The herald., 1897-02-15
ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
DR.. Ball Discusses "Melancthon as Factor
in the Reformation Of the Church"

The services last evening at the Eng
lish Lutheran church, Eighth and Flow
er streets were in recognition of the
Melanchthon centennial The theme of
Rev. Balls discourse was Melanchthon
as Factor in the Reformation of the
Church. He based his remarks on the
text 9 Peter, i:5 Besides this, giving
all diligence, add to your faith virtue,
and to virtue knowledge" After show
ing all the necessary relation between
faith and virtue, and the close relation
between faith and knowledge constant
" assumed or expressed in the teachings
of Christ and the Apostles, ne proceed
ed to show that the merit of the refor-
nation consisted in this very thing;
that, finding faith allied to superstitition
and ignorance, and vice ruling even in
the church, it emphasized the necessity
of virtue and gave to faith truer basis
in knowledge of the Scriptures. "Vari-
Gus attempts have been made to correct
the abuses existing in the church." said
the speaker, but they had uniformly
failed until God led Luther to expose and
attack the evil at it's source. In that
work Luther had associated with him
a man who was an invaluable counter
part AS the name of David recalls
Vi lHdl VI GlCl iCSdlo cOiii,
or Paul Barnapus or Silas. so
does the name Of Luther recall Me-
lanchthon."
In passing Mr.. Ball dwelt briefly upon
the birth and education of Melanchthon,
his remarkable intellectual powers, his
contributions to learning, and, in gen.
eral the qualities that won for him the
title THE Preceptor of Germany"
Continuing, he said: But it Is not
q university rrOfeGcor that Me1apch-
thon is best known. His name is in
dissolubly connected with the earliest
formulation Of the theology and the
confession of the new movement. He
assisted Luther in the translation of the
Bible; in 1921 he published the first sys-
tenn of Protestant theology, a develop
ment of his lectures on the letters to the
Romans. As a debater his penetration
of mind self control, thorough acquaint-
ance with the subject, command of Ian
guage and familiarity with the Scrip
lures rendered him formidable alike in
attack and defense. He was called upon
to aid in the solution of state, educa-
tional and religious questions by the
kings of France, Bohemia, England, mad
by the archbishop of Cologne. His in
fiuence in the church of today, however,
rests upon the Augsburg Confession,
which, next to the Bible, lies at the
base not only of the Lutheran church
but OF Professionalism, and upon The
Apology. Melanchthon's influence, in
stead of waning, is on the increase, and
his name will doubtless be held in higher
honor with the advancing years
However, great as were his services
to the church, Melanchthon was def
cient in the qualities of a leader of men.
He was a lover Of peace, and disposed
to make peace frequently at almost
any sacrifice His failures as a leader,
therefore, after death had removed Lu-
ther from the helm, are due to his nat
ural temperament. They led, however,
to the most violent controversies. and
greatly embittered the last years of his
life. Almost his last words were in re-
PLY to his nephew, who asked whether
tnere was ANYTHING he desired. He
answered, Nothing but heaven
Luther won the hearts of the people