The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-10
THE LUTHERANs' FESTIVAL.
They Celebrate the 3ooth Anniversary
OF Gustavus Adolphus' Birth.

Of Gustavus Adolphus' Birth.
The SO0th anniversary of the birth of
the great Protestant hero. Gustavus
Adolphus OF Sweden was celebrated by the
Lutheran churches all over the world
yesterday. A large congregation as
sembled in the Lutheran church in Savan-
nah to hear Rev. W. c. schaener upon
the subject of the lion of the north.
There is inspiration" said Dr. Schaef-
fer in the thought that in this service
to-day we unite with princes. kings and
/ emperors and a mighty host of more
than 100000 Of people to do honor to
the memory of one whom God honored.
In the great cathedral and churches Of
Germany, Sweden, Norway. Denmark
ard over all the world are assembled to-
day our brethren to rehearse the achieve
ments Of Gustavus Adolphus svho secured
TO Professionalism religious liberty.
IF to-day we sit under our own vine
and fig tree, free to worship God after
the dictates Of our own conscience, we
owe it. under God. as much to Gustavus
Adolphus as to any man who ever lived.
Gustavus Adolphus was born in the
royal castle at Stockholm on Dec, .. 1894
His parents were Charles TX, and Chris
tiana Of Holstein-Gottorp. As a boy he
was studious and intelligent. His favorite
studies were languages history, jurispru-
dence and military tactics.
Dec. %, 1911, at the age of II, he as
cended the throne. He found his kingdom
in sorrowful condition and engaged with
I hn Toe u.
cessful in his war with Russia and Poland
in which he exhibited his remarkable mill
/ tary powers and genius.
At the conclusion of these wars he de-
| termined to aid his prosecuted brethren of
the Lutheran faith in Bohemia and Ger
| many, who were now in the midst of the
| horrors of the 30 years war On the Path
of June, 1880, he landed with his army of
| 1900 or 10000 men on the island of Rugen
| in Pomerania. In the short space of eight
| months he made himself master of eighty
| strong places in the Duchies of Pomerania
| and Mechlenburg.
on the 9Th of September, 1881, the two
| most illustrious captains of Europe, Gus
! taVus Adolphus and Tilly met at Breiten-
field to fight battle which was not only to
! decide the superiority of the one or the
other, but also the future of Protestant
| ism and Catholicism. Upon the issue hung
| the existence of the reformation in Ger
| many. The Catholic General lilly had
never been defeated.
Victory perched upon the banner of Gus
tavus Adolphus, and amid the dead and
| wounded he threw himself upon his knees
and the JOY of victory gushed forth in
prayer.
We have time to mention only one more
| battle in the wonderful career of this
Lion of the North"
Tilly defeated and slain, the emperor re-
called the brilliant Capt Wallenstein and
placed him in command of the imperial
armies. Wallenstein assumed command
with all the prestige of an invincible cap
tain.
Nov. 6, 1882, the armies of Wallenstein
and Gustavus Adolphus met on the field
| of Lutzen.
At dawn of that fatefuI morning Gus
tavus sent for his chaplain and spent an
hour in prayer.
How like our own Washington and
| Stonewall Jackson.
He then attended divine services in the
camp when the army sung, Elm Feste
| Burg list unser Colt"
The king kneeled in front of his lines
| and offered up his devotions-the whole
army at the same time dropping on their
| knees, sang the kings war hymn: Fear
not, little flock, the foe;' the sing
ing accompanied by military music, which
inspired the hearts of his soldiers with new
ardor.
When the two armies were in sight Gus
tavus Adolphus bowed his head and Of
ferred up his last prayer with unusual
| fervor. Then raising his eyes toward
heaven and with his clasped hands on
the hilt of his sword he CRIED Jesus.
Jesus! help me fight to-day for the glory
of thy holy name!' He then brandished
his sword above his head and added For
ward, in the name of the Lordr' The
charge was sounded the cavalry rushed
upon the enemy and the infantry against
the trenches with the war-cry, God with
usr'
1t was a terrible conflict of the two
armies. More than 5000 lay dead and still
a greater number wounded. The entire
plain of Lutzen was strewn with the
wounded, the dying and the dead. Wal
lenstein was routed, but among the dead
on that dreadful field lay Gustavus Adolf
plus
He fell crying out to his foes: "I am
the King of Sweden, who do seal the
religion and liberty of Germany with my
bloodr'
At the early age of Ss years this great
est captain of his day was laid to rest in
the Riddarholms church in Stockholm.
In his person were blended the most
solemn and most brilliant qualities. Deep
faith, firm piety, inffeXible justice unal-
terable kindness and matchless courage.
All the virtues of a true man and hero
were united to a military genius unsur-
passed.
Napoleon named him the greatest cap
tain of any age.
He was the Christian hero whom God
raised up to contend for the pure doc
trine of the gospel and to secure relig-
ious liberty to his oppressed brethren. He
| grandly fulfilled his mission.
The congregation was urged to a CRATE
full appreciation of the unspeakable bless
ings secured to it by the tremendous sac
riices of the men of God of former ages,
by a steadfast adherence to the faith de-
livered to Them by answering devotion
to the church in the service of Christ and
their fellowmen.
ARRIVED IN DISTRESS.