The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-31
luther and Protest Yesterday an
Anniversary.


The analysis of religious movements in Ger
many presents them strongly in the antagonist
relations of inhdelity and faith-of individual
Ism and the Church. The German Protesants
of our City, yesterday, in the spirit Of Their
faith, were enthusiastic In ceremonial remep>
brsnce of the Reformer who learned them
word 'Protest."
1t was on the eve Of Gall Saints Day,
tie S1St of October, in the year 1917,
MARTIN LUTHER affixed to the door
Church in Wittenburg, ninety five proposi
--embodying his protect. The controvt
with the mother Church, thus commenced, was
without settled purpose or inclination upon the
part Of LUTHER to interfere with or change
the established ritss.of the Church. But the
Incorporate zeal and violence Of TRTzEL, and
prosecuting spirit of number of emissaries
of Rome, built up an organized opposition,
TErzEL and the Dominioans committed the
writings Of LUTHER to the flames, and publicly
declared that "the hereto ought to be burned
alive" The friends Of LUTHER burned the
answer to the Rsformer's thesis, and from
question as to indulgenoes, a fierce assault
was made involving the authority of the Pope
and the safety Of the Church. The unwise
sxtrcmism, then, Of JOHN TETzEL, Bachelor of
Divinity, Prior Of the Dominicans, Apostolcal
Commissioner, and Inquisitor Of the Catholic
Church, who made merchandise of indulgences
10 doubt, precipitated the Reformation of the
sixteenth century. Having been forbidden by
the Princes Of Saxony to enter their dominions,
ne opened, as history relates, his market on the
confines Of the territory Of the Archbishop of
Magdeberg, within four miles of Wittenberg,
in the year 1917. LUTHER, the subsequent
Reformsr, then occupied the confessional chair,
as Catholic priest, and, as father confessor,
granted absolution to penitents.
The conduct Of TErzEL, no doubt An Ossa-
wattomic Brown in his profession, excited a
general indignation, and LUTHER, with earn
sstness, declared that there could be no reli-
ance for forgiveness on the indulgences which
the patrons of TE1zEI had purchased, without
repentance and amendment of life. The
history Of the times further instructs us that
LUTHER solemnly warned his hearers of the
danger of the delusion and rejected the letters
0findulgence, Of and that TErzEL, when informed
thereof, was thrown into paroxysm of rage
pronounced against LrrHER the most threat
ening denunciations; and kindling fire in
the great square of Interboch, publicly de-
cjarcd his authority from the Pope to commit
ai heretics to the flames. On the following
day LUTHER preached henecessity of repent
anoe; the inability of tho sinner TO satisfy
Gods justice; and pardon, as proceeding
from unmerited and free grace of God through
Christ alone. "If some cry that ! am a
hsretic," he concluded" for the truth which
speak is prejudicial to their coffers--I pay
little regard TO their clamors. They are men
Of gloomy and sickly minds, who have never
felt the truths Of the Bible, never read the
Qhristrian doctrine, never understood their
own teachers, and are perishingin the tattered
rags of their vain opinions. God grant 10
them and TO us right understanding p
TErzEL replied, and LurHER rejoined, and thus
corumenced the Reformation in Germany.