-250-

OCTOBER
 

21, 1526 --Germany. Sunday, and today the Homberg Synod opens having been convened by Philip of Hesse. In thirty-four chapters, known as the "Homberg Church Order", it declares --    

     1,2) The Word of God is to be the only norm;
     5.) That daily morning and evening services shall be conducted in the German language and that the old and New Testament Scriptures are to be read;
     6.) Obligatory Confession and avowal of separate sins is repealed;
     15.) The Congregations "of the faithful are the foundation of the entire church. They are constituted by means of separation of the true brethren from the false.
     17.) Absolution of sinners is to be granted before the entire congregation upon public confession of sins and subject to open repentance.
     28.) Provision is made for those driven from home for sake of their religious convictions.
     29.) The Synod declares nothing will be tolerated "which may be prejudicial to the interests of the Kingdom of God" at the new university proposed to be founded at Marburg.

     In chapter twenty-two, the Synod made plans to elect three "visitores" whose duty it is to be to visit the Hessian congregations once a year to test the fitness of those elected as bishops, and to remove the unworthy.

21, 1656 --Massachusetts. The Council with only one deciding vote passes a law banishing Quakers upon pain of death. One member absent on account of illness wept when he heard the motion had carried and declared, "If he had not been able to go, he would have crept upon his hands and knees rather than it should have been."

21, 1808 --Massachusetts. In Boston, Samuel Francis Smith is born. As an American Baptist, he will attend Andover Theological Seminary where in 1832 he will pen the hymn, "My Country, 'Tis Of Thee."

22, 1746 --New Jersey. In Princeton, a royal charter is granted from George II under the seal of John Hamilton, acting Governor of the province of New Jersey. It is the fruit of a Presbyterian movement led by the Synod of New York. "We hope," they have said, "it will be the means of raising up men that will be useful ...ornaments of the State as well as the Church." It will be officially chartered as the "College of New Jersey" and later known as "Princeton."

22, 1820 --Maryland. At Hagerstown, the Organizational meeting of the General Synod is held. Four Lutheran synods are represented: New York, Nor Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia. Pennsylvania, the mother synod has undertaken this "Proposed Plan."

22, 1844 --United States. This is the date which Mr. William Miller and other "Adventists" have set as the day of the return of Christ, the first date having been abandoned when our Lord did not return. Some "Seventh Day Baptists" in this group will unite to form the "Seventh Day Adventist Church." Followers of Mr. Miller will form the "Advent Christian Church."

23, 1819 --Massachusetts. A company of seventeen sets sail from Boston: their destination is the Hawaiian Islands. This is the beginning of the famous mission by the American Board to these islands. Mr. Hiram Bingham, a student at Andover is heading this group. He has been inspired by Samuel J. Mitts who was zealously preparing to go back to his people as a missionary when he died. Mr. Bingham has volunteered to go in his place.
     On the 23rd they sail on the brig Thaddaeus. The King, Kamehameha has abolished the taboo, destroyed idol temples, and shown that the priesthood has made use of diabolical power, but neither the king nor the white foreigners want the missionaries. The king will nevertheless agree to permit them to remain for a period of one year.
 

Previous   Next