Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-01-31

gave birth to strong minds, and
brought them early TO maturity Al
the time now under consideration,
they stood IN the frat rank OF Protest
ant theologians, and were counted an
ornament 70 the university whore
they labored
Their COMMISSION was 70 form a
Catechism that should suit the wants
OF the Palatinate. and with this com.
mission they went 10 work Due TO
the fact that ursinus and olevianus
had been working along this line for
some time. in the course Of the same
year, the CateeMsm was completed
and placed in the Electors hands.
The next step was 10 clotho Il with
suitable ecclesiastical authority and
force. For this purpose he immediate.
ly oonyoked at Heidelberg synod
Of the pastors of the entire Palati.
nate. 70 whom the work was submit
ted for examination and review. This
was done in several successive sit
tings; at the close of which the body
with one voice declared ITSELF not
simply satisfied bat delighted with
the accuracy force aud comprehen-
siyeness of the whole production as a
formulary OF faith, and begged that 1t
might be adopted and made public as
such without delay. Accordingly on
Jan. 18th, 1868 the Eleetor Frederick
III, ordered its publication and adop-
ton as the Confession of the Church
of the Palatinaie. thns establishing
the German Reformed Church.
with the publication of the Held
elberg Cateehism the Palatinate be
came Reformed. this book OF instrue.
tion being enthroued everywhere as
the rule and measure of public faith,
The family. the common school. athe
weekly pulpit, the gymnasium and the
university. were all expected and re-
quired, in the Palatinate, to cooper
ate continually in carrying out with
efficiency the great design of the
Heidelberg Cateehism. Its effect was
most salutary II is said that a spirit
of piety leigned throughout the Pa
latinatc, such as had never been
known.
1.-THE Cateohism soon had an ex-
tensive circulation Four editions were
called for in the same year. It was
considered the glory of the Palati-
nate.
Notwithstanding its favorable re
ception in many quarters the Cate
chism soon became the object Of bit
ter attacks on the ground that it was
an infringement on the Augsburg Con
fossion which had been declared the
authoritative Protestant Confession
for Germany. The Elector was sum
moned by the Emperor to appear be-
fore the Diet at Augsburg to be
held in 1866. At this Diet Freder-
/ lex made his memorable defence OF
his position and of the Catechism. As
a result he was allowed TO return TO
/ the Palatinate as victor, his posi-
ton having been approved, and the
German Reformed Church received
legal standing in Germany. On his
return to his country he was hailed
with shouts of joy by his people.
ms soon as the German Reformed
Church had thus been given a legal
standing in Germany the Catechism
began to spread to other lands. In
Germany it spread with wonderful
rapidity. From Germany it spread
to Switzerland, France, England Hun
gary. Poland, Holland; later to Amer
lea and Spain, and South Africa; and
today it is spreading to Japan, China,
Arabia and South America.
The Heidelberg Catechism is a
book OF religious instruction contain.
ing. in 100 questions and answers, the
teachings of the Bibld The center Of
this Confession is the Apostles Greed,
and the center of the Apostles Greed
is Christ. The Heidelberg Catechism
is thus, Christo-Centric, it revolyes
around the Human Christ.
in form the Heidelberg Catechism
is based on the Epistle of ST. Paul to
! the Romans. 1t has three divisions.
The first treats of mans misery, thus
leading to conviction Of sin, The
second holds up Christ as the only
Savior of men. The third brings out
the idea OF thankfuness for this de-
liverance revealed in a life Of good
works and prayer The life of good
works and prayer being the outgrowth
of the redeemed life as the fruit is
the outgrowth Of the tree.
THE true child of the Heidelberg
Catechism finds it his chief aim in life
to bring his will into harmony with
the word of God. But he brings his