13.08.2013 Views

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;

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

1753] SELECTION AND SETTLEMENT OF A NEW MINISTER. 239<br />

pulpit, turned the speaker out <strong>of</strong> it, and concluded the ser-<br />

vices himself. Mr. Bancr<strong>of</strong>t has among his notes about<br />

" turned Jones out <strong>of</strong> the pulpit about 1752."<br />

Mr. Hawley :<br />

This tradition f<strong>its</strong> <strong>in</strong> admirably with the state <strong>of</strong> affairs<br />

then exist<strong>in</strong>g and may conta<strong>in</strong> a gra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> truth. Jones, (if<br />

such a person was employed to preach), was evidently an<br />

it<strong>in</strong>erant, who had no stand<strong>in</strong>g as a clergyman, and was<br />

one <strong>of</strong> those who, accord<strong>in</strong>g to Mr. Edwards, was "hardly<br />

fit to be employed."<br />

Difficulties Increase. Au attempt was made to obta<strong>in</strong> "a young-<br />

m<strong>in</strong>ister, a Mr. Green <strong>of</strong> Barnstable," ^<br />

but there is no evidence that he ever preached here.<br />

Rev. judau Cham- Tliis statc <strong>of</strong> affairs cont<strong>in</strong>ued till the compion<br />

Invited. menccment <strong>of</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g year, when<br />

Rev. Judah Champion^ was <strong>in</strong>vited to<br />

preach as a candidate. He occupied the pulpit for about<br />

three months, apparently to the satisfaction <strong>of</strong> the congregation.<br />

In April, 1753, the prec<strong>in</strong>ct voted to concur with<br />

the church <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g him to settle, but he decl<strong>in</strong>ed. He<br />

was <strong>of</strong>fered £266.13.4 as a <strong>settlement</strong>, and a salary <strong>of</strong> £80.<br />

Rev. Mr. Hooker Duriug tlic sumuicr <strong>of</strong> 1753, affairs began<br />

Preaches as a Iq improve somcwhat. The committee was<br />

fortunate enough to obta<strong>in</strong> the services <strong>of</strong><br />

another candidate, and preach<strong>in</strong>g was much more regular ;<br />

yet the condition was by no means encourag<strong>in</strong>g. Up to<br />

this time several candidates had been called, but at the<br />

close <strong>of</strong> the third year after the departure <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edwards<br />

his place had not been filled. From a worldly po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong><br />

view the position was most desirable. The community was<br />

prosperous, the town <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> wealth and population,<br />

and the salary was the " largest paid by any country congregation<br />

<strong>in</strong> New England." ^ Yet the clergy seemed un-<br />

will<strong>in</strong>g to settle here. There was someth<strong>in</strong>g unsatisfactory<br />

<strong>in</strong> the moral and religious aspect <strong>of</strong> the place. The antag-<br />

1 D wight's Life <strong>of</strong> Edwards, p. 499.<br />

2 Rev. Judah Champion was the son <strong>of</strong> Col Henry Cliatnpion ; he was l)orn <strong>in</strong><br />

East Haddam, Ct., graduated at Yale College <strong>in</strong> 17.51, and settled <strong>in</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>istry at<br />

Litchfield, Ct., <strong>in</strong> 17.53. He died <strong>in</strong> 1810, aged 81 years.<br />

3 Dwight's Life <strong>of</strong> Edwards, p. 43G.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!