The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-27
LUTHERANS ARE
TO CELEBRATE
VIII Commemorate Arrsisament Of
Luther by Diet Of Worms.
(ey The Assoeiated Pressl

FN~1N~t~~NNs
NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-Eighty mil
lions OF Iutherans and innumerable
other protostants. It was announced
here today BY the national Lutheran
council, will participate in a world
wide celebTa ton on April II of the
a00th anniversary OF the arraignment
OF Martin Luther before the Diet at
Worms.
'When Luther nailed his ninety
five theses upon the door of the Uni
versity of Wittenberg and refused to
recant his alleged heresies despite the
threat Of accommodation" says the
statement Of the council ''he helped to
usher in modern religious and civil
liberty Denouncing As tyranny the
enslavement of Christian conscience
the dauntless monk declared the Bible
TO be the only infallible rule Of faith
and practice and closed his defence
with the words: There ! stand. | can
do naught otherwise. So help me God!
Amen :"
The main purpose of the celebration,
Il Is stated is TO obtain a clearer un-
derstand.ng Of how Lutherans and
Christians of other denominations
throughout the world may become
more effective IN bringing Gods win
10 bear powerfully upon present I'M
happy world conditions. To this end.
special congregational services viii be
held on Sunday. April II. and at p.
m. on that day, the hour when Luth-
or was summoned TO conf. ont his
judges, all Christians are invited 10
road the Scriptures, mediate and pray
for purity and unity Of the Christian
faith. effectiveness in all good work
aad the advancement Of true Christian
liberty, brotherhood and universal
goodwill
\ message frcm the council, ad-
dressed 10 the Lutherans of every
land, commented the quadricenten-
airy as "a fitting time to review the
benefits inherited from Luther's un-
Faakeable utterance. The tribunal be-
fore which Luther appeared was the
most Imposing assemblage of church
and state potentates that could have
hecn = thered anywhere in the world
~ that time. 1t continued:
"A century earlier John Huss APP
paarcd before such a body under very
siml7r charges and was burned at the
sake. Luther knew that but he went
fsare8sy forward to the test lie
knew that his writings gave express
2 en- to the deepest yearuings OF null
titudes q Pious souls among his coun-
trymen. lie had arrived at a new prin-
cple Of religious authority He def
nitely rejected all authority except
the Word Of God In matters of relig-
lon. with the dramatic scene at
Worms. Luther burned all bridges be-
hind him.
"The incident contributed another
principle that is vital to the modern
world; The principle OF separate
functions for church and state; the
only principle that guarantees free
dom OF conscience. right Of private
Judgment and religious liberation.
Times not yet bonn were listen
ms Thus the spirit of modern lib
erty was conceived in the first quar-
ter OF the 18th century in the rugged
soul Of a mediaeval monk. II was
born IN the last quarter of the 18th
century on the Atlantic seaboard of
the North American continent. And
now, IN this first quarter Of goth CEN
fury by the grace Of God it is COM
i;g to full maturity all over the
world"
The program for the celebration will
include, bes' de special gatherings in
churches and halls, by congrega tons,
wOmen's organizations. young peoples
societies aad mems brotherhoods,
other features, sach as Sunday school
exercises music Of the Reformation
period ard street pageants. Large art
posters and a ouadrcentenary hand
book sympolizing Luther's work will
be distributed.
Messages from Lutherans in every
walk Of life throughout the world viii
be read at most Of the meetings. They
will he received by the council here
and after being compiled will be sent
broadcast 10 all churches The mes
sages Will be confined to these topics:
"The influence of LutAer's stand at
Worms subsequent individual, church
and civil life. An estimate Of the
successes and failures OF Protestant
ism and the reasons. The successes
and failures OF the Lutheran church
and the reasons and the means by
which Christianity may be made more
effectual IN it's work for mankind"
Peat contains from 80 to 80 per cent
water