Polynesian., 1856-12-20
Gbe 11olpuesian.
Luther's Liberalify.

penSeS. He has often said " that he gave more out
than he took In'' His pay at this time amounted
to but two hundred guilders, and his own family
expenses to five hundred. Besides, he aided his
poor relatives, and was obliged to perform many
expensive journeys business relating to the Re-
formation. His eminent position in society often
subjected him to invitations to assume the relation
of godfather, and this always levied contributions
on his purse. He was also obliged to make numer-
Gus marriage presents, and almost daily to enter
tain strangers, which compelled him to keep cor
responding number of servants. His expenses were
so great that sometimes he embarrassed with
considerable debt. He says, am unfit for house
keeping; am made quite poor by the necessary
support of my destitute relations and daily demands
of strangers" In writing to another friend, he
says, {" You know that am quite oppressed by my
large domestic establishment, for through my
thoughtessness have, during this year, made debts
to the amount of more then one hundred guders.
have pledged three silver cups at one place for
fifty guilders but the Lord who chastises my folly
will deliver me. Hence it is that Cranach and Au-
rfaber will no longer take security, for they
observe that have an empty purse. have given
them my fourth cup for twelve guilders, which they
have loaned to Hartman. But why is it that my
purse is so completely exhausted-no, not quite ex-
hausted; but why am [ so deeply immersed in debt:
believe no one will charge me with parsimony,
avarice," SC. He sometimes had the honor of en-
tertaining persons of exalted rank. Elizabeth the
sister of Christian III, King of Denmark, who had
fled from her husband account of his cruel treat
ment of her because she had abandoned popery, and
the Duchess Ursula of Munsterbergh, escaped
num- had often been his guests for upwards of three
months at time, and it Is no small matter for a
poor man to entertain a Princess. Many monks
and nuns who had escaped from converts had often
imposed themselves on his hospitality, and some
times shamefully deceived him. In 1887, he took
into his house his relative and countrymln, Agri-
cola, with his wife and family, and kept them for
long time, until Luther procured prOfessorshp for
him. Luther's five children where then growing
up, and their education was by means neglected
and even the fields which his wife owned, near
Wttenberg, and Zoldorf, demanded no little out
lay. To all this was superadded that peculiar dis
position which has however characterized many
great minds, which is a perfect contempt of all
earthly possessions. The grounds of this he sought
and found in the Bible. When with scorn he re-
jected all gold and dignties on condition of re-
nouncng his faith, which his enemies made he did
right; but 1t must be confessed that father Of
family he was too careless about their wants
Thus, when some one reminded him that he might
at least, lay up little property for his family, he
replied, d" That | shall not do for otherwise they
will not trust to God their eXertions but to
their money" Thus he presented all his manu-
scripts TO the printers, who were that time also
booksellers, and when they offered him four hun
dred guilders annually for the privilege of printing
and selling his books, he rejected the offer, and
said, % | Will not sell the grace of God. have
enough" Only occasionally he asked for a copy
of his book as a present to a friend. He charged
no fee for his lectures. ''It was my intention,'
said he g after was married to lecture for pay.
But as God anticipated me, have all my life sold
no copy of my books, nor read lectures for money.
And if it please God, will carry this honor to the
grave with me-" When the elector, John the Con-
I. l.
in productive silver mine at Schneeberg as COM
plment for his translation of the Bible, he replied
g 1t much better becomes me to pay the amount Of
my share with pdter nOSter, that the may con-
time productive and the product may be well ap-
Piled" This he confirmed soon after, (Sept 8,
| I53O) with those words. Z" | have never taken
penny for my translations, and never asked it,
And at another place he says, Z" If did not feel
such painful concern for has sake lgho died for me-
the whole world could not give me money enough
to write book or translate any portion of the BIZ
BILE. not U0iiing to be reacarded By the t0orld
for my labor; the l0oTH as TO poor far that - Me
Ianchthon promised him thousand gullders
compensation if he would finish the translation of
Esop. begun in 1880, and dedicate it to some great
parsonage but Luther desired to labor exclusively
for the diffusion of the Gospel, and write theoogi
cal works, for which he would receive no pay.
Another friend made him present of two hundred
guilders, which he generous divided among poor
.
students.
When in 1929, Bugenhagen brought him a
gift of one hundred guilders from a rich gentle
man, he gave Melanchthon the half of 1t. As
early as 1920, he received bequest of one hun
dred and fifty guders from DR.. Heinrich Becke
of Naumburg, and in 1921, person named Mar
Gus Schart presented him with fifty guilders,
which he divided with his prior, Breisger. When
the Elector. John the Steadfast, in 1915, ordered
tax to be levied to raise money to carry on the
war against the Turks, and exempted Luther's
property, the latter would not consent to 1t, but
for the sake of the example had property to the
amount of six hundred and ten guilders assessed.
/ Many other similar instances of his remarkable
dsinterestedness, which, however, were not al
ways worthy of imitation, might be mentioned.
He was liberal and benevolent even few rich
men are, and hence it is, that his children re-
ceived no large inheritance from him. Thus on
one occasion a very poor man applied to him for
help. He had no money at hand, and his wife
was sick; but he took the donation which had
been made to his infant at its recent baptism, and
gave it to the applicant. The sick wife, who
soon missed the money out of the savings box,
expressed her displeasure, but Luther meekly re-
piled, {" God is rich; He will provide in some
other way"
At another time, young man who had finished
his studies and was about to leave WIttenberg
made similar request. Luther was again des-
titute of funds. With sincere sympathy he de-
plored his inability to aid the youth; but when he
observed his deep distress, his eye fell on silver
cup which had been presented to him by the Elec-
tor. He looked inquiringly at his wife, her coun-
tenance seemed to reply, no. but he hastily
snatched the cup and gave it to the student The
latter was much astonished, and was unwilling to
take if. Catharine, also, by winks and looks, In
timated to her husband not to press the accept
ance of it on the stranger. But Luther, with
great effort pressed the sides Of the cup together
and gave it to the young man, saying, 6 have no
use for silver cup. Here, take It carry 1t to
-,Id.,,;,b and kapn all vou can pet for ii -