By Bonnie Withers The story of Francis Barrier Williams (1855-1944) gives us an example of a phenomenon described in last week’s service, namely, the gap between personal friendships between races and belief in wide-ranging equality. Francis grew up in mostly white Brockport, New York in a professional Black family where she enjoyed comfortable social relations … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Francis Barrier Williams

By Bonnie Withers Black History Month always takes me back to the extraordinary documentary series, “Eyes on the Prize”—a series of 14 episodes set in two parts documenting the Civil Rights Movement from 1954-1985– and I recall our UU connection to that landmark creation.  Henry Hampton was born in St. Louis in 1940. His parents … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Henry Hampton

By Bonnie Withers Let’s take a moment to remember Lewis McGee, born to a former slave in Pennsylvania in 1893. As an African Methodist Episcopal minister, McGee served as a chaplain in WW II. His interest in science and his belief in human reason led him to be unsatisfied with the idea of God as … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Rev. Lewis McGee

By Bonnie Withers When I browse through my copy of This Day in Unitarian Universalist History, I amcontinually struck to come upon the number of martyrs from the 16 th century onward,who gave up their lives over their insistence on their belief in the unitary nature of God.Today, I found Ludwig Hetzer, Swiss pastor who … Continue reading Moments in UU History: The First Unitarian Martyr

By Bonnie Withers Of all the ways there are to leave a mark on the world, funding libraries is very high on my list. Thus, we remember Sir Henry Tate, who died on December 5, 1899, at the age of 80. Tate was born in 1819 in Lancashire, England, son of a Unitarian minister. He … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Sir Henry Tate

By Bonnie Withers Last week, we learned about the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Unitarian and Universalist) where William Ellery Channing’s famous sermon (1819) was preached. At that time, it was called The First Independent of Baltimore. As we learned, this was the first church built by Unitarians in the U.S. and has been used … Continue reading Moments in UU History: King’s Chapel

By Bonnie Withers As we think about how we re-invent religious education, we might well seek guidance from one of our most influential forebears.  Sophia Lyon Fahs was born on August 2, 1876 to missionary parents in China.  She studied progressive approaches to education at Columbia, and continued those studies at Union Theological Seminary where … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Sophia Lyon Fahs

Nevertheless, She Persisted! By Bonnie Withers If you are looking for a UU woman for a role model, you need look no further than Olympia Brown. But beware! This feisty little woman will ask much of you. Olympia was born in a Universalist household on January 5, 1835. Her upbringing lead her to pursue education … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Olympia Brown