St. Lawrence University: Sesquicentennial

The Universalist Beginnings of St. Lawrence
In 1853, Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, an influential Universalist minister, called for a theological school to train ministers in that faith. He had been agitating for such a venture since as early as 1835, but this time the idea caught on. The seminary came to Canton, where Universalism had a strong foothold, because local Universalists beat out other contenders by offering $15,000 and 20 acres of farmland if it would.

The institution was chartered by the State of New York on April 3, 1856, as St. Lawrence University, consisting of the predominant Theological School and the separately administered “unsectarian” College of Letters and Science. Many of the first trustees and faculty were leaders in the Universalist faith. Thus, St. Lawrence, like so many colleges and universities throughout America, was conceived, planned, established and for many years run by ministers.

Universalism
Based on universal salvation, as opposed to the more common Reformation notions of election and predestination, Universalism began in England in the 1760s. Persecuted for their radical belief in the inherent goodness of everyone, Universalists began immigrating to America as early as 1770. Universalism was popular among New England farmers, merchants and teachers, and they carried it with them when they migrated into the St. Lawrence Valley in the early 1800s.

From its beginnings, Universalism challenged its members to reach out and embrace people whom society often marginalized. Universalists became the first denomination to ordain women to the ministry, beginning in 1863 with Olympia Brown, an early graduate of the St. Lawrence University Theological School.
A merger with the Unitarian Church led to a consolidation of seminaries, resulting in the closing of the St. Lawrence Theological School in 1965. Unitarian-Universalism is not large numerically; there are over 1,000 congregations in the United States, including a flourishing one in Canton, although most are in urban areas.

Some famous Universalists:
-Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and “Father of American Psychiatry”
-Abigail Adams, First Lady and women’s rights advocate
-Abraham Lincoln, “The Great Emancipator”
-Horace Greeley, publisher
-Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross
-Owen D. Young, industrialist, diplomat, philanthropist

Overview of Themes and Plans Art Gallery Fun Facts Planning Committee Schedule of Events Then and Now Timeline This Month in SLU History
Return to Sesquicentennial	The Universalist Beginnings of St. Lawrence In 1853, Thomas Jefferson Sawyer, an influential Universalist minister, called for a theological school to train ministers in that faith. He had been agitating for such a venture since as early as 1835, but this time the idea caught on. The seminary came to Canton, where Universalism had a strong foothold, because local Universalists beat out other contenders by offering $15,000 and 20 acres of farmland if it would. The institution was chartered by the State of New York on April 3, 1856, as St. Lawrence University, consisting of the predominant Theological School and the separately administered “unsectarian” College of Letters and Science. Many of the first trustees and faculty were leaders in the Universalist faith. Thus, St. Lawrence, like so many colleges and universities throughout America, was conceived, planned, established and for many years run by ministers. Universalism Based on universal salvation, as opposed to the more common Reformation notions of election and predestination, Universalism began in England in the 1760s. Persecuted for their radical belief in the inherent goodness of everyone, Universalists began immigrating to America as early as 1770. Universalism was popular among New England farmers, merchants and teachers, and they carried it with them when they migrated into the St. Lawrence Valley in the early 1800s. From its beginnings, Universalism challenged its members to reach out and embrace people whom society often marginalized. Universalists became the first denomination to ordain women to the ministry, beginning in 1863 with Olympia Brown, an early graduate of the St. Lawrence University Theological School. A merger with the Unitarian Church led to a consolidation of seminaries, resulting in the closing of the St. Lawrence Theological School in 1965. Unitarian-Universalism is not large numerically; there are over 1,000 congregations in the United States, including a flourishing one in Canton, although most are in urban areas. Some famous Universalists: -Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and “Father of American Psychiatry” -Abigail Adams, First Lady and women’s rights advocate -Abraham Lincoln, “The Great Emancipator” -Horace Greeley, publisher -Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross -Owen D. Young, industrialist, diplomat, philanthropist
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