Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

Gctt' On the inner surface OF the WAL arc
the coats-of-afms OF "a German cities which
fought and suffered for the Protestant faith.
SsyT'HE idea Of this historic memorial was first
preached In the year 1917, whi4h was the
3o0th anniversary of the German reformation
There was considerable discussion, but no &C
tive steps were taken, and the subject was al
lowed to slumber until the year 1856, when
public meeting Of representatives OF the
Protestant faith throughout Germany was
held at Worms a committee was appointed, and
the collection of funds began at once. Ernest
Rietschel, the artist, had just completed the
bronze group CT Schiller and Goethe at Weinar,
and ne was invited to undertake the design of
this memorial The money was contributed so
literally from all parts Of the world that the
committee able TO urge expedition. The
plan at first TO erect a simple statue Of Luther
was opposed By the artist who thought that the
memorial should be monument not only Of
Luther's personality, but likewise of the refor-
nation. The artist began his work in 1853,
and in 1850 he was able to report from his
studio in Dresden that the clay models for the
statue of Luther and Wyckliffe were completed.
His work, however. was brought to sudden
close by his death in 1861. During the last
days of his life he worked upon the plaster
model CT the Luther head, putting upon it the
finishing touches. His pupil, now Prof. Adolf
Donndorf OF Stuttgart, relates that:
The dying sculptor called him to his side
and babe him make some alterations IN the
cast where his eye had detected faults. Donn-
dorf. under the direction Of his dying master,
set himself to the task, and ReitSchel lived long
enough to see the altered model and approve it.
Before cast could be secured the model was
dropped by the carelesSness of a workman and
broken 10 pieces. Donndorf executed a new
model Of the Luther head, which was adopted
by the committee, put into bronze, and forms
the central hgue Of the Worms group
The unwilling of this group occurred on the
2zth and 18th CT June. 1868, inclusive, with
imposing ceremonies, and In the presence Of a
great throng Of people"
IN 1904 the Memorial Lutheran Church was
partially destroyed by fire. On the evening
OF January %. the congregation was celebrating
IN the assembly room the seventy-eighth ami
versary Of the birthday OF the much beloved
DR.. Butler. About $3.50 O'Clock, as the guests
were departing for their homes, fire was dis
covered. "The flames spread rapidly" so an
old account states, land in few minutes the
towers were encircled by tongues of fire A
heavy fall Of snow handicapped the efforts of
the Fire Department and it seemed at one
time as though the buildings were doomed The
fire was one of the most spectacular in Wash
1ngton. the flames surrounding and circling
the towers casting a red glow on the white
surface Of the snow and lighting UP the heroic
statue OF Luther, VINO, with Bible in hand,
seemed to be defyng the element which
threatened the destruction Of the church.
The building was saved, though the famous
towers were destroyed Fifty thousand dollars
was expended in restoring the edifice"
When the church was again reopened to wor-
ship President Roosevelt delivered an address
and few years later, in 1911, President Taft
also spoke in the church.
nR. BUTLER passed away suddenly on the
morning of August g. 1909, and The star
of that afternoon gave excellent account
Of the deceased In which 1t said, in part;
REV. John George Butler, D. D.. pastor of the
Luther Place Memorial Church and for so years