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SEPTEMBER

11, 1415 --Germany. Jerome of Prague, a friend and co-laborer with John Huss is tried for heresy. Today he recants and abjures the teachings of Wycliffe, but at a public rehearing on May 23rd, 26th, and 30th, 1416, he will withdraw his recantation and will suffer a heroic death by being burned at the stake.

11, 1777 --Pennsylvania. During these first one hundred fifty years, the English colonies in America have depended upon England to supply their Bibles. The outbreak of war has stopped this source. Today, a special committee of Congress reports, "the use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great --" it will recommend to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, and elsewhere "into the different parts of the States of the Union."

11, 1802 --Virginia. This Saturday, "I make my calculation upon 4900 miles from July 30, 1801 to September 12, 1802. If a living man and a Christian might dare to complain . . .." so writes Frances Asbury.

11, 1973 --Chile. Christians here are very apprehensive. It appears as though Marxism, with all its attendant wickedness, will overthrow the present government. Salvador Allende, head of the Chilean Socialist Party, has gained control of the Presidency in this year's election. The saints have immersed themselves in prayer.
     Military commanders have suddenly learned of a plan known as "Plan Zeta" in which the Marxists plan to inaugurate a purge of thousands of Chileans who oppose Present Allende. The "liquidation" of all opposition is set for September 17th.
     Today, however, Chilean Military commanders attack the presidential palace. In the military coup, President Allende is killed. Immediately the Chilean army begins arresting all known leaders of the Socialist Party.

12, 1663 --Virginia. The first colonists in Virginia came not as fugitives from persecution, but rather under the auspices of the nobility and the Church of England. As a result, because Virginia desires the colonization of North Carolina, laws against all separatists are sharpened today, and those attending upon their meetings are punishable by heavy fines. The more affluent are ordered to pay the forfeitures of the poor. The ship captain who receives non-conformists as passengers is to be punished.
     Today, John Porter, the burgess for lower Norfolk, is expelled from the Assembly "because he was well affected to the Quakers."

12, l801 --New Jersey. At Trenton, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, which has been formed as a result of the American War for Independence, today adopts the Thirty-Nine Articles with changes regarding those articles, namely articles 21 and 37, which the separation of Church and State have made necessary. It also omits references to the Athanasian Creed in Article 7.

12, 1802 --Virginia. It is Sunday, and Frances Asbury writes, "Secret peace filled my mind; and glorious aspects of Zion's prosperity cheer my heart: we have not, shall not, labor in vain. Not unto us, not unto us, but to Jehovah be all the glory on earth and in Heaven forever."

13, 1541 --Switzerland. With the friends of John Calvin again in control of the city government of Geneva, Calvin is prevailed upon and today re-enters the city. For the past two and one-half years, he has wandered incognito.
     "In less than half a century," wrote Mignet, "Geneva passed through three consecutive revolutions: the first delivered it from the Duke of Savoy over his absolute sovereignty. It gave Geneva independence from Ducal power. The second introduced Reformed worship, and thus destroyed the sovereignty of the Bishop. It gave to Geneva its Moral Regeneration and political sovereignty. The third constituted the Protestant administration of Geneva and the subordination of it to civil power. It gave Geneva its Greatness.
     "Switzerland was bent on liberty; the human mind on emancipation. The liberty of Switzerland made the independence of Geneva; and the emancipation of the human mind effected its reformation.
     "Geneva had been subject, and had now grown independent; it had been ignorant, and had now become one of the lights of Europe; it had been a little town, and was now the capital of a great cause."
 

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