Adin Ballou, who lived from 1803 to 1890, was a preacher, author, reformer, philanthropist, apostle of Christian Socialism, and founder of the Hopedale Community. He was remembered as a man of rational Christian faith, sterling qualities of mind, and rare excellence of character, whose life was devoted to righteousness, brotherhood, peace, the well-being of humanity, and the upbuilding of the kingdom of God on earth. On this spot he spent the greater portion of his life, carried out his chief work, and died. He expressed his mission as helping show his fellow men the way into a Christlike order of life that illustrated the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.