The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-22
Inauguration OF the Luther Monument aI
Worms-ImPOsIng Ceremonies.


frankfort June 20 Correspondence Of the London Daily
Newfl
The inauguration of the Luther monument a.
tracied TO the small town of Worms sufficient visit
ors TO fill large capital. As many as 90 900
people were preFent, who, OF course, could not
be lodged IN town. and had TO seek shelter as well
as they could in the villages of the neghbOrhood
Besides the kings of Prussia and Wurtemberg.
and several of the minor German Protestant
princes, about 1000 clergymen had arrived from
all parts of Germany and Switzerland, and even
from France, England and America. The festivi-
ties were rather Of a serious than gay character.
The great services of Luther and the reformers
who preceded or followed him we're eXtOled in
sermons and speeches. An English clergyman
spoke vehemeDtly against Puseyism. and charges
the Bishop of Oxford with betrsying the cause of
the reformation. The most remarkable speech
was that of the mayor of the town, Catholic, as
are three-fourths of the population. When the
monument was made over to the care of the mu.
nicipaliiy of Worms, he accepted it as natOusl
gift, and praised the manly spirit shown by Luther
at the diet when he declared: 81 have not been
convinced; / cannot retract; here | am; can.
not change 4; may God assist me - This histOri-
cal fact, which has changed the aspect of Europe,
deserved to be cOmmemorated by national mon
Ument. Even those nations which have not
adopted his religious teuets enjoy their blessings,
for he has put down the despotism which forbade
free thought, and he gave back to every nation
the right TO bring common sense to bear on re.
gious matters. His translation of the Bible in
duced people to learn to read his schools and
academies came into existence, and in his own
time he was considered the German Cicero.
The monument itself is a great success. The
statue of Luther is ten feet high by his side are
his two protectors-the elector Of SaXony and the
lsndgrave of Hesse. The next group shows Huss,
Ssyonarola, Wicklite, Wsldus, MelanchthOn and
Reuchlin, and the symbolic statues of the towns
in which the leading events took place. Spires,
where the protest was made which gave the name
TO PrOtestantism; Augsburg, where the first
peaceabe settlement was arrived at, and Magde-
berg the last sufferer and victim Of the League.
The king of Prussia. the hereditary prince and the
other princes left when the ceremony was over !;
but 10 the evening a telegram arrived from the
king from Mentz, stating that he had just received
a telegram from Queen Victoria, the dispatch
reading "Pray express TO the committee for the
ert elton of the Luther memorial my most hearty
congratulations upon the successful completion Of
their task. Protestant England cordially sympa-
thises upon an occasion which unites the PTOtes
tant princes and the people of Germany" The
report was enthusasucal ly received, aud the Eng
lish national anthem was sung by the splendid
! chorus, TO which all the vocal societies of the
Eeghboring towns had sent their best members.
The festivities closed 10 the best harmony, aud,
though there we're neither police nor military, not
the least disorder occurred. The railway cOmpa.
pies had plenty of business on their hands, still
they managed il without any accident. The only
draw back was the large number of pickpOrkets
who had come from all parts, and who victimized
many a clergyman.