“We must discourage the defective and diseased elements ofhumanity from their reckless and irresponsible swarming and spawning.”“The mass of Negroes, particularly in the South, still breedcarelessly and disastrously, with the result that the incr…
All Saint’s Day
In the earliest years of the church,so many martyrs died for their faith, Christians set aside special days tohonor them. For example, in 607 Emperor Phocas presented the beautiful RomanPantheon to the church. Boniface IV, the Bishop of Rome, qui…
Hallowmas or Halloween
Christians have celebrated All-Hallows-Eveor Hallowmas since about the 8th century as a night of prayerfulpreparation before All Saints Day. But, the pagan associations of Halloween with the day are actually mucholder—and perhaps more deep…
Luther’s Gospel Cry
From depths of woe I raise to Thee The voice of lamentation; Lord, turn a gracious ear to me And hear my supplication; If Thou iniquities dost mark, Our secret sins and misdeeds dark, O who shall stand before Thee?To wash away the crimson s…
Until the Nation Pays Homage
On this day in 1907, the entire nation of theNetherlands celebrated the seventieth birthday of Abraham Kuyper. A nationalproclamation recognized that “The history of the Netherlands, in Church,in State, in Society, in Press, in School, and in the Scien…
The Battle Hymn of the Reformation
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.D…
Favorite Martin Luther Quotes
1. “Hierstehe ich; Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen!”2. “If I professwith the loudest voice and clearest exposition every part of the truth of Godexcept precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at thatmoment…
The Fundamental Orders
On this day in 1633, the little Puritan and Pilgrimcongregation at Newton, in the fledgling Massachusetts Bay Colony—since renamedCambridge—held a day of fasting and prayer at the end of which they choseThomas Hooker as their pastor. Hooker had onl…
St. Crispin’s Day
Two legendary battles, both immortalized in English literature, took place on this day, the Feast of St. Crispin. The first, in 1415, was the greatBattle of Agincourt. England’sKing Henry V and his long bow archers defeated the overw…
All Heaven and Earth
”When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue—you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humor and ships at sea by night—there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book I mean.” C…
Paul Johnson Books Since 2003
1. The Vanished Landscape2. Washington 3. Creators4. Heroes5. Churchill6. Humorists7. Jesus8. New Journeys into Chaos9. Civil War in America10. Brief Lives11. Socrates
God’s Victory
Three days after French troops under the command of Jean Baptiste de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, and the Marquis de Lafayette helped George Washington’s ragged forcesdefeat the British Army, the men celebrated the formal surrender of LordCornwallis.&n…
Tool Box
“My books are mytools. They also serve as mycounsel, my consolation, and my comfort. They are my source of wisdom and the font of my education. They are my friends and mydelights. They are my surety, whenall else is awry, that I …
Texas: A Whole Other Country
On this day in 1836, former Tennessee congressman, senator, and governor, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first constitutionally elected president of the Republic of Texas.