The Luther Monument (Lutherdenkmal)

The Reformer, depicted in his pulpit robe and bareheaded, holds in his left hand the Bible, on which his right fist rests.

The statue is a replica of the one in Worms, Germany, was as gifted to the church in 1884 by the German emperor Otto von Bismarck. Worms (German pronunciation: [voɐms]) is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.

Established by the Celts who called it Borbetomagus, Worms is one of the oldest cities in Germany and is the only German member in the organization Most Ancient European Towns Network.

Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic church launched the Protestant Reformation. The reaction of the government and church authorities to the international spread of his writings, beginning with the 95 Theses, divided Western Christianity.

The split between the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic Church arose mainly over the doctrine of Justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone" which contradicted the Roman view of "faith formed by love", or "faith and works". Unlike the Reformed Churches, Lutherans retain many of the liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-reformation Church. Lutheran theology significantly differs from Reformed theology in Christology, the purpose of God's Law, divine grace, the concept of "once saved always saved", and predestination.

While not an issue in the majority of Lutheran church bodies, some of them forbid membership in Freemasonry. Partly, this is because the lodge is viewed as spreading Unitarianism, as the Brief Statement of the Missouri Synod reads, "Hence we warn against Unitarianism, which in our country has to a great extent impenetrated the sects and is being spread particularly also through the influence of the lodges.