National Republican., 1883-11-12
CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION

ELOQUENT SERMON by THE PASTOR, REV.
DIR. PARSONS.
Tho Lutheran Church of tho Reformation
celebrated the anniversary of the birth OF the
great reformer with impressive ceremonies.
Largo congregations attended each service,
especially during tho forenoon, when the
pastor, Rev. DIR. Parsons, delivered an elo-
quent sermon replete with historic interest.
The choir sang with fine effect Luther's h lynn,
which was written by him and sung over the
world yesterday. Tho hymn begins:
mighty fortress Is our God,
trnsty shield and weapon,
lie helps us free from every need,
That hath us now overtaken.
The old bitter foe,
Means us deadly woe.
Deep guile ana great might
Are his dread arms In fight
On earth is not his equal
The text of the pastors sermon was, "The
just shall live by faith" He said Bycom-
mon consent this day will be observed by
large part of the Christian church as the day
of the birth of Martin Luther, the man who
under God directed the attention of the
church to the vital doctrines of Christianity.
| do not desire to magnify Luther 80 much
as to magnify the truth which ho was sent to
defend. Luther did in ecclesiastical history
what our own Washington did in political his.
tory. He fought his battles and then sank
back among the common people to reap the
reward of his victories, as an equal with the
people, and not as o ruler over them. II is
wonderful that any man should be remem-
bered after four hundred years. lie led an
unsolfish, unambitious life, and never thought
of self He had no ambitions. No new
organization of which he should be the head
and rule as rival pope. No wild schemes
of which ho should be the moving spirit. He
lived in simplicity aud his life closed in
gloom.
John Wesley's account of his "entrance
into light" was then described after which
tho pastor vigorously refuted the charges
that tho Lutheran church locates in her min
istry the power to forgive sins, and assigns to
the mere rite Of baptism efficacy to renew the
heart unto holiness, and refers to the Lord S
supper, the high virtue of absolviug all COM
municants and fitting them for Heaven.
This church will be formally dedicated next
Sunday.
GRACE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The Luther memorial services ut Grace
English Evangelical Lutheran church on
Thirteenth street, between @ and Il, yester-
day, were of an impressive nature The at
tendance was quite large and the interior of
tho church was tasteiuly decorated with
flowers and mottoes in blending tints. The
most prominent inscription was Here l
stand; / cannot do Otherwise. God help me.
dates, 141l 1917, and 1853 the whole in over
greens and flowers. The other notices were:
1.-THE word of God they shall lot stand, and not
thank have for it :" Eslebin l4s3, BIRTH"
"Wittonberg, l505;" diet at Worms, 1921 p
diet at Augsburg, 1880; "Wartburg, 1922 y
"Smaleald articles, 1887" Tho rendition oil
| German hymns by the choir formed an inter
esting portion of the ceremonies. Tho pastor,
Row. Mr.. Trlsser, preached an eloquent SER
mon, sketching the iio of Luther and eulo-
gizing the great work he performed and its
iar.reacbing results.
Tho musical exercises were feature of tho
services, and were rendered by choir con.
sisting of Miss Sophia wilkins, soprano; Miss
Emma Wilkio, cOntrato; Mr.. Il. @. Gill;
tenor, and Mossrs. l.. #. and j. A. Stutz
bassi Miss Antonio Madden presided at the
organ, and there was an orchestra of five
pieces.
CAPEL ON LUTHER.
CINCINNATI, Nov. l1.--Monsignor Capel
who arrived hero yesterday, is the guest o
Archbishop elect Elder at the cathedral resi-
dence At tho cathedral to-day Mgr. Capel
in two discourses, which supplemented. oacl
other, treated of Martin Luther from tn,
| Catholic standpoint He showed first tha