The Very Rev. Dean Wace delivered a very lengthy address, concerning the importance of the sacrifice made by the martyrs on behalf of the Reformed Faith, and of justification by faith. The idea propounded by Martin Luther was for men and women to stand face to face with God, and claim forgiveness and God's blessing from Him, without the intervention of any human being - then, it was claimed, a new spirit of life arose wherever the doctrine was believed. It was further claimed that this doctrine commanded a superlative sense of freedom of soul and power of mind i.e.: that the soul can have direct communion with God, and hence ensured safety in this world and in the next. This, it was claimed, was the charter of moral and religious freedom, and indeed of all freedom.