Page:Thirty-five years of Luther research.djvu/81

Rh for the first time offers an attractive suggestion as to what course Luther's career took immediately after his return from Rome. A second delegation sent by the Nuernberg Convent — likely in the name of the others — which brought a communication of the Nuernberg Council to the General of the Order succeeded in so far, that an actual union between the "Observantes" and the other Augustinians in Germany was no longer expected, and that from now on the only requirement was that all parties recognize in Staupitz their Vicar General, otherwise having nothing in common. This new proposition was discussed at Jena in the middle of July, 1511. Here again the seven "Observantes" protested. But, the main object had been achieved and the danger that because of the union the levity of the "Conventuales" might find entrance among them, avoided; so Luther and Johann Lang, it seems, went over to the side of Staupitz. Because he now knew that he must be in opposition to the majority of his brother-monks at Erfurt, Luther would have been glad to be called back again to Wittenberg by Staupitz. In the spring of 1512 he had already moved there and it was probably in May, 1512, that he represented the Convent of Wittenberg in Koeln at the occasion of the assembly of Congregations.41

At the assembly in Koeln some resolutions were formed that were important for Luther's future. He was not only named as sub-prior of the Wittenberg Monastery, in which capacity it devolved upon him to take the leadership in the course of study there, but he was also called upon to become a postulant for the title of Divine Doctor. One can readily see in this, that at this time already