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

1T44.] CONTROVERSY WITH REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 203
AVliilc tilt' iniioceiit veliemently protested against such
])ul)]icity, the guilty were equally vociferous in their de-
nunciations of the whole proceeding. Consequently their
parents declined to continue the investigation. ^ Many of
the persons implicated refused to appear, others who did
obey the summons, were insolent or treated the committee
with contempt, and nothing could be accomplished. The
evil-doers triumphed, and the authority of both pastor and
church was greatly weakened. The young lost much of
their respect for religion and its interpreters, and a state of
great worldly-mindedness prevailed for many years. Still
the immediate bitterness of this unfortunate occurrence
would undoubtedly have disappeared and was to some extent
diminishing, when Mr. Edwards four years afterwards
proclaimed his opposition to the established method of ad-
missions to the church, and refused longer to abide by the
usual custom.
Mr. Edwards Re- Duriug these seasons of awakening, all adpudiates
St o d - missious to the church were made in accordance
with the method pursued for so many
years by Mr. Stoddard. This universally called " Stoddard
ean System "' was believed in and adopted by Mr. Edwards.
For many years, however, he had scruples of conscience
about the admission of members to the church
" who made no pretence to true godliness." Study and re-
search only contirmed his doubts, and he decided that
should any one seek admission to the church he would put
his theory into practice. But so completely had the effects
of tlie previous excitement died out, that for several years
there were no applicants for church-membership. In order
to acquaint the public with his change of sentiment, in
1 Very few incidents concerning this affair have been preserved, and but few
names of persons in any way connected with it can now be identified. The following
statement is transcribed from the Judd MSS. : — Sarah Clarke, daughter of Ebenezer.
was one of those accused of reading bad books. She told her story before the
committee : was herself innocent and believed most of those were who were accused.
She said there was much exaggeration, though some were guilty. Moses Lyman was
the complainant to Mr. Edwards. Sarah Clarke in time of revival used to hear one
sermon every day, and spin a run of yarn daily. When those accused of reading
bad books were some of them examined at the house of Mr. Edwards, the males were
assembled in a room on the main floor, and the females in the room above. A ladder
stood against the house, and a young man, said to be Pomeroy, went up the ladder,
and looked in at the chamber window. This caused some talk, and was condemned
by all.
party.
Ephraim Wright acknowledged that he was one of the bad book