The times., 1899-10-30
THE LUTHER ANNIVERSARY.
A Review of the Reformer's work by
Rev. j. &. Butler.


Rev. j. &. Butler.
The reformatory work OF Martin Luther
in the sixteenth century was reviewed last
night in Luther Place Memorial Church by
Rev j. G. Butler, the occasion being the
celebration of the anniversary OF the re-
formation. Rev Dr. Talmage occupied
place on the platform, and assisted in the
devotional exercises.
After an eloquent tribute to the memory
of the great reformer, Mr.. Butler con-
tTasted the work begun by Luther in the
sixteenth century with the opportunities
opened to the Protestanism of American
through the acquisition of the islands of
the Atlantic and Pacific. He dwelt at
length on the struggle between Romanism
and Professionalism which he said was still
going on and declared that the American
spirit which he interpreted TO mean free
schools, free press, free Bible, and civil-,
zation-would triumph.
The work of the worlds freedom from
priestcraft and kingcraft was made posi-
BILE by the accomplishments of Luther,
said the speaker, and it is the work Of
Protestants of whatever denomination, 70
carry his design 20 a successful culmina
ton which meant the liberation of the
whole world from ignorance and supersti-
ton,
But for the work Of Luther there would
have been no Americanism, he continued.
The American Republic was born when
Luther's little hammer echoed around the
world as he nailed his ninety precepts to
the Church in 1917. This was the inaugu-
ration of a new history; the beginning OF
a new life, a life that is to sweep around
the world. Its forces are silent forces,
but its end is free and an intelligent
people. The American spirit is the en-
bodment of this principle and wherever
the American flag goes, there will the
people be free.
With these objects in view, Mr.. Butler
said. that light was thrown on the provi-
dence of God which permitted the enact
ment of the terrible history which is pass
ing in review in the war which is now
going on Yet this work must go on until
the authority of our Government is estab-
Iished and acknowledged, and the people
who have been delivered shall have es-
tablished among them such government
that will best subserye their needs.
The speaker referred at some length to
the position taken in a recent number of
the "Outlook" by Archbishop Ireland on the
question of dividing the religious work in
cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippine ISL
ands between the Protestants and Catholics.
and in which the Archbishop said that
the inhabitants of the islands had always
been Catholics and the work to be done
there should be left entirely to the CathO-
lie Church 1t was not the intention OF
the Protestants to monopolize the whole
field, said Rev. Butler, but it was their
earnest desire to be given an equal op,
portunity in this new field He was sure
that under the American flag, this oppor-
tunity would be given, saying that any
connivance on the part Of this Govern
IL would q a n
ment be tolerated.
Mr. Butler said he would make bold tc
say that but for the presence of friars
and priests and men of authority in the
Romanish Church we should have had peacS
in the Philippines long ago. He believed
that the end of the struggle there was
soon 10 come