Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-04-21
MARTIN LUTHER
AAAAN,MlH


The author of the Protestant move
raent, Martin Luther. was born In
1888, at Eisleben, in Saxony. his
family was poor, and his early sur
roundings full of hardship. His faith
er, Hans Luther, was slate cutter Dy
trade, and belonged to family of free
peasants. His mother was Margaret
Lindeburn. When Martin was six
months old his father moved to Mans
field, where he set up FORGE the
small profits of which enabled him to
send his son later to the Latin School
of the place. There be so distinguish
ed himself that his father sent him TO
Franciscan school at Magdeburg,
with the idea of making him law
yer, and later to Eisenach. There
he, in company with other poor
scholars, sang for aims ON the streets,
where he attracted with his fine tenor
voice, the friendship of a liberal lady
ursula Gotta, the wife of the burgo-
master. who furnished him with means
for his education at Erfurt. Here he
took his degree in philosophy and en-
tered its Augustinian Convent.
Here he found Latin Bible, chained
TO its stand as was customary In those
times when a book was considered val
liable. He read it diligently, as 1t
was the first complete Bible he had ev-
1. M
the fierce mental struggle which char
acterized the man, and which was no.
ticed and respected by his fellow
| monks. He was overcome by the feel
ing of universal human sinfulness
He was ordained priest in 1907 and on
the recommendation of Staupltz' was
appointed professor in the University
of Wittenberg, by its founder the Eiec-
tor Frederick of Saxony. Here he at
tracted great attention by his lectures
on the Bible. In $40 he visited Rome.
After his return from Rome, he was
promoted to the degree of doctor OF d.
vinity at the university, and here De-
gan to develop a doctrine exalting
faith as the only method of salvation.
This was his first departure from the
Catholic doctrine, which first demands
faith and then correct method of life
to justify it.
In 1917 Leo X the Pope. granted al
indulgence obtainable on certain con
ditions, one of which was the giving
of aims towards the building OF st
Peters Church, Rome, and for an ex
pedition against the Turks. The in
diligence question is greatly misunder
stood as it is not license to commi
sin. In fact, it is only the remission
nv the Church of the whole or part o
the temporal punishment due sin, ant
can be gained only by those who ar
free from mortal sin, and in God
grace and friendship. 1t is granted OF
the Authority that Christ gave Hi
Church as represented by Peter, tn
first Pope However, it is not denie
that abuses have existed. Overzea
has oftimes led men astray, just
much as none at all. So when Tetzel
who had in charge the alleged sale
of the indulgence in Germany, exag
gerated its effects, Luther attacked tn
doctrine from the pulpit of Wittem
burg, and finally on the eve of AL
Saints Oct. 81, 1917, nailed ninety
five theses denouncing indulgences o.
the door of the Castle Church. In tn
controversy which eventually followe
he was led to deny the authority OF tn
Church Councils and the Holy See
and publicly burned at Wittenbur
the Bull in which his doctrines wer
condemned by Pope Leo x, and j
which his sentence of excommunics
ton was pronounced unless he shout
J retract in sixty days. Previous
this he had written many sermons o
the sacraments, on excommunicatior
on the priesthood, on good works, a
Address to the German Nation, and
book attacking the Catholic Church
The Bull which was Issued by the Pop
July 10, 1920, accused Luther of hold
ing the opinions of Huss, and con
demned him.
} On the appeal of the Pope, Luthe
was summoned in 1881 to appear bt
fore the Diet of Worms, presided owe
by the Emperor Charles V, and HI
books being placed upon the table be
fore the assemblage, he was asked
retract. This he refused to do. TIL
Edict of the diet was pronounced afte
three days of examination, and Lutht
: was condemned in severest terms an
placed under the ban of the Empir,
Frederick, the elector of Saxony, wh
: had appointed him a professor in b
university, imagining Luther's life i
danger, intercepted him on his retur
from the diet at Worms, and with al
parent force carried him to the cast
of Wartburg, where he remained
hiding for some time. but applyin
5 himself assiduously to the translate
of the Scriptures into the Franconia
dialect of the German tongue.
: During his retirement the Reforms
ton idea was increasing in volume
Certain men claiming to be prophet