Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28
|lUTHERaAs OBSERVE
4OOTH Anniversary
Special Services VIII BE Conducted
This Week at bethlehem
Church.
COMMEMORATE THIS EVENT
Brief History Why Reformation Is
Always Celebrated, With Figures
Showing Great Growth OF P1,otes-
tsnt Denomination in World.


Wednesday being the 4ooth anniver-
sary OF tho Reformation. special SER
vices are being conducted during the
coming week in Bethlehem Lutheran
Church. Sixth and Clay Streets. to
commemorate this event.
In making this announcement the
pastor states: For nearly 400 years
the Lutheran Church has celebrated
inc Reformation in sermons, prayers
and hymns. While most Lutherans are
supposed 10 know that there are album
dant reasons for these yearly celcbra-
tions. the following general reasons
might be stated as to why we cele-
brate
Il. because no event in history since
the days OF the apostles means so much
70 us and 10 tho world as does The
Reformation. First. 1t restored to US
the Bible: second. it brushed aside a
huge pile Of superstitions and tradi-
tons and brought again into clear
light st. Paul's doctrine of salvation
by faith alone; third. It broke the
chains OF an ecclesia stical tyranny such
as was never before known, and re-
stored liberty of conscience; fourth
1t brought about revival not only in
religion. but also In morals and in
government; NTH. it prepared the way
for social and Industrial progress, such
as has not been witnessed since the
world began.
"2. Because when we cease to cele-
brute the Reformation we cease to
value the blessings which 1t bestowed.
1t would be a sad day for our nation
did il forget TO celebrate the Declara-
zion of lndcpt ndencc which marks it's
birthdcy. II would show that the peo-
pie were !orvcttns, the priceless boon
OF liberty which that declaration stands
for. So would Il be with US, who are
the heirs OF that vast estate OF bless
fngs which tho Reformation has left
US as its legacy. II would prove that
we had forgotten the priceless worth
Of our Reformation heritage.
TIME TO REMOVE TIE
DUST FROM THE BIBLE
"3. Because when we cease to value
the blessings which the Reformation
bestowed there is danger that they
viii be taken from US. God always
Furnishes ingratitudc. and the manner
IN which He does this is to withdra "
from men the blessings they do not
value. When true religion leaves a
church or nation, II is n sure sign
that it has lost its value in the eyes
of the people. and where once the lamp
OF life was brightly burning there is
increasing darkness. When the church
begins To love darkness better than
light, 1t must not find fault with God
If He removes the candlestick that once
lighted up His altar.
II. In these times especially. when
woridline.s. indifference and s.iepti-
cism abound. Reformation principles
and truth ncc6 to be rcstatcd. Many
do not honor the Bihlc as their faith
ers i:d. To them II is no longer the
Book, but only book among other
books. Young people in many homes
are wading through trashy literature
seldom take tho Eible or any other
good book into their hands. Many are
growing further away from the truth
than the Romanists did in Luthers
time: they care not for the righteous.
ness that 81 by faith. nor for the
pRpists righteousness that Is by works.
They simply live for pleasure and be-
iicve IL is enough that they should be
moral or respectable Particularly
in these stress times, there is need of
our taking the dlst from our iSibles.
and examining the blessing which has
been ours all these years because OF
the Reformation.
The celebration of the four hun
dredth anniversary of the Reformation
will reveal the fact that the Lutheran
Church is one of the great world
forces of to-day. 1t is Impossible to
compute its spiritual strength. hut II
is reasonable to believe that this is
its greatest power. Its numerical
strength can be computed and, accord
ing 10 reliable statistics, the church
has reached enormous proportions.
The Lutheran Church is the first
and largest Protestant church in the
world l. is found everywhere