New Ulm review., 1921-04-06
PAY TRIBUTE TO
MARTIN LUTHER
400th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
ARRANGEMENT BEFORE
WORMS DIET.
A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION
PLANNED FOR SUNDAY,
APRIL IL.

announced in New York City, by the
National Lutheran Council, will par
ticipate in worldwide celebration
on Sunday, April II, of the 40Oth
anniversary of the arraignment OF
Martin Luther before the Diet at
Worms, says an Associated Press dis
patch.
when Luther nailed his 95 theses
upon the door of the University OF
Wittenberg and refused to recant his
alleged heresies, despite the threat of
accommodation" says the statement
of the council, che helped to usher in
modern religious and civil liberty.
Denouncing as tyranny the enslave-
ment 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: Here stand, ! can do naught
otherwise. So help me God! Amen y
Main Purpose of Cele ebration.
The main purpose of the celebra-
tion, it is stated, is to obtain clearer
understanding of how Lutherans and
Christians of other denominations
throughout the world may become
more effective in bringing Gods will
to bear powerfully upon present un-
happy world conditions To this
end, special congregational services
will be held on Sunday April II, and
at a p. m. on that day, the hour when
Luther was summoned to confront his
judges, all Christians are invited to
read the Scriptures, mediate and pray
for purity and unity Of the Christian
faith, effectiveness in all good work
and the advancement of true Christian
liberty, brotherhood and universal
goodwill"
A message from the council ,ad-
dressed to the Lutherans of every
land, recommended the quadricen-
tenary as a fitting time to review the
benefits inherited from Luther's un-
shakeable utterance. The tribunal
before which Luther appeared was
the most imposing assemblage of
church and state potentates that could
have been gathered anywhere in the
world at that time" It continues:
"A century earlier John Huss ap-
peared before such body under very
similar charges and was burned at
the stake. Luther knew that but he
went fearlessly forward to the test.
He knew that his writings gave ex-
preston to the deepest yearnings of
multitudes of pious souls among his
countrymen. He had arrived at new
principle of religious authority. He
definitely rejected all authority ex-
cept the Word of God in matters of
religion. With the dramatic scene
at Worms, Luther burned all bridges
behind him.
Times Not Yet Born Listening.
''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
don of conscience, right of private
judgment and religious toleration.
Times not yet born were listen
ing. Thus the spirit of modern liber-
ty was conceived in the first quarter
OF the 10th century in the rugged
soul of medieval monk. 1t 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 the Goth
century by the grace of God it is COM
ing to full maturity all over the world.''
The program for the celebration
will include, beside special gatherings
in churches and halls by congrega-
tions, women's organizations, young
peoples societies and mems brother
hoods, other features such as Sunday
school exercises, music of the Reforma-
tion period and street pageants. Large
art posters and a quadricentenary
handbook symbolizing Luther's work
will be distributed.
Messages from Lutherans in every
walk Of life throughout the world will
be read at most Of the meetings. They
will be received by the council here
and after being compiled will be sent
broadcast to all churches. The mes
sages will be confined to these topics:
The influence of Luther's stand at
Worms on subsequent Individual,
church and civil life. An estimate OF
the successes and failures of Protestan-
tlsm 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.