Smyrna times., 1883-08-15
The Fourth Celebration Of Luth-
er's Birth.
A GREAT EVENT IN GERMANY.

The fourth centenary of Luther's
birth is to be celebrated during the ap-
preaching Autumn in the Protestant
schools and churches of the German
In accordance with the
wishes the festivities are to
possess an official character. For this
there is statistical warrant in the fact
that 81 per cent of the entire popula-
ton of the Empire are Protestants.
The festival is designed to be a national
event of the first magnitude, and prep
arations are making in all the Luther
towns for a celebration worthy of the
Father of the Reformation. The intro
ductory fete did take place in the uni
versity city of Erfurth last Wednesday.
Erfurth was the scene of the Reform
er's mental struggles and spiritual
awakening. He first entered it at the |
age of eighteen, strong-limbed and |
stout-hearted, with q resolute bearing
and melodious voice. The son of a
poor miner, he had acquired scanty
store of learning at Mansfield, Magde-
burg and Eisenach, having frequently
sung in the streets for bread and hav-
ing learned to play on lutte and flute
during the happy hours spent with the
Gotta family. His father, encouraged
to make a great effort to complete the
education of lad of remarkable prom
Use, sent him to the University to study
law. Melancthon subsequently COM
planned that at that time nothing was
taught at Erfurth but "a logic beset
with difficulties" 1t was, however,
the most popular university of the day,
and from his entrance upon his classes
there Luther was conspicuous alike for
his learning and his social qualities.
1t was in the university library that
he first opened Latin version of the
Bible and was permitted to study the
whole text in place of the fragmentary
epistles and gospels read in the churches
from week to week. Always prayer
full student, he read and reread what
was then a rare volume, and as he ap-
preached the close of his academic
career he entreated his father to allow
him to renounce the profession of the
law. The honest miner obstinately re-
fused his consent, and it was in return
ing to Erfurth from his fathers home
that Luther, overtaken by a terrific
thunderstorm and oppressed with the
thought that his last hour was near,
made his vow to forsake the world.
Re-entering the university town, he in
vited his intimate associates to his
rooms and there played and sang fol-
: them, dismissing them with the start.
ling tidings that he was about to retire
to the silence of the cloister, That
very night he sought refuge in the
monastry of St. Augustine, the scene
of the most agonizing conflicts which
he was to be called upon to endure il
the course of his eventful life.
Closely associated as these scenes ar,
with the single career that formed tn,
first stage of q Reformation changin,
: the face of Christendom, there is
D special incident which is to be com
: memOrated in the approaching festiva
at Erfurth. When Luther was sum
moned to the Diet of Worms in 1921
his twelve days journey from Wittem
burg lay through Weimar and Erfurth
l., Having parted with deep emotion fror
IT Melancthon and his friends, he set Ou
IL for the university town where his yout
1t had been passed. At Leipsic, Nau9
v burg and Weimar there were no den
Is onstrations of public sympathy, but 8
As he drew near to Erfurth he deserted i
ig the distance troop of forty horsemel
1T The rector of the university and thirt!
nine professors, students and burghel
had come out to welcome him. Furtl
.: % er on there was great thropg of town
= people to salute him with joyful accl
- nations, AS the procession advance
through the town roofs and sidewalI
p were covered with people, and the bo
monk who had defled the power of Il
: Papacy was hailed everywhere as
public benefactor. At the convent
" the Augustines, where he had fiji
learned the significance of the doctril
at of justification by faith, he was receiv,
ks and sheltered by his friend 44ange, al
'm ON the next day he preached in t
ce, chapel maintained by the monks.
ze- was q simple sermon on faith, witho
ar the remotest reference either to t
in perils which he was about to face
ip- to the great religious movement tn
lily was agitating the Fatherland, 7
led next morning he resumed his iourn
toward Worms,
in This is the historical event which "
Me QoMMemorated Wednesday at Erfur
I've The procession that escorted Lutl
q a from the city gates to the monastry
ard to be reproduced-the forty horsem
lch the imperial herald, the carriage,
,er- university authorities the Town Coz
on cillors and the throng of citizens. ]
| n movement originated with the stude
,se of the University of Erfurth, but
the rapidly extended to the other unive
ngs ties, which will all be represented
itv. this remarkable demonstration. I
town authorities and various gui
.ro and societies will take part in tho
'srt ~ tivities, appeals to the Protestant CT
me munity having been answered with
,ort usual zeal and heartiness, The 0
hw hFation will be an unique event in
;o1 history of Pr0testantism.-NeaU ]
go TifbWRe. m aa.
II is The parents of fifteen Chinese Lac
nan- in Canton had arranged for a whole
here marriage of their daughtera ON a
the tain feast day, The girls didn't
ssels their. prospective husbands, and v
here in body to the river and drow
thamsalves on the eve of the FEAST