Hickory daily record., 1921-04-09
MARTIN LUTHER
ANNIVERSARY
April. 1Q
By the Associated Press.

German diet at Worms Ca Germa,
vlllage( and, refusing to recant hi:
! principles Of religious freedom
brought about mighty intellectuo
and religious revolution.
Throughout the world millions Of
Protestants will celebrate en- Apr
1S. the 4OOth anniversary of Luther $
trial before that diet. For that rea-
son. the proceedings at Worms, are
Of timely interest TO Protestants Of
the United States.
The fact that Lutha:'s stand brought
about a tremendous change in the
history of the wotld is emphasized
by Professor J. H. C. Fritz, dean of
Ccncordia Seminary. Of st. Louis, III
la rarrative Of Luther's actions and
his trial Dean Fritz " rites:
'The eighteenth day of April in
the vesr cf 1921 marks the end Of the
Middle Ages and the beginning of the
Modern Era in the history Of the
world. On thAt day the emancipation
of man from long period OF spirit
ual, intellectual, and political serf-
dom took place. ard there was given
to the world that libe}tv Of con-
science. that freedom Ct thought, ana
that Modern civilization which we
now enjoy and which, we trust, shall
remain in cur inheritance until the
end Of days
"On the eighteenth day Of April.
1921, Luther was on trial before the
Diet at Worms; the man and his
work were put to crucial test. Shall
the Bible be an open book for all OF
must man submit to that authority
IF the church as it has been exercised
bv popes and councils; shall the
right of private judgment be GRANT
ed or denied; shall the yoke laid up
on the intellect by the medieval sys
tenn remain and become more bur-
densome, or shall the intellect be
freed and enter upon an era of new
development; shall nations and peo
pies be tyrannized by, religious an1
civil rulers or shall the right OF
civil and religious liberty be granted? ?
"These were the great issues which
Luther's answer to the question |
whether or not he would recant wh3t
he had spoken and written, should
decide.
.All historians agree that Luther's
firm stand at Worms in 1921 brought |
about a mighty revolution and
tremendous change in history of the
world.
'In 1920, the year prior to the
diet at Worms. Luther had written
3 epoch-making works: To the Chris,
tian Mobility Ct the German Nation,'
The BaEylonian Captivity of the
Church. and 'On Christian Liberty,
In these writings Luther gave clear
outline Of his theology.
'In the meantime Eek and Alex
ander, the papl nuncios, brought the
bull Of accommodation to Germany
Luther burned it publicly on Decen-
be1 10. Leo X urged Charles ' Ger
man Emperor) to put Luther undof
the ban Of the empire. Charles was
willing to comply, but the German
princes insisted that Luther must
not be condemned unheard. Accord
ingly. Luther was summoned to- ap~
pear before the diet and answer fol
himself.
Friends Uneasy
'Luther's friends were uneasy;
they feared for his very life, the7
reminded him Of the fate OF Huss'
they had little confidence IN the EN-,
peror's safe-conduct. 10 say that
Luther was undisturbed, would al
most mean to deny that he was hu-
man. but his fear was overcome by
trust in Him whose battles ne was
convinced that he was fighting ~
will &C. he said, though there De as
many devils in Worms as there are
tiles on the roofs of the houses. :,
The t,ial had been set tor Aprll
II. At six o'clock in the evening W
ther was called before the o.st;
What was the poor monk to pe trled |
for? What had he done? lie had
of ind1lgences: he had taught that
in the church the Bible is the cnly
authority: he had insisted upon
faith in jesus Christ and a life OF
rood works: he had attacked the
Doctrines of the papacy' He was not
to be tried. he was simply tc be
called unon to say one word. 'Revoco
that is, l recant.
con the following day. Luther ap-
neared again before the diet and gave
his answer.
"Wilt thou defend all the books
acknowledged to be thine 'Luther
had acknowledged the locks to De Els
on the day before) or at. least IN
mart . That was the question when
vas put to Luther in German ana
Latin.
Reply Displeasing
m,uther replied at some length.
He said that he was willing to recant
and cast his books into the fire. If
he he could be convinced by the Scrip
lures that he had taught error; HIS
reply displeased Eek, He asked Lu-
ther to say whether he would say
sRevoco' or not. Luther then repl1eo
in these words.
Fearless Speaker
"since your Imperial Majesty
Electoral and Princely Graces &C.
mand simple. artless, true answer.
I will give one which shall have mel
ther horns nor teeth Unless [ be
overcome and convinced by proofs of
the Holy Scriptures or by manlfestly
clear grounds and reasons-for | be-
lieve neither the pope nor the coun-
ellis alone, because it is an open and