the church. The takeover was foiled when a lawsuit was decided against them in July 1784. In December, Winchester and his followers were excommunicated from the First Baptist Church. Historical references to the number of people who followed Winchester have varied. Winchester repeatedly stated, "I believe near a hundred of the members suffered themselves to be excommunicated rather than to sign the protest against me, and the doctrine that I preached." The contemporary records of the First Baptist Church reported that 46 individuals were excommunicated. The records further noted, "Some of these subsequently saw their error, and sought restoration to the fellowship of the church." Given the motivation of each party in this controversy to claim vindication, the actual number of those who departed and joined Winchester may never be known. Regardless of the actual number who followed Winchester from the First Baptist Church, he had sufficient support to organize a new church called the Society of Universal Baptists. While Winchester and his followers awaited the disposition of their legal challenge to take possession of the First Baptist Church, they met in space provided by Pennsylvania University. Afterward, they built their own meetinghouse in the city on Lombard Street. Winchester addressed his expulsion and that of his followers in a January 4, 1782 sermon entitled The Outcasts Comforted. As his sermon title indicated, he dedicated a large portion of his sermon comforting his expelled flock. Likening their experience to that of the many Christians who have been persecuted for their beliefs. "Blessed are thy who are persecuted for righteousness's sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God." Winchester made clear that the restoration of all things was tied to scripture. He emphasized that the "blood of Jesus Christ was freely shed for all; the other, that his blood is infinitely sufficient to cleanse and purify all. Concluding, "the cause is God's and not ours." Circle of Advocates During this time, Winchester expanded his circle of fellow advocates of universal salvation. He developed a friendship with George de Benneville (1703-1793). De Benneville is frequently cited as the first preacher of universal salvation in America. Born to aristocratic Huguenot French parents, de Benneville emigrated to America in 1741 and settled in eastern Pennsylvania. Reflective of his admiration for de Benneville, Winchester translated the French version of de Benneville's manuscript, Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of Dr. George de Benneville. In an