WHITEFIELD. 1 55 



WHITEFIELD. 



The Massachusetts Historical Society has in its Library a 

 copy of " Some Reasons Given by The Western Association 

 Upon Merrimack River, Why They disapprove of the Rever- 

 end Mr. George Whitefield's preaching in the New-England 

 Churches" (Boston, 1745). 



The pamphlet is in substance the report of a meeting of the 

 Association, held at Chelmsford, on February 13, 1 744-5 ( 

 which was called to consider various objections that had been 

 made to Mr. Whitefield as a preacher. One of the charges 

 brought against him was that he was " enthusiastical, unchari- 

 table, and destructive of the Peace and Order of the Churches of 

 this Land." 



The last paragraph in the pamphlet is as follows : — 



For these Reasons, and many other which have been made publick 

 by others, we do unanimously agree, to give no E ncouragement or 

 Countenance to Mr. Whitefi eld's preaching or performing any Part 

 of the Ministerial Office, in any of the Towns to which we stand re- 

 lated as their Pastors, 

 [signed] 



Samuel Ruggles, Pastor of the Church in Bellerica. 

 Caleb Trowbridge, Groton, 



Thomas Parker, Dracut, 



W ilia nl Hall, Wesford, 



Daniel Rogers, Littleton, 



David Stearns, Lunenburg, 



John Rogers, Leominster, 



Josiah Swan, Dunstable, 



Ebenezer Bridge, Chelmsford. 



Rev. George Whitefield. — More than a hundred and 

 fifty years ago George Whitefield was one of the most famous 

 preachers in the English-speaking world. He was the son of 

 an inn-holder, and was born in Gloucester, England, on De- 

 cember 27, 1 714. At an early period in his youth he began 

 to write sermons, and otherwise to give tokens of his future 

 career. He led a life of religious zeal and self-denial, and 



