THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
3
us' that the impressions made upon the people were such
that "Many of the pilgrims who had flocked from nil sides
to Wittcmbergat the feast of A'.l Saints, took bac k with
them not the indulgeuces but the famous theses of the
Augustine monk." These propositions printed by
thousands were devoured and spread abroad in every di
rection. "Devout and upright men rejoiced at so simple
and striking a confession of the truth and heartily desired
that Luther might continue tho work he had begun."
He had taken the first stop which would end in most ef
fectually scattering the Papal Hierarchy. Though at first
troubled at the extent of the circulation of li is theses which
he, hud oply meant for local distribution a renewed study
of theBiblc and a careful review of every step that ho had
taken, only established him more firmly in his disbelief
in penances and indulgences and his belief in the doc
trine of "justification by faith."
The Pope becoming annoyed at the disturbance created
by the Saxon monk determined to end the heresy bv a
bull of excommunication which he penned on the 15th of
June, 1520. In face of this fact established by all the his.
lories of the proteatnnt revolution, Cupel condemns Luther
for breaking his vow with tho church. Another false
charge that the catholic orator brings against him is that
he left to the world writings of a most serious character.
These two ne claims are sufficient to deprive Luther of
ho tltlo of Reformer-As to the latter charge suffice it to
say that the most reliable histories show its absolute fal
sity. To the strong moral 3enso which pervaded all his
writings add tho example which he set to the dissolute
priests, of a puie life and a model christian home and no
fuiMier refutation is needed. A recent writer after speak
ing of apal orators who are now attempting to belie ho
history or pervert logic or violate good manners in order
to prop a perverse policy says, "it is not safe for sucli men
to assert that Columbus was not a discoverer, or Luiher
ijot a reformer. The new world and its history will dis.
prove the one assertion, the protcstaul Reformation and
the 400,000,000 protestants will disprove tho other."
The crowning gift of Luther to the Germun people was
in fact, his German Bible and his German hymns. The
earnest vigorous German in which they were written,
Axed the future style of tho language. The German
spoken to day is tho German of Luther's Biblo and
hymns. This it was, also, that eminently won for him
tho glory of kindling tho whole world into a blaze of
light.
One of the most important characteristics in tho life of
the groat roformer was his liberality, and yet this fact has
been strangely perverted. h one of his sermons he said,
"I will preach, I will talk in private, I will write; but I
will force, I 7i!l coerce no man; for I will have the faith
accepted without constraint and without force." Again to
Hutlen who urged him to resort to tho sword in defencoof
thu tru,th ho replied : "By the Word the earth has been sub
ftiied; by tho Word tho church has been saved, and by
the Word it shall be re-established." Are these the senti
menta of an intolerant man? Surely not, for thu. nineteenth
oonlury-rand how ohall we regard there in au ago of
sue,!) intolerance as hs own I
". Willi thpQ immortal words-r-Hero Island, I can do
tip otherwise. God liejp m(j Amen" Luther fought a
1 battle ut Worms in behalf e-f freedom qf conscience, for
. himself, bio country and tho world, s The severity of this
task was pointed out beforehand by a German knight
who touching Luther on the shoulder as ho passed into
tho imposing tribunal said to him: "Little monk, little
monk, thou hast a work before thee which I and many a
man whose trade is war never faced the like of."
What a change has been wrought In a few years by the
'little monk!" The corruptioi of tho church had been
exposed, the true living religion had been presented as a
substitute for the rotten Christianity of the times; the
sealed Bible had been opened to all. Finally, liberty of
of belief and freedom of conscience had been gained,
Was not lliu world in a blaze of light as compared with
its condition when the reformer began his work?
But for our own times it has been reserved to reap the
more abundant fruits of his labors. One prominent in the
religious and li'erary world has saidof the recent great an
niversary of Luther's birth, "It was the most popular and
profound demonstiation ever accorded to any individual
of our race. Letters, law, and religion share in the inter
est anu all these have been represented in the recogui-lion."
A WAY TO GROW WISE.
After reading a book, or an article, or an item of infor
mation from any reliable source, before turning your at
tention to other things, give two or three minutes' quiet
thought to tho subject that has just been presented to
your mind; seo how much you can remember concernig
it; and if there were any new ideas, instructive facts, or
points of especial interest that impressed you as you read,
force yourself to recall them. It may bo a l'ttlo truuble-r
some at first until your mind gets under control and
learns to obey your will, but tho very effort to think, it all
out will engrave the facts deeply upon the memory, so
deeply that they will not be effaced by the rushing in of
a new and different set of ideas ; whereas, if the matter be
given no further consideration at all, the impressions you
iiave received will fade away so entirely that within a
few weeks you will be totally unable to remember more
than a dim outline of them.
Form the good habit, then, of always revlowing what
has just been read. It cxercibes and disciplines the men.
tal faculties, strengthens tho memory, and teaches con
centration of thought.
You will soon learn, in tills way, 'o think and roason
intelligently, to separate and classify different kinds of
information; and in time tho. mind, instead of being a
lumber-room in which the various contents arc thrown
together in careless confusion and disorder, will beconio
a store house where each special class or item of knowl
edge, neatly labeled, has its own particular place and is
ready for uso the instant there is need of , Martha
Holmes Bates, in St. Nicholwfor July
Tho largest stock and lowest "prices in the city at f.
Ewing & Co's.
Quite a little discussion is being raised as to whether
students arc justified in making themselves prominent in
political affairs while iu school. The soberer thinkers
among the students themselves aclmowlrdgo that they
huveisufllcient'work, both of their essential sckoal labors
and of.collegiatu politics tu keep themsvlvea busy witk4
in tiioir college sphere.
O