The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-11-05
Ceremonies Were Held Last
Evening at Two Churches
&c.. In Mankato =



institution of the Reformation by
Martin Luther were held last evening
at the Trinity Norwegian Lutheran
ahurch. The program was In the
charge OF the Young Peoples' league,
and the president, b. +. Lee, was
/ chairman OF the meeting. A vocal
solo was rendered by Miss Gerda
Mortenson and an organ solo by Miss
Lizzie Martin. The services were led
by the pastor. Rev. Henry Moss. but
the principal address Of the evening,
on the subject OF the life OF Martin
Luther. was made by Rev. Martin
rieckenstein. .l r..-'E
The pastor took the position that
ne coming of Martin Luther. whose
birth occurred nearly four hundred
years ago In the province Of Wurten-
berg. Germany. was one OF the propfi-
estes OF the Book of Revelation, and
he read the following. being the sixth
and seventh verses OF the fifteenth
chapter:
sAnd I saw another angel fly In the
midst OF heaven. having the eyerlast-
ing Gospel TO preach unto them
that dwell on the earth. and to
every nation and kindred and tongue
and people. saying. with loud voice,
Fear God and give glory TO Him: for
the hour Of His judgment Is come;
and worship Him that made heaven
and earth and the sea and the foun-
, tains of waters" rs. -. 4. ,.,3
The sneaker told Of the family OF
Martin Luther; how his father was
miner, delving in the earth for
livelihood: how the boy went TO school
when so small that he often HAD TO be
carried over the rough roads: how he
was intensely studious from the first:
how he won his way through colleges,
and how. ono day. after friend Of
his had been killed by lightning at his
side. and he himself was spared, lie
felt called upon TO give himself to the
service OF Jesus Christ and became a
monk. 7"... o..
AS monk Martin Luther was at
Brst exceedingly severe on himself
He beat himself at times well nigh to
death. In the hope of driving the sin
from his soul. But new light dawned
on him afterwards. and be became
convinced that II was by Christian
faith and not By self punishment that
the human soul should be saved. On
one occasion, when he was going on
his knees up the stairway at st. Pet
er's cathedral at Rome. as many 9TH
ers did, he was seized with the convic-
ton embodied In the now famous
clause. 1.-THE just shall live by faith"
and he walked down the steps on his
feet I'm the natural way.
Martin Luthert being a teacher OF
those training for the priesthood, he
made q practice of receiving confess
sions. II was the act Of the pope try
ing to raise money by the sale OF in
dulgences. or forgiveness for sin that
had been committed or might be COM
mitted In the future, that led Martin
Luther to nail upon church door his
famous ninety-five theses. protesting
against such practice as being
wholly out of accord with the teach
ings of the Bible. Then came the
great breach between Luther and the
Roman pontiff. the diet of Worms, and
the never-to- be forgotten arguments
over the ninety-five theses, which
Luther defended against monks and
other representatives OF the pope.
Some were determined to deliver the
reformer to the flames. but the En-
peror Charles ". had given his word
that Luther should be secure, so that
he was allowed to depart unhurt
Later the followers OF Luther became
so strong that the government had TO
recognize them and give them formal
permission to worship according to
their own beliefs. 'f'a - ,
Program In Swedish Lutheran Church.
October 81 Is great day in the
history Of the church as well of the
world. II is on October 81. 1917. that
Martin Luther nailed his ninety Ave
theses on the church door at Witter
berg. This event marked the beginning
of the Reformation. The anniversary of
the Reformation was fittfngiy observed
in the Swedish Lutheran church by q
program rendered by the young peo-
pie OF the church. Hymns we're sung
by the congregation with vim and en-
thusiam. Among the hymns was one
written by Martin Luther Three
papers were read. Henry Roust
spoke on the causes that gave rise to
the Reformation movement and also
spoke of the main issues I'M the Refor-.
nation. Mr.. Roust's paper was very
interesting and gave evidence OF
faithful study OF this great epoch.
Miss Jennie Johnson read a paper
on the. life OF Luther. She gave a
splendid biography OF Luther. Her
paper showed that Luther was not
only great. preacher and reformer
but was also a great educator.
Through Luther's efforts popular edu-
cation had its beginning.
The last paper was read by Miss
Xenia Mellgren, who gave biograph-
ical sktech Of the life of Phillip Mel
snchton, who was the co-worker OF
Luther. In an interesting way she told
US the life story Of this able man.
Melauchton was q great scholar and
distinguished himself as an educator.
He Is especially remembered as the
author Of the Augsburg confession.
Pleasing and well rendered vocal
solos were given by the Misses Esther
Rud and Florence Johnson. The pro-
gram was largely attended.
Austin, November l.--If ALL goes
well with the plans. the big wild rice
field that Is a Disagreement OF the
Horace Austin State park will be re-
moved George A. Horned has of
fered $500 toward the work II the