13.08.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

1742] MR. EDWARDS' SALARY—GREAT AWAKENING. 201<br />

more than a generation. Another equally memorable re-<br />

sult was that the people were more than ever united <strong>in</strong><br />

their religious op<strong>in</strong>ions. ^ Such a condition <strong>of</strong> affairs was<br />

never before known <strong>in</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> the town. A])parently<br />

religion had taken deep root, and the moral standard<br />

<strong>of</strong> the people had been greatly benefited . This feel<strong>in</strong>g out-<br />

lived the immediate heat and excitement <strong>of</strong> tlie revival,<br />

and the impression upon church and people had every<br />

appearance <strong>of</strong> permanence.<br />

Such was the result and such the effect <strong>of</strong> the great<br />

awaken<strong>in</strong>g upon the town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Northampton</strong>, yet like all<br />

similar movements it gradually subsided. The methods <strong>of</strong><br />

the revivalists, always combated by the more conservative,<br />

at last came under censure, and clergymen <strong>of</strong> high repute<br />

a controversy arose so deaden-<br />

opposed their cont<strong>in</strong>uance ;<br />

<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>its</strong> effects that f<strong>in</strong>ally the revival died out entirely.<br />

1 Letter <strong>of</strong> Jonathan Edwards, Dwight's Life, p. 170.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!