November 9: Today in Christian History

 

November 9, 1518

In response to Martin Luther’s recent challenge to indulgences, Pope Leo X issues the bull Cum postquam which defends indulgences as a treasury of merits.

November 9, 1572

Fifteen days before his death, John Knox preaches his last sermon in Edinburgh.

November 9, 1793

William Carey landed in Calcutta, India to begin his missionary career

William Carey, pioneer English missionary, spent four decades in India as an evangelist, Bible translator, social reformer, anthropologist, and educator

November 9, 1786

Ordination of Jedidiah Morse as a Congregationalist minister. He will become a lifelong opponent of Unitarianism, founding and editing a journal to defend orthodoxy and, when Harvard elects a Unitarian to its Hollis Chair of Divinity, will help bring about the creation of Andover Theological Seminary to counter Harvard’s liberal theology.

November 9, 1799

Asa Mahan, Congregational clergyman and first president of Oberlin College, is born in Verona, New York

November 9, 1844

Death in Hannibal, Missouri, of evangelist Barton W. Stone, a founding leader of the the Stone-Campbell movement, later to be known as the Christian Church and the Disciples of Christ

November 9, 1865

Death of Henry Ballantine, missionary to India, who helped translate the Bible into Marathi.

November 9, 1929

Soviets arrest the Orthodox priest Michael Gordeyevich Zaitsev for “counter-revolutionary agitation.” The following March he will be executed by being shot.

November 9, 1987

Death of Reuben Akinwalere George, the founding general overseer of the Gospel Faith Mission International of Nigeria, a movement that grew rapidly in part because of his faith and zeal. Through his vision, the denomination developed schools and a publishing house.

November 9, 1938

German fascists take to the streets across Germany, looting and vandalizing Jewish homes, hospitals, schools, and synangogues in an event referred to as “Kristalnacht” for the shards of broken glass that littered the streets. German authorities did not intervene. Over 1000 synagogues were burned and 7000 Jewish businesses were destroyed or damaged. The death toll is hard to calculate, but some historians estimate that hundreds of Jews were murdered in this single night of hatred and violence.