August 20, 1153: Bernard of Clairvaux, French theologian, monastic reformer, and hymn writer (“O Sacred Head Now Wounded”), dies. His motto was “To Know Jesus and Jesus Crucified” (see issue 24: Bernard of Clairvaux).
August 20, 1745: Francis Asbury, one of the two first Methodist bishops in America (the other was Thomas Coke), is born in Birmingham, England (see issue 45: Camp Meetings and Circuit Riders).
August 20, 1912: William Booth, founder and first General of the Salvation Army, dies (see issue 26: William and Catherine Booth).