[Born at Bretten, in the Palatinate of the Rhine, 1497. Died at Wurms,
in Germany, 1560. Aged 63.]
The wise and gentle sharer with Martin Luther in the glory of the
Reformation. Melancthon was Professor of Greek in the University of
Wittemberg in 1518, when Luther was there teaching Theology. They united
their great gifts and powers to do the perilous labour of their lives,
and each proceeded to his mission in the spirit created within him for
the accomplishment of a seemingly superhuman task. Luther raged
furiously against the error he encountered on his path. Melancthon
strove to entice it into the right road by gentle words and mild
remonstrance. The one exhibited the resolute bearing of a soldier
fighting for the church militant; upon the face of the other beamed the
quiet heroism of the Christian saint. Luther upbraided his
companion-in-arms for his lukewarmness. Melancthon met the rebuke by
continuing his steadfast course of conciliation, caution, and thoughtful
zeal. Luther found no friend in the camp of the enemy. The most
intolerant of his foes respected the mild virtues of Melancthon. Both
were fit instruments for the hour in which they were summoned to action,
and for the sacred cause they arose to defend: and, as was fitting, both
were buried side by side in death, as they had laboured side by side,
and hand to hand, in life. Melancthon compiled the celebrated Augsburg
Confession. He was a great scholar, attached to the study of
mathematics, and to scientific studies generally. He had no desire for
worldly honours and distinctions. He was a true hero.
[From the marble by G. Schadow. Placed in the Walhalla by order of
King Louis.]