GERMAN CLERGY

Evening Post, Issue 67, 17 September 1934, Page 9

GERMAN CLERGY

FIGHT FOR FREEDQM

LUTHEEAX HYMN

SUNG IN MUNICH STREETS

CHALLENGE TO NAZI RULE

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-graph-—Copyright." (Received September 17, 1 p.m.) MUNICH, September 16. A sensational development in the struggle between the Bishop of the Reich, Dr. Mueller, and the Evangelical Bishops followed a sermoij by Dr. Meiser, Bishop of the Bavarian Church, deploring Nazi attacks on * dissenting Bishops. Crowds inside and outside the church sang the Lutheran fighting hymn "Our God, a Tower of Strength is He," the first time it has been heard in Munich streets since the Reformation. Nazi flying squads attempted to disperse the crowds, some of which assembled outside the Brown House, still singing the hymn. Dr. Marahrens, Bishop of Hanover, has issued a further challenge to Dr. Mueller, claiming that fourfifths of the clergy of his diocese support him. He said: "Whoever concentrates on outward unity and seeks to compel if by force, disregarding conscience, destroys the true unity of the Church and endangers the unity of the nation." Herr Sieberl, the Bavarian Premier, speaking at Neerdlingen, warned dissenters that the Reich would Hot tolerate the appearance of schisms.