The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-08-25
unIvergallsm 15O Years cd.

,Clouchester, Mass. Aug 25.-All
paths and roadwaysetas far as loyal
tUniveY59lsts are concerned aretlead- 4
ing today ia Gleuchester From al
parts Of the United States and Canada .
ana from Europe pilgrims p1 the den /.
domination are gathering, here to ion (
lin the commemoration Of the l50th an
iniyersary Of the foundation of UniEer-
lsalism in America. The celebration, I,
which viii begin tomorrow and con
/ tinue through THE remainder Of the
week, win center around the old, Uni
Eversaiist church I'll THIS city. built in
l1S06 as the successor of the meeting
house which was the mother church
lof the denomination in the New World.
Between 5000 and 10000 guests are
expected here for the celebration. For
months the committees of the church
have been at work on the program
which is now complete in every de-
tail. 1t provides for the presentation
of Uniyersalist history by means
lof pageant, sermons and visitations Of
historic shrines The mornings will
be devoted to addresses, the after
moons to recreation, and the evenings
will be evoted to ,pageants,, lectures,
ana social events, Every day will be
Opened with q sunrise service and Inc
lday Win close with camRfHe SERVICES.
The Uhiyersalist church in America
Iascribes it historic, origin. as an Or
ganized body Of Christians, to the apos-
Itleshipe Of Bevd John Murray, who
cane from England in 1870 For 9 few
lyears he ioui'neyed from place % place
3 land preached the gospel Of the larger
faith wherever he found an open door.
The first UniYersalist church in Ameri-
: ca was organized by him in Giouehea-
. ter. Here John Murray found his
abiding place and here he resided as
4 pastor for nearly twenty years.
The circumstances OF his coming to
e Cane Ann were remarkable A group
u of Christians of whom Winthrop Sar
gent was the leader, was predisposed
lin favor of the new doctrine and was
d waiting to hear it taught and proclaim
led AS early as 1859 sailor had
brought from England a copy OF book
v called Union" written by Rev. James
50 Kelley, setting forth the doctrine OF
- the final restitution OF all things
!. through Christ. This book was passed
" from member to member of the Firs
Parrish church OF that period, and III
; sFarguments and explanations of tn
Scriptures proved so convincing tina
s.. soon a respectable number OF earnes
G, souls began to meet in conferences AM
v to exchange their satisfaction in tn
$50 light thus gained. When John Murra,
- arrived in Boston and was publicly OF
u posed by certain preachers ofthat city
las. being IA followed of Rev Jane
8, fKeley. theEs Gloucnester circle a
Is friends made hastest0 send as mes
y senger. winthrop Sargent and throug
4, him to invite the evangelist to com
n ANA preach and settle among them
Murray was given a cordial wecom
II in G'ouchoster and the pulpit of tn
~ First Parish church was placed at nj
- .dispo5al. Later, however, the liberal
nm ,ty of his praachings and doctrlae
of aroused violent opposition. Member
of tho old First Parish fought the ne
We movement hard, bringing every I
source, legal and otherwise, to the
assistance A protractcd litigation cor
ueneed, fhe Flrst Parish demahdif
q its thes from the Univeraali3t. I'll
~ decision of the court ran against VI
Murray and his adherents. TO e
81. force these demands the plate iro
the residence OF Epes Sargent,
IN anchor from one of his ships about
AMS