| Birth name | Aliases | |
| John Spear | John Murray Spear | |
| Birth date | Birth place | |
| September 16, 1804 | Boston, Massachusetts, USA | |
| Date of death | Place of death | |
| October 5, 1887 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Known for |
| Spiritualism |
| Occupation(s) |
| Universalist minister |
Spear was neither born nor lived in Rochester, but he played a significant role in his development. When he visited our city in 1853, it was revealed to him that his mission was to build a God machine, which he and his followers knew as the New Motive Power. Spear was involved in abolition, feminism, temperance movement, and activism against the death penalty, among reforms in 19th century America.
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Fortean Times ArticleAlso see: Oddities
