Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-04-27
THREE FINE ORATIONS
THAT FAILED TO WIN
Delivered at the Judge Mills
Oratorical Contest.
Exceptionally Fine in Merit, But Were
Slightly Outpointed for 1st and
End Prizes.

Five o1ations were delivered at the
recent Judge Mills contest. Two were
awarded prizes. The other three are
also especially good and are published
herewith. Edward Kemper's was:
THE GENIUS OF THE REFORMATION.
Among the pilgrims who journey
ed TO Rome in the year 1910 was
Door German monk, a devOut serv-
ant of the church, inspired by its
holy mission in the world of sin.
Eagerly, almost joyOusly, he went
on his way. Rome was the goal OF
his ambition, the seat of the boliest
institution in the world. To him it
was the city of God filed with the
odors of Paradise. But alas how
sadly was he disappointed when be
found Rome far from blessed. For
only a short time did he remain,
then turned away sadly and thought
fully saying, ''Adieu Rome, let all
who would lead a holy life depart
from thee"
This monk had been born rear the
sombre Black Forest of Germany.
The son of a poor miner he received
but little education. 1t seemed as
though the gloom or the forest
itself had been woven into his very
nature. making him reverent and
thoughtful. After passing many
days in prayer and fasting in the
monastery at Erfurt, and after
graduating from the university
Martin Luther, the great genius OF
the Protestant Reformation, was
ready TO fulfill his mission IN the
world. Why should he not be sad
dened at the condition of the
church? Coming from a remote
corner of Germany, ne knew
nothing of the great outside world.
Measured by his high ideals the
church fell far short of its dIvlnely
appointed task. The church was
the only institution that asserted its
sovereignty every where and over
all. lit ruled the state, the schools.
and held the individual In 1ts'bond.
age. The kings received and held
their sovereign power from the
church. All secular officers were
dependent upon it. The clergy
were corrupt and worthless In
short beneath all the splendof and
brilliancy was decadence and cor
ruption. Money and not repentance
covered the multitude of sins. In
an old-fashioned cathedral city the
first thing that attracts the eye is
the tall spire holding possession OF
the vast central landscade. Ma
iestically it towers in the dim twi-
light above the tiny dwelling houses
at it's foot. 1t stands above all else
the ruling body. AS the cathedral
was to the old town, so was the
church to the secular world, a vast
power towering above nations,
states, kings, and individuals. By
means of its three Formidable wea
pOns, Repentance, the Interdlct, and
Accommodation, it ruled the
world. Woe to the IOor sinner who
failed TO conform to its commands
and teachingsl
Many a learned man had criticiz-
ed these conditions of the church.
John Huss had suffered martyrdom
satires had limited at the corruption,
Erasmus had written of the worldly
lives of churchmen, but no one was
bold or courageous enough to make
a direct open attack. Seven years
passed by since Martin Luther's
visit to Rome, seven years of pray
ers and meditation In the Angus
tinian doctrine of justification by
faith he at last found peace. Not
by the efforts of work was a sinner
saved but by throwing himself I'm
reservedly on the mercies of an
Almighty God. Then occurred the
event which aroused the thinking
masses and made Martin Luther the
champion of a new cause.
From Rome came Tetzel, Domini-
can friar, offering Papal Indulgences
to those who would contribute
money to the building of St. Peters
at Rome. Those who purchased
these indulgences were to be free
from all the consequences of sin.
Iuther was aroused to action. He
Immediately posted on the church
at Wittenberg 90 theses, condemn
ing such a method of forgiveness
and declaring that the true penitent
did not flee from punishment but
withstoOd Gods Affections bravelY.
Weary pilgrims who went TO
Wittenberg to purchase indulgences
returned with the theses of Luther
In their hands ready TO move
against the Pope. Luther took a
bOlder, frmer step. He sent the
theses TO the Pope and proclaimed
the evils in the church, and the
need of a complete reform. Thor
oughly aroused the Pope issued a
Papal Bull placing not only Luther
but all his adherents under the ban
of the empire. Luther did not faIter.
To bring about a thorough reform