Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-01-17
For the CHRcNIcLI
THE REFORMED CHURCH.

THE REFORMED CHURCH.
Mr.. EDIroR-Sometime ago an IN
dividual asked me, Of this our Re
/ formed Church, as to what had we
reformed from when and how; and
/ indeed this is q question we IND
among aany people that they are moi
able to solve, for the great mass Of oul
community are unaQu2inted with
church history, and also with the
| History of Reformation in the church
/ Therefore for the benefit of those who
desire to have at least q little lighi
upon these questions, we give here
| the following:
We reformed from the Roman
/ Catholics over three hundred year.
ago, when Popery forced the nations
/ under its eontIol, i. e. so far SIS it could
When Kings and Cezars, Emperofs
and Lords were made to bend to the
| would be Lord Pope Of Rome; Wheu
erucifx, candlesticks. pictures, cere.
monies, forms, statutes OF Saints, and
the like, were plentiful as even now
in our days, in some localities in Ro-
man churches, when pardon Of sin
was sold for money by equal or proba-
bly, more sinful agents than was the
sinner himself, after and at time
when the Pope killed thousands OF
people because they refused to accept
his popish and unbiblioal doctrine.
God Almighty raised up man foI
his own cause. and that even from
among the misguided Roman chris
tians, of whom we could name many,
but will only give some of the fore
most. who carried Gods cause for
ward. Among them stands Ulrieh
Zwingli, q man who was born Of poor
parents, among the high Alps in
Switzerland. Also Wittenbach, Capt.
to, Heller, Oekolampadius, Farel, and
of course John Calvin, who stands
very prominent among all OF them.
While in Germany the Reforma-
tion was carried forward by Luther
and Melsnchton, on the more level
lands. That Of Switzerland and also
in France, and then in Palatinate I. e.
the German country along the Rhine,
(Where the shout of q Reformation
re- echoed from q thousand hills) was
carried forward by the above named
persona.
Young Ulrich Zwingli, who had
learned Gods wonderful voice, in
mighty thunders and llghtnings, on
and among the Alps, was also q great
friend of truth and an enemy 70 all
lies. His talents soon led his friends
to the idea that he should be well
taught, and for that purpose gave him
a GOOD common education at INST,
then sent him to the city OF Basil,
where Plus the III had school, and
where he pursued his studies under
Greeor Binzli, a talented and meek
teacher at that University, until 1897
when he again returned 10 the Alpine
regions, the country of his youth, he
vet only q youth. Many sinful acts
were accomplished by Roman Catho-
lie Priests in some Of the nunneries in
Switzerland. Young Ulrich however
knowing ofthe facts, never entered q
Convent but pursued his studies other
wise, and in the year 1902 again came
to Basil. He himself became . teacher
of Martins school, while on the other
hand he proceeded with his studies,
and like David of old, he could play
the harp, flute, violin and other in
struments, which often renewed his
own and the souls of his colleagues
In 1905, he was called to the Priest
hood, and ordained of 8 Bishop at
Konstanz. He preached then at Rap
pershroyl, but not long afterward was
called to Italy, and was led by the
spirit of the Lord, to speak against
POpery, and carried on the Reforma-
ton in Switzerland. he having been
for some time in Italy, learned the
Greek language. and when reading in
the Testament exclaimed, "the Gospel
cannot be expounded by man and
understood" :" therefore held his eyes
Heavenward and prayed that the
Holy Spirit might teach him. This
servant of the Lord proclaimed, as it
is taught in the Bible, free salvation
in the name of Jesus Christ, as cid
likewise those named above. The
pardon of sins, the worship Of the
mother Mary, the hermetical life,
converts of Monks and Nuns, and
many other sinful usages in the RO-
man Catholic church, were done away,
bur naturally the circumstances forced
those Reformers to a confession of
their faith, and the worldly Govern
ments demanded that they who car
ried the Reformation forward, should
Law down some confession in some
form. and show where the difference
existed between their new teachings
and the old blood shedding, blood
drunken Roman church, for thousands
were either exiled or killed by the
Roman would be a Lord Pope.
We might here speak of Calvin at
length, but enough, he is better known
in this country than those other men.
And therefore we will state here fur
ther that book has finally been pre-
pared at the city of Heidelberg, called
the Heidelberg Catechism, in which
the true Bible doctrine, IS understood
by those RefOrmers is imbodied. This
was done under King Frederick the
III, generally known as Frederick
the Pious, of which book We will
here give a few words. When the
King, who still was subject OF the
Emperor, was called before him, and
Roman officers told him to do away
with it, he said that if any man or
boy would teach him, out ofthe Bible,
and show him with Gods Holy Word
where any error therein existed, he
would recall and do away with it but,
not otherwise, though his life was in
the hands and az the mercy of the
Emperor, yet his soul was owing to
God and to God alone; and he allowed
the Heidelberg Catechism was so
equipped with Gods Holy Word that
he thought they would let it stand
This same Catechism is held by the
Reform church Of the United States,
as their tour) symbol Of faith, tthe
,--ord GarD,an Traa drOnnpd from the
Title by the General Synod also by
the Dutch or Holland Reformed
church in this country; and here !
might mention the Heidelberg CRter
chism now is over three hundred years
old, and has heen translated into
thirteen different languages setting
forth Gods holy will toward man.
Ifyon and your readers are willing,
likely might at some future time
write more of this, our church and its
history. Your christian friend,
J. NJ. GRETHER,
Reformed Pastor.