The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10

time it is not strange that this and many
| other superstitions chung to him to the close
OF his life. For years after writing of the in
huences of the devil he says that ne is about
us, sometimes appearing as swine and
sometimes as a burning wisp of straw; he
can make men think something takes place
when it does not, and relates how it held the
breath OF child making the byStanderS be-
Ileve the youngster was dead
LUTHER AT THE UNIVERSITY.
AT the age of fourteen Luther left Mans
field and journeyed on foot to Magdeburg.
He went there, stranger to the place and
the people, and was accompanied by John
Reineck, son of a citizen of Mansfield. Both
boys were to be students in the school at
that place, which was carried on by the Fran
ciscan friars and which, from an educational
standpoint, was not much better than the
one at Mansfield. He earned his living by
singing in the church or from door to door.
Speaking of painting he saw in this place,
he says that it represented a ship, with the
Pope, the cardinals and the bishops at the
PROV, the priests in the center and the lay
men all in the water, either drowning or
calling out piteously to those on board to
give them hel ping hand. Luthers priva-
tons were SO great here that he was removed
to Eisenach, where he had some relatives
and where there was a good Latin school, but
his relations do not seem to have done much
for him, for we find him compelled to beg his
bread and earn asmall pittance by singing
from door to door, Later in life, thinking
probably, of the discipline which he had been
compelled to go through, and believing in its
benefcent effects upon the character he gave
utterance to the thought that the young
should be compelled to endure suffering, as
it would do them good, and added that moth
ing was so bad for the character as TO enjoy
continued prosperity without toll at is
Gods way, of beggars to make men of power.
just as He made the world out of nothing l
have been beggar of bread, and have pros
pered so far with the pen, that l would
not exchange my art for all the wealth of the
Turkish empire" He adds that he would
not have had this power if he had not gone to
school and given himself up to the business
of writing, and urges that boy should
be sent to school, even if he has to pay for
the privilege by begging. How this strange
utterance appears in the light of the Nine
teenth century. with free schools at almost
every door, and when the ground of COM
plant is that we are teaching too many
branches in our public institutions of learn
ing.
In 1901 Luther went to the University of
Erpurt This university was founded by the
citizens, had over thousand students, ana
was practical and liberal in its character as
compared with other colleges of that day.
There were thirteen regular professors and
corps of tutors. Theology and ecclesiastical
law were the principal themes of study,
though much attention was given to the old
Roman law writer's and the Greek medical
authors. In philosophy Aristotle was in
use. The Bible was not studied, nor any
of the ancient authors, other than the
writers on the subjects just men,
toned. Learning was largely q matter of
memory, and there were many 'disputa-
tions'' which, probably, in that day were
looked uPon as being great discipline to the
mind, as are certain useless studies pursued
in the schools and colleges of the present
time. The rules were very strict, and the
students were bound by the most solemn
oaths not to violate them in any particular.
Luther enjoyed his college life. He loved
learning, and was particularly fascinated
with classical literature, taste for which
was just beginning to be developed TN rnneh-
out the country. He knew the Latin writers
both in prose and verse, almost by heart,
and paid great attention to the study of
logic, intellectual philosophy and physical
science as it is presented in the writings of
Aristotle. His father by this time had be-
come prosperous and was able to support
him at the college. In 1905 two years after
taking his first degree, Luther was made
master of arts. His father wanted him to
study law, and he commenced the task, but
did not do much at it.
LUTHER AS A MONK.
A flash of lightning may be said to have
led Luther to the monastic life. In July,
1905, as he was walking along a country road,
he was overtaken by a violent thunderstorm.
a fash of lightning struck the
ground a short distance from him. stunning
him for moment. He was terrified, and
cried out; Help, beloved st. Anne, and I
will straightway become a monk" st. Anne
was the reigning saint of Saxony at this time,
in whose honor town had been built and
who was held in great reverence. Luthers
mind seems to have been troubled at this
time in regard to theological matters. He
had thought much. He had read a great
deal-much more than most young men of
that day-and he seems to have welcomed
the accident which resulted IN his taking
upon himself the monastic vows. He saws
he went there because he 'despaired of
himself" for the sal walton of his SOUL and that
be might please God forevermore." 1t is
true that afterw ard be regretted having be-
come a monk, but that was in the light of
experience and changed vie S. He entered
an Augustinian cloister, carrying with him
only two books, Virgil and Plautus, the Ro-
man poets His father was very much OPP
posed to his action. and, after vainly striving
to see him, wrote him a letter in which he
expressed the greatest displeasure. The Or
der of Augustinian eremites had nearly two
thousand cloisters, three hundred nunneries
and more than thirty thousand monks. The
rules were very strict, were more retiring
and studious than the other orders; required
the novitiate to love poverty avoid pleasure
and subdue his own will, to read the script
ures diligently and to listen to others eagerly
axriiif U n I1lrh or COY hot
they were not all of the most spiritual char
acter For one fast they mad three feasts. AT
the evening collation. two cans of good beer
and little can of wine was given to each
monk, beside spiced cake and sailed bread to
quicken their thirst. The poor brethren APP
peared like fiery angels" If they did not
eat meat, they ate fish with the best of sea
soning, and wine, and though they despised
riches they ate and drank the very best, one
brother eating five biscuits to Luther's one.