Historical Writings

Death of St. Margaret of Hungary, princess and Dominican nun.

Pope Pius II issues his bulla Execrabilis, condemning as detestable any appeals against the pope to councils.

After a public debate the day before between Anabaptists and Zwingli, the Zurich council mandates that all infants must be baptized within eight days. Persecution of Anabaptists soon follows.

The Council of Trent - called by the popes to deal with the monumental problems caused by the Reformation - reconvened, following a suspension of ten years.

James Mitchell is hanged in Edinburgh, denied permission to see his wife and newborn son or to read his final confession of faith. Years earlier he had attempted to assassinate Archbishop James Sharp, a cruel persecutor of Covenanters. Captured, Mitchell was promised in writing full liberty if he confessed, but the promise was revoked and he was tortured with great cruelty. In 1679 a mob will murder Archbishop Sharp in retaliation.

Greenland's first Lutheran baptism takes place.

The church at Housatonic Massachusetts dismisses pastor and theologian Samuel Hopkins, resenting his opposition to the Halfway Covenant and his terrible sermon delivery.

Birth of L.F.K. Tischendorf, German biblical and textual scholar. In 1844 he discovered one of the oldest and most valuable manuscripts of the Greek Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus, which dates back to the 4th century.

Alone, and on foot, to save his impoverished congregation the expense of his travel, Theodor Fliedner enters Kaiserswerth, Germany, where he will labor for his entire life and found the Lutheran deaconess ministry for which he is famous. A month after his arrival the city’s main source of employment will fail and the government will offer Fliedner a better appointment, but he will refuse to leave his people as if he were merely a hireling. Instead he will make a laborious journey across Germany to raise money for an endowment to support the Kaiserwerth church.

Taylor University was established in Fort Wayne, Indiana, under Methodist sponsorship.

Death in Washington, DC, of Richard Harvey Cain, a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, formerly an abolitionist and congressman. He had helped found Paul Quinn College and served as its president until 1884.

The first Armenian Church in the U.S. was consecrated in Worcester, MA. New churches were later consecrated in Fresno, CA (1900); West Hoboken, NJ (1907); and Fowler, CA (1910).

Death in Wellington, South Africa, of Andrew Murray, pastor, revival leader, inspirational author, and founder of a seminary.

Death in Penkridge, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) of missionary Louisa M. R. Snead, author of the hymn "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus."

Peter Dyneka gives his heart to Christ in Chicago and experiences such a total transformation that his landlord accuses him of being drunk. He will help found the Russian Gospel Association.

In Washington, DC, Catholic biblical scholars met to discuss two proposals: the preparation of a new Bible translation and the formation of a society of Catholic biblical scholars. In result, the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA) was formed in 1937, and the New American Bible (NAB) was published in 1970.

Death in Dohnavur, India, of Amy Carmichael who had rescued children from temple prostitution and written many inspirational Christian books.

Death of Roberta Martin, an innovative gospel singer and organizer of the Roberta Martin Singers. Many singers got their start through her. Her signature song had been "Only a Look." Fifty thousand will turn out for her funeral. In 1998, the United States Postal Service will issue a commemorative stamp in her honor.