Evening journal., 1905-11-06
OF
THE REFORMATION
Rev. Mr.. Lewis Preached In
teresting Sermon at Rod
ney Street Church

HI Nouney street Church yesterday
the anniversary OF the Protestant Re q
formation was commemorated and an I
Interesting sermon was preached by the I
pastor, tho Rev. F. w. d. Lewis. ON {
THE Reformation" About 100 orange
men were present
Mr.. Lewis spoke in part as follows.
stating first'ahat he did not intend to
lpreach a sermon against Romanism as
he had many warm friends I'm the
Catholic church.
''rhe Reformation Of the sixteenth
lcentury was of God The place the
time, the persons and the circumstances |
were not of human, but divine selec- |
tion. The people everywhere were !
aroused to reading the scriptures. |
Martin Luther was the torch touched
to fire and prepared for that fire by his
lforerunners. Savanarola I'm Italy,
Jerome and Huss in Bohemia, Erasmus
IN Holland and Mycline in England.
He was just the man for his work.
Though born in penuery, in a peasants
hut at Eisleben. he became not only a
profound and attractive university pro-
fessor at Wittenberg but an eloquent
preacher" Nobody" says a distinguish
ed Jesuit, "excelled him I'm philosophy
or scholastic theology. onbody eQualed
him In the art OF speaking He was
the most perfect master of eloquence.'
HE made the German language, the
flexible and delightful speech that it IS
to-day. and he gave the German people
1.-THE written word OF God In their own
tongue which he translated in the
castle Of the Wartburg You remem-
ber I'm 1911 ne went to Rome or "rhe
Holy city, as he called II as a
lmediaeval theologian. he came back
after he had seen the ecclesiastical cor
Eruption around him a protestant Then
Tetzel came to Germany selling Papal
/ llndulgences. Luther Nehemently OPP
posed him. To him II was contrary to|
/ Holy Wrlt--and then he nailed his cele-
brated % propositions or theses on the
church door at Wittenberg and then
he was summoned before the Council
at Worms and refused TO retract. All
Germany nearly rose to his side. TO
this man among the many others we
owe our religious and political liberties.
"TO John Calvin also we owe much.
Bancroft. that delightful historian OIL
the Unitarian Church has we'll express
sed It when he says 'Whosoever makes
light OF Calvanism shows great ignor-
Iance Of historical facts and potent in
huences. 1T was John Calvin" says
lanother ''who under the guidance Of
lG0d, created the Dutch Republic and
INSPIRED the heart Of its great leader
William. 1t was Calvin's influence over
Knox that made the heathered hills OF
Scotland resound in the behalf Of truth
and righteousness. 1t made the Puri-
tans fight for their liberties on the
plains Of England and made them as
the Pilgrim Fathers the bravest de-
Tenders Of freedom. It was John With
{ erspoon OF New Jersey who was the
1 only clergyman a member Of the revo-
llutionary congress and was among
5 those who so urgently persuaded that
Congress to sign the Declaration OF In
dependence.
1--WE as Pr0testants have no hid
principles or aims. We can learn
great deal from our Roman friends, and
although olics having, at the Reform
alton, like Isarel leaving Egypt left
behind the fetters and taken the jewels,
we stand for the right Of private judg-
ment, for loyalty 10 the government that
, protects us, and for the integrity Tor
our public schools system.
this. II stirs our blood to be reminded
that our fathers defended the walls of
Londonderry and fought the battle OF
the Boyne. that they stood with Guta-
vus Adolphus and suffered from the
Dragonnades of Louis XIV; but the
] deepest claim that ever laid hold OF the
. human soul IS the blood Of Jesus Christ.
E Fathers and brethren, this is the argu-
{ lment with which we must meet the
, difficulties which now confront us in
81 this land The pride Of race and an
e cestry, OF party and of principle, IS for
us quite legitimate. We cannot forget
[ John Knox and the Lords OF the Con-
gregation, the stool of Jenny Geddes
aud the blue flag Of the Covenanters'
! the victims OF Claverhouse, and the
= blood of the martyrs who died in the
0 Grass Market; but all this is nothing
e TO the blood OF Jesus Christ. What
- were all the pains Of the martyrs to
g His pains? What are all other argu-
ments laid beside the blood of the
e Highest?
2 This is the heavenly inspiration that
/. must nerve US for the fight before us,
e This world of ours has been sprinkled
It with the blood of the Son Of God. He
+, has redeemed It with his dying groans
+ and therefore to Him every knee shall
n bow and every tongue shall confess to
s the glory of God the Father. This
Western Continent is a large part OF
this sinful world for which He died, and
God hos promised that He shall see of
the travel OF His soul and that He
shall be satisfied. Brethren, what are
d we willing 10 do to satify the soul OF
c Him who loved us. and gave Himself
e for us. Let us lay this argument on
/. the great throbbing heart of oui
d lChurch. and begin in earnest the great
!. lcrusade OF conquest which shall wir
= the land for Christ"
e REASONABLE GOODS AT LYNCH's
right now. New Prunes, Figs, Raisins
lCurrants Citron and Sweet Cider