1555 HT: Dan Graves James Abbes stripped off his clothes and shoes. Where he was going in a few minutes, he would not need them–new and glorious garments would be his. But here on earth, some poor folk might find his old garments helpful. The crowd had come to see one of the burnings that…
1834 Death of missionary Robert Morrison at age 52. The first English Protestant missionary to China, he had translated the Bible into Chinese, constructed a Chinese grammar, founded an Anglo-Chinese college, and edited a six-volume Chinese dictionary. 1883 HT: Dan Graves Harold Schofield was desperately ill. The young doctor, just 31 years old, had contracted…
1820 HT: Christian History Institute The Moravians were among the earliest Protestants to engage in foreign mission work. Their outreach included efforts among the Eskimos of Newfoundland and Labrador. In an outpost at Nain, they saw many conversions with great improvement of character. The mission at Hebron, Labrador, around 1860. Original drawing by Moravian Bishop Levin Theodor…
Herman Bavinck was a leading theologian and educator during the nineteenth century Dutch Calvinist revival. He worked closely with famed politician and theologian Abraham Kuyper for many years. In 1920, Bavinck suffered a heart attack, followed by a second in 1921, dying on this day 29 July, 1921. As he lay dying he was asked if…
1881 HT: Dan Graves J Gresham Machen was born into southern aristocracy in Baltimore, Maryland on this day, July 28, 1881. Through inheritances, he became wealthy as a young man. At one time and another, his grandfather on his mother’s side and his own father each left him $50,000 in a day when a family could…
1620 HT: Christian History Institute Many of the Pilgrims who ventured on the Mayflower had lived for several years as refugees in the Netherlands. They embarked on the Speedwell at Delftshaven in July 1620, leaving the majority of their company behind with pastor John Robinson. John Robinson memorial plaque in Leyden The plan was for the first group to…
1833 HT: Dan Graves No man fought harder to abolish slavery than William Wilberforce. A member of Parliament, he introduced antislavery measures year after year for 40 years until he retired in 1825. On this day July 26, 1833, as he lay dying, word was brought him that the bill to outlaw slavery everywhere in the British…
Here’s this week’s inspirational delve into the past by Paul James-Griffiths of Christian Heritage Edinburgh. Paul writes, “Having put in the foundation for Scotland’s vision for world mission during the last few weeks, we are now in a position to write a series about key individual enablers and missionaries. For the next few weeks we will focus…
1605 HT: Christian History Institute John Welsh, first University of Edinburgh graduate ordained to ministry, served as a Presbyterian minister at Selkirk, Kirkcudbright, and Ayr, Scotland. Revival broke out while he was at Ayr. He held the last position for five years. In those years his faithful witness and prayer saw the transformation of the…
1680 HT: Dan Graves A company of English dragoons surprised and surrounded a Scottish preacher and a small band of armed men on this day July 22, 1680. Deciding to fight to the death, their leader, Richard Cameron, prayed “Lord, spare the green and take the ripe.” The skirmish took place at Ayrsmoss and sprang out of…