Historical Writings

Birth of Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to be converted (ca. 312) to the Christian faith.

The First Helvetic Confession, also known as the Second Basel Confession, drafted by Heinrich Bullinger and Leo Jud, is adopted by Swiss reformers at Basel.

Mennonite Melchior Zahler is betrayed, captured, and bound in Switzerland at the instigation of a Reformed churchman. His children and possessions are taken from him and he is brought to Berne where he is sentenced to be transported to America.

Death in Cork, Ireland, of Samuel Neale, an internationally-known Quaker evangelist.

Henry Williams reaches Sydney, Australia, enroute to New Zealand as a missionary. He will be largely responsible for the success of the Church Missionary Society in New Zealand, and serve as archdeacon of the Waimate region.

Death on Long Island of Quaker leader Elias Hicks, founder of the Hicksites (a more liberal branch of the Society of Friends) that rejected creeds and taught progressive revelation. Hicks had been instrumental in ridding Quakers of slaves and in getting legislation passed that banned slavery in New York state.

Birth of William J. Kirkpatrick, American Methodist sacred composer. He edited his first collection of hymns at age 21, and is still remembered today for composing the melodies to such hymns as: "He Hideth My Soul," "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," "Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It" and "Lord, I'm Coming Home."

Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in a letter: 'Most of God's people are content to be saved from the hell that is without. They are not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within.'

William Jewell College was chartered in Liberty, Missouri, under Baptist sponsorship.

Death in New England of Emily Malbone Morgan, who had founded the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross. The Episcopal Church will commemorate her as a prophetic witness.

English Bible expositor Arthur W. Pink wrote in a letter: 'Slackness and carelessness are inexcusable in a child of God. He should ever present a model and example of conscientiousness, painstaking care, and exactness.'

A mob of ten thousand Muslims attacks Coptic Christian homes in Egypt's Nile Delta.

Death from a heart attack of Tilahun Haile, an Ethiopian pastor and evangelist for the Kale Heywet Church, who had preached and taught in the local Amharic lanaguage.