Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-17
ANNIVERSARY OF
LUTHER'S TRIAL TO
BE OBSERVED TODAY
CONTINUED from Page one.)

to appear before the diet and an
swer for himself
'Luther's friends were uneasy;
they feared for his very life; they
reminded him of the fate of Huss;
they had little confidence in the
emperGr's safe conduct. To say
that Luther was undisturbed,
would almost mean to deny that
he was human, but his fear was
overcome by trust in him whose
battle convinced that he was fight
ing. I will GO he said, though
there be as many devils in Worms
as there are in tiles on the roofs
of the houses
THE trial had been set for April
II. At 6 O'clock in the evening
Luther was called before the diet.
What was the poor monk to be
tried for? What had he done He
had written ninetg-fiye theses
against the abuse of indulgences:
he had taught that in the church
the Bible is the only authority; he
had insisted upon faith in Jesus
Christ and a life of good works;
he had attacked the doctrines of
the papacy. He was not to be tried
he was simply to be called upon
to say one word, 'RevOCo,' that is,
II recant.
com. the following day, Luther
appeared again before the diet
and gave his answer.
levitt thou defend all the books
acknowledged to be thine Nuther
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
German and Latin.
Luther replied at some length.
He said that he was willing to re-
cant and cast his books into the
fire, if he could be convinced by
the Scriptures that he had taught
error. His reply displeased Eek.
He asked Luther to say whether
he would say 'Revoco' or not, Lu-
ther then replied in these words;
Since your imperial majesty,
electoral and princely graces de-
mand q simple, artless, true an
swer, l will give one which shall
have neither horns nor teeth.
Unless be overcome and convinced
by proofs of the holy scriptures or
by manifestly clear grounds and
reasons--for I believe neither the
pope nor the councils alone, be-
cause it is an open and. known fact
that they have often erred and OPP
posed each other--and | am con-
WINGED by those passages adduced
and introduced by me, and my
conscience is bound in Gods Word,
l can or will recant nothing, since
it is neither safe nor advisable to
do aught against conscience, GOD
help mel Amen ..
Luther maintained his firm
stand. He said, Rather will l 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 there that
Luther, in December, 1921, began
his translations of the Bible into
that German which became the
German in literature and speech
and which is still spoken and writ
ten today.
IL Nllti- was l'bA bAAAtNA ebAS befiA "a
the empire and remained under
the condemnation the rest of his
life. He nevertheless lived on and
continued his work until his peace
full death in February. 1916.
state and church alike are reap
ing the blessings of LutheTs firm
stand at Worms in 1921. Humanity
speaking, the liberty bell, with its
inscription, Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land, unto all
the inhabitants thereof would
never have rung out the signing OF
the Declaration of Independence by
the Continental congress, July A.,
1876, and our charter of liberty,
the constitution of the United
States, would never have been writ
ten, if Luther at Worms in 1921
had spoken that one word, 'Revo-
co.
"The religious and civil liberty
which we Americans prize very
highly, is the result of that indie
pendence which Luther maintained
at Worms as the birthright Of
man"