Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886. 227
great suft'erers. The period is tlie low ebb of Cougregatioualisin, and
while our church records before the Breck ministry are meagre, the
traces of the moral transitions and distractions are not wanting.
Rev. Stephen Williams, a very remarkable man, was already
preaching in Longmeadow, where a part of the Springfield congrega-
tion had gathered ;
and Mr. Williams had a peculiar way of recording
his thoughts, — a kind of a sentimental journal of a minister, one
might call his literary remains. He gives definite evidence and form
to the traditions of those times. The low condition of morals led to
many conferences among the brethren, and at a meeting of the local
churches at Chicopee, Williams was uncompromising ; the moral
landscape that he saw was dismally and unpicturesquely dark. Here
are his notes of what he said upon that occasion :
Facts : Vices abound — visible and manifest evills among us — decay of y''
power of godliness — divine institutions neglected by many — some unbaptised —
great multitudes never join themselves to the churches of Christ — low esteem of
ordinances — strifes and contentions — extravagant dress beyond our estates and
degree — family gov' and instruction neglected — how many children ignorant
of the first rudiments of religion and without civility —^3'eaand without instruc-
tion in reading and writing — intemperance, much drunkennesse, tavern haunting
and cheating one another ; breaches of the 7th commandt and not to insist on the
abounding of adultery, how amazing does y