Middletown transcript., 1897-09-25
MARTIN LUTHER.

4 &AA1s4A1N LIZ IA AA4Ae
| DIR. Moore Relates Incidents OF the
Life OF the Great Reformer.
Martin Luther was the subject of DR..
Moore's discourse on Sunday evening last,
and so familiar had he become with the
home and haunts of this great reformer,
both by travel and study, that the subject
was set forth most clearly and the interest
Of his hearers was held throughout He
spoke of Luther's humble birth in the town
Of Eisleben Germany, of poor but pious
parentage-of their ambition for their son
in sending him to Eisenech for his educa-
ton. At this place the DIR. visited the
house of Ursula Gotta, who greatly aided
their poor youth in his education. Other
scenes associated with his life here were
also spoken of and the monuments erected
to his memory were minutely described.
Following him from here to Hesse and
then to Wittenburg, where the deeds which
haYe made his name what it is, were
enacted. He related incidents connected
with his life as an Augustinean Monk in
the monastery at Erfurt, and facts relative to
the views he took regarding the scriptures
and his work of translating the same. Then
of his boldness in making known his views
which were in direct opposition to the
church and doctrines. How he nailed on
the doors Of the church at Wittenburg his
ninety five theses against the sale of indul-
gences, the echo of which was heard over
the city and throughout Germany and for
which he was condemned as hereto, and |
finally there was sent to him from Pope
Leo K the bull Of accommodation which |
he accepted as dismissal from the Church |
and to retaliate for the burning of his writ
ings, by the church authorities, be took /
the bull to the outskirts of the town and |
there in the presence of many of rank and
distinction, burned ii. And to-day in the
city of Wittenburg, over the very spot
where this was burned is growing an oak
tree, fitting emblem of the strength of
his convictions and the wide spread
influence of his words which broke from
its fetters the gospel SO long chained to err
ror and superstition and placed it in the
hands of the people. He spoke of Luther's
being summoned by Charles V to the Diet
of Worms, where he made full and COM
pIete surrender of his convictions in that
famous speech ending with There I take
my stand. can do naught else. So help
me God. Amen" Twas after this that he
was arrested and confined in the Wartburg
at Eisenach. The situation of this castle,
its approach, surroundings, and the castle
itself were most clearly pictured by DR..
Moore, as was the room in which Luther
was confined, where he spent the ten
months of his confinement translating the
scriptures and other parts of the place in
timately associated with him and his work
there. He followed him back to Witten-
burg. speaking of the sermons he preached
and the translating of the scriptures which
were published here, and of the untiring
efforts put forth by him in support of this
cause, the intensity of which was sapping
the very life from the man, as was shown
In the dark and sunken eye, the pale and
hollow cheek, and sallow Yisage. From
Wittenburg he followed him to the place
of his birth, Eisleben. where his days were
ended. but it was not here that he was laid
to let His remains were taken to Witten-
burg and laid beneath the arches Of that
church where his voice had rung out SO
clearly for the truth, and where his deeds
of defiance had been performed.
And in closing the DR.. described his rest
ing place, as it appears to-day; the interior
decoration so many of which are symbolic
if the days of Luther and the Reformation;
of the companion tombs of Luther and
Malancthon on either side of the church in
that part which he described as the holy Of
holies.
Tomorrow evening the DR.. will take
Turin as the basis OF remarks and scenes
from the life of Jean de Arch. Il
The concluding talk on his travels
abroad was given on Wednesday evening
by DR.. Moore. He began where he left his
audience the week before, which was in
France, and gave full account of his visits
to the chateaus of that country. The ele-
CANT appointments, the beautiful surround
ings, and the sciences of historical interest
connected with all were clearly pictured
He interpersed his talk with side remarks
Of his personal experiences. which were en-
tertaining. Leaving the chateaus he went
to Paris. Here he dwelt upon his exper-
fence is visiting the prision where so many
of the notables who figured in the French
Revolution had been confined and from here
had been condemned. From Paris he went
to England, first going to London, and
among other things dwelt at length upon
his visit to the Crypt of st. Paurs where
the remains of many noted artist lie He
spoke of his visit to Bristol, where is the
largest supension bridge in the world, which
spans the Thames at thispoint,it is $50 feet
above the river and 700 feet in length. He
concluded by reading Whittiers poem ITO
Q Friend on his return from Europe,
which expressed his fealingsof gratitude to
God for his safe return to his Native land.