Historical Writings

Death of Pope Constantine in Rome. The notable feat of his pontificate was a visit to Constantinople. He had greatly feared for his life, but returned safely.

John Robinson, English Separatist, matriculates at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He will lead the group of Puritans from whom the first New England settlers derive.

Death of English devotional writer William Law. His Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life had greatly influenced George Whitefield and John Wesley.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at a general convention in Philadelphia. The following day, Richard Allen, 56, was elected the new denomination's first bishop.

Pioneer U.S. Baptist missionary George Dana Boardman, 27, first arrived in Tavoy, Burma, where he afterward established an extensive educational work among the Karen people.

Death of John Samuel Bewley Monsen, a clergyman and hymnwriter of the Church of England. His death is caused by a fall from the roof of his church. Hymnologist John Julian will describe Monsen's hymns as generally "bright, joyous, and musical." Two of his best known will be "Fight the good fight," and "Lord of the living harvest."

Edward Lee asks Pentecostal evangelist William Seymour to pray for him that he will be given the gift of tongues. When Seymour prays, Lee does speak in tongues, one of the events initiating the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles.

In Pentecostal history, the first group outbreak of the charismatic gift of tongues occurred in Los Angeles under the leadership of black evangelist William J. Seymour, 38. It marked the beginning of the three-year-long "Azusa Street Revival."

Death in Jos, Nigeria, of Johanna Veenstra, who had served the Christian Reformed Church as a missionary.

Louisa Lee becomes the first missionary assigned by the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions. After twenty years of service in India with the Presbyterian Church in the USA, she has recently broken with it because she feels that its adoption of modernist ideas undercuts basic Bible doctrines. She will continue to serve in India until her death in 1972.