The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-29
TESTED BY THE CENTURIES.
THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE AUGs-
BURG CONFESSION.

Rev. DR.. schaeGer's Sermon the
3G6fh Anniversary of the Diet of
Worms-It Sets Forth the ReIig-
iOus Belief of Protestants and
Their Objections to the Forms and
Practices OF the Roman Catholic
Church.
The Augsburg Confession was the sub
ject OF DR.. Schaener's discourse at the
Lutheran Church Of the Ascension yester-
day morning.
a year ago Dr. Schaefer discussed the
principles of the confession. Yesterday
he discussed the obligations which IL i'm
poses. His text was: Thou hast given
a banner TO them that fear thee, that it
may be displayed because Of the truth"
Psalms GOA
DR.. Schaefer began his discourse by
reference TO the fact that the Augsburg
Confession had been presented at the
Diet Of Worms, called by Charles Y, 1856
years ago. on June %, 1880 He spoke of
the condition Of the times, the issues
which We're involved and the character
Of the men comprising the diet, both as
to the supporters of Professionalism and
its opponents. He eulogized the splen-
did courage Of the men. princes. lawyers
and theologians. who stood so grandly in
defense of the truth, and who so success
fully resisted the efforts Of the papal
hierarchy to crush out the life Of the
reformation and put out the light OF the
glorious gospel He did not consume time
in defending the several articles Of the
Augsburg Confession, but he emphasized
the obligations which its origin and its
existence and the truth of It imposed.
This instrument is to be displayed, DR..
Schaeffer said, chiefly because it IS a
summary and exhibition Of the doctrines
of Gods word. He held Il to be the truth
for reasons. first that these men who
feared the Lord, and who had been in
spired to write 1T a the truth to contro-
vert and overthrow the errors which pre-
vailed In the church at that time, and be-
cause It so clearly announced the great
doctrine Of justification by faith and sue
cessfully withstood every assault to this
day. 1t afiirms that the church
is the congregation OF saints,
in which the gospel is rightly
taught and the sacraments rightly
administered. II condemned the with
drawal of the cup from the laity, priestly
celibacy the abuse of the mass and con-
fession, man imposed Observances, mon
astic vows and the misuses of ecclesi-
aoAlNdA dQluOIllgs ana SO II became the
great magma charter of civil and religious
liberty for the Protestant world. IL has
withstood every assault and remains I'M
altered to this day, and enjoys the loyal
support of more than 6OW0,000 of adher-
ents.
This old confession. he said. which had
come down TO us through nearly 400 years
contains the essential truths of Gods
word, and demands our loyal support.
DR.. Schaeffer made a closing appeal for
loyalty on the part of the church TO the
truth as exhibited in this confession, given
Ii by God.
Mr.. Lucien Alden Of Washington. D. c..
addressed the Sunday school of the
Church of the Ascension in the afternoon,
ana the Luther league last night Mr.. AL
den was superintendent of the Lutheran
Sunday school here for several years pre-
vious to his departure from Savannah
eighteen years ago, and has many friends
here who gave him a cordial greeting.
He takes an active part in church and
Sunday school work in Washington and
he predicts that the meeting of the
Christian Endeavor Society in Washington
next month will be the largest in the his
tory of that organization.
In his address at night Mr.. Alden gave
some very interesting statistics showing
the strength and condition of the Luth-
eran church in its various departments
of church work in this country. The fol-
given by himi Stxty-one synods; 5.725
ministers; 957S congregations; 1,4O2,1S9
communicate MEMBERS 4958 Sunday
schools; 1922 officers and teachers; 424,-
1888 scholars The benevolent eontribu-
tons amounted to nearly 81, 900 900; edu-
cational institutes number 100, of which
26 are theological seminaries, AZ colleges.
Al academies, and Is ladies' seminaries
aggregating property valued at $3.50 1880;
endowment, $lS73, 157, having 257, 1852 vol
umes in the libraries, employing 679 pro-
fessors and instructors, and having Ii .s21
students; 1888 Of whom have the minis
try in view. This, he said, is only a par
tial presentation.