Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-02
IN LAND OF LUTHER
Reformer Is Buried in the Wit
tenberg SchIoss-KrChe.
MANY MEMORIALS IN TOWN
Bronze Doors of Church Bear Text
of His Ninety Five Theses.
WOMEN TOLL IN FIELDS
Luther's Wife Did It, Though Her
Husband Was the Most Famous
Man of His Times.
MANY MEMORIALS IN TOWN
WOMEN TOLL IN FIELDS
RY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The Schloss-kirche of Wittenberg, in
which Luther used to preach at intervals
for nearly thirty years, was erected in
1890, and was thoroughly restored in
1862, at the expense of the Duke OF
Sake Weimar. 1t stands opposite the old
electoral palace. which was built about
the same time and of the same materials,
and the two We're formerly connected by
a passage. A road, called SchlOsss'trasse,
now runs between them. The palace is
rambling old building of two stories, but
the front that faces the street is digni-
fed in appearance and admirable in pro-
portion. being pure classic. Portions OF
the building have been burned at different
times during it's history, but were rebuilt
upon the old plan.
In front of the palace is a bronze statue
of the Emperor Frederick III of Ger
many, erected in 1894.
The palace has been used since 1910 as
the headquarters of the commandant OF
the military garrison of Wittenbers,
which consists Of two regiments. One OF
them is quartered in the rear portion OF
the building and the other In what re-
mains CT the old university, in which Lu-
Their was a professor.
Beside the Schloss-krche is tall rOund
tower with a gallery. a series Of Gothic
windows and a number of plnnacles
around the top. 1t does not belong to
the same school Of architecture and Is as
unlike the church as two buildings can
be. From the top Of the tower springs
spire which rises 2S9 feet into the air.
and below, beneath Gothic gallery. Is
an inscription in German consisting or
| the first line of Luthers hymn: "A strong
fortress is our God"
Spire Seems Out Of Place.
A funny little needle spire rises from
the roof at the other end of the church.
which seems to be entirely out Of place.
and it is a mystery how it came there.
The stained glass windows, six on either
side and two in the choir, are beautiful
and are memorials Of various persons and
events The roof Of the church. which is
laid out in triangles of bright-colored
tiles. is broken by five dormer windows
on either side.
The main entrance OF the church is in
the middle instead of the end. through
a noble arch guarded by two statues of
famous electors. with great swords In
their hands. This entrance was formerly
protected by heavy oak doors. which were
used as a sort Of bulletin board for the
university. All announcements relating
to the proceedings of that institution and
of interest to the students were posted
there regularly. Hence. it was natural
that Luther should select that place Tor
posting his celebrated theses, comprising
ninety-ive reasons why the Dominican
friar Tetzel should not be allowed to sell
indulgences, or pardons for sins which
had not been committed. challenges OF
that sort were common in those days and
it was the custom to post them in that
manner Debates on theological topics
were also frequent and usually excited
great interest.
The doors were burned in an accidental
fire in the church in 1850. and were re-
placed by others of bronze by King Fred
erick William of Prussia. The Latin texts
fthe ninety-five theses are cast in
bronze in the new doors with ornamental
borders. under an inscription describing
the circumstances of their erection and
the name of the giver.