The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-07
TIE SWISS LUTHER.
How Zurich Celebrated the Zwingli
Anniversary--The Reformer's Life.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.

TO the eommemoration of Ulrich Zwingli, the
Swiss Luther. On Friday an exhibition of
pictures autographs and first editions of his
works, together with the armor which he wore
ON the fatal battlefield at Kappel, was opened
in one of the beautiful school-houses which
Zurich delights to use for public purposes.
Yesterday the morning service in every church
was commemorative one, and the Grossmun-
ster, Zwingli's own cathedral, was crowded
after the service, when the best known among
Zwinglis musical compositions were rendered
by the Ton Halle Wind Instrument Associa-
ton. In the evening the Ton Halle was filled
with attentive listeners, when the music was
repeated, with the addition of mixed chorus,
and commemorative address was delivered
by Professor Meyer Won Knonau, OF the univer-
sity. presumably a descendant of ZwinglIs
stepsOn, Jerold Meyer Won knonau. At the
chlidrens commemorative services, held in all
the churches in the afternoon, each child re-
ceived a charmingly written Life of Zwingli,
well bound and illustrated. To-day the stu
dents of the university are holding exercises
of their own, in memory of ZwingH in conse
quence of which the regular university work
is deferred until Tomorrow and several pro-
fessors are delivering historical addresses.
During the coming week the various assoca-
tions-social, political and hterary--will hold
commemorative exercises, and thereafter Zu-
rich will know more or less exactly the life
and deeds of its most famous historic charac-
ter.
After two months of attentive observation,
the most pronounced characteristic of the geo-
pie of Zurich seems to me to be conscientious
reasonableness. They are not passionate, like
the French; nor phlegnatic, like the Germans
nor of a dominant character, like the English.
They like to call themselves a besonneneS
YOlk," and, though the literal translation of
the phrase would be "a sensible people"
think they mean rather more than that-per-
| haps no phrase tells the story so well as the
first one-a conscientiously reasonable people.
And the story of Zwinglis Reformation is the
story of an eminently conscientious and rea-
sonable man, leading a people whose general
character correspondent admirably to his own.
| According to the Zurich estimate of the Ref
| ormation, as developed in Zurich, Luther's in
! fiuence was almost null in this canton; the
Reformation here centered wholly In Zwingll,
| and its development seems to have been grad
| ual and natural, and very little touched by
any outside influence. The men and the ques-
| tions and the deeds of the time Except the ac-
tual warfare) remind me OF the Puritan chap
| tiers of our own history. The same eager in
| terest in theological questions was here, the
| same participation of the community in the
settlement of public questions, and the same
stern following of the dictates of conscience,
| whether they entailed hardship for self or an
| other.
The outside circumstances of Zwingli's life
| were not so picturesque as those of Luther; he
! made no journey to Rome, had no sudden eX-
perience ON the Holy Stair, no dangerous trav-
els involving passports of doubtful worth; was
never kidnapped by his friends for rescue from
| his enemies; he burnt no bulls, was petted by
no princes Zwingli's life much more resem-
] Tod he nf
| in its simple surroundings, its tremendous in
tellectual labor, and its relation to the people
| about him.
THE REFoRMER's BoYHooD.
Zwingl was born in an humble cottage in
4 the village of Wiidhaus, of which his father
was chief magistrate uniting in himself all
the civil functions of the village life), and his
uncle priest He was the third son in family
of eight sons aud two daughters. and was des
| tined from his tenth year for the priesthood
| Accordingly, at that tender age, he was sent Il
Basel to learn Latin, music and dialectics, bu
| under the last named branch of learning were
/ included multitudinous rules for right think
| ing that were put into practice in frequent
disputations, much more occupied with hair
! splitting distinctions than with actual spiritua
! concerns. This course of study Zwingli car
| ried through with success, especially shining
as disputant and musician. From Basel h(
! was sent to Bern. where Heinrich Wolfein ha6
just opened the first Swiss school for the study
/ of :" the Humanities," T. e. Grecian history
| literature and art But after time the Do
minican monks divulged plan for inducing
the brilliant young Zurich student to join theil
order, and father and uncle were obliged Il
spirit him away to Vienna. Here Zwingl
carried on the studies both of Basel and Bern
and made the acquaintance of three men will
/ whom his later life brought him into close bu
most diverse relations. First of these wa.
Vadian, afterwards Burgomaster of Zurichi
neghbor city, st. Gallen, but then rector o
the University of Vienna and poet-laureate o
the Emperor Macmillan. The famous DR.. Eek
of renown through disputation with Luther
and Faber, ZwingiTS own especial enemy, boil
his vigorous opponents in later life wer,
! Zwinglis friendly fellow-students at Vienna
i Here Zwingli stayed two years. and then re
turned to Basel, the scene of his school days
| where he took up his abode as teacher of Latin
in the school of ST. Martin and student in tn,
| university. In 1906 he made his degree, anC
is described as being at once an effective stu
dent and an agreeable man, and an especial,
accomplished musician.
ORDAINED PRIEST
In 1906, the year of making his degree
Zwingli received the post of priest in Glarus
was ordained by the bishop of Constance
preached his first sermon in Rapperswyg, cele
brated his first mass iii Wildhaus, his birth
place, and entered upon his duties in Glarus
Here he carried on his studies, reading Latin
studying the New Testament, learning tn
epstles of Paul by heart in Greek, and copy
ing vast manuscripts for his own use In thi
student-priests life in Giarus he mentions th
first suggestion of change in his attitude to
wards the Catholic forms of worship. III
quotes a poem Of Erasmus who was then liy
ing in Basel, in which Jesus laments in yer,
beautiful words that we do not seek all gooi
things at his hands, since he is the source O
good, saviour, comforter and protector of tn
SOUL Then l thought: Why-do we seek he'll
from things created?" Later speaking of thi
time, Zwingli says: g At last came to poin
where | thought-nnder guidance of the Scrip
ture-s Thou must let all else lie idle and lear
Gods meaning simply from the Word of God
Then began to pray for light, and the Scrip
lures grew easier to understand than when
read many commentaries and expositions"
But Zwingli was still far from making an
onslaught upon the established church, as ma
be seen from the fact that he thankfully re
ceived yearly pension from the Pope whie
he did not resign until 1920.
ZwINGLI AT ZURICH.
In those days Zurich was the chief city G
the Confederation and city of decided pc
litical Importance, but in morals, unhappily,
had fallen very low. The custom of servin
as soldiers in foreign armies, and receivin
pensions for every conceivable service ha
worked frightful Generalization in all rank
and grades of Zurich life Zwingli himself re
: lates that, having to pass through Zurich, Ii
found such a disgracefnl manner of life pre-
hot xVo1