Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-03-18
MisfelIameous.
The Luthrv nloaunene as
WOrWss.
BIT ABsors.

A very considerable sensation has
been produced in Europe in the re-
ligious and even in the political are
NJ, by the recent Inauguration Of q
grand monument in honor Of the
great leader Of the Reformation, La.
ther, at w orms, city on the Rhine,
which was the scene OF the most mo-
mentous transaction in his very
eventful life. Indeed, when we con-
slider tie grandeur of the occasion,
the pomp and power of the principal
actors in the dramn, the picturesque
and exciting character Of the attend
ant circumstances, and the vast i'm
portance Of the results depending,
the trial of Luther before the Diet at
Worms must be regarded as one OF
the grandcst and mos. dramatic
scenes ever recorded in history.
The Diet, SO called, was a convo-
cation of all the grand and sovereign
dignitaries, both civil and eeclesias-
teal, representing the various sover-
cign States an1 great public organi-
cations which were in that day com.
prised in the German empire. 1t
was thus body, in some respects.
corresponding to the Congress of
the United States ut the present day
though the two systems, considered
as systems Of government, were
founded on fundamentally different
principles. Among the outward dis
ferences which resulted from this in
ternal dissi:nilarity was this, that
whereas. in the American Congress,
on the one hand, the representa-
tivcs from the several States are all
on an equal footing, in respec. to
dignity and prerogat;ve, and all pre-
sent themselves at the opening Of a
session in the garb, and with the de-
meanor, OF citizens, and represent
ing each all equal portion of the gen.
eral population Of the country, or Of
the political power Of State; the
German Dict, on the other hand,
were themselves sovereigns in their
own rights, Or represented political
organizations vastly diverse from
each other, in political dignity and
position. The various princes, Gov
ereign dukes, counts, baroDs, elect
ors, margraves, archbishops. bishops
and ambassadors, came each with
his swn characteristic dress and his
own Characteristic decoration, and
accompanied by his own appropri-
ute civic or military retinue, in sc-
cordance with his rank and station.
The assembling of the Diet, accord
inaly, filled the town in which it was
convened with parade and excite
ment, and caused the hall, in which
the sessions were held, to present a
most gorgeous and imposing specta-
Gle. 1t was before this grand tribu-
nal that Luther was summoned.
Sometimes, writer's on the Refor@
nation, under the influence Of de-
sire to exalt the agency of God in
the work, by undertaking. the in
strumentality by which it was ac-
ccmplished. speak of Luther as m
humble monk. II is true that he was
o monk, and in the early part Of his
life he was in humble circumstances;
but at the time when he opened the
controversies which led TO the kcfor-
nation, lac Was professor in one of
the leading German Universities
man of gr... -sr'i"n in the liter
~. world. TIE prestige Of his no. !
sition and of his fame, no doubt,
in a very eminent degree
to the success Of his efforts in call
ING public attention to the a0uses he
lssa'led.
The contest was carried on within
the bosom Of the Catholic church
for some time, for it was several
years after it commenced before the
rcformers renowned their allegi-
ance to Papal authority. The ques
ton arose, in the FIRST instance, from
the sale Of what were called ildul-
gences, which were certificates of a
remission Of the ecclesiastical penal
ties OF sin. and especially OF the suf-
fetings of Pnrgatory, for those who
should pay the prices ut which they
were sold.
1t seems amazing that the creduli
ty of mankind could be so great, in
even the darkest ages. that set Of
religious teachers could induce vast
of their fellow men to pay
them money, as consideration for
releasing them from pains and pen
alties after death, the control over
which, in respect to the duration and
severity Of them, they claimed was
lodged by Almighty God in their
hands. and that they were author
lied by Him to sell the exemptions
for money.
African.
NeyvRess Of science
l.