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APRIL

 21, 1649 --Maryland. As the number of Protestants in Maryland have increased, they have become increasingly uneasy with the Proprietary Government under the control of Roman Catholics, and have desired to curb the rights of the Romanists here.
     Lord Baltimore, becoming uneasy, has appointed a Protestant governor by the name of William Stone.
     Today, he has secured from the Maryland legislature, the adoption of a toleration for "conscience in matters of Religion" which document he has written. Under this act, toleration is limited to those believing in the Deity of Christ, and the penalty for denying this doctrine is death.
     Under this Act, any person within this Province who calls another a "Heretic, Schismatic, Idolater, Puritan, Independent, Popish Priest, Jesuit, Jesuited Papist, Lutheran, Calvinist, Anabaptist, Brownist, Antinomian, Barrowist, Roundhead, Separatist, or any other name in a reproachful manner relating to religion shall forfeit ten shillings for each offence, half to be paid unto the person of whom spoken. Also every person within this province who shall profane the Sabbath or Lord's Day called Sunday, by frequent swearing, drunkenness, or by any menial or disorderly recreation or by working when not absolutely necessary shall be fined two shillings, six pence for the first offence, five shillings for the second, ten shillings for each additional offence."

21, 1700 --Massachusetts. Cotton Mather writes, “This day, my servant was offered unto the communion of my church. But in the account that she gave to the church of her conversion, she declared her employment in my family to have been the means of it, and that she should forever bless God for bringing her under my roof.
     "Others of my servants formerly (and almost all that ever lived with me) have joined unto my church while they have lived with me, and blessed God for their living in my poor, sinful family."

21, 1783 --Connecticut. Asahel Nettleton is born. He will not be converted until his eighteenth year. Ordained as an evangelist in 1812, he will stand opposed to the Arminianism proclaimed by the evangelist Charles Finney. He will contend with Finney about the irreverence he displays in prayer, his denunciation of ministers, and his practice of women praying in public assemblies. He will become the defender of Calvinistic orthodox).

21, 1852 --New York. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as President, the New York State Temperance Society is formed at Rochester.

21, 1975 --Cambodia. As Communists under the leadership of the Khmer Rouge subjugates the people of Cambodia, two million of the seven million inhabitants are murdered. The Khmer is prepared to murder three million more to complete the purge of their society. Entire villages are taken out for execution. Every educated person and every soldier above the rank of private is murdered. Bibles are confiscated and prayer is forbidden. However before the Communists took over, twelve "Gideons" in the country distributed a million portions of the Bible.





 

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