23 JULY 1937, Page 19

THE WORSHIP OF GERMANIA [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

Sia,—The Rev. A. S. Duncan-Jones, in your issue of July 16th, tells us that German Catholics and Protestant Christians would point out that the prophets of Hebrews I 1 were stoned or crucified.

But which of them suffered this fate ? Surely Hebrews XI 32-38 refers to Christian martyrdoms in a very short period of history and is rhetorical in its description of those who " out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens " I . Persecution and imprisonment has been the lot of most of the present leaders of Europe, and indeed of Asia, and their rise to power (in the case of Herr Hitler as a result of successive general elections) followed appeals for unselfish patriotism and self-sacrifice rather than words of flattery.

To assume that things we do not like or understand are contrary to God's will is to claim more than pontifical authority for our personal opinions.—Your obedient servant,

(P.S.—I note a strange 'indifference to the fate of Catholic 'Christians in Spain and MeXicO, of Orthodox Christians hi Russia and of AssyrianS in Irk. 'Does Dr: Hauer's creed differ greatly from those who equate Christianity with the Church of England, or from the passionate attachMent to Palestine of Zionists ?)