Article March 8, 1900 Issue

Memorial Church

Boston Herald

A score or more leading Protestant divines of New York City and vicinity have issued the following appeal to the Protestants of the United States:—

In the year 1529 a.d., the Diet of the German Empire assembled in the old city of Speyer-on-the-Rhine at the call of the Emperor Charles V. It was convened for the express and avowed purpose of suppressing the religious reform movement which had been begun by Luther and other prominent reformers, and by their determined propagation had spread rapidly and threatened the predominance of the Catholic Church. The Diet yielded to the promptings of the Emperor, and by a large majority pronounced the condemnation of the new faith, and placed all its followers under the ban of the Empire. The good cause seemed lost; but the intended effect of this proscription was neutralized by immediate and resolute resistance in the Diet itself. A minority of six princes and fourteen representatives of free cities, in defiance of the imperial ire, made a solemn protest in most vigorous language, and proclaimed it to all the world. It is from this fearless act that the designation of non-Catholic denominations as "Protestants" is derived.

It was resolved by prominent Protestants to commemorate this momentous historical event in the birthplace of Protestantism, at Speyer, within a few miles of Heidelberg, by an enduring monument. After much deliberation the conclusion was reached that a memorial church would be the worthiest and most appropriate form, and that all Protestant Christendom should be invited to contribute toward the cost of it. A commission of experts selected the best design out of forty-five submitted to them. The erection of the edifice has been progressing for five years out of a building fund collected in Germany. It represents the pure Gothic style of architecture, which is adhered to in the smallest details. It will be surmounted by a hexagonal tower, which will reach a height of three hundred feet. The material used is a hard sandsone from Alsace, whose yellow-gray color imparts a noble simplicity to the structure. The body of the building is completed, and the roof is now going up. The church will easily seat fourteen hundred people. Its acoustic properties will be excellent.

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