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Allreds of White Springs, Florida -

✇ WWUUD?
22 December 2011 at 01:36
By: Steven Rowe
Excepert from Rev. Q. H. Shinn's coloumn "Personal Expericnces In Making Universalists" that appeared in the March 6, 1906 issue of ONWARD

"Now I'm going to tell about a Florida boy. I am at present in the home of his parents in White Springs, Florida, and the boy, their only child, is in Atlanta Ga. Eight years ago his father was a practicing physician in Jasper, Florida. His mother being a strong Universalist had me visit them and give a series of meetings in the Baptist Church. It was easy to secure the use of this church, since his father was a Baptist. One day the boy, then 13 years old, came up into my room, and after showing a little embarrassment, made a request that surprised me. He asked me if I intended to "open the doors of the Church," saying he wanted to join. I told him it would be hardly proper to ask people to unite with the Universalist Church at a service held in a Baptist house of worship; besides there was no organization in Jasper, and only one outspoken Universalist - his mother. But this made no difference with the boy; he wanted to join. At the close of my sermon that night, I explained his wishes, and asked those who desired to unite with the Universalist Church to come forward. Promptly the little fellow stood before the altar, and one of the intelligent ladies of the place, a friend of his mother, came up and stood by his side. I administered baptism, and extended the fellowship of our Church, and sent their names to be recorded on the roll of members at De Funiak Springs.
The boy had good Universalist blood in his veins. His mother is a Cawthon, her father a great Universalist. Her grandfather, John Cawthon, the father of Universalism in Western Florida. And now the boy is a promising young man, ambitious to be a great surgeon. He is in a medical college in Atlanta. He is worker in our church in Atlanta. He is secretary of the Y.P.C.U. His name is John Allred. "

####################################################################


Mother: Mary Melissa "Ashley" Cawthon Allred (1864-1958) buried in Silver Hill Cemetery, Frostfree, Florida.
Father: Idus Park "I. P." Allred, MD (1860-1930) also buried in Silver Hill Cemetery.
Son: John Glenn Allred (1885 - 1952) also burried in Silver Hill Cemetery.

This modern-day non-family member has no idea if John Allred continued as a member of the Universalist Church pass the dates mentioned above (c1899 -1906), nor do I know why he didn't became a surgeon. We know that both his father and his father's father were medical doctors (his father actually had an article of his reprinted as a booklet for massive distribution), so no doubt there was pressure on him, the only child to also be a doctor. He was in medical school from at least 1906 - 1910, but around 1912, he became an electrician - at first wiring a town and owning a telephone company, then providing the knowledge to power mining equipment and towns, and then to help electrify Florida for what became the Florida Power and Light Company (now Progress Energy). He married also around 1913 (and his wife was the telephone operator of his telephone company).

The Allred family lived in Jasper (Hamilton County), Florida -1898; White Springs (Hamilton County), Florida c1898- July 1912, Florala, (Covington County), Alabama , July 1912 -
Frostfree, Florida (Polk, County) -1920-1958.

Mrs. I. P. Allred was Vice President of the Florida Universalist Convention from 1910-1911.
Her sister and father had been officers of the Convention prior to her service. The state convention was held at White Springs in 1905.

Burrus Memorial, Hamburg, Madison County, Florida

✇ WWUUD?
14 December 2011 at 02:56
By: Steven Rowe
Hamburg Florida is a small community in Madison County, Georgia. It's about 18 miles south of Quitman Georgia, and therefore the biggest town around would likely be Valdosta, Ga, on I-75.
I can't tell if any buisness are left in Hamburg, but looks like there's Shiloh United Methodist Church and some homes. And there used to be a Universalist Church there.

At first it was a preaching station.
Universalism came to Madison County around the 1840s, when Samuel S. Hinton (1812-1872) moved there from Abbeville, SC. His father was one of the co-founders of the Universalist Church in Abbeville in the 1830s. His brother-in-law, Judge James P. Martin (1838 - 1916) proudly had the slogan " A True Universalist" carved on his tombstone. Hinton's father, Thomas Z.  Hinton (1789 - 1863) moved to Hamburg himself in 1862, with him came other members of the Hinton family.

The Elijah Linch family was living in nearby Madison, Florida in the 1840s-1860s ( His father was Elijah Linch Sr - the Universalist minister of Newberry SC. Son, Hezekiah,  was active in Georgia Universalist Convention in the 1880s ).

Thus when Universalist ministers came through the area, there were enough folks for a good
service, if not enough for a good congregation. By the way, Judge Martin was not known to be a liberal in politics, just in religion.

Finally after 50 years, it was time to start a formal church.  The Church was named Burrus Memorial, for the circuit rider and Universalist Herald editor. Sometimes called Burress Chapel.   It is also frequently called the Hamburg Universalist Church. The church building was adjacent  to the Ebenezer Methodist Church.

December 1905, Rev Q. H. Shinn  holds meetings in Hamburg. Thomas Martin, the county clerk, is an Universalist. His wife and most of his children are Methodist. Douglas Martin, who was  then (Shinn reports) ten years old, rides his pony home to ask his mother if he has her permission to join the Universalist Church. She agrees, and after his 20 mile round trip ride, he is baptized and joins as a member of the new Universalist Church.

Thomas Martin (1860 - 1926, and son of Judge Martin), Douglas Martin (1893 - 1978).
The math does suggests that Shinn was off by a few years in his story.

Feb. 1907 building dedicated, and the Florida Universalist Convention was held at the church.

1907 - 1908 Isabelle "Belle" Martin (1868 -1944), daughter of Judge Martin, lay leader in 1907-1908. The church is served by supply ministers, and 6 families make the membership.

1907 - 1910 William C. Smith (1872 -1937) , member of the congregation, is active in the Florida Universalist Convention, serving as President in 1908 - 1909, and Treasurer in 1910. His wife is another  daughter of Judge Martin.

June 1923 Rev. Stanley Manning preaching there.

1929 Rev. A.G. Strain was doing some regular circuit riding in Hamburg.

1932 Rev Thomas Chapman does preaching (he is a circuit riding minister covering from Mississippi to South Carolina).  Present in March, July, and November, doing 3 services per visit.

1932 - 1939 + William "Carlton" Smith (1899 - 1963), son of the above William Coffee Smith, was a lay leader of the church.

1943  Miss Belle Martin  (see above)  listed as lay leader  prior to 1943. (report in late 30s or early 40s)

 May 22, 1960 large turnout at the Homecoming at the Church. Service by the Rev. L. C. Prater.

1961/1962 Not listed as one of those churches that joined the new Unitarian Universalist Association.

other members  
John "Luther" Sullivan (1882 - 1978) converted while Rev Strain was the minister (c1928) and considered himself to be a member up to the end of his life.  In the timber, turpentine, and land buisness. 


Newspaper article from 2008 including photograph of church 
The building was still standing and visitable as of 2008.

Updated Dec 18, 2011 (twice), August 1, 2012, August 28, 2012

Hosea Ballou - Morning Prayer

✇ WWUUD?
16 November 2011 at 18:32
By: Steven Rowe
Come let us raise our voices high, and form a sacred song,
to Him who rules the earth and sky, and does our days prolong.
Who thru the night gave us to rest, this morning cheered our eyes;
and with the thousands of the blest, in health made us to rise.

Early to God, we'll send our prayer. Make haste to pray and praise,
that He may make our good His care, and guide us all our days.
And when the night of death comes on, and we shall end our days,
may His rich grace the theme prolong of His eternal phrase.

Hosea Ballou - 1808



from a Sacred Harp singing. The words of Father Ballou continue to be sung.
"this morning cheered our eyes" indeed!

NC and Georgia Universalist Conventions 2011

✇ WWUUD?
7 September 2011 at 19:08
By: Steven Rowe
Both the North Carolina and Georgia Universalist Conventions are being held this Fall.

NC (under the abbreviation UCONCI) meets October 8 -9, 2011
has information on their website and a brochure that is being passed out.
This is at the Shelter Neck Camp in eastern NC.

Georgia is a little more low key and much shorter, and will be meeting Sunday Morning September 18, 2011 in Canon, Georgia.

(disclaimer: I will be attending the shorter meeting in Georgia)


old Universalist Church building in Americus, Georgia

✇ WWUUD?
20 July 2011 at 22:56
By: Steven Rowe
This building was built in 1900 as an Universalist Church in Americus, Georgia. There was a long history of Universalism in the area. Indeed among the founders of the Plains of Dura were Universalists (and an Universalist minister). When the town moved and changed its name to Plains, a new Universalist Church was built there as well. Rev L. F. W. Andrews lived his last few years in Americus (1870s) , and we know that Rev. C.F.R. Shehane had a debate in town in the 1850s.
We know that the Christian Scientists were in the building in the 1910s (the city directory states they and the Universalists were both there). In the late 1920s, the building was sold to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), who added the Sunday School building and changed the windows (and later added air conditioning). They last met in circa 1998/1999. as of 2011, the building is being used by the First United Methodist Church as their Spanish Language Mission.
The last known Universalist Church service in Americus was circa 1930 by the Rev. Stanley Manning.


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Giles Bowers (1827-1863)

✇ WWUUD?
27 May 2011 at 20:34
By: Steven Rowe
I found a mention of an Universalist minister in Georgia, that I had not heard of, Giles Bowers.
I wondered if he was kin to the Bowers in the northeast Georgia, he's not (at least not close), but does have a little story to tell.

Giles was born in the White Oak Community of Coweta County, Georgia.
He was the first child of Jacob Bowers and Mary "Polly" Bowers. Both had been from
Newberry, SC; and Polly's father was the Rev. Elijah Lynch (Linch) , who was the Newberry ministerthat switched his church's denomination from Fraternity of German Baptist Brethren (Dunker) to Universalist.

We don't know much at all about this Rev Bowers, and he was listed only in the 1856 Universalist Companion (which came out around November 1854). He listed his address as Whitewater, Georgia,; and both it and the current Brooks are within 10 miles of Senoia, where Universalists had a meeting house. As an adult he had his house next to his father, and to his Uncle, David Linch. He died of disease in Richmond, Virgina during service in the Civil War, leaving a widow and five children. Buried in the Elmore Cemetery.

His father and mother are buried in the County Line Christian Church Cemetery.
His uncle, David Linch, was very active in the local Universalist Church.
Why only one year? Mistake on the part of the editor of the Companion, or his source?
Mistake on Bowers part? Left the ministry on his own, due to lack of time, lack of inspiration,?
or removed by his congregation?
We don't know anymore. There may be something in the Georgia Universalist newspapers, or those issues may not have stood the test of time.

Allen Fuller in Georgia 1832 - slight annotations

✇ WWUUD?
11 April 2011 at 20:48
By: Steven Rowe
Published in the November 17, 1832 issue of the Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate
(Utica NY) written by Allen Fuller. annotated in April 11 -12, 2011. Minor Updates May 21, 2011


[For the Magazine and Advocate.]

UNIVERSALISM IN GEORGIA.

Br[other]s Skinner and Grosh—Having recently taken a tour in Georgia, I will give you some account of my reception, and the the state of our cause in that region. I left this District on the 10th of July, in company with Mr. Robert F. Coleman and family, of Fairfield [County], warm friends, at whose solicitation I took this journey.

* *Robert F. Coleman (1795-c1872) Part of the Coleman family from Feasterville SC in Fairfiield County and the Universalist Church there. Son of John Roe Coleman. In Mississippi in 1835. Possible this is the move that he and his family did to get to Weir, Ms.in Choctaw County.

At Washington, Wilkes county, Ga., I found a firm friend, Jeremiah Lobdel, a patron of the Religious Inquirer, by whom, and his family. I was cordially received.

** Washington is about 86 miles southwest of Newberry, SC; Allen Fuller's home at the time. The route from Abbeville SC to Washington was on a well traveled stagecoach road. Jeremiah Lobdell (1784 - 1850) moved to Washington from Connecticut in 1806. The Religious Inquirer was a Universalist newspaper published by Charles Spear in Hartford Connecticut.

After passing that place we discovered no professors of God's universal and impartial grace, till we arrived at the Indian Spring, Butts county, which was the termination of our journey. Near that place there were several believers in the truth, as it is in Jesus. Your subscriber, Isaac Nolen, being a family connexion of Mr. Coleman, his house became our home while we remained at the place. On Sunday, July 15th, Thursday, 20th, and Sunday, August 5th, I preached at the arbor erected at the Spring, to large, and, with the exception of a few individuals, very attentive congregations. On Sunday, the 22d, I delivered a discourse, by request, to a Presbyterian audience , after the close of the regular services of the day: but the minister took care to leave the ground before I commenced, although he did not go out of the settlement till after we left the spot.

**Indian Springs is 88 miles west southwest of Washington Ga. The area is now a state park, and you can see the hotel (there since 1821) and spring. It was here that the treaty was signed in 1825, 7 years earlier, to open Creek (Muscogee) native land for white settlement in the western half of Georgia and in Alabama. Isaac Nolen (1794-1866) is mentioned on a historic marker in nearby Jackson, as the first Sheriff of the county, at its formation in 1825. He was born in Fairfield County, SC and his wife was Elizabeth "Betty" Coleman (1807-c1880), Robert's cousin?. The Nolen's moved to Chambers County, Alabama, apparently in the early 1830s, and then to Texas in by 1855. It's possible that the Jackson Presbyterian Church in Jackson is the church that Fuller used - it was founded in 1827.

Sunday, July 29, I delivered two discourses in a Methodist meeting-house, in Newton county, where there arc a number of Universalists, by whom I was welcomed with joy. The audience was large and very attentive.

** Newton county is north of Butts county. In decades to come, there will be an Universalist Church in Covington.

Tuesday afternoon, 31st, I preached at the house of Mr. John Hill, Walton county, (who deceased April 28, last past) a funeral discourse, to a large and attentive audience, although less than twenty-four hour's notice of the appointment was given. Several warm friends reside in the neighborhood where, this meeting was held, who gave demonstration of their approbation, by contributing liberally to my benefit. On Wednesday, August 1, I delivered two discourses in Munroe, the county seat of Walton county, to respectable congregations; to both of which replies were made; and I rejoined. The person who replied to the first, was an exhorter by the name of Baker. He would rejoice to believe the doctrine preached if it were true: but was fearful it would give people leave to go on in sin; urged the hearers to have a conscience void of oflfence; and quoted, as Scripture—" If ye die in your sins, where God and Christ are, ye never can come." I approved of the exhortation to have a conscience void of offense; applauded his benevolent feelings; exposed the absurdity of supposing that the hope of salvation, as the gift of God, could cause us to hate him; and offered him ten dollars to find the passage he had quoted, in the text of the Bible. After I made him this offer, and while exposing his gross misquotation, he left the house, and I saw him no more.

**Walton County is north of Newton County. In the future there would be 3-4 Universalist Churches in the county. John Hill (1760-1831) is buried at his home family cemetery - now Ft. Yargo State Park, on land which he bought in 1810. Hill was apparently born in North Carolina, moved to Fairfield County SC circa 1776, and fought in the American Revolution . There were eight Baker households in Walton County Census of 1830, so I cannot say yet which Barker it was.

The other discourse was replied to by a person who was traveling, and stopped for the night in the village. If I am rightly informed, it was Rev. William Moderwell, a noted Presbyterian minister, of Augusta, Ga. His reply consisted of a most pompous display of rhetoric, in the description of "the last tremendous judgment," when " the congregated universe" would be called before "the tribunal bar of God," and "the finally impenitent" receive their "eternal doom;" accompanied with a number of positive, but unsupported assertions, uttered in a most solemn and imposing manner. Not an argument, however, was brought forward, nor an objection stated, that had not been fully answered in the preceding discourse. As a specimen of his manner, I give the following from my notes, "We assert that the punishment of the wicked will be eternal;" and "eternal signifies during eternity." '"The Greek or Hebrew language contains no word that expresses endless duration more fully than aionion; the word rendered everlasting in the text"—Matt, xxv: 46. When I re-rejoined, I showed that he had begged the question in the commencement, and offered his mere assertions for proof; assured him that the time had gone by in which the infallibility of the clergy would be admitted; and inquired of him if he knew any such words in the Greek as aphthartos, and akatalutos, and whether they do not express the continuance of duration more fully than aionion, and whether they are ever in the Bible used in a limited sense?

** William Moderwell (1794-1842) He was the pastor in Augusta from 1821-1826, and left the ministry in 1833.

At this place I was cordially welcomed by Mr. James Ferguson, a zealous friend. a subscriber to the Religious Inquirer, who gave me encouragement that a society might soon be formed in that county. With him I proceeded, the day following, to a place in the same county, called "Broken Arrow," where I preached to a small number of attentive hearers at 11, A. M. Thence I proceeded to Newton (county), to near where I had preached on Sunday, and delivered a discourse at 4 o'clock, P. M., to a respectable audience; and on Friday preached in the Court-House at Covington, Newton county, to a very large and attentive audience.

** James Ferguson (1800 -c1860s ) apparently the brother of Charles Ferguson, the founder of the very known Feguson potter family. Some of the Fergusons later lived in Jugtown, another Universalist Church site. James had moved from Edgefield SC to Walton County Ga about 1826. The family moved on in 1835, ending up in Muscogee County GA by 1850. "Broken Arrow" is on the maps of the 1860s, halfway between Conyers and Monroe. It's been suggested this is the current "Walnut Grove".

After an intermission of one hour, a reply was made to this discourse by Dr. Means, a minister of the Methodist denomination, which occupied two hours, and consisted chiefly in setting up a "main of straw," i. e. no punishment for sin, no distinction between the righteous and the wicked, and then laboring to beat it down again. He made some gross mistakes; among which I select the following. After inquiring whether St. Paul ever heard of the doctrine which seems to be expressed by him on almost every page of his Epistles, he asked, "Did the early fathers know any thing of this system? Inquire of Origen if these principles were heard of in his day? No; they were not known." This gave me so good an opportunity to expose him, and I improved it to so much advantage, that he made an acknowledgment of his mistake. I occupied more than an hour in pointing out his misapprehension of our doctrine, hit erroneous quotations of Scripture, and his incorrect conclusions. Several friends made contributions to me in this and Walton county, besides those above noticed.

** Dr. Alexander Means (1801-1883) President of Emory College for one year, delivered the funeral oratory for President Zachary Taylor. Very short term as preacher, working for the Methodist in their education areas in 1834.

Returning to Butts county, I preached at the Indian Spring on Sunday, the 5th, as before noticed; and on Monday delivered two discourses, one at the house of your subscriber Archibald Smith, and the other at his brother's, Presley Smith. These men are zealous Universalists, and Archibald was long a member of the Baptist church, and was excluded therefrom, wholly because he believed that God would treat all his offspring as well as he expected to be treated himself; though he candidly told the minister, at the time he united with the church, that he believed that doctrine. Before the church excommunicated him, it had the formality of a trial, and he was called on to make a defense; but as he proceeded, the meeting became so disorderly us to cause him to desist; and after making several attempts, with the same success, he abandoned the idea. Another person who spoke a few words in his behalf, was afterwards tried for the offense, and narrowly escaped expulsion; and when the vote was taken on expelling Mr. Smith it was unanimous, and for an obvious reason. No one dared to vote in his favor, as a trial and excommunication would have been the consequence. This proceeding appears much like trying a man for his life in a court where every lawyer who should speak on the behalf of the accused, and every juror who would not bring him in guilty, should be hung! I did not understand that the blame was attached to the minister of the church, but to the members who had the influence to control it.

* *Archibald Smith (1791- 1870s) born in Spartanburg SC. In Jasper County , Ga in 1812, moved to Morgan County Ga in 1813. Moved to Randolph County Alabama around 1859. Presley Smith (1784-1866) born in Spartanburg SC, moved to Charelston, then Monroe County GA from the 1820s on.

On Thursday, August 9, we commenced our return; and on Friday night I had the satisfaction of speaking to a respectable congregation in Greensborough, Green county. And on Saturday night, and Sunday at 9, A; M., at Washington court-house, Wilkes county, I preached to pretty large audiences, which all listened with good attention. Receiving an urgent request to visit Taleaferro county, I returned thither, and on Monday night 1 delivered a discourse in Crawfordsville court-house to a respectable auditory, during which a person, whom I afterwards learned was a preacher, I think of the Baptist denomination, stood and muttered his disapprobation in an undertone so as not to be understood, but still so loud as to cause considerable disturbance, and show his good breeding. In the morning, however, he became sensible of his fault, and apologized to some of our friends.

**From Monroe County to Greensboro is about 60 miles, this putting Fuller back in the future I-20 corridor. Greensboro to Washington 30 miles on what is now GA 44 . Then head south on GA 47 19 miles to Crawfordville, back in the I-20 corridor.

At 12 o'clock, on Tuesday, I preached again at the same place, to a very large congregation; and after receiving a freewill offering from a few of our friends, and entertainment from Mr. Almond Cobb, I returned about six miles on my way back to Washington, to the house of Mr. Alexander Norris, an elderly man, apparently on the border of the grave, who has long been a firm and consistent Universalist, and, at half past 4 o'clock, preached to a respectable number of people, who listened with attention to the truth. Thence, returning, I arrived in this District on Friday, August 17th, having been absent nearly six weeks, traveled more than six hundred miles during the heat of midsummer, and delivered twenty discourses and several replies; and, by the good providence and blessing of God, I was preserved in usual health to return to my friends in this place.

* *Amon Cobb (1795- 1860s) was born in Massachusetts, moved to Georgia maybe in the 1810s. Married late in life, to a woman 24 years his junior. Grocer, and able to retire early. Sons were in Texas by 1880. Alexander Norris (1759 - 1833) born in Maryland. Revolutionary War solider. My have lived in Edgefield, prior to coming to Georgia. Buried off the Sandy Cross Road between Crawfordsville and Washington.

In many instances, there was one or more clergymen present at my meetings; and it was my practice, almost invariably, to invite them to speak, by saying, at the close of my sermon—"There is liberty for any one to speak on the subject, either by way of confirmation or objection;" but in no other instances did they reply, besides those above noticed. A large proportion of every audience, I presume, attended out of curiosity, though some had a sincere desire to know whether these things were so; and were disposed to weigh the subject candidly. A few believers in the doctrine taught, were found in almost every place, who rejoiced in the opportunity of hearing the Gospel message; and numbers of others evinced, by their countenances, that they would rejoice in the truth of the good tidings, and that they had some hope that it might be the truth. It was my manner to caution the hearers not to receive any doctrine because I, or any other person, advocated it; but, by all means, to examine the subject for themselves, to search the Scriptures, to exercise the right of private judgment, &c. And I am confident the effect has been to excite a spirit of inquiry, and induce the people to read and examine for themselves. My discourses were, generally, full and explicit on those doctrinal points which distinguish us from other sects.

One instance of commendable liberality I think worthy of notice. At Munroe, Walton county, our meeting was announced to be holden in the court-house, when the proprietors of the Reformed Methodist meeting-house came, without solicitation, and offered us the use of their house; which we accepted. On the other hand, we were denied the use of a house belonging to the Episcopal Methodists on the next day; in the same county; and in Butts County, we were refused the use of two houses by the Baptists, and one by the Methodists. In Greensborough, the Presbyterian house was denied. In almost every instance, here noticed, the persons who applied for the respected houses were proprietors in the same. Opposition to Universalism is much more general in this region, than the doctrine itself. It is "every where spoken against;" and all manner of evil is spoken against those who dare to avow the obnoxious faith, that our Father in Heaven is impartially good to all his intelligent creatures. At a camp meeting in the upper part of Walton County, the Universalists were abused and slandered with unusual virulence, while the people at the meeting, at the same time, were receiving all the favors that they could reasonably ask from the Universalists in their neighborhood; such as pasture for their horses, and other accommodations which it was in their power to grant. One of the preachers alleged that the time would soon come when Universalists would not be allowed to speak ; and that now they did not dare to advocate their ridiculous doctrines, except it was to the most weak and ignorant part of the community. [! !],>


,>

** Reformed Methodist was a split off of the Methodist movement. Methodist Episopal was the main Methodist group, now called the United Methodist Church.
,>

I have confidence that much good will result from this visit, and the truth which has been promulgated will be as good seed to produce an abundant harvest in due time. When I parted with Mr. Lobdell, at,Washington, he remarked that it was his prayer that my labors might be as leaven which u woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened. Urgent requests were made by the brethren in every section, that I would prolong my visit, and especially, as I would not do so, that I would repeat it. Pressing invitations were also given from several other places, for me to visit and promulgate the truth; but as the time of my return was definitely set, I was obliged to say to them - "If I visit this part of the country again, of which there is some probability, should life and health be spared, I will endeavor to comply with your requests!" May God grant that much good may proceed from the labors which I have been permitted to sustain in the part of Georgia, where few if any, have ever promulgated the doctrine that God is the Saviour of all men. May the influence of the true Gospel save the people from sin, from fantacism, and from all fear that hath torment. In furnishing this account for publication, and in being so particular, I have hnd the object in view to encourage the hearts, and strengthen the hands of our brethren in the South, by having it circulated in that region, by means of our different periodicals, that are there taken. While absent, I distributed more tbsm one hundred copies of sermons and pajiers gratuitously.

The cholera is used as a means of exciting the fears of the people, by the Limitarian clergy in Georgia, as well as other parts of our country. Any thing that can be made to produce fear is readily seized by these pretended friends of mankind, and wielded to promote their interest. The reason why Universalism is so violently opposed, is, evidently, because it removes the foundation of those tormenting fears, on which they depend as a means of salvation. It would seem, judging from their actions, that they supposed nothing but fear of endless torment could lead any one to love God; though they are obliged to acknowledge, when questioned on the subject, that the goodness and love of God are the only motives which can lead men to repent and love him.

With affection and esteem, I remain your brother in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

ALLEN FULLER.

Newberry C[ourt] H[ouse], S. C, Avgust 23, 1832.


So why haven't I posted research recently?

✇ WWUUD?
10 March 2011 at 16:20
By: Steven Rowe
At last report I was not even half way through trying to figure out the lifestories of the Universalists living in Atlanta in the late 1800s. And the title above pretty much explains the problem. With vague clues, I was looking for unwritten stories and writing them. A not impossible feet, but time consuming. The present keeps rearing its head as well -- but...
I will be doing a talk on D. B. Clayton at this years Universalist Convocations and I've also been involved in planning it. I've done most of my research on the life of Clayton already (I do plan to go to Savannah this weekend to see his son-in-laws grave), but I need to percolate the aspects of his life important to those of us 100 years later.
I have been picking up items to read - I note that "A Palmetto Boy" the diary and letters of James Adams Tillman does confirm that BR Tillman, Sr had a chapel built on his property, he being an Universalist does suggest it had Universalist preachers there. Also mentions some folks who the Tillmans might have known from the Universalist Churh. On a personal note - my wife has some of her family mentioned too.
"North Carolina Portraits of Faith" does have some nice pictures from Red Hill - including a birthday celebration for Rev Clayton.
Georgia and the Union -1850 - is the best "modern" source (with footnotes) on LFW Andrews problems in Macon in 1850. The conclussion is there was serious problems, and his paper did miss a couple of days, but he wasn't run out of town.
And I found who had the Freedonia Meeting House on their property -- unfortunately he had multiple properties, and my source didn't indicate which property ("more on this later")

Atlanta Universalists of 1895 part 2

✇ WWUUD?
13 November 2010 at 11:15
By: Steven Rowe
As we continue to look at the Universalists in Atlanta, Georgia in around December of 1895. These are the people in the pews. So that we we ask "Who were these Universalists?", we'll know....
first lines are from the Jan 1895 article, next are my research.

Mr and Mrs. W.S. Cottington, natives of Alabama, had been members of 2nd Baptist of Atlanta, converted to Universalism after hearing Rev Q. H. Shinn.
***********************
William S. Cottingham (1850-1903) born in Talbotton, Georgia, moved to Atlanta in the 1880s. A dairyman and farmer in Atlanta (he had some of the first Jersey cows in the Atlanta area), he became a traveling salesman in the early 1900s.
Narcissa Cottingham (1853-c1909) Born in Alabama, married in 1873, Her daughter Mary was a school teacher, with years of piano training. Daughter Elizabeth married William "Park" Felker in 1906. Rev Ellenwood of the Universalist Church officiating.
*********************
*********************
Mr and Mrs. Alexander Beck, were also former members of 2nd Baptist, they converted by reading Universalist literature sent by the post office mission.
***************************
Alexander Beck (1849 - 1908), moved to Atlanta in the 1870s, he apparently liked to say that his occupation was "traveler", which indeed he was. Very frequent traveler. Five months before his death, he took his son, Henry. to Denver Colorado, where they hoped they could recover his health. In business there he was successful, but not in health. The funeral was in the Universalist Church, of which he was called a "loyal and consistent member." Funeral led by Rev Ellenwood.

Cora Beck (1851-1938), daughter of Rev Warren, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Atlanta. She had ten children, of which four of the first five died in infancy. She was president of the local Universalist Woman's Mission Circle in 1908 and 1910. She was elected to the board of the Georgia Universalist Convention in October 1908. President of the Industrial Arts League in 1911.

Henry O. Beck (1888-1911), son of the above, in bad health for awhile, was a member of the church for "several years" prior to he death.
************************************************************
***********************************************************
From Joillet Illinois, Mrs. H.A. Harwood, Bertha Harwood,Mrs. A. L. Blackman, Spencer.
************************************************************
They was an active Universalist Church in Joilet.
Helen A. Harwood (1830-1914) moved to Atlanta in the mid-late 1880s, with her daughters after the death of her husband. Active in the social scene of Atlanta.

Alma L. Blackman (1855-1932) widow when she moved to Atlanta with her mother and sister and son. Became an art teacher, advertised frequently.

Bertha H. Harwood (1866-1949)Born in Illinois. Extremely active in the Atlanta social scene - was President and co-founder of the Atlanta Musical Association, 1908-1911, created to encourage opera in Atlanta, and show surport ot the idea of performances on Sunday. Active in the Daughters of the American Revolution.. Married an Arrowood in 1912 -believed by some to be Milton Arrowood. They did leave Atlanta right about this time. It also looks plausible that they were divorced in Florida in 1941. We do know that some of her music related notes. files, and correspondence are in an archives in Atlanta.

Spencer E, Blackman (c1884-1906) died of typhoid fever. He had been living since c1900 in Jacksonville, Florida, and had worked for the fire department.

update 14 Nov 2010: Bertha Harwood did indeed marry Milton "Wallace" Arrowood (1983-). The marriage was performed by Rev Ellenwood of the Universalist Church in 1912. They left Atlanta for Florida and then Wilmette, Illinois, sometime around 1915. One child. They separated circa 1927, while living in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was infamous for being the first Annapolis graduate to desert from the U.S. Navy (in 1905), after his request for resignation was rejected. He deserted because he had discovered that the Navy allowed non-Christian sailors on board their ships.
I mention this mainly because of the connection with Universalists in 1912.
She was 15 years older than he, and had shaved off 23 years off her age by the 1920s, thus making positive identification more difficult.

Atlanta Universalists of 1895, part 1

✇ WWUUD?
11 November 2010 at 19:04
By: Steven Rowe
In the publication ONWARD of January 17, 1896, there was a listing of all members of the new Universalist Church in Atlanta of 1895, as well as all the known Universalist in town. This listing includes that and my first run of research of who these people were. The original was complied by Mary Grace Canfield
Unless noted, we only know these folks were Universalist in circa December 1895.

Mr and Mrs. H.D. MCutcheon
Members of both the 1880s congregation and the new one. converted by Rev.
D.B.Clayton (then of Atlanta). He was a former Methodist and she a former Methodist.
Children were James, Howard, and Mrs. Cullpeper.
***
Hugh "David" McCutcheon (1844 - 1919) born in Gainesville, Ga (Northeast of Atlanta)
he joined the Rebel army in 1862 at age 19, just days before the Battle of Shiloh.
At some point he was captured and was held at the Lousiville (KY) Military Prison until being released in September 1864. In 1870, he and his younger brother ran a store in Marietta Georgia, which he continued on his own to at least 1880. He continued in the mercantile businesses in Atlanta, including the Atlanta Fire and Waterproof Paint Company. He was active until the summer of 1919, visiting his daughter in the Panama Carnal Zone. He died three months later at the Confederate Soldier Home in Atlanta. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows.
Louisa McCutcheon (1844- ) born in Cherokee, Georgia. Upon the death of H.D. she moved in with her daughter in the Canal zone. She apparently died in the middle 1920s.
Emma L. McCutcheon Cullpepper (1873- ) married G. W. Cullpeper in 1892. She filed for divorce in 1906, due to his habitual drunkenness and having assaulted her. He died in 1909. She lived with her sister in Atlanta, after the death of her sister's husband. She is in the 1930 census.
James B. McCutcheon (1876- )worked at the Post Office in the 1890s, but spent most of his career selling farm instruments. Moved to Alabama in the 1920s.
Howard Clayton McCutcheon (1878 - 1956), Officer of the Georgia Universalist Young People's organization in 1897. 1911 recited at the Universalist Christmas pageant (with niece Catherine Garwood). Managed and then owned a print shop.
We will assume that his middle name was in honor of Rev. Clayton.

H. D. was active as secretary of the Georgia Universalist Convention in the 1880s-1890s. In the 1890s, he was listed as living in "Pleasant Valley". An Universalist Church existed in "Pleasant Valley" from 1874 (building in 1875) for the next 10-15 years. I'm not exactly sure where this particular "Pleasant Valley" was.


"Mr and Mrs. H. Linch were Georgia natives," and also members of the 1880s church.
****
Hezekiah Linch (1842-1923) was the son of Elijah Linch and the grandson of Rev. Elijah Linch, the universalist minister who turned his church near Prosperity SC
to affiliation with the Universalist denomination. His mother was Mahalia Prater.
He had a brother named Giles Chapman Linch, after the (small u) universalist minister before their grandfather. He was born near Prosperity, and his family moved to Columbia, SC and then Madison, Florida before the war. After the war, he moved to Atlanta, and established a junk selling business, which replaced in the 1880s, by a Hide and Tallow business that was very successful, usually having around 6-10 full time employees.
Permelia "Gabriella" Hicks Linch (1853-1932) - Born in Georgia, and married when she was 16. After the death of her husband, she lived with one of her two daughters, moving with them to Louisville, Kentucky in the 1920s.

Mrs. M.T. Day
Born in New Hampshire, lived in Massachusetts before moving to Atlanta.
*******
Probably Mary F. Day,(1813- ) the only Day I could find in Atlanta in 1900, from New Hampshire, and then had lived in Massachusetts. Her husband, David, had been a grocer in Atlanta in 1870. She was a widow, living with her daughter's family in Atlanta in 1900.

update 14 Nov 2010: I should have mentioned that H. Linch was active in the Georgia Universalist Convention in the 1880s.

Canon Universalist, Canon Georgia street view

✇ WWUUD?
5 November 2010 at 20:25
By: Steven Rowe

View Larger Map

This is another one of Google's street views - this time of downtown Canon.
The Church was founded in 1885, and was the home church of Rev. J. M. Bowers, editor / publisher of the Universalist Herald, and traveling Universalist minister / missionary. Current Services the third Sunday of the month at 11 AM.

Sensible Wedding, behind the scenes.

✇ WWUUD?
30 October 2010 at 01:16
By: Steven Rowe
If you go back one post, You'll read about a sensible wedding.
This is where I talk about the behind the scenes on this story. Let me say first that the romanticism or lack thereof of this particular wedding is important, does a nonchalant service equal a dead relationship or just two practical people?, Important, yes: not what I'm going to talk about - Let's go and talk about the individuals.

Who are these people?

T.D. Feaster (1826-1897) known to the family as Trez. He was the first Trezevant DeGraffenreid Feaster, but the name has continued on. I note around 3-4 Tez Feasters since that time.
His first marriage was in December 1949, when he was around 23 to Martha D. (or S.) McConnell who was about 17. T.D.'s brother stated that in 1848, that she was quite a head-turner. She was the third daughter of Andrew McConnell. She died c1854
He second marriage was in 1854 to Julia Fowler Collins of Philadelphia.
His third and last marriage was (as noted) to Mary Cubbison. She was around 20.
and she died about 20 years later. They had one daughter who lived to adulthood.
That daughter never married, and is buried next to her father in Feasterville. She had a winter home in Daytona Florida in 1909, and the paper noted that she was there with her cousin, a Miss Edens, and her aunt, a Miss Cubbison. This would be the youngest daughter, still alive 50 years later.
Mary's mother was Margaret Cubbison, born in 1810 in Pennsylvania. she and her youngest daughter, Sallie, were still living with TD in 1860. Sallie was 13 then, Mary 22. All of the Cubberson family were born in PA.
We know that TD went with his older brother in Columbia, SC in 1859-1860
and started a store. His brother overtook him historically (or rather his brother's wife and her mid-teens daughter) and sits in various history books even today (no wonder he moved to Florida). T.D. was the postmaster of Buckhead SC in 1885, just a slight piece down the road from Feasterville. He's the Feaster who didn't leave the county after the war.

Let me be more exact - TD's younger brother was (before TD and Martha got engaged) concerned that his friend, who had just seen Martha, might not be able to get his jaw back in place. So she was jaw dropping good looking.

Was he, his wife, his daughter, his mother-in-law Universalists? We don't know. His younger brother was (by doctrine if not attendance).

1858 Wedding Ceremony

✇ WWUUD?
26 October 2010 at 17:07
By: Steven Rowe
From Rev D. B. Clayton's autobiography are these comments on a:

Sensible Wedding.

During this visit, the writer celebrated on October 23, [1858] what he may, he thinks, properly designate a unique wedding. At Alston a friend of his, Mr. T. D. Feaster, intimated to him, as he went on up to Spartanburg, that he might possibly want him to perform a marriage ceremony for him as he returned. Mr. Feaster had already been married more than once, and was at that time boarding with the mother of his last wife, who was a widow, with one grown-up daughter and another about ten years of age. The residence was within a very few steps of the railroad track. Passengers going down from Spartanburg had to wait an hour or two for a train down from Greenville, on which to reach Columbia. On the arrival of the writer, Mr. Feaster invited him to his boarding house. He had not intimated, nor had the preacher any idea, who the bride was to be, in case a marriage should occur. On reaching the house introductions were passed, and Mr. Feaster and his friend sated.

No one was about, besides the two gentleman, but the mother and her two daughters, the elder of whom sat at her work-table sewing, the younger being engaged in the culinary department, which was in a side room. Conversation was engaged in, and continued for an hour or so, without any allusion to a wedding, when Mr. Feaster inquired of the preacher: "What is the time of day?" On being told, he remarked: "It will soon be train time" and then turning to the young lady at the work-table he said, "Mary, if we are going to get married, I guess we had better attend to it. Are you ready?" "Yes," replied she, and together they faced the minister, who by that time had taken his stand. The younger sister and her mother being called, stepped in from the cooking department, and, in much less time than it takes to record this description of the scene, the couple were united in the bonds of wedlock: whereupon the bride resumed the seat from which she had so recently arisen, took her work from the table, and resumed where she left off, the younger sister returned to her work, and the preacher, after waiting a little while longer till the train arrived, boarded it and went on his journey, with a five-dollar-bill in his pocket that he had not carried there, feeling that he had officiated at about as sensible a wedding as he had ever attended.



editor's note: Mary was Trez's 3rd wife (at least), I don't see where he married her sister - but certainly possible.
inspired by http://boyinthebands.com/archives/the-shortest-wedding-service/

Spam and Eggs

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14 September 2010 at 13:31
By: Steven Rowe
I havent forgotten this blog - how could I? I get between 5-7 spam messages a day for it....!!
And can anybody explain exactly how "Thanks for sharing this link, but unfortunately it seems to be offline... " is effective spam? Do they search for blogs and forums that post it? Do I need to scrub stuff like that off the blog?

There will be doing some southern historical stuff at the Universalist Convocations at
Newberry SC this upcoming May 2011. So it's not like I'm ignoring history completely.

Recommended books on the Universalists

✇ WWUUD?
17 July 2010 at 00:16
By: Steven Rowe
The Boston Unitarian asks "I am trying to remedy my somewhat woeful knowledge of Universalism and (as you know) just picked up an e-reader. I was wondering if you could suggest maybe 5 books that I should read this summer to bring me to a baseline knowledge? If they were free and downloadable to my nook, that would be great.'

i would say that the five should be a history of the denomination, a biography of one of the greats, a theology book, a debate book, and something miscellaneous - either theology for laymen or a memoir.

The best history is likely Ann Bressler's the Universalist Movement in America.
I bought a copy when it was $35 or so, it is now $85 and the ebook $67. I would recommend interlibrary loan. The free choice is porbably
The American Church History Series : A history of the Unitarians and the Universalists, by J.H. Allen and R. Eddy. To be honest, I read eddy's two volume set, but not this one. I have F. A., Bisbee's "From Good Luck to Gloucester" in my to read pile - I see that it's available for free on the Nook, try that one.

Theology, Ballou's "Thesis on Atonement" is hard going, so maybe one of J. W. Hanson's books. like "Bible Threatings Explained" or "Biblical Proofs of Universal Salvation". The Nook also has various volumes of the "Manual of Faith and Duty" (but without that subtitle!) - not sure which of those I would recommend. Or even a sermon book.

Biography, either Ballou or Murray, I believe you have one on Hosea Ballou, so that made that easy.

Debate; to understand Universalism of the 19th century, you have to understand debates. Ii'd go with Manford and Sweeney, because Manford and Sweeney both kept it im print for decades (both thought they won).

Misc., I was going to suggest something like Bisbee's "A California Pilgrimage", to get a sense of Universalists - but its not on the Nook yet. Maybe Emma Bailey's memoir "Happy Day". Wow, the ultra-rare "A Key to Universalism" is on the Nook, I have an original - and it is both rare, and hard to figure out what in the world Shehane is saying (not recommended)."Love that Never Failed" is not available,

Reasonable start, I'm sure that Scott and others can make other suggestions.
You note nothing for the past 110 years - the good books haven't been written yet , But check (not on the Nook) books by Clarence Skinner, and the history of the Charles Street Meeting House (to see how modern UU-ism was created).

Experiences in Making Uuiversalists "MRS. MYSTIC" Rev. Q. H. Shlnn, D. D.

✇ WWUUD?
1 July 2010 at 21:29
By: Steven Rowe
Experiences in Making Uuiversalists
"MRS. MYSTIC"
Rev. Q. H. Shlnn, D. D.

(taken from ONWARD 3 July 1906)

It was in 1895, if my memory is correct, that I was conducting a series of meetings in Columbia, South Carolina. The hall was barren, unattractive, Dr. D. B. Clayton's family had put in some chairs, about the only furniture.
One evening there sat before me a very responsive hearer. 1 could tell that while she listened eagerly, her receptive mind would occasionally shrink from taking in the whole Universalist message. Fear and misgiving seemed to mingle with impulses newly stirred and all aglow with hope. I had never seen this face before but soon was made intensely conscious that a hungry soul was yearning for something I had to give, and well 1 knew her cultured mind was weighing every word I spoke.
Either that night or the next she brought questions for me to answer. Desiring more time to answer them I secured her name and city address and called next day at her home. During the conversation it seemed at times difficult te make the essential points of our interpretation sufficiently clear for her to grasp. But I had no fear but she would see because willing to put prejudice aside and think. When people want to see they'll see.
Not long after this, the Sunday issue of a Columbia Daily began publishing articles signed by "Mrs. Mystic." So optismistic were they, so full of comfort and sunny hope, that many delighted readers began to ask, "Who is this Mrs. Mystic?" For many weeks these appeared, growing mere clearly Universalist in tone and spirit. I think it became noised about at length that "Mrs. Mystic" was teaching Universalism. At all events patrons of the paper sent in their protests and the Editor soon reached the conclusion that it would be best to discontinue the Sunday Department.
About this time I had sent some of "Mrs. Mystic's" articles to the Universalist herald, Edited by Rev. J. M. Bowers in Canon, Ga. They were gladly published and in a short time the writer was requested to engage as regular correspondent.
She did so and under her own name — Athalia L. J. Irwin. Now my readers knew that "Mrs. Mystic" is not a myth, but the missionary of the Young People's Christian Union in Little Rock, Arkansas.
For a long time after she fully espoused eur faith, it seemed impossible for her to sever her connection with the Baptist Church of which for so many years her father had been a faithful minister. Her brothers, sisters and friends were there, and the associations were sweet and sacred. No, she must stay. But she found out her mistake in time. Some never do. She could be a Universalist but she could not enjoy Universalism there. The Universalist Church is the only one in which a soul can knew the priceless value and sweetness of Universalism. To enjoy the faith one must be its witness. Its richness is never experienced by a silent believer.
Mrs. Irwin remained something over two years a faithful worker in her Baptist Church, a teacher in the Sunday School and an instructor of teachers, also a leading worker in the Ladies' Society. Meanwhile she was glad to contribute her labor to encourage the little band of Universalists and attend meetings when held. At last she clearly saw that the Baptist church could be no longer her religious home, and with her little daughter united with the Universalist Sunday Scheol.
In 1898, I believe it was—in that same humble hall—she stood beside her husband, Mr. George W. Irwin, to receive the fellowship of the Universalist Church. Dr. D. B. Clayton, I think was present assisting me in this service. Two years later their little daughter, Mabel, joined at twelve years of age.
On the thirtieth day of November, 1902, Mrs. Irwin was ordained as a Universalist minister and installed the Pastor of the Universaltst Church in Pensacola, Florida. The noble work she did and how greatly she was loved by all is well known to our people in the North.
Less than two years age she was called by the Executive Board of the National Y. P. C. U. to take the Mission in Little Rock. Under her leadership a beautiful Chapel has been built, and a fine corner lot secured for a future church. Back of this fronting on 13th Street, stands the attractive "Cottage Chapel."
Last week the Arkansas Conference met in it, and on Sunday, April 22, 1906, the new house of worship was dedicated, five ministers taking part, Revs. Rachel Billings, Athalia Irwin, B. F. Griffin, W. M. Edrington and the writer. A fine intelligent audience listened to these services, and at night the attendance was increased. Having been the founder of the church, it fell on me to preach the dedicatory sermon. Our property in the capital City of Arkansas is worth $4,000. Indebtedness $550- A great achievement for the friend whom I trust you will all go on encouraging until she gains still greater.

UU Salon - Universalism

✇ WWUUD?
8 June 2010 at 23:05
By: Steven Rowe
in a history blog, you talk about history. And what better way to talk about history that to cite the leaders of southern Universalism. I hope my brief excerpts give a bit of the joy that these ministers felt about their beliefs.



Father Clayton in his autobiography talks about his conversion to Universalism. He had been spending much time in religious contemplation in the years up to 1837.

"To say that God created a part of the human race purposely to render them endlessly miserable would, to his [Clayton's] mind, transform that great and good Being into a MONSTER OF CRUELTY. To say that God had created all men for a destiny of endless felicity would be, as his religious training assured him, to embrace a soul-destroying heresy ..."
"In what direction to turn for relief, he did not know. He could not reconcile the doctrine of endless misery with his ideas of the principle of justice; which principle his religious teachers seemed to regard as the overshadowing attribute of the all-wise Creator. Against that dogma every attribute of his own soul was in open rebellion; and this fact he could not conceal from himself."
...
"but fortunately - as the writer now believes - there occurred, just at this, to him, critical period, and event quite trivial in its nature, as viewed from an ordinary stand-point, but an event designed, through the train of circumstances to which it gave rise, to exercise a controlling influence over at least fifty years of his earthy destiny. This was the placing in his hands .... of a copy of the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND GOSPEL ADVOCATE, a Universalist weekly paper -- of which the [modern UU WORLD] is the lineal descendant ...
To one who had been occupying the benighted position that had proved so perplexing to the writer, that copy of the MAGAZINE AND ADVOCATE appeared as the glimmer of a light shinning in a dark place. he became not long thereafter a subscriber to that paper, and also a deeply interested reader. it opened up to him a new world....
"The shackles of religious error, by which he had been bound down to a servitude more grinding and oppressive that that of the galley-slave, fell from his limbs, and he stood forth, 'redeemed regenerated, disinthralled.' Then, as never before in his religious experience, he felt that a burden indeed had been lifted, not simply from his shoulders, but from his heart."

Athalia J. Irwin
from "A Bouquet of Verses", 1905

HOPE
What matters it if the darkest night wears on, like a sunless life,
And weary hours coax not the sleep that would cover up your strife?
oh, know ye not, ye weary soul, that a day far faier still
Must break for thee in the eastern skies, and they hungering spirt fill?
Oh, know ye not that a day of light must surely dawn at last,
When darkness drear hast taught thy soul its burden where to cast.
Despair ye not, O weary soul, if the night be long and drear,
For a day of hope will surely come and bring they share of cheer.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Southern U and Us during the Civil War

✇ WWUUD?
15 April 2010 at 21:49
By: Steven Rowe
Last updated on June 14, 2010


"Radar J" asks "...my Mom's ... been wondering what happened with Universalist churches in the South during the Civil War."
"I haven't found anything on-line yet that gives me even a clue what to tell her. Can you point me to any resources, or even tell us what you know? Did they go underground, or close up shop for the duration, or just keep meeting as usual in spite of the pro-slavery opinions of their immediate neighbors and the war going on around them?"

Ok, an honest question deserves an honest answer.

On the Unitarian side, as far as I can tell the three churches in the South with Unitarian doctrine (the AUA was for individuals and not churches up to around 1870), had weekly Sunday services. Most of the Universalist Churches didnt meet weekly (not unusual for rural churches)- but the lack of ministers during the war and reconstruction (and lack of money to pay ministers with) did lead to a disruption of services. Massive amounts of missionary work by locals Clayton, Burrus, Strain, and Bowers after the war led to resumption of churches and services. Some of these churches continued during the war with occasional services, most did not.

It would be nice to end here.
But honesty insists I don't. The Unitarian and Universalist Churches in the south were not as a group anti-slavery, pre-war. There were a few individuals and ministers who were pro-union (and possibly anti-slavery), but most of the other members reflected their local community on that issue, however their local community felt.

It's been said that Unitarians and Universalists were the two denominations that didnt split over the question of slavery, pre-war. With Unitarians not being a denomination or even association of churches prior to the 1870s, it was kind of hard for them to split. I don't know the thinking of the church in Louisville Kentucky or New Orleans, Louisiana; but the Unitarian church in Charleston, SC was pro-slavery.

The Universalist Church did not split, although Henry Summer of Newberry, South Carolina, (see a previous article) is supposed to have highly pushed for it, wanting an independent southern Universalist Church - to be headquarted in Plains, Georgia. But then South Carolina was full of fire-eaters. Indeed, the one believed Universalist governor of SC led a raid on a federal post office to destroy abolitionist pamphlets (this around 1840s). It was of course, illegal to own abolitionist writings in SC and illegal to advocate anti-slavery views. The Quakers and German Baptist Brethren (Church of Brethren) left SC in the early 1800s, both being strongly anti-slavery. But as noted, SC was a fireeater state, what of the others?
The majority of southern Universalist congregations seem to be in non-plantation areas. Which makes sense, putting aside the issue of slavery, plantation owners didnt think much of anyone outside their social class status. Universalists in the south were more inclined to be middle class. While some of the churches are in areas that were more contempeous of the war (there was a reason SC and the south started drafting conscripts for their "Rich Man's War and a Poor Man's Fight"); I dont see any known Universalists in the rebels against the rebels.
It would be difficult at this date to determine the views on slavery of those Universalists in the south. What little information we have seems to put them in the same category as their neighbors in their own individual communities.
The national convention did condemn slavery. A Southern convention did start a few years prewar, but stated they were not independent of the national convention. We don't know if the lack of independence was because they agreed with anti-slavery in the abstract or some other reason. Again it should be noted that (almost?) all of the other denomination did split.

Henry Summer survived his hanging by northern soldiers, circa 1865, an event intended to extort money from him. This did not improve his feelings toward the North. Did he leave the Universalist Church to go with those who were more anti-north?
Where did Universalist stand during the early reconstruction? Early reconstruction was when there was hope for reconciliation... before the old regime returned and "redeemed" the south. I do see some Universalists there....
We also know that A.C. Bowers of East Tennessee served in the Union army, and that Rev S. M. Simons of South Carolina was pro-Union.

Obviously more research needs to be done.
may 26, 2010

June 14, 2010
Peggy Rawheiser (Author of Universalism in North Carolina) tells me that "In Hope Bain's diary in my book, he recounts his travels to different speaking engagements during the Civil War including being chaplain to Sherman's troops when they were camped near Goldsboro."

Univeralist Convocation in Rochester, NY May 14-16, 2010

✇ WWUUD?
2 April 2010 at 12:08
By: Steven Rowe
while the Universalist Convocation is not a history meet, there is some history discussed - which this year includes a tour of Albion and the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, and it meets at the historic 1st Universalist Society of Rochester. I will be there.

UNIVERSALIST CONVOCATION 2010
May 14-16, 2010
First Universalist Society of Rochester , NY
Keynote: The Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, “Dragged Kicking and Screaming to Heaven”
For more information please go to nmuc.org/Convo

White-Ward Memorial Universalist Church, Pine Park, Georgia

✇ WWUUD?
18 February 2010 at 13:40
By: Steven Rowe
The first Universalist Church in southwest Georgia, and about 50 miles from the nearest other Universalist Church (in Florida).

Church founded in 1898
building dedicated in 1907

Daniel Patterson Ward (1869-1938) charter member
gave the land and lumber for the church building
1906/7 16 families, 12 members;
Rev. Stanley Manning, circuit minister; G. A. White, clerk;
1907, Feb 24; building dedicated - built next to school
1920s monthly services, attended by other church's membership - as Pine Park was a circuit route for other denominations as well.
1942 services held
1943/1944 Rev. Roger D. Bosworth of the Atlanta Church was temporary providing services.
1948 no services in a couple of years, most members therefore having transferred their membership (to Hamburg, Florida?)

at some point the building became the 4-H Hut (1950s or 1960s)
in the 1990s, it was apparently the Pine Park Community Center.
by 2002, vandals had knocked the doors in.
In 2006, the building was acquired by Baptist college of Florida in Graceville, Florida.
given to them by Janice Ward, daughter-in-law of D. P. Ward
May 2006 Building was restored and in their Heritage Circle, now being used for teaching Southern Baptist ministers.
http://www.baptistcollege.edu/news_events/press/2007/pine_park.asp
contains before and after pictures.

former location: 6 miles west of Cario on US 84. On left, Just before the convenience store. A monument for the church was placed there in 2006.

Pardon while we move ....

✇ WWUUD?
24 October 2009 at 00:34
By: Steven Rowe
Been quite awhile since I posted any history here -
- not because history is dead, indeed i got some interesting stuff in.
A list of sermon topics by Rev Nellie Opdale, when she was preaching
in Maine, etc.

But work has been busy, as well as my upcoming move. (finding a place
to live, etc)
Said move should give me more free time to blog.

Consolation Universalist Church, "Christian County" Kentucky

✇ WWUUD?
26 September 2009 at 18:49
By: Steven Rowe
The Consolation Church was one of the first Universalist churches in the west of the pre-1830s. The church in the home by a traveling universalist minister - who was not ordained by the Universalists, but apparently by the frontier branch of what is now the Church of the Brethren. The church apparently officially affliated with the Universalists around 1835. (if we are to believe the 19th century registers)


In northwest Christian County, Kentucky - 8 miles from Hopkinsville, Ky - on the current Dawson Springs Road.
Consolation Church- 16 May 1819- circa 1940s or 1950s
house church 1819- 1840, first building 1840-1870, second building 1870-1917, third building 1917- torn down c1972

1885 had 175 members

historic marker placed as the first Universalist Church west of the Allegheny Mountains. N 37° 01.812 W 087° 34.896 16S E 448271 N 4098380

Consolation School c1912 - 1940s high school and grade school

church was founded by William Lowe, an Universal Redemption minister.
It originally met in the home of James E. Clark (1770-1841).
While the Clark family was from Virginia, James and his brother Jonathan lived in the
Pendleton district of South Carolina in the 1790s (apparently in Anderson County).
Rev. Joab Clark (1807-1882) was a native of Christian County, ordained in 1835, was the regular preacher at Consolation from 1833 to 1882, replacing William Lowe.

His son Hosea Ballou Clark (1834-1913) was a member of the Universalist Church, and
a Republican state Representative in 1885. His wife was a Methodist. Hosea was the President of the Kentucky Universalist Convention in 1893.
Joab "Joe" Clark Junior (1856-1946) son of Rev Joab, active in the Universalist Church.
Hosea's son, Claude R. Clark (1870-1943), was also an Universalist. His wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterians. Claude owned 6 grocery stores in the Hopkinsville area.

The church was still active in the mid1930s (leaders include Pool and McCord).
it was apparently gone by the time of the consolidation of Universalists and Unitarians.
At one time, there were apparently at least three Universalist Churches in Christian County.


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Outlaw's Bridge - the Life Magazine Article

✇ WWUUD?
24 September 2009 at 23:10
By: Steven Rowe
Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church was featured in an 1944 issue of Life Magazine. That issue is now on Google Books.

(if the link stops working, then go to http://books.google.com and search for "Outlaw's Bridge" )

it features the work of Rev Gustav Ulrich, who is said increased the membership of the church to 79 (in a "town" of 94 families). The Church building burned in
1950 - and it's worth reading the story on Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church website - to see what dedication the members had to save what they could.

(disclaimer: this blogger is related to the founder Julia Kent Outlaw, via her husband, Bryan Outlaw - a very distant cousin)

Allen Fuller travels in 1834

✇ WWUUD?
30 August 2009 at 20:59
By: Steven Rowe
Trumpet and Universalist Magazine. April 11, 1835.

Br. A. Fuller's Journey
Newberry District, SC, December 14, 1834

Br. Whittemore - I have arrived home after an absence of ten weeks , during which i traveled above 800 miles. I left home on the 4th of October, on account of the poor state of my health, being afflicted with intermittent fever, and proceeded by short stages toward the Mountainous parts of the State. On the 12th i preached for the first time after my sickness, in Greenville District; and at the meeting of the Convention in Anderson District on the 17th, my health was so much improved that i performed the part of the services which were assigned to me, without any apparent injury. There I enjoyed the satisfaction of participating in the consecration of the house of worship erected by the spirited exertions in that place in the past year, and had the pleasure of welcoming one brother to the cause of the ministry, and sixteen to membership in the society. it was truly one of the most joyous occasions i have every witnessed.
From the Convention I proceed to Georgia, preaching in Oglethorpe, Walton, Henry, and Pike counties on my way to the dedication of the First Universalist meeting house in the State of Georgia, situated in Harris County. At that place i had expected to meet our worthy brethren Andrews and Atkins from Alabama, but being disappointed, the whole of the services devolved on me. Having fulfilled this appointment of 3 days in succession, and preached again on the following Sunday, I proceed to Montgomery Alabama, where Br. Atkins was ordained on the 16th of November. With Br. Andrews and family, I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted at the time of their visit to South Carolina, the past summer, and it was truly refreshing to meet them again after traveling so far among total strangers. By his zeal and perseverance, Br. Andrews, has given our cause a powerful impulse in that section of Alabama, and nearly silenced that overbearing opposition which the Partialist clergy generally exhibited on his arrival. His labor and exertions to establish the SOUTHERN EVANGELIST are truly laudable, but I fear that his support is not equal to his necessities.
With Br. Atkins I had no acquaintance until this visit. He also is a brother with whom I am much pleased. Added to a good education and as strong mind, he posses a good practical knowledge of our doctrine, and an unspotted reputation.
Before he was expelled from the Methodist church, of which he was a worthy class leader, the church in that place numbered 66 members; it has not now more than 15. Then the meeting House, which stands on his land, which would not hold near all who assembled therefor worship; now is never filled on any ordinary occasion; and these changes are traced without difficulty to the arbitrary proceedings against him, and the influence of his opinions on others. The charge by which he was condemned by his Judges (the church not being permitted to be present) was holding and advocating heretical and unscriptural doctrines. he admitted that he held and was ready to defend the doctrines alluded to, but denied that they were either heretical or unscriptual. They, however, decided that they were, and proceeded to accordingly to expel him from their church. Br. Atkins preaches in various places in Alabama , but does not devote his whole time to the ministry.
Having delivered two discourses in the Universalist Meeting House in Montgomery, (which is a very neat building, pleasantly situation, and furnished with elegant SETTEES
and adorned with a beautiful chandelier; and it was expected that it would soon be supplied with a bell and organ,) and two at Mount Olympus, the Universalist Meeting House in the fork of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. I returned to Georgia, and thence home. I preached twice in Talbot, and twice in Jones Counties; in the former of which i could not learn that any of our faith had ever before preached. my first discourse there was on the day of the TOTAL eclipse of the sun, and though it was nearly half obscured before the close of my services, yet so fixed was the attention of my audience, that scarcely one showed any sign of impatience. This I regarded as somewhat extraordinary, considering the seldom occurrence of such a phenomenon.


******* 2009 notes:
Some of the preaching stations mentioned in Georgia had regular services, just not a meeting house. The Harris county meeting house is 24 by 34 feet, on the road from Columbus to LaGrange. **** added - This would be the Mulberry Grove Church. Im not sure if it made it up to the Civil War, or ended a few years before. - McMorris and Hubbard were ordained there, part of the Chattahoochee Association. ***** These three meeting houses would be all the non-union houses for Georgia and Alabama, all in land that just opened for settlement slightly over a decade before. The migration from SC to Alabama and Mississippi was starting to heat up about this time, leading to the decline of the congregations in SC.

Alabama 1935 in Conecuh County

✇ WWUUD?
29 August 2009 at 21:37
By: Steven Rowe
From "The Trumpet and the Universalist magazine" April 4, 1835
taken from "The Southern Evangelist"
The Cause of the South
Extract of a Letter from Br. H. F. Sterns
Belville, Conecuh Co., Ala. March 1, 1835

Brother Andrews: As it relates to my tour in this vicinity, I will, with cheerfulness acquiesce with your proposals; but taking into consideration the size of your paper, you will excuse my brevity.
I left Montgomery, as you well know, on the 16th ult, on the Dover, a very splendid boat, with fine accommodations, a gentlemanly Captain, and a social company of passengers, some of whom enjoyed themselves with "Jack's Primer," as is usual "to kill time," which the eternal variegated scenery of Southern rivers renders mortally tedious. But the afternoon, evening, and succeeding day passed away, and we arrived at Claiborne, where Left the boat and tarried until the next day at noon. I there got on board a THING they call the Southern Mail Stage, a queer concern to be sure, and after riding for nearly six hours over a space of a country which is well calculated to hold the world together, and a road well adopted to the country, I arrived at the plantation of Squire Boney, in the neighborhood of Burnt Corn. Being somewhat fatigued, I tarried for the night,and shared the hospitality of this gentleman, whom I found to be intelligent, and sharing a good degree of wealth. Through his politeness I was conveyed to the plantation of John Green, Esq. where I arrived on Friday the 18th. This gentleman, I can say in justice, is the father of the blessed doctrine of Universalism in this section of the State of Alabama. He is allowed to be, even by those who who oppose his sentiments, a man of unimpeachable character, a worthy citizen,
and a kind obliging neighbor. He was once a Methodist, but a more intelligent and well-instructed Universalist , and one who has experienced more buffeting, I have seldom found in all my travels. But these things are fast dying away, and the pleasurable gratification which he now enjoys, exceeds all expectations. You may be surprised when I tell you, that upon my arrival in this, to a passing observer wild wilderness, i found that our venerable father Ballou had been here before me, with his unanswerable arguments in favor of Universalism [By way of his books.]
on Saturday, the 14th, after making an appointment for the following Sunday, Mr. Green accompanied me to this place, a distance of eight miles, where I had the extreme pleasure of meeting some few friends, and in the evening returned to a Mr. Jones, an elderly and very worthy man, who has recently embraced the faith of Abraham, and left that of Methodism in the back ground. On Sunday, I repaired to the Meeting House, built of longs, in the pine woods, where I found a very respectable number of persons assembled, though it was a very rainy day, and withal cold. i addressed them from the subject, "God is Love", after reading to them the chapter in which it is found, and some really thought, as I have since been told by them, that I had an Universalist Bible,and they were not satisfied until they found it in their own. The people paid strict attention, and not a few were evidentially surprised to find that "God is Love" and that his JUSTICE would be executed, the sinner punished, and all be holy and happy.
The week following i spent in visiting several neighborhoods, and on Sunday morning I visited Sparta to fulfill my engagement. The day proved to be very fine, though it had some appearance of being wet, in the morning, which probably kept some away, but several observed that they seldom if ever had seen that number before at meeting in that village. I stood in the seat of justice, in the capacity of a pleader for mankind, to believe that they had a kind Father, who would do them no injustice, but would remember their sins and iniquities no more. The excitement, I have since learned, was considerable, and probably the next time I go there I shall occupy the Methodist Meeting House. I returned to Belville the same evening, where I have been since. *****
This day, Sunday, the first of March, I preached under the broad canopy of heaven, to a numerous and attentive audience, surrounded by three or four Methodist preachers, who I previously understood, were to reply, but from some cause, they did not do it. Next Sabbath, the Lord will, I shall preach at Monroeville.


Belville was founded around 1818, by the Brothers Bell.
Conecuh County was formed in 1818; previously it was Indian territory.
Brother Andrews was Rev. L.F.W. Andrews, the editor then of the Southern Evangelist.
Brother Henry Franklin Sterns (also Stearns) was born in Province of Ontario in 1805 ordained in September 1833 in Vermont. by July to September 1834, he was settled in New Hampshire. While histories of Conecuh county state that he was in Alabama in 1830 teaching, Universalist publications suggest that he moved sometime between September of 1834 and February 1835. He began to practice law around 1835. In December of 1835, he replaced Rev. Andrews as the minister of the Universalist Church in Montgomery Alabama. Around 1837 he became a Judge in Conecuh County. In 1856 he went to Texas on business, returning, he did not make it home, dying in Claiborn Alabama in 1857.
Squire Boney
Burnt Corn, Alabama - on the old Federal Road
John Green born in SC, moved to Georgia as a child, became a lawyer and practiced in Burnt Corn, as well as being the first teacher in the county.
Father Ballou -
Mr. Jones
"faith of Abraham" - not Judaism, but apparently Universalism. Ive seen this term in the 1880s as well
Sparta, Alabama
Monroeville, Alabama - county seat of Monroe County,

Mike Seeger (1933- 2009)

✇ WWUUD?
9 August 2009 at 01:21
By: Steven Rowe

i don't claim that Mike Seeger was a Universalist - I dont have a clue as to his religious views. Although I do know that his half brother is an Unitarian Universalist. But his career in music did touch one of the joys of the south - the True Vine music of the pre-war south. Seeger was the most popular and I believe the original revialist of the old time music tradition. He recorded with and re-discovered dozens of old-time musicians. He named bluegrass music.
The rural folks of the south loved old time country music - as did the Universalists of the south. And frankly, one of the appeals of Universalists was that it wasn't a sin to play the fiddle. The Baptist said you would go to hell if you danced, the Universalists would let the dance be right there, fiddles and banjo going. As I read about southern Universalists, I sometimes hear about fiddles - one of the Rev Strains won a fiddle contest! About Clayton McMichen, who's granddaddy helped him learn to play (McMichen grew up in an Universalist household).
i knew bluegrass, but in 1972, with Seeger's Second Annual Farewell Reunion LP, I begin to know old time. From that I discovered that my opera loving father was able to ID Uncle Dave Macon by his voice.
I picked this song, because stuff like this confuses folks - its corny. yep, it sure is, ain't that nice?
RIP Mike, thanks for helping me rediscover my own roots.

Gospel Anchor 1832/3

✇ WWUUD?
1 August 2009 at 18:28
By: Steven Rowe
the below is a list of material related to southern Universalism that appeared in the Troy NY Universalist paper, The Gospel Anchor in 1832.
This listing is both a way to extract information as we wait for some future where it can be reconstructed into articles - and as a way to look at one view of Southern Universalism from northern New York. Ministers are mentioned by their known, to me, connection with the southeast. I may have left out a Rev Newell, but think that he is different than the one in Charleston SC. Rev I D. Williamson is mentioned frequently, as he was a co-editor ("Junior Editor" it says in an article).; he later served briefly in Mobile Alabama, and did a preaching tour of the south.

Gospel Anchor 1932-1833 Volume 2; co-edited by I. D. Williamson; Troy NY; weekly

June 30, 1832 a sermon by T. Fisk -
August 11, 1832 Rev L. F. W. Andrews is announcing the publication of "The Gospel Witness" a 4 page half royal weekly to be published in New Haven, Connecticut.

August 18, 1832 Junior editor ID Williamson "W." reports that he has been sick, now nearly recovered.

August 25, 1832 ID Williamson did circuit travels up to Brattleboro, etc.
Currently Universalists have 14 periodicals, issuing weekly 20,000 copies.

September 15, 1832 Sermon by ID Williamson, delivered at Universalist Convention, held in Utica May 9, 1832

October 6, 1832 married at Newberry District, SC, by Rev Elijah Lynch on the 6th ult, Rev. Allen Fuller, formerly of Middleboro Mass to Tabitha Worthington, all of Newberry. ((modern note: Fuller was invited to SC by the SC Convention. The bride is the granddaughter of Rev Joseph Summers and niece of Rev Giles Chapman, both small u universalist ministers.))

October 13, 1832 'The Mother" a sermon by T. Fisk

October 20, 1832 Sermon by I D Williamson given at the installation of Rev D. F. Le Fevre in Troy NY September 1832

October 27, 1832 -circular letter done at the behalf of the General Convention, state conventions were recommended. There were 6 State Conventions at the time: New York, Maine, South Carolina, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. A South Carolina representive was able to attend the General Convention at Concord NH.
LFW Andrews reports that he will help edit the Herald of Freedom, and thus will not be publishing The Gospel Witness. The Herald of Freedom was published by P.T. Barnum.

December 8, 1832 now 30 Universalist newspapers

December 15, 1832 taken from the "Christian Messenger", LFW Andrew's views on ministerial qualifications. He objects to official qualifications.

January 5, 1833 Rev T. Fisk gave the oration at the release of P.T.Barnum from jail - he had been convicted of saying that Rev Seth Seelye defrauded an orphan of $17. Barnum was not allowed to speak in court. There were over 1500 attending the oration. Upon Barnum's way home, the music played was "Home Sweet Home".

January 12, 1833 in an article take from "The Magazine and Advocate", there is an article dated November 7, Newberry SC by A.F. ((Allen Fuller)) entitled Universalism Progressing Toward the South. It was a response to an article in the "Washington (Ga) Observer". Fuller states that "Universalism in not merely as he says, looking towards the South, it has already arrived in all parts of the South., and it's there exerting its influence. Not only is its' Trumpet sounds in North Carolina, as he observes, but it is heard in South Carolina and Georgia and Alabama, where it is accompanied by its Messenger, and its Inquirer is also there found seeking for the right way, and its Magazine well stored with truth, and its Advocate pleading its cause. he seems to regret that we have obtained a church in Baltimore, and that another is being erected in Richmond Va, and we would inform him that there are three meeting houses owned exclusively by Universalists as far south as South Carolina and that another is in progress there. That there are five regularly organized societies or churches in that state, and two preachers of that doctrine: and we hope to have another faithful laborer in this part of the Lords vineyards...."
((the words in capitals are of Universalist newspapers, Trumpet, Messenger, Magazine, Inquirer, and Advocate)).
From the Trumpet: Why do the Universalists have no Doctors of Divinity? Brother Fisk answers that "Because our divinity is never sick."

January 26, 1833 an excerpt from a funeral service by T. Fisk, dealing with the death of a child.

February 2 and 9, 1833 - An account of the hearing of Dr. Thomas Cooper, President of the College of South Carolina (now the University of South Carolina) for heresy. Cooper was an associate of Joseph Priestly. He was acquitted.

April 6, 1833 - "New Publication - Brother Fisk of New Haven, Conn who furnishes newspapers with as much apparent ease as other editors do paragraphs, has established another paper, entitled the "Herald of Universal Salvation". The paper is to be published semi-monthly. "

Misc and more misc II - mostly Georgia

✇ WWUUD?
27 July 2009 at 22:00
By: Steven Rowe
After serious contemplation, I won't be attending the Georgia Convention - my car is needed elsewhere, and it really doesn't make sense for me to rent a car to go to the convention. The fact that i was seriously considering it - says just how excited I was, and how disappointed I am to be missing it. I hope that someone reading this, does go and can give us a report.
(the car being needed elsewhere is for a not-so-secret project of my wife).

I have been studying Georgia some, particularly looking at Monticello and Jasper County were a small band of Universalists were in the early 20th Century. Descendants of Archibald Standifer (of Jasper county) had claimed him to be an Universalist preacher. I've seen no mention of him in the Universalist Registers, but then I've seen others who I know were ministers not in the Registers either (ok, usually because they died before the registers got good and acurate). I then learned that Standifer had been a Christian (Diciples of Christ) minister in the 1830s - preaching at the Republician Meeting House nee' Antioch (still in southern Oconee county near Watkinsville). He was also a subcriber to CFR Shehane's Georgia/ South Carolina DOC newspaper from around that period of time. Did Standifer, like Shehane become Universalist? Not enough information to really know.

I looked briefly at the southwest corner of Georgia looking for (and at) the small Universalist Churches there. I cant come up with family names yet - although a few towns show up. What I really find is my lack of knowledge of Georgia geography and history (once we get past 1-95). So I'm looking at maps and reading history. and the same is true for other parts of the south.

I spent some time at Newberry with G - she showed me where the Hartford Meeting House is (now a rental home) - and we tried to find the Huntsville cemetary is (and thus the old Huntsville Union Church. Now, I had found particuarly good directions to within a few hundred yards of the site. And much to my irritation, the terrian has changed so much, that we couldnt find the cemetary. anybody reading this blog have co-ordinates to it?
the Teague family was mostly burried at their family cemetary, so we didnt expect much to find, it was the idea. The revoluntionary war battlesite nearby remains unmarked as well.

2009 Georgia Universalist News

✇ WWUUD?
11 July 2009 at 00:04
By: Steven Rowe
I was forwarded a copy of some recent news.

The 2009 Georgia Universalist Convention meets in early August, in connection with the Rockwell Church annual Homecoming.
The 2009 Windsor Homecoming will be in September.

History of Universalism in North Carolina (link)

✇ WWUUD?
10 June 2009 at 00:56
By: Steven Rowe
History of Universalism in North Carolina

I commented on this book when it came out - and now I'm glad to say that there is a webpage devoted to selling it . You still can't order on line - but you can print that page out, add your name and address and check, and mail it in. And the publisher's email address is there.

And while you're at it, check out the Shelterneck.org homepage too

Why read history and old books? (Universalist Movement In America 1770-1880)

✇ WWUUD?
2 June 2009 at 12:20
By: Steven Rowe
At the Universalist Convocation in May 2009, I was on a panel to discuss Ann Lee Bressler's 2005 book, "The Universalist Movement in America 1770 - 1880" ---
I and co-panelist, Rev Richard Trudeau, both liked the book. I found it an excellent summary of the original Universalist theology, written in a style easily for non-theologians to understand.
With chapter titles like "Calvinism Improved", "the Challenge of Communal Piety", and "Universal Redemption and Social Reform" what isn't there to like?
Answer: folks who like later versions of Universalism understandably don't like the dismissal of the later version. While I understand their concern, I like the book for what it does show us.

anyway, I ended the panel by reading this from the author's acknowledgments

"Our children ... have grown up with this book. Almost every summer they have endured trips to historic Universalist sites and New England graveyards. The names and teachings of nineteenth-century Universalists must be lodged somewhere deep in their minds. As I complete this work, that is not an unhappy thought. "

My odyssey in Alabama

✇ WWUUD?
22 May 2009 at 00:16
By: Steven Rowe
We went to Alabama this past week, mainly to attend the Universalist Convocation, but also to explore history, local geography, food, and friends. Since this is a history blog, I will talk just about southern Universalist history here - and hope (hope) to mention the rest on my other blog.

A sign off I-20 beckoned us to the Edgefield SC museum. It didnt say how far away it was, or we may or may not have gone - but we did, and the museum was fine, but the genealogy library was better. Sharon looked up files, looking up the Boones and Sundays, while I tried to find out if there were anything to suggest if the body of Allen Fuller was buried in Edgefield SC (where he died) or if it was shipped back to Trussville Alabama where he lived. I found nothing about his death -nice conversation about his friends, the Teagues, however. Sharon got her material, including a newspaper article on the murder of her ancestor and lots of material on that ancestor lawsuit against his mother. On the newspaper article, she asked me if I had read the article two paragraphs up. It seems that then (in the 1850s) Universalist minister E. H. Lake was to preach at the Edgefield courthouse. We had visited the graves of several of his children in Forence SC a few weeks earlier. I also picked up large maps from the 1820s of Newberry County, Laurens County, and Sharon, large maps of Edgefield County in the 1820s and 1850s.
There was Universalist Churches in all three counties - and the large size means I won't have to use my magnifying sheet to try to read them on my small Mills Atlas.

The next day after eating Alabama version of Eastern Carolina BBQ (not bad), we headed south to the mountains, and then down to Lineville Alabama , where Sharon's ancestor Mrs. Sunday moved in the early 1830s. Later exploration through history (including a visit to Horseshoe Bend Military Park and a book on the Federal Road) shows that western Georgia and Eastern Alabama were closed to settlers up to the late 1820s- after the removal of the Creek Indians. This opening of land, brought many settlers from the Carolinas there, including Universalists from the Coleman, Gardner, Cawthorn families. This explaining the explosion of Universalist Churches in the 1830s-1850s there. Sharon found her ancestor's daughter's grave in an Disciples of Christ (Christian) graveyard. There was an 1830s style unmarked grave in the family plot - likely - but not positively - to have been Mrs Sunday's grave.
To Birmingham: the public library had a good section on genealogy, but nothing in that section on local universalist churhes. I did find the cemetary listing of the Universalist Church in Ariston (even though the compliers of the book called it a "Primitive Baptist Universalist" Church. Have you ever noticed that Genealogists are not good church historians?
Then to Trussville, where Sharon's keen eye spotted the headstone of Tabitha Fuller, the wife and daughter of Universalist Minsters. For some reason, she is burried in what is called the First Baptist Cemetary. Rev Fuller, was an Universalist until his death a few years later (and died while on Church business in Edgefield).
the Convocation was based on Biblical and modern history (I should mention here that the sermon on Jonah had lighting and thunder at appropriate parts) - but I participated in a conversation with Rev Richard Trudeau about the book the Universalist Movement in America.
We both liked it, I especially thought it was a good explanation of Ballou's Calvinism Improved beliefs. Upon re-reading it, I was struck by some of the more possible consequence of early Universalism: radical equality and elimination of social barriers (this wasn't perfect here in the south - but progress isnt usually).
Then to Camp Hill - nice old church, building is over 100 years old. The congregation is 160 years old. From what I can tell, it's the second oldest surviving UU Church in the southeast? (oldest being Charleston SC Unitarian which is older than the AUA,). I was pleased to see old familiar names, like Coleman in the stained glass. I was surprised to see Rev CFR Shehane as a co-founder - this only a few years after his conversion from Disciples of Christ (Christian) to Universalist. I speculate on the possibility of his having preached while still a DofC at the church in Lineville... Camp Hill used to be one of the largesr churches (over 200 active members), but is now down to monthly services -- just like the old Universalist (and most other rural denominations) churches back when it was founded.
I went down to Auburn to look at old Universalist Heralds, they have both issues and their collection on microfilm. My job was to see what issues they had. it was a joy to read various articles, seeing familiar names - Rev Clayton's schedule - he was selling Universalist books, and he was even occasionally preaching at Cash's Depot - about 20 miles from my home. the shock of knowing that I knew the first name of Rev. Gardner of Mississippi who was preaching at the Church of the Restoration - he was Marmaduke Gardner, later the main spirit of the Universalist Church in Texas - and who happened to also have been lived in Edgefield County, SC. An article by Rev James Inman of Cold Mountain fame, of Rev. Mrs Billings who strengthened and expanded the work at Texas. I didnt have time to read full issues or even to skim most of them, so I just jotted down a few notes, looking for Universalists who lived near me- I do admit that I liked one of the mastheads of the old Herald "Devoted to Temperance, Moderation, and Reasonable Religion"

You know, to do these things, to explore this, to have this much fun with this; just shows how deeply blessed I am. It also shows how important these people and their history is, because they can still touch me in such a wonderful moving way.

(corrected 1.0)

Universalist Society of Mount Olympus, Alabama 1833-1837+

✇ WWUUD?
9 May 2009 at 19:04
By: Steven Rowe
The Herald of Truth issued August 16, 1834, takes a news item from the Southern Evangelist (an Universalist newspaper from Montgomery) and cites the creation of the "Universalist Society of Mount Olympus", mentioning that this is the second Universalist society in Montgomery County, Alabama. Mount Olympus is mentioned in Rev George Rogers book of his missionary travels, where he mentions that it is 16 miles across the River from Montgomery. it's good that he mentions the distance because "Mount Olympus" is a lost town, and is not listed in "Place Names in Alabama" or the US site, Geonames.

we know the church lasted from 1833-1837+ (1833 because services and the building were there a year before the church was organized), 1837 because Rev Rogers preached there.

Preacher is Willis Atkins, who was a former Methodist, and a member of the Mount Olympus community. He rates his own eventual biography on this blog. He died in 1842.

William Townsend (1787 - 1881) born in Georgia, dies in Wetumpka, Alabama.
wealthy - in 1860, had the equivalent of 2007 $1.5 million.

Dr. Thomas Mitchell (1773-1843) born in Georgia, dies in Montgomery County, Alabama. Home was off the Mitchell Creek Road, near Ware (11 miles SE of Wetumpka) . Tombstone stated:
In Memory of Dr. Thomas Mitchell
of Montgomery County, Alabama. Who Departed this life on the 22nd of
November, 1843, in the 66th year of His age, like a full ear of corn
Ripe for the Harvest. It may be truly said of him "An honest man's the
Noblest work of God". In the resurrection according to his faith he will be greeted
With the shouts of a ransomed Universe. When parting shall be no more, God shall be
All in All "For as in Adam all died" And so in Christ Shall all be made alive. "

Mrs. Mitchell (per Rogers) was a member in 1837, as was all of her family.

Ludwell F. Taylor (c1801 - 1842)
brother of Greenwell Wooten Taylor, born in Georgia, moved with parents to Alabama circa mid 1820s, bought land in 1829 and 1831. died in Rock Springs - a community that is between Wetumpka and Tallassee Alabama, about 20 miles east north-east of Montgomery and 11 miles east of Wetumpka. married July 1832 in Montgomery County. in the 1830 and 1840 census.
On the same cenus page as Willis Atkins in 1830.

Greenwell Wooten Taylor (c1805-1852)
brother of Ludwell F. Taylor, born in Georgia, moved with parents to Alabama circa mid 1820s, very well to do, bought land in Texas, but died on the boat between Mobile and Galveston, buried in what is now Danville Texas. Married in Montgomery County Alabama April 1832. in 1850 census . Buying and selling land from 1837 to 1852

"a free colored man and family" -1837- member of Mount Olympus congregation, per Rev. George Rogers.

SC Convention 1847 and Henry Summer of Newberry

✇ WWUUD?
3 May 2009 at 00:19
By: Steven Rowe
UNIVERSALIST UNION SEPTEMBER 4 1847, P687

South Carolina

The following letter from that excellent and devoted friend of our cause, H. Summer, Esq. of Newberry, S. C., though not designed for publication, contains so much information appertaining to the conditions and prospects of our cause in that State, that we have judged it worthy of being laid before our readers. --- Br. S. will pardon the liberty we have taken, and let us hear from him often.
A few men like Br. S. would make our cause flourish any where.

Newberry C. H., August 17, 1847

Dear Brother Balch --
I believe that we of this State took a step at the Annual Convention of Universalists, which will be productive of great good. I have just returned from the Convention, which met at Feasterville, Fairfield District, Liberty Meeting house. The friends met, and we had a good meeting. We passed, in council, a resolution of Br. Walker, adopted a report by myself as chairman, containing the Profession of Faith and Articles of Church Goverment, recommending the same to the friends scattered abroud the State. We have been hereto almost as good as without organization. The procedings will be published in the STAR IN THE WEST, prepared by Rev. A. Fuller, the standing clerk. It devolved on me to sustain the report and reccomend it to the Convention. On its merits, I suspose I spoke at least two hours; and by way of presenting and enforcing it, at least half an hour; so that in refrence to this point particuarly, and some other closely connected with it, I spoke about three hours. I felt the importance of the movement,and believing, that upon its adoption depended the fate of our glorious doctorine for years to come.
Br. S. M. Simons, from the Baptists, recieved the fellowship of our order as a preacher of the Gospel. He left the Baptists after he was ordained. He is a plain but zealous man. Br. N.P. Walker, a man of about 30 years, was ordained a preacher of the Gospel by Brs. A. Fuller and S. M. Simons. Br. Walker is a man of very good talents. Br. Fuller preached the Ordination Sermon from this text, "Preach The Word, " and gave us an excellent discourse. The Profession of Faith,. and Articles of Church Goverment, were taken, with a few variations, from Br. Whittemore's Plain Guide. We have now a platform on which I believe we can go to work and do something. I met an old father (David Coleman) eighty-two years old who had been a Dunker and had heard David Martyn, and was a member of his Church, believing in the doctrine of Universalism for 55 years now. After I finished my address at council in advocacy of the report of which I have abouve given you some account, that old father shook me cordially by the hand, the tears tricking down his cheeks, unable to speak - but his countenance uttered the language of his heart.
Oh Brother Balich, I feel we need help! We must depend upon that God of mercy that we adore, and we must all live according to the vocation wherewith we are called. Dear Br., you can let our friends know what we are doing; and though the work is begun in weakness, yet we look forward to a day of better things. This is with us a day of small things; but we shall go on, turning neither to the right nor to the left. We appointed Delegates to the U.S. Convention of Universalists; but none, I presume, will attend. Next year, Br. Fuller will, he thinks, be with you at your Convention, and he will be able to tell you how we have done.

################################################################

Henry Summer
"Henry Summer .... had a strong interest in Universalism." Fireside Tales: Stories of the Old Dutch Fork (1984)

there were two Henry Summers in the Newberry area, but most evidence would seem that he was the (1809-1869) lawyer. But his obituary states that that Summer was active in the Lutheran Church. At this point we know that the Universalist Summer was writing and reading Universalist materials from at least 1845 to 1867. That he met with other Universalists in Boston in 1845 at the general convention. Obituaries are written by the living, and not by the deceased - his wife and children were very active Lutherans.

Fredonia - part 3

✇ WWUUD?
23 April 2009 at 19:42
By: Steven Rowe
as indicated earlier in the blog - there have been folks who stated that the first Universalist Church (in what is now the USA) was the Fredonia Meeting House in Newberry County, SC.

We still havent found the location or the dates of the Meeting House... but we've found things on the name.

NAMES ON THE LAND (1945) by George R. Stewart, states that Fredonia (the word) was created after 1800 by Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchell. This coinage was an attempt to rename the United States of America, much like "Columbia" was also intended. See the wikipedia biography .
the term is used in his book MEDICAL REPOSITORY (1804) He mentioned the word in a letter to Thomas Jefferson in December 1803 - and apparently in 1804 published " An Address to the Fredes or People of the United States."

It is therefore probable that the name of the Meeting House was based on the term Fredonia created in 1803 by Dr. Mitchell and popularized by him in 1804. If this is so, then we must also find likely that the Fredonia Meeting House was not the first Universalist Church in America (of course if Fredonia was the renaming of an early Church, then we still cant say that it wasnt -it just lessens the possiblity).

(note to GW - the Halfacres bought that land in 1792 - so the term being created in 1803 actualy strenghts your idea that Fredonia was on their land...)

Cloud's Creek Massacre Off-topic

✇ WWUUD?
18 April 2009 at 21:46
By: Steven Rowe
(note: no religious content) I get a lot of hits from folks looking to find information on the Cloud's Creek Massacre. Apparently not much on the web, and this blog is listed as the number 2 google spot! so while off topic, let me help those folks (students? American revolutionary buffs?) but to the regular readers of this blog, it's off-topic, no Universalist known here - it just was close to the universalist Dunker church.


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this is where the Butler Cemetery and site of Massacre are.

leading up to the Massacre
Major William Cunningham was placed in charge of a command of dragoons after Lord Rawdon abandoned Fort Ninety-Six (circa June 1781). With the death of Major Dunlap, Cunningham established a base on Cane Creek on the Keowee River (July 1781) and began raiding the Ninety-Six district. August 1, 1781 raids across the Saluda River with deaths of eight "noted" rebels, and increase in his loyalist troops.
August 31, 1781 Parker's Ferry -British Commander Lt. Colonel Ernst Leopold von Borck vs General Francis Marion. The British suffered much causalities, but not Cunningham's troops. September 3, 1781 Cunningham attacked Ridgeway's Fort (on the Reedy River) capturing the fort without losing a man.
October 3, 1781 Cunningham attacked Pratt's Mill (on the Little River, 8 miles northwest of Abbeville, SC) burned mill and captured horses
circa October 1781, Hartley's Creek - Hell Hole Creek Massacre. Not much known, supposed 28 massacred.
October 19, 1781 Surrender by General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.
November 13, 1781 Cunningham and Hezekiah Williams began their long raid -basically attacking the homes of the Rebel officer's homes. They started by attacking Colonel Christopher Rowe's Plantation south of Orangeburg, SC. Cunningham then went to Fair Forrest Sping on the North Pacolet River, killing Edward Hampton. Crossed the Fork of the Edisto River, and troops were sent to Mount Willing. Then crossed the Saluda River into Newberry County.
Then north to Moore's plantation where Captain Steadman was killed (it is said) in his sick bed at his fiance's parents house. 16 November 1781, Tarrar's Springs (near present day West Columbia) a cease fire for this skirmish

17 November 1781 Cloud's Creek Massacre
30 members of the South Carolina Militia (Richland Creek and Edgefield district) were camped at the house of "Mr. Carter" on Cloud's Creek. They were surrounded by 300 of Cunningham's troops. The SC Militia attempted to surrender, but terms given by the Loyalists were the execution of James Butler Jr. Shots were then exchanged, and Captain Butler was killed, The remaining rebels surrendered, but all were put to death by sword and saber, except for two who managed to escape. Killed in the massacre were James Butler, Sr and Captain Stirling Turner.
the troops then left the site, stopping to shoe their horses at the Towles Blacksmith shop , then killing the blacksmith and his assistants and burning the buildings.

aftermath

November 19, 1781 Hayes Station - Cunningham rode to the house of Major John Caldwell, invited him out, and shot him dead. They then crossed to the south side of the Saluda and went up to the Cherokee Path. Burned Anderson's Mills, , and then crossed the river to Laurens County and Hayes Station. A battle went on for several hours, until the rebels surrendered after the roof of the station was set on fire. Two rebels were killed in the fighting, 12 other killed by hanging and sword afterwards. That night, they stayed at Oddell's Mills.

November 1781, Cunningham headed to the home of John Boyce at Duncan's Creek in southern Union County - while surprised, Boyce managed to escape to the home of Captain Christopher Casey. Casey and his troops captured a few where the Duncan's Creek meets the Enoree River. Casey hanged them at the intersection of the Charlestown Road and Ninety-Six Road.
December 2, 1781 Cunnigham split his troops into three divisions. One went to the Cherokee lands, one went through the Long Canes to Charleston.
December 20, 1781 General Pickens attacked one of Cuningham's camps on the Edisto River, killing everyone there
December-January Cunningham makes it back to Charleston
Feb 1782 Cuningham active in the defense of Charleston.
May 24 1782 Dean's Swamp Captain William Butler, son of James Butler killed at Cloud's Creek, attacked Cunnigham's troops that were were attempting to rescue prisoners.
September 1782 - Lorick's Ferry - while Pickens was out fighting Cherokees, Cunnighman made a raid to the Saluda River area. Again the rebels led by William Butler attacked them. During this fight, Butler was able to obtain Cunnigham's sword.
December 14, 1782 British evacuate Charleston and Cunnigham goes to East Florida.

Left out of this was Cunnigham's reasons for hatred for the Rebels - and he had some good ones.

Jordan School Reunion

✇ WWUUD?
7 March 2009 at 12:00
By: Steven Rowe
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/mar/06/jordan-school-reunion-planned/

www.jordanschoolreunion.com

From 1894 to 1984, the Jordan School played an important part in the life of Suffolk Virginia.
The founders -Joseph H. Jordan (1842-1901) and Joseph E. Jordan (1863 - 1929) . (no relation between the Jordans) were Universalist ministers and members of the community. The local Universalist Church in Suffolk ended not too long after the death of the second Rev. Jordan, but the school and it's service lasted.
The Jordan Neighborhood School was one of the missions of the Universalist Church (others included Schools and Churches in Japan, the Clara Barton Birthplace, and the Churches of North Carolina). This support continued after merger into the Unitarian Universalist Association. In 1969, both changing views of missions (from long term to short term help) and the near financial bankruptcy of the UUA led the UUA to stop funding the programs there.

The importance of the reunion in the Fall of 2009 - is to show the lasting impact of the school and mission to the people and the community. While this reunion is in one way a typical High School Reunion, it is in another way, a salute to two Universalist ministers who made a difference.

Rockwell, Winder Ga - former UUA, google street view

✇ WWUUD?
24 February 2009 at 03:14
By: Steven Rowe

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Rockwell was organized in 1839, and re-organized after the Civil War by Rev. LF.W. Andrews
- affiliated with the UUA up to the mid 1990s. I believe it currently has services twice monthly - no idea if currently Universalist or not....

UU Tarpon Springs, Florida - Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
23 February 2009 at 03:07
By: Steven Rowe

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this is a rare example of a Universalist Church in the south founded by non-southerners.
No Chapmans or Feasters....

the former home of First Universalist, Clinton NC

✇ WWUUD?
23 February 2009 at 02:42
By: Steven Rowe

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this is the First Universalist in Clinton, NC an Universalist/UU congregation from the 1880s to the 1970s. Peggy Rawheiser tells me that the parsonage was to the left (now a vacant lot), with a connector built between the two buildings. The connector was used to house the Clinton town Library that Rev Bryant started.
(Peggy Rawheiser is the author of "A History of Universalism in North Carolina" (2007) published by the Universalist Convention of North Carolina, Incorporation - with the help of Guild Master Grpahics. )

former home of Shinn Memorial, Chattanooga, TN

✇ WWUUD?
23 February 2009 at 02:11
By: Steven Rowe

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This church originally started as a rural church on the other side of the state line, moved into town with money provided by the YPCU (the youth organization of the Universalsit Church) as a tribute to Rev Shinn. the Church fizzled out by the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was even used by the Unitarian Fellowship in the mid or late 1950s, before eventually being sold and become "Second Baptist". The Southern Universalist Institute was held here up to the 1930s.
this was known as the Universalist Evangelical Institute (or something like that) back before the word "Evangelical" changed meanings.

Our Home UU, Ellisville, Mississippi Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 23:40
By: Steven Rowe
This is a truly awful street view, too much early morning sunlight.
This Church was founded around 1907, by folks who heard the news about Universalism and wanted an Universalist Church so much that they were determined to have one, even if it had to be in "our home"! Back in the 1970s, a local bluegrass band recorded a song about "the Free Church of Jones" making it the only UU congregation that I'm aware of, with their own bluegrass theme song.


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dormant Burrus Memorial, Ellisville Mississippi google street view

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 23:23
By: Steven Rowe

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not a current congregation, although members still live nearby and keep the building and cometary up. Nice library filled with late 19th and early 20th century books, they had a copy of Clayton's autobiography and a Manual of Faith and Duty. Congregation ran from around the 1890s to 1990s.

Red Hill Universalist Church, Clinton NC - Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 17:43
By: Steven Rowe

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Red Hill has been around since the 1840s (or earlier) , and for good reason - wonderful people.

There are a few more historic southern Universalist Churches that I havent street Googled yet-
Our Home in Ellisville Mississippi, Canon Georgia (not on street view yet), Athens (hard for me to think of it as a historic Universalist Church), and Winder in Georgia, and Liberty in Mississippi. And then of course, I will try to do the best I can to add "former sites".

Liberty Universalist, Feasterville, SC - google street view

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 17:00
By: Steven Rowe

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No, you can't see it from the Street. You can see the sign - which is what you see here. Across the street you can see the historic marker for the Feasterville Academy. Both the Church and Academy buildings still exist . If you get out of your car and go down the road a little bit, you pass a home, and then you reach the clearing where the Church is, with "no trespassing" signs there. Please respect them and the family association that owns the buildings.
Liberty was used as an Universalist Church building from the 1840s to around the 1930s. Copies of the Myrtle - a children's Universalist Sunday School paper of the 1920s were in the building when I visited. I hear of services in the 1950s, I know it was used for weddings in the 1950s. This is the mother church of the SC, Georgia, Alabama, and continued west southern Universalist Churches.

former home of Universalist Church, Brewton, Alabama: Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 16:22
By: Steven Rowe

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at one time one of the largest Universalist congregations in the south, with a popular radio show "The Universalist Hour" in the 1950s, the congregation ended sometime in the late 1980s.

Cornerstone Community Church occupied the building at least from 2005 -2009+ and I wouldn't be surprised from the 1990s on (Cornerstone was founded in 1987). Cornerstone appears to be affiliated with one of the Church of God denominations. (I'd be glad to make corrections, if anyone from Cornerstone reads this).
Again the Google Street address is not the real address of this building.

Outlaw's Bridge, Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 15:57
By: Steven Rowe

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Odd that Google has the side street view, but not the main highway (Front) view yet!

First Universalist, Camp Hill, Alabama - Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 15:43
By: Steven Rowe

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again, the address supplied by Google maps is not the actual address of the Church.
Moundville and Saluda SC dont have street views yet (although I was surprised to see that the map folks did get up to Coleman's Crossroads).

Clayton Memorial - the Google Street View

✇ WWUUD?
22 February 2009 at 13:18
By: Steven Rowe

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Google maps street view -
This is Clayton Memorial in Newberry SC

Abraham Lincoln, Universalist?

✇ WWUUD?
1 February 2009 at 14:15
By: Steven Rowe
Recently over at Boys In the Band, Abraham Lincoln and his religious views came up.
Lincoln never claimed an affiliation, and everybody from Roman Catholics to Presbyterian to atheists claim him as their own. So do Universalists...

Here are some notes I made a few years back
Manford's New Monthly Magazine - January 1877 (cover misdated 1876)
- quoted from the original

" The Faith of Abraham Lincoln" by Rev. L. C. Marvin.
excerpts

"In the Winter of 1857, I held a four day's debate in Springfield with
Rev. Mr. Johnson of the Christian Church, and Mr. Lincoln heard a
part, at least, of that debate. It fell to my lot, one evening to
make the closing speech. It was the conclusion of the first
proposition, and I summed up the arguments which I had advanced in
favor of the reconciliation of all things to God. Mr Lincoln was
pleased, and gave his undivided attention to what was spoken. At the
close he turned to the friend at the side, and in a very emphatic
manner said, "There sir, that speech will do." Now does anyone
supposed that he had come to that debate simply to find out which
disputant was the better speaker?"

and discussing another earlier incident from 1853....
"As soon as Elder C. (Rev Peter Cartwright of the Methodist Church)
had taken his seat, he turned to Mr. (Eli) Thornburg and made this
characteristic speech: "Thornburg, I thought you were too sensible a
man to believe such stuff as Marvin preaches." Mr. Lincoln, without
waiting for Mr. T. to reply, immediately took up the gauntlet himself.
"Elder Cartwright," said he, "I used to think that it took the
smartest kind of man to preach and defend Universalism; I now think
entirely different. It is the easiest faith to preach that I have ever
heard. There is more proof in its favor, than in any other doctrine I
have ever heard. I have a suit in court here to-morrow and if I had
as much proof in its favor as there is in Universalism, I would go
home, and leave my student to take charge of it, and I should feel
perfectly certain that he would gain it." Such were his words. "

now, in 1832 Cartwright had defeated Lincoln for public office, and in
1846 Cartwright had called Lincoln an infidel. Lincoln stated he had never denied
the truth of the Scriptures and defeated Cartwright in that election. Cartwright
wrote his autobiography in 1857, and doesn't mention this discussion with Lincoln
or Marvin. He doesn't mention Lincoln at all. He also doesn't seem to mention
Marvin. (He has an unnamed Illinois Universalist minister he accuses of adultery.
So no confirming source of this quote.


Erasmus Manford - Twenty Five Years in the West (1875 revised edition)
p 225/6 "I had been invited to visit that region and hold a
discussion in Springfield with a Methodist clergyman. ... We debated
four days in the Representatives' Hall of the capitol, in the
presence of large assemblies. The discussion caused much excitement
in Springfield, and all parties attended. I remember seeing Mr.
Lincoln there punctually every day and every night. He often nodded
assent when I made a strong point. Little did I think, or he, what
was to be his future position in the world."

 Hard to know if Lincoln nodded because he liked the doctrine or if he liked
the debate.
Having read alot of Manford 's Magazine; I feel sure If Manford had
had any reason to think Lincoln was an Universalist, he would have
said so....

1897 Georgia State Universalist Convention

✇ WWUUD?
10 January 2009 at 22:03
By: Steven Rowe
The Annual Convention of Georgia Universalists was held in Walesca, beginning Thursday, the 2nd of September, and closing Monday night, the 6th.
The first day was devoted to the Young People's Christian Union and was helpful and encouraging. New unions have been formed and those already existing have been strengthened. The new officers are: President, R. U. Wright of Winder; secretary, Elijah Love of Atlanta; treasurer Fredonia Rhyne, Walesca.
Reports on the "state of the Church" given Friday, showed that three new Church edifices have been erected in the past year and fully paid for, and twice as many new organizations perfected.
Rev. Thomas Chapman of Winder, state missionary, rendered encouraging accounts, and $260 was raised to assist his endeavor.
On Saturday the new church recently built in Walesca was formally dedicated. W. H. McGlauflin, D.D. of Atlanta, preaching the sermon. After the dedication, all services were held in the chapel of Reinhardt College, an auditoriam seating a thousand people, and kindly offered by the Methodists.
Sunday, Rev. D. B. Clayton D.D., of Columbia SC offered the occasional sermon to a great audience.
The convention closed Monday night with a sermon by Rev. Thomas Chapman. There was a deep religious interest all through, and nineteen new members were added to the Church.
The new officers are Thomas Weaver, of Lithonia, president; Ella House of Winder, secretary;
M.C. House, treasurer; committee on fellowship, ordination, and discipline, W. H. McGlauflin, D.D., Atlanta, J. H. Parks, Gratis; Thomas Chapman, Winder. The next convention will be held in Lithonia.

- Atlanta Constitution; September 12, 1897


2009 Notes:
Reinhardt Academy was founded in 1884 as a post-primary Methodist school in Waleska Georgia. At some point, it begain offering college level courses, and was accredited as a Junior College in 1953. Accredited as a 4 years school in 1994. I see no reason to doubt the AC of 1897 that it was a college in 1897.
Waleska Georgia. It is located in Cherokee County, settled by the Reinhardt, Sharp, Rhyne, and Heard families; and a town by 1856. The spelling was changed from Walesca to Waleska to avoid confusion with another town with that name. Incorporated in 1889 - it is today a college town. It is located in the center of the top 1/4 of Georgia.
Lithonia, Georgia is located in Dekalb County Georgia, near Stone Mountain Georgia in what is now the metro Atlanta area.

Lodusca Fredonia Rhyne (October 1873-January 1968) daughter of Hosea B. and Maggie Rhyne. I would suspect his middle name is probably Ballou. Both were born in Georgia, his parents were from Lincoln County, North Carolina. Like many southerners, she went by her middle name. Married a Smith, died in Birmingham, Alabama, might have lived in Atlanta in the 1930s.

Elijah Love (July 1876 -1901+ ) born in Nebraska, cigar maker and secretary of the local Cigar makers union in Atlanta. In Atlanta.

R.N. Wright is the correct name for the article's R.U. Wright.

-

Google Maps street views - a tool for history

✇ WWUUD?
1 January 2009 at 16:44
By: Steven Rowe
Google Maps street views are now spreading throughout the rural south - SC has been hit
my yard is pictured with spouse opening up the car door to get in - which we found interesting; it might be disturbing if the address was correctly listed - it isnt. This also means that it wont be perfect for finding locations.

Clayton Memorial in Newberry
as you can see by the deadlink above, its not too useful for linking yet either.

I have used it to look at the old Shinn Memorial in Tennessee - the Baptist Church now there has apparently taken good care of the old building.

Neither Red Hill nor Outlaw's Bridge have been googlemaped yet - Mountville cemetary is a block or so away from the one road with a streetview. Bethel is far far from a streetview.

Looking at the old Universalist Church site near the intersection of Harris and Peachtree in Atlanta, we see that it's now the height of Atlanta downtown.

this tool will be more useful as more roads are traveled....,

Books I got from Wilmington

✇ WWUUD?
13 December 2008 at 12:33
By: Steven Rowe
During the Thanksgiving holidays, we went east to Wilmington (and New Bern) did a fair amount of touristy things, I hadnt plan to do any Universalist history research (Congregation there in the 1840s). Nor even to look at some of the Unitarian educational missions that were there during the 1870s-1890s. We did go to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday morning however....
And there in the bulletin was an annocements to "all Universalists" that they had some old books and magazines to get rid of, and that today was the last day and that they would be removed from the Church -- I waited for a half hour to make sure that no one else wanted them - and I checked with a trustee to make 100% sure that it was OK, and picked up some material...

2003 UU woman's Heritage Society calendar - I picked this up for the picture of my distant relative, Julia Elizabeth Kent Outlaw, who helped found Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church.
(I should point out, she's my relative by marriage - her husband was blood kin)

EXCLUDED (1966) Robert Cummins - a booklet about the attempt and denial of the Universalist Church of America to join the Federal Council of Churches in 1944 -1946. This booklet was online at the UUA website - so I had read it before..

Proceedings of the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society (volume 23 1995) , (volume 22 part 2- 1992-4) (volume 19-2, 1982/3)

The Icleandic Unitarian Connection (1984) V. Emil Gudmundson -

Our Liberal Heritage (1951) Alfred S. Cole - this is the 2nd printing for the "Council of Liberal Churches (Universalist-Unitarian), Inc. in 1957.

Universalist Church Cumulative Plan Book Fourth Section February 1947 written by Robert Cummings. items from the 40s and 50s from the UCA are scarce - so nice to have -- it lists what other tracts the UCA was offering in 1947.

I was tempted to pick up Clinton Lee Scott's autobiogrpahy - but I have a copy... I just hope that it will find a good home.....
thanks Wilmington UUs! (and it was a good service too)

Railroad Bill - Part 2: Stars Fell on Alabama

✇ WWUUD?
8 December 2008 at 15:16
By: Steven Rowe
In 1934 "Stars Fell on Alabama", written by Carl Carmer was published by Farrar and Rinehart.
It was a big success, selling three printings, with major reviews being featured in the New York Times,and the new York Herald Tribune.

This book is the source of our modern Railroad Bill legend and the role of Leonard McGowin in it.
A short summary of the 4 pages is that Morris Slater killed a police officer in 1893, escaped via train; and then as Railroad Bill begain breaking into boxcars. On July 3, 1895, he killed sheriff E.S. McMillan near Bluff Springs, Alabama. He was shot in March 1896 at Tidmore's store by R.C. John and Leonard McGowin. John and MCGowin shared the $1250 reward (equivalent to about $31,000 now). McGowin also got a lifetime pass on the L&N railroad. Railroad Bill's ability to take animal shapes was also briefly discussed.

My copy of "Stars Fell on Alabama" contains an introduction by Howell Raines
states that among Carmer's informants : "Earl McGowin, scion of a wealthy lumber family and later director of the Alabama State Docks exposed Carmer to the wiregrass country and to the life and manners of wealthy white Alabama."

Earl McGowin's parents and his grandparents (James Greeley & Ellie McGowin and Alexander McGowin) were Universalists. J. Leonard and James Greely were only two years apart in age - and from the same general area - however I'm unable to tell their connection, it does not seem like they were brothers - and unable to determine if cousins.

What kind of work does amateur historians do to find information?

✇ WWUUD?
26 November 2008 at 10:58
By: Steven Rowe
i've been doing a little work on Georgia Universalist congregations,.

What this generally means is
(1) finding mentions of Parishes
(2) finding out what city and town were nearby
(3) finding out what years those Parishes existed
(4) finding out who attended

Let me give some examples of what I do --

I found a mention that Rev Lake officiated at a funeral in Edgefield, SC pre-Civil War.
There is no record of any actual Parishes in Edgefield, although several Universalists are known - Tillman and Teague. The deceased is not in the 1850 census under her married or maiden name. Later, i find her listed in the cemetary listings for Edgefield Village Cemetary (which is behing the Edgefield Baptist Chruch) - her tombstone mentions the name of her husband. she is burried near a known Universalist. this found information tells us a couple of things - There is no Universalist cemetary prior to the Civil War in Edgefield. We do not know if she or her husband were Universalists or just picked a traveling minister (we assumed one of the former, but we dont know).

I've know that an "Alford Chapel" existed in Meriweather County, Georgia - but I didnt have a
town nearby. I knew who the church was founded by, and when - but not where or who was there. I then found mention of an Alford who was an officer of the Georgia Universalist Convention just prior to the founding of the Church. I find that he lived in Meriweather County and burried in the "Alford Cemetary" and find the location of the cemetary. We take this as a tentative location of the church.

I get an email from someone asking about membership of a Universalist Church in Rome Georgia, which their family had attended, until they moved west. The information I find is scant - but it does confirm a Church in that location - about the time that that family was there. We now have a tentative family to have attended that Church.

Then I find webpapges to search for more info -- I just found these and have done no research on the information

Elbert County Georgia Universalist Cemetary
about here
not that incredibly far from Canon -no doubt a church that ended in the 1920s farmers depression. Hard to say if folks burried here are Universalists or family members.

Macon County Georgia "Mt. Zion"
while not giving us a location other than Macon County, these incorporation notes do give us names of the Board. Macon County was formed two years earlier in 1837. County seat in 1839 was Lanier. Parts of what was Macon County in 1839 are now in Peach and Taylor counties.
I (or someone) will have to research these trustees. Obviously they would be Universalists in 1839.

Fredonia - part 2

✇ WWUUD?
16 November 2008 at 04:16
By: Steven Rowe
To find if Fredonia was actually the first Universalist Church (as unlikely as that is), we have to keep resarching it. it might also help if we could find it! this this below written in the 1880s, but with first hand information.


""Up to the events of which an account was given in the last chapter, Rev. Allen Fuller was the only Universalist minister the writer (D.B. Clayton) had ever met. But the summer of 1842 bought him into contact with several others. The occasion was the annual session of the South Carolina State Convention of Universalists, which convened that year at Fredonia church, seven miles above Newberry Court House, some time during the month of August, if he is not mistaken. There were present at that meeting Revs. Allen Fuller, Spencer J. McMorris, L.F.W. Andrews, M.D., Philo Brownson, and John A. Chapman."... "Only the day before the commencement of that session of the Convention, Rev. Elijah Linch had been laid to his last rest."

"On the fifth Sunday in that month (October 1844) he had appointed to preach at Fredonia church, Newberry County, SC., which was forty-five miles from where he then lived. The distance was to be traveled on horseback. "

"the arrangement agreed upon (circa November 1844) required him to preach one Sunday in each month at each of the following places: Feasterville, Fairfield District, as the counties were then called; Huntsville, Laurens district; Partlow's, Abbeville District; the other Sunday alternating between Fredonia and Hartford churches, the former situated about seven miles northwest from Newberry C.H., and the later nearly as far southeast of that town, if memory is not at fault as to distances and courses. The last two churches had been served for a good many years previous to his death (in 1842) by Rev. Elijah Linch, and had since that event, had very little preaching. These houses were owned, as were also those at Feasterville and Partlow's, entirley by Universalists, that at Feasterville is the only one standing, the other three having gone into decay."

"In July (1845) he had appointed a three days' meeting at Fredonia church, in which Rev. Allen
Fuller promised to assist him. "

this from D.B. Clayton's memoirs...

this tells us that the church did exist from -1842-1845- and that it had been previously served by Rev. Linch. Linch is considered the minister who changed the demoniation (but not the doctrine) from Brethren to Universalist. It tells us that Fredonia is not any of the other Universalist Churches in the area. It shows that it is in Newberry county (or what was Newberry county in the 1840s). A story I left out, suggests that it was approachable by carriage. It was not an Union Church, and the building was gone by the 1880s.

so, it remains somewhere in northern Newberry County.....

"Railroad Bill" part 1

✇ WWUUD?
27 October 2008 at 22:54
By: Steven Rowe
note: violence and racism in the below 1896 newspaper clipping. Readers cautioned.

Seeing a mention of Railroad Bill on ill WS.'s website, reminded me that I wanted to look into the truth of Railroad Bill - and find out if Leonard McGowin - who was (as the story goes) the one to have shot him, was indeed one of the members of the Universalist McGowin's from that area.
The problem is that I cant find any Leonard McGowin in Alabama during this time period...
so this means - having to go back to the 1890s newspapers - note how this Atlanta story implies the credit (or blame - Railroad Bill was sorta of modern day Robin Hood character - except he didnt share the money with the neighbors) goes to the entire posse, as does a story later that week. Apparently attmepts to display the body for public courisity was mainly unsucessful - due to the rejection of law enforcement to this idea.
there are links to the legend off the first video clip.






Atlanta Constitution 1896 March 8

RAILROAD BILL KILLED

Was A Walking Arsenel, but Did Not Get Into Action Quick Enough.

Mobile, Ala, March 7 - Morris Slater, alias Railroad Bill, a noted negro despardo who has terrorized Esacambia and adjoining counties along the Louisville and Nashville railroad for a year or more past, was shot and instantly killed tonight about 9 O'Clock at Atmore, a small station on the Louiville and Nashville by a posse who had been on the outlook for him all day long.
He was killed in the store of Tidmore & Ward. The posse was taken somewhat unawares when he entered, but instantly they recognized him and opened fire on him with double-barreled guns. He was litteraly perforated with shot and was instantly killed.
He had a Winchester rifle in the leg of his pantaloons and two pistols in his belt, which was full of catradages. Several nights ago, the residence of the telegraph operator at Atemore was robbed and a negro, Will Payne, who was accused of the robbery, said that Railroad Bill forced him at the point of a pistol to stand guard while Bill went him and robbed the house, after which he took to the woods. The negro stook to his story so earnestly that some of the white citizens believed him and the posse was organized which killed the despardo tonight.
Railroad Bill had been pursued for the past year at intervals, but has always managed to elude his captors. During that time he has killed a man named J.H. Stewart, near Hurricane Bayou, who was a member of a posse which was after him, and he also shot and killed Sheriff McMillan of Escambia county at Bluff Springs, not very long ago. Of late, there has not been much heard of his whereabouts, and at one time he was reported to have sailed from Savannah to Africia. there were rewards amounting to $1,350 for his capture.

A look at UUA thinking in 1966

✇ WWUUD?
25 October 2008 at 11:17
By: Steven Rowe
Everything We Know about UUA history is wrong - or at least somethings that I thought I knew about UUA history is wrong. At least that is what I am thinking after reading the 1973 book RELIGION AMONG THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS: CONVERTS IN THEIR STEPFATHERS' HOUSE (Robert B. Tapp). This book was based on surveys and studies done in 1966 - and is an interesting snapshot of the UUA just before the late 1960s meltdown.
the Peak year for the UUA was 1968 with a membership of 282, 000 - the current membership (2008) is 155,000, but the decline was in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1977 membership was 145, 000. This loss of half the membership in nine years explains a lot about what happened to the denomination during that time frame (and what happened to the denomination also explains what happened to the membership).

Okay. lets look at some of the 1966 views
30% said that "God" was irrelevant or harmful
44% said "God" was a name for some natural process in the universe (such as love)
26% said that "God" was real

12% said they prayed frequently
52% said they prayed occasionally or seldom
36% said they never prayed
(34% had said they found the term prayer non-useful)

43% said they were Christian - 57% said they weren't
70 % said religious education was very important to what a church's emphasis should be.9the topic percentage)
The most important skills for a minister were Dealings With People 84% and Preaching 74%, Religious Education 59%, counseling 58% and Social Action 45%

11% wanted the UUA to be more Christian in ten years
37% wanted the UUA to be a more universal religion in ten years
52% wanted the UUA to be a more humanistic religion in ten years

12% were born UUs

18% voted for Barry Goldwater in 1964 (39% of the vote was the National USA percentage)

the 12% who were born UUs is roughly the same for what it is now ---
Too bad there's no survey to show us what UUs were believing in 1978.....it would be interesint to see who left - the usual thinking was the left and the right left, leaving just the middle .....but we dont really know.

the "First" Universalist Church

✇ WWUUD?
11 October 2008 at 11:27
By: Steven Rowe
In my next post (already half written) I talk about what some on the internet call the "First" Universalist Church in the United States. And yes, since this is a southern history blog, it is of course here in the South. But I thought I would need to go ahead and talk first about "first' and why it's so hard to pinpoint what we mean by that.

For the first Universalist Church, do we mean the First Church to have Universalism as an important cornerstone of the doctrine? Do we mean the First Church to call itself Universalist? Or do we mean the first Imortant Church to call itself Universalist, or do we mean the first Church to call itself Universalist that joined the Universalist General Convention?

As far as I know the first Church that called itself sorta by that name was "The Society of Universal Baptists" in Philadphia in 1784. It suspossibly became the "first Independent Church of Church, Commonaly known as Universalists" in 1790. John Murray's Church was 1779, but was not titled an Universalist Church. Can anyone add or change, confirm, etc what was the first church with the name Universalist?

As for the doctrine - it's fairly well known that there were many Universalist preachers at the same time as Murray - up and down the coast - the whole setting of the Murray Miracle story was that he was put ashore at a church which was waiting for an Universalist minister.
The Conneticut River valley was full of Universalist Churches that were either informal enough or didnt care about reporting to the Goverment that we don't know much about them. If you didnt leave written reocrds - then 200 years later, you're not remembered. This is the same problem we have in the Middle Atlantic states, where we know that universalist met - but they either didnt keep records - or, in a few cases, they wrote them in German - and are as yet untranslated. The same is true in the south, almost no records exist - and we base some of our knowledge on what other non-sympathetic folks said in their records.

it's fairly safe to say that the Murray Church is the oldest surviving Universalist Church in the United States. Its over 200 years do count for something, and it was universalist in theology from the start and stayed universalist. As for the finner points of "First". that's up to hairsplitters of all kinds and internet bloggers

Fredonia -'"the first Universalist Church"

✇ WWUUD?
11 October 2008 at 11:16
By: Steven Rowe
I gave a sermon once starting "The Universalist Church started here in the Carolinas. I know that's true because I read it on the internet - and if you can't believe Wikipedia, who can you believe?"

Yes, Wikipedia and other sources state that the first Universalist Church in South Carolina and perhaps the whole United States of America was at Freedonia Meeting Hall in Newberry County, South Carolina. Tellingly, they don't say when or where the Church was.

I bring this up because James asked me this question last week, I had to admit that no one knows where it was - and that I was doubtful of the "first" designation. He asked another local expert who suggested it might be Liberty Church (in Feasterville); and I went ahead asked a Newberry County historian who had never heard of it (I should state that the historian was in the middle of a picnic and miles away from any Newberry reference books).

See my earlier post on the actual pointlessness of putting the name first to "something in the air"
but I hope to use this area (and later the comments) to put some documentations on Fredonia.

***********************************'
In Clayton's book, he mentions that in 1845 he was to alternate preaching monthly between two Churches in Newberry County, Hartford and Fredonia.

An obit of Rev. Elijah Linch mentions that he last preached at the Fredonia Meeting House in June of 1842.

this page
http://genealogytrails.com/scar/newberry/equity1868-1869.html
lists Fredonia as appearing in a genealogy book:
Newberry City Equity 1868-1869, and Washington Equity Records 1816-1843.
I have not however seen this book.

as time goes by, we will add whatever else we find on Fredonia here on this page.
Please add what you know in the comments section.

Trademarks - modern

✇ WWUUD?
5 October 2008 at 17:41
By: Steven Rowe
I note that there are trademarks on:

World A Journal of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Unitarian Universalist

and that the UUA attempted to trademark the words Unitarian and Universalist last October (2007) and gave up in the spring. You really cant trademark frequently used words.
I note however that a cosmetic company is trying to trademark "universalist" as a brand of cosmetics.


July and October 1924

✇ WWUUD?
4 October 2008 at 22:18
By: Steven Rowe
Universalist Leader August 30, 1924

a letter from Ruby C. Paris of Alpharetta, Georgia and member of the Liberal Christian Church in Atlanta. talks about her experince as a disabled person. She regrets that she was unable to go to school - as she thinks that learing to read and write at an early age would have helped her become independent. A reminder of how things have indeed changed for the better.

Texas Universalist Convention July 11-13, 1924.
Held at the new Universalist Church in Ponta. Texas. President was Judge J. D. Barker of Cisco.
Assistant Secretary was W.A. Prather of Welasco. There was an afro-american congregaion near Ponta, that apparently had been meeting for over ten years (hard to tell by the article when it was founded by Ben Grey and Charles White, the layleaders of the congregation).

Universalist Leader October 25, 1924
This issue prints the sermon "Are We Needed?" given by George A. Gay at the Georgia Universalist Convention. Rev Gay was the current preacher in Chattanooga.
the North Carolina Universalist convention was held September 25-28, and the article written by J. R. Miller. Mr Miller was from Florence NC, a small town east of New Bern.
Mary Slaughter of the General Sunday School Association was visiting in her home church of Camp Hill in August. She also attended a service in Friendship and Brewton Alabama. From there to Pensacola, Florida. Then to Atlanta (and the Georgia convention) and Canon Georgia, followed by the NC convention, then up to Washington and the north.
Rev. H.T. Crumpton was the regular preacher of Ariton, Brewton and Chapman. Chapman, a lumber town is now a regular organized church. Chapman will be hosting the Alabama Convention.
The New York Convention has given to Rev. Edgar L. Halfacre a letter of transfer to South Carolina.


Rev. Francis Britton Bishop of Montgomery Alabama was southern superintendent
Rev Thomas W. Murray of Hopkinsville was Kentucky superintendent
Rev A. G. Strain of Atlanta, Ga was Mississippi superintendent
Rev. R. L. Brooks of Elgin, was Texas supeintendent.

"Universalist Miscellany"

✇ WWUUD?
1 September 2008 at 20:43
By: Steven Rowe
Occasionally I thought I would mention what "new" old items I've
recently acquired. One of the reasons is to let folks know that I
(and others here) have resources available to us.

Universalist's Miscellany Volume 1 - 5 1797 -1801
Universal Theological Magazine volume 6 - 7 1802 -1802

an UK publication, edited by William Vidler.

This is one of the earliest Universalist magazine / newspapers.
It is mainly of theological bent, but does include some items of
historical bent. I see that they published a pamphlet (book?) on De Benneville.

Vidler was inspired by, and a friend of short-term South Carolina resident (and when Vidler knew him, English resident) Elehanan Winchester. I'm afraid that I don't know enough to know how much Vickers and English Universalism was influenced by Winchester.
In 1806, the publication was sold, and became "the Monthly Repository" lasting to 1838 as an English Unitarian publication.

Reference: South Atlantic Universalist Periodicals

✇ WWUUD?
16 August 2008 at 01:56
By: Steven Rowe
One of my reference books is Henry Smith Stroupe's THE RELIGIOUS PRESS IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES 1802-1865. Duke University Press, 1956.

States in this case include Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia (which includes West Virginia). I do not know of a volume that includes Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky - or covers 1865-1965. Maybe if I ask here, someone will know of one.

Universalist periodicals include

Christian Warrior (Richmond) 1842-1844
Evangelical Universalist (Macon) 1838 - 1840
Liberalist (Wilmington) 1826-1828
Semi-Monthly Progressionist (Newnan, Ga) 1856-1859
Southern Evangelist (Charleston) 1834 - 1838
Southern Pioneer and Gospel Visiter (Richmond) 1831 - 1837
Southern Universalist (Macon) 1838
Star of the South (Milledgeville, Ga) 1826-c1827

8 Universalist
57 Baptist
3 catholic
2 Chistadelphian
1 Christian
11 Disciples of Christ
8 Episcopal
2 Lutheran
22 Methodist
28 Presbyterian
1 Quaker
2 Spirtualist
2 Unitarian
1 United Brethren
8 Nonsectarian
6 unknown denomination

Universalist Herald would be Alabama for this time period.

UUA: Photo Album

✇ WWUUD?
13 August 2008 at 00:04
By: Steven Rowe
UUA: Photo Album

my genealogy silliness

✇ WWUUD?
10 August 2008 at 22:12
By: Steven Rowe
When I first saw the Coleman family history, I was intrigued with one thing - the frequent use of the "Roe" middle name. I discovered that the matriarch of the Newberry Colemans came from Halifax county North Carolina.
My family was in eastern North Carolina since around 1700. "Wouldnt it be cool" I thought (yes, I do think that way, at least I didnt think "wouldnt it be boss....") if I was related to the Coleman-Feaster family.
I suspect we know where I'm heading with this, so I'll cut to the chase - the alleged connection is the immigrant William Wroe, who moved to Westmoreland County Virginia, dying in 1730. A son was my ancestor, a daughter married the Colemans. The Wroes also went by Roes.
So now, I can look at the Colemans, who became Universalists sometime in the 1700s, and moved and founded Universalist Churches from Florida to Mississippi, and know that they were my people indeed....

updates of history

✇ WWUUD?
23 July 2008 at 02:13
By: Steven Rowe
It's occurred to me that I haven't plugged "A History of Universalism in North Carolina"!
I was waiting to get a scan of the cover - but wasn't able to (my scanner is currently gone - a 24 pound cat sleeping on it doesn't help electronics)
A History of Universalism in North Carolina c/o Guild Masters P O Box 31184 Raleigh NC 27622-1184. The price is 24.95 plus 5.00 shipping and handling

I skimmed through 1946 of the "Star In the West" and I see that Allen Fuller and D.B. Clayton were acting as agents to sell subscriptions. When one of the southern papers went under, the subscribers list went to the Star (of Cincinnati Ohio)

I had someone make an interesting comment (ie: Shecut wrote a manuscript about the Charleston Church) - I'll be glad to hear more about it
(and I've changed the comments section to add the year to it, to make it easier to follow reading).

I like the quote from Rev Semple (last post) and hope to continue to put their own words back in the mouths of these folks.

Rev. I. R. Semple - very brief outline

✇ WWUUD?
20 July 2008 at 14:59
By: Steven Rowe
Not being able to find "Humphreys, Kentucky" home of Rev. I. R. Semple, I decided to find out what I could about him, and to see if i could find Humphreys. A source cites a Humphrey in Case County, but I couldnt find any secondary source to that. I did find a few things about I.R.Semple. we see that he is actually deceased before the 1847/1848 directory comes out. The source that year was (as usual) Rev Pingree of Louisville. If Semple was living in the western part of Kentucky, that a year and a half could have gone without Pingree knowing of his death.
We also see that he was fairly young and not long an Universalist minister.

the plan will eventually be that each southeast Universalist Minister (and church) gets their own spot on a hyperlinked website - with additions added as facts become known. I still have years of the STAR IN THE WEST to read, I'm sure I'll know more about Kentucky Universalists when I do.



Issac Robertson Semple (June 25, 1808 to Feb 16, 1846)

last name also spelled Sample, Sempill, etc.

married Eliza Brandenburg of Brandenburg Kentucky.
She was the daughter of Captain Solomon Brandenburg founder of Brandenburg and owner of the Old Walnut Log Tavern in town (back then, a tavern would also be a restaurant and an inn).

Per the Universalist Companion
1845/1846 Brandenburg Kentucky - not in formal fellowship
1847/1848 Humphreys Kentucky
1849/1850 not listed

1850 census, widow and 7 minor children living in Ballard County, Kentucky. Ballard County is on the northwest edge of Kentucky, where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet.
I. R. Semple is thought to have died in Ballard County.

addendum (21/7/2008):
July 1845 writes letter from his home in Brandenburg. He states that he begain preaching in the spring of 1844, and is to go to the Green River Association, the Kentucky State Confrence, and the Indiana State Confrence.
I. R. Semple was elected moderator for the first meeting of The Green River Association of Universalists on August 22, 1845. Meeting was held in Butler County.

"My message is love to God and love to man, deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God."

Kentucky 1847/8

✇ WWUUD?
20 July 2008 at 12:45
By: Steven Rowe
Kentucky had enough Universalist Churches in the pre-Civil War era, that they split them into associations. The standing clerk in the 1848 state Convention was Rev. E. M. Pingree of Louisville.

LICKING association. Rev. C. B. Tharp of Paris was the standing clerk. 6 societies:
Harrison County: 1st - Rev. C.G. Cox lives in Leesburg.
Bank Lick - meeting house
Fleming County: 1st
Fleming County: 2nd - meeting house, near Paris
Bourbon County: 1st - new society
Berea - meeting house - new society

the name Licking comes from the Licking River, a river in Northeast Kentucky that flows northwest empting into the Ohio River opposite Cincinnatti, Ohio at the towns of Covington and Newport.
Bank Lick is an unincorporated area in Kenton County, not far from Interstates 71 and 75. Just south of what is now the Cincinnati Ohio Metropolitan area. Harrison County is about 60 miles south of the Ohio, and conatins the town of Cynthiana, where Rev. S. Stirman lived in 1847. Boubon County is southwest of Harrison County and is where Paris is located, home of the Rev. C.B. Tharp, who had been a "partialist" minister and Rev Henry Webster, not yet in formal fellowship.. it's also where the Cain Ridge meetings of 1801 was held.
the current Berea Kentucky is in Madison County, but is said to have been known as "Glade" prior to 1855, so this might not be the same Berea.

MURRAY ASSOCIATION, E. M. Pingree, Louisville, standing clerk
societies:
Louisville: 1st - has Meeting House - Rev E. M. Pingree preacher
Shelby County: 1st - meeting house in Clay Village.
the 2nd Louisville and the Warsaw churches closed this year.

I assume that the Murray Association was in honor of John Murray, the first well known Universalist minister in the Americas. Shelby County is in the current Louisville Metropolitan area. Warsaw is between Louisville and Cincinnati on the Ohio River. Rev. W.B. Chamberlain is still living in town.

GREEN RIVER ASSOCIATION, Rev. W.W. Curry, Madisonville; standing clerk
societies:
Ohio County: 1st and 2nd
society has partial ownership of an Union Meeting House in Hartford.
Hancock County: 1st and 2nd
1st Society has a meeting house
Muhlenberg County: 1st
Meeting house in Bremen
Edmondson County: 1st
Davies County: 1st - society is new
Caldwell County: 1st has meeting house - society is new
Butler County: 1st has meeting house

the Green River runs from central Kentucky west throughout about half of the state before flowing north to the Ohio River across from southwest Indiana. Parts of the valley were known as "Rouge's Harbor" in the late 1700s. In the 1840s, locks made the river navigable up to Bowling Green.River

(no association)
Christian County - meeting house Rev W. Babbitt lives in county
Hardin County - meeting house
Hopkinsivlle - L.T. Braizer, not in formal fellowship lives here; Joab Clark lives here
one source says that this town is also known as Masonville, Rev. John Bozworth and Rev. M. Hudson and Rev E. smith living there.
Licking - one source tells me this is currently the area of Blue Licks. Rev J. M. Brain lives in this area, former partialist preacher
New Castle (near Louisville), Rev. J. Chowning, former partialist living there
Caneyville _ Rev C. Miller, and Rev J. Miller, former partialist, living here.
Humphreys (location unknown) - Rev I. R. Semple resides here


itinerant preachers: Aiken James, J. S. Phelps
rev R.J.L. Phelps (brother of J.S. Phelps) discounted preaching for the time being.

Fork Ridge, West Virginia

✇ WWUUD?
17 July 2008 at 18:25
By: Steven Rowe
From the CHRISTIAN LEADER dated september 17, 1927

WEST VIRGINIA
Fork Ridge. - This church has been having preaching twice each Sunday during August, by Rev. W.G. Price of Columbus [Ohio], who spent his vacation here. congregations have averaged about seventy-five. One new member united with the church. Aug. 26-28 the West Virginia Confrence met here, and was well attended, Stanley Stall, State Superinteddent of Ohio, and Rev. Elmer Druley and Rev. W.G. Price each spoke twice. W. M. Crouch was re-elected president. Miss Eva Terrill secretary, John Ritchea treasure. The Fork Ridge church voted to co-operate with Mr. Stall in settling a pastor for services every two months. a sign is to be placed in front of the building and new song books secured.

notes: Fork Ridge is located near Moundsville and Glen Eaton, and is in the panhandle of West Virginia, between Ohio and Pennselvania. The church lasted from 1835 to the late 1990s.

J. W. Hanson Quote #1

✇ WWUUD?
17 July 2008 at 18:02
By: Steven Rowe
Definition of Christian

Back in 1892 J. W. Hanson defined Christian as

"all those who accept Christ as an authoritative teacher, in whatever attitude of being they may locate him or whatever extent to his mission they may give, are entitled to be called Christian. Christians are those who accept his claims as they understand them, and are endeavoring to be his followers." (A Pocket Cyclopedia, published by the Universalist Publishing House - which was owned by the Universalist Church).

Would this have been a controversial definition then, or one used in the South in 1892, I'm not sure. It does remind us that we need to not define folks by our definition of them, but by their own definition of themselves.

I stumbled across this definition while responding to
An Unitarian Universalist Minister In Mississippi

and is offered in the spirit of
Universalist Quote of the Day

Hanson lived in New England and the Mid-west, and was a prolific writer and editor for Universalism and other subjects (wrote a book on Dwight Moody!) - He's probably the most quoted historic Universalist minister out there in the 21st century.

Universalist Churches -1847/8

✇ WWUUD?
14 July 2008 at 22:31
By: Steven Rowe
From the Universalist Companion of 1848 - I'll be doing Kentucky separately

Tennessee -
W.C. Brooks, Memphis
M.P. Fisher, Brownsport (former "partialist")
C.H. Gardner, Decatur County
L.M. Gaylord, Memphis
C.F.R. Shehane, Lewisburg (former "partialist")
I. D. Williamson, Memphis
one new minister. a society and a meeting house in Memphis.
W.F. Tannehill, bookseller, Memphis, keeps Universalist books for sale.

Tennessee is a long thin state. Memphis is on the Mississippi River, across from Arkansas and just north of Mississippi. Father D.B. Clayton in Red Springs, Mississippi, is less than 50 miles from Memphis. Brownsport is in Decatur County, halfway between Memphis and Nashville.
Lewisburg is in the middle of the state, halfway between Nashville and Huntsville, Alabama

Virginia
H. Bain, Norfolk, (not in formal fellowship), later moves to Goldsboro, North Carolina
G.W. Bailey, Richmond
J.L.C. Griffin, Williamsburg (Williamsburg is his home town)
G.L. Lumsden, Bellehaven
Societies in Richmond, Bellehaven, Lynchburg, each owns a meeting house. Sunday Schools in Richmond and Lynchburg. Norfolk is on the coast, just past the Virginia Beach on the James River - go further northwest on the James River and you come to Williamsburg (and the National Historic Site) and go further northwest on the James River up to Richmond. Belle Haven is on the Eastern Shore of Virginia - on the other side of the Chesapeake Bay. lynchburg is in the center of the state, west of Richmond.

North Carolina
State Convention was founded in 1844, Brother William Farrior, of Hallsville is Standing Clerk. Preacher is J. C. Burress (sic) of Kingston (also sic). 1 Church and 17 Union Meeting Halls.
Rev Burruss is best known for his Universalist Herald newspaper in Alabama. Kinston is in the coastal plains, midway between Greenville and Jacksonville (Camp LeJune). Hallsville is in Duplin County 20-30 miles from the current Universalist Churches in Outlaw's Bridge and Red Hill.

South Carolina
State Convention rev. A. Fuller, Salubrity, Standing Clerk. 4 Societies, 9 meeting houses
A.Fuller, Salubrity
J. Mullikin, Slabtown
D.B.Clayton, Dunlapville (see Mississippi)
N.P. Walker, Mountain Shoals (not in full fellowship, former partialist)
S. M. Simon, Newberry Court House (former partialist)
Salubrity was the post office that Allen Fuller had in his home, just south of Liberty SC., slabtown like Salubrity is between modern Clemson and Greenville. Dunlapville is an unknown location, somewhere in Laurens County (not too far from Huntsville). Mountain Shoals is the old name for Enoree, between Spartanburg and Newberry, and Newberry is between Spartanburg and Columbia. The correct spelling is S.M. Simons.

Georgia
Convention, Rev. James C. Kendrick of Greenville is standing clerk.
1 society at Greenville, 4 meeting Houses, at Coweta County, Cobb county, Lumpkin County and Mulberry Grove. Preachers include
D.H. Porter, Clarksville
J.C. Kendrick, Greenville (not in full fellowship)
H.G. Andrews, Henry County
Greenville is midway between Atlanta and Columbus, Cowetta county contains Senoia (and is close to Greenville), Cobb County is home of Atlanta, Lumpkin County has Dahlonega as county seat- in the middle top of Georgia, the Georgia Goldmine area. - I seem to recall a Georgia Universalist Church that had gold on the property, but not sure which is was., Mulbery Grove is the home of the Rockwell Universalist Church, Georgia's second Universalist Church, founded in 1839. It's between Athens and Atlanta. If this is Clarkesville, it's in the northeast side of Georgia - not far from Tallulah Falls. Harris County is south of Atlanta.

Alabama
J. Hubbard, Talladega
S.J. McMorris, Wetumpka
J. Martin (unknown, former partialist, not in formal fellowhsip)
No known meeting house (the one at Mobile had been paid for, but lost due to a defective title).
Rev. C.F. Shehane, editor of the RELIGIOUS INVESTIGATOR at Montgomery. This becomes the Universalist Herald.
Talladega is east of Birmingham. Wetumpka is south of Montgomery.

Mississippi
D.B. Clayton is in Red Banks, not SC at this time. No society, but he preaches in the community, and around. West Mississippi, Near the Tennessee line.

I hope that saying where these places are, helps some of us place them better.

Blue Heaven above

✇ WWUUD?
6 July 2008 at 01:13
By: Steven Rowe
I'm up in Haywood County NC, having visited Inman's Chapel (and various other NC historic sites), I'm going to blog more about the actual church later - but I am very excited about the work that the Inman family are doing, both on their restoration and on their family and Church history. The chapel looks wonderful and what research I've heard and seen seems accurate. Very well done, I will be praising them more later -
Today though, I want to talk about and ask about blue ceilings. The ceiling at Inman's Chapel was painted blue - as the original ceiling was blue. I have been told that the church near Saluda, SC also had a blue ceiling. That church would have been built around the same time. Rev. Terry Robinson, also visiting, mention that he knew of a blue ceiling in an Unitarian Church.
This weekend I am reading a book where blue is mentioned as a popular color in some of the early churches - I havent seen anything about blue ceilings though - but of course these things set my mind to wondering - can folks name more blue ceiling Churches?

Georgia Universalist Churches: the later years 1960s - now

✇ WWUUD?
16 June 2008 at 01:04
By: Steven Rowe
I'm starting near the end here, rather than the beginning.
This is because I'm not sure when it started in Georgia , and neither was "The No Hell People" (circa 1986) written by William H. Belkan. The first Georgia Universalist Convention was established July 1838.

Georgia was another state that didn't enjoy the Roaring 20s, suffering under the rural depression effecting other southern states - which resulted in Preachers and residents heading north, looking for work.

the SC Universalist Convention ended, so Clayton Memorial of Newberry SC joined the Georgia Convention in 1939 (NHP).

Merger talks with the Unitarians started seriously in the 1950s and several of the Georgia churches were against it; and sent a pention denoucing the idea. Among those churches were Allatoona, Bowers Chapel. and Loganville (Windsor). In 1959, the vote was held and the Georgia Universalist Convention affiliated churches voted against it.

by the time of the merger with the Unitarians in 1961, there were maybe 6 Churches left.
Canon, Senoia, Winder, and Windsor. Atlanta was a resurrection by the Unitarians of the Unitarian killed "United Liberal Church" and the fellowship in Athens was listed in the 1961 and 1962 Unitarian Universalist Directory as the "Universalist Unitarian Fellowship".

What happened to Bowers Chapel and Allatoona, I cant at this time say. they either disbanded or never joined the UUA.

Atlanta was the biggest by far with 355 members in 1961, and 419 members in 1962. We dont know the membership of Athens for those years. Canon had 46 members, Windsor has 28 and Senoia had 20. We dont know the membership of Winder for those years.

by 1976 and 1978, Athens was a regular Unitarian Universalist Fellowship . Atlanta had increased its numbers to over a thousand, and changed their name to Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Their Universalist roots appear lost - and It doesnt seem that either was a member of the Georgia Universalist Convention. Canon had 15-20 members, Senoia had 14-15, Winder had 10. Windsor (Loganville) was no longer affiliated with the UUA.

By the mid 1980s, Windsor (Loganville) was struggling with the decision to stop services, and at some point in the late 1980s, it do so, now having a yearly reunion that continues to this day (per Scott Wells 2008 website). Winder dropped out of the UUA sometime in the late 1990s, but is apparently still having services in their historic Rockwell Church.
The Georgia Convention continues and Canon and Clayton Memorial (Newberry SC) continue to have services twice monthly. But have regular ministers preaching on those Sundays. Both have web pages.

there are (I hear) other small u Universalist Churches in modern Georgia, but they are not connected with the historic Universalist Convention. I also dont know enough about the modern Georgia UUA congregations to speculate on their universalism (of any kind) or lack thereof.

addition: somehow I forgot to mention that the Senoia Church ended in the late 1990s, the building was sold to a couple that made a home of it. As of early 2000, they welcomed old members of the congregation into their home.

late addition: Removed was my comment of the end of the Georgia Universalist Convention. I was misinformed, and glad to hear that I was.



Blogged with the Flock Browser

New Harmony (Windsor Georgia)

✇ WWUUD?
11 June 2008 at 23:45
By: Steven Rowe
the link here should take you to Rev Scott Wells' website and a post that he links to google maps showing The New Harmony Universalist Church in the Windsor community, near Loganville Georgia.
( I hope I have that address correct)

Clicking on the line on the road, you can "drive" up and down past the building.

New Harmony isnt a church that I've researched, so I can tell too much about it yet.
It apparently lasted from the 1880s to maybe the 1960s.

The Church yard is nicely kept up.

Lorena - the song

✇ WWUUD?
25 May 2008 at 01:17
By: Steven Rowe

This is considered the most popular song in both North and South during the War years of the 1860s. Its connections here? It was written by Universalist minister Henry Lafayette Webster. Toward the end of Rev Webster's life, he would winter and preach at the Universalist Church in Tarpon Springs.

He was born August 29, 1824 in Oneida County, New York. In those days Oneida County was full of Universalists - He attended the Columbian Institute. He begain preaching in 146, ordained in 1848, serving Paris, New York. He moved to Zanesville Ohio in the Fall of 1848, which is where he met Martha Ellen Blockson "Ella" (1828-1917), who was "small of statue, blue eyes and light blond hair, a sweet singer" and member of the Universalist Church choir. He would walk her home, and they became engaged. The engagment ended in May 1849, at the strong encouragement of her family.

He moved from Zanesville, became a medical doctor - met a song composer and they had Lorena published in 1857. After serving as an Army psychian during the war, he return to the ministry in 1863 - serving until his retirement in 1890 and his death on November 4, 1896.

He married twice, and at his death was survived by three children -- and of course by a lingering haunting song of a long-ago love.


++

LORENA
The years creep slowly by, Lorena
The snow is on the grass again
The sun's low down the sky, Lorena
The frost gleams where the flowers have been
But the heart throbs on as warmly now
As when the summer days were nigh
Oh, the sun can never dip so low
A-down affection's cloudless sky.

A hundred months have passed, Lorena
Since last I held that hand in mine
And felt the pulse beat fast, Lorena
Though mine beat faster far than thine
A hundred months...'twas flowery May
When up the hilly slope we climbed
To watch the dying of the day
And hear the distant church bells chime.

We loved each other then, Lorena
More than we ever dared to tell
And what we might have been, Lorena
Had but our loving prospered well
But then, 'tis past, the years have gone
I'll not call up their shadowy forms
I'll say to them, "Lost years, sleep on
Sleep on, nor heed life's pelting storms."

The story of the past, Lorena
Alas! I care not to repeat
The hopes that could not last, Lorena
They lived, but only lived to cheat
I would not cause e'en one regret
To rankle in your bosom now
"For if we try we may forget"
Were words of thine long years ago.

Yes, these were words of thine, Lorena
They are within my memory yet
They touched some tender chords, Lorena
Which thrill and tremble with regret
'Twas not the woman's heart which spoke
Thy heart was always true to me
A duty stern and piercing broke
The tie which linked my soul with thee.

It matters little now, Lorena
The past is in the eternal past
Our hearts will soon lie low, Lorena
Life's tide is ebbing out so fast
There is a future, oh, thank God!
Of life this is so small a part
'Tis dust to dust beneath the sod
But there, up there, 'tis heart to heart.

revisied November 27, 2008

Dolphus Skinner in Richmond 1837-1838

✇ WWUUD?
9 May 2008 at 16:40
By: Steven Rowe
Dolphus Skinner (1800-1869)
was an Universalist minister and publisher most associated with Utica, New York.
the above link will take you to a biographical summary -which also states that
"Skinner frequently traveled south in hopes of repairing his health. He stayed in Richmond, Virginia for about half a year in the winter of 1837-38. While there he preached to the Richmond Society."

Skinner himself says
in the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND GOSPEL ADVOCATE for June 15, 1838.
"Return from the South.
"After an absence of between seven and eight months, we again find ourselves, together with our family, within our own quiet domicil (sic) in Utica, and by the blessing of Divine Providence, in the enjoyment of general health. The same benignant Parent of all, who is over all and with all, who watches over all for good, in their out-goings and in-comings, their up-risings and down-sittings, in their travels by land and by water, their sojourn at a distance or their abiding at home, has been with us and the many friends we left behind. The same eye has looked upon, the same potent arm has protected, and the same munificent hand has supplied the wants of all, and to him be all the praise."
...
"We had two principal motives for our sojourn at the South, during the Winter: the one was, to supply the preaching of the word of life, the First Independent Christian church in Richmond, Va, which had long been destitute and sin a somewhat of a languishing condition for the want of a pastor. The citizens of Richmond, generally, appeared to have learned comparatively little of ur distinguishing sentiments, though we found a few very warm-hearted and devoted friends, who cordially took us by the hand, and co-operated with us in efforts to diffuse more generally our glorious views of the Divine character and government, and the ultimate destiny of our race. Though Superstition frowned upon, and Bigotry denounced us and the doctrine of a world's salvation, yet our meetings were usually well attended, by a very respectable class of citizens, and continued to increase steadily as long as we stayed. And we sincerely hope that they will continue to increase under the labors of our young and highly esteemed Br. Chapin, who succeeds us for a season in that place. Richmond, as the capital of the State and the largest city in the Old Dominion, is an important place, and should not be neglected - the truth should there especially be preached faithfully, fully, and constantly; and if so preached, we doubt not its fruits will be an hundred fold.
...
Another object in spending the Winter at the South, was to avoid the extreme severity of climate which the inhabitants of this Northern region have for several years past experienced. By a location in a milder region, we hoped to recover from a severe affection and chronic soreness of the throat, or passages leading to the lungs... We were not as successful in obtaining the last object as we hoped to be; for although our general health has been, for the most of the time, very good, and we were able to preach regularly every Sabbath... the difficulty is not removed, nor are we certain that it is in the least mitigated. ..."
++++++++++
thus we add Rev Skinner as the minister in Richmond for circa October 1837 to May 1838, when Br. Chapin took over suppling the pulpit there.
...

"new" arrivals

✇ WWUUD?
8 May 2008 at 10:16
By: Steven Rowe
I've been in Massachusetts attending the Universalist Convocation, held this year at the historic and former Universalist / UUA owned, now private Clara Barton homestead and Barton Center in North Oxford.
A field trip for us history buffs including visiting the former Church in Oxford Ma, where Hosea Ballou was ordained by (former SC resident) Elehanan Winchester.
I took a side trip to Boston and visited the UUA headquarters and saw a former Universalist HQ.
also a side trip to Gloucester.
while in Boston, I picked up the two volume set of HISTORY OF UNIVERSALISM by Richard Eddy for $25. this is the classic early history. One volume is available on google books, but for us old folks, there is just something about reading paper... I see the early guys in Kentucky are quoted... Waiting for me in the mail were some issuess of Utica NY's Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate of the 1830s. Including an article by "D.S." about his short stay preaching in Richmond Virginia. It's hard to know where to start reading first!

A new name

✇ WWUUD?
26 April 2008 at 02:54
By: Steven Rowe
a new name for the blog ---
same address, just clearer name for what it is.....

(and where are you folks with other church history blogs?)

"Kentucky, you are the dearest place outside of Heaven to Me"

✇ WWUUD?
26 April 2008 at 01:52
By: Steven Rowe
"Kentucky, You are the Dearest Place Outside of Heaven to Me...."
The comment below mine is taken and moved up here to the front of the blog...

The problems with strict congregationalism is that when a church begins to decline, there is no one to fix it but themselves. In the old days, you could count on traveling Universalist preachers who preached because they had too, and had other occupations because they had too.
I have lots of reasons for not wanting to include Kentucky in my dealing with Universalist history - in the days of Enoch Pingree, Universalism swept like fire through Kentucky - with the Restorationist Brethren in the rural areas preaching their verson of the goodnews --- there were probably more Universalist or universalist Churches in Kentucky than in the entire rest of the south.
By the Civil War, the Brethren Restorationists had gone from Kentucky to Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and other parts of the (back then) wild west. Pingree died young, Imagine how much he could have built, if he had lived double his lifespan, until his 60s - and able to do twice the work he had done in Kentucky.
To do right by Kentucky, means that someone should know Kentucky history and Kentucky geography. I'm still struggling to learn about those semi-foreign lands Mississippi and Alabama.
while I feel sure that someone will eventually cover Kentucky Universalist history better than I ever could, right now however is the time we have. and if not me, then yeah......

(so about those pictures...............)
Bloggercdmhogan said...

KY Universalist Convention: Rasnake, 1907-09; Chapman, 1916-1922, Bodell, 1935-1941.

KY is sort of an "Orphan State", isn't it?

There's 3 buildings still standing that Rasnake, Chapman and Bodell waxed eloquent in, 2 abandoned, Beulah and Good Hope, and I fear Hopkinsville will soon join them. It is 45 miles from my house, and after 15 years of attendance, I've slowly withdrawn, and it's wobbling along!

There's no Ohio Valley Universalist History interest, and if your blog abandons KY, it will certainly continue it's slide into oblivion! There are fourteen photos of Universalist ministers who served the KY Convention on display in the Hopkinsville church, but how long they'll survive is problematical. I have photocopies, but the originals are there in a broken frame as of last year.

Clio

1899 South Carolina convention

✇ WWUUD?
20 April 2008 at 17:54
By: Steven Rowe

from the Universalist Herald - thanks to the Canon Universalist folks in Georgia for this scan.

William Miller Bledsoe KY (1761-1811)

✇ WWUUD?
13 April 2008 at 18:28
By: Steven Rowe
William Miller Bledsoe (1761 -1811)

thanks to an anonymous poster
SC Universalist: a working history: Manford's Monthly Magazine 1880 Jan - April

for pointing out this from
A History of Kentucky Baptists
 By J. H. Spencer
WILLIAM BLEDSOE, the first pastor of Crab Orchard church, was the son of Joseph Bledsoe, the founder and first pastor of old Gilberts Creek church of Separate Baptists. He, with his father and brothers, was among the early settlers of what is now Garrard county. He was a brother of the distinguished judge Jesse Bledsoe, who served two terms in the United States Senate from Kentucky.

William Bledsoe was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. He was probably raised up to the ministry, under the preaching of his father, in Gilberts Creek church, after he came to Kentucky. He was the most active laborer in that wonderful revival in Lincoln and Garrard counties, in 1789, and the years following. He was in the constitution of Cedar Creek church, at Crab Orchard, in 1791, and became the first pastor of this church. During the revival just referred to, in 1789, two hen's eggs were brought to Gilberts Creek meeting-house with this sentence written on them: "The day of God's awful judgment is near." It was pretended that this writing was on the eggs when they were found in the nest. "Elder W. Bledsoe," says Mr. Boulware, "read aloud. The people were alarmed. Elder Bledsoe professed to feel alarmed, preached, exhorted, warned, invited, etc., etc. This revival lasted several months. I have seen from five to twenty come up, or led up, to be prayed for at one time. There were about 400 added to the church."5 "He" [William Bledsoe], says John M. Peck, "was a smart, rather than a pious preacher." John Bailey, who was one of the laborers in this revival, subsequently became a Universalist. Bledsoe also apostatized to Universalism, and then became indifferent to a religious life and reckless in his conduct. "Elder W. Bledsoe," says Mr. Boulware, "and many of his converts embraced the doctrine of universal salvation, and soon after he became
[p. 232]
a deist, and died a practicing horse-racer. I continued an acquaintance with these converts for eight or nine years, and then knew not of one that had not, like the dog and sow, turned to their vomit and mire again.” Such were the fruits of this shameful fraud and hypocrisy, and the end of the man who practiced them. "God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap."
always hard to know what is what. certainly the last lines is the typical anti-0Universalist messages. Certainly early Kentucky is known in the literature as a hot bed of dietism, and wickedness. Certainly horse racing was a widely popular event in the South - George Washington being one of those sorts.
William Miller Bledsoe (1761-1811) was indeed the son of Rev. Joseph Bledsoe. His father moved himself and his entire Baptist congregation (one source says) from Culpepper County to Kentucky. This apparently in the late 1770s or very early 1780s. William Miller Bledsoe's children and brothers were apparently very active in the Restoration or Campbelite Movement.
WMB had over 13 children. Lived and his buried in Lancaster Kentucky.

Summer 1923

✇ WWUUD?
12 April 2008 at 19:38
By: Steven Rowe
information taken from the UNIVERSALIST LEADER
Lyman Ward (of Camp Hill, Alabama) was part of the contributing staff
Southern Superintendent (of churches): Rev. Frances Briton Bishop, Montgomery Alabama
Georgia State Superintendent: Rev. A. G. Strain, Atlanta, Georgia
Kentucky state Superintendent: empty
Texas State Superintendent: Rev R. L Brooks, Elgin, Texas

May 26, 1923 issue
the director of the Young People's work; Stanley Manning is to be in Winder Georgia on May 26, Chapman Alabama on May 29, Brewton, Alabama on May 30, DeFuniak Springs, Florida on June 3, and Hamburg, Florida on June 4.
Rev. Thomas Chapman (of the Newberry / Saluda SC Chapman family) has an article on the centenary of the church in Belpre, Ohio

June 2, 1923 issue
Stanley Manning writes his column in Deep Run, NC on May 17th. He mentions visiting Suffolk, Virginia, and seeing closing exercises for the year at Rev Joseph F. Jordan's school - he mentions two new African-American ministers preaching within a 50 mile radius of Suffolk - a father and son, but doesn't name them.

June 9, 1923 issue
Stanley Manning writes his column while "down in Alabama" on May 28th. He mentions the depression in Georgia which had been going on for the past three years (yes years before the stock market crash and in the midst of the Roaring 20s). This has led the following Universalist ministers and professionals to head north: Hal Kerns, Will Garner, Mary Slaughter, Armon Cheek, Thomas Chapman and J. M. Rasnake. Manning mentions that he himself had been on the Southern Georgia circuit for his first four years in his ministry.

June 16, 1923 issue
Stanley Manning is back home in Ma. He mentions going to Canon, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Brewton, Alabama; Outlaw's Bridge, NC; Newberry, SC; Feasterville, SC; Camp Hill, Alabama; Rocky Mount, NC; Kinston, Durham; NC. In Canon Georgia, Manning watched the graduation of Stanley Owens from High School. "my namesake. One of the dangers of being born in Dixie is that you may be named for any tramp preacher than may happen along about that time."
He went to Camp Hill, Georgia, and Americus, Georgia (where he had been ordained by Dr. Shinn), to Winder Georgia, and to DeFuniak Springs, where Manning preached before leaving the south. "Visits there are always a real home-coming". Rev. A. Arnold Ross was the preacher then as well as a writer for the local "The Breeze". In Chapman, Alabama, he stayed with Mr and Mrs. Greeley McGowin - and spoke at the Union Church there. In Brewton, Mrs Miller was ill, so he stayed at the home of Mrs. Sam Foshee. In Pensacola, Florida; Mr. Herrider, a city editor of the local paper, was supplying the pulpit. His last stop was the Hamburg Florida Church near Madison.

ATLANTA.-- " Rev. Ernest J. Bowden, pastor. Rev. Bowden, who took charge of the work here in February, was given a call on May 27 to become pastor for one year, and has accepted. The Sunday School is flourishing under the superintendency of Hamilton Douglas and Mr. Knox. An orchestra has been organized by Mr. Bowden to augment the music of Sunday School and young people's meetings. The Y. P. C. U. meets every Sunday at 6 O'Clock, and the meeting is followed by a social hour with light refreshments. A Hikers' club has been organized among the young people, of which Mr,. and Mrs. Bowden are members. The Women's Union is interested in a movement to improve prison conditions in Atlanta.

"SOUTHERN UNIVERSALIST YOUNG PEOPLE'S INSTITUTE- Chattanooga, Tenn July 20 to 30, 1923
The fifth meeting of the Southern Universalist Young People's Institute will be held at he Q. H. Shin Memorial Church, Friday July 20. The opening sermon will be preached by Rev.
F. B. Bishop, D.D.
The faculty is composed of the following: Rev. George A. Gay, Director; Rev. F. B. Bishop, Southern Superintendent; Rev. L. B. Fisher, Dean Ryder Divinity School; Rev. Stanley Manning, Directory Young People's Work; Mrs. Katharine Haskell Ball, Missionary. The program will include lectures each morning from nine until twelve; excursions to Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain, and other points of interest; sunset praise services on the mountains; special sermons by noted preachers; delightful social affairs in the homes of Chattanooga members. education, Inspiration, Recreation. " Terms: $1 enrollment fee and $10 board and room.

June 23, 1923 issue
THE W.N.M.A.
(Women's National Missionary Association)
News from the Clinton Circuit by Martha G. Jones from Clinton NC
Clinton has 20 members, Red Hill has 17, and there are 8 members-at-large. Clinton WNMA had a food both at the County Fair in the fall top help pay the delinquent street paving tax, and the parsonage and church roof painted.


Mr. O. W. Eames of the Crane Theological School will spend the summer in NC preaching for Rev. Harry L. Canfield who plans to be in New England and attend Summer School at Harvard.

Greensboro, North Carolina; Rev. R. S. Kellerman, pastor. four children christened recently and three adults added to the membership in June.

June 30, 1923 issue
Future North Carolina resident, Carl Sandburg, was given an honorary Doctor of Letters at Lombard College, He had graduated from Lombard in the class of 1902.

In Stanley Manning's column he mentions that he will be going to the Southern Young People's Institute in July and the Texas State Convention in August in New Castle)

Rev Dwight Ball preaches the first Sunday evening, two services on the second sunday, and weekly midweek services at Kinston NC since October.
In Deep Run, Rev Ball preaches on the first Sunday afternnon at the home of Martha and Nannie Grady. a large Sunday School has meet weekly for the past two years, currently under the direction of Preston Harper (who is a 19 year old high school student). Current membership is 54, and a lot was donated by Mr. Grady. The church was founded by Mrs. Ball.

July 7, 1923 issue
Stanley Manning's column mentions Clayton Memorial and the Feasterville Church in SC.
and he mentions the 200 year history of Universalism in South Carolina.

Mary Slaughter (picture in this issue) becomes the "Colleague of the President" of the General Sunday School Association. She was born in Camp Hill, Got a BA degree at Judson College for Women and the St. Lawrence University, She taught at the Southern Industrial Institute, and spent a year as the Assistant pastor of the church in Haverhill Mass. (this is described as being interim between ministers).

Christian Hill, NC - Rev Dwight A. Ball minister; weekend of the 4th Sunday, service Saturday evening, and two Sunday services" 5 new members and two children christened. In June 100 attended the Sunday Morning service and a 100 for the afternoon service.

----
this confirms that Feasterville SC was active in 1923 as was Americus Georgia. This also tells us why the decline of Universalism in the South started post WW1 - the depression led to a shortage of ministers. North Carolina's ministers were being paid for by the WNMA


there are a couple of good quotes that still work 80 years later that will be going on UU-ing, I will link to this post (for those of you who dont read both of my blogs)

sr
some typos corrected April 13, 2008

Plans for the blog.....

✇ WWUUD?
24 March 2008 at 02:07
By: Steven Rowe
Ok, it's been a bit quiet on the old southern Univeralist history blog.....
-those changes that life brings has a tendency to do what it says: change things.

But I plan to get back to this blog on a regular basis, the story of Universalism in the south still has a lot left to tell. And no doubt, a lot left for me to learn.

Some of the stuff I may never learn, such as why did Clayton not mention Simons in his autobiography? Was it non-Church Politics or doctrine? Will I learn more about Rev Laura Simons - what happened to her? When did the church in Charleston SC actually stop having services?

What Ive done recently is give a sermon at both Outlaw's Bridge and All Souls Waccamaw. On Easter Sunday I went to Clayton Memorial in Newberry, and then went to Lynch's Woods, a nature perserve- formerly the property of Rev Lynch (Linch), the SC Minister who formerly hooked his Church up with the Universalist association in New England. His children went west founding early Universalists churches in Georgia, Florida, and west. Walking on this land helps me literally see some of what they saw.
I also got some new books, which I need to read....

the plans for this blog remain that at some point, I will start up a website and start removing material to make for an easier way to find that material. Today, I decided to once again remove Kentucky from the South, because it remains more in character for the Ohio River valley area - I reserve the right to wonder what in the world I was thinking of, and thereby possibly in the future putting Kentucky and West Virginia back in the south..... Hey, isnt it great to have the power to move the states around at whim?????

Dorothy H. Rowe, July 8 1926 to Feb 15, 2008

✇ WWUUD?
16 February 2008 at 00:21
By: Steven Rowe
"If it were left up to us, without doubt we should so order our life on earth that it would be all glad and beautiful, bright skies and a green earth, waving forests, and running streams, and lovely landscapes. No clouds should come between us and the sun, no storms should weep over our path; no disappointments nor griefs should come to us; and sickness and death, and the lone household and the long-sorrowing heart, should be strangers to us and to ours. And so life should be to us a pleasant and merry holiday; and we, like the butterfly or the hummingbird, with bright plumage flashing in the sun, would go dancing from flower to flower, stopping only long enough to gather the honey, and rejoice in the beauty that welcomed us from all sides.
"So should we make life, if God would yield to our vain prayers, and suffer our will to be done."
-Thomas Baldwin Thayer, 1864, Over the River, or Pleasant Walks into the Valley of Shadows

"In an hour like this, nothing can take the place of the outstretched hands of human sympathy and understanding, the spoken or the silent assurance given by friends - "We have walked this way of sorrow also in times past and tasted its bitterness and sense of loss. We stand ready to help you through your valley of sorrow until that time comes when you emerge again into the light, and to continually assure you that you do not walk alone."
- Alfred S. Cole

"Love Never Fails"
-Paul

Southern Universalist Historical Fiction -

✇ WWUUD?
15 February 2008 at 01:17
By: Steven Rowe
Frankly there isn't much Southern Universalist Historical Fiction - at least that I know of.
But there is one, and now you can read it for free!

The Mockingbird's Ballad
Doak Mansfield

Now I own a copy, liked it enough to give it a good review on Amazon -
and I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from going out and buying a copy.
but you can read it for free on the first link

Free Reading site

(i have the Amazon site linked on the second, but if you go through the Amazon links on the
Universalist National Memorial Church or the www.UniversalistHerald.net, or some other charitable group, then those groups get a couple cents from Amazon for the referral).

amazon

I met the author the year after I reviewed the book, and was glad to have him sign my copy- and he's pictured here in this blog (from where he spoke at the 2006 Universalist Convocation) - I'm waiting for his next book - I sure hope he's writing one!

Rev. D. D. Smith (1807-1878)

✇ WWUUD?
25 January 2008 at 18:08
By: Steven Rowe
The Rev D.D. Smith (Daniel Drowne Smith) seems to be an interesting person in his own right, but he is overshadowed by his more famous father and brother; both of whom were also preachers who burned brightly in the Universalist skies before moving elsewhere.

His father, Elias Smith, was a free will Baptist minister turned Christian minister. There is a biography of his life available (which I admit to not having read), the Perfect Law of Liberty.
His brother Matthew Hale Smith is best known for being an Universalist minister turned anti-Universalist book writer. These books are available on Google Books.

D.D. Smith was born December 16, 1807 in Portsmouth , NH; and died on March 17, 1878 in Brooklyn NY. He had two careers, first as an Universalist minister; then as a homeopathic medical doctor.

He preached at various Massachusetts and Maine locations from the late 1820s to December 1838. From That date to April 1841, he preached at Gloucester. Something happened to lead him to resign and preach in Richmond, Virginia. The sources that I've read don't spell it out, so I can't even guess as to what happened. But it couldn't have been too bad, as
in 1843 or 44, he returned to lead a new "Independent Universalist Society" in Gloucester, preaching there until the summer of 1848, when he left the ministry.

His medical career was in New York State; and he taught at the Homeopathic Medical College in New York for nine years. Upon his death in 1878, he was a member of Henry Ward Beecher's PLYMOUTH CHURCH in Brooklyn.

He was involved with several newspapers, supossibly the UNIVERSALIST in it's first year (he's not mentioned in my bound volume however), and then changed the name to UNIVERSALIST AND LADIES REPOSITORY in 1834-1835. He edited the Richmond paper CHRISTIAN WARRIOR, a weekly from April 1842 to his removal to the north.
Books include
1834 REPORT OF A PUBLIC DISCUSSION (a debate with A. Ballou. Smith was the Ultra-Universalist; Ballou the restoriationist)
1836 CHILD'S OWN UNIVERSALIST COMPANION
1837 LECTURES ON DOMESTIC DUTIES

In his anti-Universalist books, his brother states that D.D. stated that he was only in the ministry because it paid so well. Now if there is one thing that gives us pause here in the 21st century, that would be it. Ministry pays well?

addition: 'THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, lists the middle name as Drown, and that he was born in June 1797. The above name and date are from his obituary.

(corrected January 26, 2008)

Gov. C. L. Blease - not an Universalist!

✇ WWUUD?
18 January 2008 at 01:19
By: Steven Rowe
As far as we know, Coleman Blease (and someone came up with a website just for him!) the SC Governor and US Senator, known for his populism and his racism was NOT an Universalist.
(1868-1942) He was quite an interesting figure, but not one most folks would want to stick on their list of highly admired folks.

We did we wonder if he was an Universalist? Well some of the Bleases from Coleman were universalists.... and Coleman Blease was from Helena and Newberry SC, and tied in with other SC universalist families....


All the SC Bleases are descendants from Thomas Wainwright Blease who emigrated from England to South Carolina, and died in the late 1830s, leaving 7 children. Thomas' wife Bethany was converted and baptized by the Baptist minister Basil Manly in 1823 in Edgefield South Carolina.

Their son, Henry Horatio Blease was the father of Gov. Coleman Blease.
Another son, Thomas W Jr; was the father of Luther Blease
Luther's wife and their son were Universalist -
Dunno about Luther Blease himself.

So at this point we can say that Coleman Blease's cousin Luther's family were Universalist;
but there is no evidence that Coleman himself was.

... because, Coleman Blease may be a Methodist. Or at least somebody claims him for the Methodists.

Star In the West May 1843

✇ WWUUD?
5 January 2008 at 02:25
By: Steven Rowe
STAR IN THE WEST, AND GLAD TIDDINGS.

VOLUME Vi NO. 6 May 20, 1843

Louisville Ky, has between 25,000-30,000 residents. Churches are 2 Episcopalians, 3 Presbyterians, 2 Roman Catholic, 3 Methodist, 1 Unitarian pastor there is Rev. Heywood who recently replaced Rev. Clark), 1 Cambellite, 1 German Methodist,1 English and1 German Lutheran, 2 Baptist, 1 Jewish Synagogue and 1 Universalist Church.
"some years ago" Theolopius Fisk preached here a few times in an amphitheater. An Union church for Unitarians and Universalists was built, which the Unitarians took control of. 5-6 years ago, Wadsworth lived in Louisville, publishing the BUREAN until his death. Br. Dean came to town, and started a new Universalist Church , buying a building on Chapel St (a former Episcopalian Church). this was at the lower end of town, 2 squares below the gaslights. There were problems and the church suspended, and Br. Dean moved to Illinois. Brother Kelso came to the city in Jan or Feb (of 1842) and restarted services in the Chapel Street church. Brothers Rogers and Gaylord preached, and around November (of 1842), Enoch Pingree was invited to be the minister, and he moved to Louisville on April 1, 1843. they begin a building fund to build a church in a more central part of town. Anti-universalism sermons were preached in other churches and Rev Pingree responded by preaching responses several times a a week at various locations in the city(article by Pingree)

Pingree responds that despite the libels of Rev Crane, Rev Peck, and Matthew H. Smith; the "grocery store" owned by G. Chapin in Louisville; sells groceries and Universalist books. It has never sold alcohol, and indeed Brother Chapin does not drink himself. this is response to a question by J. L. C. griffin in the NAZZARENE (
blogger: I'm not sure when Griffin became an Universalist)

correction: Pingree states that the community he reported last month as Wilke's Creek, Ky is actually Welch's Creek, Ky. An Universalist Society had been organized there some months ago.

George Roger's new hymn book is being used in the church in Louisville.

subscribers include someone from Hardin's Tavern, Va, Fleminsburg, Ky and E.R.Smith Centerville Ky.


Volume VI # 7 May 27, 1843
Formation of the Kentucky State Convention
Thursday Evening of last week, held at Warsaw Kentucky lasting to Sunday. while only two societies sent delegates, they undertook the buisness of founding a convention.

"Dear Brother: I write a few lines to inform you that the doctrine of universal love is gaining considerable with us. We have two young men, sons of old Father James Phelps who have commenced preaching the doctrine of the world's salvation with considerable success. - they have formed a little society in butler County, Ky, with something over 30 members, and have built a meeting house which will be finished in the course of the summer. On next Sabbath they will hold a sacramental meeting for the first time. we have the right to rejoice seeing the spirit of Enquiry is aboard and the whys and wherefores are enquired after, and the doctrine of endless misery must cease with intelligent minds.
Jacob Miller; Carneyville Ky, May 11, 1843"

Brother Byington will preach at Bank Link, Kentucky 2nd Sunday in June

Star In the West: April 1843

✇ WWUUD?
26 December 2007 at 01:20
By: Steven Rowe
Star In the West and Glad Tidings
volume 6 #1 (April 15, 1843) old series volume 14
Cincinnati Ohio, John A. Gurley, editor; E. M. Pingree, associate editor

Lynchburg, Virginia
The Universalists in this place are building a meetinghouse, 40 X 60 feet. It will be ready to dedicate in two or three months. Our cause is reprented as being remarkably prosperous in Lynchburg.

More Laborers In Kentucky
the "Register" for 1843, gives the names of 4 Preachers in Kentucky, and says there are five societies in the State. One of the Preachers - Br. Dean- has removed to Illinois; - the names of the other three are not familiar to us nor do I know in what part of the State they are, or whether they are living and preaching, or not. --
As for societies, I know of only tow-- one in Louisville and the other in Warsaw. Probably the other Societies and Preachers are in the Southern portion of the State.
I have just seen a letter from Wm Bates, Esq. P. M. at Wilkes Creek, Butler Co., Ky to Br. Chapin, of this City, in which the names of two young men are given as having recently commenced preaching the "Gospel of Salvation": with good success - John S. Phelps and R. J. L. Phelps.


Br. Pingree's Residence in Louisville - Is on the west side of Brook Street between Main and Market, 1st brick house North of Market. He may be found by inquiry at Gad Chapin's store, corner of 8th and Market, or at Asa Wood's Shoe Store, on Main a few door below Fourth.
The above directions are given here, so that my friends in the neighborhood, and those passing up or down the River, and calling at Louisville, may ready find me; as I shall be well pleased to see the faces of my old acquaintances who may happen to be this way.
Louisville, April 3 E. M. P.

#2 April 22, 1843
Universalist Books In Louisville
For the Information of our friends in Louisville and vicinity, as well as those visiting the City, from the South and West, I would say that most of the Universalist publications may be purchased at Br. G. Chapin's store, on the N. W. Corner of 8th and Market Sts. (titles of books deleted by poster).
br. Chapin is also Agent for most of the Universalist periodicals. Recollect, he is on the corner of Market and 8th sts, having removed thither from the corner of Market and 7th, where he formerly kept. - EMP

The Convention in Warsaw, Ky - In the call for a Convention to meet in Warsaw, on the 11th of May, nothing was said about the number of delegates to be chosen by each Society. As each society sends (lines torn) Associations, generally, it is well and proper to send that number in this case.
Where societies can be formed, between the present time and the time of the meeting proposed, so as to be represented in the formation of the Convention it is earnestly urged on the believers so to do; for the Societies in Kentucky, are now "few and far between". Brethren! wiil you not think of this? - EMP

#3 April 29, 1843
no Southern news

It's Begining to Look Alot like Christmas

✇ WWUUD?
25 December 2007 at 16:25
By: Steven Rowe
the joke I was making at work was that I would get into the Christmas mood on Friday at 6 PM... While I have slightly more Christmas spirit, it's not the exuberant joy I would like to have... Christmas is a hard time for lots of folks, lots of expectations that cant be met...
.... but there is always next year. The Hope of a better day is good.
Readers of my other blog know that I've spent December (after work) acting as my mother's health care power of attorney, and making medical decisions for her. Not very Christmasy in one way.

However in the mailbox Christmas Eve, I go the current issue of GOOD NEWS, the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship newsletter; the current issue of the UNIVERSALIST HERALD; a copy of the 1913 printing of the 1903 GLORIA PATRI REVISIED, a devotional manual for public Universalist worship; and three years of the weekly STAR IN THE WEST from the mid1840s. This Ohio - Indiana paper usually had some southern Universalist news, and I'll be posting the news as I run across it.
So wonderful Christmas presents for myself - and what better way to enjoy presents than sharing?

"Dearly beloved brethren, we have assembled as the disciples of him who came into this world as a little child and thus brought joy and gladness into every home, to lift up the voice of joy and praise, and to recommend ourselves and all our concerns to the care of our heavenly Father. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Put your trust in him and you shall not be disappointed. And pray you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice unto the throne of heavenly Grace."
(prayer) "O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might save his people from their sins, and show them to be the sons of God, and heirs of immortal life, grant, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, and grant that, at the last, we may rise to the life immortal, according to thy promise through him who liveth and reigneth with thee world without end. Amen."

Augustus C. Bowers - part 2

✇ WWUUD?
7 December 2007 at 00:56
By: Steven Rowe
If you noticed in my previous post on Augustus C. Bowers, that while I mentioned his ownership of a Manford debate book and his pasting of Manford's monthly pages in that book, I carefully didnt mention if he was an Universalist - frankly because I wasnt sure. Owning a book doesnt make one an Universalist.

Now I am sure. Not only was he an Universalist, he was an Ordained Universalist Minister! ordained in 1892, in the minister's listing from 1892-1908+ subscriber to Manford's Monthly in 1899. As far as I know, he didnt do any preaching other than missionary work - no Universalist church at Johnson City, Boone Creek, Grey, et al at that time.
No kin to Rev. J.M. Bowers of Canon Georgia - and publisher of the Universalist Herald.

Consolation Universalist Church, Gratis, Ga

✇ WWUUD?
21 November 2007 at 00:20
By: Steven Rowe
The formal name of the Universalist Church in Gratis Georgia was "Consolation church". The Universalist Register says the church was built in 1886 (and organized in 1887), made of wood and costing $500. That would make it the same age and likely construction as many other southern Universalist Churches. The church was gone by the great depression, but still active as of 1902. I have no source of data from the 1900s to the early 1930s. Ellen Adams was the clerk of the Church in 1902. I'm not 100% sure where that church was in Gratis. Next to the Adams Family Cemetery?

Gratis in the 1890s was the home of two Universalist ministers.
James Harrell Park (1829-1903) ordained to the Universalist ministry in 1860. Missionary Baptist minister up to that time. Called by some "the Love Minister" -back when that would be a band of honor. Not sure when he moved to Gratis, seems to be in the late 1880s. He is no known kin to Martha Ellen Adams Parks.
T. H. Gunter, I admit to knowing nothing about, other than he was in Gratis in the 1890s.

Ellen Adams lived to 1941, and is buried beside her husband in the Adams Family cemetery.

A. C. Bowers of Boone Creek, Tennessee

✇ WWUUD?
11 November 2007 at 02:22
By: Steven Rowe
That debate book I mentioned on the previous post was originally owned by Augustus (A.C.) Bowers of Boone Creek, Washington County, E. Tennessee.
He dated the book March 14, but neglected to put the year. It's an 1875 edition, so it was after that time, and published by Universalist minister E. Manford. Copies of Manford's Magazine from 1882 -1887 are glued in his book.

A. C. Bowers (1847 - 1921) was born in Boone Creek, which is now a suburb of Johnson City.He was a member of the Union Army during the War Between The States, serving (if I read this right) as part of Stoneman's Calvary. In 1879 he was a internal revenue collector and in 1890 was a census taker.

The Johnson City area was the home to Dr. William Hale, who was ordained in 1877, and founded a Universalist church in "Free Hill" in 1880. I'm not sure how long the church lasted, up to the 20th century, I believe. Universalist was also believed in that area by some in the Church of the Brethren and there is a Primitive Baptist Universalist Church in the area.

1872 gossip about an anti-Universalist debater

✇ WWUUD?
11 November 2007 at 01:21
By: Steven Rowe
I have a copy of "A Discussion on Universal Salvation and Endless Punishment" (1875 edition) between Universalist Rev. E. Manford and Disciples Rev. J. S. Sweeney.

My copy was owned by a southerner who had glued in various pages from Manford's Monthly. An article about a later debate (1882) between Manford and Sweeney, and an 1887 article about a debate with Rev Thomas Abbott and JR. Now I won't name JR because his grandchildren might still be alive, he had children still alive 30 years ago.

The last line of the article ( actually a debate summary) is thus "(JR) made no reply here, but referred to the vengeance of God, and said it was an attribute of God, which (Abott) could not meet. "Vengeance is Mine and I will repay."
#############################

"Nix" is written by the books original owner next to that. "I know that the law of retaliation belongs to God; but how cruel vengeance can be an attribute, I can't see.
(JR) is the man THAT married (VK) and left her and took up with another woman."

JR was born in in 1846 in Tennessee, he married (LK - the V could be a nickname for L)in Feb 1868, when he was 21 and she was 26. They moved to Illinois with her brother a Baptist minister. JR went to college to become a minister, and then got a pulpit in Mississippi. His last child with LK was born in 1871 in Illinois. In 1872 he married ST (who was 10 years younger than LK)in Mississippi. JR and ST moved to various states until they made it to Arkansas, where the debate with Rev Abbott was held in 1887. (I could not find a death date for JR). The previous owner of my book was living in the area where LKs grandparents and cousins lived - I have no proof of his statement, but the facts fit.

Are there morals to this story? Sure, one could be that even with scant clues, someone could find your flaws from 135 years ago. Since JR keep his side out of his official biography, we'd dont know his reasons. LK could have been a horrible person, well worth getting rid of, and the family themselves were upset to get her back.
- but another moral is, that we look at flaws - your sins, as basic ones: you dont make promises that you cant keep, if you are in the ministry or public service, you must be better than normal. It's a cold cruel world (but lots of fun for those of us who like to research - because even your sins will out).

Universalist Church in Georgia

✇ WWUUD?
28 October 2007 at 19:40
By: Steven Rowe

All we know about this photograph is that it is an Universalist Church, probably in Georgia.
- the design makes identification harder, as this was a popular style for rural Universalist southern Churches. It is NOT the Saluda SC church, nor does it appear to be Woodington NC. It doesnt seem to be Liberty in Mississippi (all of those churches have this design).

Do you know what church this is?

Ephrata Cloisters -yet more

✇ WWUUD?
20 October 2007 at 20:40
By: Steven Rowe

Being the 275th anniversary of the Ephrata Cloisters, I decided to celebrate in my usual style - by getting a book. In this case, VOICES OF THE TURTLEDOVES (2003) by Jeff Bach. This illustration is from the historic site giftshop

There is a brief mention from cloister documents about universalism and George de Benneville is mentioned. There is plenty about mysticism and even pages about alchemy. Looks good.

There is also a map of Cloister colonies - including 4 in South Carolina
Beaver Creek (c1748-)
Broad River (c1754-)
Cloud's Creek (c1768-)
Edesto (c1770-)
he defines these as "Mixed Congregations of Seventh-Day and First Day Dunkers and English and German Sabbatarians").

He doesnt mention his reference for this, but it's slightly possible it's the Brethren Encyclopedia, Volume 3 (1984) which lists those four congregations -although the BE had Edisto spelled the usual way. The BE map was titled "the Colonial Brethren Congregations and Settlements 1719-1770".
and also lists the nearby Georgia and NC congregations, of which one in NC was small u universalist and the one in Georgia a 7th day group. the Georgia folks moved to Cloud's Creek and Broad River area of SC prior to the American Revolution

for those of you confused - these Churches above were the founding blocks of the churches later affliated with the "Universalist Church of America".


The Ephrata Cloisters was a German Pietist settlement near what is now Lancaster Pa in the mid 1700s. It consisted mainly of folks formerly associated with what we now called the Church of the Brethren. It is believed by some that David Martin, founder of those SC churches above, was the son of George Adam Martin. G. A. Martin was hand picked by the founder to be the leader of Ephrata, and GA Martin was a leader at Snow Hill. Thus the importance to Universalist history.

Ephrata 275th Anniversary October 13 and 14th

✇ WWUUD?
13 October 2007 at 02:40
By: Steven Rowe
The Ephrata Cloister
is apparently celebrating it's 275 anniversary this weekend. This group, a spin off of the German Fraternity of Baptists (German Baptist Brethren, Church of the Brethren) had a cloister or commune in early Pennsylvania. Yes, they did believe in universalism, and yes, former residents moved to the South and Midwest. And yes, some of those former Ephrata members and their descendants founded Universalist Churches. George Adam Martin was even known to preach in the New Jersey coast - prior to 1770.


from the press release

Ephrata Cloister to Mark 275 Years With Special Ceremony, Interactive Tours

Launching a weekend of unique tours, the Ephrata Cloister will host a
commemorative ceremony and press conference at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 13, to mark its 275th anniversary.

The celebration will include a performance by the Ephrata Cloister
chorus, a public cake-cutting and remarks by Barbara Franco, executive
director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, as well
as local dignitaries.

Interactive tours will feature performances by the chorus. Guests will
have the chance to assume the roles of the area's original immigrants as
they learn about life in historic Ephrata, one of America's earliest
religious communities.

LOCATION: Ephrata Cloister
Welcome Center Auditorium
632 West Main St.
Ephrata

Directions and tour information are available at
http://www.ephratacloister.org/.

Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Web Site: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/

from the Ephrata website:

* Second Sunday Series
October 13 (Saturday)
6:00-9:00 p.m.
October 14 (Sunday)
2:00-5:00 p.m.
Discover Ephrata’s musical heritage with a special program that combines a first-person style tour with music performed by members of the Ephrata Cloister Chorus in several locations on the historic site. This special anniversary event will be offered by candlelight on Saturday evening in addition to Sunday. Tours are limited in size and advance registration is strongly suggested. Admission charged.

Cloud's Creek, SC questions without answers

✇ WWUUD?
6 October 2007 at 15:04
By: Steven Rowe
I was reading Volume 3 of Patrick O'Kelly's four volume "NOTHING BUT BLOOD AND SLAUGHTER The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas (2005); when I came accross a mention of the Cloud Creek Massacre. I knew of the massacre, but it hadn't occured to me how late this was.
This was a month after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and two months after the battle of Eutaw Springs, SC (with General Greene losing the battle but winning the victor as usual).
Of course the last fighting in SC was over a year after the massacre....

let's see what we can see...

http://www.alleneasler.com/clouds.html
here's a picture of Padgett's Lake, a millpond on Cloud's Creek; and where the Padgett family (under a variety of spellings) had a mill....

googlemaps of lake

Cloud's creek itself - starts between Monetta and Ridge Sping, SC (off SC 23) goes northworth for a few miles then turns north east toward what used to be the Little Saluda River (and is now
the western side of Lake Murray. Easiest to say that Cloud's Creek is between the town of Saluda and Batesburg-Leesville in SC.

below a google map of
The massacre site


David Martin was an universalist restoration minister of the German Baptist Brethren, and did circuit preaching from his home near Newberry. Towsend's history is the source of most of the below non-war information.

1768 Martin held "first love feast" in this area (this is a specific type of communion)
among those recieving were Snowden and Sybil Kirkland. Kirkland until recently had been with a group of 7th Day Baptists on the Savannah River.
1770 James Warden has two hundred acres on Cloud's Creek.
1772 the Cloud's Creek church has 42 baptized members and -in 30 families. Members included James Warren (leader of the church) and Snowden Kirkland. All were English ethnic background. Cloud's Creek celebrated both Saturday and Sunday as days of worship.
1780 Martin was known to be preaching universal restoration.
November 1781 Cloud's Creek Massacre - at Carter's house (log cabin) on Cloud's Creek.
After the surrender of Captain Turner's remaining militia to Major Cunningham, Cunningham had them killed.
May 1782 Cloud's Creek militia in fight at Dean's Swamp Creek (near Wagener and Salley SC)
against Cunningham.
1790 a Cloud's Creek Baptist Church exists. It does not seem to be the same as the 1770s church. Although the minister there may have some very mild connections with the 1820s Universalist Convention of SC.
1803 original Warren and Padgett landgrants sold to others. Kirkland witness.
1804 death of Snowden Kirkland at Cloud's Creek. Kirkland's grandson called the father's family 7th Day Baptists in his declaration in 1847.
Three of Kirkland's sons were Tories. One of his great great grandsons married into the Dennis-Lester family that was associated with the Dunkers-Universalists of Newberry. I have conflicting reports as to Snowden being the brother of Moses Kirkland, an infamous in SC Loyalists.

We know little about Cloud's Creek - the question that I've wondered in putting this timeline together, is does the war and the massacres (of which Cloud's Creek is just one local one from just one side) affect David Martin and his universalist views?
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