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Historical Writings

Today in Christian History

Thursday, December 9

1621
Deacon Robert Cushman preaches the first recorded sermon on American soil and the first printed there.
1793
Christian journalist Noah Webster publishes the first issue of American Minerva, the first daily newspaper in New York City.
1840
Scottish missionary explorer David Livingstone, 27, set sail on his first journey to Africa. (He had been accepted to serve under the London Missionary Society two years earlier.)
1870
The Society of Biblical Archaeology was founded in London "for the investigation of the archaeology, history, arts, and chronology of ancient and modern...biblical lands...."
1884
Stanley Smith and C. T. Studd, two of the Cambridge Seven (young men who had renounced fame and fortune to serve with the China Inland Mission), speak at Edinburgh University. The meeting, which they had feared would be a flop, proves a time of great power.
1896
William Henry Sheppard, an African-American missionary to Africa, writes to supporters at home, promising to prove that he merits the trust they have placed in him. Finding little success as a missionary, he explores the Congo and exposes Belgian atrocities.
1905
An Act for the Separation of Church and State became law in France, rescinding Napoleon's Concordat of 1801. The new law guaranteed freedom of conscience, but also severed all religious groups from any further economic support by the national government.
1941
(or November 5) Martyrdom of Orthodox priest Sergius Mechiev who rejected the atheistic and anti-ecclesiastical proclamations of the Soviet government and had to live for years in hiding. He is shot within prison walls.
1942
(or the 10th) Death in California of faith healer Lilian Barbara Yeomans.
1946
Maoist Communists burn a group of Christians to death in a seminary at Xiwanzi, China.

Copyright Statement
© 1987-2020, William D. Blake. Portions used by permission of the author, from "Almanac of the Christian Church"

Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 23rd, 2021
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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