GERMAN VERSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 6

GERMAN VERSION.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT,

i Reich Bishop Muller, the nominal head of the German Protestant Church/ has written a Germanised version of: the Sermon on the Mount (reports the Berlin correspondent of i "The Times"). It will be recalled that it was the activities [ of Dr. Midler's "German Christian" regime • which provoked the Confessional Movement i to set up an unofficial Church government of ' their own. Since Herr Kerr], the Nazi Minister of Church Affairs, took up the task of unifying the Protestant Church, Dr. Muller has been sent on leave, his standing' with the National-Socialist party being too high to permit of hi*! dismissal. Having read Dr. Muller s version ol: the Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Otto Dibelius :in a review, published in the Evan- | gelical organ, comes to the conclusion that the Confessional Movement had every justification for refusing to acknowledge him as head of the Church. The following is the Germanised version o:i St. Mattluw, v., 3-11, 17-22, 25-20, 38-39, vii., 20-23: Happy is he who bears his sufferings man- ! fully. He will find the strength never to! despair. Happy is he who always acts as a good comrade. He will get on well in the world, j Happy are they who keep the peace witli their Volksgenossen (fellow-nationals); they do God's will. Happy are they who live and work honourably and faithfully, who yet find themselves persecuted and defamed —they have the fellowship of God. You carry it in your blood and your fathers have taught it to you: You shall not assassinate. Such a murderer is guilty and must be condemned to death. You must, however, recognise and make it clear to yourselves that the pSjpetration of murder is the result of an inner development, which begins with ill-will, envy and hate. Whoever allows such feelings to rise within him already makes himself guilty. But whoever pursues his own Volksgenossen with such feelings, such a one is particularly guilty. But whoever attempts to destroy him morally oir threatens him in deed, he destroys tho Volksgemcinschaft and makes himself deserving of the severest punishment from God and man. Do not be unforgiving to your Volksgenossen with whom you are at enmity. Do not push your quarrel so far that it is impossible to come again to any understanding and agreement. Comradely Understanding. One single deed of genuine, comradely understanding is worth more in God's eyes than any matter-of-course church-going. This is, in accordance with natural human feelings. "As you do to me, so Ido to you." Or "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." That is according to human experience. I say unto you: It is better for Volksgenossen to live together in such a way that they get on together. Volksgiyneinscliaft ts a high and holy thing, for whose sake you must make sacrifices. t . If your comrade In excitement strikes you in the face, it is not always right immediately to strike him in return. It is more manly to maintain a quiet bearing. Probably your comrade will then feel ashamed. Thus you will recognise your teachers and preachers, if they always exert themselves to live as they teach, and if they care for your souls like good comrades and faithful helpers. But if they are only makers of words, and if to them the teachings about God and His Kingdom are more important than God Himself, they will not be of help to you, but will liiad you into error. He who carries God's words only in his mouth is rio true messenger of God. But whoever exerts himself honourably to translate God's will into deeds, he is a true soldier of God, and a true messenger of the glorious news of God's fatherly love. Many will say to me: Have we not always taught the pure message? Have we not always propounded the Scripture rightly? Have we not always done great deeds in Thy name and honour? I must say to you then: I have never had anything to do with you. Remove yourselves from My presence, you makers of words. "Needs of Nordic Man." An excellent-sermon (comments the correspondent), but, as Dr. Dibelius would say, most of it is not in the Bible. He observes that all references to the Jewish Old Testament are omitted, and at every possible opportunity references to blood, comradeship, honour and Yolksgemeinschaft are put into Christ's mouth. It may be noted also that foregiveness and humility lind no place in Dr. Muller's version of the Sermon, possibly because these virtues are considered out of harmony with the spirit of the Third Reich. There has been much talk in recent years of adapting tlie Bible to the peculiar spiritual needs of Nordic man, and Dr. Muller will probably" not be the last experimenter in that direction. The National-Socialist ideal of comradcsjiip within the nation finds constant expression in the words "Yolksgemeinschaft," roughly meaning the "companionship of the people." and "Volksgenossen," which signifies the'individual comrades. Herr Hitler invariably begins his speeches, "Meine Volksgenossen."