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

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

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1749.] CONTROVERSY WITH REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 207<br />

the controversy. Tliis meet<strong>in</strong>g was not dissolved till the<br />

desired result was reached. For more than a year it was<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ued by adjournment <strong>from</strong> time to time.<br />

The Day <strong>of</strong> Fast<strong>in</strong>g. No record rema<strong>in</strong>s concern<strong>in</strong>g the day <strong>of</strong><br />

fast<strong>in</strong>g, humiliation and prayer. It was<br />

shorn <strong>of</strong> much <strong>of</strong> <strong>its</strong> significance when the <strong>in</strong>vited clergy<br />

were not permitted to consider the question at issue, and<br />

<strong>its</strong> proceed<strong>in</strong>gs had no <strong>in</strong>fluence whatever on suljsequent<br />

events. -<br />

The Adjourned Pre- On the 22'' the preciuct met accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

c<strong>in</strong>ct Meet<strong>in</strong>g. adjournment. It decided not to ask the<br />

advice <strong>of</strong> the neighbor<strong>in</strong>g clergy concern<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the admission <strong>of</strong> members by pr<strong>of</strong>ession, nor was it<br />

will<strong>in</strong>g to allow any one to enter the church <strong>in</strong> that way<br />

pend<strong>in</strong>g the exist<strong>in</strong>g controversy. Mr. Edwards was denied<br />

the privilege <strong>of</strong> preach<strong>in</strong>g on the absorb<strong>in</strong>g topic, and<br />

his request to leave that po<strong>in</strong>t to the decision <strong>of</strong> the neighbor<strong>in</strong>g<br />

m<strong>in</strong>isters was also negatived.<br />

A Committee <strong>of</strong> Con- At the adjoumcd prec<strong>in</strong>ct meet<strong>in</strong>g held<br />

ference Chosen. qh the 2'' <strong>of</strong> Noveuiber, the Orig<strong>in</strong>al peti-<br />

tion came up for action. The pr<strong>in</strong>ciples<br />

advanced by the pastor were not accepted, and a committee<br />

<strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>e persons was chosen to confer with Mr. Edwards,<br />

" and. to devise or Concert what proper methods Shall be taken to pre-<br />

serve the peace, Unity and Comfort <strong>of</strong> this Church & Prec<strong>in</strong>ct and to<br />

put an End to the Controversy now Subsist<strong>in</strong>g between m<strong>in</strong>ister and.<br />

people." This committee was composed as follows : — Ebenezer Pomeroy<br />

Esq., Dea. Jno. Clark, Samuel Mather, Mr. Jo.seph H^iwley. Lieut.<br />

Noah Wright, Sergt. Joseph Wright, Deacon Noah Cook, Major Seth<br />

Pomeroy, and Sergt. Ebenezer Hunt.<br />

In it may be traced relationships similar to those already<br />

po<strong>in</strong>ted out, not only among themselves, but also <strong>in</strong> some<br />

<strong>in</strong>stances with the signers <strong>of</strong> the petition, two <strong>of</strong> the latter<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g members <strong>of</strong> the committee.<br />

The Conference and In a Conference with Mr. Edwards the next<br />

Counter Proposi- j^y, lie was asked by the committee if he<br />

had any "measures to propose." He re-<br />

plied that he had already suggested what he considered

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