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

238 SPRIXGFIELI), 1636-1SS6.
Chauncey, Mr. Devotion, aud Mr. Rand. John Burt was directed to
go to Boston for other ministers to assist at the ordination. On the 4th
day of August, also, i\[r. Worthington, Henry Chapin, Joseph Ash-
ley, and Simon Smith signed a paper protesting against the act of
the churcli giving Mr. Breck a call, "contrary to the advice of y^
Ministers in y*^ County." The paper was read at this meeting of the
church, but the " church Refused a vote to Call or cancel " the
engagement with Mr. Breck. Three days later William Williams,
Stephen Williams, Samuel Hopkins, and Jonathan Edwards wrote a
letter to Col. John Pynchon and the dissatisfied members of the
church, in which the}'^ said that they were of the opinion that the first
step should be the examination of the charges against Breck, b}'^ a
committee of the association, which latter body, the writers main-
tained, was " y*" only proper Judge of the Case." "But," tliey
continued, " if j^our Neighbours drive on an ordination speedily,
we judge it to be your duty to enter your dissent, and give your
reasons for so doing, and support them by all y'' evidence you can
obtain in y*" case."