Evening star., 1933-04-18

Hitler's attempt to establish state
church in Germany. based upon the
rejection of the Old Testament and
substitution Of Teutonic mythology,
along with World War personalities,
for that portion of the Bible, produces
amazement in the United States. where
predictions of failure are widely made.
The project is described as extreme ma
tionalism, and likely to arouse much
antagonism sInong the German people.
TT is beyond the power of Hitler or
any other dictator to alter the essen
tials of religion and make them over
according to new pattern" asserts the
Rock Island Argus, with the convic-
ton that "if he lays rude hands on
religion he endangers his political su-
premacy." That paper calls it AN i'm
possible program" charging "eftrontery.
impertinence and irreverance." The
Scranton Times recalls that history
shows most, if not all, governments
which endeavored to control the reli-
gious beliefs of subjects have passed
away" and holds that the Nazi will
find its latest designated task more
difficult than any of the others it has
tackled" The Birmingham Age-Herald
feels that the very proposal shows
how unwise are the forces now in con-
troll of Germany"
Under this movement. according to
the Baltimore Sun, Germans must be
deprived of the moral grandeur of
sublime cynicism of the writer of Ec-
clesiastes, the beautiful imagery of the
Song of Songs and the inspired pro-
phetic wisdom of Isaiah and jeremiah.
The Sun adds that Thor and Wodin
and other Wagnerian deities in goat
skins suit Herr Hitler's purposes bet
ter" The San Francisco Chronicle
calls it "madness" that the prophets
are to have no place in German re-
ligion." The Cincinnati Times-Star
observes that "the changing gods OF
Valhalla are to take their place In
religion, and Wotan, the one-eyed wall
derer. is to supersede Jehovah" While
it feels that when Hitler talks of add
ing to it a peerage of World War saints
and martyrs, he cutters his project
with a good deal Of intractable mate
rial" the Times-Star suggests that
without these additions, the evolution
of a national religion, based on the
forest born legends Of the blonde tribes
of ancient Europe, would be worth
watching" The Salt Lake Deseret News
feels that "a dangerous phase OF the
movement is the spiritualization of
war" and that ito make martyrs OF
the two million German soldiers who
lost their lives in the fury OF that
conflict would certainly influence the
thought of the future"
Laying of rude hands upon sacred
things" is condemned by the New York
Times, which suggests that lit may be
partly a conscious imitation of the
Soviet model" The Charlotte Observer
remarks that "Hitler would have Ger
many go Russia one better in the mat
ter of subduing religion" and con-
cludes that Russia, without any Bible,
is better off than Germany with these
substitutions." The Dayton Daily News
advises: Neither Communist or Nazi
will succeed in destroying religion. The
only way to stamp out religion IS to
stamp out man. That can't be done.
What good is dictatorship with nobody
to dictate to?" The Springfield (Mass)
Union AYERS that the proposed religion
is "a fantastic compound" and declares
that cit seems almost incredible that
the idea of creating state religion Cf
this sort should be entertained, ever
by the astonishing Nazis." The Youngs
town Vindicator Is confident that in
time the good sense of the German peo-
pie will reassert itself, and those who
are temporarily carried away by Hitler's
propaganda will have rude awaken
ing" while friends of the old Ger
many, which gave the world so much
that was fine and ennobling, will do all
they can to speed the day when decency
and self-respect will return to that
land" The Port Huron Times Herald
sees mot one single constructive act to
the credit OF Chancellor Hitler" and
'concllades that AQesmapZ has gotten