1. Nova Scotia #12 on 5(?) Sep 1863 cross-border cover from Truro, Nova Scotia to Galesburg, IL. Red “Paid 10” stamp on front. Backstamps from Truro, (5) SE 1863, and Amherst, 7 SE 1863. Addressed to Rev. J.P. Weston, Galesburg, Illinois, U.S. It has two manuscript notations on front: “A. Kent, Truro, Nova Scotia” and “Ans’d Oct. 28, 1863”
2. United States #U21 rose 3 cent Washington on 11 May c.1870 embossed cover from Boston, MA to Galesburg, IL. Addressed to Rev. J.P. Weston, Galesburg, Ill. from Benton Smith, Universalist Publishing House, 37 Cornhill, Boston, Mass. With the manuscript notation on its front “Sunday School author"
James Partelow Weston, educator, was born in Bremen, Lincoln County, Maine, on July 14th, 1815. He was the son of Eliphaz and Elizabeth (Longfellow) Weston and a descendant of Edmond Weston, who came to Boston in the ship “Elizabeth and Ann” and settled in the town of Duxbury in 1635.
Weston attended Waterville college (Colby University) for two years and graduated from Bowdoin college with a bachelor's degree in 1840 and a master's degree in 1843. He began the study of law but abandoned it for theology and was ordained in 1842 to the Universalist ministry. He pastored churches at Waterville and Gardiner, Maine.
He was principal of the Waterville Liberal institute, 1840-41, of Westbrook seminary, Stevens Plain, Maine, 1853-59, and, in the autumn of 1859, he accepted the presidency of Lombard University, an outgrowth of the Illinois Liberal Institute, founded in 1850 by the Spoon River Association of Universalists.
Weston was president of the university for 15 years,1859-72. During his administration he was influential in increasing the endowment fund of the university and in liquidating its debts. Subsequently the fourth ward school of Galesburg was named in his honor. He was President of Lombard University at the time these letters were addressed to him.
He was principal of Dean academy, Franklin, Mass.,1872-77, and then returned to the principalship of Westbrook seminary, which he retained until his death.
He was married, June 9, 1841, to Eliza Ellen, daughter of Edmund and Lydia (Croker) Woodman of Searsmont, Maine. He received the honorary degree of D.D. from Tufts college, in 1864. He died in Deering, Maine, Dec. 31, 1888.
The Nova Scotia cover is undoubtedly from the Rev. Dr. Alexander Kent who was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada, Nov. 27, 1837, and died Dec. 10, 1908, in Washington, D. C. and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C. He immigrated to the United States where he became a minister in the Universalist Church, "Church of Our Father” Thirteenth and L Streets N. W., Washington, D.C. On May 13, 1883 the first service was held in the newly built church with Rev. Alexander Kent officiating.
In 1878 he married Carrie (Caroline) E. Gove. b. March 22, 1842, in Weare, NH. daughter of William B Gove, and Sarah A. Breed. Alexander and Carrie had at least three children: Alexander W. Kent b. Mar. 20, 1879, Archibald Kent b. Oct. 21, 1880, and Carrie F. b. June 9. 1884 m. Edward Crosby Bebb b: 28 OCT 1872 in Seward, Illinois.
In 1900 the family lived at 930 Q St. N.W., Washington D.C. and belonged to the People’s Party. In 1900 he was pastor of the Peoples Church. He defined the meaning of “Hell” (Which he says does not belong in the Bible.) See Intelligence, Metaphysical Pub. Co., 1897.
He was involved with the Red Cross and the Woman Suffrage movement. He was against vivisection and was president of the National Indian Defense Association. He wrote the 12-page paper (among others) “Every-day Religion: A Discourse”, in1893.
The Boston cover is from Rev. Benton Smith who was born about 1821 in Jamaica Plain, Suffolk Co., MA, and died October 16, 1896, in Mattapoisett, Plymouth Co., MA and was buried in Waltham, MA. He married Maria Louisa Sprague August 26, 1845, in Hardwick, Worcester Co., MA. They had a son William. Benton authored The Christian Way: For Advanced Scholars in Sunday Schools and Bible Classes, Benton Smith, Universalist Publishing House, 1868. He may have been corresponding with Rev. Weston about this recently published book.
Unitarian Universalists are creedless and deny the authority of dogmas promulgated by church councils. Their teachings historically have included the unity of God, the humanity of Jesus, humankind’s religious and ethical responsibility, and the possibility of attaining religious salvation through differing religious traditions. They emphasize the authority of the individual’s religious conviction, the importance of religiously motivated action for social reform, democratic method in church governance, and reason and experience as appropriate bases for formulating religious beliefs. The first Universalist Church of Halifax was organized in 1837 by a group of lay people from Halifax and Dartmouth, who had been inspired by Hosea Ballou, an American Universalist clergyman and theological writer. A small church was built and the congregation was incorporated under professional leadership in 1843. The congregation, which included the Wests, a family of relatively wealthy West India merchants, was a closely-knit group, somewhat cut-off from the conservative community around it. In 1874 a large donation from the Wests allowed the Universalists to build the imposing Church of the Redeemer on then-fashionable Brunswick Street, where they remained for over 70 years.
Comments