William Williams Pantycelyn (above), the greatest hymn writer of Wales, died today in 1791 at the age of 76. He is the author of many Welsh language hymns, but his most famous is probably Arglwydd, arwain trwy’r anialwch, known to English congregations as ‘Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah’.
Today in 1567, the first state lottery was launched in England, at the command of Elizabeth I. Christian opponents to its latter-day successor might be interested to hear that the tickets were sold from the West Door of St Paul’s Cathedral.
‘A very rich Lotterie generall, without any Blanckes, contayning a great number of good Prices, aswel of redy Money as of Plate and certaine sorts of Marchaundizes, having ben valued and priced by the commaundment of the Queenes most excellent Majestie.’ Advertisement for the lottery
William James, the American philosopher and author of the groundbreaking book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, was born today in 1842, in New York City.
Thomas Hardy died today in 1928, aged 87. His extraordinarily beautiful novels and poems are pervaded with a lifetime’s angry disappointment with God for not existing.
O man-projected Figure, of late
Imaged as we, thy knell who shall survive?
Whence came it we were tempted to create
One whom we can no longer keep alive?
Thomas Hardy, ‘God’s Funeral’
Image: National Library of Wales