Part 7 (2/2)
”We beg to bring to your attention the fact that the Synod of the Free Evangelical Church of the Canton of Vaud, at its annual meeting at Lausanne, unanimously resolved upon the following Declaration, which we now submit to use as you see fit.
”Moved by the news which has reached us from Germany concerning the numerous and regrettable restraints imposed upon the freedom of conscience, and, in particular, concerning the ill-treatment of the Jewish population of that country; ”and with the conviction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ const.i.tutes an affirmation of freedom and love among the races of mankind; the Synod of the Free Evangelical Church of the Canton of Vaud, a.s.sembled at Lausanne, unites itself with all protests raised in favour of freedom of conscience and respect for the Jews of Germany.” [149]
In September, 1933, the Protestant Churches of Geneva published the following Declaration:
”Events shocking and hurtful to a sense of justice are mounting in Germany and have repercussions here.
Men are persecuted for their opinions. Dismissed, boycotted, ostracized, they are suffering as in the days when neither freedom of thought nor of conscience were tolerated. The mere fact of belonging to the Jewish race, even if only by descent, frequently incurs implacable treatment.
These actions have given rise to protests in numerous countries and in the most varied circles. Here too, our Christian conscience has been roused.
It would be dangerous to consider ourselves better than others. Intolerance and injustice have their roots in our own soil. We must be on our guard.
Several papers make appeals for violence. The seeds of discord are being sown among our people.
Anti-Semitism, which until now has been foreign to us, now finds its advocates among us. Members of our Churches, also, forgetting that the same blood flows in all mankind, and that, before G.o.d our Father, we are all brothers, have been swayed by the pa.s.sions of these times.
Let us not permit a spirit incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ to take root in our country.”
The National Protestant Church of Geneva; the Free Evangelical Church of Geneva; Evangelical Christian a.s.sociation; the Committee for Popular Evangelism; the Council of the Methodist Church. [150] <55>
It is striking that the declarations and resolutions issued in Switzerland, so many times mention the danger of anti-Semitic influences within the country itself, and sometimes within the Church. [151]
On November 14, 1938, the Church Council of Canton Zurich addressed the following public letter ”To the Reformed People of Zurich”:
”In indignation and horror we recently have witnessed, in the state neighbouring us to the north, that Jew baiting has erupted and, in its dimensions, surpa.s.sed the severest atrocities yet experienced.
We feel in spirit united with all our brothers and sisters in the neighbouring country who, whatever their att.i.tude toward Jewry may be, deeply deplore such injustice, yet they must keep silent on the subject.
We must not be silent. We must consider it a Christian obligation to cry out against it, not only within our church walls but to the world at large.
It is a terrible injustice to exterminate, by all conceivable means, a nation which possesses, as does every nation, the right to exist.
It fills us with deep humiliation and shame to discover in a country living for centuries under the influence of the gospel and of Luther, that sentiments of pa.s.sionate hatred can break out and boil over against a small racial and religious minority, and that all humane and Christian feelings be suffocated.
It plainly shows us, to our horror, what human hearts are capable of when racial hatred and blind raving pa.s.sion win the upper hand, drowning the voice of justice, mercy and goodness.
Can we Swiss suppose that we are immune against such frenzy? But are not the same dark powers active within our own people, openly at times and sometimes secretly, confusing conscience; stirring pa.s.sions; igniting racial hatred?
It pains us that consideration for so many unemployed citizens in our own nation prevents us from offering a protecting asylum to the suffering refugees, who, like wild game, are chased from country to country. <56> At least let us do for them all that is in our power! When in the next few days a general collection is made for the benefit of these refugees, among whom are not a few who, although Jewish by birth, are of the Christian faith and thus a part of the Evangelical Church, let us open our hearts and hands and express loving-kindness towards these remorselessly persecuted people.
Let us close our hearts to all feelings of unchristian racial and religious hatred. Neither hate, slander, oppression nor violence, but Jesus Christ's love alone is capable of bringing longed for peace to restless humanity.
But above all, let us pray to the Almighty that He will protect all those who are persecuted, and that He will save our Swiss people from the disgrace of an anti-Jewish campaign and deliver us, and all nations, from the forces of violence and injustice, and bring His Kingdom of justice, love and peace.” [152]
Again (as in 1933) the danger of anti-Semitic influences within Switzerland was mentioned. The letter also gave as an excuse for not admitting more refugees, that there were ”so many unemployed citizens in our own nation”.
The same motive had led other Governments - as for instance the Dutch Government - to issue decrees restricting immigration.
The members of the Ministers Union of Geneva wrote a letter to the Chief Rabbi of the City of Geneva in which they expressed their deep sympathy with the persecuted Jews.
This letter, together with the declaration of the Church Council of Zurich (see above) was read at a service, held in the synagogue on a Sunday and not, as usual, on a Sat.u.r.day. This postponement was in order that the prayers of that day could be united with those of all the Christian Churches in Switzerland for the persecuted Jews. [153]
In December, 1938, the Synod of the Canton of Bern issued the following Declaration:
”The Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Canton Bern declares, that it views the merciless persecution of Jews and Fellow-Christians stemming from Jewry, as an expression of a spirit which has nothing in common with the spirit of Jesus Christ.
It calls upon all members of our Church to intercede on behalf of the persecuted, especially our persecuted brothers; to stand up for them on every occasion; and to oppose any further attempt to poison the soul of our people with the spirit of racial hatred.” [154]
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12 DENMARK
Leading Danish theologians - three professors and one lecturer of the Copenhagen University [155] and the Bishop of Copenhagen, Fuglsang-Damgaard - published a declaration on January 10, 1936, denouncing an anti-Semitic brochure, ”The Christian Church according to the concept of the peoples of the North”, based on the ”Protocols of the Elders of Zion”. Professor Frederik Torm related the history of this forgery in an informative article.
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