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

SPRINGFIELD. 16S6-1SS6. 241
made another appeal to Messrs. Clap and Kirtlaud to come to
Springfield. Mr. Williams, of Hatfield, meantime declined to assist
at the ordination of Mr. Breck in a letter to Deacon Munn, in which
he said : —
I cannot see it my way to comply with yoiir desire or to Communicate it to
our Clih, not being satisfied as to y'' regularity of your proceedings In your in-
vitation of Mr. Breck or of his acceptance of a call from 3'ou; it lieing contrary
to y*^ advice given you by y^ association of ministers at Springfield in April last,
y' there should be first a regular hearing of y^ matters objected against Mr. B. pre-
veous to it, which I then tho't y*^ honour of Christ and of y*^ ministry and y''
peace of your Clih required, and I continue still to think so, therefore aj)prehend
it rather a duty to bare a testimony against it than to approve it.
On the 10th of September the dissatisfied wrote INIr. "Williams that
they were still desirous of having the Hampshire association meet at
Springfield a week before the proposed ordination. But they were
persuaded that a "council of Churches to hear the affair by Both
Parties " could not be obtained ; " for, at the meeting of the Church
when they application to Gentl" to assist in ordaining Mr. Breck
twas moved by the Dissatisfied Party tliat a Council tnight be had on
y'' affair but Deny''. So that we are fully Persuaded no other meas-
ures will at Present be Complyd with than what is of their own De-
vising. As to the Revd INIr. Clap's &c being here we shall take care
to Desire their attendance at y^ association if convened." A week
later Mr. Williams replied m a letter to Col. John Pynchon, as
follows —
:
Hon'^D: Sli.
Upon the Consideration of yrs of Sepf 10th wherein you desird a meeting of
y" Association at Springfield y*" week after next. It hath seemed to me to be im-
practicable & also likely to be unprofitable, we not being desired by the Church
& Mr. Breck. It's questionable whether they will referr the Case to tliose that
shall convene or will regard our Judgment. I had tho't it would be best for the
Association to meet at Deerfield according to appointment, only a week sooner,