The Icelandic Unitarians

The Major Articles of Belief - When the First Icelandic Unitarian Society of Winnipeg
was founded on February 1, 1891, twenty-four of its sixty charter members signed an
eleven-article statement of beliefs along with twelve other individuals who do not
appear to have joined the congregation! While this discrepancy may represent
positions of conscience, it also be the case that many of the individuals in question
were simply unaware that the membership list and statement of beliefs were separate
documents.

The Easter Sermon - Although it is commonly remembered as "The Easter Sermon,"
Rev. Magnús J. Skaptason's universalist manifesto of 1891 was not preached on
Easter Sunday, although it was clearly his sermon for Eastertide that year.

The Constitution of the Breiðuvík Congregation - After withdrawing from the
Icelandic Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the spring of 1891, the congregation at
present-day Hnausa reorganized itself as a free church. Its bylaws reflect the
transitional theology between the Lutheranism from which its followers had departed
and the Unitarianism which they would soon embrace.

Statement of Purpose of the Icelandic Cultural Society - Before an organized
Unitarian church existed among the Icelandic immigrants in Manitoba and North
Dakota, the poet Stephan G. Stephansson organized an Icelandic Cultural Society
(Menningarfélagið) at Gardar, North Dakota (then still Dakota Territory) in 1888.
Evidently inspired by the Ethical Culture Society of Felix Adler, the Icelandic Cultural
society flourished for about three years before many of its members, the poet
Stephansson included, moved away from the district to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

Prayer - Rev. Albert E. Kristjansson.