Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, April 25th, 2024
the Fourth Week after Easter
the Fourth Week after Easter
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Historical Writings
Today in Christian History
Thursday, October 7
1405
Jean de Gerson preaches a powerful sermon before the King of France, rebuking the treatment of the poor. Considered reform-minded, he will nonetheless join in condemning reformer Jan Hus at Constance.
1571
Don Juan of Austria defeats the Turkish fleet at Lepanto.
1747
Sudden and unexpected death of Jonathan Dickinson, the first president of Princeton and the main instigator in its creation. He had sided with the revival movement sweeping America in the mid-eighteenth century.
1772
Death of John Woolman, an American Quaker. He had traveled through the thirteen American colonies preaching against the draft, taxes for military equipment, ill treatment of Indians, and slavery. His simple life and godly writings earned him great respect.
1787
Death of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, patriarch of Lutheranism in North America. He had written a unified liturgy for America's Lutherans and founded the North America's first Lutheran synod.
1796
Death in Glasgow, Scotland, of Thomas Reid, a parish minister, who is considered a father of commonsense philosophy because of his contributions to the understanding of how people learn through their five senses.
1810
Birth of Henry Alford, Anglican scholar. He was a member of the 1881 ERV Bible translation committee, but is better remembered today for writing the hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come."
1817
Samuel Leigh, Methodist missionary to Australia, opens the first Methodist church built in Australia, the work of John Lees, a farmer. It will form one preaching place on a thirteen-stop circuit that Leigh will establish.
1832
Birth of Charles Converse, American lawyer and sacred composer. Converse penned the hymn tune CONVERSE, to which we sing today "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
1857
Spurgeon preaches to his largest congregation ever, more than twenty-three thousand, at the Crystal Palace.
1873
Lottie Moon arrives in China. She will say, "If I had a thousand lives, I would give them all for the women of China."
1887
Death of George J. Webb, American organist and composer, who wrote the music for "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus."
1917
Chinese Christians in Shanghai dedicate a new church in which Cantonese will be spoken. It has a medical dispensary for the poor, a Sunday school, a Christian Endeavor Society for youth, and other church activities.
1925
Death of Jonah of Manchuria, who as bishop founded an orphanage, fed the needy, provided medical care, created a library, and founded a school for five hundred children.
1930
Missionary linguist Frank C. Laubach wrote in a letter: 'Beside Jesus, the whole lot of us are so contemptible.... But God is like Jesus, and like Jesus, He will not give up until we, too, are like Jesus.'
1943
While WWII was raging, the American Council of Volunteer Agencies for Foreign Service was formed. It was as an interfaith venture to bring Protestant, Catholic and Jewish agencies involved in international relief together under one roof.
1955
The religious drama 'Crossroads' first aired over ABC television. An anthology which dramatized true experiences of clergymen of all denominations, the program ran for two years.
Copyright Statement
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"
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