New-York tribune., 1908-04-13
IN DEFENCE OF LUTHER.
DR.. Remensnyder Takes Issue zcith
Remarks of the ReC. Il. +. Irvine.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
b Sir: Luther needs no defence. His unique place
IN history and in the gratitude OF mankind is as
sured Like all leaders of epOchal movements, we
must expect him be misrepresented- Yet this
libel against him. uttered by the Rev. A F. Irvine
Of the Church OF the Ascension Of he be correctly
reported Is so unjust and absolutely contradictory
10 the facts of history that I think attention
should be called 10 IT. The press report says;
The Rev. a. F, Irvine, who occupied the Ascen-
was christ Chrlstian?' In the sermon the Rev.
Mr.. Irvine said that If christianity meant what was
prompted both Calvin anc Luther to stand by and
let fellow die because they held sectarian be
lief different from theirs, then Christ wasn't a
Christian.
AS far this statement refers 10 Luther it IS
gross faIsehood, an1 7 cannot see how clergy
man. who should at least be familiar with the lead
ing outlines Of ecclesiastical history, could utter
it. In refuting it will not speak myself, but will
give the testimony OF those who differed from
Luther in faith Our great historian. Bancroft.
says:
Luther repeIed the use o. violence in religion, ne
ton and with a wise moderation ne maintained the
sublime doctrine OF freedom of conscience.
D'Aublgne. the Reformed historian. writes:
Luther was the fist to proclaim the great prIn-
beyond his own age. end even beyond many OF
the Reformers in liberation.
The Unitarian James Freeman Clarke. in his
'EpOchS or religious history says:
So stands Luther growing more and more the
mark Of reverence through succeeding centuries
the real author a modern liberty Of thought and
action, the giant founder OF modern civilization
And then he cites as an instance Of his breadth OF
thought his defence OF the Jews from persecution
And even the Roman Catholic historian, Michelet
says:
Luther has been the restorer Of liberty, and II
exercise in all its penitude. this day this high
est privilege Of human intelligence, IL is TO Luther
we are Indebted 10 It, To who do I the power
OF publishing what ! am even now writing exceDt
TO this liberty Of modern thought?
But let hear Luther himself lay down the
fundamental principles of this great truth of re-
lgious freedom He says:
will preach. | will tah in private I will write
but | Will not ConStTain any one faith is A
voluntary act Let no hereto be resisted with
force We nave q riSkt to speak but what
ever to compel IF / resort 10 force what do
gam Cramped uniformity and hypocrisy But
there VIII be no hearty sincerity, faith. no love
IN the face Of these undeniable facts Is il not a
caricature and paradox that a man who owes
his freedom to speak Luther should bring so in
excusable a charge against rnis great uberator Of
thought that he would stand by and let his fell
low men die because they held a sectarian belief
different from his? The incident may serve To re-
mind US OF our incalculabe debt 10 this great
leader among the immortas, even as Goethe in his
Conversations with Eckermann says we appreri-
ae far too little that religious toleration the finest
fruit Of the last four centuries which we owe
wholly TO Luther.
JUNTUS 3. REMENSNYDER
New York, April 6. 1908.