Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-09

| Initiated the great movements which was
| destined to work change IN the history
OF the religious world.
! Last night the festival was celebrated
| by the Sunday school, The chancil was
| tastefully decorated with flowers. At
/ the right Of the pulpit was hung an oil
! portrait of the great refOrmer, and at the
left another Of Phillip MelancthOn. Both
portraits are Old works. They We're
painted over a century ago, and for
years have been treasured among the
archives u the church. Above that of
Luther was the date OF his birth in 1917,
and above that of Melancthou were the
figures 1885. The church was well filed
with the Sunday school and congregation
and many from other churches.
The service began with the professional
hymn
Onward Christian soldiers,
Marching on to war,
With the cross Of Jesus
Going on before"
This was followed by the introit and
Gloria Patri and the coronation hymn.
The pastor then offered a brief PRAYER
and read the scriptural lesson, after
which the hymn "W are coming, one and
all" was sung by the school and choir.
The Apostles Greed was then reclted,
and the hymn ''Stand, firmly stand" was
sung.
The pastor delivered a brief address.
The Greatest boon, he said, which the doc
trines OF Luther and the Reformation
have wrought for religion is the belief in
the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
There are nifty millions of people who be-
lieve that the scriptures are the nfallible
word of GOD. Ii fifty millions. he
said, rest their hope Of eternal life
upon the word OF God as inter-
preted by the Augsburg confession
there is some weight in their testimony,
and we are encouraged to 20 on in the
faith. DR.. Bowman related a number of
interesting incidents illustrating the
growth and spread OF Lutheranism, which
now embraces 40,000,000 of people in its
faith. When young man, the pastor
said, he was assigned to a church in one
OF the interior counties of Virginia. In
the village where he lived was an acad-
envy or high school. He had been IN
charge Of the pastOrate some lime when
a change took place in the principalship
OF the school, and a new principal from a
part of the State where the Lutheran
church was not we'll known took charge.
He was man, apparently, of thorough
education and brilliant conversational
list. In the course OF time an intimacy
sprung up between the teacher and pastor,
and continued until near the time of the
latter's removal from the place.
One day during a conversation the
teacher inquired: "What is this Luth-
erian church which you represent? What
kind of a sect is it?'
The pastor looked surprised, and after
a moments thought replied: "Itis no sect.
1t is the true church TO which all Chris
tians who desire TO obey the word of God
ought to belong"
"Well, 1t must be quite new church.
Not very long established" he inquired.
Yes, comparatively speaking, it is a
new church, " was the reply. According
to the ordinary belief the world Is about
5000 year Old. The Lutheran church Is
only about $50 years old"
SIT is not a very large church then? 1t
certainly cannot have more than a small
and remote membership. The fact of so
great church as you talk of cannot pos
sibly have escaped my observation"
I'VE walked together to my study"
said the pastor, land there by reference
to books of history and reference | showed
my friend that all ! had said was true.
He went away in thoughtful mood. and
it was several months before 1 saw him
again. | was about to leave the place
and arranged to call upon him, fearing
that had perhaps given HIM some
otlense, but just before l left he
came to my study one day
and after the usual greetings, / asked
him why he had avoided me. ''Whv,
SIR" be said, "the modification and
humiliation that | should know nothing
Of the great Lutheran church was So
great after that talk in your study, that
have been ashamed to look you in the
face"
"There are many people" added the
pastor, "whO, were they placed in a sim
liar position, would be, perhaps, more
mortified than was my friendr The
speaker noted many interesting facts and
sketches in regard TO the church which
the great Rolormer founded.
After the address, the hymn Lift the
Royal Standard High with a Firm and
Steady Hand" was sung. Then followed
q responsive service. developing the doe
trine If the Lutheran churcn. The serv-
ice closed with the doxology and bene-
dictiOn.