Today in History (December 25): 1723 The German Baptists (the Dunkards) held their first immersion service in American at Germantown, Pennsylvania 1821 Birth of Clara (Clarissa Harlowe) Barton, American humanitarian and founder of the American Red Cross, in Oxford, Massachusetts; her heroic services to American Civil War wounded brought her to a nervous collapse several years later; while recuperating in Europe, Barton worked with the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland; she returned to the U.S. and helped organize the American chapter of the Red Cross in 1881; she was elected its first president, and served from 1881-1904; Barton, a universalist, was also an advocate of temperance, women's rights, and improved social conditions 1836 Michael Wolf Hamma, president of General Synod, born in Richland County, Ohio 1865 Birth of Evangeline Cory Booth, English social reformer and general of The Salvation Army, in London, England; daughter of William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, she supervised field operations in Great Britain, Canada, and Alaska; in 1904 she was promoted to commander of the American branch of the S.A., and in 1934 was elected General of the International Salvation Army; before her retirement in 1939, she published several books and also authored many well-known Salvation Army hymns If you wish to use these items, please get permission. Permission to post TIH items on LUTHERAN-ROOTS was received from Marvin A. Huggins, C.A., Associate Director Concordia Historical Institute (314)505-7921 801 De Mun Avenue FAX: (314)505-7901 St. Louis, MO 63105-3168 mhuggins@chi.lcms.org Web Page: http://chi.lcms.org/ for today, John Birkholz brotherjohn@imt.net 963 McIver Road Great Falls, MT 59404