National Republican., 1880-11-01
THE LUTHERAN REFORMATION.
How tho 363d Anniversary was Observed
in This City.


Yesterday was the 363d anniversary Of the
lutheran reformation and was observed with
special sorvcps in tho German and Eng
lish lutheran churches In this city. At st.
Paups English lutheran church Rev. DIR.
Domcr preached q very able and interesting SER
mon from the fifth and sixth verses ofthe 157th
Psalm. He took o summary Of tho condition
of the christian world, in all countries, espe-
cially of the lutheran church, its relation to
other protestant denominations, being
through the Augsburg confession the parent
Of tho anglican church, and through the in
fluence Of Luther's writings upon Wesley and
indirectly through tho thirly.ninc articles of
tho English church, the pareut of methodsm.
IL stood In the same relation to tho moravian
church. 1t was the first religious organza.
tion of the protcstants that embarked in mis-.
sionary work, the Danish missionaries having
started out upon their labor us early as 11O1
1t first occupied China and India as
fields of missionary enterprise, the la.
bors in the latter country Of Schwartz, OF
Zicgcnbalg and of Plutscheu first breaking
ground in that distant realm. lie dwclt long
upon the conflict which tho lutheran church
waged with the papal authority, backed by
the German omporors, and gave graphic por.
traits of Luther and his civil coadjutors and
of tho great military chieftain who warred
against spiritual despotism till at length the
liberty Of private judgment was forever as
surcd by tho great Gustavus on the ever
memorable field of Lul2cr. On October 81,
1871, Luther commenced the reformation by
mailing his thesis OIL the subject OF indu' 'gcnccs
to the walls Of the church OF Wittcnbcrg. The
influence of Luther In creating u German lan-
guago and German literature and tho power
Of the lutheran church in stimulating and sup.
porting that literature were also dwclt on at
length. Luther was tile creator of the COM
mon school system, and the lutheran church
has always supported tho frec.schoOl inslitu.
tons. And to Luther especially is duo the
reformation of that system of clerical abuses
which denied to the clergy the right of mar
riage and the delights of pure domestic life.
Among the incidents of DIR. Domer's sermon
were these: There was in the church piece
Of ivy vine brought from tho church-yard at
Witteuberg, from the graves Of Molancthon
and Luther. Aud prosomt in the audience
was gentleman whose father was born on tho
battlefield ofLuizer.
At night DR.. Domer preached from tho thir.
tieih verse and fifth chapter of Daniel. lie
| illustrated his sermon by the presentation OF
three large paintings. THE banquet of Bel.
shazzer," ""The Interpretation Of the Dream by
Daniel" and "The Dead body of Beshazzer y
illustrating the guilty revelry and its fatal con-
| sequences.
DR.. Domer's services were well attended,
| night and morning.
The exercises in the other lutheran churches
were of u similar character and equally as
well attended. The lutheran membership
numbers about 100000 throughout tho
world. In this city tho English lutheran
| churches have an active membership Cl
some 600 with three churches. The German
lutheran church has somewhat larger mem
| ship.