REFORM IN GERMANY. (Philip O'Neil, in the New York Freeman.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 27, 22 April 1892, Page 5

REFORM IN GERMANY. (Philip O'Neil, in the New York Freeman.)

Lttthbb granted to Philip Landgrave, of Hesse, the privilege to have two wives, to be kept secret, however.

Lutker said, " ladeei, I confess that I cannot prevent palygamy, as it is not against the Holy Scriptures." (— Dr Dd Wette, 2, 459.)

This prince had been married to a daughter of Duke George of Saxony, for sixteen years, and was the father of eight children. He lived ia open adultery and debauchery, and now with Luther's approba'ion, he desired to take a second wife, Margaret Von der Saale, maid of honour to his sister Elizabeth. Bigamy, at tbis time by the laws of Catholic Germany, was punishable with daath. He cent a document to the Wutenburg divines in whveh he declared it hia intention to marry Margaret, in or ier to free himself from " the snaree of the devil. He stated that Luther and Melancthon had advisad ihe King of England not to divorce his first wife, but to take a socond. He deaaaded the same privilege " that he might live aud die cheerfully and pursue the Protestant quarrels in a more free and Christian-like manner." Should they deny this trifling favour, he threatened that he wonld go over to the Emperor. (Cor|x>. Reform, 3, 851.) The reply of Luther and Melancthon, da.cd December 10, 1539, stated that " the poor, wretched Church of Christ is small and abacdoned, and truly needs pijas lords and sovereigns. Tharefore your highness has not only our approbation in this case of necessity, but also our reflections upon it" (Dj Wette, 239-244), The marriage ceremony was performed by Denis Melanther, Philips'a court preacher, who had himself taken three wives, according to the Goßpel. The marriage contract was drawn op by Bilthasai Reid, a Lutheran preacher, and it stated that Philip bad taken Margaret " to provide for the welfare of his body and soul, aad to bring greater glory to God." The document was signed by Luther, Melancthon, Bucer, Corvin Leningen, Vinfert, and Melanther, all Lntheran preachers and apostles.

buppose that every married Gerrrnn should, as these ministers stated it, " to provide for the welfare of his body aad soul and to bring greater glory to God," seek another wife, would it ba a reform movement ? This is the character of the princes that gave Protestantism its name, and these are the prsachers that moulded its theology* A reformation effected by such apostle as these must always be looked upon with suspicion.

The Greek Church had a similar origin. Photius helped to create a tchism. This sctnsm originated in incest, and the revolt of Henry VIII commenced in alultery. Birdas, the nephew of the Emperor Michael HI., was refused communion by St Ignatius, Bishop of Constantinople, because living in opan incest.

The Bishop was driven from his See, and Photiu3 intruded into p^ace, receiving all orders up to patriarch in six days. In the case of Bardas the Qreek schism followed, and in the case of Henry Tudor the English nation was carried out of the Church. Such were tba sacrifices made by the Church for the inviolability and sanctity of the marriag • relation,