The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-31
LurHEhANs, ANNIVERSARY.
Impressive Services i'm Honor of the
Reformation.


The three hundred and eighty-frst an
niversary of the Reformation, the story
and achievements of Martin Luther, and
the effects of his great work as seen in
the world to-day, was the topic of an
able sermon by Rev. Dr. William c.
Schaeffer yesterday at the Lutheran
Church of the Ascension. The sermon APP
proprlately marked the celebration Of this
notable event in the history OF Lutheran
churches, and dealt particularly with the
great benefit the reformers work had
been to the world.
When Luther nailed the theses TO the
door of the Cathedral al Wittenberg, Rev.
Ut. Schaeffer said, the sound of the ham
mer echoed around the world. Then IL
was the absolute supremacy of the scrip
lures was proclaimed, and the principle
OF justification of free grace by faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, was declared in
words heard throughout the world. 1t
marked an important beginning of the
spread of Gods word when the leader
came forth, proclaimed the truth by SER
mon, tract and song, and worked unceas-
ingly to bring about the change, for the
accomplishment of which years were de-
voted to preparation.
The text of Rev. Schaeffers sermon was
from Acts, 1920 80 nightly grew the
word of God and prevailed" He began
Wnen out of religious error came the
promise of light as a result of prayers
sent 70 the Throne of Heaven, crying for
heIp ana deliveranee. He referred to the
eHorts OF Peter Waldo in the wilds Of the
Alps, and of John Wycliffe, who strug-
gled and died in England, battling for a
religious triumph. John Huss the learn
ed professor of the University Of Prague,
struck stropg blows at tyranny and fin
any died at the stake. After Huss came
Jerome, and in Italy, Savonarola, the
fearless Dominican monk, who proclaimed
the gospel of light and salvation with
matehless eloquence, but only TO follow
the others in dying amid flames at the
stake.
lettering to the first movement toward
the reformation, Rev. Schaeffer said it
was Gods intention to produce a leader
so nightly endowed that he would be
able TO deliver oppressed humanity" But
Where IS the deliYereF, the Moses to lead
the race out of bondage? The time seem
ed ripe, as there was a revival of learn
ing ana art. Startling changes in the
realm OF learning had begun to agitate
the world, and there was a great stirring
among the dry bones of medevalism. John
Gutenberg had invented the art Of print
ing, so that the measures of classical an
tiquity were made accessible. Classical
learning Invaded Germany. The UNIVERSE
" or Heidelberg became the chief seat
OF German 'Humanism,' and new interest
was aroused in the study of the Holy
Scriptures. Columbus had discovered
America, while Nasco da CANA had found
a way by water around the Cape Of Good
Hope TO the East Indies. Magellan had
made his first Trip around the world. and
all seemed in readiness for the final strug-
gle in behalf of enslaved humanity TO
forever rid itself of an inseparable tyran-
ny. 1t was then the dawn of the coming
day."
The people were looking ,forl "a deliverer
but DR.. Schaeffer said the destruction of
Huss, and Wyciiffe, and Waldo, and Saw
onaroa, left the work for another. Here
II was he traced the life of Luther from
Eisleben to Wittenberg, where, on Oct
81, 1917, the great leader proclaimed the
theses that marked the dawn of a bright
er and better religious era.
Free America, the blessed asylum for
the oppressed of every land, he said, has
arisen in the majesty of her strength, and
stricken the shackles from thousands of
her fellowmen in The islands of the sea-
He referred eloquently to the great work
Luther's proclamatons of civil liberty had
been the means Of accomplishing through
out the world.
"Luthers educating work was not only
that of establishing schools for the peo-
ple," DR.. Schaeffer said reforming the
worship of the church. exposing the err
rors and correcting the abuses of Roman
ism, and preparing the German nation to
renounce the domination of the vatican. 1t
was all this and more. There is not a
reform affecting human welfare in modern
civilization, moral, social, industrial or
| political, upon which Luther did not
| shed the light of his great intellect and
soul. He enlightened all by the spirit and
word of God. The result of his work as
an educator has made Germany the edu-
! eating center of the world"