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;

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548 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1774. of recruiting in liis native town. He wonld frequently address tlie soldiers, and when recruits were scarce, would himself follow the drum and fife through the streets, till others, awakened by his enthusiasm, joined the procession. When the first company of minute-men was enlisted in 1774, he addressed them, and that document is still preserved.^ In it he counsels firmness, obedience, courage and patriotism, urging proficiency in drill, and he suggests to the men, first to make soldiers of themselves, to establish and maintain union in their organization, and allow no discouragements to embarrass their company. Religious Principles. Major Hawley was a member of the church, admitted during the pastorate of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. Mr. Edwards speaks of him in a letter reviewing the controversy which ended in his dismission, as a. "young gentleman of liberal education and notable abilities, and a fluent speaker, of about 7 or 8 and twenty years of age, my grandfather Stoddard's grandson, being my mother's sister's son, a man of lax principles in religion, falling in in some essential things, with the Arminians, and is very open and bold in it."- This statement is undoubtedly correct. Mr. Hawley in his youth was a believer in Arminianism. "1 first imbibed those wicked principles in the year He says himself : 1744 when I was at Cambridge. * * * i continued strongly of those sentiments as far as I can recollect, until the year 1754, when God began to shake me * * * but it was a great while before my heart was brought wholly to renounce them."' He did finally repudiate the doctrine, and in 1762 was chosen Deacon, and served in that capacity for twenty-three years. A well-rounded "The extraordinary and unequalled influcharacter. eucc of Hawlcy ill forming public opinion for the struggle with Great Britain, has been generally acknowledged ; it is not so well known, that on every topic of discussion, his voice was invariably raised, as in defence of the bereaved and oppressed ; so also in favor of everything that could advance civil or religious freedom. He liad the true instinct of liberty, and while he rejected public honors, was the inflexible and eloquent advocate of the rights of the people."^ "Major Hawley 1 See Magazine of American History, vol. 2S, p. 489, 1889. 2 Dwight's Life of Jonathan Edwards, p. 410. .3 Hampshire Gazette, Oct. 2, 1833.

1788.] MAJOR JOSEPH HAWLEY. 549 was a patriot without personal animosities, an orator without vanity, a hiwyer without chicanery, and a gentleman without ostentation, a statesman without duplicity, and a christian without bigotry. As a man of commanding talents, his firm renunciation and self denial of all ambitious views, would have secured him that respect which such strength of mind inevitably inspires ; while his voluntary and zealous devotion to the service of his countrymen, established him in their affection. His uprightness and plainness, united to his affability and disinterestedness, gave the most extensive influence to his opinions, and in a period of doubt, divisions, and danger, men sought relief from their perplexities in his authority, and suffered their course to be guided by him, when they distrusted their own judgments, or the counsels of others. He, in fine, formed one of those manly, public spirited, and generous citizens, ready to share i)eril and decline reward, who illustrate the idea of a commonwealth, * * * and will always be the most admired, appropriate, and noble ornaments of a free government." ^ 2 Quoted in Hampshire Gazette, March 5, 1833, from Tudor's Life of James Otis.

1788.] MAJOR JOSEPH HAWLEY. 549<br />

was a patriot without personal animosities, an orator without<br />

vanity, a hiwyer without chicanery, and a gentleman<br />

without ostentation, a statesman without duplicity, and a<br />

christian without bigotry. As a man <strong>of</strong> command<strong>in</strong>g talents,<br />

his firm renunciation and self denial <strong>of</strong> all ambitious<br />

views, would have secured him that respect which such<br />

strength <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>evitably <strong>in</strong>spires ; while his voluntary<br />

and zealous devotion to the service <strong>of</strong> his countrymen,<br />

established him <strong>in</strong> their affection. His uprightness and<br />

pla<strong>in</strong>ness, united to his affability and dis<strong>in</strong>terestedness,<br />

gave the most extensive <strong>in</strong>fluence to his op<strong>in</strong>ions, and <strong>in</strong> a<br />

period <strong>of</strong> doubt, divisions, and danger, men sought relief<br />

<strong>from</strong> their perplexities <strong>in</strong> his authority, and suffered their<br />

course to be guided by him, when they distrusted their own<br />

judgments, or the counsels <strong>of</strong> others. He, <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>e, formed<br />

one <strong>of</strong> those manly, public spirited, and generous citizens,<br />

ready to share i)eril and decl<strong>in</strong>e reward, who illustrate the<br />

idea <strong>of</strong> a commonwealth, * * * and will always be the<br />

most admired, appropriate, and noble ornaments <strong>of</strong> a free<br />

government." ^<br />

2 Quoted <strong>in</strong> Hampshire Gazette, March 5, 1833, <strong>from</strong> Tudor's Life <strong>of</strong> James Otis.

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