The record-union., 1892-11-01
Special to the REcoRD-US1ox.

y.
WITTENBERG, Oct. 31.-Emperor Will
lam, the Empress and three of their sons
arrived from Potsdam this morning from
Berlin to take part in the rededication Of
the restored church, to the doors ofwhich
Luther nailed his famous theses against
Papal indulgences. The royal party were
accompanied by the Duke of y ork;
Prince Gustaf, Crown Prince of Sweden;
Prince Albrecht, Regent Of Brunswick;
Duke Of Oldenburg, Prince Of SAKE Mein-
ingen, and Chancellor Won Caprivi.
Upon the arrival of the imperial party
at the railway station they were welcomed
by Prince Stolberg- -Werniglrode, who
conducted them to the Town Hall. The
whole route was lined with troops. The
Emperor walked the entire distance and
the crowd shouted and cheered enthusi-
asticalIy. The imperial party was re-
ceived at the Town hall by the Burgo-
master, and, on behalf Of the municipal
authorities, he read an address to the EN-
peror, who responded with thanks.
At the head of the procession, which
formed iii the Market place, were the
highest Protestant clergy of the Empire,
including the President Of the Evangeli-
cal Superior Council and General Super
intendent of the Lutheran Church; these
were followed by a large number of
clergymen of lesser note; then came a
long line Of Generals of the army in full
uniform and other military officers, Min
listers ofState, representatives ofthe Land
tag, and many officials from the civil.
military and naval departments; then the
Protestant Princes of Germany with reti-
nues, and representatives of Protestant
foreign sovereigns.
The Emperor and suit brought up the
end Of the procession and an escort Of a
squadron of a cavalry.
As soon as the order was given for the
procession to move the church bells began
to peal merrily, while the strains Of
'Eine Feste Burg broke forth from the
instruments of the trumpeters stationed
in the towers of the castle church.
When Emperor William arrived at the
door of the church, Professor Adler.
architect Of the restored edifice. pre-
sented the key to his majesty, who, with
few gracious words, handed it to the
President of the Church Council. The
latter in turn handed the key to Dr..
QuanGt, pastor of the church, saving
BY command of the Emperor, the Pro-
tector and High Architect OF this house of
God, and in virtue of my Office, l deliver
to YOU, as an ordained minister of the
word, this key. May all who enter
through the door which this kew opens
enter the gate Of heaven"
DR.. Quandt then opened the door and
the Emperor and his train passed through.
As the imperial party entered the church
the congregation rose and sang the hymn.
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Cod" When
the imperial party had taken the seats as
signed them, Dr. Schaltze, leader Of the
church in Saxony, opened the service.
DR.. Nieregge, the court chaplain, preached
a sermon, taking his text from Romans
iii, ., 'Being justified freely by His
grace through redemption that is in Christ
Jesus"
Upon the conclusion of the services the
imperial party drove to Luther's house.
where the Emperor signed the deed of
dedication.
From Luther's house the Emperor and
party reviewed the gorgeous historical
procession, composed of nineteen groups
illustrating the foundation and develop
ment Of Wittenberg and the foundation
OF SchlosSkirce. The eleventh car was
the chief feature. 1t was embematic of
the Reformation. On ii was a representa-
ton of Martin Luther on horseback sur
rounded by his adherents. Behind the
car rode five leaders of the famous League
of Schmalkld, who founded Wittenberg
in 1886 to defend Protestants against
Charles Y.
After dinner there was banquet. The
Duke Of Gork, who represented Queen
Victoria, was seated opposite the EN-
poror. The Emperor, in a speech, said:
10 us the church Is not only n memorial.
but a serious admonition and expression
of divine blessing through the Protestant
Church. The confession of our faith that
we made to-day in the presence of God
binds us and the whole of Christendom
Therein lies the bond Of peace. reaching
beyond all lines of division. In the mat
ter Of the hexic of faith there is no COM
pulsion. Free conviction of heart and
decisive acknowledgment thereof is the
blessed fruit of the Reformation. We
Protestanls make teud with nobody on
account Of belief, but we hold fast our
faith in the gospel Of DEATH"
The Emperor then thanked the Ger
man Princes and Protestant sovereipns
of Germany for taking part in the festi-
val. He concluded by raising the cup
that Wittenberg had presented to Luther
on the occasion Of his wedding "This
cup" he said, "once touched Luther's
lips. 1t shall serve me to drink to the
welfare of my ilhstrious guests. Long
life to the Protestant Princes of Germany
and the Governments of German free
towns"
IhlS church, commenced in l439 was
finished in 1883. In 1860 it was seriously
injured by fire during a bombardment,
and suffered in the same manner in 1914.
and was finally rebuilt in 1877.
On the north side were the wooden
doors to which Luther affixed his theses.
These doors were burned in I760. but
were replaced in 1888 by bronze doors.
ten feet in hight, presented By Frederick
William IN. They bear the original
Latin text of Luther's theses. Above.
on golden ground, is a representation of
Christ, with Luther and Melancthon at
his feet. On the right and left, above the
doors, are the statues OF the electors
Frederick the Wise and John Constant
The bodies of these electors We're buried
in the church.
Everywhere in town are evidences of
the great reformer. Not far from the
railway station, outside Elster Thor,
stands an oak planted in 1890. This tree
is said to mark the spot where Luther
publicly burned the Papal bull on De-
cember 10, 1jZ0. This spot is said to have
been selected for the purpose by Luther
because here were buried the clothing of
those who died from the plague. In the
Collegeien Strasse is the augusteum. in
the court Of which stands Luther's house.
The first floor is fitted up as Luther halle,
and contains many articles that belonged
to Luther. In the vestibule there are a
number of paintings representing scenes
in Luther's life. In the mark
stands a statue of Luther under Gothic
canopy. The base bears the inscription.
lists Gottes werk so wird's bestehn.
lists menschen werk wird's untergehn''-
If it be Gods work, it Will endure: if
mans work, it will perish.l Under a