“Procession at Westminister Abbey,” Canaletto, (1749) 1647 – The Assembly of Divines at Westminster in London, England order John Biddle’s Two-fold Catechism to be burned by the common hangman (signifying that its publication was a criminal offense) and also ordered the Committee of Plundered Ministers to examine Biddle. Biddle was a thorough Unitarian and a fine … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 6
1794 – Hosea Ballou was ordained on this day without advance notice or preparation at the age of 23. Although he had been a respected Universalist preacher for some time, he had never been ordained. One the last day of the Universalist General Convention in Oxford, Massachusetts, Elhanan Winchester, known for his fiery preaching, pressed … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 5
1796 – Charles Theodore Christian Follen was born in Germany. After fighting in the German-French war, he became a distinguished lawyer; professor at Cantonal School in Grisons, Switzerland; and lecturer at the University of Basel. Follen came to America to teach German at Harvard University. Under the influence of William Ellery Channing, he became Unitarian … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 4
1824 – Caroline Augusta White Soule was born in Albany, New York. She was principal of the female department of Clinton Liberal Institute in Clinton, New York. She was a member of the editorial staff of Ladies’ Repository from 1856 to 1865. In 1867, she founded Guiding Star and served as its editor until 1878. … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 3
The Church in Oxford, Massachussets 1786 – Adams Streeter died at the age of 50. He was an early Universalist preacher who helped John Murray organize a Universalist society in Boston and the first minister of Universalist congregations in Oxford and Milford, Massachusetts. The post September 2 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 2
1844 – Meadville Theological School formally opened in Meadville, Pennsylvania, as a school to train Unitarian ministers. Many believed that churches should not be solely dependent on Harvard Divinity School for ministerial training. The Meadville Theological School moved to Chicago in 1926, incorporating with the University of Chicago. Read about Frederic Huidekoper, founder of the … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History September 1
1740 – John Frederick Oberlin was born. A simple village parson in Alsace, France, he was animated by his belief in universal salvation and the triumph of universal good. He ran a village school that was noted for its nurturing spirit, especially toward girls. During the French Revolution, his reputation spared him from anticlerical excess. … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 31
1784 – Mary Austin Holley was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She was reared Episcopalian and became a Unitarian as an adult. A cousin of Stephen F. Austin, “Father of Texas,” Holley promoted independence from Mexico for Texas, which was achieved in 1836, and Texas statehood, which was made official the year of her death, … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 30
1632 – The philosopher John Locke was born in Wrington, Somerset, England. He trained in medicine and the humanities but became a public servant and diplomat. He wrote extensively on the importance of government as a peacemaker and non-religious authority, including his famous Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Civil Government. His writings on New Testament … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 29
1859 – James Henry Leigh Hunt, an English poet and editor of The Monthly Repository, a Unitarian journal, died at age 74. He was a Unitarian and associated with many Unitarians of his day, including Charles Dickens, Harriet Martineau, and Charles Lamb. He is best remembered for his poems “Abou ben Adhem” and “Jennie Kissed … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 28
