New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04

marry he prayed the Lord would send him for a
wife such q woman as Mrs. Edwards whom he
regarded as the most beautiful and noble wife for
a Christian minister he had ever known Mrs Ed
wards was thoroughly in sympathy with her hus-
bands work. and that he appreciated this svu,-
pathy vas evident al through their married life.
When dying Of smallpox at Princeton, March %.
I75S. his last thought of her. Mrs Edwards
also contracted the disease and her death followed
her husbands within few weeks Mrs Edwards
Is described as a wonderfully beautiful woman.
Her maiden name was Sarah Pierrepont. and she
was the daughter of the Rev James Pierrepont OF
NeV-Haven. She was seventeen years old when
married. and Edwards was TWENTY four They
reared family OF ten children, the descendants OF
whom include many of note in this and other
countries few years ago there a family
reunion In Stockbrloge and as a result Of this
gathering a memorial monument was erected Just
across the street from the site of the mission
church and close to the old cemetery. Aaron Burr,
me dlelIlst was one of the grandsons OF Jona-
than Edwards
it was after the death Of John Sergeant the
founder Of the Stockbridge Indian Mission that
Edwards went 10 Stockbridge. He had only short
time before been forced TO leave his church
northampton, Mass. because he objected to the
condition Of admission 10 the church. and to certain
paTishloners reading books which his mind
obscene.
On Sargeants death the whites and Indians
posing Tie mission church EXTENDED a the
Rev. DR.. Hopkins, of Great Darlington. Mass,
wards made several visits to Stockbridge before
settling there with MS family. Finally about the
last OF July. l75l, the family moved to the house
built by Sergeant which was purchased by Ed
wards. The purchase of this property proved
great financial burden to him. In January, 1752
he wrote of being greatly debt. He received his
salary as missionary partly from London and
partly from the Massachusetts Legislature. AS
pastor. the records show he received from the
whites OF his parish 10 lbs Al year. besides
lie o
Indian language, always addressing his Indian
hearers through an interpreter. He believed the In
dams should learn English and thought it no ad-
vantage to the English to learn the Indian Ian
guage Yet he did effective among the In
dams and many were admitted to the church
during his passionate. In 1853 there is record of
revival among them. The same iron clad ideas
admission to church membership that were re-
sponsible for his trouble at Northampton were
maintained at Stockordge and none were ad-
mitted TO the mission church during his settlement
the half way covenant
In 1852 Edwards began his famous treatise on
The Freedom of the WILL" and he completed it
before April. 1853 In July 1854 he seized with
fever and agUe and cid not fully until
January 1875. He took charge Of two Indian boys.
but i'll he could not give them the atten-
ton be desired In the spring OF l755 he began two
works-"God's End in Creation" and The Nature
Of Virtue" About this tine he sent his son
Jonathan Ito OnohQuaga to live with Mr. Hawley."
and become fitted for being missionary among
the Indians. They driven back by the out
break OF the French War and the project had to
be abandoned.
In May, l75s, the town was IN such danger that
Dr. Bellany Of Bethlehem, invited Edwards and
his family to take Shelter with him. The records
show. however. that Edwards was no coward, in
ssTnuch he stayed in town throughout the Ind
ian troubles The soldiers sent BY Governor shir-
ley to protect the town were quartered upon the
people, and Edwards had four as his quota
In May, l757, Edwards wrote the preface to mis-
work Original Sin" and began The Harmony
OF the Old and New Testaments." He had in
contemplation the preparation in book form Of his
sermons on The History Of Redemption" when
his son-in-law. President Burr of Princeton Col
lege. died, and he urged to take the vacant
Office. He finally reluctantly agreed to DO this
should church council decide The council
met January 1, 175s. and, though Edwards had
always schooled himself control his feelings
fl public, when the decision that he should go
announced TO him. his true feelings triumphed
his iron WILL and. covering his face with his
hands. he wept.
The little house occupied by Edwards and his
family in Stockbridge passed into the hands OF F.
Hoffman in 1852 and until 1870 Mr.. Hoffman and
a partner conducted private school there. Mr.
Hoffman. who still lives in Lenox. has a small.
badly SCARED table he secured in Amherst Mass
This table. he says. was taken from the Edwards
house before he purchased the property. and he is
convinced that it is the table which Edwards
wrote his Freedom Of the Will
For several years the old Edwards house
boarding house, under the name Of the Edwards
Arms. a few years ago Mr.. Hoffman sold the
property to John Caldwell. OF Pitts5urg The old
house was torn down to make way for Mr.. Cald-
wells summer home
Few things saved from the old house
reminders of the residence of the great theoogian
! in Stockbridge. These are. however. being gath
cred together and to be grouped in the present
Congregational Church in Stockbridge. The Rev.
z. S. Porter. the pastor. has interested himself
I in the movement. and is doing what he to
get together these reminders OF Edwards.
The site Of the little mission church is marked
by a tower bearing a chime OF bells, the gift Of
David Dudley Field the lawyer. whose father. the
Rev. Dr. David Dudley Field was pastor of the
Chimes. and the largest is inscribed. The Chill
dren's Chime. Presented by David Dudley Field in
memory Of his little grandchildren. descendants
OF John Sargent, the FIRST missionary"
In the library at Stockbridge is the old Edwards
study, or reference, table which presented to
the library by Dr. L. S. Adams. for his aunt. Mrs.
Cowles OF Canaan, Conn This table. which is like
inverted scoop hung central stand, has six
sides and revolves n any direction. There is
also in the library the first communion tankard
. used in the mission church. and the old conch
shell blown TO call the Indians and whites TO
worship. This shell, which for years took the place
Of a bell in the little church was given by the
friends Of the work in Boston Il was presented 10
Josiah Jones when the Indians left Stockbridse
and turned over TO the library by the Jones family.
II appears that blowing was expensive IN those
days for there are records OF payments TO David
Nau-nau-kee-ks-nu for services renaefe1 IN dow
ing the shell each Sunday
Pieces of the timbers from the Edwards house