# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1949 08 30_S293
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

293

In our chaplains God has on the whole given us stalwart men, who not only faithfully fulfilled their duty as witnesses during the war but are also most zealously active for the welfare of their Church since the war.

To us personally, for example, Chaplain (Major) Alex P. von Schlichten in Wetzlar, Hesse, three days before the meet-

Left to right: Pastor König, Professor Franzmann, Dr. Gräbner, Dr. Häntzschel, Dr. Müller, Dr. Bretscher, Rev. A. C. Müller, Vice-President Dr. Harms

ings in Bad Boll and three days after them gave so friendly a welcome, and so self-denyingly showed us the many sights in the beautiful land of Hesse, that this hospitality contributed much to our recovering so soon from the strenuous meetings. Chaplain von Schlichten also distributed more than 4,000 pieces of chocolate to the wives and children of those taking part in the meetings at Bad Boll, which he still had left over from his Christmas distribution. Last year Chaplain and Mrs. von Schlichten distributed among the poor in Germany more than $30,000 worth of gifts of love, which had come to them from friends in America, but which also laid great sacrifices upon themselves.

When we arrived in Frankfurt early in the morning of May 27, Chaplain Albert H. Lindemann received us, saw to it that we got a good breakfast, showed us Frankfurt, especially also our congregation there, which is under the pastoral care of Pastor Hübener, and then drove us to Oberursel, where we were able to hold an important conference with the faculty of our school there.

In Stuttgart it was especially Chaplain (Lt. Col.) and Mrs. Hermann H. Heuer who took the representatives of the Missouri Synod under their care in the friendliest way and entertained them at their own expense. The two pictures shown were taken by Chaplain Heuer. The first shows the representatives of the Missouri Synod, and the other the writer of this "Chronicle" article in the old, beautiful pulpit of the magnificent Church of the Holy Spirit in Heidelberg. It is hardly necessary to remark that the church happened to be empty when the undersigned ventured into the pulpit.

And finally, the conference at Bad Boll would hardly have been possible had not Dr. Karl Arndt taken up the matter so zealously. In short, if a blessing has gone out from Bad Boll, we owe this in great part to our faithful, ever helpful chaplains. This we wish herewith gratefully to acknowledge.
J. T. M.

"First We Bring Them into Poverty, Then We Feed Them." So writes the paper of the Lutheran Augustana Church, The Lutheran Companion, of July 13 of this year, condemning the shameful ("infamous") Morgenthau Plan, about the senseless, if not downright criminal, treatment of Germany "in order to make it from an industrial country into a purely agricultural one."

The article shows further how through Russia's occupation of the Eastern Zone about 60 per cent of the fertile land has been taken from the German people, how western Germany besides has still about 14,000,000 refugees to feed, and how the German people in their great need would have to starve if we did not provide for them.

We agree with the writer of the article, also in his sharp criticism of the Allies. Wars must, of course, be brought to an end. Yet one has one's doubts whether the so altogether horrible destruction of hundreds of cities, with their beyond all things sad slaughter not only of men but also of thousands of women and children, was necessary. But altogether unnecessary was the wholly merciless policy of terror which now for three years has laid upon Germany something quite unbearable.

We therefore rejoiced with all our hearts when Governor Groß told us in Stuttgart that the policy of punishment was now to stop and that the German people were to be helped up again in the right way.

Let us therefore pray for our government, as also for the governments of the other nations concerned, that they may

Dr. Müller in the pulpit of the Church of the Holy Spirit at Heidelberg

prove themselves wise, compassionate, and beneficent. Our land too may one day groan under the fist of a merciless victor.
J. T. M.

Luther's Bible at Bad Boll. It rejoiced our hearts and served us very well that at Bad Boll the Luther Bible is used again and again. There are, of course, also other German translations which are much used in Germany, as for example