History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1738.1 NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 77
apart as a day of solemn worship to God. "and to praise
his name for so wonderful, and as it were miraculous, a
]n'eser Vatican."
The Old House T.iru
An Order was adopted in 1738. to pull down
''°^'''"- the old meeting-house, and dispose of it to
the best advantage. On the 5"' day of
May it was demolished. Five pounds and thirteen shillings
were expended in removing it. and much of the material
was disposed of during the following years. A portion of
it was used in the erection of a town house, in 1739, and
the pulpit and all the pews belonging to the town, were
given to the people of the new settlement over Munhan
Southampton.
The Youug People In the old lueeting-liouse much disorder pre-
Behave Badly at vailed amoug the young people during re-
Meeting. T •
•'
1 -i , ,
ligious services, and it was not strange, con-
sidering the crowded state of the congregation. In the
new one, measures were taken previous to its occupation,
to preserve order. In March 173^^, the annexed vote on this
subject was adopted :
—
'* The Question Was put whether the Town desired the
Several Justices in Northampton (when the Committee of
Seaters have finished their Seating) to Exert their Authority
to maintain good Order in the House of God in the time
of Publick Worship, and it passed in the affirmatiA^e."
If the six tithing-inen appointed that year were unable
to keep the children quiet, and it became necessary to call
on the Justices to assist, either the Sundaj^ constables were
ver}^ inefficient, or the disorder must have assumed very
alarming proportions.
Porches Built and Wlieii the meetiiig-liouse was erected, no
a Tower Clock porclics wei'e placed over either of the
doors. The first movement in that direc-
tion was made in 1764, when one was constructed over the
west entrance, and four years later another was placed over
the south door. A clock found its way into the steeple in
the course of a few years, but there is no record concerning
it, and it is uncertain whether the clock was purchased by
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