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Show 400th Anniversary Lutherans throughout the world this year celebrate the 400th anniversary anni-versary of the famed Augsburg Confession, Con-fession, framed by Martin Luther and his associates and presented to Emperor Charles V. of Germany for approval in 1530. Charles was an adherent of the Pope, but took thrhee months to conssider the matter before finally denouncing Luther and Protestantism, Protestant-ism, giving the reformers six months in which to recant or be exterminated. exterm-inated. Few recanted, and as several powerful German princes sided with Luther, Charles hesi tated to take extreme measures besides the m.e.idin'; war with Turkey caused him to make concessions conces-sions to the r..r;'w in crier to gain th'.ir support. Later civil v. ar broke out as a result of the clash between Catholics Cath-olics and Frjtestants, being waged with alternating successes until l.j.j.i. when Protestantism was recognized rec-ognized in certain parts of Germany. Ger-many. Hut the peace was only a trues, and many wars in which politic; pol-itic; and religion figured were waged wag-ed bef jre Protestantism finally I'iunrd a firm and lasting foothold in Europe. Winlc; Luther was the first potent po-tent challenger cf the power of the Pope, the spread of early Protestantism Pro-testantism was greatly aided by the labors cf Calvin, Zwmgli and other i digitus li-adeis, although their in-pictatioiis in-pictatioiis cf the scriptures dif-tered dif-tered materially from Luther's. In li)2t the Lutherans were the third strongest Proteslnt denomination denomin-ation hi the United States, being exceeded in number only by the baptists and Methodists, and closely followed by the Presbyterians. In that year the number of Lutheran church members was 2,826,058. Catholics and Protestants continue con-tinue the battle of belief begun 400 years ago, but fortunately without the bloodshed which marked the earlier controversies waged in the name of the Prince of Peace. |