1898 – Lady Frances Anna Maria Russell, who helped to organize the Unitarian church in Richmond, Surrey, England, died. Her grandson was philosopher Bertrand Russell. The post January 17 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1876 – Edmund Hamilton Sears, Unitarian missionary, parish minister, and hymn writer who composed “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” died. Read more about Edmund Hamilton Sears at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism. The post January 16 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

1893 – Fanny Kemble, famous English actress turned American abolitionist, died. She was heavily influenced by Unitarians William Ellery Channing and Lydia Maria Child. After marrying a Philadelphia gentleman who owned plantations and slaves in Georgia, she was appalled at slavery, divorced her husband, and joined the abolition movement, publishing her Journal of a Residence … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History January 15

1875 – Albert Schweitzer was born. He became a medical missionary in Africa after earning doctorates not only in medicine but also in theology, philosophy, and music. An eminent author of books on Bach, Jesus, civilization, and ethics, he was a member of the Unitarian Church of Capetown, South Africa. Read more about Albert Schweitzer … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History January 14

1568 Prince John Sigismund converted to Unitarianism after Unitarian minister Francis Dávid, won debates with a Calvinist Bishop in Transylvania at the Diet of Torda. The prince then issued the Edict of Torda, declaring toleration for other religions. The post January 13 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History January 13

1737 – John Hancock, a leading American patriot, was born. He inherited his uncle’s mercantile business, was the president of the Continental Congress, and became the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. He was chair of the building committee of Boston’s Unitarian Brattle Street Church, of which he was a member. The post January … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History January 12

1900 – James Martineau, a British philosopher and eminent Unitarian leader, died. He served as a long-time principal of Manchester, New College, Oxford University. Among his several books is The Seat of Authority in Religion. The post January 11 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History January 11

1523 – Ludwig Hetzer, a Protestant with Unitarian beliefs, published a treatise against the worship of images. He denounced the trinity, claiming that “the Father alone is the true God…” Hetzer was arrested, charged with impugning the doctrine of the Trinity by the Synod of Constance, and ordered beheaded and burned. The sentence was carried … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History December 18

Harris Manchester College today 1816 – Russell Lant Carpenter was born in Exeter, England. He was the son of Lant Carpenter, a prominent Unitarian minister. He studied for the ministry at Manchester New College in York, now in Oxford, and went on to serve many churches. His sermons were often on social topics, unusual in … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History December 17

The Great Marketplace in Warsaw, Poland 1611 – Iwan Tyskiewicz, a Socinian, was executed in the great marketplace of Warsaw, Poland, for heresy. His tongue was cut out and one hand and one foot cut off before he was beheaded. Tysziewicz’s life would have been spared had he renounced his faith. He is considered the … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History December 16