The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-03
THE GREAT REFORMER.
The Lecture of DR.. Conrad at the English
Lutheran Church on Martin Luther"

DR.. r. w. Conrad, of Philadelphia, editor Of
the Lutheran Observer, lectured at the English
Lutheran Church, last night, on 'Martin
Luther, the Great Reformer.n This lecture was
delivered on the quarto-centenary of Luthers
birth, in Farwell Hail. Chicago before q large
audience, and was also delivered at Gettysburg,
at the unwilling of the great Luther monument,
May IT, 1884 Since that time it has been de-
livered by him in twelve States Of the Union.
The Doctor said that man, as originally Gre
ated, was endowed with reason, and capable of
knowing and obeying truth. Tempted by the
devil, who abode not in the TRUTH" he fell into
error and condemnation. In consequence of the
fall, deterioration Of the human reason has
taken place, and all men have evinced predis-
position to fall into error and sin. The most
common and dangerous forms in which error be-
sets men are those of sacrifice, self notification
legalism and ceremonialsm, engaged in under
the impression that by such voluntary offerings
infections, obedience and performances, they
might render satisfaction for their sins and mer-
it the favor of God. illustrations of this abound
ed not only among the heathens, but also
among the Jews, and they are not wanting even
L
after being justified by faith, sought to establish
their own righteousness by the works of the law.
subsequently Judaizing teachers spread the
leaven OF legalism far and wide, until the truth
that man can be justified alone through grace by
faith In Jesus Christ was everywhere, at FIRST
obscured and perverted, and then assailed, sup
pressed and mathematical, and the fatal error
taught that man may by the deeds Of the law
and the work of righteousness, merit grace and
eternal life, was taught and enforced in the
Roman Catholic Church
The corruption which followed became so
great and demoralzing as to threaten the over
throw of the church, and nothing but a thor
ough reformation could save her from de-
struction. The necessity for such a reformation
had been felt for ages; it was acknowledged by
the most candid Romansts themselves; wit
nesses of the truth attempted it, but fell mar
tyrs at the hands of the papacy, when God
raised up Martin Luther, and enabled him to
accomplish the great reformation. Reformers
day, but require the training and discipline of
years to prepare them for their work. Christ
himself did not enter upon His messianic mis-
sion until He had arrived at the age of thirty,
and obtained the knowledge and experience of
full manhood, and Luther required similar
course of preparation to fit him for the success
full prosecution of the work of reform. He was
born at Eisleben, in Saxony. Nov. 10, 1883, sent
to school at Mansfield, Magdeberg and Eisenach,
graduated at the University Erfurt with high
honors. entered a monastery. was made doc
tor of philosophy and theology, and elected a
professor and lecturer on philosophy and the
Scriptures in the University of Wittenberg, and
at the age of thirty-four inaugurated the Ref
orm alton by mailing the ninety-6ve theses
the doors OF the Castle church of Wittenberg,
and prosecuted it with untiring industry and in
domitable energy for nearly thirty years, and
died in February, 1916, at the age of sixty-two.
More that three and onehalf centuries have
passed since the close of his earthly career, and
the character of his life and services, the extent
and value of the work he accomplished have
been fully tested, recognized and appreciated
The quarto-centenary of his birth occurred on
the 10th of November, 1883, when the Protest
ant world held festal day. Imperial hands laid
floral tributes on his tomb, trumpets sounded
and echoed ia his praise, and divines and states
men proclaimed his principles and achieve
ments. Monuments were erected to his memory,
and TIE Deums, like the sound of many waters,
rose from millions of hearts in gratitude and
thanks giving to God for giving to the church
and to the world Martin Luther, the great re-
former
The Doctor recalled the fact that during the
dark ages. which lasted a thousand years, the
Roman Catholic Church initiated and set up
numerous errors which eliminated in a CORE
spending number of practical abuses-that Mar
tin Luther detected these errors, in the light Of
the Scriptures followed their track and applied
the ak of truth to their roots, in order to cut
them down.
In the second part OF his lecture the Doctor
presented an analysis of Luther, his special
characteristics being shown under sixteen sepa-
rate groupings. In the clear light which the
lecture threw upon the colossal magnitude of
Luther, Carlyle's estimate of the great Reformer
was reached AN Alpine mountain-unsubdu
able granite, piercing far and wide into the
heavens, yet, in the clefts of it fountains, green
and beautiful valleys with flowers. A right
spiritual hero and prophet, once more a true son
of nature and fact, for whom these centuries
and many that are yet to come will be thankful
to heaven