Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-02
FESTIVAL OF THE REFORMATION.
Anniversary Appropriately Ceie-
brated i'm the Lutheran Churches.

The Festival Of the Reformation was
appropriately celebrated in st. Johns
Evangelical and the three Lutheran
churches of the city on Sunday
At ST. Johns the services were very
elaborate and beautiful. fine oil paint
ing Of DR.. Martin Luther, belonging 10
Rev. DIR. Mcneil pastor of the church.
was suspended above the altar, as the
hero of the day; and the floral decora-
lions were very tasteful The choir, ac-
companies by the organ and an orchestra
of several pieces, sang special music, two
of the most elaborate numbers being
''Preisit," by Mozart, and "Jauchzet dem
Herrn," composed by Professor Baseler,
the organist of the church. a feature or
the service was the singing of Luther's
"Rattle Hymn"-Ein feste Burg list unser
Colt Ga firm stronghold is our God)-be-
fore and after the sermon The congre-
cation rose to their feet and Joined in
This HYMN with great enthusiasm.
kew DR. Mcneil preached in the morn
ing from Daniel H., 4ith and 45th, ana
his subject was 1.-The Rolling stone. lie
ligion in e-Reformation days. The pas
tor gave an account of Luther's work,
dwelling upon the importance OF lne
Reformation, which created a new era III
The evening service took place at 5
o'clock. and again the music was very
pleasing feature. The choir sang WIN
admirable effect a chorus arranged ana
written by Mr.. John Baseler, entitled
''Shout the Glad Tidings," and Mr.. H. Z;
Rueger sang a solo. The pastor preached
from John x, lSmnOne ehd iOtd tb nnd gr 1af
work accomplished eighty years ago,
when. after three centuries of continual
difficulties and dissensions and some
times bitter warfare between the Two
Churches of the Reformation-the Luthe-
ran and the Reformed--they became
united under the name OF the EVangei1cai
Church. and reviewed the progress and
growth of the Church.
IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
In the First English Evangelical Luthe,
ran church special services were helu
morning and evening, and the congrega-
| tons were large and attentive. The pat
| lie HYMN OF Luther and other traditional
| hymns were sung with mucn spirit uy
| the choir and congregation, ana the choli
sang the festival music. In the moriiilns
| Rev j. A. Morehead took as MS supJec,
| THE Word of God Recovered. ahu
nreached a very able sermon on the pro
eress of the Reformation, the causes Whlcl
| led to il. and gave a learned dlsqulslllon
| on the early translations OF the scrip
| fures Vespers was sung at u. NJ, and
| the pastor preached on the Heroes OF the
| Reformation MT.
All Trinity Lutheran church, on Twenty
| ninth street a festival service was held
| I'm The afternoon. This mission Is an on
shoot OF the First English Evangelical
IMtheran church. 1t is in very nour-
| fishing condition. having seVenty-il
| scholars in the Sunday school and thirty
| communicates. The church, which occu'
| pies n pretty lot, has just been repaired
| and decorated. The exterior mas peer
| Dainted and the interior has been oeco'
| rated wainscoated, and carpeted. ms
was the opening service and the NIUE
| cbnrch was packed. The music was ap
nronriate and very beautiful. and Rev
] I Morehead preached a powerful ser.
mon on ''The Church" taking his tex
! from Matthew xvi, IL.
| In Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran
| church Reformation-Day was ceieDra q,
| with two services commemorative or ina
/ great event. At both MI; MAX Go9iocf
| accompanied the organ with the Vioiih;
| AT the morning service Rev. w; Z. n
Luebkert. of washington, preached d,
| able sermon on Luther, the Third Elias.
| He gave a. clear and interesting coinpaIl
! son OF the spirit and power and caIilnS o.
| ELIAS John the Baptist, ana Luther
| drawing from them practical lessons;
At the night service the pastor OF th'
| church. Rev. c. j. Oehlschlaeger, preach
ed on 'sThe Free Word of God-the FREE
| Cosnel-the Greatest Blessing OF the re
! Formation" He argued that this BLESSING
| is owed to the Reformation, and showe'
| how ali other blessings enjoyed by TN
| Tutheran Church are contained IN IL
| Roth services were well attended.