The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-10
WILL HONOR CALVIN
THOUSANDS OF PREsBYTERIANs
TO PAY TRIBUTE.
-Four Hundredth Anniversary of Birth
Of Geneva Reformer VIII he
Observed In All Protestant
Lands.

Geneva, July s-Four hundred years
ago tomorrow John Calvin. the great
Protestant reformer. was born in Noy-
on. France. and In all Protestant
countries the event is observed in a.
more or less elaborate manner. The
City OF Geneva which, for many years.
was the scene Of Caivfn's reformatory
activity, and where he died In 1861. has
made especial efforts to observe the
memorable anniversary by dedicating
monument OF the great reformer. CAL
vinists and Protestants In general from
all parts Of Europe are assembled In
this city to attend the dedication OF
the monument and the incidental exer-
cises and to do honor to the memory
of the most militant evangelists Of the
Protestant faith.
Calvin was not the author of the
Reformation: Luther IL undoubtedly en-
titled to that distinction. But Calvin.
like his co,religionist Knox. was mor~
aggressive than Luther and, although
his part as practical refornier was
acted upop, q very narrow stage, ms
power as thinker and writer, organizer
and systematiEer, extended over the
broad field Of Europe. He took up the
scattered beliefs and thoughts Of the
new evangelical party, and In the loom
OF his strange. logical and legal intel
iect, wose them into q new system. The
circumstances Of Caivins life were of a
kind to intensity his apostate zeal and
fanaticisna.
Calvin was born at Noyon. July To-
1909 His father was @ notary and
the secretary OF a Bishop. Young CAL
win was Intended for the priesthood
and after he had studied in Paris he
was given a curacy. Five years later
Nafh haA AZ hftfaF nIarral with
the ecclesiastical authorities of his
home town and as a result young CAL
win gave up the priesthood and began
to study law. In the course of his
studies he came in contact with and
under the influence of Melchoir VOL
mar, q strong sympathizer with the
Rsformist movement.
Austere as Calvin was in hts private
life. the profigacy of his time would
probably have made a Reformist of
him in any event. But his fathers
quarrel with the ecclesiastical authorl-
ties and the new surroundings and as
sooiates during his legal studies. un-
doubtedly FASTENED the turn In his ca
reer. He was rapidly drawn into fell
iowship with the Reformists, and soon
after was compelled to fee from
France. to escape the persecution to
which the Reformists were then being
subjected. That his fear was not ILL
founded was shown by his arrest when
he ventured to return to France In 1884.
He was kept in prison several months.
and after his release made his way TO
Geneva.
It was In Geneva that he began to
impress his personality on his time AT
the age of 20 he wrote his famous
treatise. "Institutio Christianae Re-
ligionis," which was read everywhere
in Europe and spread his fame far be-
A. A. 81 - Gxvtf nj t1A
that time Geneva was free city OF
Burgundy It was governed by a bish
op of the established church. The city
was in a state of political and moral
decay when Calvin reached II in 1886.
Other French Reformists, who had been
exiled, had preceded him, and they pre-
vailed on him to remain and help them
in the work In which they were en-
gagged.
Calvin founded a school. and after
ward began preaching to small congre-
cations. Most of his followers, how
ever, were evidently much less con-
cerned with his religious teachings
than with the prospect of using his
influence to oppose the political power
Of the bishop. When Calvin discovered
this fact. all the scorn which he ever
felt for hypocrisy, was aroused in him.
On Easter 1888. he denounced his flock
in q scathing sermon and concluded by
Diminishing them without allowing them
to partake of the Lords Supper.
This action was more honest than d.
piomatic under the circumstances. 1t
caused the strongest resentment from
his former followers and Calvin was
compelled TO fee. For several years
Calvin led q wandering life in Germany
and not until 1541 did he dare to re-
turn to Geneva. where great changes
had taken place in the mean time. CAL
win began to exercise a power as abso-
lutte as had been that of Lycurgus in
Sparta. and greater than the Pope had
ever welded.
Calvin founded an ecclesiastical
state. which he sought to make as
gloomy and ascetic as was his own life,
and he succeeded In a large measure.
Uncompromisingly did he persecute av-
cry man who dared to change an iots
of the new creed or did not accept its
dogmas implicitly and the result was a
system of inQuisition. almost as terri
Bile as had been that of the Roman
church. His teachings spread through
out Europe and found a particularly
strong foothold in Scotland. Calvin
died on May 81. 1884. at Geneva.
No Massacre OF Jews.
Washington. July 9--John II. Grout
A ,npenI 90 nAaaaa ha. aahIol