The Portland daily press., 1879-03-28
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
THE LUTHERAN REFORMATION AND ITS M
FIUENCE ON AMERICA


FLUENcE ON AMERICA.
Such was the subject of the lecture delivered
10 the Reception Hall last evening by the Rev.
M. Biewind, pastor of the Lutheran church
at Parker Hill, Roxbury, in aid of the First
Lutheran Society of this city. Mr.. Biewiud is
a very fine looking man, apparently not more
than % years of age. but he has been settled
pastor for elevsn years, and consequently must
be older.
Mr.. Biewind commenced by apologizing to
his audience for any shortcomings Of which he
might be guilty as this was his first effort as a
lecturer, but promised to do his best. The
speaker then opened his lecture by picturing
the deplorable state Of things throughout the
world during the period first preceding the
Reformation. showing there was no religious
liberty, and that darkness and ignorance, SUI
perstition and immortality were the prevailing
characteristics of the times. After picturing
the dreadful state of things in the councils of
God fulness of time was also there decreed in
which, according to His own good pleasure,
and of His own will, the Almighty raised up a
man after His own liking, and proposed him
for this great work of Reformation; special
hero to rouse Israel of the New Testament, and
lead them out of the house of bondage, back to
the house of liberty, and this man was Martin
Luther.
The speaker then showed how Luther had
been eulogized by some of the most illustrious
men the world ever knew. Romanists have
emulated Professionals in speaking his praise,
Rationalists have seemed to venerate him
while they were laboring to undo his work.
After three centuries of birth throes Germany
feels she has given to the world no second
Luther; the womb of time bears such fruit but
once 10 thousands OF years
The appearance of Luther as he appeared at
the Diet of Worms was next pictured.
There he stands in superhuman calm,
Concentrated and sublime. And him p0mp
And blaze imperial, hanghty eyes and words
Whose tones breathe tyranny, in vain attempt
The heavenborn quiet of his soul to move
Crowned with the peace of everlasting truth,
A more than monarch among kings he stood.
1t was faith that enabled him at his masters
bidding to walk fearlessly on the stormy sea
through which his path lay. 1t was faith
which enabled him to brave Popes, devils and
emperors and prompted the heroic reply when
he was dissusded from going to Worms 81
will go forward though there were as macy
devils in Worms as tiles on the houses" Faith
breathes in every line of that hymn of triumph.
"Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.''
The prayer Of Luther before entering the
Diet of Worms was next repeated, when, hav-
ing been called upon to recant and give plain
and unequlvocal answer, he replied :-''As
yoar imperial majesty desires an unequivocal
answer will give one which will have neither
horns nor teeth, to this effect; unless it be that
l am proved in error bv testimony of Holy
Writ, or BY clear and 0verpowering reasons for
base my faith neither on what the Pope, nor
what the Couucils alone have said.) am
constrained by the passages which have adj
dressed to my conscience, being bound by Gods
word, and therefore l cannot and will not re-
cant because it is neither safe nor advisable to
do anything against conscience Here stand.
l cannot act otherwise, 60 help me God!
AmeD."
Among those who had eulogzed Luther the
speaker mentioned the celebrated Unitarian
preacher, DR.. Bancroft, Bishop Atterbury, the
eminent High Church English bishop, and
Bayle, prince of skeptics. Bayle said that
Luther's slanderers have had no regard to prob
ability, or the rules of their own art. His
greatest enemies cannot deny that he possessed
eminent qualities, and history affords nothing
more surprising than what he has done. For
simple monk to give Popery so rude shock,
that there needed but another like il to entirely
overthrow the Romish church, is what we cam
not sufficiently admire. When the soldiers un-
der Charles V. at Wittenberg, wished to dig up
the remains of the great Reformer and burn
them 10 effigy, the emperor replied, II war
Will tuo liFluR, uUt tuo ucdu.
We now turn 10 the Reformation itself,
Luther's great work, and the great blessings
derived for the whole world, and this beloved
country of America at this period of the refer.
nation. Luckily at that time America was
being settled by Professionals otherwise it might
have gone over to the Catholics. That the Re-
formation was the source of modern freedom Is
no wild assertion. 1t gave an increased im-
pulse to the world. 1t toppled down the abuse
of centuries. Germany gave the watchword.
England re-echoed it from its cliffs with loud
refrain. In the mother country-Great Brit
Amt produced a great fermentation. 1t
struck death blow to scarlet vice and hypoc-
risy, and caused the tslismaus of Popery to fall
from the necks of the people. The Lutheran
reformation was instituted in England not ac-
cording to the Swiss or Genevsn type but &C.
cording to that Of the Augsburg confession, the
principal symbol of the Lutbern church. Luth-
er's writings were hardly published 10 Ger
many when they were translated into English
and We're spread broadcast over the British
isles, shedding radiant light on every one crop.
ing in the ignorance of Roman papacy. They
were there received with glsdness, and, by the
will of God, England was enabled to strike off
the STORYTELLING yoke of Rome. What Oliver
Cromwell ccompliehed the Puritans supple
mented in their beloved land. To the princi-
Piles they inculcated belongs the honor and
glory of making America a power for good.
Catholicism has worked here Ia vain. But it
requires the greatest care, and thorough educa-
ton OF the young 10 the doctrines our fOre-fath-
ers held and handed down to US to prevent
Catholicism from eventually throttling the life
out of che country.
In conclusion the speaker said: The Luther
an church, the church of Reform atiou, is yet
comparatively small in this country, but it is
true friend of this couutry's welfare, and
American liberty. God speed the day when
the people of this country shall mora and more
perceive it, and may our church be striving in
the hands of God. TO share in saving man for
the KRIS dom Of God, aud helping in its way,
10 uphold aud perpetuate the welfare and lib
erty of North America.
NOTES.
Gen. Joshua l. Chamberlain will give the
sixth lecture 10 the Saccsrspps cousre this
Friday evening. Subject-'European and
American Civilization" Trains ran con-
venient for anyone from the city to attend and
return directly after the lecture.