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JULY

    

8, 1741 --Massachusetts. Jonathan Edwards preaches his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” and sinners present hold on to the pews in front of them for fear of falling into Hell. As George Whitefield is known as the “Evangelist of the Great Awakening”, Mr. Edwards will be known as the “Preacher of the Great Awakening.”
     Mr. Edwards will observe that where spiritual life flourishes there will be fervent participation in sacred song. It will be his conviction that changes of emphasis in theology and practice will be reflected in the music of the church. In recent years, church music has shown a large increase in the singing of “I and me” songs with their subjectivity and sentimentalism, and a corresponding sharp decline in the singing of the Psalms. During the “Great Awakening”, Mr. Edwards will report enthusiastic singing in the streets by parishioners.

8, 1803 --Germany. Mr. Karl Friedrich August Guetzlaff is born. He will become a Lutheran missionary to the Chinese. When on a visit to England, Mr. Robert Mot-risen will turn his attention to China. In collaboration with Mr. W. H. Medhurst, he will complete a translation of the Bible into the Wen-li dialect.


8, 1878 --Wales. In the mining town of Bwlchymynydd, John Roberts is born the ninth of fourteen children. He will be reared in the Welch Calvinistic Methodist Church. When eleven years old, he will leave school and will go to work in a local coal mine as a door-boy, and will narrowly escape death in a coal-truck accident. A second escape will occur when he narrowly escapes a mine explosion.
     At twenty-four years of age, he will leave the mines to work with his uncle who is a blacksmith. But God will employ Mr. Roberts in a revival that will shake the country of Wales. In the weeks following October 31, 1904 and into the first weeks of 1905, an estimated one hundred thousand people will be converted.
     Mr. Roberts will narrowly escape death a third time when toward the close of the revival, he will be thrown from a carriage drawn by a runaway team while only a few yards from a steep precipice.

9, 1609 --Austria. The Imperial brief issued today solemnly acknowledges the ecclesiastical organization of the Protestants and religious freedom.

9, 1679 --Rhode Island. The people of Connecticut have continued their encroachment upon the western portion of that colony. Today, the king of England will sign a letter confirming the charter of Rhode Island.

9, 1755 --Pennsylvania. The French and Indians defeat General Edward Braddock. George Washington has joined the General as an aide. An eyewitness who observed Mr. Washington declares, “I expected him every moment to see him fall. Nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have saved him.” An Indian chief, probably a Shawnee, has singled out Mr. Washington with his rifle and has commanded others to follow his example. Consequently Mr. Washington has had two horses shot from under him, and four bullets have entered his coat—still Mr. Washington escapes without a wound. “Some potent manitou protects his life,” observed the chieftain. “Death”, writes Mr. Washington, “was levelling my companions on every side of me; but, by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected.” The disasters of the year will cause alarm. A new expedition will be planned.
     “Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty,” will be the cry raised, “you that value our holy religion and our liberties will spare nothing even to the one half of your estates.” In every village the prayers of God’s people will ascend that they “might be crowned with victory to the glory of God.” The war with France is deemed a war for Protestantism and freedom.

9, 1818 --Canada. Presbyterian ministers issue a general invitation to the Presbyterian ministers west of Quebec to meet today with the view of forming the “Presbytery of the Canadas.” It is independent of the old lines of division in Scotland. They do meet and organize the first presbytery in upper or lower Canada.


 

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