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

210 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1T49.
/ present difficulties, with respect to tlie admission of mem-
/ bers into the chnrch." This was not exactly the subject,
at least not as thus stated, that the opponents of the pas-
tor desired the church to act upon. A heated discussion
followed, and plain talk was indulged in on both sides.
Finally the threat was made that if he refused to act as
had been suggested, the precinct would warn a church
meeting without him. Mr. Edwards denied the right of
the precinct to dictate to the church the reasons for calling
it together. He argued that it was a bad precedent for the
church to submit to the dictation of the precinct, and an
unreasonable way of managing church affairs to bring
them firvst into a precinct meeting in which the pastor had
no right to appear, and when decided upon, order the pastor
to carry them out. By such a course, he said, church
meetings would become a nullity, and the pastor a " cypher."
He considered the proposition to apply to neighboring ministers
for advice concerning the course the church should
pursue, unreasonable, because all but one of them were
opposed to his teachings. Notwithstanding he consented
to put to vote as desired by the parish, the question
whether there was any dispute between the pastor and the
people on the subject at issue. The vote which was largel}^
in the affirmative, must have satisfied him on that point.
Then instead of complying with the suggestion of the pre-
cinct with reference to seeking advice from neighboringministers,
he insisted that a mutual council shouhl be
called to consider the general question in controversy and
the best method of deciding the difference. A long debate
ensued and the meeting adjourned without action for one
week, having first chosen a committee of five persons, with
Major Seth Pomeroy as chairman, all members of the
already existing precinct committee, to confer with tlie
pastor.
Major Pomeroy At the cousultatiou witli Mr. Edwards, his
Swings the arguuieuts SO far prevailed, that the entire
committee, with the exception of its chairman,
signed a report recommending a mutual council, on
the terms proposed by the pastor. This was presented at
the adjourned church meeting. Major Pomeroy, however,
was strongly opposed to this course. He contended that
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