Holy Humor

Last spring Dr. Martin Niemoeller, one-time U-boat officer, pastor of Berlin-Dahlem's swank Jesus Christus Kirche and leader of the German Confessional Church, was incarcerated in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Reason: his persistent defiance of Nazi church decrees. Three weeks ago, after the annexation of Sudetenland, it was reported that Pastor Niemoeller was to be given his freedom. Last week from Geneva came an authoritative denial.

Pastor Niemoeller had indeed been offered release--but on condition that he promise to cease preaching. He declined, sent his congregation a letter exhorting them to stand firm in their faith. Dr. Niemoeller, known to be in solitary confinement and suffering with intestinal catarrh, had also written his wife such letters as the following: "I think my imprisonment belongs to the holy humor of God. First the mocking laughter: 'Now we've got that fellow' ; and then the imprisonment, and what are the consequences? Full churches, a praying community. ... To get bitter about such things would be shameful ingratitude."

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