Henry Van Dyke – birth, Nov. 10, 1852

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.

Henry Van Dyke was born this date, 11/10/1852, at Germantown, Pennsylvania.   Van Dyke was a Presbyterian who pastored in Rhode Island and New York City from 1879 to 1899.  He was appointed professor of English literature at Princeton University, where he remained for many years.  He also served as the Amer­i­can am­bas­sa­dor to Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 

His published books include The Story of the Other Wise Man (1896) and his songs/hymns include the above “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (sung to the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony).

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Michael Faraday – birth, Sep. 22, 1791

I will simply express my strong belief, that that point of self-education which consists in teaching the mind to resist its desires and inclinations, until they are proved to be right, is the most important of all, not only in things of natural philosophy, but in every department of daily life.

            – Michael Faraday

                ‘Observations On Mental Education’, a lecture before the Prince Consort and the Royal Institution, May 6, 1854.          Experimental researches in chemistry and physics (1859), 477.

The world little knows how many of the thoughts and theories which have passed through the mind of a scientific investigator, have been crushed in silence and secrecy by his own severe criticism and adverse examination!

            – Michael Faraday

                ‘Observations On Mental Education’, a lecture before the Prince Consort and the Royal Institution, May 6, 1854.          Experimental researches in chemistry and physics (1859), 486.

 

What a delight it is to think that you are quietly and philosophically at work in the pursuit of science…rather than fighting amongst the crowd of black passions and motives that seem now a days to urge men every where into action.  What incredible scenes every where, what unworthy motives ruled for the moment, under high sounding phrases and at the last what disgusting revolutions.

            – Michael Faraday        Letter to C. Schrenbein, December 15, 1848.

 

Nothing is too wonderful to be true if it be consistent with the laws of nature.
            – Michael Faraday (exact source unknown)

The five essential entrepreneurial skills for success are

concentration,

discrimination,

organization,

innovation and

communication.                         – Michael Faraday (exact source unknown)

 

“His [Faraday’s] soul was above all littleness and proof to all egotism.”

            – John Tyndall                   Faraday as a Discoverer (1868), 104.

 

Michael Faraday was born this date 9/22/1791 at Newington, England (one mile south of London Bridge.)  He was one of ten children born to a poor  blacksmith; reportedly so poor a loaf of bread may have had to last all week.

 

At fourteen he apprenticed to a bookbinder learning much by reading (after work) the books being printed.  This led to him seeking (and at twenty-two gaining) a position with Sir Humphrey Davey.  Faraday traveled eighteen months with him obtaining a “university education” as his assistant.

 

Faraday went on to make great and well known discoveries in electro-magnetism and chemistry.  He was a true scientist – he pursued truth.

 

Many may not know that Faraday was a Christian (Presbyterian- Sandamanian),[1]  His was a deep faith which led him to make his confession at twenty-nine and later to become a minister in his church.  He died in 1867.

 

 

 

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[1] Convinced that churches are gatherings of true believers, rather than social clubs for anyone born in a parish.

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Eliza Edmunds Hewitt – birth, Jun. 28, 1851

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

2.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A I come to Him,
He’ll never cast me out.

3.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s Name,
Salvation through His blood.

4.

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

 

Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born this date, 6/28 1851 at Philadelphia, Penn­syl­van­ia. She was a Presbyterian public school teacher who was very interested in Sunday Schools.

She also wrote  “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” “Stepping in the Light” “Will There Be Any Stars?”        “More About Jesus I Would Know”  “When We All Get to Heaven” and “More About Jesus.”  She died Ap­ril 24, 1920, Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia.

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John Milton – birth, Dec. 9, 1608

“The Lord Will Come and Not Be Slow”    (stanzas 3-6)

Rise, God, judge Thou the earth in might,
This wicked earth redress;
For Thou art He who shalt by right
The nations all possess.

The nations all whom Thou hast made
Shall come, and all shall frame
To bow them low before Thee, Lord!
And glorify Thy Name!

Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
Shall bud and blossom then,
And justice, from her heavenly bower,
Look down on mortal men.

Thee will I praise, O Lord, my God!
Thee honor and adore
With my whole heart; and blaze abroad
Thy Name forevermore!

John Milton was born this date, 12/9/1608, in London.  He is known for his Paradise Lost (1667), Paradise Regained(1671).  Religiously John moved from Anglican to Presbyterian to Independent.

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John Knox – death, Nov. 24, 1572

For those who may not know Knox, he was a powerful Presbyterian Minister who opposed Queen Mary and the system she represented.  With that opposition in mind the following prayer is an insight into his soul.

“Illuminate the heart of our Sovereign Lady Queen Mary with pregnant gifts of the Holy Ghost, and influence the hearts of her council with Thy true fear and love.”  – Wm M Taylor, John Knox, (NY: A C Armstrong & Sons, 1885), 67.

In direct conversation with this same Queen, in response to her question he said, “Yea, madame, to me it appertains no less to forewarn of such things as may hurt it [the commonwealth], if I foresee them, then it doth to any of the nobility; for both my vocation and conscience requires plainness of me.” – Wm M Taylor, John Knox, (NY: A C Armstrong & Sons, 1885), 171.

Some knew the possible danger he was in to which he replied, “As for the fear of danger that may come to me let no man be solicitious, for my life is in the custody of Him whose glory I seek, and therefore I cannot so fear their boast or tyranny that I cease from doing my duty, when of His mercy He offereth me the occasion.” – Wm M Taylor, John Knox, (NY: A C Armstrong & Sons, 1885), 124.

On another occastion when some questioned his speaking as he did; he replied, “I am in the place where I am demanded of my consiecne to speak the truth; and therefore the truth I will speak; impugn it who so list.”  – Wm M Taylor, John Knox, (NY: A C Armstrong & Sons, 1885), 176.

After hearing of the St. Bartholomew Day massacre he had an opportunity to address Le Croc, the French ambassador, “Go tell your master that sentence is pronounced against him; that the Divine vengeance shall never depart from him or from his house, except they repent…”    – Wm M Taylor, John Knox, (NY: A C Armstrong & Sons, 1885), 196.

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