National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-19
Ar MEMoRIAL cuUncu.
Celebrating the Tenth Anniversnry--Tl
Sunday School Union Meeting.

Celebrating the Tenth AnniversHry-Th
sunday School Union Meeting.
Tho celebration Of the tenth anniversary
of the Memorial Lutheran church occurred
| yesterday morning. The audience was very
large, and many persons were unable to find
even standing room. The first sermon was
delivered by Rev. 8. B. Barnits, OF Iowa
Rcv. DIR. Conrad, Of Philadelphia,
offered prayer, and the pastor, Rev.
J. Ct. Butler, followed with the
| anniversary sermon. His theme was "The
planting and framing of the church." in which
he detailed the rise and progress Of the con-
Grcgation up to the present time. A large
memorial collection was taken up.
Long lines Of children, attirod in white
aud palo tinted spring costumes and boaring
aloit banners and flags, marched TO tho Memo
rial Lutheran church in the bright sunshine
yesterday afternoon. As thoy passed by the
bronze statue of Martin Luther, which
surmounted its tall pedestal and was concealed
behind the folds of an immense American
flag, many little Dyes were turned upward
and many littlO voices uttered tho name Of
the great German pioneer of FREQ religion.
The children comprised all of tho Lutheran
Sunday schools in Washington. They entered
the Memorial church and partici-
pated in union Luthor statue
celebration in honor of the unveling ceremo.
MICS, which will take place Wednesday. Tho
bCnOOlS represented WBrO as tOllOWS: fot.
Paul's, English l.. ID. Alden, superintendent |;
Concordia, German, Rev. Louis IL. Schneider,
superintendent; Fathorland, German, Rov.
A. Homrighaus, superintendent Fatherland,
English, A. l.. Guss superintendent; ST.
Johns, German, Rev. u. Lehnert, superin.
tendont Capitol hill, English, Isaac g.
Slater, superintendent; Georgetown, English,
Morning Memorial. English, Robert b. Kin
sell, superintendent, and Evening Memorial,
English, Rev. j, q. Butler, superintendent.
The oapacious amphitheatrical interior of
the church had boon especially prepared for
the occasion. The word "Jesus,p in flaming
gas jets appeared above tho pulpit while tho
pillars about the ohancel were entwined from
top to bottom with fragrant and tinted flow
ors. Tropical plants were massed in the rear
of tho chanGol, aud growing flowers were
prettily arranged in all of the large colored
glass chapel windows.
Under the general direction of Mr.. John
ii. Seitfert director of music the schools
sang in,regular order several Lutheran hymns,
in both English and German. The music
was intersporsod with short addresses and
responsive Scriptural readings When the
services began, at o'clock, there was not
standing room in tho church, and many
persons stood on the pavements and listened
to tho swelling choruses within.
Last night there was large congregation
assembled ut the church to listen to the Rev.
DIR. Conrad's Grafton upon Martin Luther
as Reformer"
DIR, Conrad is an impressive speaker and
handled his interesting theme with such
force and eloquence as to elicit frequent ap-
plause from his hearers. In the grafton the
historic incident associated with the life of
the great reformer at Worms, Wittenberg,
Speyer, and Augsburg were depicted by tho
speaker. Ho dwelt upon Luther's crusade
against papacy regarding indulgonces, saora-
ments, baptism; of Luther's reformulation
of the orthodox principles of faith, as opposed
to the dogmas of the Romish church and the
apostolic succession.
Referring to tho constitutional character
istics of Luther, the speaker said he was
gifted with scholarly and mental acquisitions;
that his conversion was thorough, his reliance
upon Gods assistance rather than that OF
princes wonderful; that no had indomitablo
energy, and was one of the most courageous
of leaders.
1t was meet that Americans should do
honor to Martin Luther. Without Martin
Luther and the reformation there would have
been no Independence hall, no American
revolution, and no liberty for the American
colonies.
Ia-- -s----l ,sivsOu uio uILJIun ny giving
some testimonials of what. bad -besir said 81
/ lagtt.af BY 4:sg'ss!.aaiie Calvin, Melancthon,
Froude, Southey, Coleridge, Daniel Webster,
and Rev. Dr. Stowe, the Presbyterian divine.