The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-12

OaXOn electors, MS protectors. Inc mouse
in which Luther died stands close to the
market square.
st. Andrews Church, in which he preached
so often, was bought by the Prussian govern
ment In 1862 from its private owners and
thrown open to the public, after being re-
stored to its original condition. Luther's
armchair still stands in the corner of the
room in which he passed his last days, but
the adjoining chamber, in which he died is
bare, empty little building, now marked
with tablet St. Andrews is the old parish
church of Eisleben, erected before 1179. 1t
was entirely rebuilt during the fourteenth
century in the latest Gothic style, with octa-
gon pillars. The church stands on the high
est ground in the market square, and its
front, with double towers and high spires,
faces, according to ancient custom, in the
direction of Jerusalem. The most interest
ing object in the interior is Luther>s pulpit
carved in oak and decorated with panel
paintings and red velvet drapery, with gold
and silver embroideries representing
figures of saints and scenes from
the New Testament. During the last three
weeks of his life Luther preached four times
from this pulpit. The church also contains
number of monuments of the Counts OF
Mansfield, the last Of whom died in 1920 and
two small bronze statues of Luther and
Melanchthon, presented by King Frederick
William III in 1912.
Eiseben's second church, that of st. Peter
contains stone font in which Luther was
baptized. The circular rim now bears the
following inscriptions: "Rubera Baptisterio
Ono Tinctus est iist. D. Martinus Lutherus,
A ID. 1863; d. 10 Nov" A fragment of Lu-
theirs cloak and the leather cap which he
wore as singing scholar, are also preserved
in this church.
THE CELEBRATION.
1t was this village, perched on the side
of a hill, and looking like one of those spiclz
and span hamlets seen on old Saxon
china dishes, which was to-day the focus
of the German volksfest. At day
break the chimes of st. Petri Paul.
Kirche, where Luther was baptized,
and of St. Andreas' Kirche, where Luther
used to roar and thunder, pealed forth
their gay carols, and soon afterward the
schools of Eisleben resounded with the sol
emn, swelling strain of Luther's hymn,
Zine feste berg ist unser Gott" intoned by
over 10000 voices, mingled with the drums
and trumpets of half dozen military bands
The scene was most impressive and symbol
ical of the solemnity, force and earnestness
OF the German people. Every house in Els
leben is literally covered with evergreen
wreaths, festoons, miniature la"s, Chinese
lanterns and crystal reflectors, giving the
place the appearance of forest of Christmas
trees, bearing as fruit, the portraits of Lu-
ther Kaiser Wilhelm, the Kronprinz Bis
marck and Won Moltke. The streets are strewn
with evergreen branches. A special beer,
called Luther beer, was brewed for the occa-
sion. Notices and texts of Luther, engraved
on beer glasses and painted on walls
and houses, abound everywhere in Oriental
profusion, Every class joins in the celebra-
ton. The house of the richest man in Elsie
ben is magniticently decorated with flags,
transparencies and evergreens. Over the
front door is a colored fortrait of Luther, ten
feet square, bearing the inscription: "Hier
stepe ich; ich kann NIGHT anders. GOtt heife
mir. Amen" Luther's geburtshaus is
covered with evergreens and flags, and the
small square windows are filled with lighted
candles, At noon the bands again struck up
Zine Feste Burg" and the oldest living
ex-burgomeister of Eiseben stepped on the
platform and made a long-wnded speech,
scarcely audible, Then the Oberhof prediger,
DIR, Koegel, pronounced an eloquent adj
dress, every word of which penetrated to
the remotest corners of the market
platz. DR.. Koegel who has stern, rigid
features and powerful voice. was clad in
black robe, black velvet Luther cap, and
looked the symbol of professionalism. He
said a great deal about Luther being the
founder of Germany's "Gewissensfreiheit,"
and of Luther's Bible being "Das grosste
Volksbuch das Deutschland Kennt." DIR.
Koegel then pronounced prayer, and So
900 spectators took their hats off and re-
peated the solemn "Amen."
UNWILLING THE STATUE.
The blue and white canvas was removed
from Luther's statue just as the bright rays
of the sun burst out from behind the dark
clouds that had since o'clock overcast the
sky and the national anthem was sung. In
the colossal bronze statue Luther seemed to
return with life-llke expression to The ad-
Al.
Cries of "Hoch" were heard on every side,
and the blaze of the trumpets and the roll of
drums resounded and re-echoed. From the
other side of the market platz, and
from beneath the triumphal arch, the grand
historical procession, the "Enhoping Lu-
theirs In Eisleben durch die graffen Won
Mansfield, 1876, began TO pour into the patz
The characters were, in their way, as we'll
performed as the "Oberammergau Passions
spiel" So a squadron of Prussian cuirassiers
on black chargers, clad in scarlet and white
medieval uniforms, carried off the palm of
the day by their splendid military bearing.
The bodies who rode in the procession
seemed a little surprised at their own pictur-
esque appearance and the man who imper-
sonated Luther and who rode in a dismal
looking butchers cart drawn by four hoses,
bore a striking resemblance to the original.
The butchers made irst-rate appearance as
they rode on stout bay horses. They wore
drab-and-crimsOn costumes, and looked as if
they stepped out of one OF Wooyermann's
paintings
At the head of the procession walked sew
eral elegantly caparisoned horses. After
them marched herald with the emblems of
the new German Empire. He was followed
by hOrseman with a kettle-drum. The
drummer was clothed in q suit of red aud
white, the colors of the city of Mansfield.
He was followed by twelve trumpeters. Then
came in blue and white colors the herald of
the city of Eisleben. The burgomaster and
his staff, with crowd of citizens, welcomed
the procession AT the gates of the city they
Joined the procession. The color-bearers of
the Counts of Mansfield came with some OF
the noblemen bearing their coats of arms.
Phey were followed by large crowd of fall
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