The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-25
GIVES SERMON ON
MARTIN. LUTHER
Rev. 7. W. Pinkerton Speaks
of Great RefOrmer.
GENIUS OF XVI CENTURY
MAN OF GREAT GOODNESS AND
MANY FAULTS.

Luther, his life and work, was the
subject Of the evening address of 7. W.
Pinkerton. D D, at the Central Chris
tian church. He spoke in part as fol-
lows.
The study Of a great character or
historical event is always inspiring. In
the sixteenth century there were many
great men, Of which Luther was the
central figure.
He was born at Eisladen, Saxony.
Nov 10, 1888. There was at this time
created a love for the beautiful that
produced large numbers OF men pro-
ficient in the arts. IN Italy there were
Poets. artists and sculptors. In Spain
and Portugal there were young men
who had a restless longing for the sea;
who read in the ships approaching the
shore from a distance in the shadow
of the earth on the moon lessons that
others did not see. God, who once sent
John the Baptist to prepare the way
for his Son and the kingdom, had some
years before the time of which we are
speaking sent a man to prepare the
way for these discoveries, by invenung
the mariners compass.
Thought Active in Germany.
Turning from Italy and Spain to the
north, we find that men were not asleep
i'm Germany They We're thinking in p
different direction, the problems of
philosophy and religion occupied their
minds. Where is the beautiful asked
the Italian Where the new sail2
asked the Spaniard. Where is duty
and what Is right in morals and true in
religion% asked the German.
Into the midst of these conditions
Luther was born From the ashes of
poverty now and then a man comes
who under God Is destined to shake the
foundations Of political. social and re-
ligious life in the world Luther came
from a miners cabin. His parents were
poor, pious and pure. When eighteen
years of age he entered the University
of ErfuTt His life in the university
was marked by seriousness and great
industry. He graduated with masters
degree in 1906.
Entered the Priesthood.
His father wished him to study law.
but a series Of circumstances changed
his mind and he entered the priest
hood. He was admitted to the convent
in 1905. As monk he was studious,
humble and by his conduct won the
confidence and respect of all. Among
the books of the convent he found a
copy Of the Bible, which was the first
Bible he had ever seen He was great
" impressed with what he read. and
exclaimed: oh. God, could I have one
of these books would ask for no other
earthly treasure.
In 1902 Frederick Of Saxony founded
the University of Wittenberg and in
1508 he appointed Luther to a profess
sOrshi9-
~ number of converts becoming in
vOlved in a quarrel, ne was selected to
50 TO Rome in behalf Of the matters
involved and this visit resulted uItf-
mately in breaking with the church
auguration Of the Reformation of the
sixteenth century.
His life was one Of conflict. and TO
him the devil was a real person. Once
when he was writing and something
seemed 10 appear. he believed it to be
the devil Bang. went the iukstand,
and the devil fed, but the black spot
it is said, remains on the wall to this
day
He did not want his followers to
bear his name Don't call yourselves
Lutherans, call yourselves Christians
he admOnished them. With all of his
greatness and goodness he had great
faults. he died in his native city on
Feb IS. 1916.
He is the great national hero Of the
German people. and the ideal of Ger
man life. He was honest. bold and of
intiexible courage. In grateful ac-
acknowledgement of the great work which
he accomplished, and with a just esti-
mate, we trust, of his strength and o.
his weaknesses. we say, Servant of
God, well done. "