Friday, October 14, 2011

100 Influential Unitarian Universalists

On a wall in the front lobby of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Salt Lake City hangs a poster with the names and pictures of 100 Influential Unitarian Universalists throughout history. I wrote down the first 25 names today, as I am interested in learning more about these people who have in varied ways influenced the history of this religion I now hold so close to my heart.

Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, the first Vice-President of the United States and the second President. John Adams was the first President of the United States to only serve one term. Abigail is famous for the letters she wrote in correspondence with her husband, which demonstrated their unusually strong, respectful and emotionally connected relationship of equals. She became known as "Mrs. President" during the short time she was First Lady, because she was so much more politically active than Martha Washington had been. In March, 1776 she wrote a memorable letter to her husband John and the Continental Congress, requesting that they "remember the Ladies" in the forming of this new nation. John and Abigail are both buried in the Adams Family crypt underneath the United First Parish Church (Unitarian) in Quincy, Massachusetts.