Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-09
THIS CHARACTERISTIC ToGETH
Err WITH OTHERS MADE HIM
A SUCCESS.
TALK BY DIR, BLANCHE
Davenport Leader of Lutheran Faith
In Middle West Addresses
Combined Service At
Swedish Lutheran.

! Three things are predominant in
! the life and work of Martin Luther. He
was man of firm convictions, his
faith was humble and his preaching
bold" This is the secret of the great
| reformer's power, according to DIR. w.
| II. Blancke OF Davenport who address
ed union meeting of all the Luther
an churches In the city, held Sunday
evening at the Swedish Lutheran
church on Jefferson near Fourth.
| The service was reformation ses-
sion concentrating the beginning OF
great work of the Lutheran reforma
ton. Two years hence; In 1917, the
four hundredth anniversary of this i'm
portant event will be fittingly observed
not only by the Lutheran church,
which now numbers 8O,0OO,OOO men,
bers throughout the world but also by
the 70,000,000 members OF the other
Protestant churches. Dr. Blancke,
whom the local churches were FORUM
ate enough to get, is recognized as one
of the strong leaders of the Lutheran
faith in the middle west. He has a
pleasing way of talking yet 1t is man.
ner all his own and inimitable.
DR.. Blancke sketched the life of Mar
tin Luther fully for his audience which,
as he said, consisted mainly of repre-
sentatives of the land of Luther, de-
scendants Of old Teutonic strength" In
speaking of the growth of the Luther
an church in the United States, since
the first organized congregation was
established in 1920, he said that there
are now 100000 people Of that faith
in Iowa alone and he made plea that
they all stand hand to hand, face to
face and eye to eye to boost for the
civic growth and improvement of the
state.
That Martin Luther was inspired by
the true word of God and that alone
was emphasized by the speaker. He
spoke of the good endowment which
I old Hans Luther and his good wife
gave their son. They, he said, had
thought much about God and tried to
learn much about him, as well as they
could in those days when his light was
dim and the word was hard to find
Progressing in Martin Luther's life his
tory DR.. Blancke laid stress on the fact
that when he was called to the Office
of the holy ministry he carried with
him into that position the teaching Of
God made manifest to his people. And
that is what the Lutheran church to-.
day recognizes In their leader; the
plain simple truths, the personality of
God handed down through his doc
trines.
Atonement for sins can be gained
but in one way and that is by the
precious blood of the Christ Jesus. the
speaker insisted and Martin Luther
and the Lutheran church today believe
that Gods word Is the record of his
will concerning his people and their
relation with him.
In Luther" DR.. Blancke said, Ger
tain things we're shown by words more
than deeds; but the strokes Of the
hammer which nailed up the Ninety.
Five Theses on the door that day have
resounded all over the world"
A splendid musical program was
given in connection with the Daven-
port mans address. It follows:
| Hymn, congregation.
Scripture reading and prayer, Rev.
| G. Sundberg.
| Hymn, con gregat1On.
"The Glory of God in Nature"
Beethoven, st. Marks quartet.
"Just as I am" Wilson, st. Paups
choir.
Praise Ye Jehovah Gounod, St.
Marks quartet.
Remember thy Creator Adams,
Swedish choir.
Jesus, My Cross have TAKEN"
Iine, st. Paul's choir.
"The Lord is mindful of his own"
Mendelssohn; Swedish choir
Announcements, Rev Geo. G. Hanss.
Ter.
Offering.
Hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is, our
Cod sung by congregation in English,
Swedish, German, Danish and Nor.
wegian.
Closing prayer and benediction, Rev.
P. o. Bersell.