Mediaeval and modern history . not deadthat he might, at theholy places in Rome,pray their souls out ofthat place of the simple Ger-man monk saw things atRome which gave hisreverence a rude had expected to seeevery one awed in per-petual reverence by theholy atmosphere of theplace. Instead, hefound luxury and skep-ticism,— often openprofligacy and irrever-ence for holy this produced adeep impression uponthe serious-minded monk. The seed had been sown which wasdestined to yield a great harvest. 323. The Ninety-Five Theses (1517).— It was six years afterLuthers
Mediaeval and modern history . not deadthat he might, at theholy places in Rome,pray their souls out ofthat place of the simple Ger-man monk saw things atRome which gave hisreverence a rude had expected to seeevery one awed in per-petual reverence by theholy atmosphere of theplace. Instead, hefound luxury and skep-ticism,— often openprofligacy and irrever-ence for holy this produced adeep impression uponthe serious-minded monk. The seed had been sown which wasdestined to yield a great harvest. 323. The Ninety-Five Theses (1517).— It was six years afterLuthers visit to Rome when Tetzel began in the neighborhoodof Wittenberg, where Luther was, the preaching of indulgencesin the scandalous manner to which we have just alluded. Thepeople were running in great crowds after the preacher of indul-gences. Luther was greatly distressed. Not being able to get anyone in authority to intervene to put a stop to the scandal, heresolved to take hold of the matter himself. Accordingly he drew. Fig. 57. — Martin Luther. (After theportrait by Lticas Cranach, the elder;Uffizi Gallery, Florence) LUTHERS ADDRESS 303 up ninety-five theses bearing on indulgences, and nailed themupon the door of the castle church at Wittenberg. It was a cus-tom of those times for a scholar thus to post propositions whichhe was willing to maintain against any and all comers. An exam-ination of the theses shows that Luther at this time still held thegenerally accepted view both as to purgatory and the validity ofindulgences, and that his protest was aimed only at abuses. By means of the press the theses were spread broadcast. Theywere eagerly read and commented upon by all classes, particularlyin Germany. Tetzel issued counter-propositions. Learned theo-logians* entered the lists against the presumptuous monk. Theair was thick with controversial leaflets. At first Pope Leo hadbeen inclined to make light of the whole matter, declaring thatit was a mere squabble of monks
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