On this Day... September 8

CEBU, Philippines – In 1974, Evel Knievel tried to leap Snake River Canyon in Idaho. The designer of his own custom-built "Sky Cycle 2" was offered a bonus of $80,000 if Knievel survived. The daredevil stunt rider said the bike had only five safety features - the fifth being "The Lord's Prayer." When it came time to make a leap, the bike went wrong - but the automatic parachute opened and Knievel floated gently to the ground. For his 'failure' Knievel reportedly received $250,000 in cash - and all it cost him was a banged nose!

. In 1664, New York was renamed in honor of James, Duke of York, the future James II of England, after the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam, as they called it then, to the British. The town's swift surrender wasn't really surprising, since its total defense force consisted of the "Rattle Watch" - a bunch of eight volunteers who were expected to alert the town by shaking children's rattles!

- from This Day in Christian History

By William D. Blake

In Christian history -

. In 1974, at the Naval Air Station in Atlanta, Georgia, Lieutenant Vivian McFadden was sworn in as the first female African-American chaplain of the U.S. Navy.

- from This Day in Christian History

By William D. Blake

In the Philippines -

. In 1954, the eight-member Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), intended primarily to deter the further spread of communism in Southeast Asia, was founded in Manila. Also known as the Manila Pact, its founding members were the Philippines, the United States, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Pakistan and Thailand. In addition to joint military training, the organization did some work on mutual social and economic issues. The treaty was supplemented by a Pacific Charter, affirming the rights of Asian and Pacific peoples to equality and self-determination and setting forth goals of economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the member countries. The civil and military organizations established under the treaty had their headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. SEATO relied on the military forces of member nations and joint maneuvers were held annually. SEATO had no standing forces, but its members engaged in combined military exercises. Pakistan withdrew in 1968, and France suspended financial support in 1975. The organization was disbanded officially on June 30, 1977.

- www.kahimyang.info

In Cebu -

.In 1902, the war between the Philippines and the United States was officially declared at an end. Sporadic guerrilla resistance, however, continued in Cebu and various parts of the country.

- from Cebuano Studies Center, University of San Carlos