Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-01
NOT AN ORDINARY MAN
Events in the Life of Jonathan
Edwards.
SCENE OF HUMILIATION
Brown Stone Edifce Replaces His
Humble Church.
DISMISSED FOR HIS DOCTRINE
Long Controversy That Ended in His
Retirement From NORTHAMPTON.
His Theological Works.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Cbica
Record Herald.

binary man, Jonathan Edwards the most
extreme and uncompromising Calvanist, the
most profound metaphysician and perhaps
the ablest theologian America has ever pro-
duced. And, as one looks at the stately
brown stone structure, with it's towering
steeple, that stands upon the site once oc-
cupied by the four-square little white
wooden church in which he condemned his
opponents to eternal perdition, and declared
himself as infallible in spiritual doctrines
as the pope of Rome, one cannot help think
ing of the happiness that man might have
conferred upon his fellow sinners if, with
his wonderful talents, he had preached the
gospel of sweetness and light, instead of
committing all who did not agree with him
to eternal torment. We have heard that
Mr.. Edwards declared from his pulpit that
Hell is paved with the skulls of infants
not span long" His defenders have
stoutly denied that he ever gave utterance
to such an awful sentiment, but we do
know that he did profess doctrines that
were almost as abhorrent
Infant damnation was a very important
item in the creed Of those old, stern Cal
vanists, and to save their little ones from
perdition, it was customary to baptiZe them
as soon possible after birth, and thus
keep them out of the clutches of Belize
bub. The fifth child of Jonathan Edwards
was born one Sunday afternoon here in
Northampton while he was preaching. The
good women who were comforting Mrs.
Edwards brought 1t Immediately to the
church, where it was baptized by it's father
at the close Of his sermon, less than half
an hour old.
Site Of Edwards Church.
The white frame church in which he used
to preach was torn down thirty years ago
and replaced by the present structure,
which is more grand and less gloomy than
anything that Jonathan Edwards ever
dreamed of, and 1t is interesting to conjec-
ture what he would say If he could see it.
His name is printed in gilt letters upon the
signboard that bears the title Of the
church and the name of the pastor, the
Rev. DR.. Rose, but he never would recog-
nize the place. There Is bank on one
side, an employment agency on the other;
trolley cars that run to every part of west
ern Massachusetts, pass the door every few
minutes, and in the rear is the Office of
the venerable Hampshire Gazette, in which
William Cullen Bryant's first poem was
originally printed. That paper was pub
lished in Jonathan Edwards time, and its
early files contain an account of his trial.
1t has not only survived him and his
theology, but uses typesetting machines,
which doubtless he would think were the
tools of the devil F
If Mr.. Edwards should come here today
and go little further down the street he
would have the pleasure of meeting our
able and amiable friend, Mr.. George
"
much pleasure to the world by his
charming novels of Creole life and is
now preaching the gospel Of beauty
and cleanliness to the mechanics and
a thriving culture club" He and his
assistants are giving their lives to the cul-
tivation of the sense of beauty, cleanliness
and order among those who know them
not; they are showing the factory families
of Northampton how to make their homes
more comfortable and happy; how to get
more satisfaction from their wages and
are training them to embellish their gar
dens and the grounds around their houses
with plants and flowers.
The Berkshire Hills have been the birth
place and the nursery of many great men
statesmen, preachers, teachers, editors and
others whose duty in life has been to show
the world the truth, the light and the way.
Edwards Liberal Grandfather.
The Rev. Solomon Stoddard, grandfather
of Jonathan Edwards and his predecessor
as pastor in the First Congregational
Church at Northampton, occupied that pull
pit for ffty-eight years. He was a man of
cheerful moods, gentle disposition, lovable
character and very liberal in his theology
He contended that repentant persons had a
right in the sight of God to the benefits of
the sacrament of the Lords Supper without
making formal profession of their faith.
and invited all who believed in Jesus Christ
believers with the hope that when once
entered and brought under religious inf1u-
ences they would grow in grace and come
within the fold" This practice was de-
nounced by Calvinistic theologians as
"Stoddardeanism." and a public discussion
of the question between Increase and Cot
ton Mather with their adherents on one
side, and Solomon Stoddard and the liberal
element in the church the other, COM
menced in the year 100. and continued
until the death of the latter in 1929.
The controversy was revived by Jonathan
Edwards in 1749, and continued through
the century. The doctrine advocated by
Mr.. Stoddard was popular, and was adopted
by all the churches in the New Hampshire
association. but his grandson and successor
at Northampton would not accept it; and
his famous trial and final dismissal from
his grandfathers pulpit was the conse-
quence. He refused the sacrament to all
who were not professors; he refused to
baptize the children Of unbelievers, and of
all who were not members of the church.
And, for that reason. his congregation, by
a vote of 200 to 20, demanded his dismissal,
and even refused to hear him in his own
defense. After a controversy Of several
years a council was called which tried the
case and decided against Edwards and in
favor of his congregation. That verdict
was rendered on the ODD of June, 1850, five
pastors and five laymen voting in the af-
frmative, and five pastors and four lay
men in the negative, which made a ma
jority of only one.
y
minister among this people, Jonathan Ed
wards was dismissed. and the council had
the courage to warn even SO great and ter
rible a man as he: ITO take proper notice
of the heavy frown Of Divine Providence in
suffering the church and its minister to be
reduced to such a state as to render sep
aration necessary"
The Edwards Ancestry.
William Edwards was the first ancestor
Of the family In America. He appeared at
Hartford four years after its settlement
married the widow of William Spencer, and
had one child. Richard, born in 16f7. Rich
ard Edwards spent his life in Hartford, was
twice married. the father Of twelve chill
dren, and an influential citizen Of no mean
city. His first child, Timothy born In 1859
graduated from Harvard in 1881, married
Esther Stoddard, daughter of the good old
pastor at Northampton, studied and settled
at East Windsor. small village with a
large history six miles north OF Hartford
where he preached in the First Congrega-
tional Church for sixty-three years.
Timothy Edwards had ha oh