The Publick Universal Friend

The Free Quaker Meetinghouse

I am what I am.

-Publick Universal Friend

In 1776, a Quaker from a small town in Rhode Island was very sick and experienced a near-death experience. At that time, her name was Jemima Wilkinson. However, after the experience, Wilkinson claimed that Christ had entered her body, and they were now neither male nor female. They interpreted the experience as a call to action and began to preach. They then began dressing in a unique manner and took the gender-neutral name the Publick Universal Friend. They were quickly rejected and labeled as a heretic by Quaker officials but nevertheless attracted a devoted flock. They soon began preaching throughout the new country.

The travels of the Universal Friend

The Friend spent a lot of time in Philadelphia, often preaching at The Free Quaker Meetinghouse, and drew large crowds each time they visited the city. The Marquis de Chastellux, a French Aristocrat, noted in his diary that 'the crowd was so great, and, what is very uncommon in America, so turbulent, that it was impossible to get near the place of worship.' However, these crowds not only consisted of those wanting to hear them speak but also critics. Nevertheless, The Society of Universal Friends was quickly established.

During one of their stays in Philadelphia, the Friend published their pamphlet, The Universal Friend's Advice to Those of the Same Religious Society, Recommended to Be Read in Their Public Meetings for Divine Worship, supposedly taking advantage of the city's extensive publishing facilities and more concentrated audience.

Their sermons were once described as having 'an agreeable sweetness and elegance,' and they continued to gain more followers. In 1788, The Society established a communal settlement in upstate New York. The Friends continued to preach until their death in 1819, even while suffering from painful edema.

The Seal of the Universal Friend

Citations

Boomer, Lee. 'Life Story: The Public Universal Friend.' Women & the American Story, January 29, 2024. https://wams.nyhistory.org/settler-colonialism-and-revolution/settler-colonialism/public-universal-friend/.

Cherry, Kittredge. 'Jemima Wilkinson: Queer Preacher Reborn in 1776 as 'Publick Universal Friend.'' Q Spirit, January 10, 2024. https://qspirit.net/jemima-wilkinson-queer-preacher/.

Paul B. Moyer. 2015. The Public Universal Friend: Jemima Wilkinson and Religious Enthusiasm in Revolutionary America. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=e000xna&AN=1049471&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Stryker, Suan. 'Chapter 10: Transgender History in the US and the Places That Matter.' Essay. In LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History, 10-1-10–36. Washington, DC: National Park Service, 2016. https://nps.gov/subjects/lgbtqheritage/upload/lgbtqtheme-transgender.pdf.