A GREAT REFORMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 15

A GREAT REFORMER.

NAZI PERSECUTION. HITLER'S VINDICTIVENESS. " IT IS NIEMOELLER OR I." On July 1 Pastor Niemmeller began the third year of his imprisonment in a German concentration camp as a result of his resistance to Tv&zi domination of the Church. In this article the executive secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America cites the reasons why the council asked the clergy of the United States* to discuss Pastor Xiemoeller's case in their sermons on Sunday, July U. (By DR. HENRY SMITH LEIPER.) NEW YORK, June 30. The bells of tlie unco-ordinatecl churches still left in the Third Reich will toll to-morrow the beginning of the third year of the imprisonment of Dr. Martin Niemoeller, one of the most fearless, most outspoken and ablest leaders of the German Evangelical Church, which has refused to accept Nazi leadership in internal church affairs and has refused to allow itself to be "gleichgeschaltet" (co-ordinated) for political purposes. On that day ministers all over the United States, a"s in other democratic countries, will unite in spirit with the German martyrs in a demonstration of solidarity in the struggle against Nazi efforts to curb the freedom of the human spirit and their attempts to establish a neo-paganism.

Dr. Niemoeller, almost against his will, has become a symbol of the undying human thirst for freedom of conscience. Like many others in his own country, in Austria and in Italy, he tried to make his peace with the new political masters. He thought, as did others, that a modus vivendi might be worked out, whereby Church and State would each operate in its own allotted sphere and both would co-operate to reinforcc each other.

Like others in Fascist and pro-Fascist countries, lie tried to build "bridges"— a phrase made memorable by an Austrian ('atholic leader—connecting with the Fascists. Rut, like the Austrian author of the "bridges" idea, he has found that there can be no co-operation between Christianity and the new politicoreligious creed. The Austrian leader, Dr. Friedrich Funder, has ended his life in the notorious Dachau concentration camp; Dr. Martin Niemoeller languishes in another concentration camp. Freedom of Conscience. Born forty-seven years ago in the home of a Westphalian pastor, Niemoeller made many detours before finding his way to the ministry. He had too high a conception of the calling to enter upon it lightly. Trained at the Naval Academy in Kiel, he became a submarine commander during the World War. He was an uncompromising nationalist, and received many medals for distinguished bravery. He refused to take two submarines to Sea pa Flow to be surrendered to the British after the war. He was anything but a revolutionary. Indeed, he took up work as a farm hand in Westphalia, where he fought against the Communists. It was during this period, that he decided to l>ecome a pastor. Dr. Niemoeller first took up the cudgels for freedom of conscience in May, 1933, when Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, one of the most able and learned chureli leaders, was forced to resign as Heidi bishop because he was not a "Herman Christian." The church had been promised freedom of action; now Niemoeller and his friends refused to put up with the unwarranted political interference. Nor could be understand why Bodelschwingh and bis friends were deprived of the right to speak «uid were denied use of the radio and the Press to make clear their stand. "He refused to accept the "leadership principle" in matters of church; he refused to make his peace with the "Aryan paragraph." whereby the universal application of Christianity was abrogated by political edict. For refusing to accept the "Aryan* paragraph," Niemoeller, together with other pastors, was suspended from his parish in November, 1933. Attacked "Aryan" Dogmas. Inevitably, the breach deepened during the following years. The political character of the "German christian" wing of the Evangelical Church became ever more pronounced; the Nazis became open exponents of neo-paganism; the "Aryan paragraph" was enforced without mercy. In his last sermon before arrest, Dr. Niemoeller pointed out that he was the sole member of the Prussian council of the Confessional Church still at liberty. He spoke with a frankness unheard of since Hitler's coining to power. He attacked the new "Aryan" dogmas, and spared not the unchristian character of the new regime. Explaining that a secret emergency leadership had ■ been set up, he said that he expected arrest at any moment, in spite of his powerful friends and the fact that his congregation at Dahlem contained many retired armv office re.

Niemoeller knew whereof he was speaking. Hitler had said, "It is Niemoeller or I"; and his martyrdom was soon to begin. He was arrested oil July 1, 1937, by the Gestapo (secret police) and kept in the dreaded Moabit prison. TTis trial was postponed many times. When it finally opened in February, 1938, the imprisoned preacher behaved with dignity and courage, especially after four representatives of the Confessional Synod were expelled from the Court. Although Hitler demanded a severe sentence, the Court found itself compelled to limit the sentence to seven months' "honourable fortress imprisonment" and to suspend even this sentence because he had served eight months prior to the trial. "Greatest Since Luther." Yet, in spite of the Court's decision, Niemoeller was never released. He was immediately rearrested by the Gestapo on the direct order of Hitler. "The greatest German preacher since Luther" has since been an inmate of the Sachsen liausen concentration camp.

There can be no doubt whither the Nazi State is moving. War has been declared on both Roman Catholicism and on Evangelical Protestantism because they are "political degenerations of Christianity" and results of "Jewish influence." Many pages would be required' to list the measures adopted by the Nazis against Protestants and Catholics even during the last two months. Suffice it to say that Himmler, the head of the Gestapo, has demanded that the "Confessional Church shall transfer the right of the use of certain cathedrals, yet to be named, to the Hitler elite guard for this body's neopagan ceremonies." A ban ha« been placed on the sale of the Bible, which the German Christians are trying to convert, the evangelists assert, into "a pic-

ture book that could be made to serve any given need." The Holy Scripture may no longer be displayed in general book stores. Religious societies may no longer subsidise the publication, of the Bible or religious tracts. All children must receive religious instruction from the co-ordinated German Christians. The Confessional Church seminary at Bethel, directed by Bishop Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, has been ordered closed; the Augustine nuns of Salzburg have been compelled to leave the country. These are but a few of the actions recently taken. Symbol Of a Movement. It is against the State which has ordered these measures that Dr. Niemoeller is fighting. He is not alone. On the contrary, he has become the symbol of a movement. Christians in Germany and outside have taken up Hitlers challenge : "It is Niemoeller or I." The greatest struggle since the Reformation is being waged.

The first public mass protest against the Nazi regime since its coining to power took place in Dahlem recently, when 115 men and women demonstrated against the imprisonment of their pastor, Niemoeller. All the demonstrators were arrested. Professor Dibelius, the great Protestant leader, has suffered arrest for speaking on behalf of Niemoeller. Professor Bachuin, chairman of the parish council of Niemoeller'a church, was arrested for composing a petition for his release.

Eighteen months ago the Confessional congregations stood for 15 minutes while the pastors read off the names of those imprisoned by the Nazis. To-day, at least nine pastors—and probably a good many more—are still under arrest. More than 100 have been deprived of office: about 40 have been forbidden to preach; at least 40 more have been banned in their parishes; 30 others have had thensalaries confiscated. The total number of arrests has passed 2000. No Compromise. Draconic measures have been enacted by the Nazis for destroying the Confessional Church; yet the Church lives on and carries on the struggle with more vigour than ever. As recently as June 13, 2000 men and women of Dahlem defied the Nazis by protesting against the decision to deprive Niemoller of iiis office. The meeting was opened with a short sermon 'by Pastor Janasch, of Luebeek, whom the Nazis have banned from his parish, and the protest was read by Pastor Mueller, who has been deprived of his salary.

Dr. Niemoeller has ibecome a symbol. To his banner have rallied all sincere Protestants and Catholics. It is common knowledge that prayers have been offered for him in Catholic churches in Germany. To his 'banner have also rallied certain liberal and humanitarian elements who can no longer tolerate the Nazi brutalities and 'barbarisms. It is, as Hitler said, "Niemoeller or I." There can be no compromise.—(N.A.N.A.)