The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-04
"Heroes Of the Reformation" Philip
pus MelaOcthOn.
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Tho life Of Philip Melancthon IS one Of
singular beauty. The massive personality
of Luther has 20 q great degree thrown
that OF his Jonathan into the shade, ana,
indeed, with the great majority. his chief
title TO distinction IS that he was the
great "I.uthcr's friend" However. the
better informod-those who are familiar
with the history of his life. clearly re-
cognize him to have been an active force
Of that mOmCntOus era OF tho RciOrna-
ton and love his sweet humility as the
final proof OF mental greatness. Tho au-
thor Of this volume, DR.. Richards is
professor OF homllctics at the Lutheran
Seminary. Gettysburg. Pa. and it IS clear
even TO a casual reader, that ne has
brought to his task not only n fun and
accurate knowledge OF facts, but love OF
the character he seeks TO present, ana
delightful, clcar-cut, literary style.
lie shows as how blessed was Molanc-
thon In his parcntage. how his father
and mother were cody. persons. Inc
former was George Schwartzord tGrcek'
"MelancthOn') and his mother, Barbara
Reuter-. "a woll-bred maiden 1.-THE two
loved each other dearly. for George
Schwartzerd was an upright pious, God-
fearing Ian, who served God earnestly.
prayed devOutly. and observed the hours
OF prayer as diligently as a minister.
often would he rise at midnight, tau
upon his knees and offer dcvout prayer.
No oath ever escaped his lips and no
one ever heard of his being drunk. lie
lived in wedook four years without chill
drcn, but after the close of the fourth
year. which was 1884, on Thursday after
Invocavit. his first son. Philip. our dear
master and teacher. was born in Bretten,
in the house Of the grandfather, Hans
Reuter- Thus God blessed this pious and
God-fearing man with the gift OF son,
whom not one land. but many yea. all
Christendom, has enjoyed. and without
doubt will enjoy 10 the end Of the world.
Thus runs an authentic old account. so
that 1t will be seen that our hero came
naturally by all his sturdy moral strength
and purity of soul.
His biographer evidently understands
the interest which all lind in the houses,
spots, and every thing. indeed. associated
with the memory Of what has challenged
the worlds attention and so his volume
IS profusely and finely Illustrated this
first chapter showing the picture Of the
house wherein Melancthon was born.
Proceeding he shows us how many edu-
cational advantages the earnest and re-
ceptive lad enjoyed. His was not the
struggling youth Of the peasant Luther.
The facts show him. while still but boy
IN years. 10 have taken rank among tho
learned. and his associates 10 have been
Of that generation (which had risen 20
herald the coming of a brighter and bet
ter day for science and religion in Ger
many" But the day dawned so speedily,
writes his biographer. and the sun shot
up toward the zenith so rapidly, that
before Melancthon had passed the meri-
dian Of his life. he had witnessed. and
h. erecting
Of the miehticsi revolutions in culture,
and one of the most beneficial reforma-
tions Of religion. that the Christian world
has ever known. The times were ready
for the change. and the men were at
hand TO produce it,"
At the time that Luthc- was eXpound-
Ing Aristotle in Wittenbcrg, and visiting
Augusunian Cloistcrs in SaXony, ana
climbing up Pilates staircase at Rome
proceeds DR. Richards, at That very time
in the academic city 10y the Ncckar, Philip
Melancthon. fourteen years his junior.
was layirg that foundation I'm Latin,
Greek, Logic Rhetoric, Phillsiphy Ma
thematics and Astronomy which quaiihed
him to stand by the side of tho solitary
monk who shook the world
on the nineteenth Of September, 1912 in
company with John Agricola. he was
made Bachelor OF Thcoiogy-the only
because he affected 10 despise higher de-
grces. as We learn from one of his let
tcrs but partly because he thought they
ought 10 be conferred with great dis
elimination. and partly because he did
not wish 10 be responsible for what was
involved In the theological doctorate
though Luther pronounced him Doc
tor above all doctors" and che certainly
was the doctor of the German Evangeh-
cal Church. though he was never ordain-
cd TO the office of the ministry Luther
wrote to his old teacher, Staupitz-"Nou
have seen, or will see, Philips theses.
They are bold but they certainly are
true. lie defended them an in such
way that he seemed 10 us all veritable
wonder. and such he H.. Christ willing,
he will surpass many masters and VIII
BE- a mighty foe of the devil and of the
scholastic theology lie knows their
tricks and also the Rock Christ He viii
powerfully prevail
At quarter before seven o'clock in the
evening OF April ~. 1860, Philip Nolan
cfhOn SAYS his biographer. fell ON
sleep" aged &c years, months and
days. lie had fought good fight, he
had finished his course he had kept the
faith. on the twenty-first is body was
sunk into TIE grave by the side of his
beloved luther. History has indicated
him against the wrath Of the theologians.
To-day tho Lutheran Church places him
on a pedestal by the side of Luther, and
honors the two together as the fahers
and founders OF the Lutheran Church
Germany proclaims him her proceptor
Professionalism vcnerates him as the wit
ness of her spirit as the prophet OF her
future"
H.
THE BEST LIFE: An address by Rev.
Charles Franklin Thwing d. j.. =. J..