1920 – Unitarian science fiction writer Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois. His work combined social and technological criticism with fantasy. Among his better-known books are The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Read more about Ray Bradbury at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism. The post … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 22

1811 – Henry Bergh was born. He was the son of a wealthy shipbuilder and followed in his father’s business. He became a Unitarian under the ministry of Henry Whitney Bellows in New York, and became interested in the treatment of animals, which he often saw abused on the streets. He persuaded the New York … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 21

1828 – The Brahmo Samaj, a movement in Hindu similar to Unitarianism, held its first worship meeting. Many Indian historians consider its founder, Rajah Rahmmohun, to be the “father of modern India.” Read a biography of poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was also influenced by the Brahmo Samaj. The post August 20 first appeared on Harvard Square … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 20

1839 – Aaron Bancroft, a Unitarian Christian minister and the first president of the American Unitarian Association, died at age 84. Despite a Calvinist upbringing, he decided on liberal ministry and was invited to candidate at First Parish (Unitarian) in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he failed to secure sufficient votes. The liberal minority withdrew to worship … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 19

1831 – The Massachusetts Association of Universal Restorationists was formed. Its profession of faith included belief in retribution beyond death before reconciliation with God. It caused a schism in the Universalist movement. The terms Restorationist and Universalist were sometimes used interchangeably. The Restorationists included Adin Ballou. Read more about Adin Ballou. at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 18

1858 – Caroline Julia Bartlett Crane was born in Hudson, Wisconsin. Inspired by the preaching of the Unitarian Oscar Clute, she decided to become a minister when ministry was considered an exclusively male profession. She earned a B.A. and M.A. from Carthage College, then studied theology on her own while working as a teacher and … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 17

1794 – James Walker was born in Woburn, Massachusetts. He received his A.B. from Harvard University in 1814 and graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1817. He was the Unitarian minister at Harvard Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, from 1818 to 1839 and helped form the American Unitarian Association in 1825. Walker also edited the influential … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 16

1696 – Ebenezer Gay, considered to be the first Unitarian minister in the United States, was born. His ministry at the Old Ship Church in Hingham, Massachusetts, lasted for 69 years. Gay lectured widely and received many honors, including a D.D. degree from Harvard. He is often called the “father of American Unitarianism.” Although he … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 15

1553 – John Calvin brought thirty-eight charges against Michael Servetus in Geneva, Switzerland, saying he had offended the trinity, and Servetus was thrown in prison. Read more about John Calvin at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism. The post August 14 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

1818 – Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. An early leader of the movement for women’s rights and suffrage, she worked as a schoolteacher for 10 years before entering Oberlin College, the only college then open to women. She was the first Massachusetts woman to earn a B.A. Reared a Congregationalist, she later … Continue reading This Day in Unitarian Universalist History August 13