CONTENTS FOR DECEMBER, 1883. I. MARTIN LUTHER. Engraved by THEODOR KNESING, from the picture by LUCAS CRANACH, in the Pinacothek at Munich Frontispiece Illustrations: The "Luther-Haus at Eisenach. Drawn by F. KNAB-Luther's Study in the Wartburg. III. SOME FORGOTTEN ETCHERS Walter Armstrong Illustrations: A Norfolk River, by JOHN CROME-Bridge at Chester, by GEORGE ČUITT-Old Houses at Chester, by George Cuitt-Mousehold Heath, by JOHN CROME. Engraved by J D. COOPER-A Country Lane, by JOHN CONSTABLE, R. A. Engraved by O. JAHYER-A Landscape Study, by ANDREW GEDDES-The Hope and the Goldsmith, by Sir DAVID WILKIE, R.A. Engraved by J. D. COOPER--The Lost Receipt, by sir David WILKIE, R. A.-Mrs. Geddes, by ANDREW GEDDES. Engraved by J. QUARTLEY. Illustrations by ALFRED PARSONS A Cornfie d-Red Campion in Hedge-The Corn Cockle. Engraved by JD COOPER-Rag red Robin-Stit hwort-Corn Flower. Engraved by O. LACOUR-Hard Head Flowers-The Field Thistle. Engraved by J. D. COOPER. V. THE STORY OF A COURTSHIP VI. THE NEW HERO VII. THE ARMOURER'S PRENTICES. Chapters VI., VII., (to be continued): 154 164 191 Charlotte M. Yonge ORNAMENTS, INITIAL LETTERS, &c.-Initial Letter, German School, 1518, p. 139. Initial Letter, by JAN DIRCK DE BRY (1561-1625). p. 154. Ornamental Frieze by HANS SEBALD BEHAM (1500-1550), p 171. Initial Letter, Italian School (1501), p. 171 Ornamental rieze by HEINRICH ALDEGREVER (1502-1558), p. 1:1. Initial Letter, French School (1540), p. 181. Ornamental Frieze by VERGILIUS SOLIS (1514-1562), p. 191. Initial Letter by HANS HOLBEIN, p. 191. A D. 17" MAHK The Chemist and Druggist writes:-"A dose of Castor Oil need no longer inspire the dread which clusters round its name in every household." Sold everywhere at 6d.. 1s, 1s. 9d., and 3s Each package bears Alen and Hanburys' signature. N B.-Statements in depreciation of the A. and H. Tasteless" Castor Oil should never be accepted without actual trial, for which a 6d. bottle will suffice. The above and any other of Allen and Hanburys' preparations, where locally unobtain. able. will be sent ČAKRIAGE PAID on receipt of value in stamps or P.O.O. Price List of Special Preparations, Domestic Remedies, Aerated Waters, Fees for Analysis, &c., post free on application. ALLEN & HANBURYS, PLOUGH COURT, LOMBARD STREET, LONDON. BARBER & COMPANY'S FRENCH COFFEE AS USED IN PARIS. IN ITS HIGHEST PERFECTION, TENPENCE PER POUND. This is the Choicest and most carefully selected Coffee, "Roasted on the French Principle," and mixed with the Finest Bruges Chicory. 2 lbs. in tins sent free by Parcels Post to any Post Town in the United Kingdom for 2s. 4d., and 5 lbs. in tins for 5s. 6d. BARBER AND COMPANY, 274, REGENT CIRCUS, OXFORD STREET, W. 61, Bishopsgate Street, E.C.; The Boro', Lond in Bridge, S.E.; King's Cross, N.; 102, Westbourne Grove, W.; 42, Great Titchfield Street, W.; Manchester, Birmingham, Br ghton, Bristol, Preston; and 1, Church Street and Minster Buildings, and London Road, Liverpool. Remittances to be cross.d "London and Westminster Bank." P.0. Orders payable at London General Post Office. SIR JOHN BENNETT'S WATCHES AND CLOCKS. £10 LADY'S GOLD KEYLESS Elegant and accurate. £15 GENTLEMAN' STRONG GOLD KEYLESS. 20 GUINEA GOLD HALF CHRONOMETER for all climates. £25 MEDICAL and SCIENTIFIC CENTRE SECONDS. £20, £30, £40 PRESENTATION WATCHES. Arms and Inscription emblazoned for Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others. £25 HALL CLOCK to CH'ME on 8 Bells, in oak or mahogany with bracket and shield 3 Grineas extra. 15 Carat GOLD CHAINS and JEWELLERY. SIR JOHN BENNETTS WATCH MANUFACTORY, 65 & 64, CHEAPSIDE, E.C. The English Illustrated Magazine. DECEMBER, 1883. LUTHER. IN celebrating the four hundredth anniversary of Luther's birth the Germans have shown that, however they may have changed in other respects, they have lost none of their veneration for the leading figure in the period of the Reformation. After all that has been done, in politics by Frederick the Great and by Prince Bismarck, in literature by Goethe, Luther retains his place as the foremost national hero. There is in Germany hardly any class or party which does not acknowledge his greatness, even Catholics admitting that in the history of German literature he marked an epoch, while his valour is lauded by none more ardently than by the disciples of Strauss and Haeckel. We must not, of course, take too seriously all the praises which have been lavished on Luther in great popular assemblies. In their eagerness to exalt his claim to gratitude, some of his admirers have forgotten that the Reformation was due at least as much to the influences he represented as to his personal activity. The circumstances of Luther's age were in almost every respect favourable to the work he accomplished; and this may be recognised without any diminution of the honour which belongs to him for having uttered the first decisive word against the old religious order, and for having guided through its earliest stages the most farreaching of modern revolutions. Luther began his career as a Reformer in 1517, and within twenty years more than half of the population of Germany had abandoned the Roman Church. The ex planation is to be found chiefly in the No. 3 corrupt state into which the Church had been permitted to fall. Pope Leo XIII. has lately reminded the world of its vast obligations to the Papacy; and no student of history now doubts that for many centuries the Papacy played a splendid part in the development of civilisation. But before Luther's time it had ceased to be a really spiritual power working for the common good. The Chair of St. Peter had been occupied by ambitious and thoroughly worldly despots, some of whom had been, morally, far below the level of their own time; and their names were associated in the minds of most men principally with the recollection of their incessant and insatiable demands for money. The whole Church received its tone from Rome. In Germany the spiritual princes were not, as a rule, worse than the secular princes, but they were not better; and in their case greed and vice were in violent contrast with the elementary functions of their office. The lower clergy were for the most part uneducated, indolent, and sensual, hardly pretending to care for the needs of the people, or to have any other aim than their own ease and pleasure. Religious services had become mere forms, and the whole duty of man was supposed to consist of the observance of a tiresome outward routine. The Church had, in fact, become like a magician who has lost his talisman. Priests muttered a charm which had once opened the fountains of love and hope; but all vitality had gone from it, and even the memory of its original power had almost faded away. For more than a century there had been frequent and loud demands for reform, but no serious effort had been made to probe the evil to its roots. At the time when L 2 |