# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1851 04 29_S141
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

141

other reports than those the Evangelists relate to us, and that these reports are true. But why? "Well," says Mr. Schmidt, "the author of those reports is an Essene. And that an Essene always spoke and wrote the strictest truth is a certainty that follows of itself from the rules of the Essenes' order, and it places the authenticity of that old letter, which has been found again, beyond all doubt." Mark that! Whether what Mr. Schmidt says about the existence, discovery and contents of that parchment roll is really so, we leave undecided; it might well be possible; but if the way in which he draws a conclusion as to the truth of the contents is not a sign of weakness of understanding, then we do not know what is. He assumes that the author of that writing was an Essene. Because the rules of their order prescribed to the Essenes always to speak the truth, therefore every Essene also always spoke the strictest truth; consequently that report contains the strictest truth. — Accordingly, one need only be a member of some society which makes truthfulness a duty for its members, or even merely give himself out as such, and Mr. Schmidt will believe him. One need only say, "I am a Christian, and Christianity demands the strictest truthfulness of its confessors," or "I am a Jew, and the Law demands the strictest truthfulness," or "I am a Mohammedan, and the Koran makes truthfulness a duty for me," or "I am a heathen philosopher, and the tenets of my school make truthfulness a duty for me," and Mr. Schmidt will not doubt, even were he told that water now flowed uphill. That would be a golden time for murderers and thieves, perjurers and liars, if they had Mr. Schmidt for their judge. One would say, "I belong to this one," another, "I to that society which prescribes truthfulness to its members, therefore I speak the truth," and the wise judge, who had already set forth his principles beforehand, would nod approvingly and say: "Yes, that thou speakest the truth, and hast not murdered, not stolen, not lied, not cheated, is a certainty that follows of itself from the rules of the society to which thou belongest, and places the authenticity of thy testimony beyond all doubt"!

I think we have had enough.

Finally, the writer of this begs the dear readers of the Lutheraner not to become indignant, should any expressions used in this article seem to them too harsh. The writer of this did not use them because he might take pleasure in them, but because he did not know how to do otherwise. What wouldst thou do, dear reader, if someone who otherwise bore all the marks of a grown and sensible man, assured thee in all seriousness that bread and water were the most harmful foods there are, or that in California it rained gold, and so forth? Wouldst thou in all gentleness prove to him from experience, natural history, physics and metaphysics, and whencesoever it might yet be done, that this surely is not possible; or wouldst thou rebuke him sharply on account of his impudence or stupidity, to see whether thou mightest thus bring his understanding, which has gone out of joint, back into order?

Luther on his Journey from the Wartburg to Wittenberg.

(From an old chronicle by F. Keßler.)

First Chapter.

For what chief cause Dr. Martin Luther came forth from his concealment in the year 1522.

At the time when Martinus was absent from Wittenberg, at Worms and in his captivity, Andreas Carlstadt had filled the office of preaching in his stead, and had expounded to the people the prophet Malachi, which exposition was afterwards made common through print. But he set his preaching and his undertakings against the papal ceremonies, idols and images so hotly that, with some immoderation, the ceremonies were abolished and the idols and the priests' stalls were thrown out of the churches, so that between the idolaters and the image-breakers there arose a disturbance and such a civil discord that bloodshed was to be feared. This business did not please Ph. Melanchthon, Justus Jodocus Jonas, and Joh. Bugenhagen of Pomerania; they received grief and sorrow on account of the offence; they sought to send for Martinus (who alone, wherever he was, was open to them), with the entreaty that he would by no means fail to come in haste, lest the people, who were in part instructed in the truth, be destroyed through tumult and disorder. Thereupon Martinus came to Wittenberg on the Friday before the first Sunday in Lent, as I did on the Saturday after.

Second Chapter.

How Doctor Martinus Luther met me, Johannes Keßler, on the journey to Wittenberg.

Here I cannot forbear (though it may perhaps seem trifling and quite childish) to record how Martinus Luther met me, Johannes Keßler, and my companion Johannes Reutiner, when, released from his captivity, he was about to ride again to Wittenberg. When we, for the sake of studying Holy Scripture, were journeying to Wittenberg and had come to Jena in the land of Thuringia (God knows, in a desolate storm), and after much inquiring in the town for lodging, where we might stay the night, we could find none and discover none. Everywhere lodging was refused us; for it was Shrovetide, when at that and other times little care is taken for pilgrims. We turned back out of the town, to go farther until we should reach a village where they would lodge us. Just then, as we were going out, an honorable man met us under the gate and spoke to us kindly; he asked where we meant to go so late. For we could not hope to reach, before dark night, any house or farm near by where they would keep us, and moreover the way was dangerous and apt to lead astray; therefore he advised us to stay here. We answered: "Dear Father, we have been at all the inns, where they sent us hither and thither, everywhere they have denied and turned us away; so of necessity we must go farther." He said: had we also called and inquired at the inn of the Black Bear? We said: "It has not come in our way. Pray tell us, where shall we find it?" Then he showed it to us, a little outside the town. And as we caught sight of the Black Bear, behold! as all the innkeepers had before refused us lodging, so the host came under the door, lifted us up, and himself offered willingly to lodge us; he led us into the parlor. There we found a man sitting alone at the table with a little book lying before him, who greeted us friendly and bade us come forward and sit at the table by him. (For our shoes were, begging pardon for the saying, so full of mud and filth that for very shame we dared not step cheerfully into the parlor; we crouched secretly on a little bench by the door.) Then he offered us a drink, so that we could not refuse him.

*) before.
**) nestled.

Third Chapter.

What thereupon befell in the inn at the Black Bear.

When we had perceived his friendliness and kindness, we sat down by him (as he bade us) at his table, and ordered a measure of wine to be brought, that out of respect we might drink to him in return, supposing nothing else than that he was a knight, who, after the custom of the country, sat there in a red cloak (jerkin), in bare hose and doublet, a sword at his side, with the right hand upon the pommel of the sword, and with the other clasping the hilt. Presently he began to ask whence we came. Yet he answered himself: "Ye are Swiss. Whence in Switzerland are ye?" We answered: "From St. Gall." He said: "If ye are then, as I understand, going to Wittenberg, ye will find good countrymen there, namely Doctor Hieronymus Schürpf and his brother Doctor Augustin." We said: "We have a letter to them." Then we asked him in turn: "Sir, could ye not inform us whether Martin Luther is at present at Wittenberg, or in what place he may be?" He answered: "I have certain report that Luther is at present not at Wittenberg; but he shall soon come thither. Philip Melanchthon, however, is there; he teaches the Greek language, and others teach the Hebrew, both of which I would faithfully counsel you to study; for they are above all necessary for understanding Holy Scripture." We said: "God be praised, for we (if God preserve our life)