1758 – Noah Worcester was born in Hollis, New Hampshire. Descended from a long line of distinguished clergy, he conducted morning and evening family worship from the age of 12. He had little formal schooling and joined the American revolutionary army in 1775. Desperately poor, Worcester studied theology on his own, was ordained a Unitarian … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 25

1899 – The Unitarian abolitionist Samuel May died in Leicester, Massachusetts, at age 89, where he was a minister. He was forced to resign because of his strong support for abolition. He became a leader in the anti-slavery movement as secretary of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society, a position he held from 1847 until 1865. It was … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 24

1996 – Angus deMille Cameron, a distinguished Unitarian minister from Canada who was active in denominational affairs, died on the Kingston Peninsula in New Brunswick at the age of 83.   The post November 23 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1569 – Coelius Secundus Curio, a Catholic heretic influenced by Martin Luther, died at age 66. Born to a distinguished family, he was imprisoned several times by the Inquisition for his anti-Trinitarian ideas. Each time he escaped. In 1547 he settled in Switzerland and became professor of literature at the University of Basel. His works … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 22

1559 – The Synod of Pinczow, Poland, debated the nature of Christ, showing the Socinian influence. The dispute was settled with both sides claiming victory. The post November 21 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1850 – Charlotte Garrigue Masaryk was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her family belonged to First Unitarian Church of Brooklyn. While studying piano in Germany, friends there told her about Thomas Masaryk, whom she married in 1878. The couple moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia, where Thomas fought for his country’s independence and Charlotte devoted her time … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 20

1904 – Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney, a Unitarian and civil rights activist, died at age 80. She was an activist for women’s rights, abolition, and the education of free slaves. She was a friend of Harriet Tubman, who furthered her interest in educating former slaves. Interested in medical education for women, Cheney was instrumental in … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 19

2003 The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issues its decision in the case of Goodridge vs. the Department of Public Health of Massachusetts. The court held that under the Constitution of Massachusetts, it is illegal to deny to people of the same gender the same marriage rights granted to people of different genders. The primary plaintiffs … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 18

The coat of arms of Rakow, Poland 1599 – John Saieninius, the ruler of Krakow, Poland, converted from Calvinism to Socinianism during debates at Rakow and became a patron of Socinian churches and an important benefactor of the movement. He established a Unitarian congregation and his son James established a Unitarian seminary and printing office … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 17

1611 – John Tyscovicius of Poland was executed because he would not take an oath on the Trinity but only to God. His tongue was plucked out for the crime of blasphemy, after which he was beheaded, his hands and feet cut off, and his body publicly burned. Although his village council exonerated Tyscovicius on … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History November 16