The Fall of an Adventist before the Imperial Military Court
"The Fall of an Adventist before the Imperial Military Court" is the title of a note in a German newspaper which Brother C. Ad. Meyer sends, and which he renders as follows: Berlin, 3-11. The Imperial Military Court spoke yesterday the definite word in the case of Adventist Neumann. Neumann refused, since commencing his term as a soldier, to do service [on Sabbath], and was therefore sentenced to prison penalties, which now reach a total of five years and six months. But still he refuses to do service every Saturday. The war-court now simply abandoned the verdict for formal reasons, as the accused was sentenced to the dishonoring fine of degradation. According to this sentence of the Imperial Military Court there is so far no hope for Neumann ever to leave the prison again. There have been many such "falls," from Abel to Neumann, for the same reason; namely, that human rights and human consciences are not respected. Neumann will suffer; let Christians who are lovers of liberty and conscience pray; for "more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." "Prayer moves the Hand that moves the world." Then pray first that whatsoever comes Neumann may have grace to humbly, Christlike witness for his Greater Master than Kaiser Wilhelm; secondly, that if it be God's will he may be released from the durance vile, which is wholly and utterly unjust. Neumann's "fall" is merely temporary, incidental to the soldier of Christ. Germany's fall is moral and eternal; for sooner or later every organization, great or small, which sets itself against liberty of conscience must suffer irretrievable ruin; for in so doing it sets itself against God. It would be well for Germany to recall the poor monk at the Diet of Worms.