1095 - In France, Pope Urban II solemnly proclaimed the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. Urban's twin-purpose was to relieve the pressure by the Seljuk Turks on the Eastern Roman Empire, and to secure free access to Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims.
1755 - Land for the first Jewish settlement in America was purchased by Joseph Salvador, who bought 10,000 acres near Fort Ninety-Six, in the southern part of the Carolina Colony.
1862 - Birth of Adelaide Pollard, Presbyterian hymnwriter. Plagued with frail health most of her life, she lived the life of a mystic. Of the several hymns she penned, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" is still popular today.
1950 - American missionary martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: 'What gets me into the Kingdom, from Christ's own statement, is not saying "Lord, Lord," but acting "Lord, Lord."'
1953 - English Christian apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'Anxiety is not only a pain which we must ask God to assuage but also a weakness we must ask Him to pardon - for He's told us to take no care for the morrow.'
© 1987-2011, William D. Blake. Used by permission of the author, from
Almanac of the Christian Church
