| Show LUTHERS work ITS HA ture TUBE AND EFFECTS editor deseret ems aws the recent celebration of the lu im ther commemoration gives lom lox for some serious reflections on the true mission of protestantism to correctly understand luther we must appreciate the different factors entering into european Eue rue civilization I 1 think it will be easy to show that the movement inaugurated by him has proved a disorganizing organizing dis one the lii ili atory yot callia three great factors first rome under the empire brought civil equality man lost his individuality and wab was only esteemed as a citizen a component part of the or state the germanic Gor manic hordes brought in individuality liberty and gave us feudalism puro pure seit self of might between tho two stood christianity ti breathing a spirit of charity resulting in the abolition of slavery amelioration of serfdom and the elevation of woman As aa in tho the dust and smoke of the battle the unity of operations is concealed from the spectator so in the tho turmoil of the conflict in the middle ages between feudal barons the royal power and the church the part each played was obscured by passion nand and the tho directing hand concealed from view but as the ages have rolled by and the clouds have risen we eee kee ee what the prowess of each contributed to the final result and to the custodian of moral principle must bo be accorded the victors laurel at the opening of the sixteenth century lf royal powe rhad well weli nigh au suppressed pr essed eased feudal anarchy peaceful dive deve elopement developement dev I 1 might bave have been coun counted t ed upon many reforms pro ceded ed Lt luther luither ither but he was successful because C au so he came cama from irom the genuine stock and the doctrine he advocated was rooted in the ol 01 old oid I 1 barbarian individuality divi duality which had made feudal ibm ism the scourge of europe it can be conclusively shown that the huguenot rebellion in france was wag a political movement re lishing feudalism and weakening central power had calvin triumphed french unity had forever perished and the invasion triumphed so bo too in germany luthers appeals were to the petty princes exciting their jealousy and a ambition m bi tion is not a re but philosophy born of criticism protest it cannot lead to unity but to diversity cathell Ca clam has passed its zenith and can no longer inspire protestantism jedby led by easy stages to montaigne voltaire and ingersoll Inger eoll it presents no synthesis or of nife lifo and gives no unity of aim to social effort it an social aims by its critical spirit leading to egotism in the individual and disintegration in society if luther could have looked for ward and seen with prophetic eye the social life of our cur great cities would he not have shuddered at the prospect in conclusion there must be some organization of the moral principles to give unity of aim to the building of a perfect state and in this luthers work failed mate rial greatness is not noi the sole guarantee an tee of social progress the emotions are as much to bo be heeded as the intellect and no system of religion has social worth where the heart is sacrificed to the head C D M SALT bant male malc bayr lawe LAKE CITY nov 16 1883 |
