Bible-Burning the substance of a sermon preached in St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, 1848

In this mid‑nineteenth‑century sermon, a Birmingham rector steps onto the pulpit to address a shocking incident: a Roman‑Catholic priest has set fire to a schoolgirl’s copy of the authorized New Testament. Rather than stoking animosity, the speaker frames the episode as a chance to reflect on true Christian spirit, emphasizing humility, love, and the unifying power of truth. He weaves biblical references—from Jeremiah’s burning scroll to the humble prayers of the Psalms—into a plea for compassion that transcends denominational lines.

The address is both a historical snapshot of Victorian religious tensions and a timeless meditation on how believers might respond to provocation with grace. Listeners will hear the rector’s earnest prayer for honesty, faithfulness, and peace, discovering how a single act of destruction can inspire a broader call for tolerance and shared devotion.