The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1879, Page 34

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

The Life of Dr. Martin Luther.

DisruTations.— Burninc or tue Porr’s Butt.
Luther’s 95 Theses had produced a mighty
commotion in the hearts of all. The pope at
first treated the whole affair with contempt, and
thought it was but a quarrel between the monks
which would soon come to anend. But when
he saw that it was more than this, he ordered
Luther to appear in Rome within sixty days.
The Elector of Saxony, however, knew very
well that Luther’s life would be in danger in
Rome, and by his influence it was arranged
that Luther should have a hearing in Germany
before the pope’s messenger, Cardinal Cajetan,
at the city of Augsburg. Luther, therefore,
went to that city, and on the 12th of October,
1518, he appeared before the Cardinal. The
pope’s messenger ordered Luther to retract, or
“take back’’, his doctrines. Luther told him
that he was ready to do this as soon as his doc-
trines were proven to be errors. This the car-
dinal could not do. All he could do was to cry
out that Luther should retract. On the third
day Luther sought ten times to speak, but every
time the cardinal thundered away to drown
his voice. At last the cardinal arose in anger
and said, ‘‘Go, and let me not see you again
unless you retract.’’? So Luther left the car-
dinal. A friend of Luther's desired the cardinal
to speak with Luther again, but the cardinal
said, “I have no desire to dispute further with
this beast, for he has penetrating eyes, and won-
derful thoughts revolve in his head.’”” Upon
this Luther wrote two humble letters to the
cardinal, in which he said that he was ready to
retract everything as soon as he was convinced
of having erred; but he got no answer. This
seemed suspicious. His life seemed to be in
danger, and so he went back to Wittenberg.
The pope now saw that Luther’s doctrine
could not be put down by violence. He there-
fore sent a milder man to Germany to speak
with Luther. This man’s name was Miltitz.
He had a meeting with Luther in Germany,
1519, and begged him to help in making peace,
and promised that he would use his influence
with the pope to the same end. Luther con-
sented to everything as far as he could without
sacrificing the truth. They agreed that both
parties should in future keep silence and Luther
should write a humble letter to the pope. —
This man Miltitz was really sent by the pope to
bring Luther as a captive to Rome, is » was

(For the ‘‘Lutheran Pioneer.’’)
Mission in New Orleans.

ceive into its midst as advisory members during
its sessions, Rev. Prof. Guenther and Pastor
C. L. Janzow of the Western District of the
Missouri Synod. Those two brethren came
also to confer with our Conference in devising
ways and means by which a closer union might
he formed between the two bodies, so that our
little Conference might carry on the cause of
true Lutheranism more efficiently. A com-
mittee was appointed to confer with them upon
the subject. The following is the result of the
consultation :

I. We have learned that as our Conference
was not represented at. the late session of the
Western District in St. Louis, no steps could
be taken at that time toward a closer union.

If. We consider it best for the cause of
Christ among the English people, for our Con-
ference to remain a separate organization.

Ill. We advise our Conference to now take
steps toward a closer union with the said
Western District, and to that end appoint a
delegate to represent us in the next convention
of the same.

IV. We kindly request the Western District
to send a delegate to the future conventions of
our Conference, and, if agreeable with our con-
gregations, we desire such delegates to become
visitators to all congregations convenient to the
place of our meetings.

The Report of Committee was adopted.

Our Conference kindly reciprocates the good
will and interest manifested toward us by the
Western District, and earnestly hopes to be
aided by her more hereafter in spiritual things,
as well as material things, so that the great
work which the Lord has given her to do may
be done diligently.

A great part of the six days of Conference
was occupied in the discussion of theses on the
Christian Training of Children. First the
duties of parents were shown at considerable
length, and then the necessity of having a well
established Lutheran parochial school in every
congregation. Without such school it is almost
impossible for a true Lutheran congregation to
be of long duration.

It is well known that good English Lutheran
Literature is very scarce, but to supply the
wants of our children and schools as best we
can under the circumstances, several Lutheran
hooks were recommended, which will be noticed
in a list in the Proceedings.

There was preaching every day of Conference
but the last day.

All interested persons who were in attendance
felt themselves greatly enriched by what they
heard, especinlly by the discussion of the theses.

May the Lord bless and establish the work
of our hands in His name, that our English
Lutheran Church may take a firm and strong
hold in this Western Jand, and that many
souls may be gathered into His kingdom.

Since I am here, I confirmed and received
as members of our “Mount Zion Evangelical
Lutheran Church”’ eleven persons. Three of
these I had to baptize previous to confirmation.
The others formerly belonged to other churches.
I also baptized six children. The number of
souls in connection with our church (old and
young) is nineteen. One of our grown mem-
bers went to Kansas. Another one, Rebekka
Johnson, died lately at the age of 21 years.
She was sick with consumption for several
months, during which time I visited her quite
often to tench her the way of life and to pray
with her. She confessed herself to be a poor
sinner before God. She confessed that she was
sorry for all her sins, that she sincerely believed
in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and
the only Saviour of sinners, and that she was
waiting upon the Lord to deliver her from all
evil. Upon this confession she was baptized
in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son
and Holy Ghost. Sometime after her baptism
she was also confirmed and received as a mem-
ber of our church, and was admitted to partake
of the Lord’s Supper, which is ‘“‘the true body
and blood of our Lord Jésus Christ, under the
bread and wine for us Christians to eat and to
drink, instituted by Christ Himself.’’ I shall
always remember with joy that blessed evening
when Rebekka was confirmed and partook of
the body and blood of our Lord. How quiet,
how full of consolation, of peace and joy was
her soul in those hours. Some time after she
again had her fears and doubts. I was not
astonished at that, for in this way the children
of God are tried and taught not to trust in
their feelings but in the word and promises of
God. Our feelings are changeable, but the
word of God stands firm as a rock in the sea.

I was glad to find Rebekka upright, so that
she told me the plain truth about her con-
dition. And the dark clouds that had come in
between her and her Saviour had to vanish.
Through God’s grace and Spirit she was again
enabled to lay hold on the precious promises of
the word of God. And she died as a Christian
with that hope of eternal life which shall not
be made ashamed.

= In our every-day-school we have 80, and in
our Sunday-school about 110 scholars.

Two more persons have made application for
membership in our church. The work of God
is progressing slowly but surely. All glory be
to God alone. J. F. Dorscuer.

+o a

afraid to do this after having seen multi-
tudes that loved Luther and his doctrine. He
himself said to Luther: ‘‘O, dear Martin, I
thought you were an old, worn-out theologian,
who sat behind the stove and disputed; but I
see you are yet 2 young man, fresh and strong.
I would not undertake to bring you away from
Germany even though I had with me an army
of 25,000 men; for on my journey I have learned
at least this much, that where there is one on
the pope’s side there are three on yours against
the pope.’’—So they parted on friendly terms,

(For the ‘‘Lutheran Pionecr’?.)

A Lutheran Conference.

The Evangelical Lutheran Conference of
Missouri met in St. Paul's Church, Webster
CGo.,; Mo., on Friday the 10th of Octoher, in
the charge of Rev. A. Rader. Six of the min-
isters of Conference were present, only one be-
ing absent. Conference was very. happy to re-

——s ~~

: A xirrze blind boy, when he was dying, raised
his eyes and said, ‘Iseea light — it is heaven.’’