Abner Kneeland

Abner Kneeland (April 7, 1774 – August 27, 1844) was an American evangelist and theologian who advocated views on women's rights, racial equality, and religious skepticism that were radical for his day.

As a young man, Kneeland was a lay preacher in a Baptist church, but he converted to Universalism and was ordained as a minister.

Due to provocative statements he published, Massachusetts convicted Kneeland under its rarely used blasphemy law.

He served as minister of various churches for a time, helping organize hymnals and making his own translation of the New Testament.

Under the colonial charter of Massachusetts, blasphemy was still a crime, albeit one punished extremely rarely.

Salubria failed shortly after his death in 1844, and the main building was eventually converted into a chapel, with Sunday school classes taught by Kneeland's granddaughter.

He allowed fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison the use of his lecture hall when the churches in Boston had turned him away.

Portrait of Kneeland, 19th century (New York Historical Society)