The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-04-11
NATION WIDE CELEBRATION
4G0 ANNIVERSARY REFORMATION


anniversary of the Reformation in
1877, and to get liz communication
with the 76.OO0,O0O Lutherans the
world over. For more tha :. yea: tAe
Joint committee has been working on
plans and subcommittee are now
,u1ting tie main features into final
form.
An anniversary medal showing Lu-
ther mailing the famous ninety-tlye
theses on the church door at Witten-
burg and bearing appropriate ;nscrip-
tons is being desiged and will be
ready for distribution by Oct. 81,
1916 A motion picture film depicting
the principal activities of Luther and
Reformation scenes will in all probab-
ilitv be used to visualize the events Of
the places and the movement. A group
Of scholars has meen at work for more
than a year translating the writings
Of Luther and a well known American
writer will issue popular life of the
Reformer. The Luther Play is fill
ing engagements in many centers with
GREAT success and further engage
ments are being booked for 1917. Ser
vices of worship will be held by indi-
yidual congregations with specla!
speakers and music, and in addition
celebration festivals will be conduct
ed in many centers. These may eX-
tend over a period of sevral DAYS, de-
pending on the size of the community.
Chorus singing by massed church
choirs and singing societies Will be
featured and the wealth OF Reforma-
ton hymns and oratorios Will be used
extensively.
All Protestant bodies Will observe
the evnt. It will be as in 1888 when
the entire Protestant world commem-
grated the four hundredth anniversary
of the birth of the leader Of the Re-
formation. Martin Luther. The Coun-
ell of Church Boards Of Education
representing seventeen denomi" ations
has opened a central office in New
York to conduct campaign of edu-
cation during 1917. for the purpose
of decreasing the financial support and
the efficiency of the church colleges.
Il is intended to make the celebra-
ton commemorative of the great his
toric event of the sixteenth century
with the emphasis upon the prlncl>
pies which have contributed so large
" to the worlds progress. The re-
Egious factor will be the leading fea-
ture of the celebration but other
phases of historic i..terest will re-
ceive attention. The aim will be a
constructive celebration looking for
ward as much as backward. Above
all it is hoped a spiritual impetus Will
result which shall benefit the entire
world Special Reformation litera-
ture books, and monographs will De
produced and a booking agency for
lectures is established. A department
of the headquarters is provided for
reference and Information purposes
and correspondence is invited ON mat
tiers relating to the Reformation per
iod or to a proper and constructive
celebration of the event.
Five Synods Of national character
are represented in the Executive Com
mittee-General Synod, the Genral
Council, United Synod OF the South,
Joint synod of Ohio. and the Iowa
synod The members of the commit
tees are drawn from every section OF
the country.
The Rev. Prof. T. z. Schmauk, d.
D.. LII D., OF the Mt. Airy Seminary
Philadelphia, is chairman of the nm
eral and the executive committees.
Mr. E. Clarence Miller, banker OF
Philadelphia, is Chairman of the I'M
ance committee which is underwriting
the expenses OF the office and COM
mittee activities. The executive sec
retary. the Rev. Howard R. Gold, was
called from Madison. Mis-, where ne
was University pastor for his denomi-
nation at the University Of Wisconsin,
and pastor OF Luther Memorial churcn.
During the summer Of 1915 Mr.. Golo
engaged in religious and social vel
fare work in prison camps in Europe
under the direction OF the lnternd-
tional committee of the \ M. I. a.