Archive for year: 2023

1909 – Lotta Hitschmanova was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She was anti-Nazi and went into exile in Canada when World War II threatened. Her parents were imprisoned in Auschwitz during the war and she never heard from them again. She founded the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada and directed it for 40 years to help the children of Europe. The Unitarian church in Ottawa, Canada where she attended was an important supporter of her work. The government of France made her Chevalier of Public Health in 1950 and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi named her Woman of the Year for India in 1975. Read more about Lotta Hitschmanova at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

The post November 28 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

1608 – Andrew Wissowatius Jr., the grandson of Faustus Socinus, was born in Philipow, Lithuania. He studied theology at Rakow, Poland, a Socinian stronghold, and traveled widely, including to Holland, France, and England. As the superintendent of various churches, Wissowatius stayed in Poland through the persecution of Socinians, took refuge in Prussia, and then returned to Poland. His house and library were destroyed and he was banished, according to an edict that set a deadline of July 10, 1660 for Socinians to convert or leave Poland. Although at first Wissowatius refused to go, in later years he became a scholar in Holland.

The post November 26 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1899 – The Unitarian abolitionist Samuel May died in Leicester, Massachusetts, at age 89, where he was a minister. He was forced to resign because of his strong support for abolition. He became a leader in the anti-slavery movement as secretary of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society, a position he held from 1847 until 1865. It was the great work of his life. He also served in the Massachusetts legislature. Read more about Samuel May at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

The post November 24 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

1569 – Coelius Secundus Curio, a Catholic heretic influenced by Martin Luther, died at age 66. Born to a distinguished family, he was imprisoned several times by the Inquisition for his anti-Trinitarian ideas. Each time he escaped. In 1547 he settled in Switzerland and became professor of literature at the University of Basel. His works include An Essay on the Providence of God, An Essay on the Immortality of the Soul, and Dialogues on the Extent of God’s Kingdom.

The post November 22 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.

1850 – Charlotte Garrigue Masaryk was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her family belonged to First Unitarian Church of Brooklyn. While studying piano in Germany, friends there told her about Thomas Masaryk, whom she married in 1878. The couple moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia, where Thomas fought for his country’s independence and Charlotte devoted her time to social problems. Thomas became the first president of Czechoslovakia. Read about the Masaryk family in the biography of John Howland Lathrop.

The post November 20 first appeared on Harvard Square Library.

Read more at: www.HarvardSquareLibrary.org – the digital library of Unitarian Universalism.