author
William Henry Furness
1802–1896
A prominent Unitarian minister in Philadelphia for half a century, he blended preaching, reform, and scholarship in a life that touched American religion, abolition, and biblical study. A close friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson, he also wrote vividly about travel and the world of the Bible.
1 Audiobook
A Discourse for the Time, delivered January 4, 1852 in the First Congregational Unitarian Church
by William Henry Furness
About the author
Born in Boston in 1802, William Henry Furness studied at Harvard and Harvard Divinity School before becoming, at just 22, the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. He remained closely tied to that congregation for roughly 50 years, building a reputation as an influential preacher and religious thinker.
Furness is remembered not only as a clergyman but also as a reformer. He became one of the notable abolitionist ministers in Philadelphia, and his ministry was shaped by a strong moral voice during a turbulent period in American history. His long friendship with Ralph Waldo Emerson also connects him to the wider world of 19th-century American intellectual and religious life.
As a writer, Furness published sermons, devotional works, and books inspired by his travels in places connected with the Bible, including the Holy Land. His work often tried to bring scripture and religious experience to life in a direct, human way. He died in Philadelphia in 1896, leaving behind a legacy of faith, conscience, and thoughtful prose.