Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-06-24
Written for the Register.
MECHLENBURG.
BY ST. JOHN BYER.

from their neighbor Frederick the Great
of Prussia, who cordially hated his cousin
of Hanover and was no doubt willing that
Baron Steuben with others OF his PruS-
sian Army should come over to be drill
masters of Washington's raw recruits,
and thus help to free America. ltmay be
noted that the descendants of these same
German soldiers of the great Frederick
afterwards dwelt in this town, so that our
knowledge and kindly appreciation for
the German King comes from personal
tradition and not from distorted English
history.
II must be remembered that these Mech
lenburg dutchies, century earlier, were
ruined and devastated by the barbarous
Wallenstein, to whom they had been
given by the Emperor Ferdinand, on ac-
count of their staunch adherence to the
Lutheran faith, thus depoSing their own
rulers, who, however, were soon rein-
stated by the victories of Gustavus Adolf
phus. Mechlenburg, bordering on the
Baltic, is cold, sterile region, and has
always sent a number OF industrious emil
grants to America.
But the majority of the German settlers
here were OF the Palatines, coming from
the Rhine Palatinate when it was burned
and harried over by the orders OF Louis
XIV about the beginning of the 18th CEN
tury and during the wars OF the Spanish
Succession. These Palatines came from
the most fertile and beautiful part OF CEN
trail Europe, and though poor enough after
the destruction OF their homes and farms,
yet they were in general better class
than the usual adventurer and poverty
driven emigrant.
1t is remarkable for how much of the
grander history of Germany the beautiful
Lutheran Church in Shepherdstown now
stands as memorial. Therefore it is not
inappropriate that the imperial eagle on
the armorial OF the Protestant German
Empire should stand along with the ia
nous seal OF Martin Luther above theen-
trance door. AS the EpiScopalians make
proud acknowledgment of the motherhood
of the Church of England, so the Luth-
Grams may point with even greater pride to
the paternity of the German Evangelical
Church, which stands peculiarly at the
front of religious liberalism and progress,
both leading and dominating the Christian
philosophy, thought and research OF the
present day. Its spirit OF liberal progress
is well personified in the young Emperor
Wilhelm iii, who holds place at the head
of this faith as does the English ruler OF
the Anglican Church.
Luther was neither iconoclast nor an
archist, but, according to the teachings of
his favorite ST. Paul, would "hold fast to
all that was good" He was conservative
of that which was true, beautiful and good
in the old Catholic faith, and only desired
to throw off those shackleS which him
dered further progress. Whatever was
conducive to the uplifting and betterment
of the people met with his approval, and
this is the ruling idea of the present En-
peror. He has led his nation ahead OF all
others in science, art, and even CONNER
cial success. Arbitrary-yes, when nee
essary for the good of his people, and
with far greater wisdom than our guides,
for though Germany has made quite as
great progress in development and social
concentration, yet it has not fostered the
gigantic evils of unjust and menacing &C
cumulations OF wealth; moreover, the
submerged class is better cared for and
housed there than in this boasted paradise
for poverty, and welding the greatest pre-
ponderance of armed force since the days
Of the old Roman Empire, yet he has kept
the peace of Europe for an entire genera
ton without an act OF aggression or seek
ing to enlarge his dominions.
Wilhelm has built great monumentfor
himself in the famous Evangelical Cathe-
dral at Berlin, intended by him as the
Westminster Abbey of Germany-pre-
sumably the grandest OF all the Protestant
cathedrals. The descendants OF the Ger
man Lutherans and Refomers may feel
an honest pride in this great Emperor,
who stands as the exponent OF their re-
ligious faith. And when, to emphasize
his good will toward this country, he
presented us with a bronze statue OF
Frederick the Great, they could not but
feel regret that il was not placed in a
more conspicuous place in the city OF
Washington. For instance, it would be
peculiarly appropriate to stand in the tri-
angle of the Memorial Lutheran Church,
not far from the bronze statue OF Martin
Lutner. Furthermore, to make this most
prominent square in our capitol memo
rial of German history, Our large Swedish
contingent OF the Northwest should place
there statue of the great Gustavus-so
there would be represented Luther, who
began the struggle against absolutism,
Gustavus, whose genius and bravery pre-
vented the stamping out of the new faith
by Tilly and Wallenstein, and finally
| of Frederick, who, greater than his pupil,
Napoleon, foughtall Europe with his small
Pnssian Kingdom and laid the founda-
ton of the present Protestant Empire Of
Germany. These would form trio OF
the ImmortaIs OF our Anglo-Saxon and
Teutonic race-speaking forth the voices
of history, even as the two great warriors
sang the chorals OF Luther at the front of
their victorious armies.
II may be asked, why should this stand
at the most prominent square of our
American capitol? Because this nation
stands peculiarly as the representative
Il Al