“Where is the ’Christianity of modern Germany? . . .  There is far more genuine Christian spirit in the fraternal laity of the French Republic, defender of the weak, than in the religiosity of the conservative Junkers.  Germany has made a god in her own image, believing that she adores it, but in reality adoring her own image.  The German God is a reflex of the German State which considers war as the first activity of a nation and the noblest of occupations.  Other Christian peoples, when they have to go to war, feel the contradiction that exists between their conduct and the teachings of the Gospel, and excuse themselves by showing the cruel necessity which impels them.  Germany declares that war is acceptable to God.  I have heard German sermons proving that Jesus was in favor of Militarism.

“Teutonic pride, the conviction that its race is providentially destined to dominate the world, brings into working unity their Protestants, Catholics and Jews.

“Far above their differences of dogma is that God of the State which is German—­the Warrior God to whom William is probably referring as ’my worthy Ally.’  Religions always tend toward universality.  Their aim is to place humanity in relationship with God, and to sustain these relations among mankind.  Prussia has retrograded to barbarism, creating for its personal use a second Jehovah, a divinity hostile to the greater part of the human race who makes his own the grudges and ambitions of the German people.”

Tchernoff then explained in his own way the creation of this Teutonic God, ambitious, cruel and vengeful.  The Germans were comparatively recent Christians.  Their Christianity was not more than six centuries old.  When the Crusades were drawing to a close, the Prussians were still living in paganism.  Pride of race, impelling them to war, had revived these dead divinities.  The God of the Gospel was now adorned by the Germans with lance and shield like the old Teutonic god who was a military chief.

“Christianity in Berlin wears helmet and riding boots.  God at this moment is seeing Himself mobilized the same as Otto, Fritz and Franz, in order to punish the enemies of His chosen people.  That the Lord has commanded, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ and His Son has said to the world, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’ no longer matters.  Christianity, according to its German priests of all creeds, can only influence the individual betterment of mankind, and should not mix itself in affairs of state.  The Prussian God of the State is ‘the old German God,’ the lineal descendant of the ferocious Germanic mythology, a mixture of divinities hungry for war.”