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MARCH

30, 1864 --Confederate States of America. General Order No. 21:

        “In compliance with the recommendation of the Senate and House of Representatives, His excellency, the President, has issued his proclamation calling upon the people to set apart Friday, the 8th of April as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer.
        “The Commanding General invites the army to join in the observance of the day. He directs due preparation to be made in all departments to anticipate the wants of the several commands, so that it may be strictly observed. All military duties, except such as are absolutely necessary, will be suspended. The chaplains are desired to hold services in their regiments and brigades. The officers and men are requested to attend.
        “Soldiers, let us humble ourselves before the Lord our God asking through Christ the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defense of our homes and our liberties, thanking Him for His past blessings and imploring their continuance upon our cause and our people.”       -R. E. Lee (Signed)

30, 1901 --Virginia. In Richmond, John Jasper dies. As a pulpit orator, his profound reverence for the Word of God, and his faith in the miracles of the Bible has saved him from ridicule and made him a formidable opponent of skeptics.

31, 1631 --England. John Dunne dies, On April 3rd, he will be buried in his cathedral known as St. Paul’s, and where he has served as Dean. In life, he has been reputed one of the Greatest preachers of his age. His sermons comprise a commentary on the Penitential Psalms, but his poem, “Death, Be Not Proud” has brought him lasting recognition. Five weeks ago he preached his sermon masterpiece, “Death’s Duel.”
 

31, 1717 --England. Anglican Bishop Benjamin Hoadly preaches before the king on John 18:36 and emphatically denies the reality of a visible church of Christ. He maintains that since Christ is the only Lawgiver, no one has the right to make new laws for Christ’s subjects, or to interpret or enforce old laws, in matters relating purely to conscience. As a result, a controversy, known as the Bangorian Controversy will rage for three years. Mr. William Law will vehemently oppose Bishop Hoadly.

31, 1816 --Virginia. At Spotsylvania, near Fredericksburg, Frances Asbury dies having begun the first Sunday school in the United States. He is the father of Methodism in America. He has preached nearly 16,500 sermons, at least one a day, and has traveled 270,000 miles, or 6000 miles a year. When he came to America, the Methodists numbered ten preachers and six hundred members. At his death, after forty-five years of work, they claim six hundred ninety-five preachers and 214,235 members. In 1785, he laid the foundation of the first Methodist college.

31, 1860 --England. In a gypsy tent, Cornelius Smith and Mary Welch his wife have a son. The place is Leytonstone. The boy will be converted at age sixteen and will become an evangelist under the Christian Mission of London, which later will develop into the Salvation Army. The son’s name is “Gipsy” Smith.
 

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