The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-01

7 UTHER comes to the point very
~ specifically in his recommen-
dations: and some Of them proved
of prime Importance to history.
Firts he suggested a limitation of
the authority of the church; let the
Pope abandon those kingdoms OF
Italy in which he exercises a tenn
poral power so inconsistent with the
life of Christ and the early Chris
tians; let him stop the silly bust
ness of having men kiss his feet;
let papal indulgences and pilgrim
ages to Rome be abolished, and let
the marriage of the clergy be re-
stored as the only alternative to the
immortality which was destroying
religion in Germany.
Secondly, let the princes of Ger
many take over all temporal power;
temporal power has been ordained
by God for the chastisemenC of the
wicked and the protection Of the
good" and must be "unhampered
whether it strikes Popes, bishops.
priests, Monks, nuns. or anybody
else" Here was born the modern
form of the divine night of kings.
1t was subtle appeal; only by bas-
ing the reform of religion on a new
emonomic and political power could
a real reformation be effected.
The princes of Germany listened
with interest to this proposal that
they should resume the right of fill
ing all ecclesiastical benefices, and
should constitute themselves the
owners of all church property in
the land. Half of Luther's battle
was won.
TINE other half would be with
4 the agents of the Inquisition.
In 1920 Luther received a papal
bull communicating him, and di-
recting the civil authorities to ar
rest him. At the same time Charles
v, King of Spain and Emperor of
the Holy Roman Empire, called the
princes and ecclesiasticS of Ger
many to the Diet of Worms, and
instructed them to summon and
try Luther, and put an end to the
turmoil he had raised.
Luther publicly burned Leo's bull,
doing it in trembling and prayer;
but afterwards I felt better over it
than over any act in all my life"
Those who remembered Huss mar
veled at the mans audacity.
They marveled all the more, re-
Numbering the treachery of the
Council of Constance, when Luther,
with the Saxon Electors safe con-
duct, went bravely to Worms. The
Diet asked him to recant; he re
fused.
"Unless," he said to them, "I am
convicted by Scripture or by right
reason (for I trust neither Popes
nor councils since they have often
erred and contradicted themSelves)
49, neither can nor will recant
anything, since it is neither safe
nor right to act against conscience.
God help me. Amen"
The essence of Professionalism was
in those words: the supremacy Of
individual conscience and judgment,
and the exclusive authority Of Scrip
ture and reason over the soul. The
next great battle would be between
Scripture and reason.
The Diet condemned him, and
Charles v, who was nothing, if not
Catholic and everything but Chris
tian, ordered him to be seized. But
the Elector of Saxony carried him
off to a castle in the Wartburg, and
hid him there till it should be safer
for him to appear in the streets.
Luther busted his solitude by
translating the Bible; he could not
know that he was making SUI
preme contribution to German lit
erature, and adding intellectually to
the strength and richness of the
German language; but he prayed
that his translation, by letting the
people of Germany contrast the life
of the church in their own days
with the life portrayed in the New
Testament, might stir up the nation
to support their princes in rebellion
against Rome.
q
TITS revolt was more successful
Il J. than he wished. The peasants
had taken up the couse of religious
reform, in the belief that it would
bring an alienation of the evils
from which they suffered; but when
they found that the princes were
even more ruthless than the bishops
and the Monks, they added a So
cial gospel to Luther's creed, pro-