Robert Little (Reverend)
Encyclopedia
Robert Little was a Unitarian
minister. He was born in England in 1762. He immigrated to the United States in 1819 because of poor health and religious restrictions in England against all churches except the Church of England
. He was the first pastor of First Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C.
and was instrumental in its formation in 1821. He served in that position until 1827 when he died an unexpected death.
Later he was pastor of the Little Cannon Street meeting house, built in 1809 by the congregation of Paradise Street chapel, formerly Congregational in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England which was closed in 1814. He moved in 1817 to a Unitarian Church at Gainsborough.
He had been educated in the Established Church of England
, but had become a convert to Unitarianism
about 1814 after changing his views about infant baptism, the role of the minister, and congregational practices that "relied on the English notions of status."
He had a long association with the Rev. John Campbell and Rev. James Kay, both former Baptists who had gravitated to Unitarianism
. Both played important roles in the founding of the church in the United States
.
Little delivered a sermon before the Unitarian Tract Society of Birmingham, England, "which attacted great attention" shortly before he departed for America.
After he arrived in the U.S. in 1819, Little settled in Washington, D.C.
where he lived in East Washington on Pennsylvania Avenue. He is presumed to have worked in the United States Treasury and had originally planned on starting his own business because "the failure of his health rendered it necessary for him to withdraw from the ministry," however, he was "called into service by Unitarians in the community."
, an early Unitarian. Once settled in Washington, Little continued to preach Priestleyan Unitarianism
while at the same time, maintaining connections with the New England Unitarian's and "associating with members of the government."
He was an early founder and the first pastor of the First Unitarian Church in Washington. He was elected to the position by members of the congregation in 1821 before the church was even built.
Little was a member of the Friends of Unitarian Christianity in Washington. Their earliest meetings were held at the long room over the City Baths in C Street. The very first meeting, took place on July 31, 1820. Architect Thomas Bulfinch
, who designed many important buildings in Washington, including the Capitol building, was appointed secretary of the society and Moses Young, Esq. was called to the chair.
The group consisted of roughly a dozen members and held services, "which were attended by no more than forty souls, in a rented room." Little was "properly elected" as their minister in November, 1821 and then set out to formally organize the group into the First Unitarian Church, Washington.
Other founders of the church included John Quincy Adams
and John C. Calhoun
.
At the meeting "provided for the last Resolution," it was determined that the new church should be strictly Congregational. Committees were appointed to solicit subscriptions for building a church edifice.
The building was designed by Charles Bulfinch
and was completed early in 1822. More than 400 members attended the ceremony when the church was dedicated on April 9, 1822.
In his dedication sermon he looked forward to the future, "These walls will, I trust, bear witness that our lives have not been altogether useless to mankind. Some I hope may be better for our exertions in the cause of truth."
One of Little's most famous sermons was called the Discourse on the Mystery of Christ which discussed the subject of Mystery, "as this term is used in the Gospel." It was a refutation of the "late attack upon the system of Unitarianism by Anthony Kohlmann."
Little's presence in the nation's capital "once again put English Unitarianism in the seat of the nation's government and he made the most of it." He delivered a sermon before the United States House of Representatives
titled Religious Liberty and Unitarianism Vindicated in defense of the church in America."
As early as 1824, Rev. Little took an early stand against slavery which was legal in the District of Columbia at that time. The "majority of the early Washington Unitarian congregation was sympathetic with the Southern attitude on slavery." Many of the church's ministers had already spoken out against it.
First Unitarian Church "struggled" for most of its early history despite having many "famous members." The congregation did not maintain the institution and by 1877 they reorganized under a new name, All Souls Church.
, who counted among their members former presidents Andrew Jackson
and John Quincy Adams
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
in August, 1827. The two men were "seeking to boost each other's spirits" and Little was also hoping to rest. He had traveled in intense heat with his family to reach the Kay family home, and it is believed he suffered heatstroke. The day before he took ill, he had delivered both morning and evening sermons in the Unitarian church in Harrisburg.
He died unexpectedly from an inflammation of the brain on October 5, 1827 as a result of the illness he suffered visiting Harrisburg. Little's body was taken "upriver" to Northumberland, Pennsylvania
and he was buried alongside Joseph Priestley
. Rev. Frederich Farley, officiated at his memorial service.
After settling their affairs in Washington, his family returned to Pennsylvania
where they remained.
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a religion characterized by support for a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning". Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed; rather, they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth and by the understanding that an individual's theology is a...
minister. He was born in England in 1762. He immigrated to the United States in 1819 because of poor health and religious restrictions in England against all churches except the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He was the first pastor of First Unitarian Church in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and was instrumental in its formation in 1821. He served in that position until 1827 when he died an unexpected death.
Biography
Rev. Robert Little's first charge was the Paradise Street Independent Church in Birmingham from 1791 until 1797. In 1797 he moved to Hanley in Staffordshire. From 1801 until 1806 he ministered to Perth Congregational Church.Later he was pastor of the Little Cannon Street meeting house, built in 1809 by the congregation of Paradise Street chapel, formerly Congregational in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England which was closed in 1814. He moved in 1817 to a Unitarian Church at Gainsborough.
He had been educated in the Established Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, but had become a convert to Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
about 1814 after changing his views about infant baptism, the role of the minister, and congregational practices that "relied on the English notions of status."
He had a long association with the Rev. John Campbell and Rev. James Kay, both former Baptists who had gravitated to Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
. Both played important roles in the founding of the church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Little delivered a sermon before the Unitarian Tract Society of Birmingham, England, "which attacted great attention" shortly before he departed for America.
After he arrived in the U.S. in 1819, Little settled in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he lived in East Washington on Pennsylvania Avenue. He is presumed to have worked in the United States Treasury and had originally planned on starting his own business because "the failure of his health rendered it necessary for him to withdraw from the ministry," however, he was "called into service by Unitarians in the community."
Unitarian Church
Rev. Robert Little followed the teachings and legacy of Joseph PriestleyJoseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
, an early Unitarian. Once settled in Washington, Little continued to preach Priestleyan Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
while at the same time, maintaining connections with the New England Unitarian's and "associating with members of the government."
He was an early founder and the first pastor of the First Unitarian Church in Washington. He was elected to the position by members of the congregation in 1821 before the church was even built.
Little was a member of the Friends of Unitarian Christianity in Washington. Their earliest meetings were held at the long room over the City Baths in C Street. The very first meeting, took place on July 31, 1820. Architect Thomas Bulfinch
Thomas Bulfinch
Thomas Bulfinch was an American writer, born in Newton, Massachusetts. Bulfinch belonged to a well educated Bostonian merchant family of modest means. His father was Charles Bulfinch, the architect of the Massachusetts State House in Boston and parts of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, who designed many important buildings in Washington, including the Capitol building, was appointed secretary of the society and Moses Young, Esq. was called to the chair.
The group consisted of roughly a dozen members and held services, "which were attended by no more than forty souls, in a rented room." Little was "properly elected" as their minister in November, 1821 and then set out to formally organize the group into the First Unitarian Church, Washington.
Other founders of the church included John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
and John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
.
At the meeting "provided for the last Resolution," it was determined that the new church should be strictly Congregational. Committees were appointed to solicit subscriptions for building a church edifice.
The building was designed by Charles Bulfinch
Charles Bulfinch
Charles Bulfinch was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first native-born American to practice architecture as a profession....
and was completed early in 1822. More than 400 members attended the ceremony when the church was dedicated on April 9, 1822.
In his dedication sermon he looked forward to the future, "These walls will, I trust, bear witness that our lives have not been altogether useless to mankind. Some I hope may be better for our exertions in the cause of truth."
One of Little's most famous sermons was called the Discourse on the Mystery of Christ which discussed the subject of Mystery, "as this term is used in the Gospel." It was a refutation of the "late attack upon the system of Unitarianism by Anthony Kohlmann."
Little's presence in the nation's capital "once again put English Unitarianism in the seat of the nation's government and he made the most of it." He delivered a sermon before the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
titled Religious Liberty and Unitarianism Vindicated in defense of the church in America."
As early as 1824, Rev. Little took an early stand against slavery which was legal in the District of Columbia at that time. The "majority of the early Washington Unitarian congregation was sympathetic with the Southern attitude on slavery." Many of the church's ministers had already spoken out against it.
First Unitarian Church "struggled" for most of its early history despite having many "famous members." The congregation did not maintain the institution and by 1877 they reorganized under a new name, All Souls Church.
Columbian Institute
During the 1820s, Little was a member of the prestigious society, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and SciencesColumbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences was a literary and science institution in Washington, D.C., founded by Dr. Edward Cutbush , a naval surgeon...
, who counted among their members former presidents Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
Personal
Rev. Robert Little took ill during a visit to see Rev. James Kay in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
in August, 1827. The two men were "seeking to boost each other's spirits" and Little was also hoping to rest. He had traveled in intense heat with his family to reach the Kay family home, and it is believed he suffered heatstroke. The day before he took ill, he had delivered both morning and evening sermons in the Unitarian church in Harrisburg.
He died unexpectedly from an inflammation of the brain on October 5, 1827 as a result of the illness he suffered visiting Harrisburg. Little's body was taken "upriver" to Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and he was buried alongside Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
. Rev. Frederich Farley, officiated at his memorial service.
After settling their affairs in Washington, his family returned to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
where they remained.