# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1860_S28
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

28 From the Norwegian Synod.

For the second time M. gave public offense in the matter of the
Leipzig Interim of 1548, by which the Emperor sought, for the time
being, to bring the Protestants into association with the Roman Church.
M. at first refused decidedly to enter into this; at last, however,
intimidated by the Emperor's threats, he allowed himself to be drawn
into negotiations which led to very considerable concessions. Onto the
Lutheran doctrine of justification the Catholic doctrine was patched;
concerning church authority ambiguous propositions were set up, and
the seven sacraments, together with the old canon of the Mass and
many suspect ceremonies, were once more saddled upon the Lutherans.
The appearance of pure doctrine was, to be sure, preserved — but only
the appearance. Meanwhile the Lutheran Church was put at stake, and
neither peace nor unity was achieved. Loudly was M. cried out against
as a traitor; he himself later disapproved of his own course, but had
still to complain of the violent attacks made upon him.

Finally, thirdly, his conduct with regard to the spreading of the
Reformed Church comes into consideration here. Up to this point only
the Lutheran Church had found ground and entry into Germany, and it
alone was entitled to standing in the Empire by the religious peace of
1555. For Calvinism there was, among the German people themselves,
not the slightest need felt; only among certain so-called men of wit and
culture, of a humanistic and philosophical temper, did a strong leaning
toward Calvinism stir. These found a weighty champion in the Elector
Frederick III of the Palatinate, in whose case political grounds too came
into play. So the church conflict broke out in the Palatinate, and to
settle it the Elector turned to M. He drew up an opinion according to
Frederick's wish. To be sure, he did not decide openly for either
doctrine; true to his own standpoint, he mediated on the point of the
Lord's Supper in such a way that the Reformed — and only they —
were satisfied. The land was Calvinized, and the Lutherans were driven
out of the country. The ice was now broken. Bremen followed
cautiously after, likewise supported by an ambiguous opinion of M.'s.
Ever more deeply the Reformed Church burrowed its way into Germany
and helped increase the splintering of the German people, in both
ecclesiastical and political respects. Upon this M. set his seal, and
toward it he also worked through his efforts at union. Had he had
entirely a free hand, the Lutheran Church would have vanished from
Germany.                                                    (To be continued.)

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From the Norwegian Synod.
(Translated and submitted by Conr. Schick.)

Declaration Concerning Our School and Language Conditions.
(From the "Kirkelig Maanedstidende.")

Since the dispute which has of late, in regard to school matters
and language conditions among us Norwegians here in America, come