January 18: Today in Christian History

 

January 18, 1271

Death of St. Margaret of Hungary, princess and Dominican nun.

January 18, 1460

Pope Pius II issues his bulla Execrabilis, condemning as detestable any appeals against the pope to councils.

January 18, 1525

After a public debate the day before between Anabaptists and Zwingli, the Zurich council mandates that all infants must be baptized within eight days. Persecution of Anabaptists soon follows.

January 18, 1678

James Mitchell is hanged in Edinburgh, denied permission to see his wife and newborn son or to read his final confession of faith. Years earlier he had attempted to assassinate Archbishop James Sharp, a cruel persecutor of Covenanters. Captured, Mitchell was promised in writing full liberty if he confessed, but the promise was revoked and he was tortured with great cruelty. In 1679 a mob will murder Archbishop Sharp in retaliation.

January 18, 1728

Greenland’s first Lutheran baptism takes place.

January 18, 1769

The church at Housatonic Massachusetts dismisses pastor and theologian Samuel Hopkins, resenting his opposition to the Halfway Covenant and his terrible sermon delivery.

January 18, 1822

Alone, and on foot, to save his impoverished congregation the expense of his travel, Theodor Fliedner enters Kaiserswerth, Germany, where he will labor for his entire life and found the Lutheran deaconess ministry for which he is famous. A month after his arrival the city’s main source of employment will fail and the government will offer Fliedner a better appointment, but he will refuse to leave his people as if he were merely a hireling. Instead he will make a laborious journey across Germany to raise money for an endowment to support the Kaiserwerth church.

January 18, 1887

Death in Washington, DC, of Richard Harvey Cain, a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, formerly an abolitionist and congressman. He had helped found Paul Quinn College and served as its president until 1884.

January 18, 1891

Consecration of the first Armenian church in the United States, at Worcester, Massachusetts.

January 18, 1917

Death in Wellington, South Africa, of Andrew Murray, pastor, revival leader, inspirational author, and founder of a seminary.

January 18, 1918

Death in Penkridge, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) of missionary Louisa M. R. Snead, author of the hymn “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”

January 18, 1920

Peter Dyneka gives his heart to Christ in Chicago and experiences such a total transformation that his landlord accuses him of being drunk. He will help found the Russian Gospel Association.

January 18, 1951

Death in Dohnavur, India, of Amy Carmichael who had rescued children from temple prostitution and written many inspirational Christian books.

January 18, 1969

Death of Roberta Martin, an innovative gospel singer and organizer of the Roberta Martin Singers. Many singers got their start through her. Her signature song had been “Only a Look.” Fifty thousand will turn out for her funeral. In 1998, the United States Postal Service will issue a commemorative stamp in her honor.