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SEPTEMBER

8, 1721 --Germany. Henri Arnaud dies. When forced to flee to Switzerland with three thousand other Waldensians, he laid plans for their return to France. With nine hundred men he effected their re-entry by rowing across Lake Geneva. They have effectively resisted attacks by Victor Armadeus If, Duke of Savoy, until the Duke withdrew his opposition on account of a breach with France. When ties with France were renewed, and persecution resumed, Mr. Arnaud settled in Wittenberg where he has pastored a Waldensian congregation.

8, 1767 --Rhode Island. The Warren Association is founded "to unite all the churches of the (Baptist) faith and order in New England in an association similar to the one formed in Philadelphia." Elder John Gano from New York initiates the opening of the meeting by a sermon from Acts 15:9. The Warren Association will play a powerful role in the struggle for religious liberty. It has been the work of Mr. James Manning, pastor here, and President of Rhode Island College. Mr. Isaac Backus serves as the first clerk.

8, 1789 --Maryland. This Tuesday Frances Asbury writes, "Preached in Town and Point (Baltimore). The last quarterly meeting was a wonder-working time: fifty or sixty souls, then and there appeared to be brought to God; people were daily praying from house to house; some crying for mercy, others rejoicing in God, and not a few day after day, joining in society for the benefit of religious fellowship. Praise the Lord, O my soul! I spent some time in visiting from house to house ... The married men and the single men, the married women and the single women, I met apart and was comforted. Many of the children of the Methodists are the happy subjects of this glorious revival. We have more members in Baltimore than in any city or town on the continent besides."

8, 1907 --Italy. Pope Plus X issues an Encyclical entitled "Pascendi Dominici Gregis" in which he condemns modernism. It is the first time the term "modernism" is used. He denounces agnosticism and immanentism as the two basic errors of their philosophy, leading to subjectivism and dogmatic relativism in theology, and to an evolutionistic interpretation of history and Scripture, all supernatural elements being excluded. He states the immediate cause of modernism is a perversion of the mind that has its roots in curiosity and pride, rejecting scholastic philosophy, patristic tradition and the official doctrine of the church. Bishops and other ordinaries are ordered to control the teaching of instructors in Catholic universities and seminaries as welt as the publication of books and periodicals, and the public addresses made by Catholic priests.

9, 1527 --Switzerland. The Swiss cantons of Zurich, Bern and St. Gall issue an edict decreeing death by drowning of all anabaptist teachers, and preachers whether itinerant or leaders in conventicles, as well as those who once having recanted have "relapsed."

9, 1561 --France. The Religious Conference of Poissy begins. Negotiations will be broken off on October 9th. It has shown reconciliation between Roman Catholics and Protestants on the basis of mutual concession is entirely impossible, and that the only alternatives are mutual toleration or a war for existence.

9, 1692 --Massachusetts. Confessions of witches have taken a turn against Anabaptists. Today six women are condemned. Giles Cory, an octogenarian, noticing all who deny their guilt are convicted, refuses to plead and is condemned to be pressed to death. This horrible sentence will never again be given in the colonies.

9, 1708 --Connecticut. The Saybrook Synod adopts the form of ecclesiastical discipline known as the "Heads of Agreement" drawn up by the "Happy Union" in London and which was composed of Congregational and Presbyterian ministers. Increase Mather in London acting as agent for Massachusetts has played a major role in its achievement.
     "The Heads of Agreement", leaning more towards the Independent or Congregational form of polity specifically states, "none of our particular churches shall be subordinate to one another;" and that "each particular church hath right to choose their own officers."

9, 1747 --Wales. Thomas Coke is born at Brecon, Wales. He will be named the first Methodist bishop of the New World.

9, 1777 --New York. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the new commonwealth of New York, opens its Supreme Court in Kingston and charges the jury, "Free, mild and equal government begins to rise. Divine Providence has made the tyranny of princes instrumental in breaking the chains of their subjects. Whoever compares our present with our former constitution will admit all the calamities incident to this war will be amply compensated by the many blessings flowing from this glorious revolution, which in its rise and progress is distinguished by so many marks of the Divine Favor and interposition that no doubt can remain of its being finally accomplished. Thirteen colonies immediately become one people and unanimously determine to be free. The people of this state have chosen their constitution under the guidance of reason and experience. The highest respect has been paid to those great and equal rights of human nature which should for ever remain inviolate in every society. You will know no power but such as you create, no laws but such as acquire, all their obligation from your consent. The rights of conscience and private judgment are by nature subject to no control but that of the Deity; and in that free situation, they are now left. Happy would it be for all mankind if the opinion prevailed that the Gospel of Christ would not fall, though unsupported by the arm of flesh."

 

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