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JANUARY   

30, 1649 --England. Charles I has aroused tremendous opposition on account of his persecution of the Puritans by Archbishop William Laud. His two sons have had to flee to Holland to escape the wrath of the populace when the Scotch army and the Scotch Presbyterians sought to overthrow the king. His thrust has been to stop the mouths of the Puritans and to grant complete liberty to the tongues and pens of the Arminians.
     In January, the House of Commons passed three memorable votes which swept away the king, the lords, the law and liberties, the fundamental government and property of the nation: 1.) That the people are, under God, the original of all just power; 2.) That the Commons of England in parliament assembled, being chosen and representing the people, have the supreme power of the nation; 3.) That whatsoever is enacted or declared for law by the House of Commons assembled in parliament has the force of law.
     An ordinance followed calling for the trial of Charles Stuart on the charge of high treason. The Lords refused any share in such violent proceedings. One Republican, Algernon Sidney, sternly opposed the measure. “No one will stir!” demanded Cromwell. “I tell you we will cut off his head with the crown upon it.” “I cannot prevent you,” Mr. Sidney remonstrated, “but I certainly will have nothing to do with this affair.”
     On January 27th, the court condemned the king “to be put to death by the severing of his head from his body. Of all the puritan clergy, Mr. John Owen alone dares to applaud the action taken by the army. In a sermon he will preach on January 31st, 1649, he will declare before parliament,  “When kings command unrighteous things, and the people suit them with willing compliance, none doubts but that the destruction of both is just and righteous.”
     This morning, King Charles is brought to the scaffold. Here he utters his last words, then kneeling down, he submits himself to the executioner who is masked with crepe. With one stroke he severs the king’s head from his body.
     “The king who conspires against the liberties of the people,” declares Mr. Bancroft, “conspires to subvert the most precious bequest of past ages, the clearest hope of future time; he would destroy genius in its birth and enterprise in its sources and sacrifice; the prolific causes of intelligence and virtue to his avarice or his vanity, his caprices or his ambition; ...would deprive common life of its sweets, by depriving it of its security, and religion of its power to solace, by subjecting it to supervision and control. His aim would not only enslave a present race of men, but forge chains for unborn generations. There can be no fouler deed.”

30, 1877 --Uganda. Henry Stanley, converted through his contact with David Livingstone has been the first Christian to enter this country. Touching the northern shore of Lake Victoria, he is greeted by a welcoming party of Bugundans. Two servants of the royal court usher him into the presence of King Mutesa, an emperor, who claims the power of life and death over his subjects.
When Mr. Stanley announces he has a book telling of the Saviour, King Mutesa counters by saying he has already been approached by Moslem traders who have affirmed their book is the best. When Mr. Stanley defends the Christian faith, the king responds, he is “as a man sitting in darkness.” and he asks to be taught. Mr. Stanley will write a letter, which will be printed in the London Daily Telegraph. Immediately, the Church Missionary Society responds by sending a Scottish engineer, Mr. Alexander Mackay, to head a party of eight. Two will become ill and will return home. Another, will become ill and have to wait behind in Zanzibar. One will be murdered crossing into Bugundan country; one will remain behind to repair the boats; and Mr. Mackay himself will be injured when a wagon falls on his leg.
     Today, Mr. C. T. Wilson and Mr. Shergold Smith reach the court of King Mutesa, and are greeted by great celebration. When the festival dies down, the king asks, “Did you bring the book?”
     When Mr. Shergold Smith goes to aid Mr. O’Neil who is left to repair the boats, both will be killed attempting to rescue an Arab who has angered a tribal chief.
     King Mutesa will show interest in the Gospel and will soon dismiss his Moslem teacher in order to concentrate on Christianity; but when French Catholic priests arrive, the king begins to vacillate declaring all white men seem to have their own religion. He refuses to commit himself to the Gospel.
     Every day, according to the king’s whims, he will single out victims for torture and execution. Some will have noses, ears, lips or sections of their arms and legs sliced for roasting before being murdered. As the king greatly respects Mr. Mackay, the engineer begs the king to show mercy and will plead the Fifth Commandment. Each time, the killings will subside only to be resumed as soon as Mr. Mackay ceases his pleadings.
     In 1884, King Mutesa will suddenly die and will be placed in a coffin built by Mr. Mackay. To the very last, the king will vacillate between Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
His son will keep a harem not only of women as his father did, but will also include young men. When he is convinced by Arabs that the missionaries are agents of France and England plotting his overthrow, he will move to unleash persecution against the Christian church.
   
 

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