Historical Writings

Death of Pope St. Leo IX. He had been notable for efforts to end the practice of simony (buying of religious offices) and the practice of priests marrying. He had also spent ten months in prison after his capture while leading an army against the Germans.

In Germany at the Diet of Spires (Speyer), a document signed by Lutheran leaders in fourteen cities lodged a "protest" which demanded a freedom of conscience and the right of minorities. Henceforth, the German Lutheran Reformers were known as "Protestants."

Death of Olaus Petri, a leading reformer of Sweden. Olaus and his brother Laurentius (Sweden's first Protestant archbishop) had converted much of the nation through their writings, hymns, and examples.

Death of German reformer Philip Melanchthon. He had composed the Augsburg Confession of 1530. More of a peacemaker than Luther, he called for Lutherans and Zwinglians to put aside their differences for the sake of the reformation of the church. In addition, he led extensive efforts to develop the German educational system. The universities at Marburg, Koenigsberg, and Jena arose under his advice and Leipzig was reorganized.

Birth of Anna L. Waring, Welsh Anglican hymnwriter. "In Heavenly Love Abiding" is one of her best-known hymns, and is still sung today.

Nineteen-year-old English Baptist preacher, C.H. (Charles Haddon) Spurgeon, is called to pastor the New Park Chapel in London, one of the city's largest churches.

Death in Philadelphia of evangelist Dudley Tyng, having suffered several days after an accident that mangled one of his arms. In the last sermon he had preached, he supposedly said words to the effect that he “would rather lose his right arm” than fail to share the gospel. Shortly before his death, he urges his father and ministerial brethren to “Stand up for Jesus”—words that will inspire the hymn “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus.”

The Catholic University of America was chartered in Washington, D.C.

American pioneer linguist Frank C. Laubach, while serving as a missionary in the Philippines, wrote in a letter: 'Fellowship with God is like a delicate little plant, for a long nurturing is the price of having it, while it vanishes in a second of time, as soon as we try to seat some other unworthy affection beside Him.'

Robert F. Wagner, Sr. introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate stating that U.S. policy should favor the "restoration of the Jews in Palestine." The resolution was supported by 68 Senators.

Death of Maria José Azevedo, notable as a hard-working Nazarene evangelist in Cape Verde who fed and clothed many people from her own small earnings, while sustaining her own family. She had preached when no one else was available.

Nomination of a priest named Mina El-Baramousy to become Pope of the Coptic Church of Egypt. His name is drawn. Mina, who has always preferred solitude and once ran away rather than become a bishop, breaks into tears. In May he will be installed as Kyrillos VI, the 116th Patriarch of the Coptic church.