The times., 1897-07-05
TWO DOCUMENTS COMPARED.
The Declaration of Independence
and the Augsburg Confession.

Rev DR. Parson, at the Church OF the
Reformation, yesterday morning took for
his subject tile two parallel declarations,
The American Declaration of Independ-
ence and tie Augsburg confession before
Emperor Charles V, OF Germany He
spoke IL part as follows:
This is a great day in the nation. 1t IS
the anniyersar yof the birth orIuuependenCe-
While there is d nation with anything
of the OLD patriotism in the people, this day
wiil be holy day to Americans.
From The beginning there was clear
recognition OF the hand OF Divine Provi-
dence in the course OF things in the Revolt
tioa. Tie Declaration OF Independence
says in its opening sentence that we are
endowed by the Creator with certain
lnalienable rights, and the closing sentence
pledges life, fortune ana sacred honJr With
a firm reliance in the protection or Divine
Providence.
There was d religious declaration Of
independence about Two centuries uad =
half earlier, which had a close relation 10
the liberties of men, and l desire to trace
a parallel between the giving Of the Augs-
burg confession before Emperor Charles V
aud the Declaration OF Independence.
Both of these events belong TO the
great events or history Each has had
a marked influence upon The course OF
liberty, political and religious. Both
stood for the rights OF men, for freedom,
for independence. The one declarition
made Professionalism. The Otuer pro-
dUccd Ecpuhlicanism with the lest Ideals
OF civil and religious liberty.
Both documents We're the Outcome Of
an irrepreSslBle conflict. In the sixteenth
century it was the clash of contending
ideas as to God, the church, and allegiance
to the Pope In 1875 it was conflict
with a kingly government; men contentling
that they had the right of seIf-guvern-
| ment.
The Protestant said: I must mink
for myself You shall not lordit over me.
I appeal from popes and councils to the
word OF Cod
The Revolutinary sire said: Govern
! mcnts derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed I shall think
for myself and act for myself politically
This was the inevitable crisis TO which
affairs were moving producing in one
instance tie Reformation, in the other the
Revolution.
In connection with each of these epochs
in history stands one name high above
all Others, Luther in the sixteenth cen
tUry. Washington in the last century
They were giants in those days Their
names stand out like fire pillars as
Carlyle says. Both men had the genius
of leadership
several interesting points in their his
tory are very similar Luther was the
moving spirit, yet Melaucthun wrote the
confession Washington is the great name
| of Revolutionary DAYS, yet Jefferson wrote
| the Declaration. Melducthon was thirty
| three years old. as was also jefferson.
Luther did not sign the confession, nor
| did Washington sign the Declaration.
Luther was not come TO be another
| pope. Washington was not engaged in
! founding a government that was 10 be
Ike other kingdoms. They were strong
Iaen, who IoSe above the level Of their
| tirnes, get both We're fallible and human
men, aud we should not make them deni-
| gods.
And what is true of these two noble
men is also true of both the declarations Of
| independence-they are but human docu-
ments
| Providence has wrought out great re-
| ligious ard civil problems along the lines
laid down in these two decIara tions Of
| independence The world is better, freer
and more advanced for the stand then
| taken. Not one iota of the original con
fession or Of the original declaration can
ever be made void by subsequent events .