Some of you may have heard the following excerpt from our church records from the year 1878: “Our Partialist friends in the surrounding country, becoming much disturbed and alarmed at the spiritual condition of their ‘awful neighbors’ in the Valley, occasionally send a ‘screaming Moses’ to warn us of the wrath to come.” I had … Continue reading Our Partialist Neighbors

Back in the early 1800’s, the local Universalist Associations, like the North Branch Association, had the power to ordain ministers. The first ordination in Sheshequin, as far as I have found, took place 180 years ago. The new minister was the Rev. Gustavus S. Ames. He served the Sheshequin congregation for six years. I have … Continue reading First Ordination in Sheshequin

Before the Unitarians and Universalists joined together in 1961, many states had Universalist Conventions. Like today’s Unitarian Universalist Association and the affiliated Regional organizations, these conventions existed to support the Universalist churches in their states and to promote the spread of the good news of universal salvation. Some of the Conventions – including Pennsylvania’s and New York’s … Continue reading First Pennsylvania Universalist Convention Meeting

Sunday, October 2, 2016, is the 142nd anniversary of the installation of the bell at our Sheshequin meeting house.  Fran Brown will ring the bell to commemorate that event.  But there’s more – I have just learned that October 2 is also the 182nd anniversary of the dedication of the Sheshequin meeting house. The meeting house dedication service took … Continue reading Dedication of Sheshequin Meeting House