The New York herald., 1868-06-28
The Luther Monument at Werms-A Re
markablo Celebration.

rourtn OF July.
The Luther Monument at Werms-A Re-
markablo Celebration.
For some days past we have had interesting
cable dispatches from Germany in regard to
the monument which has for several years
been in process of erection at Worms to the
memory of Martin Luther. In the HERALD of
Friday we announced the fact that the mOnu-
ment had been inaugurated, or, as some
would prefer to say, unveiled, in circumstances
of great solemnity. We had learned from
previous kilograms that the Inauguration was
to partake somewhat of the character of
festival, that King William of Prussia and his
court were to be present, that the diplomatic
corps was to be largely represented, and that
Americans who now happen to be in Europe
Worms to take part in the festival and to
testify their respect to the memory of the
great reformer. The Inauguration festival
seems to have come up to the high expecta-
tions formed of it.
We do not much wonder at the excite
ment which the event has created Martin
Luther was unquestionably rebel; but he
was one of the grandest men who ever
risked a rebels chances. On the roll of
the worlds worthless there is no greater name.
Whether we regard him as schismstic or as a
reformer, it is impossible to refuse to admit
that he showed immense pluck, that he ran
great risks, that he had large success that his
life was blessing to mankind, and that dying,
he left a memory and name which the world
has right to cherish and hold dear. That he
had his failings no reader of history will deny;
but to have failings is to be human, and Mar
tin Luther never pretended to be more than
man. His failings, however, whatever they
were, leaned rather to virtue than to vice, and
were of such character that the world has
never been careful to remember them.
The one thing which men do remember, and
which they will not be induced to forget, is
that Luther was the bravest man of his day
and that they have benefited by his bravery.
The evils which he saw were seen by many
of his fellows; but he differed from all
his fellows, from all the men of his time,
in this-that he could not be silent under
an injustice under wrong With him to feel
was to speak; to know that wrong existed
was TO denounce it, and to keep denouncing it
till he killed it, 1t is not too much to say that
the Monk Of Wittenberg dared the world as no
man had dared the world before, as no man
has dared the world since, and that he dared
1t with comparative impunity and with sue
cess for which we have all of us occasion to
be grateful.
Were we to sum up the work of Martin
Luther perhaps we should say no more
than that he taught mankind to believe in pro-
gress, in increasing knowledge, and that moth
ing, not even religion, was to be allowed to
stand in the way of the teaching of facts
Long before Robert Burns was born Martin
Luther man after all not unlike Burns, felt
that facts were stubborn things" and that
they must be yielded to. He was not the first
man to feel that the world might get into
foolish grooves and had got into foolish
grooves, but he was one of the first
men who had the hardihood to speak
out what he felt, to speak 1t out regardless of
all consequences and to speak it out with an
advantage to himself and to mankind. It was
q daring, brave thing to do in the times in
which it was done; but success justified what
he did, and although Huss and Wickline and
others had been quite as brave the honor and
glory of the religious revolution Of the six
eenth century will be everlastingly associated
With the name of Martin Luther. Il is only
ust, however, to add that but for the press,
which had just then begun to be q power,
Luther might have been quite a. unsuccessful
md quite as unfortunate as many of his pre-
lecessors. The age was in favor of the man.
1t is no matter Of surprise to us that three
hundred and fifty years after Martin Luther
lad nailed his immortal theses to the door Of
he Schlosskirche at Wittenberg, and three hun
lred and fortv-seven years after he had con-
ronted the Emperor, the princes, the mobiles,
he Church digntaries and others at the Diet
If Worms, monument should be raised in that
,ity to his memory. II is rather matter Of
surprise to us that Worms, which, as a city,
owes all its reputation to Luther, should have
been so long without suitable memo
rial Of the man TO whom it owes so
much. 1t is cause for general joy that
the man who advocated reform when reform |
was not only unpopular but perlous, has
now, In the city with which his name is per-
haps more Intimately associated than with any |
other, received the honor which has long
been due.
1t is certainly curious and striking fact
that at the very time we are made aware that
80 becoming tribute Of respect has been paid
to the memory Of the reformer of the sixteenth
century we should have fresh illustration of
the old and oft-reiteratcd saying that the
Papacy will not learn. No student of history
can refuse to admit that even the Papacy was
the better for I.uther IL is d;e,o,I. Ls..,.-