GERMAN LANGUAGE IN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1711, 12 May 1917, Page 3

GERMAN LANGUAGE IN CHURCH.

Some considerable time ago the Lutheran Church at Mart on was given permission to continue to conduct its religious services in the German language. The decision of the Government in that respect gave rise to some controversy. The outcome is interesting". ]( is contained in a letter to the Acting-Prime Minister Ij'om Pastor If. Hoffmann, who starts out by saying that the members of Ihe Church at Marlon are prepared to .-mcrilice their lives in the cause of the Empire. He goes on to say: —“We deplore that a would-be Christian section of this community has taken unnecessary offence l at the aclion'of our Government in permitting us to retain (he German language. Jn view of this, not wishing to cause strife, even though it would be in keeping with the law, but to preserve the peace of the community, we met and decided to drop the German language as a war measure, knowing full well that the vita! sacrifice we now make for our spiritual advancement will only in a very small measure bo compensated by submission to class rale and race hatred. As a further proof of our loyalty, we would draw the Minister’s attention (o (he fad that not one member of (he Lutheran Church in New Zealand has up to dale been arrested or interned as a disloyal citizen, and we hope when a lasting and honourable peace is established we may again use (his language for our spiritual advancement