Beard, Thomas the "protomartyr of Methodism," was one of Mr. Wesley's first assistants. In 1744, during the fierce persecutions waged against the Methodists, he was torn from his family and sent away as a soldier. He maintained a brave spirit under his sufferings, but his health failed. He was sent to the hospital at Newcastle in 1774, "where," says Wesley, "he still praised God continually." His fever became worse, and he was bled, but his arm festered, mortified, and had to be amputated. A few days later he died. Charles Wesley wrote the hymn Soldier of Christ, adieu! as a tribute to the memory of Beard. Wesley, Works, 3, 317; Stevens, Hist. of Methodism, 1, 210; Atmore, Memorial, p. 27.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More