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DECEMBER

6, 1620 --Massachusetts. The Governor and fifteen companions leave the Mayflower and go ashore. The weather is dreadful with alternating rain and snow. This morning they are attacked by Indians, but return safely to the ship, cheerful, and giving thanks to God. The vessel will be steered to the Southwest for forty-five miles, when Saturday night a storm will wrench away the rudder and drive the poor ship, partly with the aid of the pilot, into the Bay at Plymouth. Tomorrow, being the Lord's Day, the day is spent in worship.

6, 1833 --Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia today, the "Declaration of Sentiments" and the "Constitution of the American Anti-Slavery Society" are drafted. The "Declaration" asserts slavery is "a sin under all circumstances."

7, 521 --Ireland. Columba is born in the County of Donegal. There is royal blood on both his father's and his mother's side. When a bloody battle takes place in 561 between his clansmen and the followers of the king, Columba is said to have instigated the battle because the king violated the sanctuary of one of his monasteries, and gave an unjust decision against him concerning the ownership of a book. His conscience is said to trouble him for instigating the strife and for this reason he will decide to go into exile to win as many souls for Christ as there have been lost in the battle. He will go to Scotland, and Pictland. King Brude of the Picts will be converted and in all, he will found forty monasteries and churches.

7, 1683 --England. The University of Oxford decrees absolute obedience to be the character of the Church of England and that parts of the writings of John Knox, John Milton, and Richard Baxter to be "false, seditious, and impious, heretical and blasphemous, infamous to the Christian religion, and destructive of all government" and are ordered to be burned.

7, 1950 --Mexico. The Presbyterian Church in Tixtla, Guerrero is attacked by a Catholic mob for the second time this year. At the instruction of the priest, and amidst shouts of "Long live Christ the King," they rape the women, beat the men, and destroy the furnishings.
     Article twenty-four of the Mexican Constitution guarantees religious freedom both in public and private worship.

8, 1542 --Scotland. At Linlithgow, James V and Mary of Lorraine, daughter of the French Duke of Guise, have a daughter. They name her "Mary." Known as "Queen of Scots" she will prove to be a violent persecutor of those who adhere to the principles of the Reformation. Though she hates the man of God, John Knox, he, unlike many others, will nevertheless survive her.

8, 1691 --England. This Tuesday, Richard Baxter dies at about 4:00 in the morning. He is reputed to be the greatest preacher in England. "Oh, I thank Him," he has prayed, "I thank Him! The Lord teach you to die." He leaves behind him his Reformed Pastor, The Saint's Everlasting Rest, and A Call To the Unconverted.

8, 1775 --Virginia. Norfolk has been nearly deserted by Virginians and has become a refuge for the Scots, who have regulated the commercial exchanges of the colony. They are now embodied as the loyal militia of Norfolk. The patriots have resolved to take it.
     On November 28th, Virginian forces under William Woodward threw up a breastwork opposite the British fort. The forces consist of Mr. Woodward's regiment and five companies of the Culpepper minutemen, with whom John Marshall, later Chief Justice of the United States, serves as lieutenant.
     Their only arms are the musket and rifle, both of which the fort can withstand; therefore they have made several attempts to cross the branch on a raft in order to attack the enemy from the rear, but hey have always been repulsed. If this fort is given up, the road to Norfolk will be open to the patriots. Mr. Dunmore therefore decides to make a surprise attack upon the Virginians. It is Friday.
     About two hundred men, composed of all that have arrived of the fourteenth regiment, as well as officers, sailors and gunners from ships at anchor and some townsmen of Norfolk arrive at the Great Bridge in the night. They halt for rest and refreshment. The Virginians can be approached only over a causeway measuring about one hundred and sixty yards in length, at the end of which is their breastwork. At break of day, Mr. Leslie will plant two field-pieces between the bridge and causeway and will give the order to attack.
     The Virginians, however, will have just beaten the reveille what at the first discharge of the cannon, the bravest rush to the trenches. About one hundred and twenty regular soldiers led by Mr. Fordyce, a captain of the fourteenth regiment, will be met on the causeway by well-directed fire while Mr. Stevens, with a party of Culpepper minutemen posted on an eminence a hundred yards to the left will ply their flank. The onslaught will waver, and Mr. Fordyce with great courage will rally to lead them onward, but will be struck with as many as fourteen rifle balls. He will stagger and fall down dead, his hand upon the breastwork. After a struggle of fourteen minutes, they will retreat, having lost sixty-one killed and or wounded. The Virginians will not lose a man.
    When the firing ceases, the Virginians will run to bring in those of their enemies who need the surgeon. "For God's sake, don't murder us," one sufferer will cry.
     "Put your arm around my neck," the Virginian will reply, and lifting him up he will walk with him slowly to the breastwork.
     When Mr. Leslie sees two others tenderly removing a wounded soldier from the bridge, he will step upon the platform of the fort and will bow with profound respect and will thank them for their compassion.
     Mr. Fordyce, who led the charge, will be buried by the Virginians with honors due his courage. The following night, Mr. Leslie, dejected at the loss of his nephew will abandon the fort and will retreat to Norfolk.


 

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