The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-04-22
FOURTH CENTENNIAL
OF MARTIN LUTHER
MONDAY. APRIL Is, MARKS 400
YEARS SINCE HE WAS TRIED
IN GERMANY.

New York.-(By A. P.)-Four hun
dred wears ago, on April IS, 1921,
Martin Luther, the German monk and
religious reformer, faced the German
Diet at Worms Ca German village)
and refusing to recant his principles
lof religious freedom, brought about
nienty intellectual and religious revo-
luton
Throughout the world, millions OF
Protestants celebrated on April 18th
the 40Oth anniversary OF Luther's trial
before that Diet. For that reason, the
proceedings at Worms, are of timely
interest to Protestants of the United
States.
The fact that Luther's stand brought
about tremendous change in the MS
tory Of the world is emphasized by
Professor J. H. G. Fritz, dean Of Con-
cordia Seminary, Of st. Louis, m a
narrative of Luther's actions and his
trial. Dean Fritz writes:
: "9he eighteenth day Of April in the
year 1921 marks the end of the Mid
die 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 spiritual,
intellectual, and political serfdom
took place, and there was given to the
world that liberty of conscience, that
freedom of thought, and that modern
civilization which we now enjoy and
which, we trust, shall remain in our
inheritance until the end of days.
''On the eighteenth day of April,
1921, Luther was on trial before Che
Diet at Worms; the man and his work
were put to crucial test. Shall the
Bible be an open book for all, or must
man submit to that authority of the
church as it has been exercised by
popes and councils; shall the right of
private judgment be granted or de-
MED; shall the yoke laid upon the in
tellect by the medieval system remain
and become more burdensome or
shall the intellect be freed and enter
.uopn an era of new Development;
shall nations and peoples be tyran-
nized by religious and 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 what
he had spoken and written, should de-
eide.
"All historians agree that Luther's
firm stand at Worms in 1921 brought
about a mighty revolution and a tre-
mendous change in the history of the
world
I'm 1920, the year prior to the Diet
at Worms, Luther had written three
epoch-making works: To the Chris
tian Nobility of the German Nation
The Babylonian 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 papal nuncios, brought the
bull of communication to Germany.
Luther burned it publicly on Decem
Der 10. Leo x urged Charles V Ger
man emperor) to put Luther under
the ban of the empire. Charles was
willing to comply, but the German
princes insisted that Luther must not
be condemned unheard. Accordingly,
Luther was summoned to appear be-
fore the Diet and answer for himself.
"Luther's friends were uneasy;
they feared for his very life; they re-
minded him of the fate Of Huss they
udu llltIt COuuuSnSS LII IllO OlHPOl lOi
safe-conduct. To say that Luther was
would almost mean TO
deny that he was human, but his fear
was overcome by trust in Him whose
battle he was convinced that ne was
fitting. I will co. he said, though
there be as many devils in Worms as
there are titles on the roofs Of the
houses
"The trial had been set for April H.
At 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 95
theses against the abuse of indul-
gences; 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 pa
pacy. He was not to be tried, he was
simply to be called upon to say one
word 'Revoco,' that is, recant.
"On the following day, Luther ap-
peared again before the Diet and gave