"Old Adam"

Germany's Rev. Martin Niemoeller was immured nearly two years ago in Sachsenhausen concentration camp for his leadership of un-Nazified Confessional pastors. Pastor Niemoeller, who was a U-boat commander in World War I, offered the Fatherland his services in World War II (TIME, Oct. 2). His offer was refused. Last week Pastor Niemoeller's second offer to fight was rejected, by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder himself.

An explanation of Niemoeller's militancy was offered by lank, twinkling-eyed Karl Barth, Swiss-born theologian who greatly influenced the Confessional group before his exile from Germany. Barth, famed for his gloomy view (lately modified) that man can do little here below, slyly ascribed Niemoeller's position to Original Sin--man's heritage from Adam. Wrote Barth to the Anglican Bishop of Chichester, in a letter which found its way into a Rotterdam newspaper last week:

"We must not forget that Niemoeller was always a good, a very good German, and he has remained so to this day. He fought valiantly in [World War I], convinced as he was of the justice of the German cause. Later he became a pastor, a very devoted pastor. But his old Adam--as with all of us--is not dead. I do not believe he lost his head when he offered his services to Hitler, but I believe he acted simply in the spirit which his old Adam dictated."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.