Today in History - Various NYC Events

Here are some events that took place this day in History. In 1927, the musical play, "Show Boat" opened at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York. In 1937, Radio City Music Hall opened in NYC also. Howdy Doody made its debut on NBC (although I am not sure this happened in NYC), and 'Hello Dolly' closed on Broadway after a run of almost 3,000 performances.

Source: Tribune Newspapers.

True History - Church History - Jane Grey

Church History - Jane Grey

         I have never heard of 'Jane Grey', but am wondering if she might have been married to Earl Grey, which the lovely tea is named after.
    This lady was queen, not for just a day, but for nine days. She was related to King Henry VIII, and was around when a godly man, Edward VI, became king. He only reigned a couple of years and died. After than happened, Jane Grey was put on the throne as queen, but only for nine days. She was put into the Tower of London after Mary's army stormed into the city. Jane Grey died as a martyr there. Just before her death, she gave a Bible to her sister and wrote these words in it: "Rejoice in Christ as I do. Follow the steps of your master Christ, and take up your cross."

  This information came from the book, 'The Church History ABCs' (Stephen Nichols). You can probably research this person on the Internet. As will any Internet research, please be careful and discerning. There is a lot of wrong information out there as well as information to make the truth distorted or evil. But we do need to study in order to know the truth and separate it from the lies.

Today in History - Date Unknown - Boxing Day

Today in History - Boxing Day

    Although no one knows what the exact origin of Boxing Day is, or when it was first started, it is celebrated in the U.K. even today. There are two possible theories of this day.
   One theory is that Employers would have presents ready to give to their servants, and the servants would open them the day after Christmas, but the other theory is that it is tied in with St. Stephen. St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr who died for his faith. You can read about his story in the book of Acts. The song, 'Good King Wenceslas' is probably referring to him in the words of this song. Both Boxing Day and the Feast of St. Stephens Day are celebrated the day after Christmas is traditionally celebrated around the world.
  Boxing Day is related to the giving of alms. There were places to put money in church buildings (church alms boxes) as well as giving money to the proper authorities to give to the needy. It is definitely a day when we remember those who don't have as much as we do. Today there are many organizations that help take in offerings that can help other people, especially those in other countries that need help. We are not limited to giving on December 26th, but that is traditionally the day it is celebrated in the U.K.

True History - Church History - John Foxe

Church History - John Foxe

     Have you ever heard of the book, 'Foxe's Book of Martyrs'? It describes many people who have gone through very difficult hardships because of their faith. Some people were murdered because they believed in Jesus. Others were thrown into prison or hurt physically. The Bible promises that people who live godly lives for Jesus will be persecuted. God also promises that He will be with those people and will give them strength during the difficult times.
   John Foxe was a teacher who lived in a place in England where there was a lot of property. Feasts were held there, as well as fox hunts.
  A woman named Mary came to the throne in England and had many people put in prison for their faith in Jesus. John Foxe had seen a lot of Christians put to death. That is why he wrote his book, Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
   John Foxe and his wife moved away from England while Mary was ruling, and they came back when Elizabeth 1 came to the throne. Out of his gratefulness to be back safely in England, John Foxe dedicated his book to Elizabeth 1.

Today in History - December 23, 1888 - Dutch Painter Van Gogh Chops Off His Ear

Today in History - December 23, 1888 - Dutch Painter Van Gogh Chops Off His Ear

      This famous Dutch painter chopped his ear off! Why did he do that? I guess he was depressed. Maybe he didn't want to hear anymore bad news. Here is the article on it from www.history.com

On this day in 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in the Netherlands. He had a difficult, nervous personality and worked unsuccessfully at an art gallery and then as a preacher among poor miners in Belgium. In 1880, he decided to become an artist. His work from this period--the most famous of which is The Potato Eaters (1885)--is dark and somber and reflective of the experiences he had among peasants and impoverished miners.

In 1886, Van Gogh moved to Paris where his younger brother Theo, with whom he was close, lived. Theo, an art dealer, supported his brother financially and introduced him to a number of artists, including Paul Gauguin, Camille Pisarro and Georges Seurat. Influenced by these and other painters, Van Gogh's own artistic style lightened up and he began using more color.

Read more at:   www.history.com/this-day-in-history

True History - Church History - Jonathan Edwards

True History - Church History - Jonathan Edwards

   Today we will study Jonathan Edwards, the pastor who was known for his sermon, 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.'
   Jonathan Edwards was the only boy born in his family of 11 children! Can you imagine having that many sisters? He did learn how to ride horses and spin scraps of cloth to his coat from them. He used the pieces of cloth to help him remember things as he would write them down while going on long horseback rides. He wrote many books and used his ideas for his sermon messages.
    As a young man, Jonathan Edwards had a fascination with spiders. He even wrote about them.
Jonathan Edwards was friends with George Whitefield, who was an evangelist during the Great Awakening which took place in the American colonies. Jonathan was also president of Princeton University for a short time, and he was a missionary to the Mohican Indians! He certainly had a lot on his plate.

Source : The Church History ABCs (Stephen Nichols)

Today in History - December 22, 1864 - Sherman Presents a Christmas Gift to Lincoln

Today in History - December 22, 1864 - Sherman Presents a Christmas Gift to Lincoln

      People even gave Christmas gifts in the 1800's. This most unusual gift was presented to Lincoln by Sherman on this day in 1864. Merry Christmas Abe.

On this day in 1864, Union General William T. Sherman presents the city of Savannah, Georgia, to President Abraham Lincoln. Sherman captured the city after his famous March to the Sea from Atlanta. Savannah had been one of the last major ports that remained open to the Confederates.

After Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864, he did not plan to stay for long. There was still the Confederate army of General John Bell Hood in the area, and cavalry leaders like Nathan Bedford Forrest and Joe Wheeler, who could threaten Sherman's supply lines. In November, Sherman dispatched part of his force back to Nashville, Tennessee, to deal with Hood while Sherman cut free from his supply lines and headed south and east across Georgia. Along the way, his troops destroyed nearly everything in their path. Sherman's intent was to wreck the morale of the South and bring the war to a swift end.

For nearly six weeks, nothing was heard from Sherman's army. Finally, just before Christmas, word arrived that Sherman's army was outside Savannah. A Union officer reached the coast and found a Union warship that carried him to Washington, D.C., to personally deliver news of the success. Sherman wired Lincoln with the message, "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton."

Source: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sherman-presents-lincoln-with-a-christmas-gift

True History - Church History - John Donne

   John Donne is new to me, but he was a poet who lived in England during the time of the Reformation. He and his wife had twelve children. A couple of quotes you may have heard come from John Donne. One of them is this; " No man is an island". Another one is, "Don't ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee." He was obviously around when the King James language was used. He would write poems as he walked along the London Bridge at night. He was a lawyer who was elected to Parliament, then when he was forty-five years old, he became a pastor.

Source: The Church History A B C's.

Today in History - December 21, 1945 - 'Old Blood and Guts' dies

Today in History - December 21, 1945 - 'Old Blood and Guts' dies


This person has to do with WWII, and I had never heard of this name before. He was well known and he didn't die as a result of being a casualty of war. He died in an automobile accident. So with that in mind, here is more on 'Old Blood and Guts'. At the age of his death, he was 60. See if you can figure out who he was.

On this day, General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army, dies from injuries suffered not in battle but in a freak car accident. He was 60 years old.

Descended from a long line of military men, Patton graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1909. He represented the United States in the 1912 Olympics-as the first American participant in the pentathlon. He did not win a medal. He went on to serve in the Tank Corps during World War I, an experience that made Patton a dedicated proponent of tank warfare.

During World War II, as commander of the U.S. 7th Army, he captured Palermo, Sicily, in 1943 by just such means. Patton's audacity became evident in 1944, when, during the Battle of the Bulge, he employed an unorthodox strategy that involved a 90-degree pivoting move of his 3rd Army forces, enabling him to speedily relieve the besieged Allied defenders of Bastogne, Belgium.

Along the way, Patton's mouth proved as dangerous to his career as the Germans. When he berated and slapped a hospitalized soldier diagnosed with "shell shock," but whom Patton accused of "malingering," the press turned on him, and pressure was applied to cut him down to size. He might have found himself enjoying early retirement had not General Dwight Eisenhower and General George Marshall intervened on his behalf. After several months of inactivity, he was put back to work.

Read more of this story at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/old-blood-and-guts-dies

Church History - John Calvin

Church History - John Calvin

     John Calvin grew up in France, and went to college in Paris when he was only 14! People did jobs much earlier in their lives back then than they do today. He had very little interest in God. He was converted and went to Geneva, Switzerland. There he taught people about God's creation and about Christ's death on the Cross. His group sent missionaries into France and even as far away as Brazil! He also wrote many books. One of the books he wrote was 'The Institutes of the Christian Religion'.

Source: The Church History A B C's (Stephen Nichols).

Today in History - December 20, 1963 - Berlin Wall Opens up For the First Time

Today in History - Berlin Wall Opens Up

More than two years after the Berlin Wall was constructed by East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing its communist regime, nearly 4,000 West Berliners are allowed to cross into East Berlin to visit relatives. Under an agreement reached between East and West Berlin, over 170,000 passes were eventually issued to West Berlin citizens, each pass allowing a one-day visit to communist East Berlin.

The day was marked by moments of poignancy and propaganda. The construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961 separated families and friends. Tears, laughter, and other outpourings of emotions characterized the reunions that took place as mothers and fathers, sons and daughters met again, if only for a short time. Cold War tensions were never far removed from the scene, however. Loudspeakers in East Berlin greeted visitors with the news that they were now in "the capital of the German Democratic Republic," a political division that most West Germans refused to accept. Each visitor was also given a brochure that explained that the wall was built to "protect our borders against the hostile attacks of the imperialists."

Read the rest of the story at: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/berlin-wall-opened-for-first-time

True History - Church History - Anne Bradstreet

Church History - Anne Bradstreet

   I have to admit (and am embarrassed to admit) that I don't know anything about Anne Bradstreet, so I will do some quick research on her.

   She appears to have been born in England and came over to America with her father, who became governor of the colony they lived in. They were a Puritan family who came over to America in 1630, on a ship named the Arabella. The trip was extremely hard and many died while in transit or shortly after the arrival.
   Anne married Simon Bradstreet and they had eight children. Anne liked to read and write poetry. She was called a 'bard'. She had a great trust in God which had developed through all the hardships she and her family faced. One time their house burned down. Another time she developed a sickness which affected her joints. God was her strength and help. While her husband was gone for long periods of time, she would read her father's books and learned many things.
   As she got older, she developed tuberculoses, and at the age of 60, she passed away. She used her talents and abilities to glorify the God she loved.
   Here is the url to a web site on her : www.annebradstreet.com/anne_bradstreet_bio_001.htm

Today in History - 1843 - Charles Dickens 'Christmas Carol' is Published

Today in History - 1843 - Charles Dickens 'Christmas Carol' is Published


   In 1843, Christmas Carol is published. But in 1732, 'Poor Richard's Almanac' is also published. Today must be a common day for the publishers.

 In 1843, A Christmas Carol appeared. It was the first in a series of successful Christmas books, "a whimsical sort of masque intended to awaken loving and forbearing thoughts"--by Charles Dickens. He financed the publishing of the book himself, with gilt-edging and hand-colored illustrations. It's one of the most popular work that Dickens ever created. By Christmas, the book had sold 6,000 copies.

http://classiclit.about.com/od/christmascarola/Christmas_Carol_Charles_Dickens.htm

A Break From the Veritas Cards - Church History - Augustine

I'm going to take a break from using the Veritas cards since many children aren't in school right now because of the break. I'm planning on doing a short study in church History and will possibly use the book 'The Church History A B C's' that I just ordered and received from amazon.com as a guide.

I'll see how far we get in this book in the next couple of weeks.

A =Augustine. Augustine was a man who lived a wild life as a young adult. His mother, Monica, prayed for him. His father was a pagan and believe in the Punic gods. Augustine followed in the footsteps of his father. One crime that Augustine was accused of was taking pears that weren't his and throwing them at pigs. 

  Augustine was born in 354, and lived in a North African town. He went to school in Carthage, and returned to his hometown of Thagaste to teach rhetoric. He adapted the view of Manichaeism and continued to rebel against God. He eventually moved away to Rome and sat under Ambrose and over a period of time, he was converted.

   He became the Bishop of Hippo. He also defended the faith by arguing against Pelagius. Pelagius was a British monk who rejected the idea of original sin. Also, Augustine wrote a book called 'The City of God'. 

  Augustine died at the age of 76 from a fever. He was known as Africa's ancient bishop.

As a side note: I remember hearing that Augustine came to Christ just one week prior to the death of his mother, Monica, who faithfully prayed for his conversion.

Veritas Card # 10 (Green) #74 (Purple) - Israel and Judah Fall

Israel and Judah Fall - 2 Kings 17 and 25

  Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden by going against God's Command about not eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Many things took place after that happened. Man and woman were now under a curse. Satan was under a curse, and the earth was now under a curse. Although man was created in God's image, that image became marred. People were now doing ugly things to themselves and each other. The good things God originally intended for people to have were now distorted. One of the results of this 'fall' of mankind was that there would be war. People would become enemies of each other and hate and kill each other.
   Many years later, we see this same trend in man. People were still fighting for control and power. There were wars going on and there were rulers who did evil things. God was still on the throne and He still had a plan for Israel, even though Israel had been unfaithful to Him.
   At this time, both Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) had a long succession of kings. Israel never had a good king, and Judah had only a few good ones. The glory that was part of David and Solomon's reigns was slowly diminishing. This was happening because Israel and Judah disregarded God's laws and were unfaithful to Him.
   Israel, the Northern Kingdom, fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The capital of Israel was Samaria. The Southern Kingdom, Judah, did not fall as quickly as the Northern Kingdom, but eventually it was captured by the Babylonians. The Southern Kingdom lasted two more centuries than the Northern Kingdom, perhaps due to the fact that there were a few good kings that were faithful to God.
   The time period for Israel and Judah falling into captivity was from about 722 B.C. to 586 B.C.

Today in History - December 15, 1890 - Sitting Bull was killed by Police

A lot of things happened today in History. The Bill of Rights becomes law in 1791, the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens in 2001, and the United States announces that it will recognize Communist China in 1978. I didn't realize that Sitting Bull was alive in the 1800's. This was the year my grandfather was born. But I will have to admit, my grandfather was older than most of the grandfathers of my peers. He didn't get married until he was forty, and became a father at the age of 41. So, the year that Sitting Bull died, my grandfather was born. It wasn't all that long ago in History either.

After many years of successfully resisting white efforts to destroy him and the Siouxpeople, the great Sioux chief and holy man Sitting Bull is killed by Indian police at the Standing Rock reservation in South Dakota.

One of the most famous Native Americans of the 19th century, Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake) was a fierce enemy of Anglo-Americans from a young age. Deeply devoted to the traditional ways, Sitting Bull believed that contact with non-Indians undermined the strength and identity of the Sioux and would lead to their ultimate decline. However, Sitting Bull's tactics were generally more defensive than aggressive, especially as he grew older and became a Sioux leader. Fundamentally, Sitting Bull and those associated with his tribe wished only to be left alone to pursue their traditional ways, but the Anglo settlers' growing interest in the land and the resulting confinement of Indians to government-controlled reservations inevitably led to conflicts. Sitting Bull's refusal to follow an 1875 order to bring his people to the Sioux reservation directly led to the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which the Sioux and Cheyenne wiped out five troops of Custer's 7th Cavalry.

Please read the rest of the story at:  www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sitting-bull-killed-by-indian-police

Veritas Card # 12 (Green) - Roman Republic Developed

Roman Republic Developed

All of this activity was going on in Greece, while there were Prophets in Israel. Israel was the only country in which God was speaking to at this time. Other things were going on in other countries. Now we are going to focus on what was going on in Rome. They were developing a republic. This was around the time period of 509 - 366 B.C.
  The Romans overthrew the Etruscan king in 509 B.C. They started a new form of government called a republic, after they had broken away. Their leaders were called, 'consuls' and the consuls were elected by the people.
   There were two classes of people in Rome; the patricians, and the plebeians. The patricians had money and were from nobility, but the plebeians were the poor people. The plebeians were made up of farmers and peasants and this group composed most of the population. Consuls were elected by the Senate, which was the ruling body. The only people who could be part of the Senate were the patricians. The plebeians were not happy about this and fought against the patricians and won the right to be elected to serve in official positions. The fighting between the two groups continued, and eventually the republic had to break up.
   Much of the foundation of our government was based on the principles developed by the Romans during this time in History. The United States was formed as a republic. That is where the idea originally came from.

Today in History - December 14, 1911 - Roald Amundsen Reached the South Pole

A variety of things happened in history today. In 1799, George Washington died. In 1900, the quantum theory came about and in 1939, the USSR was expelled from the League of Nations. But today in the year of 1911, a Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, reached the South Pole. He was the first to ever do that. Here is the story behind it from www.history.com :

Norwegian Roald Amundsen becomes the first explorer to reach the South Pole, beating his British rival, Robert Falcon Scott.

Amundsen, born in Borge, near Oslo, in 1872, was one of the great figures in polar exploration. In 1897, he was first mate on a Belgian expedition that was the first ever to winter in the Antarctic. In 1903, he guided the 47-ton sloop Gjöa through the Northwest Passage and around the Canadian coast, the first navigator to accomplish the treacherous journey. Amundsen planned to be the first man to the North Pole, and he was about to embark in 1909 when he learned that the American Robert Peary had achieved the feat.

Amundsen completed his preparations and in June 1910 sailed instead for Antarctica, where the English explorer Robert F. Scott was also headed with the aim of reaching the South Pole. In early 1911, Amundsen sailed his ship into Antarctica's Bay of Whales and set up base camp 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott. In October, both explorers set off--Amundsen using sleigh dogs, and Scott employing Siberian motor sledges, Siberian ponies, and dogs. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen's expedition won the race to the Pole and returned safely to base camp in late January.

Source; www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Veritas Card # 11 (Green) #75 (purple)- Prophets of God

Prophets of God

  I am going to skip some cards and come back to them because of the long time period this covers. The prophets of God took place from around 740 B.C. to 433 B.C.

    God gave prophets to Israel to warn them of the consequences of their sin, should they persist in their rebellion. The prophets were people who spoke for God. God gave them His clear word, and they would communicate that word to the Israelites.

  Prophets had two categories; major and minor. Here is a list of some of the prophets:

Joel, who prophesied to the Northern Kingdom around 835 B.C.
The king at that time was Joash, who was only a boy.

Hosea, who prophesied to the Northern Kingdom around 760-720 B.C.
The king during this time was Jeroboam II. Hosea prophesied through the reign of Hoshea.

Amos, who prophesied to the Northern Kingdom around 760 B.C.
The king at this time was Jeroboam II.

Micah, who prophesied to the Northern Kingdom around 737 - 690 B.C.
He was prophesying along with Isaiah.

Isaiah, a major prophet who prophesied around 739 B.C., whose prophesy was mainly given to Judah, which was the Southern Kingdom.

Nahum, who prophesied against Ninevah around 650 B.C. Jonah had prophesied in Ninevah about 200 years prior to Nahum.

Zephaniah, who prophesied around 640 B.C., against Judah.
This took place during the reign of Josiah.

Habakkuk, who was concerned about God's justice. The wicked Babylonians were about to destroy Judah. This occurred around 609 B.C.

Today in History - December 13, 1577 - Sir Francis Drake sets out on his Voyage

Today in History - December 13, 1577 - Sir Francis Drake sets out on his Voyage 

   Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to sail around the world! Did you know that Queen Elizabeth 1 knighted Sir Francis Drake while she was visiting him on his ship?

English seaman Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, England, with five ships and 164 men on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World and explore the Pacific Ocean. Three years later, Drake's return to Plymouth marked the first circumnavigation of the earth by a British explorer.

After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only The Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship.

Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. Calling the land "Nova Albion," Drake claimed the territory for Queen Elizabeth I.

In July, the expedition set off across the Pacific, visiting several islands before rounding Africa's Cape of Good Hope and returning to the Atlantic Ocean. On September 26, 1580, The Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, England, bearing treasure, spice, and valuable information about the world's great oceans. Drake was the first captain to sail his own ship all the way around the world--the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan had sailed three-fourths of the way around the globe earlier in the century but had been killed in the Philippines, leaving the Basque navigator Juan Sebastián de Elcano to complete the journey.

In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake, the son of a tenant farmer, during a visit to his ship. The most renowned of the Elizabethan seamen, Sir Francis Drake later played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Source: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/drake-sets-out

Veritas Card # 9 (Green) - Greece Colonized, Democracy Begins

Greece Colonized, Democracy Begins

From the time period of around 750 B.C. to 508 B.C., the period of democracy began in Greece. It started with a food shortage and overpopulation in the land. The act of migration was invented out of necessity, and new lands were discovered that provided farming land, while the Greeks were searching for food by exploring the sea. New colonies were formed and trading began. As colonization took place, colonies sprang up around the coasts of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean.
   The society was made up of city-states and were composed of a few rich people. Most of the people did not have wealth and would fight with the rich for control.
   Cleisthenes, of Athens,  introduced a new form of government called 'demokratia' in 508 B.C. The government was made up of an Assembly consisting of all the citizens. It met every ten days to debate proposals from the council, which was a group made up of 500 people who were elected by lot. All the people who were in the Assembly voted on everything. Military leaders were called 'strategoi' and were elected. This is where the roots of democracy came from.

Today in History - December 12, 1901 - First Atlantic Wireless Transmission is Sent

Today in History - December 12, 1901 - First Atlantic Wireless Transmission is Sent

    Today is a milestone in technology. In 1901, Marconi sent the first Atlantic wireless transmission across the ocean. Here is the story from www.history.com

   Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less. The message--simply the Morse-code signal for the letter "s"--traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada.

Born in Bologna, Italy, in 1874 to an Italian father and an Irish mother, Marconi studied physics and became interested in the transmission of radio waves after learning of the experiments of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. He began his own experiments in Bologna beginning in 1894 and soon succeeded in sending a radio signal over a distance of 1.5 miles. Receiving little encouragement for his experiments in Italy, he went to England in 1896. He formed a wireless telegraph company and soon was sending transmissions from distances farther than 10 miles. In 1899, he succeeded in sending a transmission across the English Channel. That year, he also equipped two U.S. ships to report to New York newspapers on the progress of the America's Cup yacht race. That successful endeavor aroused widespread interest in Marconi and his wireless company.

Marconi's greatest achievement came on December 12, 1901, when he received a message sent from England at St. John's, Newfoundland. The transatlantic transmission won him worldwide fame. Ironically, detractors of the project were correct when they declared that radio waves would not follow the curvature of the earth, as Marconi believed. In fact, Marconi's transatlantic radio signal had been headed into space when it was reflected off the ionosphere and bounced back down toward Canada. Much remained to be learned about the laws of the radio wave and the role of the atmosphere in radio transmissions, and Marconi would continue to play a leading role in radio discoveries and innovations during the next three decades.

Aren't we grateful for the way technology developed and continues to develop?

Please read more at:  www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marconi-sends-first-atlantic-wireless-transmission

Veritas Card #8 (Green) - Founding of Rome

Founding of Rome

   Around 753 B.C., it is thought that the city of Rome was founded. There was a legend that told of twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were the grandsons of King Nubitor, who founded the city. King Nubitor had a brother named Amulius, who stole the kingdom. He was afraid that the twin boys would grow up and take revenge, so he threw the baby boys into the river. Somehow, the babies survived the ordeal and did not drown. They ended up on the river bank of the Tiber.
   A mother wolf found the twins and took them to her den in order to raise them. At a later date, they were found by a shepherd and the shepherd took them home to his wife and they raised them. The twins learned of their birthright when they grew up. They fought and overcame Amulius. Then the boys fought each other and Remus was killed by Romulus. City walls came up and the city was called 'Rome' (after Romulus).
   In reality, the people that founded Rome were the Etruscans. There were different groups of people living in Italy at that time, and the main group was the Latins. Most of the people spoke the Latin language.
   It is hard to determine how much, if any, of this legend is actually true. But the first citizens of Rome were the Etruscans and the Latins.
   Have you ever seen a covered walkway that leads into a building? Those are called 'porticos' and their origins came from the Etruscans.

Today in History - December 9, 1950 - Harry Gold Sentenced to Prison 30 years For His involvement in Espionage

Today in History - December 9, 1950 - Harry Gold Sentenced to Prison 30 years For His involvement in Espionage

You might be wondering why I picked this event for the History of the Day event. Well, it has to do with the Cold War, and I have recently become fascinated with this. There were some hidden activities going on that had been exposed, but the ramifications from what was done were disastrous and we are reaping the consequences of what happened without knowing the reason behind all the repercussions. Here is the story from www.history.com

Harry Gold--who had confessed to serving as a courier between Klaus Fuchs, a British scientist who stole top-secret information on the atomic bomb, and Soviet agents--is sentenced to 30 years in jail for his crime. Gold's arrest and confession led to the arrest of David Greenglass, who then implicated his brother-in-law and sister, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Gold's arrest was part of a massive FBI investigation into Soviet espionage, particularly the theft of atomic secrets. Gold, a 39-year-old research chemist, made the acquaintance of British atomic scientist Klaus Fuchs during the latter's trips to the United States during World War II. Fuchs worked at the Los Alamos laboratory on the Manhattan Project, the top secret U.S. program to develop an atomic weapon. David Greenglass was also employed at Los Alamos. In February 1950, Fuchs was arrested in Great Britain and charged with passing atomic secrets on to the Soviets. He was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in a British prison. Fuchs then accused Gold of having been the go-between with Soviet agents. Gold was picked up a short time later and eventually confessed to his part. He explained that, at the time, he did not believe that he was helping an enemy, but was instead assisting a wartime ally of the United States. Further questioning of Gold led him to implicate David Greenglass. Greenglass then informed on Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, claiming that both of them actively spied for the Soviet Union during World War II and after. The Rosenbergs were later convicted and executed for espionage.

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harry-gold-sent-to-prison-for-his-role-in-atomic-espionage

Veritas Card #7 (Green) - The Olympics

The Olympics 

   Around 776 B.C., the Olympics were started as a sacred festival to the gods (idols) that were worshiped in Greece. They were held at Elis, in a place called 'Olympia'. They were athletic games and only pureblooded Greeks were allowed to participate in the games. Greece was not really united as a nation, but, the Olympics brought the Greeks together. Warring tribes would even stop fighting during the time of this festival because it was considered sacred.
   This festival lasted for a week and was quite impressive. On the first day, a colorful processional would take place. It was made up of all the parties of the states. Then they would make a sacrifice to Zeus. They had to screen all the participants to make sure that their diet was proper and they had the correct training. There would be running and wrestling competitions on the second day. Also boxing, chariot races, and the pentathlon took place. A pentathlon was a competition of five events. The four-horse chariot race was the last event of the day.
   On the fifth day, the victors were chosen. A boy would take a golden knife and cut branches from an olive tree. Wreathes were made from these branches and the winners would receive them. A herald would call out the victor's name, his father's name, and the name of the city that he was from. Then the victor would take the crown and make a sacrifice to Zeus. The victor was given great honor at home for the rest of his life.

Today in History - December 8, 1452 -Mary, Queen of Scots is Born

Today in History - December 8, 1452 -Mary, Queen of Scots is Born

  Mary, Queen of Scots, is not to be confused with her cousin, Bloody Mary. Mary, Queen of Scots had discussions with John Knox. Here is one of her more famous quotes:

I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe - Mary, Queen of Scots.

Qted Bruce Atkinson, Land of Hope and Glory p57

Here is the information on Mary Queen of Scots from History.com

In Linlithgow Palace in Scotland, a daughter is born to James V, the dying king of Scotland. Named Mary, she was the only surviving child of her father and ascended to the Scottish throne when the king died just six days after her birth.

Mary's French-born mother, Mary of Guise, sent her to be raised in the French court, and in 1558 she married the French dauphin, who became King Francis II of France in 1559 and died in 1560. After Francis' death, Mary returned to Scotland to assume her designated role as the country's monarch. Mary's great-uncle was Henry VIII, the Tudor king of England, and in 1565 she married her English cousin Lord Darnley, another Tudor, which reinforced her claim to the English throne. This greatly angered the current English monarch, Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1567, Darnley was mysteriously killed in an explosion at Kirk o' Field, and Mary's lover, James Hepburn, the earl of Bothwell, was the key suspect. Although Bothwell was acquitted of the charge, his marriage to Mary in the same year enraged the nobility, and Mary was forced to abdicate in favor of her son by Darnley, James. Mary was imprisoned on the tiny island of Loch Leven.

In 1568, she escaped from captivity and raised a substantial army but was defeated by her Scottish foes and fled to England. Queen Elizabeth I initially welcomed Mary but was soon forced to put her cousin under house arrest after Mary became the focus of various English Catholic and Spanish plots to overthrow her. In 1586, a major Catholic plot to murder Elizabeth was uncovered, and Mary was brought to trial, convicted for complicity, and sentenced to death.

On February 8, 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded for treason at Fotheringhay Castle in England. Her son, King James VI of Scotland, calmly accepted his mother's execution, and upon Queen Elizabeth's death in 1603, he became James I, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Veritas Card #6 (green) - Homer and Greek Mythology

Homer and Greek Mythology

    The time period is around 900 B.C., still a long way before the coming of the Messiah that people were waiting for. During this time, the kings of Israel and Judah were ruling in Israel. In this same time period, in Greece, there was a bard named Homer. A bard was a professional poet who recited poems. Homer may have been blind, but he did write The Iliad and The Odyssey. His stories are some of the oldest stories of Greek literature. He probably wrote down his works toward the end of his life.
   Every culture has a worldview, or a way of thinking that helps them interpret the world around them. In order for the Greeks to understand the world around them, they had myths or legends. Some examples of this are Zeus, Artimis, Athena, and Ares, who were gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. These gods and goddesses were thought to be much like humans, but with more power. The Greeks believed that these gods lived forever. The difference between them and people was that people died and the Greek gods didn't. But that begs the question then, where are these gods and goddesses today? There was obviously some insightful literature written about them, but it only pertained to that time period. The gods are still not alive and we can compare this literature with the Bible, and the One that did come back to life, and is alive today, and will come back for His people one day.

Today in History - December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor is Bombed

Today in History - December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor is Bombed

   A lot of different things happened in History today. For instance, The Singing Nun debuted with her 'Dominique' and it reached number 1 on the song charts. I remember that song well, as I was around 7 or 8 at the time, living in Whippany, New Jersey. The song was in reference to St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order. Of course, I don't know what the words mean without a translator! But it does bring back memories.
    But in 1941, when Roosevelt was President, Pearl Harbor had been bombed! Here is the story behind it from www.history.com :

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

With diplomatic negotiations with Japan breaking down, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his advisers knew that an imminent Japanese attack was probable, but nothing had been done to increase security at the important naval base at Pearl Harbor. It was Sunday morning, and many military personnel had been given passes to attend religious services off base. At 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.

You can read more at:  www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Veritas Card #64 - Kings of Judah

Kings of Judah - 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles

  We learned how Israel was now divided into two kingdoms; Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Rehoboam was the king of Judah after Israel split from Judah. Rehoboam told the Israelites that he would make them work harder than his father did. The ten Northern tribes then made Jeroboam the king over them. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin were the only ones now following Rehoboam.
  At the time when Asa was reigning, some of the Israelites saw the Presence of God with Judah, and they joined the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
   The Northern Kingdom did not have righteous kings ruling the land, and they went into captivity earlier than Judah, who had some righteous kings. This delayed God's judgment on Judah and He was gracious to them. The kings of Judah had longer reigns than those that were of the Northern Kingdom. But in 586 B.C., Judah finally fell into captivity and was conquered by Babylon. Jerusalem was destroyed as well as the temple.
   The time period of the kings of Judah was around 931 B.C. - 586 B.C.

Today in History - December 6, 1884 - The Washington Monument is Completed

Today in History - December 6, 1884 - The Washington Monument is Completed

On this day in 1884, in Washington, D.C., workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyramid atop a tower of white marble, completing the construction of an impressive monument to the city's namesake and the nation's first president, George Washington.  As early as 1783, the infant U.S. Congress decided that a statue of George Washington, the greatRevolutionary War general, should be placed near the site of the new Congressional building, wherever it might be. After then-President Washington asked him to lay out a new federal capital on the Potomac River in 1791, architect Pierre L'Enfant left a place for the statue at the western end of the sweeping National Mall (near the monument's present location).

It wasn't until 1832, however--33 years after Washington's death--that anyone really did anything about the monument. That year, a private Washington National Monument Society was formed. After holding a design competition and choosing an elaborate Greek temple-like design by architect Robert Mills, the society began a fundraising drive to raise money for the statue's construction. These efforts--including appeals to the nation's schoolchildren--raised some $230,000, far short of the $1 million needed. Construction began anyway, on July 4, 1848, as representatives of the society laid the cornerstone of the monument: a 24,500-pound block of pure white marble.

Six years later, with funds running low, construction was halted. Around the time the Civil War began in 1861, author Mark Twain described the unfinished monument as looking like a "hollow, oversized chimney." No further progress was made until 1876--the centennial of American independence--when President Ulysses S. Grant authorized construction to be completed.

So this is what happened today in the year of 1884. You can read more on this story at:  www.history.com/this-day-in-history