Page:Thirty-five years of Luther research.djvu/146

98 could be drawn from the sheath even against the Kaiser, to protect the Gospel or not78 Cardauns defines the position Luther took.

In 1535, with the help of Luther, an order of ordination, as we understand this term to-day, was introduced at Wittenberg. Originally it had not been Luther's intention to create a holy act that in any respect could be considered as a substitute for the Roman consecration to the priesthood. If the person who wished to become an evangelical pastor had been found worthy and capable (by the superintendents and visitators) and had been called by the magistrates (secular government), the representative of the congregation, the office was established in the single congregation; especially the latter, the call, was the main requisite. Often a divine service was held in this connection, in which the call of the pastor was confirmed, in which he was introduced to the congregation, and where under laying-on of hands, prayers were offered for him. All of this, and sometimes with the exception of the divine service, Luther formerly called ordination, but according to present terminology it was more of an introduction to the congregation rather than an ordination.

But more had to be done in behalf of practical interests. In the end of the twenties a conviction must have taken root among the leading circles in Wittenberg that it was in the interests of the relations of the clergy to their charges that they receive their office through an act of ordination. This is proved through a letter of Luther dated December 16, 1530, which states that because of a dearth of clergy they were compelled "proprio ritu ordinare et instituere ministros." In December, 1534, in the church constitutions meant for Pommerania — printed in