Amy Morris Bradley (1823-1904) served as a nurse during the Civil War. After the war, she was asked to serve as a missionary worker for the American Unitarian Association (AUA) and the Soldiers’ Memorial Society (founded by the AUA to honor Unitarian soldiers who had died fighting for the Union cause). Her assignment was to open and manage a mission in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since other missionary organizations had already established schools for former slaves and since schools for white children had been destroyed or deserted by the war, in 1867, Amy determined that the greatest need was for a school for poor white children, many of whom were sons and daughters of Confederate soldiers. It was reported by a Committee of the Free Schools that “these children would have been thrown upon the streets uncared for, growing up in idleness and crime — instead of this sad calamity. we fearlessly assert that the schools (run by Miss Bradley) are orderly, well disciplined, well instructed and give promise of a most gratifying future.”
The story continues:
March 9, 1867,the Wilmington Journal spoke for a segment of the community in an article which read: “Equally obnoxious and pernicious is to have Yankee teachers in our midst, forming the minds and shaping the instincts of our youth … sewing the seed of their poisonous doctrine upon the unfurrowed soil. … we regret the establishment here of a foothold by their societies professing the doctrines of Free Loveism, Communism, Universalism, Unitarianism, and all the multiplicity of evil teachings that corrupt society and overthrow religion.”
Despite some of this local opposition, the mission and schools grew. Amy organized a Ladies Benevolent Society (akin to today’s Department of Social Services) to address the immediate needs for food, clothing, household items, financial and medical aid, along with vocational training for people who were poor and those in prison.
From a letter written on 10-22-1879 to Mrs. Hemenway:
“…still we have the Union School 137 and in the Hemenway 115 schools — the Roman Catholic Bishop calls my schools ‘Godless Schools’ and warns his people about allowing their children to attend them — Still they come. Our Sunday School opened with 60 — the second Sunday over 100 — so the prospect is cheering all.”
Apparently, Amy was not deterred by criticism, as she founded the first Unitarian congregation in that region!
From the UUA Book: Standing Before Us, Unitarian Universalist Women and Social Reform of 1776-1936, Pages 375-381
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