Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-05

cloister OF Nimptsch, near Gesinia. in
Saxony. Though l.u,her's enemies
derisively reminded him of the old
legend that from the union OF an eXpel-
led monk and runaway nun anti-Christ
would be bego,tcn, lis married life was
happy one Two children were born
to him--a son, Hans, aud a daughter,
Elizabeth In 1897 the plague broke
out in Wittcnberg, and Luther's infant
son was stricken, but recovered. Luther
wrote concerning these days: THUS
there are conflicts without and fears
within. One comfort, nevertheless. we
have over against the rlgings Of Satan,
and that Is the Word Of God, by which
we may save the souls OF the faithful,
even ilSatan should destroy their bodies
Pray for Us that we vlliantly endure
the visitation OF God and overcome the
devils might and craft, be it for life or
death. Amen"
RiN' rEsrE HuRG.
1t was during these ,roublous tines
perhaps that very year--that Luther
wrote the grand old choral, "The
Battle Hymn of the Reformation. 4"
"i.in' I'este Burg ist Uuser Colt, which
was played by trumpetcrs from the tow
er of the Schluss Kirche OF Wittenberg
when Kaiser Wilhelm and the Protest.
ant princes enter the doors OF the
church on which Luther nailed his
nineiy'iive theses;
a Stronghold sure our God Is he,
a trusty Shield and Weapon:
Our help Hen be and set US free,
Whatever ~ may happen.
The old malicious foe
Intends Us deadly woe:
Armed with the strength Of hell,
And deepest craft ns well,
on earth IS no, his fellow.
Much has been written about this grand
old chord, and the probable date OF It's
composition. That It belongs 90 Luther's
Wittenberg days, however, is sure,
though the mighty stronghold" Is
probably the remembrance of the Castle
OF Wartburg, In which he was concealed
under the name and guise OF Yunker
Georg for several months In the year
Is22. Some authorities believe that
Luther wrote the choral while on his
way to the Diet OF Worms in .Is7f,
whittier he had been summoned by the
German Empress and Others in high
authority to say whether he would
iNNN'Ah W iApAs AAla AlANlAln NNNi tNtlN
endeavor to dlssuade him from going,
reminding him that John lluss was
burned TO death under similar circum-
stances. To one OF. these friends
Luther wrote: "Were there as many
devils in Worms rs there are tiles on the
roofs, | would go, and not be afraid
II Huss was burned to ashes, the truth
was not burned with him"
And so he went. terrifying himself
during the journey by the composition
OF that noble hymn, by which alone his
name would have been preserved to
prosperity" So says one authority.
Some think, however, that 1t was COM
posed at the close OF the second Diet Of
Worms---that OF i52e-which revoked
the religious liberty granted in the pre-.
vious one OF 1896, against which five
sovereign princes and fifteen Tree cities
protested" and SO earned the name
OF Protestants. But we do not incline
TO either OF these opinions, for the
reason that Luther went to work with
! systematic eanestness and did not
trust to inspiration alone. Elm feste
Burg" is founded on Psalm xlvi.-"God
Is our Ietlge and strength, a very pleas
ant help in trouble" and he wrote not
only the words, but the music. 1.-THE
hymn, says recent writer, twas sung
over the relormer's grave, and the
first line was afterwards cut on the