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

SPRINGFIELD. 16S6-18S6. 259
be as pure, and at tlie same time uuburdened by coercive political
machinery.
Chicopee had nearly forty voters in 1749, and entered a petition
for a separate minister in January. The petition was dismissed.
In the autumn the Chicopee people again agitated the question, and
the First Parish connnittee appointed for that purpose replied : —
P
Its very Evident by their (Chicopee's) Shewing that their Accommodations
which they have ol)tained by being so farr off from the Center of the Parish is
more than a Compensation for tlieir Fateagues on tlie Sabbath, for it is a very
plain case that if the rideing on Horse Baclv on a Plain six miles in half a Day is
more than Equall to half a Day's labour, the Petitioners upon the whole Live with
much more Ease & Less Fateague than those who live in the Center of the
Parish; who besides the Fateague they have in managing their business at a Dis-
tance all the week, are obliged to build & maintain Three Large vessels to
Transport the Produce of tlieir Lands to y stores.
end.
But Chicopee persisted, and a church was organized at the north
The First Parish began their third meeting-house in 1749, and com-
pleted it three years later. It was sixty feet by forty-six in size, and
stood until the present edifice was erected.
We are inclined to think that the democratic bias of Mr. Breck's
mind prepared the Springfield community for many of the changes
attending the new era. It was noted during the second year of his
ministry that " the age of Persons and theire Estates as they stand
upon the list (Negroes Excepted) are the Principal Rule that said
Comete (seating committee) are to be governed by theire proseedings
and any other Dignity that any Parsons may be clothed or attended
withall shall be Left Uiscressionary with sd Committee." The men
were still seated upou one side of the house, and the women on the
other. But the new building inaugurated a commendable change ;
a vote being passed, before the meeting-house was finished, directing
the seating committee to " seat men and women indiscriminately."