The birth of the First Universalist Church in America
Feby 19 1777 - Met by adjournment and received a paper delivered by Ebenr Parsons which was in answer to the letter wrote the absenting members on the 11th instant - and which was as follows We have considered the Substance of your Note and not being fond of contention lest any thing shall pass tending thereto we think it best thus to inform you, that our reasons for our absenting ourselves from your Society are purely of a religious nature which is wholly between God and our own souls - We trust we have a good conscience & are happy in ye consideration yt Jesus only is appointed our judge. Epes Sergeant, Cathne Sergeant, Winthrop Sergeant, Jud Sergeant, Ebenr Parsons, Rebec Parsons, David Pierce, Hanh Tucker, Rebecca Smith, Lydia Prentise, Judh Stevens,* Jemi Cook, Anne Bapson, Jemi Parsons, Nancy Saunders. First Parish Church Records, Gloucester, 1703-1803, part of p. 26
Call # A03 Box 1 Book 1
Those named were the founding members of the break-away Independent Church of Christ (later the Universalist Church) formed under John Murray. They withdrew not only their bodies but also their money from the First Church and this caused an outcry. They were publicly suspended from the First Parish Church in September 1778, and in 1782 some of their goods were seized and sold at auction for non-payment of Parish Taxes. Objections were raised and the case went to court in 1786, where the judge found in favor of Mr. Murray and his followers stating that “Mr. Murray comes within the description of the Constitution [as a religious leader] and has a right to require the money.� This finding has been hailed by many as the first separation of Church and State in America. * Judith Stevens, then wife of Mr. John Stevens, later married Mr. John Murray. She was a prolific and erudite author of several works in which she expressed philosophies, especially regarding the education of women, that were ahead of her time.