The midland journal., 1917-11-09
MARTIN LUTHER.
Extracts From Lecture Delivered BY
Rev. A. Il. Peterson OF Row
landvilIe M, p. Church.

Martin Luther, the Great reform
er, was born at Eislenben, Nov. 10,
1883, of poor peasant parents and
died there Feb. IS, 154S. His father
(who was a miner) and mother were
persons of vigorous mould and
strong character, they brought up
their children with rigid severity and
yet with parental affection, and
nourished them in the simple
Catholic piety common among the
German peasantry Of that time.
Luther received his education
starting at Mansfield, then at Madge-
burg, Eisnach and finishing at
Erfurtl 1906. While at school he
like other poor students was Obliged
to sing in the streets begging for
bread, it was in this manner that
Kunz Gotta was attracted byshim and
gave him much needed help.
The parents of Luther had ambi-
tions that he should be a lawyer and
had educated him with that end in
view. One day he went to visit a
friend, and found him dead
murdered in his bed. Shocked by
this scene he went into the open; a
flash of lightning startled him. In
the awe and dread of these expert
ences he vowed he would become a
monk. This decision greatly dis
pleased his parents and he himself
afterward regretted it, but he ad-
hered to his vow and entered the
Augustinian monastery al Erfurt in
July 1905.
In 1910 Luther with several other
monks was picked to go to the
university of Wittenberg as profess
sor. Here he was to spend the rest
of his life. During his early days at
Wittenberg, at the earnest request of
Staupiz but with genuine reluctance
and self-distrust on his own part,
Luther began to preach; at first in
the little chapel, and then, on the
sickness of the Pastor in the town
church. But as he kept on the
reluctance wore away, and he came
to love the work of preaching with a
devotion that never gave out. 1t
was about this time 1911 that oc-
Cured Luthers memorable visit to
Rome where he ascended the Holy
Stairway" on his knees. 1t was
while here that he saw the worldi-
ness and corruption of the clergy
which did not exactly fit in with his
views of religion.
Although still devoted to the
Roman Catholic church, Luther now
reached the conclusion which was to
lead him to combat her claim. Rest
ing salvation entirely on the grace
of God, by faith, hope and love, in
stead of works and show, he started
to try and reform the church from
within. On Oct 8, 1917 he nailed
his 95 Theses on the castle church
at Wittenburg. Thus the reformation
was begun before he knew it.
Next came his denial of the abso-
lutte power of the Pope. Finally he
was communicated and ordered to
appear before the Diet of Worms,
where in the presence of the En-
Dcror and all the Mobiles great and
small of the Holy Roman Empire he
again refused to recant, ending his
ereech in these words Here | stand,
cannot do otherwise, God helping
me. Amen"
On the return from Worms the
Elector Frederick had Luther taken
by force by pre-arrangement away
from the government officials and
sent him into retirement at Wart-
burg. The people not knowing about
the scheme mourned him as dead.
During this period many men sprung
up who claimed to be followers of
Luther, who, instead of following his
ideas went to the opposite extreme
of Romanism, this Luther beheld
with alarm, and came from his re-
treat, returned to Wittenberg, where
he gave prompt and signal token
both of his influence as leader and
his power as preacher; when i'll a
series of 8 sermons he resumed con-
troll of the movement, lessened the
tumult of the extremist and steadied
the minds of his friends.
In 1926 sorely tried, he found
consolation by his marriage with
Katherine Won Bora, former nun.
In the family relation he was both
good and happy. His home was a
comfort to him and joy to his
friends for the rest of his days.
AS preacher Luther stands in the
first ranks of those who by the min
istry of Gods word have moulded
the character and destinies of men.
among all his other offices and
achievements-as scholar, theolo
gian, author for he translated the
Bible, and wrote many hymns of
which "God is my Fortress" is his
hacf Ac laadn VIC nnucf NOT fOropt