HERETIC OR HERO

John Huss (he spelled it Hus) of Bohemia was tied to a stake in 1415. Hysterical peasants and zealous priests pointed to a pile of fagots at his feet, again asked him to recant his life's teachings. He replied with his eyes on the clouds: "God is my witness that I have never taught or preached that which false witnesses have testified against me. He knows that the great object of all my preaching and writing was to convert men from sin. In the truth of that gospel. . . I now joyfully die." The flames licked out his life; minions of the Holy See threw his ashes and the sod beneath his feet into the Rhine.

In 1925, warm-hearted Czecho-slovakians, including a few Roman Catholic priests, celebrated a, national holiday in honor of John Huss--the greatest religious reformer between John Wyclif and Martin Luther. Thereupon, Pope Pius XI grew vexed at such heretical festivities, broke off relations with Czechoslovakia, recalled the Papal Nuncio, while Prague recalled its Minister at the Vatican. Last week the Papal heart grew warm. A message hustled from Rome to the Czechoslovakian Episcopate, accepting Czechoslovakian reasons for participation in the Huss celebration, hoping that a reconciliation could soon be reached. Many Czechs are Roman Catholics, but they are also Bohemians--and John Huss is Bohemia's best beloved hero and martyr.