Before he accepted the position of Reader at Stone Chapel, he requested that he not have to read the Athanasian Creed. As the Episcopalians were not particularly fond of the creed, the congregation readily consented. After reading Joseph Priestley's "An History of the Corruptions of Christianity" (1782) and Theophilus Lindsey's "An Historical View of the State of the Unitarian Doctrine and Worship from the Reformation to our own Times" (1783), Freeman began to further doubt the doctrine of the Trinity and became increasingly uncomfortable with the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer. Having adopted the Socinian Unitarianism of Priestley and Lindsey, he rejected the pre-human existence of Jesus. (Others who were soon to be known as Unitarians, the Arian liberal Congregationalists of New England, accepted the pre-existence of Jesus.) He told his closer friends at the Church that he could not conscientiously perform the service as it stood. He wondered if he should relinquish his position as pastor. One of his friends suggested that he present his dilemma to the congregation, and let them decide.