The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-31
lUTHtRAaS OBSERVE
400IH anniversary
Of The Rtf0RMAII0s
Tomorrow Night In Commemora-
ton OF f6th Century Change.


ton OF 10th Century Change.
Tomorrow evening, commencing at
s:l5 o'clock. a special service Will be
held In Bethlehem Lutheran church,
Sixth and Clay streets, in commem-
Grafton Of the 400th. anniversary of
the Reformation of the sixteenth cen
fury. The Rev. f.. J. Friedrich, of
Waynesboro. Va, will address the con-
gregation on The Man and the Book"
and the choir will render special mu-
sic for the occasion.
In discussing this celebration. which
is being observed not only by Luther
ans but by all Protestants. Rev. r. II.
Meuschke says:
The Reformation was that relig-
ious movement of the sixteenth CEN
fury out of which evolved the Protes-
tant church. 1t was not revolution
seeking to overthrow the existing or
der of things. but conservative
movement, endeavoring to cleanse,
purify ard develop the church.
TT WIS not simply the statement
OF principle. 1t was fresh revela-
ton through the Bible that GOD Is
love and has loved the world with an
infinite love. II was rediscovery or
the gospel teaching that the just shall
OF view ii was inward freedom. 1t
liberated the consciences Of men from
the bondage OF ecclesiastical tyrrary.
Intellectually 1t was the right of prt-
waite Judgment The principle was
laid down that every enlightened
Christian has the ability and right to
read and interpret the Bible for him
self
The doctrine OF grace is the foun-
49, 49, ~Bx,~ fs~r u n
Reformation was not a mere revolt
against Rome, a war against papal
corruption, a protest against the de-
plorable state of human society. II
was q religious movement, not po~
litical or a moral one, although 1t be-
came both political and moral It's
strength and appeal lay in the TACT
that II gave once more to man the
true answer TO the question. What
shall a man give in exchange for his
soul9' Luther. with his message of
salvation by belief In the merits of
Christ. kindled the same religious life
among the masses that the apostles
did. It is this message which runs
through all his sermons, books ard
letters. Upon the Bible. with its me.
sage OF Gods love, Luther based all
the arguments and disputations OF
which his life was so fun. ON the
basis OF the word. ne attacked tHe
vicious outero~ths y the paPacy, w
the basis II the wore ne alslu1ed
the authority OF popes and councils
at Worms II ia noteworthy that Lu-
Their never went to the length Of the
rabid fanatic who in his zeal eondemn ms
the good with the bad. What was
good and scrtptural IN the church
should ne Kept what "as pau a"H
unscriptural had 10 pc cut on.
lie e4i-fhat~lla Was Ilai ssianilsii
ing ANYTHING new. but simply festof
irE what was as ola az thae gospe.
Itself ne chhr ch "hlch ~at .st nae :
formed AMI which man naa oelorthea
had Il he reformed TO It's origiifAl
status I Tie souls or men shonio no'
suffer eternal loss,
Fhe movement IN tne slateet'sH
century nee ed by iIhther pears prop
erly the name Reformation II war
reformation. restoration
taonshment OF the ehnfen, "a rioa,ns
or defofinlhes. a return 10 sne h|e.e
as the ground OF lAi'h anu si'a ohis
guiding light 10 heaven
1t was on the sond ground OF
scripture tnat lLueheF anu ms co "a
horers based eheir CONFESSION OF taath
at Augsburg ana raised the slahaasa
10 wh'ch the Authefah ehafSn nas
adhered UP 10 the present Gay Justin
cation by faith without the deeds OF
the law - inc caruina Peins.lso @,
this church foday. mas nor lai.erea
In Its hrm nnneFsner 10 Inc Ihpte ne
the only infaIhoie ruic of faath and
conducted.
The bible, as the verhaily inspired
message from heaven. Is the only au,
ther'ty OF the lutheran chareh anu
no ehort is made by our chorch &c
bring the statements OF the blpse ~
accord with human reasoning When
II Is Established, tnus satin the Lora
There Is written the issue IL settled
beyond dispute
The ceienraucn or tne @ootn an
niversary OF the reformation WIN re
veal the fact that the I.ntneran churef
10 one OF the great world forces OF
today, 1t is impossible 10 compute
It's spiritual s'rengtn. put u ~ reason
able TO believe that TINS IL It's great
est power IT'S numerical strenetn car
be computed ana according TO fehanis
statistics the cnureh mas reachee
enormous proportions
the Lutheran churcn ~ the ITS
ana largest PROTESTANT church IN ths
world IL iouna evefywner'
throughout the wnote earth- Whiit
other religions are as RUE conhnes
TO one country, language or race. tns