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A stone markeridentifies Dr. GeorgeDeBenneville as thefounder of Universalismin America.DeBenneville built the

house, located in theOley Valley, in 1745. Themarker was erected bythe Historical Society ofBerks County in 1924.

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Originally Published: 2/23/2012

Oley Valley was center of Universalism

Q: Did the founder of Universalism inAmerica livein theOley Valley?

A noted teacher, physician and preacher, Dr. GeorgeDeBenneville was an early advocate of Universalism in

America.

DeBenneville settled in the Oley Valley around 1742 and builta home that served as medical office, school and church forabout 50 people in 1745.

A stone marker in front of the DeBenneville house identifieshim as the founder of Universalism in America.

As outlinedin the "Annals of Oley Valley," DeBenneville led afascinating life with links to 18th-century Berks County.

Born of French nobility in 1703, he grew up in the court ofKing William III in England, where his father was employed.Queen Anne was his godmother.

At age 12, he went to sea as a midshipman with a British fleetsent on a diplomatic mission to the Barbary Coast off northernAfrica.

Given to lapsing into trances, DeBenneville had mystical andnear-death experiences described in "The Life and Trance ofDr. George DeBenneville," published in 1791.

These experiences convinced him that hell is for purification, not punishment, and thatultimately all will be united with God.

Arrested and condemned to death for preaching heresy in France, he was rescued from theexecutioner's ax by intervention of British royalty.

He preached in Europe and studied medicine, either in Germany or the Netherlands.

Thirty years before the American Revolution, DeBenneville embraced separation of churchand state, equality and other notions that would surface in the U.S. Constitution.

DeBenneville arrived in Philadelphia in 1741 and was befriended by Dr. Jean Bertolet of Oley.He married Dr. Bertolet's daughter, Esther, in 1745 and practiced medicine in their home.

He preached at a Moravian mission near Oley and was a frequent visitor to the EphrataCloister, a communal group.

DeBenneville also preached to Lenni Lenape Indians around Oley and taught some of theirchildren in his home. He is said to have borrowed herbal remedies from the Indians andstudied the Lenape language and symbols.

"Godly love must be based upon mutual respect for the differences of color, language and"

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