A WOMAN'S VICTORY

New Zealand Tablet, 30 July 1908, Page 5

A WOMAN'S VICTORY

The bells in the high belfry of St. George's Church, which had remained silent for months, were ringing joyously to announce to the population of the Adlum the arrival of Doctor Bugenhagen, the ambassador of the preacher of Wittemberg.

All the influential men of the town were assembled to welcome the Reformer. At the head, riding on a richly caparisoned white horse, was Baron Hermann von "Schaukelmatt. This young noble was chatting familiarly with a young artisan named Louis Schuback, who was walking- beside him. ' And what about your fiancee?' asked the Baron. ' Oh, there is nothing easier than to bring a young girl to reason.' 1 How have you begun, then, 'with her?' _ ' I have not done much-just yet, your excellency. Yesterday evening I visited her and informed her that I. would marry none other than a convert to the true Gospel.' 1 Well?' * She just wept. That is all a woman can do ; then she said, " Very well, it is all over between us, for I shall remain a Catholic, and I may tell you all the women of this town will remain so, too."' " •- * "Are you qutesure of that?" I -asked her. " What about your friend, Elizabeth, and Marguerite Muller and Lydivine Bomberg?" ' "They are a little shaken, perhaps, but I assure you all three wiU_ remain firm— yes, all the women of Adlum, without a single exception."' * What absurdity !' exclaimed the Baron, shrugging his -shoulders. ' But you have not "yet told me, Louis, ho\*> you succeeded in overcoming your fiancee's prejudices.' ' I didn't stop to argue with Therese; I simply repeated that I would only marry one converted to the Gospel. " Reflect," I added, " do you riot see that the reign of papacy has come to an end? Why, all Germany welcomes Martin Luther. No .-more fasting, no more confessions. All that sort of thing was too bothersome. Faith alone will now suffice." Therese tried to reply, but I said to her, "if you are not at St. George's Church to-morrow to hear the new doctrine, which is to be preached by Doctor Bugenhagen, then we must break our engagement." ' J Splendid!' said the Baron, c and-what did she uo>' Loud cheering drowned the response made by Louis. A little way off could be seen the emissary of the Preacher of Wittemberg, wearing a long black gown, a four-corned cap, the insignia of a doctor, on his head, advancing solemnly, rocked to and fro by the slow, calm walk of his black mule. A number of cavaliers, sent byjhe newly-converted town of Nuremberg, escorted the new apostle. Baron Hermann von Schaukelmatt dismounted, and in the name of the people of Adlum heartily welcomed Doctor Bugenhagen. 'All hearts,' he added in terminating, 'all hearts are already won to our cause, and in a few days you will be able, without any difficulty, to root out all the old superstitions. The men are all impatiently awaiting your exposition of the New Gospel. Already, before your arrival, we— and I was one of the valiant number—expelled the priests' who were in charge of St. George's ; we broke the confessionals, the -crucifixes, and the statues of the Virgin. The women alone are not yet converted, but before many days we will let them see that we are the masters.' * Pardon, your excellency, they -are already converted/ added a voice. ' - - The Baron turned around in surprise. Who had dared to interrupt him in his brilliant address? Louis, the watchmaker of Adlum, with whom we are already acquainted, stepped forward in an excited manner. 'Yes, most reverend Doctor Bugenhagen, I assure you, even the women are now gained. That is just precisely what I was about to say to the Honorable Baron von Schaulkelmatt when the arrival of your grace interrupted our conversation. I have just now looked into the church to make sure that everything was in readiness for the ceremony, and imagine my surprise , when I beheld all the women of the town assembled in the holy ' edifice. ' „ • - | And to what cause do you attribute their conversion?' * The divine grace has touched them, and I believe my fiancee was used as an instrument, for in, the front bench, wrapt in c contemplation, I saw my Therese.' v ' That is extraordinary, young man, but "you should not - interrupt the orator.' 'A- thousand pardons, venerable Doctor, but I am sure his excellency will forgive my audacity.' ' I forgive you willingly, Louis.' When -all had been presented to the* Doctor, the procession restarted, and an hour later reached Adlum. • The town was gaily decked with flags and bunting. Continuous cheering greeted Luther's disciple.

Before the church door the Burgomaster welcomed Bugenhagen, and having assisted him to dimount, presented him, nn an embroidered velvet cushion, the large, finely- worked keys of the church and presbytery. ' The doors were thrown wide open, and the organist intoned in a loud voice, which was greatly admired by- the people, Luther's new canticle. ' Our God is a Strong Fortress. ' But a very small number of men were able to enter "the church, already invaded by the women, who -were all kneeling and immovable, awaiting the arrival of the reverend doctor. The latter mounted the sculptured pulpit, now despoiled of its statues of prophets and apostles, which had formerly ornamented it. A profound silence reigned within the vast assembly. ' My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,' began the preacher, ' the town of Adlum has asked for a doctor of the Holy Gospel, and behold me here in the midst of you. I have been happy to respond to your appeal, and I bring you the - greetings of the man of God, of Doctor Martin Luther, the Preacher of Wittemberg, of that hero of the faith who, by the grace of the Most High and the strength of the Paraclete, has reestablished the Church in its pristine purity and put- aside the darkness of idolatry and superstition. Listen, then, to the good tidings which I bring you ; hear the news of salvation. Henceforth the pure Gospel will reign alone ; no longer shall we b*. subjected to the tyrannical power of the Pope, that anti-Christ, whose advent was announced in the Apocalypse. Rome, the great Babylon, has been destroyed. No more Mass, no more confession, no more fasting, no more saint-worship. We will no longer call upon the name of Mary ; we will no longer honor her as Mother of God ' Hardly were these impious words uttered than all the women at a given signal drew out their rosaries, and in a loud and vibrating voice began : ' Hail, Mary; full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.' The Doctor, astonished, muttered : ' My dear brothers and sisters ' The women again began : ' Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now at the hour of our death. Amen. 1 The reformer recommenced. 'My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus- ' But, alas ! It was in vain that he shouted, for he could scarcely hear his own voice, as the loud cry of the women went up unceasingly to heaven. ' Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.' A fresh attempt of his had no better result. lhe preacher cast a startled glance over his audience. Some of the men tried to force their wives to be silent, but they only shouted the louder their sublime invocations. The first five mysteries finished, she, who had given the signal to commence, started the Sorrowful Mysteries. The reverend Doctor, seeing that he could do nothing with these hardened papists, left the pulpit and went to the Burgomaster for consolation ; the latter was likewise startled and none the less annoyed. 'Let these papists finish their litanies,' l said the official, ' and you can then recommence your discourse.' An hour passed, two hours, three, but the ' litanies ' did not finish. When the first hour was over, ten of the women lcfi church to look after their household affairs, but they soon <returned and allowed another ten to go home. As hour succeeded hour a new ten went away, but the church did not become empty, and the voices sounded continually, as loud and courageous as in the beginning, repeating without ceasing the immortal ' Hail, Mary.' The sun was setting, but the prayer went up with anguish to the' Mother of God. Night came on, but still the, women prayed. Doctor Bugenhagen was walking feverishly up and down in front of St. George's Church. The Burgomaster had already long left the place. One of his, servants came begging the Reformer to honor his master by spending the night under his roof. ' No,' replied the Doctor •Go and thank your master, but I must return this evening. _There is nothing to be done with such lunafics, and if the women are against me I have no chance. If you still wish for me, then you must come for me later on.' The Doctor went away, and has not been since been seen in Adlum, which has remained Catholic, although all the sur.

-rounding towns and villages received, with open arms, the Reformation. ' About a month after the happy event just' Related, Theresc Scholl was very much astonished to see her fianc6, Louis, the watchmaker, slipping like a shadow through the little garden adjoining her father's house. Since the .Reformer had taken his departure her fiance 1 had shown no signs of life. ' He is come to bid me adieu,' she thought, wiping away a tear that glistened in the corner of her bright blue eye. ' Then I must have courage. What does it matter? I have only done my duty.' The young girl considered for a moment or two what she 1 " ought to do. Should she avoid an explanation by shutting; . herself in her room, or should she go and listen to the reproaches which Louis was sure to make? Therese knelt down before a picture of Our Lady, and then feeling more courageous, she went down into the garden. Louis jumped up quickly on the approach of his fiancee, whom he ,did not expect, and remained standing before her, without uttering a syllable. She was the first to break the silence. 'You have come, Louis, to bid me adieu?' 'Ah! what is that you say, Therese?' ' You told me, the day before your famous Doctor arrived — and do you know what I have done?' ' No, Therese, I do not know.' * Well, then, I arranged the whole affair ; I appealed to my friends, and, as you know, they followed my advice.' - ' It was you, Therese, who conceived such a trick?' " ~ ' Yes, Louis, and you see we know how to keep a secret. Some say that women cannot possibly bear the burden of a secret! Did you have any suspicion about anything?' • ' None whatever.' ' Well, you know what I have done — I am quite resigned, and, since God has willed it, I shall die an oldjnaid.' 'Who told you that?' ' Have you forgotten what you told me a month ago?' ' No, Therese, I have forgotten nothing,- but I am no, longer the villain who formerly wished to dispense with fastingand confession.' ' What is that you say?' ' Nothing but the truth. • Listen, dearest Therese. When you began reciting the Rosary, I was seized with such a frenzy , that, had it been possible, I would have strangled you without pity.' ' What a charming lover ! ' ' Listen — little by little, however, I do not know how it happened, but in hearing you pray so ardently, I began to reflect, and I saw over again in fancy the sweet scenes of my childhood's days, when my mother, God rest her soul, used to take me on her lap and taught me to lisp the Rosary. "If my mother were alive," I said to myself, "she would be therq with the others at this moment, praying like Therese, praying like the other women." My anger cooled down. I heard, as in a dream, your ardent invocations. Very soon, in a mechanical way, I began to .recite with you the " Hail, Mary,' r which,* in my infancy, I had so frequently repeated. Will you believe me, Therese, suddenly I saw myself transformed. I then understood that I had been blinded, that I had been a criminal, and I wept bitter tears.' ' Ah, Louis, what glad news ! May the Virgin Mary be a thousand times blessed.' ' Yes, Therese, I believe what I believed when I was in mv mother's lap, and I crave your pardon. Have you still any wish for me?' ' Come and let us inform my father of this joyful conversion. You know,, he is also a Catholic, and firm in his faith one who has never made any compromise with error.' Some few minutes later, the watchmaker knelt before the altar with Therese, who pledged him an undying^ love. The Church of St. George had been restored. A vlarge statue of Our Lady, Mother of God, giving the Rosary -to St. Dominic, ~ stood upon the altar. A Catholic priest, on this happy April day, blessed the first, marriage since the attempted Reformation of the town, that of Louis Schuback,. the watchmaker, and courageous Therese- Scholl.— Translated irom the' French for • 'The New World.' • -- '- ./ /