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

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

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1751.] DISMISSAL OF REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 229<br />

1751. Great excitement was created <strong>in</strong> town by this movement.<br />

It was believed that Mr. Edwards, through his<br />

friends, was endeavor<strong>in</strong>g to obta<strong>in</strong> a re-<strong>settlement</strong> <strong>in</strong> town.<br />

Remonstrance <strong>of</strong> At a cliurch meet<strong>in</strong>g called to consider the<br />

the Church. subject, a Committee was appo<strong>in</strong>ted, who<br />

drew up a remonstrance which was presented<br />

to the council. This paper was one <strong>of</strong> the most bitter<br />

documents that the opponents <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edwards had<br />

formulated aga<strong>in</strong>st him. It has disappeared, and onlj'"<br />

<strong>from</strong> the manner <strong>in</strong> which Mr. Edwards and Mr. Hawley<br />

allude to it, can any idea <strong>of</strong> <strong>its</strong> purport be obta<strong>in</strong>ed. Mr.<br />

Edwards, <strong>in</strong> a letter to Mr. Hawley (which together with<br />

the reply <strong>of</strong> Major Hawley, will be noted hereafter), says<br />

^<br />

<strong>in</strong> regard to it :<br />

—<br />

"as to j'our Remonstrance to the last council, it not only conta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

th<strong>in</strong>gs that were uncharitable and censorioiis by which Facts were<br />

mis<strong>in</strong>terpreted and overstated but it was full <strong>of</strong> direct, bold slander<br />

asserted <strong>in</strong> strong terms, and delivered <strong>in</strong> very severe opprobrious<br />

language merely on suspicion and surmise."<br />

Major Hawley, who, though he denied writ<strong>in</strong>g the document,<br />

acknowledged that he assisted <strong>in</strong> compil<strong>in</strong>g it, and<br />

copied and read it to the council, thus characterises it. He<br />

says that it was<br />

•• Everywhere <strong>in</strong>terlarded with unchristiaTi bitterness, sarcastical,<br />

and unmannerly <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uations. It conta<strong>in</strong>ed divers direct, grievous,<br />

and crim<strong>in</strong>al charges and allegations aga<strong>in</strong>st Mr. Edwards, which, I<br />

have s<strong>in</strong>ce good reason to supi)0se, were all founded on jealous and un-<br />

charitable mistakes."' " It was," he cont<strong>in</strong>ues, " a scandalous, abusive,<br />

<strong>in</strong>jurious libel, aga<strong>in</strong>st Mr. Edwards and his particular friends." ^<br />

The council immediately <strong>in</strong>vited the committee to appear<br />

and siibstantiate the charges and <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uati()ns it conta<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

Refus<strong>in</strong>g to recognize that assembly as an ecclesiastical<br />

body, the committee decl<strong>in</strong>ed to act. The church was also<br />

desired by the council to unite with it <strong>in</strong> a friendly conference<br />

upon the affair, but the state <strong>of</strong> feel<strong>in</strong>g was such that<br />

noth<strong>in</strong>g could be accomplished. F<strong>in</strong>ally the council, agreeably<br />

to the judgment <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edwards, advised that he<br />

accept the call to Stockbridge.<br />

1 Dwight's Life <strong>of</strong> Edwards, p. 4e4.

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