The sun., 1882-01-29
SOME NEW BOOKS.
A Kew Life of Martin Luther.

the contributors To- The New Plutarch" series,
now publishing by the Putnams but the vol
ume devoted TO Nd,iin Luitcr has this advan-
tagc over its companions. that il meets u want
widely and deeply fc; in English literature.
When we bear in mind the Importance of
the movement in which Luther was primo
agent. the cvcntful course of his public life,
and his interesting character. 1t is surprising
what mcagrc sources Of information regarding
the man and his work have heretofore been
open to the English reader. If we except the
article written by Bunscn for the Encyclopedia
Britannica and the translation by Ha2itt of
Mchcitt's biography. end the German com
pilation entitled Luthcr's Table Talk" there
have been almost no materials in English with
the help Of which we could form an accurate
and vivid conception of the great German re-
former. Tho author of the present volume Mr.
JoHN H. TREADwELL. has availed himself of the
light thrown on the subject by historical as well
as biographical writers of Germany, and has
wisely consulted the opponents as well as the
culosists of Luther. The result is that his
monograph gives us IA fun and clear account of
the man in his private and public life. and ac-
curatcly defines his relation to the religious
movement of his own time. and to subsequent
phases of the Protestant schism.
In a chapter allotted to a sketch of pre-
Lutheran Germany. Mr. Trcadwcll mentions
the curious fact that during the ninth century
one Otfried of Wciscnburg translated the gospel
into German verse in order that the people
might read it," thus giving in the same words
the same reason for his performance that
WyckliGe was to assign five centuries later for
his analogous undertaking. Strange to say.
however. the author, in his account of the
gradual awakening Of Independent thought in
Germany. which. instead of beginning. should
be said to have eliminated in Luther. does not
go much as mention Jerome of Prague. and
gives but three lines TO John Huss. Mr.. Tread
well. however. is careful to point out that in the
bosom of the Church itself. and among the
learned doctors whose trcatiscs were certain to
engage the attention of the student there had
been men whose teachings differed widely from
those inculcated by Rome at the begin
ming of the sixteenth century. and were.
indeed not far removed from the views of
the rcformers. Conspicuous among these was
William OF Ocean. the English disciple of SEQ
tus. who. while in France. upheld the national
Government in its struggle against papal usur-
patton. and who stoutly maintained the right
of the individual judgment to determine for it.
self the validity of prevailing dogmas. 1t is
certain that Luther was n close student of
Ocean whose principles were early cngraftcd
upon his mind. 1t is we'll to remember, too
that Wittenbcrg University. in which Luther
was subsequently, professor had been founded
by tho Elcctor of SaXony in 1902. when the
future reformer was but 10 years old and that
II differed from all other universities in Ger
many, in that il was not exclusively devoted to
the incubation of dogma. but gave large scope
in its curriculum to secular learning The
creation Of such an institution. although an
isolated fact. indicates the considerable extent
to which the new intellectual craving. had al
ready made itself felt.
II is the fashion to say that German scholar
ship springs from the loins of peasants "a if
only the robust health thus inherited would
support the strain imposed by an Incompatible
industry. The generalization is too hasty. as the
casos Of the Schlcgcls. the lIumbodts Bunscn.
and multitude of other exceptions attest
But the rule holds good of Martin Luther.
whose father was "A peasant Of Upper SaXony.
and whose mother was a serving maid en-
ploycd in the public baths. There was tradi-
lion that Hans Luther the father. had commit
ed homicide in alteration with fellow
peasant who Glanced to trcspass on his farm.
At all events. lie was Obliged to leave his native
village and move to Eislebcn. where soonsaftcr-
ward-probably on St.Martns Eve Nov. TO- l4s3
his son Martin was born. Before the boy was
year old his parents moved to Mansfield where
he father gradually came out of the cloud Of
adversity. became a town councillor, and the
owner OF two small iron furnaces. on which
accession OF good fortune depended his
ability to give his son an education. 1t
seems to have been an exceptionally austcre
household. and the family sceptrc. Il birch
rod. was welded mercilessly by both parents
40 matter how trivial tho offence. For the
:heft Of a hazlenut Martins mother whipped
aim till the blood came and at school he was
,ne day treated fifteen times to the rod. My
parents" he wrote many years afterward.
treated mo cruelty. that / became timid.
They sincerely believed that they were right
but they had no discernment Of character.
which is absolutely necessary in order that We
may know when. on whom. and how punish
nent should be inflicted" We may remark in
passing, that no one except Martin himself was
ever able to discern the trait of timdity in his
character. Whatever may have been Luther's
iisapprova Of the harsh treatment to which he
Eas subjected in childhood he did not fail in
after years to speak Of his parents with afrcc-
ion and reverence. and it is interesting to note
now he consecrates their memory by inserting
.heir names in his formula Of marriage
Hans. wilt thou take Gretha1 On the death
of his father he wrote to Melancthon: 1t is
my rious duty to weep for him whom the
Father of Mercy destined 10 give me birth-fOr
1im by whose labor and sweat God nourished
me and made me what am. such as that is"
Luther was six years old and already quick
At his books when he WAS sent to school at
Eisenach. but the utmost his father could then
10 for him was to let him have the use OF hi, |
zine. instead of binding him out as an appren-
ice. He could give his son no money. who. |
accordingly. had To pay his way by singin.. be-
ore the doors If patrician houses and asking /
aims. This literally besGar's life but. |
looking back on it long tftcrward. through a |
mist of years that cifaced the hungry hours and |
he heartburnings Luther speaks Of Else |
mach. my own dear E,senach." Here Luther |
seems To have spent eight or ten years study |
Ing grammar. rhetoric and poetry with the
rector Of II convent, one Trrbonius who, il il |
plain from the single tuecdpte preserved of |
him. had the kndck Of teaching his scholars I
'eIf-respect as well as -pect for himself. 81
uncover my head" he used to say ." to |
honor the consuS, chancellors. doctors. |
masters, who sbull "ne day proceed from
this school The somewhat improved cir
cumstancr- Of his father by and by encouraged /
the young scholar To- further advancement, aud T,
nss.Ltel hiLn ~ k-en hi. i.rLn. ~ E-lllL- I'M