August 17

Today is the feast day, in the Episcopal Church, of several foundational clergy: Samuel Johnson, Thomas Chandler, and Timothy Cutler, the last of whom died on this day in 1765. Cutler and Johnson were part of a dust-up at Yale between Congregationalist/Presbyterian faculty and Church of England faculty, and they were ousted from their positions in the 1720’s. Chandler was a later figure who returned to the United States after the Revolutionary War and was one of the founders of the Episcopal Church. 

Today is the birthday, in 1801, of Frederika Bremer, Swedish author and activist who drew inspiration from abolitionist and Quaker movements in the United States. Her writing and activism help grow the women’s movement in Sweden. 

Reflection: 

Frederika Bremer wrote: 

Prayer: God of love and justice, help us to unite love and justice in our living, our practice, and our policy. Amen.