Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-18
n + I'm LUTHER DECLARED
FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
JUST 400 YEARS AGO TODAY

trust in Him whose battle he was
convinced that he was fighting. J
will GO he said, though there be
as many devils in Worms as there
are tiles on the roofs OF the houses
The trial had been set for April
H. At 6 O'Clock in the evening Luth-
er was called before the Diet What
was the poor monk TO be tried for
What had he done? He had written
IS theses against the abuse OF in
dulgence; he had taught that in the
church the Bible is the only au-
thority; he had insisted upon faith
IN Jesus Christ and a life OF good
works: he had attacked the dort
rines OF the papacy lie WAS not to
be tried he was simply 70 be call
Ell upon to say one word, 'Rcyoco.
that is, | recant.
"On the following day tf,,r r Al
peared again before the Let and
gave his answer
Wilt thou defend ali the books
acknowledged to be thine. Ulther
had acknowledged the books TO be
his on the day before) or at least
recant in part?' That was the ques-
ton which was put to Luther in Ger
man and Latin
Luther replied at some length He
said that he WAS willing 10 rncaut
and cast his books into the fire II he
could be convinced by the Scrip
lures that he had taught error His
reply displeased Eek. IIe asked Bu-
Their to say whether he would say
'Rcvoco' or not, Luther then replied
in these words
Since your Imperial Majesty,
Electoral and Princely Graces de
mand simple. artless, true ans
wer. / will give one which shall
have neither horns nor teeth. Unless
be overcome aud convinced by
proofs OF the Holy Scriptures or by
manifestly clear grounds and rea-
sons--for | believe neither the Pope
nor the councils alone, because it is
an open and known fact that they
have often erred and opposed each
other--and ! am convinced by those
passages adduced and introduced by
me, and my conscience is bound In
Gods Word, | can or will recant
nothing, since 1t is neither safe nor
advisable to do aught against con
science. God help me! Amen
Luther maintained his firm
stand He said Rather will ! lose
life and limb than surrender Gods
true and clear word
"On his homeward journey friends
took him captive and, for safety's
sake, removed him to the Castle
Wartburg. 1t was the that Luther,
in December. 11G1. began his trans
lations of tie Ole into that Ger
man which .ecdne the German in
literature and speech and which is
still spoken and written today.
"' rther vas put under the ban
Of the empire and remained under
tEe condemnation the rest of his
lie. lie nevertheless lived on and
continued his work until his peace.
full death in February, l546.
state and church alike are reap
ing the blessings OF Luther's firm
stand at Worms in 1921. Humanity
ereaking, the Liberty Bell, with its
Inscription, Proclaim liberty thro-
ushout the land, unto all the inhab-
itant3 thereof would never have
rung out the signing of the Declar-
alton of Independence by the Cor
tinental Congress July 4, 1916, and
our Charter Of Liberty. the COnsti-
tuition of the United States, would
never have been written if Luther
at Worm in 1921 had spoken that
one word. Reyoco
1.-The relcious and civil liberty
which we Americans prize very
highly is the result of that indie
pendence which Luther maintained
at Worms as tAe birthright of man,