The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1921-04-13
The German Monk And
Religious Re-
former
FACED GERMAN
DIET AT WORMS
Refusing To Recant
Principles Of Reli-
gious Freedom.
Associated Press

NEW 1URh, April l0--fouf
hundred years ago, on April Is, 1921,
Martin Luther, the German monk and
religious reformer, faced the German
Diet at Worms Ia German village)
and, refusing to recant his principles
II religious freedom, brought about
mighty intellectual and religious
revolution.
Throughout the world, millions Of
Pptestants will celebrate April 18,
the 4OOth anniversary of Luther's
trial before the Diet. For that rea-
/ son, the proceedings at Worms, are
Of timely interest to Protestants of
the United States.
The fact that Luther's stand brou-
ght about tremendous change in the
history of the world is emphasized
/ by Professor ]. H. C. Fritz, Dean of
Concorda Seminary, of st. Louis, in
a narrative of Luther's actions and
his trial. Dean Fritz writes:
@The eighteenth day of April in the
year 1921 marks the end of the Middle
Ages and the beginning of the Mod
ern Era in the history of the world.
On that day the emancipation of man
from long period of spiritual, in
|tellectual, and political serfdom took
place, and there was given to the
world that liberty of conscience, that
freedom of thought, and that mod
em civilization which we now enjoy
and which, we trust, shall remain in
our Inheritance until the end of days.
"0n the eighteenth day Of April,
l62l, Luther was on trial befare the
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 exercis-
ed by pOpes and councils; shall the
right of private judgement be grant
ed or denied; shall the yoke laid upon
the intellect by the medieval system
remain and become more burdensome,
Or shall the intellect be freed and en-
ter upon an era of new development;
shall nations and peoples be tyranni-
zed 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
ne had spoken and written, should
decide
All historians agree that Luther's
urn stand at Worms in 1891 brought
about mighty revolution and a tre-
mendous change in the history of the
world
In 1920, the year prior to the Diet
az Worms, Luther had written three
epoch making words: ITO the Chris
.lan nobility of the German Nation.
,lhe Babylonian Captivity of the
Ohurch', and On Christian Liberty.
IN these writings Luther gave a
gear outline of his theology.
In the meantime Eek and Alexan-
aer, the papal nuncios, brought the
aull Of communication to Germany. |
Luther burned it publicly on Decemb-
eiV, Leo K urged Charles v Ger
man |, Emperor) to put Luther under
lne ban Of the empire. Charles was
3nllng to comply, but the German
princess insisted that Luther must
'0t be condemned unheard. Accord
nely, Luther was summoned to ap-
pear =. before the Diet and answer for
limself.
Luther's friends were uneasy; they |
sAfed for his very life; they remind
y MN Of the fate of Huss; they had |
''.ie confidence in the Emperor's
To say that Luther |
vas vas undisturbed, would almost mean
= oehy that he was human, but his
ssf saf was overcome by his trust in
TN whose battle he was convinced
y. e. he was fighting. 4 will go, he
a'a, J. though there be as many devils
Worms as there are tiles on the
sols OF the houses,
The trial had been set for April
y At six o'clock in the evening Lu-
ner was called before the Diet. What
'as = lhe poor monk to be tried for?
,nas !, !, had he done? He had written
! 'neses against the abuse Of indul-
eaees; ne had taught that in the
urea the Bible is the only author
70 ne had insisted upon faith in
nus Christ and a life Of good works;
! mad attacked the doctrines Of the
.pacy' He was not to be tried, he
- simply to be called upon to say
. ''sso word, 'Revoco', that is, ! recant.
z2n the following day, Luther ap-