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ON THIS DAY: OCTOBER
This month we remember, among others, two social pioneers,
a rebellious teenager, a famous cricketer, writers whose
books broke new ground, a poet, a prison reformer, a
nationally-known preacher, and a chocolate manufacturer.
1 October: Lord Shaftesbury
Anthony Ashley Cooper was a Anglican with a strong evangelical
outlook. Elected a Member of Parliament, he put his efforts
into improving the working conditions of factory workers
and miners. He also saw the importance of workers’
housing conditions both for the welfare of workers and
for the health of the economy, and the increase at the
time in low-cost urban housing was due to his influence.
He was one of those behind the establishment of working
men’s institutes. He realised too the benefits of
education for all and became very active in the Ragged
Schools Union, which in its heyday enabled more 300,000
destitute children to be educated. Overseas, he championed
the work of Florence Nightingale and for many years before
his death in 1885 was a very active president of the British
and Foreign Bible Society and a generous contributor to
missionary societies.
3 October:
Clare and Francis of Assisi
| Francis was son of a
wealthy merchant who dramatically renounced his
social position, ostentatious life style, the knightly
exploits of his peer group, and his inheritance
to devote his life to the care of the poor and the
sick. Both men and women began to follow his example,
including Clare, the founder of the Poor Clares.
Their guiding principles were the traditional ones
of chastity, poverty and obedience, with the greatest
emphasis given to poverty. However, what caused
the Franciscan Order and movement to spread so rapidly
all over Europe (reaching as far even as Berwick
in 1235) was the joyous way these vows were observed
by the founders, who became known as joculatores
Dei, God’s merry men. A visit to the
Holy Land made him critical of the Crusaders. |
St Francis d'Assisi portrait by Annibale Carracci
|
Liked as a preacher and singer of songs (a famous composition
was the Canticle of the Sun which
is still sung today in the guise of the hymn
All creatures of our God and King), he is remembered
also today for his concern for the environment and for
creation. He died in 1266.
This day is also remembered by some as the World
Day for Animals, perhaps because of the association
of the day with St Francis.
4 October: Rembrandt van Rijn
Of Dutch Calvinist parentage, Rembrandt is one of the
world’s greatest artists, admired in particular
for his technique, his use of light, and his realism.
He was very productive as a painter and is especially
noted for his portraits which sympathetically reveal the
humanity of the sitter. His many notable biblical paintings
tell of his profound appreciation of the Gospel. In them,
his use of light and shade is often to the fore, and they
have a touching down to earth quality without in any way
diminishing the grace and glory of the theme; e.g. The
Return of the Prodigal and The
Woman taken in Adultery. He died in 1669.
6 October: William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English Oxford-educated scholar
who believed that people high and low should be able to
read the Bible in their own language. He moved in the
same circles as the European scholar Erasmus and the reformer
Martin Luther and shared their radical ideas, so disturbing
to many that he spent part of his life as a refugee, living
at different times at Cologne and at Worms. While in exile,
his well-known New Testament was printed, and much of
the wonderful language of the King James version of the
Bible came from that earlier translation. Some suggest
he has had more influence on the English language than
Shakespeare, not just in his use of existing words but
in his coining of new words ('atonement' and 'beautiful'
were two). His book The Obedience
of a Christian Man (1528) was one of the things
that led to his arrest and his burning at the stake as
a heretic in Antwerp in 1536.
7 October: C. T. Studd
C. T. Studd
|
In his early days, Studd was known
as an outstanding cricketer, playing in the England
team. As a student at Cambridge he became very involved
in an evangelical rival, and in due course became
one of 'the Cambridge Seven' who undertook missionary
work with the China Inland Mission, suffering great
hardship as they preached the Gospel in the remoter
areas of that country. |
Ten years later found him in America, helping bring about
a considerable revival of interest in Christianity, and
where he established the Student Volunteer Movement Another
body he established was the Worldwide Evangelism Crusade,
after serving in South India, in the Sudan and the Congo,
where he died in 1931. He was often heard to say, "If
Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice
can be too great for me to make for Him." 8
October: Triduana
The life of this (some say) Colossian woman is more legend
than fact but the legends are startling enough. A travelling
companion of Regulus, she is said to have arrived with
him in Scotland when he brought the bones of St Andrew
to the country. Rather glamorous, she caught the attention
of King Nectanevus who summoned her to join his entourage.
Hearing that he wanted her for her beautiful eyes, the
story goes that she plucked them out and sent them to
the king but refused to have anything else to do with
him. At the old Restalrig church is St Triduana’s
Well, where people used to go seeking a cure for blindness.
9 October: David Brainerd
David Brainerd was an eighteenth century American Presbyterian
who was supported in mission work among native Americans
by the Scottish Society for the Propagation of Christian
Knowledge (the SSPCK). While he did not have much to show
for his own work, his journal became renowned and affected
the lives and work of some of the pioneers of the missionary
movement. These included, in Scotland, Murray McCheyne
(whose travels and writing did much to stimulate interest
in Jewish mission) and the husband and wife team of John
Wilson and Margaret Bayne in Bombay. Said to have "exhibited…
benevolence and universal holiness as neither men nor
angels saw", he died in 1747 aged just 29.
10 October: Tertullian of Carthage
Tertullian of Carthage converted to Christianity in Rome
and became a leader of the church in North Africa. He
was a memorable teacher who helped the church to self-understanding
and gave it a vocabulary to speak about itself. He was
influential also in establishing Latin as the ecclesiastical
language. Impatient in nature, he reacted against what
he saw as the increasing worldliness of the church and
joined the Montanists, a sect known for its strictness
and its fervency. Even this was too lax for him and after
a time he left. In spite of this deviation from mainstream
Christianity, he is still seen as one of the formative
figures of the church in the West. He died sometime after
202.
Also on this day: William
Guthrie was a renowned Covenanting preacher who
drew vast crowds to his church at Fenwick in Ayrshire,
and was influential in promoting Presbyterianism at
a time when the country was still ‘choosing’
between that and an episcopal form of government (a
struggle that was as much political as religious). He
was suspended, however, by the Archbishop Burnett of
Glasgow in 1664 and had to retire to his estate near
Brechin. His book The Christian’s Great Interest,
translated into several languages and appearing in many
editions, is still considered a Christian classic. It’s
message, succinctly and sweetly spelled out, is the
importance of having salvation and being at peace in
Christ. He was a peaceable, genial man know for his
humour and country pursuits. He died in 1665.
11 October: Thomas Traherne
Thomas Traherne, an Anglican clergyman, was one of the
group (which included John Donne) who were known as ‘metaphysical
poets’. When Dr Johnson gave them this title, he
was not being entirely complimentary (he found them fanciful
and extravagant), but their work is now much valued, for
both their poetic beauty and for their insightful Christian
content. His work exhibits a kind of Celtic mysticism,
with his glorying in nature as well as in the innocence
of childhood. Most renowned among his poems are The
Rapture and An Hymn upon
St Bartholomew’s Day. Although he died in
1674, his poems and other writings were not actually published
until 1903 and after.
Also on this day: Kenneth
and Serf were together known as the 'apostles
of Fife'. Kennoway (and its former High Street) are
named after him as are a crop of places round St Andrews
(such as Strathkinness). In the west, the parish church
of Iona stands at Cill-Chainnich, and the island of
Inchkenneth off Mull drew the admiration of Boswell
and Johnson on their tour to the Hebrides. Cambuskenneth
on the Forth may recall his name, and there are Kilchenzies
in Ayrshire and Kintyre. The likelihood that these were
mediaeval links rather than ones dating from his own
time suggest that traditions surrounding this Irish
school mate of Columba (and later companion in his Scottish
mission) were deep seated. His probably date of death
was 600.
12
October: Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry was a daughter of the wealthy Quaker
Gurney family, who with great concern, wise judgement,
and tireless energy was successful in improving
prison conditions in Britain and Europe. Among her
achievements were the segregation of the sexes,
the proper classification of criminals, female supervision
of women, better conditions for inmates etc. Acknowledged
as a 'minister' by the Society of Friends, she likewise
did a great deal to improve the British hospital
system and the care of the insane. And all of this
while raising a large family! She died in 1845.
|
Elizabeth Fry
|
13 October: Comgan
Comgan was an Irish ruler who left his throne to become
a missionary to Scotland. The village of Kirkcowan in
Wigtownshire suggests the coast on which he landed (the
other spelling of his name) and Kilchoan suggests work
in the district of Loch Alsh. Turriff was another location
where his memory lingers. A wooden statue which was believed
to bear his image was taken to Edinburgh and ceremonially
burned by reformers in 1600. It is not known when he died
but he is believed to have travelled in Scotland in the
first half of the eighth century.
16 October: Hugh Latimer and Nicolas
Ridley
Martyred in 1555, Latimer, a convert to Protestantism
who became Bishop of Worcester, was a vigorous and colourful
preacher, and one of 12 licensed to preach anywhere in
England. His eloquence greatly advanced the Protestant
cause and was effective in drawing attention to social
injustices and corruption. Under the reign of Mary, he
fell foul of those who opposed the Reformation and was
excommunicated. Ridley, a Cambridge academic and Bishop
of London, achieved many reforms in the church, for example
the use of a communion table rather than an altar. Like
Latimer he also preached against the social injustices
of the time, so effectively that one of his sermons led
to the founding of the now well-known London hospitals
and institutions. He was a supporter of Lady Jane Grey
against Mary Tudor, excommunicated, and burned at the
stake with Latimer at Oxford. Latimer’s words at
the end to Ridley have become renowned: "We shall
this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in
England as I trust shall never be put out." 17
October: Regulus (Rule)
St Andrew's Cathedral ruins with St Rule's tower
(right)
|
Because of his association with St
Andrews in Fife, Scotland, many legends have been
attached to this early Celtic monk and missionary.
It is probably not true that he was the bringer
of the relics of the nation’s patron saint
to St Andrews, and the story of the ship bearing
these being wrecked off that part of the coast a
story that grew up to heighten the profile of the
new ecclesiastical see of St Andrews. |
If relics there were, they would have come via Bishop
Acca of Hexham. Historians are still puzzled, however,
about how the square St Rule’s tower beside the
cathedral ruins was given its name, quite apart from what
it was for! The fourth century date of his life and death
is probably too early.
Some observe this Sunday as Hospital
Sunday.
18 October: Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John
This is traditionally the day the church has remembered
Luke the evangelist, but some churches remember all four
gospel writers on this day.
19 October: Sir Thomas Browne
Sir Thomas Browne was a doctor who was better known as
a writer. Having studied in England, he travelled widely
on the continent of Europe, studying at various universities.
His best known work, Religio
Medici, was daring for its time, and remains interesting
in ours, in that it tackled religious questions both from
the point of view of a specialist in medicine as well
as fearlessly asked the questions that people of his time
were asking about the Christian faith. He died in 1682.
20 October: Henri Dunant
 |
Henri Dunant from Switzerland was
the founder of The Red Cross, the idea for which
organisation came after he had been an eye-witness
at the Battle of Solferino in 1859. Many other causes
took his attention, including the abolition of slavery,
the creation of a homeland for the Jews, disarmament,
international arbitration, and the better treatment
of prisoners of war. |
| He also founded the Young Men’s
Christian Association. His activities effectively
bankrupted him and for many years he lived in poverty
and obscurity. However, in 1901 he was co-winner
of the first Nobel peace prize. He died in 1910.
|
 |
21 October: Origen
Origen was from Alexandria and from a Christian home.
He lost his father early on at a time of persecution of
Christians. His early interest in ideas led to a professorship,
his chief interest being Holy Scripture, but he made it
is his business to be well versed in the rival philosophies
of life that prevailed at the time so that he could be
a better teacher. He was ordained at Caesarea during a
visit, but was deposed by his own bishop who believed
this to have been done irregularly, and concentrated thereafter
on writing. His De Principiis
as its title suggested was a basic statement of Christian
faith and doctrine, at a time when people were still trying
to put into words what they believed. He defended the
faith not just in his writings but with his life, in that
during the Decian persecutions he was imprisoned and tortured,
dying not many years later, around 254.
22 October: Paul Tillich
Paul Tillich was renowned as a theologian and commentator
on political and social issues. In Germany he held professorial
chairs in various universities but his opposition to Hitler
and to war (following his role as a Lutheran chaplain
during World War 1) led to his departure for America where
he became professor at Harvard, Union Theological Seminary
and Chicago.
Paul Tillich
|
His influential
Systematic Theology illuminated and embraced
modern culture as well as making Christian doctrine
accessible to contemporaries. Some of his books,
like The Courage to Be
reached a large and often 'non-religious' public.
Although some criticised him for being a ‘Christian
atheist', he was also described as "a God-intoxicated
man who wanted to help his fellow human beings recapture
a relevant and dynamic faith". He died in 1965.
|
24 October: Richard Cadbury
Richard Cadbury and his brother George, a prosperous Quaker
chocolate and cocoa manufacturer, became considerable
social reformers at Bournville, providing enlightened
social security programmes and improving working conditions
far in advance of their time. He died in 1899.
This is also United Nations
Day.
26 October: Ronald Gregor Smith
Ronald Gregor Smith was a parish minister at Selkirk before
being appointed editor of SCM Press - which publishes
books on academic theology. In that role, he did much
to disseminate the thought and work of such contemporary
‘radical’ thinkers and theologians as Bonhoeffer,
Bultmann, Tillich, Kierkegaard, Schliermacher and Buber,
whose I and Thou he translated.
He became well known and loved by generations of students
for the ministry when he was one of the professors at
Trinity College, Glasgow, revered for his scholarship
but also for the responsible and active approach to the
Christian faith that he taught and demonstrated. His two
well known books are The New
Man and The Free Man.
He died in 1968.
| Also on this
day, William Temple
was described as "the first theologian archbishop
of Canterbury since Anselm". He was a man of
great intellect as well as of great organising ability.
He was one of the chain of influential Gifford lecturers,
who year by year in the Scottish universities broke
new ground in the contemporary understanding of
the Christian faith and its role in society. One
of his books, The Church
and Social Order, illustrated his interest
in social reform, shown from his early involvement
in the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) –
of which he later became president – to his
later work in seeking Christian solutions to national
and international politics and economics. |
William Temple
|
He also played an influential part in shaping the British
and World Councils of Churches. He died in 1944.
31 October: Martin Luther
On this day in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95
Theses on the door of the main church at Wittenberg.
These attacked the belief that the purchase of ‘indulgences’
would guarantee exemption from divine judgement and ensure
reconciliation with God. For Luther and the later Reformers,
the only reconciliation was through Jesus Christ, freely
offered to all who believed in him and were baptised.
Luther’s actions and writings began the movement
which influenced the shape the church was to take in Scotland
after 1560.
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