1732: In
Philadelphia, Mass was celebrated for the first time at St Joseph's Church the only Roman
Catholic church built and maintained in the American colonies before the Revolutionary
War.
1807: Birth of Johann K.F. Keil, German Bible
scholar. His Old Testament commentary, written in collaboration with Franz Delitzsch,
first appeared in 1861. Known today as "Keil & Delitzsch," the multi-volume
set is still in print!
1840: Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne
wrote in a letter: 'Our soul should be a mirror of Christ; we should reflect every
feature: for every grace in Christ there should be a counterpart in us.'
1846: Birth of George C. Stebbins, American
Baptist music evangelist. A composer of over 1,500 songs during his lifetime, Stebbins is
still remembered today for writing the melodies to such hymns as: "I've Found a
Friend," "Take Time to Be Holy," "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" and
"Jesus is Tenderly Calling Thee Home."
1963: The Lutheran World Federation's missionary
radio station at Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, was dedicated.
Source: William D. Blake. Almanac
of the Christian Church, Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987. Additional
information supplied by the author. Contact via E-mail: William D. Blake. (pilgrimwb@aol.com)