Reader:
The Universalist Society of Sheshequin, from the most reliable information to be obtained, was moulded into form about A.D. 1808. Up to that time, the scattered people of this valley, including “Old Sheshequin,” generally worshipped according to the Baptist faith, Rev. Moses Park, mainly, ministering to their spiritual necessities.
Translator:
Most people here in the valley were Baptist, and Rev. Moses Park was their minister.
Reader:
In the year previous, a Mr. Noah Murray, who had settled in the vicinity of Tioga Point, was known as disseminating the heretical doctrine of the Universal Salvation of the human race from the bondage of sin and corruption. He was scattering firebrands within the walls of Zion, and it was decided that these innovations must be no longer tolerated.
Translator:
Rev. Muray was new to town, and was preaching Universalism. The neighbors freaked out.
Reader:
For the purpose of silencing this pretender, Moses Park and Joseph Kinney were deputed to fight this Goliath and demolish his strongholds. They were thought to be well adapted to accomplish this laudable purpose: the former, possessing the Christian virtues in an eminent degree, and the latter adding a shrewdness, ingenuity and soundness in argument hard to withstand.
Translator:
The neighbors sent Moses Park and Joseph Kinney to convince Murray he was wrong. They were chosen because they were devout and smart and good at arguing
Reader:
Armed with their own well-thumbed Bible, they proceeded to the residence of Murray and made known their mission. They were very courteously and kindly received, and their challenge accepted; and for the space of about three days they fought the good fight.
Translator:
They went to Mr. and Mrs. Murray’s house. They were let in politely and for 3 days they argued about it.
Reader:
The doctrine of the Endless Suffering of the wicked, together with Baptism as a saving ordinance, were relied on by the one party as indispensable to a right understanding of the Scriptures, and a necessity of the divine government.
Translator:
Park and Kinney kept talking about how “only baptized people are saved from hell.”
Reader:
But the deeper they went into the investigation the weaker became their defense, until one after another, they saw their own strongholds demolished and the Sun of Righteousness melting the icebergs of Calvanism [sic].
Translator:
Their arguments didn’t hold up and eventually even they couldn’t believe what they were saying themselves.
Reader:
In short, they “went woolgathering and came home shorn.” They were defeated. They acknowledged it, and finally rejoiced over it.
Translator:
They realized they were wrong, and were okay with it.
Reader:
In conclusion, they agreed to adopt the doctrine of Murray, and Mr. Park was to present the sentiments to his audiences, and study their effects before making any formal declaration of the name.
Translator:
Mr. Park was afraid to tell his congregation he was a universalist now, so he kind of snuck universalism into his sermons
Reader:
His Congregation had been known to approve of the new preaching, and wonder at the improvements in spirituality and wisdom of the preacher; and one bright morning in June A.D. 1808, Mr. Park, after speaking as by inspiration, informed his hearers that, for some time past he had been uttering and believing with his whole soul, the doctrine of the Universal Salvation of the human race; the line of demarcation was drawn.
Translator:
It went okay so in June 1808 he outed himself as a Universalist, and told them “Surprise!” he had been preaching Universalism for some time.
Reader:
A few denounced, but a large majority stood by him, and, with various changes and discouragements, have remained steadfast in the doctrine to this day.
Translator:
Some folks left the congregation, but the rest became the Unitarian Universalist congregation we are today.
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