National Republican., 1883-12-21
KEANE ON LUTHER.
The Life and Work OF tho Great Reformer
MS Viewed from the Catholic stand-

The Life and Work OF tho Great Reformer
ns Viewed from the Catholic stand
point.
Right Rev. J. J. Koane, bishop of Richmond,
delivered lecture last evening ut Lincoln hall
for the benefit of the new st. Patricks church, his
subject being MARTIN Luther" The hall was
well filled, and although tho lecture lasted more
than two hours the deepest interest was main
tained to the end; The bishop wore purple
gown, and had gold chain around his neck. lie
began his lecture by saying that lew men had
ever lived whoa had so greatly influenced the
World ns Martin Lu!her At the nme ne % was pprn 9rn
church had, for thousand years been trying 10
Christnnize the barbarians who had oyorthrown
the Roman ompire iuedalism was fast giving way
to popular Institutions; men were chatting under
restraint; and were ready to take up new ideas
and new doctrines The lecturer gave sketch
of LutherS early life, aud the Influences
which nodded his character. Even while mo-
vitiate, he was impulsive, vehement. erralc, con:
st0ntly vibrating from one extreme TO anO her, and
losing sight of the truth which lies between. His
original and striking views, however, made him
popular with those VINO were reaching cut ailcr
something new. His special study was the writ
ings OF st. Augustine against Pelagius on the doc
trine of grace and Justification. Luther caught
the argument ofst Augustine, and like many an;
otner enthusiast could only see half the truth anu
was ntolerant of the other half
The lecturer gave some account of Luther's con.
tToversleS with John Eek and Others before he
broke with the church, and with pc.OriHl elo-
.quence sketched the great controversy between
the reforming monk and the church. When
Emperor Charles V summoned him before tile
diet at Worms to answ or touching his heresies,
and when he appeared he was asked if he was
ready to retrnct. A day was given him to con-
slider the question, and when he appeared again
he declared he would retract nothing and that he
held his own conscience the >arbiler of belief
and faith. This act Of Luther has been
spoken OF as sublime. There is something sub
lime In man standing up in the face OF authority
and declaring his belief; but the great question
Rrises is he right or is he wrong? A man may
stand up against the whole world IL he is right,
and we app aud II he Is wrong, IL Is all the worse
for HIM. Luther had now lined up tue absolute
right OF the human conscience to decide all ques-
tiOns of faith and conduct. He taught that there
was no priestly function, and that every indivd-
for himself. This doctrine ran over the north of
Germany; every town had its enthusiasts who
expounded the word according to the light that
was within them.
Bishop Keane devoted n good deal of time 10
the discussion of the dogma of total depravity as
eSpounded by Luther, and to other doctrines
which divide the Catholic and Protestant churches.
lie regarded LutheI's power and influence as due
TO the times In which he lived. If he had been
born in this country he would have made no more
impression on the Catholic church than Hya-
was ringing with his praise; was he a man of
Coda blessing TO mankind3 Let the facts of his
lie answer. The lecturer here quoted from Prot
estant authorIty TO show that Luther was coarse
IN his manners. intolerart, vulgar, and in this
uge would not pass for gentleman
When the bishop asked the question: Was Luther
! ght or wrong ? some one in the gallery embas
I"ssed the speaker and amused the audience by
calling out wrong"