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OCTOBER
 

"There is a strong repugnance among some people to the act of excluding unworthy members, but it must be done. The safety and comfort of the church is affected. Whenever the church ceases to bear testimony for holiness, it abandons its mission and ceases its witness."

-John Angell James-
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18, 1681 --England. From London, William Penn writes a letter addressing the Indians in the New World declaring himself and them responsible to one and the same God, having the same law written in their hearts, and alike bound to love and help and do good to one another. When New England had just terminated a disastrous war of extermination; when the Dutch were scarcely ever at peace with the Algonquins; when the laws of Maryland referred to Indian hostilities and massacres extending as far as Virginia, William Penn came without arms, declaring his purpose to abstain from violence. His message was one of peace. The result of which was no Indian during his time shed a drop of Quaker blood.
     Once when five hundred Indians assembled on the Brandywine River, to plan a massacre, Mr. Caleb Pusey along with five Quakers hurried to the scene. The sachem spurned the report with indignation. The griefs of the tribe were spread out and disbanded. "The great God who made all mankind extends His love to Indians and English. The rain and the dews fall alike on the ground of both; the sun shines on us equally; and we ought to love one another." The king of the Delawares answered, "What you say is true. Go home and harvest the corn God has given you. We intend you no harm."

18, 1685 --France. The Edict of Nantes is revoked and the freedom of worship enjoyed by the French Huguenots under Henry IV and Louis XIII is denied. Reformed worship is declared illegal and protestant churches are ordered demolished. Such pastors are given two weeks to leave the kingdom and are forbidden to perform ministerial duties on threat of being sent to the galleys. Protestant schools are closed, and infants born before the revocation are ordered rebaptized by priests and educated as Roman Catholics. All refugees are to return to France, and abjure their Protestant religion within four months, after which non-compliance is to be punished with the confiscation of body and goods if women.

18, 1777 --Pennsylvania. A messenger arrives in the camp of General George Washington bringing letters from Israel Putnam and James Clinton announcing the surrender of the army of British General John Burgoyne. General Washington declares with devout gratitude, "for this signal stroke of Providence . . . all will be well in His own good time."

19, 439 --Africa. Genseric and his Vandal army storms into Carthage and sacking it makes it his capital. In 455, Genseric will lead his army into Rome and his indiscriminate destruction of art and learning will come to be called, "Vandalism." He leads most of his excursions himself, and is known for his intolerance to orthodox Christianity. However when Emperor Valentinian III requests permission of the Vandal leader for the Christians of Carthage to elect Deogratias as their bishop after their community has been desolate for years, he will consent.

19, 1533 --Germany. Michael Stiefel has mathematically calculated the date of the advent of Christ to be eight o'clock this morning.

19, 1685 --France. The day after Louis XIV signs the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, La Reynee, the lieutenant of the police of Paris issues a notice to the Huguenot tradesmen and working classes, requiring them to be instantly converted. Many of them are terrified and conform accordingly.

19, 1720 --New Jersey. John Woolman is born. He will leave behind his Journal that will become an American Christian classic. As a tailor he will open a shop in Mount Holly, and will teach school and draft wills. As a Quaker, he will oppose slavery, intemperance and war. Upon learning that sugar and clothing dye are produced by slave labor, he will refuse to use either.
 

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