Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-17
THE LUTHER STATUE.

These statues are of bronze and measure eight
and half feet in height. Between these
heroic figures on the side and rear of the
quadrangle are sitting figures representing the
three cities which were chiefly identified with
the reformation, namely. Augsburg. Magde-
burg and Speyer. In the center of the monu-
ment. grouped around the colossal statue Of
Luther. sit the bronze images of the four great
pioneers of the reformation, Sayonarola, John
Huss. Peter Waldo and John Wvcklffe.
THE GRAND CENTRAL FIGURE
Of Luther stands ten and one-hali feet upon
pedestal twenty-se feet high. 1t represents
him clad in the gown of an ecclesastic in the
church which bears his name. The left hand
holds the Bible, and the right. firmly clenched.
rests on the sacred volume, while with head
thrown back and dauntless micn rs when he
uttered the memorable words: Here / stand.
/ cannot do otherwise. God help me! Amen"
battlemented wall incloses the entire group
and is designedly so constructed. as to remind
one of the battle motto of Luther: Elm feste
Bu1,g iSt uns.7- GOH." On the inner surface of
the wall are the coats-of-arms Ut twenty-iour
German cities which fought and suffered for the
Protestant faith.
The idea Of this historic memorial was first
preached in the year 1917. which was the three
hundredth anniversary of the German RefOrma-
tiOn- There was considerable discussion, but
uO aCtlht tdNcIl dtlti t1t SiiiDtCt was
allowed to slumber until the year 1856. when
public meeting Of representatives of the Prot
estant faith throughout Germany was held at
Worms. a committee was appointed. and the
collection of funds began at once. Ernst
Rietschel. the artist had Just completed the
bronze group of Schiller and Goethe at Weimar.
and he was invited to undertake the design of
this memorial The money was contributed so
literally from all parts of the world that the
committee were able to urge expedition. The
plan at firstto erect simple statue of Luther
opposed by the artist who thought that the memo
rial should be q monument not only of I.uthers
personality. but likewise of the Reformation
The artist began his work in 1853 and i'm 1860 he
was able to report from his studio in Dresden
that the clay models for the statue of Luther
and Wyckliffe were completed. His work. how
eyer, was brought to sudden close by his
death in 1861. During the last days of his life
he worked upon the plaster model of the Luther
head. putting upon it the finishing touches
His pupil. now Prof. Adolf DOnndorf, of Stuff
CART, relates that
THE DYING SCULPTOR
called him to his side and babe him make some
alterations in the cast, where his eye had de-
tected faults. .Donndorf. under the direction OF
his dying master, set himself to the task and
Reitschel lived long enough to see the altered
model and approve it. Before cast could be
secured the model was dropped by the careless
dOrf executed a new model of the Luther head,
which was adopted by the committee, put into
bronze and forms the central figure of the
Worms group
The unwilling of this group occurred on the
24th and 10Th OF June. 1868. inclusive with i'm
posing ceremonies. and in the presence of q
great throng OF people.
The Unvciling Ceremonies.
COMPLETE PROGRAM OF TIE ENERCISES TO BEGIN
TOMORROW.
The program of the exercises of the dedication
and unyeiIing OF the statue erected in this city
is as follows:
Sunday, May Is, 7:45 p. m.-Memorial Grafton,
Rev F. W. Conrad. D. d.
Tuesday. May 20, 7:45 p. M. Gen j. A. Ekin,
U. s. A. observation-disclosures, Roy j. Fry. D..
D.. Rev. d. NJ. Gilbert, D. D., Hon. j. F. Miller,
Rev. ID. II. Geissinger. Rev. j. Swartz; d. d.;
poem. Rev n. Sheeleigh.
Wednesday, May 81, 10 a. m. (German) Mr..
A J; D:Wedemeyer presiding.-Addresses. Rev.
F. Phi. Hennighausen. Rev A. C. Wedekind, d.
D.. Rev. Ed. F. Moldehnke, Phi. d.
Wednesday, p. m. Mr. Chief Justice Waite
of the U. s.. Rev. j. G.. Morris, ID. d., LID.
dwelling TIE statue and prayer; Rev. C. A.
Hays.
Music by Marine band.
All the services will be held IN .he Memorial
church. except on the afternoon of Wednesday,
be erected near the statue, and the unwilling eX-
ercises will be held there. The Marine band will
furnish the music.
As the statue Is unveiled, Luther's battle
hymn will DE sung.
At the ether services the music will be fnr-
nished by the choir Of the church. nnder the d.
rection of Mr.. John II. Seiflert. Mrs Ella Butler
Is the organ.st and Prot. VIM. Long the cor
netist.
The ladies' of the church will give a reception
hn MI rctn
evening in the chapel.
PROCESSION OF GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS
Arrangements are being made for procession
Wednesday afternoon, In connection with the
unwilling ceremonies. The COncordia church
ASSOCIATION, of this city, together with the
pastor. have issued call for a meeting Of all
the German organizations of Baltimore. Rich
mond and the surrounding country to be held
sunday evening. to arrange for procession of
the German organizations and other organi.
cations that may wish to Join. The money
TO delray the expenses incurred was sub
scribed at the first meeting of the COneordIa
church. 1t is expected that the German Odd
Fellows, Masons and Knights of Pythas. sing
ing and literary societies anu other civic
organizations OF this city will take part.
A good attendance Is expected both from
Baltimore and Richmond. In Baltimore the
Martin Luther and Gustaye Adolf associations:
the knights or Pythias, and others are arrapp-
Ing to come over in special train. The COM
mittee OF arrangements is composed of Rev. L..
II. Schneider. chairman; George Walker Louis
kettler, Frederick Imhoff and G. Hurlebaus.
The procession viii form at 2 o'clock WedDes-
day afternoon at German hall. on 18th street
and march through several streets to the statue.
One of the marches to be played by the band
will be the Carthage College Grand March.
which closes with 1.-THE Battle Hymn of the
Reformation" and was composed by Rev. F. A.
Conrad, Of the Eastern avenue church of Baiti-
more.
Martin Luthcr's Life.
A SKETCH OF THE CAREER OF THE GREAT GER
MAN REFoRMER.
Martin Luther, the leader Of the great thco-
logical revolution Of the 10th century, was born