The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-23
JOHN WYCLIFFE.
Five Hundredth Anniversary of His
Death Celebrated in London.
Sketch Of the Life and Work OF the
Grsat English Reformer-The
tsMorning STAR, of the
Reformation.

LONDON, May 23.-The 500th anniversary
of the death of John Wycliffe, the earliest
church reformer, has been the occasion of a
festival, which has just closed The festival
was begun at st. Andrews church, Black
friars. This church is ON the site of the mon
astery where the pope's bull against Wycliffe
was read
The celebration was concluded with great
evening meeting at Exeter hall The earl Of
Shaftesbnry presided. In his address he
said: "Of the reformers-Wycliffe, Luther
and Tyndall-Wyckliffe was perhaps
the greatest. The Wycntfe movement
diffused information and knowledge among
the common people which hitherto
only the learned possessed. Wycliffe's cor
rect title is The Morning Star of the Re-
formation England, after his time, never
again was subject to the rule of the pope.
The people of England can only show thank
full appreciation of his life by cherishing his
Eecepts and blessing God fol the translation
of the scriptures be made"
Canon Taylor moved that "the quincen-
tenary of John Wycliffe's death affords a
suitable opportunity to commemorate his
word as patriot church reformer, trans
lator and preacher of the holy scriptures.
In making the motion Canon Taylor said:
Tho great work which Wycliffe died for
the church-is n ow III da niger of being over
thrown, and we should beware of those who
are trying to lead us back to darkness, blind
ness, idolatryzand lnidiseyallsui." Mr.. lay
lor's motion was carried
A motion was carried Instructing tho me-
mortal committee ~ appeal for 1000, to
I've used in the publication and circulation of
Wyciffe's writings. and the erection of a
memorial statue.
The Rev. MIR. Hughes said: "Three men,
the great Baptist preacher, Spurgeon, the
famous American revivalist, Moody, and
Gen. Booth, the controlling spirit of the Sal
vation army. who represent Wycliffeite
teachings, WELD more influence than all the
priests in the churches in England put to-
gether. lCheersl Wycfiffe discovered
that the origin of the mischief which con-
fronted him was the suppression of the rights
of laymen in the Christian church. Hear,
hear. should like to see laymen preaching
in every pulpit The church needs the CO.
operation Of godly laylnen
Subscriptions of e4O0 were obtained.
John Wycliffe, or Wickliffe, was born near
old Richmond, Yorkshire, England, about
with those of Calvin and Luther, and he is
justly called "the morning star Of reforma-
ton" In 1876, probably through the in
fiuence of John OF Gaunt, duke OF Lancaster,
he began to attack the pretensions of the
papacy with great vigor. He was ac-
| cused of heresy by Archbishop Courtney,
and summoned before a convocation OF
clergy at St. Paul's, London. He was de-
Tended by the two most powerful subjects in
| the EiOpJnu1 Holm of {1aunt and HanFy
Percy the earl-marshal, whose defense of
| WyclIffe gave rise to a popular tumult in
which the Savoy palace, the residence of the
| former prince, was attacked. He was also
directly accused of heresy in four bulls issued
by Pope Gregory ". May, 1877, by virtue OF
which he was cited before clerical synod al
Lambeth early in 1885 He was saved
from active persecution by the intervention
| in his behalf of the queen-mother, and
especially by the breaking out in that
| year of the great papsl schisnl, and was al
| lowed to depart with an admonition to stoI
| preaching his obnoxious doctrines. About thi:
| time he began to send out many disciples
| who, under the name of poor priests,
preached his doctrines in all parts OF the
| kingdom. With the assistance of his pupil:
he prepared in English a version of the en-
tire Bible, which was rapidly disseminated
| among the peopil. He lectured at Oxford
|
was condemned by synod of twelve doc
\ tors. The following year he was summoned
before a clerical convocation at Oxford, wher
he defended his opinions, presenting two
| confessions of faith, in WHICH they
were confirmed, but in a coaciliatory man
| ner He was debarred by royal command
| from further lecturipg at Oxford, and he re-
! tired to Liethworth, where he continued
preaching and writing controversial and ex
| pository treatises until his death, December
| 81, 1884 His doctrines had many supporter!
| in England for two generations, and, being
carried 10 Bohemia by the members Of
| the suite of Queen Anne, gave risi
| there to the formidable Hustle move
ment The council of Constance, as a pre-
| liminary to the nlartyrdom of John Hus
and Jerome of Prague, examined and con
demned forty five articles of the doctrines o
| Wycliffe, May 5, l4l5, formally declared hin
a haretic, and ordered his bones to be re
moved from cou5ecrated ground and cas-
upon dunghill This sentence was not ex
| ecuted until thirteen years afterward, whei
| On demand of Clement VIII. his remain
were burned, and the ashes thrown into tn
| Swift u tributary of the Avon.