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

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18S6. 229
The Springfield chureb was so divided over Mr. Breck tluit even
families were in danger of rupture. Mr. Breck was on the ground
at the meeting of the association ready to defend himself, and there
was evidence in abundance prepared by way of attack.
In order to understand the situation at the April session it will be
necessary to go back a year and more. Mr. Breck was the son of
Rev. Kobert Breck, of Marlborough. Breck took the first honors of his
class at Harvard, in 1730, at the age of seventeen. He had been taken
out for a time by his father, probably because he had fallen into evil
company. Physically we have the tradition of the Breck family that
Robert was of sturd}^ proportion, and mentall}^ we know from his liter-
ary remains that he was a deep thinker and a fearless controversialist
who did not hesitate to read any book, orthodox or otherwise, that
would clear up a subject. He was as good an example of genuine
intuitions as could be found in this valley before the Revolution.
The two rising young men of this valley — Breck and Edwards —
set at work at about the same time to examine the portals of the ortho-
dox faith, — one witli doubt and the otlier with a herculean faith.
One held up the shield of the love of God, and the other brandished
the sword of the glory of God ; one hud tlie heart and the other the
intellect of theology, and both felt the demoralization of Christian
society in New England. They and their respective partisans — for
that is the word to use — met in open combat, and the results were
as dramatic as the immediate conflict was terrible. Breck brought
the religion of Springfield into the revolutionar}' period, and opened
the way to modern ideas ;
while poor Mr. Edwards, after establishing
his metaphysical scheme, was forced to retire to the Stockbridge
Indians under a cloud. Scholars have since bowed to the genius of
Edwards, but tlie people live the principles of Breck.
The parish first extended a unanimous call to Rev. Daniel Hubbard,
of New London. Two ineffectual attempts were made to secure Mr.
Hubbard, William Pynchon aud -John Burt going down first, and then
Lieut. John Worthington and Thomas Stebbins. Meantime Deacons