Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-09-26
The German and anglican Churches.

line new LUTHERAN OuuICu III NAop-
herdstown has called forth many en-.
coniums of admiration from the sum.
mer visitors, and it should be an OBJ
ject of pride to the town, even as the
Episcopal Church and its beautiful
grounds have been for many years.
Its Norman Gothic style contrasts hne-
ly with the classic facade of the State
Normal College just opposite, show
ing too how architecture can speak
for as the latter proclaims itself a
school, the former tells Enthusiastically
that il is a Christian Church. Its
style is claimed especially by the An
glican Church. 1t is also surmounted
by the Iona Gross, which originated
at the monastery of the island Iona,
whose monks returned to rechristian-
lie England after that faith hao Deen
stamped out by the Danish invasions
this, of course, occurring many GEN.
turies before there was any separation
into Catholics and Protestsnts, when
there was but one Christian Church.
The Melrose windows, one of the spec.
ial beauties Of this style, are here
prominently in evidence. The draw
ing of the tower is a fine achievement.
Though not lofty, yet it has grand,
solid, imposing appearance. The
lines of it's crown harmonic with those
leading up to it, and it avoids the ab.
rupt frown of the square, turreted and
corner.minaret tower. as well as the
high needle.pointing spire, whose am
bilious sharpness spoils many other
wise fine church buildings.
This church crowns its hill very ap-
propriately and airily, yet, strangely
from our associations with old-time
pictures, it seems 10 have stepped out
from olden centuries, and a moonlight
night brings there the romantic fam
tastes that cluster around the old Abb
beys of England. 1t might be object
ed that this will not harmonic with
the chorals of Martin Luther and Of
modern Professionalism which will
sound forth therein-but we know
that the highest ideals Of beauty, of
which the architecture of this church
as well as the chorals of Bach are ex-
amples, are never discordant. From
the choir of this same church we have
heard the Dresden Amen, perchance
as old as this architecture yet it is
made the prominent controlling mu.
sical form of Parsifal, Wagner's great
religious opera, even as it was used
before in Mendelssobn's Reformation
Symphony.
And here it may be remarked that
there should be no jealousy between
the German and Anglican forms o.
the Protestant faith, as both of them
have the broader-guage principles O.
modern Christianity and have never
narrowed their c-eeds to the hair
| splitting doctrines which have pro
| duced such a variety of sects in thil
| country. In fact, it has been sourct
| of regret that the German Church die
not, in adopting the English Language
here, transplant itself into the Englisl
Church entirely, as many of the Lu
therans did l. hereabout, when ther,
| were dissensions about having the ser
vice in the language Of the country
as, for instance. did the Bedingers
Towners, Van Swearingens and many
others, and also the famous Mullen
burg, whose position becomes pertinen
here, and is quoted from Norris His
tory
"As much misapprehensi1n has ex
listed in regard to the denomination
to which Gen'l. Muhlenburg belonged
when he left the pulpit for the cause
of his country, word of explanation
may here be in place. Episcopaliar
and Lutheran have each claimed him
he was both. Having been educated
as Lutheran minister, he wss called
to the church at Woodstock, Shenan
| doah county, the members of whicl
were all Germans and Lutherans
But Mr.. Muhlenburg, finding that tn,
church could not prosper without Ger
| tain aid from the government eng
lish), he concluded to conform to tn
| requirements, and went over to Eng
land, took orders in the established
II Il