The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-13
MEMORIAL TO LUTHER.
Movement Amongst the
Lutheran Churches to
Erect a Monument.
SUGGESTIONS INVITED
PROPOSAL to Build a University
to the Great Reformer--
Among the Churches.

4 movement has been set on foot to
have the congregations of Lutheran
churches throughout the country CON
tribute to the erection of a fitting me
mortal to the life and work OF Martin
Luther.
The idea originated with the Martin
T,uther Society of New York. So lar as
can be ascertained the only practlcai
step taken in the matter has been ehs
publication Of a circular in which a prief
review of Lutheranism, its growth ana
influence is given. and in when espec.ai
attention is called to the fact that the
erection of such a memorial shoula oe-
cur on the -four hundredth anniversary
of the great reformer's birth, soon 70 -
celebrated throughout the country.
The object of the society IN lssuihs
this statement is to ascertain, II possi-
HE. what form the memorial should take
Some. II Is said. are in favor of building
a monument; others. in Incorporating a
university similar to the University OF
Pennsylvania, while still others adVoeate
the erection of a library In order 10
arrive. Therefore. at some definite plan
the society has mailed copies OF me err
cular to every Lutheran minister IN ms
United States.
The circular is as follows:-
.0,,r Church is this country is growing
in membership very rapidly. 1t seems sale
4, assume chat before long she VIII Ieaa'
numerically. all the Protestant denonll-
nations in America, as she has zone loi
centnries in the world; and If her emf
dren are faithful 10 their trust n ouis'
the Lutheran Church will exercise a 50.
nar;or Influence In the evangelization o.
o,,r conntrv. for which. By reason OF her
doctrina1 nositIon and potygot character
she seems especially fitted. IS II noe'
+harefore a clear duty to do what lies IN
o,,r newer to further the influence, posi-
tion and interests Of our Church?
.sTbe tin1e is drawing nigh when the
uar,d viii celebrate the four hundreulh
snriversar nv of the birth of the Reforma-
49, ira,g,,rated under God by Martin
I,tber In view of this, the Martin Lu-
49, sae;etv Of New York. a society or
ran,zed In 1883. and since duly inc9rpordl-
"a under fine laws of the State OIL New
york has resolved to take timeE STEPS
4, ,no1,ement which will insure the
worthy general observance OF that tlits'
qua secure the erection of some approprl-
alto monument or edi6ce somewhere III ~
T-r;.odl states TO mark that event, when
IN 10 . source of continual encourage
r,a,+ admnnition and help for generations
"a come. especially to the children OF me
ch,,rob brt as well to all loyal Amerl-
cans.
~nNow in order that the society may pc
nSalad ~ rive at some definite plan
80 tnSaeeiae what the proposed memor-
ta1 shall be- whether a noble ana dignl-
6ed monument, IMPLYING the history OF
the church in America or a library
br;ld;na. or the founding of a university
~ whatever else, it is deemed proper.
FIRST Of all. to invite suggestions from an
narts of the Church., and then proceed
intalligentiy in the further developmenl
IF the movement. in order to meet as
nearly as possible the wishes OF the
Church as a whole.
tAs soon as the society shall have
knowledge. of how our fellows IN the
faifh will receive and view this move
ment, the result n the further pro
cedure will be made known"
A member of the General Council OF
this city stated yesterday that in his
Judgment the most suitable memorial
would be in the shape of a university.
"It would be a grand and noble work,
he said. Gin whatever city founded. ana
being such would tend to bring the Luth-
cram Church a step further to the front.
when 1 say university ! don't mean a
theological seminary. for we have quite
a number of them throughout the u
try. including one at Mt. Airy. Our
Church. representing as it does, 6,2o6 min
isters and. 1o.169 congregations should
be able in a very short time TO raise the
necessary funds.
Being a Philadelphia. naturally
would favor the founding of a college
here. The location of the memorial, how
ever. is a matter which will have to be
decided upon later, though it seems to
me that the trsbute should be placed in
the city making the largest contribu-
ton"