1803 – Adin Ballou was born in Cumberland, Rhode Island. A minister of Prince Street Universalist Society in New York City, he helped establish and maintain the utopian Hopedale Community in Massachusetts. He supported the idea of Restorationism, or limited future punishment, against the more liberal views of his famous cousin, Hosea Ballou, who held … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 23

1759 – James Freeman was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He became minister of King’s Chapel in Boston after the congregation agreed to remove references to the Trinity from the Book of Common Prayer. Read more about James Freeman at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism. The post April 22 first appeared on Harvard … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 22

1805 – James Martineau was born in Norwich, England. He was an outstanding philosopher and Unitarian theologian, minister, and professor and principal of Manchester College. His book The Rationale of Religious Enquiry (1836) argued for reason as superior in authority to the Bible. He published such major works as The Seat of Authority in Religion … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 21

1821 – The first issue of the Unitarian periodical The Christian Register was published. It was edited by David Reed and supported by leading Unitarians of Boston and New England, who provided funding and prestige. Read a biography of David Reed, founder of The Christian Register. The post April 20 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 20

1889 – Emily Taft Douglas was born in Chicago. After graduating from the University of Chicago, she became statewide organizer for the Illinois League of Women Voters. She married Paul Howard Douglas, a senator from Illinois (1948-1967) and was elected to the U.S. House of representatives herself in 1944. Her publications include Margaret Sanger: Pioneer … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 19

1870 – Louis Craig Cornish was born in New Bedford, MA. He served as minister in Hingham, Massachusetts and in various capacities at American Unitarian Association headquarters, including as president from 1927 to 1937, following the presidency of Samuel Atkins Eliot. Cornish was president of the International Association for Religious Freedom. Read selections from Work … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 18

1774 – Theophilus Lindsey founded the Unitarian Society (now Essex Street Chapel) in London. The first services were held with 200 attending, including Benjamin Franklin, who joined the church. Many historians consider this the beginning of the Unitarian movement in England. At that time it was a criminal offense in England to express Unitarian views. … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 17

Nottingham, England 1895 – Edwin Smith, a Unitarian minister in Manchester, England, died at age 62. He ran a private school in Nottingham, wrote poetry, and authored scientific papers. The post April 16 first appeared on Harvard Square Library. Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1814 – John Lothrop Motley was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. A historian and novelist, his books include two histories of the Netherlands. He also wrote The Life and Death of John of Barneveld (1874). Throughout his life, he travelled extensively in Europe. Motley was an active Unitarian Layman. The post April 15 first appeared on … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History April 15

1640 – A convocation opened in England with the aim of checking Socinianism. Resolutions were passed but no action ensued, perhaps because England was at the beginning of the civil war that overthrew King Charles II. The post April 14 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 April 14