CHURCH DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 29, 29 October 1934, Page 9

CHURCH DISPUTE

Developments in Germany (Received October 28, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin. October 26. Dr. Jaeger has resigned. He wrote to Dr. Mueller, the Primate, stating:— “After fulfilling the task of organising the Evangelical Church I return my ecclesiastical and political functions to you. Internal reconstruction of the Church is essential, but is only possible with the country’s active co-oper-ation. I propose the formation of a council of bishops to assist you in this.”

The bishops met Dr. Jlueller and appointed an advisory council. Orders against interfering may be given to all Governmet organs, leaving the Church to settle its own affairs..

Bishop Jleiser has been released and will be seen by either Herr Hitler or Dr. Frick, Minister of the Interior, tomorrow.

On October 11 the Berlin correspondent of “The Times” stated that Dr. Jlueller had delivered a final blow to the last resisting churches. Dr. Jaeger, accompanied by secret police, entered church premises at Munich, and proclaimed a reorganisation of the Bavarian Church into two dioceses, each of which was to have a Lutheran bishop, while Bishop Meiser was to be compulsorily retired. Munich pastors, denouncing the Muelallies of heresy, laying waste the House of God. hurled defiance at Dr. Jaeger’s forcible domination of the Bavarian Church. Subscriptions were taken up to support allegiance to Bishop Jleiser, whose continuance in office was demanded.