peace." The younger disturbers were to be " set before the Deacon's seat as a public example," In March 174^, it was " voted that the young women that are seated in the front corner Pew in the Gallery be removed & the Pew be seated with young men." An absolutely ungallant vote, unless other seats were provided for the young women, of which there seems to be no evidence. The Controversy The coutroversy Concerning the admission with Mr. Edwards, of uiembcrs to the church, the ostensible ground on which the dismissal of Mr. Edwards was based, began in 1749. This contention, so fully treated in Dwight's " Life of President Edwards," has been the theme of many able writers. Its historical details have been exhausted, but a general outline of its principal facts, to which it is impossible to add anything essential, seems to be necessarj^. This chapter of history, while not at all creditable to Northampton, must needs find a place in its annals. The Great Awaken- Before entering upon that subject it may i°K- be well first to outline the Great Awakening, which left its impress upon the English speaking world. It commenced in Northampton, and spread, not alone throughout the town and county, but encompassed New England, embraced the colonies of America and extended across the ocean to England and Scotland.' The labors of Mr. Edwards had been abundantly rewarded. Thus far during his i)astorate revivals had followed each other at intervals, each more effective than its predecessor, till the fame of Northampton's minister extended far and wide. During the fifteen years immediately following the death of his grandfather his earnest and powerful presentations of Gospel truth had borne almost constant fruit. This last and most powerful awak- ening, which took place within half a dozen years of that of 1735, already alluded to, was the most effective of any that had yet visited the New England churches. It began 1 Alien's Life of Jonathan Edwards, p. 184.
ITJO.] MR. EDWARDS' SALARY— GREAT AWAKENING. 199 in tliis town in 1740. and its manifestations were very greatly stimulated by the aid of George Wliitefield. who visited Nortliampton in October of that year. ' From this time forward the revival continued to increase till it spread throughout tlie town, eml)racing both old and young. At first it appeared among professors of religion, but soon deep concern was manifested among the youth. This was followed by an awakening among the very young, and be- fore the uew year commenced religious subjects almost absorbed tlie conversation in all classes. The fervor aug- mented as the season progressed, and in the Autumn Mr. Edwards writes — : ^ "The months of August and September, were the most remarkable of any this year, for appearances of the conviction and conversion of sinners, and great revivings, quickenings. and comforts of professors, and for extraordinary external effects of these things. It was a very frequent thing, to see an house full of out-cries, faintings, convulsions, and such like, both with distress, and also with admiration and joy. It was not the manner here, to hold meetings all night, as in some places, nor was it common to continue them till very late in the night but it was pretty often so, that there were some that were so affected, and their bodies so overcome, that they could not go home, but were obliged to stay all night where they were." In the latter part of 1741, there was '' some abatement of these extraordinary appearances, but they did not wholly cease." Early in the following year Mr. Buell,^ an evangelist of some note, came to Northampton, and during a 1 lu allndiug to the work of Mr. Whitefleld in Northampton, Mr. Edwards says: — " He preached here four sermons in the meeting house (besides a private lecture at my house) one on Friday, another on Saturday, and two upon the Sabbath. The congregation was extraordinarily melted by every sermon : almost the whole assembly being in tears for a gi'eat part of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's sermons were suitable to the circumstances of the town ; containing a just reproof of our back- slidings. and in a most moving and affecting manner, making use of our great professions and great mercies, as arguments with us to return to CTod, from whom we had departed. —Dwighfs Life of Edwards, p. 160. 2 Dwighfs Life, pp. 162, 16:^. 3 Bev. Samuel Buell was born in Coventry, Ct., and was graduated from Tale College in 1741. He proposed to study theology with Mr. Edwards, but owing to the progress of the great revival obtained a license to preach and entered upon the work of preaching as an itinerant. He was for several years an evangelist, and finally settled at Easthampton, L. I. Of him Mr. Edwards writes :—" About the beginning of February, 1743, Mr. Buell came to this town. I was then absent from home, and continued so till about a fortnight after. Mr. Buell preached from day to day, almost every day, in the meeting house. He spent almost the whole time in religious exercises with the people, either in public or private, the people continually thronging him."— Dwighfs Life of Edwards, p. 164. ;
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198 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.<br />
disorderly <strong>in</strong> tlie time <strong>of</strong> public worship, that are above<br />
the age <strong>of</strong> 16 years before a Justice <strong>of</strong> the Peace." The<br />
younger disturbers were to be " set before the Deacon's seat<br />
as a public example," In March 174^, it was " voted that<br />
the young women that are seated <strong>in</strong> the front corner Pew<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Gallery be removed & the Pew be seated with young<br />
men." An absolutely ungallant vote, unless other seats<br />
were provided for the young women, <strong>of</strong> which there seems<br />
to be no evidence.<br />
The Controversy The coutroversy Concern<strong>in</strong>g the admission<br />
with Mr. Edwards, <strong>of</strong> uiembcrs to the church, the ostensible<br />
ground on which the dismissal <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edwards<br />
was based, began <strong>in</strong> 1749. This contention, so fully<br />
treated <strong>in</strong> Dwight's " Life <strong>of</strong> President Edwards," has been<br />
the theme <strong>of</strong> many able writers. Its historical details<br />
have been exhausted, but a general outl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>its</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>cipal<br />
facts, to which it is impossible to add anyth<strong>in</strong>g essential,<br />
seems to be necessarj^. This chapter <strong>of</strong> history, while not<br />
at all creditable to <strong>Northampton</strong>, must needs f<strong>in</strong>d a place<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>its</strong> annals.<br />
The Great Awaken- Before enter<strong>in</strong>g upon that subject it may<br />
i°K- be well first to outl<strong>in</strong>e the Great Awaken<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
which left <strong>its</strong> impress upon the English<br />
speak<strong>in</strong>g world. It commenced <strong>in</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong>, and<br />
spread, not alone throughout the town and county, but<br />
encompassed New England, embraced the colonies <strong>of</strong><br />
America and extended across the ocean to England and<br />
Scotland.' The labors <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edwards had been abundantly<br />
rewarded. Thus far dur<strong>in</strong>g his i)astorate revivals<br />
had followed each other at <strong>in</strong>tervals, each more effective<br />
than <strong>its</strong> predecessor, till the fame <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong>'s m<strong>in</strong>ister<br />
extended far and wide. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the fifteen years immediately<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g the death <strong>of</strong> his grandfather his earnest<br />
and powerful presentations <strong>of</strong> Gospel truth had borne<br />
almost constant fruit. This last and most powerful awak-<br />
en<strong>in</strong>g, which took place with<strong>in</strong> half a dozen years <strong>of</strong> that<br />
<strong>of</strong> 1735, already alluded to, was the most effective <strong>of</strong> any<br />
that had yet visited the New England churches. It began<br />
1 Alien's Life <strong>of</strong> Jonathan Edwards, p. 184.
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