Evening star., 1933-11-28
NAzl CHURCH HEAD
REMOVED BY. REICH
Conservation Of New Bishop
Postponed-Cabinet Coun-
Sel0r Also Retired.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BERLIN. November 28.-Two menu
bers Of the German church cabinet. the
governing body Of Protestant organiza-
tions in the Reich, were ousted from
their offices today in smashing up
heaval.
Dr.. Joachim Hossenfelder. leader Of
the Nazi German Christian movement,
and DR.. Friedrich Werner, legal coun-
selor Of the cabinet, resigned" under
pressure.
This pressure, it was learned authori-
tatively by the Associated Press, was ex-
erted by the ministry Of the interior,
headed by Wilhelm Frick. The minis
try suggested to both erstwhile leaders
that their position, even from the gov
ernment's point of view, was unten-
able.
Both have been active in the ousting
Of Jews from Protestant church ofices
in the creation Of Nazi-controlled au-
thority, and in suggestions for eliminate
ing all Jewish references from Chris
tianily.
At the same time was announced an
Indefinite postponement of the consecra-
tion OF the Rev. DR.. Ludwig Mueller as
reichsbishop The ceremony was to
have been held December in the Ber-
lin cathedral
1t is certain that DR.. Mueller was no
party TO the resignation of Hossen-
fielder. for he considers himself bound
to the Nazi leader by the closest ties of
friendship and politics.
The Rev. Friedrich Won Bodelschwingh,
who was elected reichsbishop but was
prevented from holding Office when the
government placed Mueller in the chair,
has been active in demands that Hos
senfelder be removed
The fight started after orders. later
revoked. had been issued for the sus-
pension OF three pastors accused of "op-
posing the Nazi reconstruction of the
church"
1t gained ground with rapidly-devel-
oping opposition to demands of certain
Nazi Christian speakers for the abo-
lition Of the Old Testament and revi-
sion of the New.
Hint From Government.
Until recently the Evangelical church
cabinet comprised Bishop Simon Schoef-
fel of Hamburg. DR. Heinrich Weber of
Munster, representing the Reformed
Church members; Dr. HoSsenfelder, DR..
Werner and Reichsbishop Mueller.
Bishop Schoeffel was forced to resign
by DR.. Joachim HosSenfelder.
The sensational turn Of events made
known today was said to be due to
direct hint from the Reich's govern
ment
Throughout the struggle between the
Hossenfeider Il and H0de'SehWlnGh ET0upN
far far greater unnGerstandins for the op-
p0S'H0Oa' UOVp0 mOllYtS lhll lhl
Chaneelior Adolf Hitier can thus Claim
to have worked that miracle which
leaders, was needed to prevent schism
in the church.
Chancellor Hitler and his advisers
realized that Rev. Mr.. Bodelschwingh,
his associates and their followers were
in no wise opposed to the NaZ political
regime, which they accepted as a fact,
but opposed the negation of freedom Of
conscience in the questions Of religion,
morality and law.
LAC AeCASA dppCdIC
ther to have realized that the opposi-
tional group represented the real
churchgoers and the real believers in
the Christian religion and that suppress
sion of their internationally known and
trusted leaders was doing Germany no
good.
Hotheads Curtailcd.
According to reliable information, the
Reich's government curbed the Prussian
hotheads who wanted TO identify men,
oers of the opposition with the enemies
of the state and search their homes.
After the forced resignation of Bishop
Hossenfelder and DR.. Werner, which for
the present is being withheld from the
German press. Bishop Mueller offered
to appoint "moderates" In their and
Bishop Schoeffels places, but the oppo-
sition declined to approve such an ar
rangement.
In declining opposition leaders said
they even questioned the legality of the
Wittenberg National Synod of Septem-
Der 27, which they contend was DOM
mated by heretics
They expressed willingness to recog-
nize the new appointees only as an
emergency church government, pending
new synod. and Rev. Mr. Mueller as
provisional reichbishop.