The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-01
WILLIAM AT WITTENBERG
The Rededication of Luther's Re-
stored Church.
A PROCESSION OF DIGNITARIEs.

WTTTENBERa, Nov. Upon the ar.
rival of the imperial party at the rail-
way station here they were welcomed by
Prince Stolberg- -Wernigerode, who con-
Quoted them to the town hall The party
consisted of Emperor William, the en-
press, and three of their sons. They
were accompanied by the Duke of York,
Prince Gustaf, Crown Prince of Sweden,
Prince Albrecht, the Regent of Bruins
wick. the Duke Of Oldenburg, the Prince
of Sake -Meiningen, and Chancellor Won
Caprivi.
The railway station is some distance
from the town, and the whole route was
lined with troops Back Of the soldiers
the crowd stood four or five deep for the
entire distance.
The emperor wore the uniform of an
officer of the Gardo du corps. He walked
the entire distance from the station to
the town hall, and as he moved through
the lines of troops they presented arms,
while the crowd shouted and cheered
enthusiastically.
The imperial party were received at
the town hall by the burgomaster of
Wittenberg, who, on behalf of the muni-
cipal authorizes, read an address to the
emperor. When this was finished and
the emperor had replied in few words
thanking the towns officials .Ar their
good wishes, the procession began to
form.
A Procession of NotabIes,
At the head of the procession were the
highest Protestant clergy of the empire.
including the president of the Evangeli-
cal Superior council and the general su-
per1ntendent of the Lutheran church.
These were followed by large number
OF clergymen of lesser note. Then came
long line of generals of the army in
full uniform and other military officers,
the ministers of state, representatives Of
the landtag, and many officials from the
civil, military and naval departments.
Then came the Protestant princes of
Germany with their retinues, and the
representatives of Protestant foreign
sovereigns.
The emperor and his suite brought up
the end of the procession, under escort
OF squadron of cavalry. Included in
the procession were the festival COM
mittee, various municipal and district
officials and many religious societies.
In the Old Church.
When Emperor William arrived at
the door of the church Professor Adler,
the 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..
Quandt, the pastor Of the church, say
ing: by command of the emperor the
protector and high architect of this
house of God, and in virtue of my office,
deliver to you, as an ordained minister
of the Word, this key. May all who
enter through the door which this key
opens enter through the gate of Heaven"
DR.. Quandt then opened the door and
the emperOrand his trai'' passed through.
When the imperial party had taken
the seats assigned to them, DR.. Schaltze,
leader of the church in Saxony, opened
services, and DR.. Vieregge, the court
chaplain, preached the sermon.
Upon the conclusion of the services the
imperial party drove to Luther's house,
where the emperor signed the deed of
dedication.
The Emperor's Tribute TO luther.
AT the luncheon attended by the Ger
man princes, representatives of foreign
soyereigns and high state officials En-
peror William rose with Luthers goblet
i'll his hand and said:
Il am thankful to God that shall
drink from the goblet presented to Mar
tin Luther by the town of Wittenberg
on the occasion of his wedding in 1926.
At the time the reformation had already
got a foothold in Germany. Therefore
Luther's 4O0th birthday inspired the plan
to renovate the SchlosslIirche where
Luther's body lies. Myimmortal grand
father, Emperor William L, and my be-
loved father, Emperor and King Fred
erick III, intended that the renovation of
the church should be monunxnt to the
reformation. My grandfather had the
means necessary for the work. To his
suggestion we owe all the details of this
building, His name will always be con
nected with this monument to the re-
formation.
For the living generation the Schloss-
kirche ought to be not only mark for
the past, but also serious warning for
the present and future. The SchloSs-
kirche is the expression of the blessings
brought to us by the Evangelical church,
and we should not forget that the CON
fessiOns joins lis to the whole of christian
ity. Therein Is the living bond OF peace
which reaches beyond schsm. In mat
ters of faith there is no constraint, only
the free conviction OF the heart is de-
cisiye, and this is the blessed frnit of the
reformation.
We evangelicals do not fight anybody
in religious matters, but we cling to our
confession until death. This is my con
tidence, my prayer, my hope"
The emperor then raised the goblet
and drank to the health of the assembled
princes. He was received with great en-
thusiasm and when he concluded his
address he was loudly applauded.