The North-Carolinian., 1844-04-13


Shall be yes for evermore.
Niiscefianeeus.
From the Ladie,' Magazine.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAR
TIN LUTHER.
To the phi!sn,hropst, the patriot, aud the
ef, is,iau, the character and conduct OF this
distinguished tefornaer caunot be otherwise
than deeply interesting. The time OF his
biiit Is ast certainly known. His brothe'.
1Anses Luther, however, has related that ii
wsa in l4S3. at Eisleben, un obscure Town in
s.1s c6uutv Of Mansfield in the circle of Up
per sax.,,,y. ffiss fathers extraction aud
circumstances were originally iow,-his &C.
cupa,iou being that Of a nlner; but In after
lie. he was elevated Ia the magistracy OF his
natise-. pravince. Maternal counsels and
tuition seef, to have laid the foundation OF
that dev,aiona! arsEcr a..d willing sacrifice OF
sseif, which formed the pfonineut features oi
Luther character. AT the early age Ot four
teen he was seut to a school at MagdebaRh
and though he remained there but one year,
che gave indications of towering genius,
notw outstanding ne had ali the while 10 gtap-
pie with extreme poverty. From Magdeburs
~ was removed TO school at Eseuach, a
--'- g sFhes:iagia, where resided the relations
-.,,,,,s sho, ii is mentioned, was once
;, member Of al saacient and highly respecia-
5ble family in that towS~-~ Here he was IL
charge oi cue of ihe sects OF mss;sks in the
communion of ihe Ronish clergy, called
r,aucisca..s III .hiS school, under the
tui.i..r of. John Ptabonus, hs acquired re-
putainn superior sa any nf his schoo-ieliows
In t5G2 s:s. we ,e university Of Effurt,
-whes wan s.ea' nss'a.ny ~:
ssous Of good sense
zee tnrcussa aud conse-
Use the learning Of the schools.
i Lt,fher was engaged in the study of
*, while at Erturt, Or afterwards, Is not
,-.own. OF ii.e Greek and Hebrew very lit
lie was studied in any OF the universities at
that period. At the university of " i,temburg.
Meianchon was the first professor of Greek.
and Luther. though himself professor, hesi-
tased not to avail himself OF the learning Of
his fiiend aud colleague. When only twenty
years at age, he took his degree of Master of
Arts, aud his chief studies were the physics,
ethics, philosophy aad humanity of Aristotle.
Soon after, at the recommendation of his pa
rents, he prepared himself for the bar, by the
study OF the civil law. From this, however,
he was soon diverted by sudden aud re.
rna,kable dispensation Of Providence. One
Gay while walking i'll the fields with young
friend, whose name was Alexius, he was
struck to- the groQHd by lightning, and his
!. .y..,Hg companion. was killed beside him
This even, deeply affecting as to de.
.tetuiiue him to iihdraw from the world. He
accordingly retired into a convent of ST.
Augustine ifiars.-Here, on looking over ths
books of the library, hs found Latin Bible
which he had never before seen; and on read
ing it, perceived, TO his great astonishment
that only very small part of the scriptures
were Tehearsed or understood by the people
He war ignorant Of The inonastic profession
: -aad consequently nnacqusinted with the Sc
verify of lis duties; aud instead of euioyin
freedom: from worldly cares, as he had an
ticipated, he was compelled TO act f.eqnenil
iu the capacity OF a neniai, being Obliged I
at,eud az potter AT The monastery, OF to <
through The town begging. 1t would be in
pu5sihis To account for the patieut resiyus
ton of Luther TO his new mode Of life, upo
any o,he, grounds than his conscientious d,
termination topesiorm his daty, wha,ever wei
its requirements mouastic vows hu
been made III secret, from consciousne
that if his determination was known to h
young companions they would endeavor
dissuade him from such Course. In Il
monastery of Erfurt he took priestIy orde,
and celebrated his ti,st mass in 1907. II
following year he was removed to the Unive
sity of Witlenhurg, which had then been h
recently founded by Frederick, Elec,or
Sax"py. Until this period be had been
Jealous. underwriting Catholic.
Anxious TO promote the revival Of Tearni
inhis dominion, Frederick Of Saxony appoi
ted Luther tn be Professor Of leyic in
University of W;,temberg. In This .tari
he soon became distinguished for tic prom
ness his elocution, aud for the ability of
reasonin.s. On the occasion Of disp,
respecting discipline. between the Vicnr Ge
erai Of the Augussiniaus in Saxony and Sol
OF the converts within his jurisdiction,
,hsr was depu'sd to repair 10 Rome, and