Public Universal Friend: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person | |||
| picture=Public Universal Friend portrait.jpg | |||
| caption= A portrait of the Public Universal Friend, from the Friend's biography written by David Hudson in 1821. | |||
| date_birth=November 29, 1752 | |||
| place_birth=Cumberland, Rhode Island | |||
| date_death=July 1, 1819 | |||
| nationality=American | |||
| pronouns=[[No pronouns]] | |||
| gender=[[genderless]] | |||
| occupation= | |||
| known_for= | |||
}} | |||
The [[Public Universal Friend]] (born '''Jemima Wilkinson'''; November 29, 1752 – July 1, 1819), was born as an English-American to a Quaker family on Rhode Island, and was [[sexes#Assigned female at birth|assigned female at birth]]. This person suffered a severe illness in 1776 (age 24), and reported having died and been reanimated by the power of God as a genderless evangelist named the Public Universal Friend. | The [[Public Universal Friend]] (born '''Jemima Wilkinson'''; November 29, 1752 – July 1, 1819), was born as an English-American to a Quaker family on Rhode Island, and was [[sexes#Assigned female at birth|assigned female at birth]]. This person suffered a severe illness in 1776 (age 24), and reported having died and been reanimated by the power of God as a genderless evangelist named the Public Universal Friend. | ||
The Friend refused to answer any longer to the previous name | The Friend refused to answer any longer to the previous name,<ref name="Moyer-12 Winiarski-430 Juster-MacFarlane-27-28">Moyer, p. 12; Winiarski, p. 430; and Susan Juster, Lisa MacFarlane, ''A Mighty Baptism: Race, Gender, and the Creation of American Protestantism'' (1996), p. 27, and p. 28.</ref> quoted [[:wikisource:Bible (King James)/Luke#Chapter 23|Luke 23:3]] ("thou sayest it") when visitors asked if it was the name of the person they were addressing, and ignored or chastised those who insisted on using it. The preacher shunned the name "Jemima" completely, having friends hold realty in trust rather than see the name on deeds and titles. Even when a lawyer insisted that the person's Will should identify its subject as having been born under the name Jemima, the preacher refused to sign that name, only making an X which others witnessed, even though the Friend could read and write.<ref name="Brekus-85">Catherine A. Brekus, ''Strangers and Pilgrims: Female Preaching in America, 1740-1845'' (2000), p. 85</ref> | ||
The Friend asked [[English neutral pronouns#No pronouns|not to be referred to with gendered pronouns]]. Followers respected these wishes, avoiding gender-specific pronouns even in private diaries, and referring only to "the Public Universal Friend" or short forms such as "the Friend" or "P.U.F."<ref name="Juster-MacFarlane-27-28 Brekus-85 etc">Juster & MacFarlane, ''A Mighty Baptism'', pp. 27-28; Brekus, p. 85</ref> | The Friend asked [[English neutral pronouns#No pronouns|not to be referred to with gendered pronouns]]. Followers respected these wishes, avoiding gender-specific pronouns even in private diaries, and referring only to "the Public Universal Friend" or short forms such as "the Friend" or "P.U.F."<ref name="Juster-MacFarlane-27-28 Brekus-85 etc">Juster & MacFarlane, ''A Mighty Baptism'', pp. 27-28; Brekus, p. 85</ref> | ||
Revision as of 14:33, 28 April 2020
 A portrait of the Public Universal Friend, from the Friend's biography written by David Hudson in 1821. | |
| Date of birth | November 29, 1752 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Cumberland, Rhode Island |
| Date of death | July 1, 1819 |
| Nationality | American |
| Pronouns | No pronouns |
| Gender identity | genderless |
The Public Universal Friend (born Jemima Wilkinson; November 29, 1752 – July 1, 1819), was born as an English-American to a Quaker family on Rhode Island, and was assigned female at birth. This person suffered a severe illness in 1776 (age 24), and reported having died and been reanimated by the power of God as a genderless evangelist named the Public Universal Friend.
The Friend refused to answer any longer to the previous name,[1] quoted Luke 23:3 ("thou sayest it") when visitors asked if it was the name of the person they were addressing, and ignored or chastised those who insisted on using it. The preacher shunned the name "Jemima" completely, having friends hold realty in trust rather than see the name on deeds and titles. Even when a lawyer insisted that the person's Will should identify its subject as having been born under the name Jemima, the preacher refused to sign that name, only making an X which others witnessed, even though the Friend could read and write.[2]
The Friend asked not to be referred to with gendered pronouns. Followers respected these wishes, avoiding gender-specific pronouns even in private diaries, and referring only to "the Public Universal Friend" or short forms such as "the Friend" or "P.U.F."[3]
The Friend wore clothes that contemporaries described as androgynous or masculine, chiefly black robes. The Friend preached throughout the northeastern United States, attracting many followers who became the Society of Universal Friends.[4] The Public Universal Friend's theology was broadly similar to that of orthodox Quakers, believing in free will, actively opposing slavery, and supporting sexual abstinence. The Friend persuaded followers who owned slaves to free them. The followers of the Society included people who were black. The Society's followers also included many unmarried women, who took on prominent roles in their communities, which were usually reserved for men.
Further reading
See also
References
- ↑ Moyer, p. 12; Winiarski, p. 430; and Susan Juster, Lisa MacFarlane, A Mighty Baptism: Race, Gender, and the Creation of American Protestantism (1996), p. 27, and p. 28.
- ↑ Catherine A. Brekus, Strangers and Pilgrims: Female Preaching in America, 1740-1845 (2000), p. 85
- ↑ Juster & MacFarlane, A Mighty Baptism, pp. 27-28; Brekus, p. 85
- ↑ Peg A. Lamphier, Rosanne Welch, Women in American History (2017), p. 331.