Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-16
The Religious Side of the War


ToR half a century before the
war We heard many impossible
claims made by the universities
and statesmen of the German En-
pire. We did not realize that these
universities and these professors
were part of the state. established
by the state, receiving their appoint
ments from the state, and therefore
not members of free educational in
stitutions as we know them in Amer
lea.
Not only were they made servants
of this conspiracy, but as time went
on we found that the German clergy,
as well, lent themselves to this mon
strous doctrine that might makes
right, that the cannon and the sword
are the only argument as between
nations, and that whatever is for
the material benefit of the Nation
itself, it is her duty to seize and
hold If she can.
7 quote here n statement bearing
upon this question, made by long
time resident of Germany. one who
had in the past loved Germany we'll.
This testimony is contained in q re-
cent issue of the Atlantic Monthly,
and it quotes from leading German
divine:
"The German God-the God of the
Old Testament; q God that dealt in
realities, stern, severe, uncompromis-
ing; the God of the warrior. favor
ing Zebadiah, the Son of Ishmael,
Joshua and Judas Maccabaeus." "
Think of such language coming
from the pulpit of great nation in
the twentieth century. When l re-
lNf Il nle 40
these ministers OF Germany receive
their appointment, too. from the
state. and 1 thank God that in my
land. church and state are absolute
ly divorced"
I quote from the same authority
the oath of fidelity, which all who
seek to enter the German minis
try must take:
IT will be submissive, faithful and
obedient to His Royal Majesty-and
his lawful successors in the govern
ment-as my most gracious King
and Sovereign; promote his welfare
according to my ability; prevent in
jury and detriment to him; and
particularly endeavor carefully to
cultivate in the minds of the people
under my care a sense of reverence
and fidelity toward the King, love
for the fatherland, obedience to the
laws, and all those virtues which in
a Christian denote a good citizen
and 1 will not suffer any man to
teach or act in a contrary spirit. In
particular, | VOW that 1 will not
support any society or association.
either at home or abroad, which
might endanger the public security.
and will inform His Majesty of any
proposals made, either in my dio-
cese or elsewhere, which might
prove injurious to the state. / will
preach the Word as His Gracious
Majesty dictates" That is the oath
which the ministers of religion OF
this Imperial State must take i
they would preach the Word of God
No wonder that for half a Gen.
tury, in pursuance of this conspiracy
by the military autocracy to become
the master of the world, the church
from day to day has coupled the
name of Deity with the name of the
German Kaiser, until to-day the
Kaiser himself speaks of Deity as
though He were upon the same leve
as himself.
of the Old Testament The God oil
Joshua was God that believed In
law. believed in keeping the Com.
mandments, and Joshua spent his
last years in trying to bring his peo.
ple back to a realization OF and obe.
dience to the law as it had been writ.
ten.
Some one has said that this Ger.
man God was the God of the pagans
He was not, because even the pagan