Historical Writings

Elector Frederick III of the Palatinate notifies the Catholic father of Charlotte de Bourbon, Princess of Orange, that he has provided her asylum because she has followed the dictates of her conscience in embracing Reformation doctrines.

Charles II of England issues a Declaration of Indulgence to extend religious liberty to Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realm. Parliament soon forces him to suspend it because it usurps their authority.

Collapse and death of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, an Italian Jesuit missionary and explorer, working among the Pima in the area now known as Arizona and northern Mexico.

A Ceremony of Profession was held for Sister St. Stanislaus Hachard at the Ursuline convent in New Orleans, thereby making her the first Catholic woman to become a nun in America.

Shortly after Baptist pastor John Gill leaves his study in Southwark, London, to attend other duties a violent hurricane causes neighboring chimney stacks to crash through the roof onto the spot where he usually works.

In a disappointing setback for William Wilberforce and his allies, the English Parliament votes 74 -70 against an anti-slavery bill, whose opposition has cleverly provided lukewarm supporters with free tickets to see the London premier of a comic opera.

Mary Pryor disembarks safely from the Archibald in Philadelphia, having prayed fervently for the ship Fame and encouraged its crew and passengers with prayer and prophecies while it was foundering in the Atlantic. Her promise of rescue was literally fulfilled down to the name of the rescue ship.

The Presbytery of Annan (in Scotland) deposes Edward Irving from the ministry due to the hold that tongues-speaking prophetesses have gained over him, and owing to his unorthodox theology of the human nature of Christ. He will go on to found "The Holy Apostolic Church" or "Irvingites."

Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in a letter: 'All my ideas of peace and joy are linked in with my Bible; and I would not give the hours of secret converse with it for all the other hours I spend in this world.'

In New York City, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Archbishop John McCloskey, 65, became the first American to be named a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Soviets execute the Orthodox priest Basil Alexeyevich Tukmachev by shooting him, and exile his family. He had led active and passive resistance against the Communist regime.

American missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: 'The believer is a displaced person. He loses the controlling features of both environment and heredity.'

The first Southern Baptist church in North Dakota was formed in Williston, with 12 charter members. (The North Dakota Southern Baptist Association was formed the following year with five member churches.)

Church of the Nazarene evangelist Matthew Sabwela holds a service in Malawi at which 2,400 people surrender their lives to Christ.