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Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 65, Issue 5525, 16 September 1942, Page 3

REFORMER AND MARTYR PROGENITOR OF GREAT PREACHERS

(By

R.K.)

Certain immortal words have reverberated through the long and often tortuous ways of England’s story. Few are more vivid and enduring than those ascribed to an old man whose martyrdom atones for his mistakes, and whose fervent spirit refused to faint under the fierceness of the fire.

It was on October 16, 1555, that Hugh Latimer was led out to execution by the mayor and bailiffs of Oxford, at “the ditch over against Balliol College.” Nicholas Ridley was with him, neatly dressed in a furred black coat, with a fur tippet round his neck. Latimer walked in his old cloak, covering and shroud. “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley,” he said, “and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England as T trust shall never be put out.”

The two men were then stripped of their outer garments and chained to the stake. Ridley’s brother brought a bag of gunpowder and tied it around his neck, and at Ridley’s request did the same to Latimer. Soon the faggots were lighted, and before long the old man succumbed. Latimer was then about 70. Behind him lay a life of astounding change. He had seen} others die, had taken a great share in the remaking of England, and, though hasty and impulsive, had always shown a nature honest and straightforward, dowered with the rare gift of oratory which went direct to the hearts of the people. Religion was no side issue in those days. What a man believed was regarded as a matter of vital moment. Latimer’s ideas changed in conformity with the moving spirit of the age, yet he was always firm in his convictions.

Hugh Latimer was born at Thurcaston, in Lancashire, about the year 1485, and after taking his degree took priest’s orders at Lincoln. They w T ere days of stir and excitement. The Tudor despotism was rousing England; slowly, inevitably shaping the future destiny of fhe people. In the year 1524 Latimer still adhered to the old religion, as his sermon against the former Melancthon proves. But the influence of Thomas Bilney, a future martyr, together with the slow, inexorable pressure of events, insensibly altered his opinions. He visited prisoners and sick people, his viewpoint always strongly practical. When in 1525 he preached in Latin

in the University Church, Bishop West came"unexpectedly to hear him. Latimer adroitly altered his text and preached upon the office of a bishop. The bishop afterwards invited him to preach against Luther, but Latimer wisely declined, not having, he said, read his works. The bishop was not satisfied. Latimer “smelt of the pen,” he conjectured. Latimer’s popular style of oratory became more pronounced. He preaohed two sermons “on the cards,” pointing out that salvation could be won by playing trumps. These sermons denounced pilgrimages and costly gifts to churches while acts of mercy were left undone. His quarrel with the existing system was in the realm of actuality, and his great opportunity came when, on March 13, 1550, Henry VIII. invited him to preach at Windsor. He was already known to favour the King’s projected divorce, and his sermon so pleased “Royal Harry” that, as well as the customary 20 shillings paid to a court preacher, he received £5 from the privy purse. High in Royal regard, he was presented by Thomas Cromwell with the benefice of West Kineton. His sermons against clerical abuses grew in intensity. He was reported to have said that all the clergy, bishops included, instead of being shepherds . . . . were thieves. These were strong words even for those days, and soon his preaching was censured for other things. He was said to have suggested that • St. Paul, had he been alive, would have been condemned and burned for heresy ! What was Latimer’s great conviction ? He stood for the centrality and worth of preaching. In this he was the spiritual progenitor of the long line of great preachers who through the succeeding centuries transformed the soul of England. His appeal was to the common people, whose language he spoke, whose dimly awakening consciousness he whipped into keener life.

Repeatedly ordered before ecclesiastical courts for his daring, he was saved by the King’s favour and continued to make a deep impression upon the people. These were days of violent theological controversy, because religion, not yet freed from secular control, was deeply involved in the political issues of the hour. At last Ann Boleyn was proclaimed Queen, and in 1534 Latimer was appointed to preach before the King every Wednesday. The tide was setting in the direction of reform. Sir Thomas More, waaiting examination at Lambeth, looked through his window and saw Latimer in the garden below “Very merry.”

CLERICAL ABUSES Strange, contradictory stories got abroad concerning Latimer. But when he preached at St. Paul’s Cross it was in his old vein of stinging sarcasm against the bishops and the abuses of the church. He became known as “honest Latimer,” and his pungent, cheerful eloquence moved all who heard him. Far from being overwhelmed by the Royal favour,, he hazarded his very life by interceding on behalf of Bilney, an earnest reformer who had been doomed to martyrdom.

Summoned to London to answer for what was supposed to be his heretical opinions, he refused to sign the declaration which was put into his hands. Week after week he was examined. His release came in an unexpected way, when, recommended by Cromwell, he was raised to the see of Worcester. This was in 1535, and still his honesty and courage continued unabated.

With the fall of Anne Boleyn the political aspect changed. The Six Articles were enforced, and Latimer resigned from his see rather than accept such terms. He retired to the country and lived in seclusion, but was caught in London and imprisoned during the rest of Henry’s reign. The accession of Edward VI. brought him release, and he took upon his reformist preaching with great zest. He could not be prevailed upon to resume his episcopal functions, but lived at Lambeth with Cranmer, and exerted a strong influence during the brief period of Edward’s reign.

INGENIOUS AND INTREPID The wheel of fortune turned again. Mary ascended the throne. Latimer was immediately called before the Council. Certain death awaited him. He could have escaped, but refused to do so. As he passed through Smithfield, for ever hallowed by the deaths of so many martyrs, he exclaimed, “This place has long groaned for me-” The Tower was so crowded with prisoners that Latimer, Cranmer and Ridley were all confined in the same room. They prayed and studied the Scriptures together, but were later removed to Oxford and housed in the common gaol. In the disputation that followed Latimer showed his usual ingeniousness and intrepidity. Months passed. It was not until 1555 that he and Ridley were tried for heresy. His condemnation was certain, but he had long prepared himself for. the worst, refusing to sign the abjuration held out to him. Of great natural fortitude and courage, the elevation of his spirit rendered him a noble champion for the truth. He has been called the British Luther, for his sterling worth and resolute conviction embodied the spirit of the land he loved. There is no monumental pillar to mark the spot where his remains re-

pose, and a collection of sermons, printed in 1570 and frequently reissued, remain his only literary legacy, but his spirit survives in the faith for which he lived and died.