311 - Miltiades was elected 32nd pope of the Catholic Church. During his pontificate,Christianity was finally tolerated by Rome, following the Emperor Constantine's conversion to the Christian faith.

1489 - Birth of Thomas Cranmer, first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and primary author of the 'Book of Common Prayer' and 'Thirty-Nine Articles' of the Anglican Church.



1752 - The first Bible in America printed in English was published in Boston.



1918 - Death of Washington Gladden, 82, a popular Congregational theologian of the Social Gospel. He also authored the hymn, 'O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.'



1930 - Pioneer linguistic educator Frank C. Laubach wrote in a letter: '[God has said to me,] If I do not speak to you in words at times, it is because the reality all about you is greater than the imperfect symbols of things which you have in words.'



© 1987-2010, William D. Blake. Used by permission of the author, from

Almanac of the Christian Church