Angelus, Johann--1624-1677--whose real name was Scheffler, native of
Breslau, physician in ordinary to the Emperor Ferdinand the Third. In the
year 1653 he resigned this post, went over to the Church of Rome, and
became a priest, having previously, by a singular fancy, assumed the name
of Angelus.
Arndt, Ernst Moritz--1769-1860--born in the Isle of Rugen; in 1806
professor of philosophy at Greifswald, whole political writings so
aroused the national spirit against the hated dominion of Napoleon, that
they may be regarded as having mainly influenced the combination which
eventually restored the independence of Germany. After the restoration,
he was appointed professor of history at Bonn, in 1816; but in a few
years having become an object of suspicion to the government, he was
suspended, and ultimately deprived of his professorship. From being a
writer of popular songs, he became a writer of sacred ones. His hymn
"Geht nun hin und grabt mein Grab," must be reckoned one of the greatest
gems of sacred poetry of the century.
Brandenburg, Luise Henriette, Electress of--1627-1667--the daughter of
Frederick Henry, and wife of Frederick William, Princes of Orange. A
Princess distinguished for her gentleness and charity. She was the
foundress of the Oranienburg Orphan Asylum.
Brunswick, Anton Ulrich, Duke of--1633-1714--pupil of the learned
Schottelius; a learned Prince, who was a popular writer of his time.
Bürde, Samuel Gottlieb--1753-?--native of Breslau, royal secretary to the
board of finances at that place.
Fouqué, Friedrich Freiherr, de la Motte, born, in 1777, at
Neubrandenberg. The worthy and distinguished descendant of the brave,
intellectual, and pious general of Frederick the Great; he has given a
beautiful and lasting memorial of his poetical spirit and his Christian
mind, in the hymn "Was du vor tausend Jahren." He died at Halle in 1843.
Freylinghausen, Johann Anastasius--1670-1739--born at Gandersheim, in
Wolfenbüttel; a clergyman, and director of the Orphan Asylum at Halle.
Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott--1715-1769--a Saxon, native of Haynichen,
in Erzgebirge, and son of the minister of that place. He studied
theology, in distressed circumstances, at Leipzig, but his bad health did
not allow him to preach. He lived at Leipzig, and gave lectures (first as
a master of arts and afterwards as extraordinary professor) on eloquence
and moral philosophy, and gained as universally the reputation of an
author and a pattern of pure taste, as he did love and esteem as a man
and a Christian, by his integrity of conduct, and his unaffected piety
and humility. Composing hymns was his favourite employment, in which,
together with prayer, he spent the happiest hours of his life of
suffering. All his hymns speak the simple Christian poet of the people,
and many of them have lasting classic merit. His death, as was his life,
was worthy of a Christian. When, in his last illness, his friends told
him, in answer to his question, that the struggle between life and death
might probably last an hour, he lifted up his hands with a cheerful
countenance, exclaimed, "Now, God be praised, only an hour!" turned on
his side, his eyes gleaming with joy, and gently breathed his last.
Gerhard, Paul--1606-1676--of Gräfenhaynichen, in the circle of the
Electorate; the greatest of German hymn-writers. Scarcely had he attained
his twelfth year, when the Thirty years' war broke out. Forced to quit
his native land, he was appointed, in 1631, preacher at the Nicolai
Church at Berlin, where he remained ten years, honoured and respected.
But as his religious opinions differed from those of the King, he was
ordered to quit the country. Utterly destitute, he and his wife directed
their steps towards his native land, performing the journey on foot. When
evening arrived, they sought repose at a little village inn, when his
wife gave way to a burst of natural emotion. Gerhard reminded her of the
text beginning "Commit thy way unto the Lord," and retiring to an arbour
in the garden, he composed the hymn "Befiehl du deine Wege," for which of
all others he is most celebrated. When they were about to retire to rest,
two gentlemen entered the parlour in which they were seated. One of them,
in conversing with the poet, told him they were on their way to Berlin,
in search of the deposed clergyman, Paul Gerhard, by order of Duke
Christian of Merseberg. Gerhard's wife turned pale, but he calmly
declared he was the person they were seeking. Great was the astonishment
of both husband and wife, when one of the strangers delivered to Gerhard
a letter from the duke, informing him that he had settled a considerable
pension on him, as a compensation for the injustice of which he had been
a victim. Then Gerhard turned to his wife, and gave her the hymn he had
composed, with the words "See how God provides! did I not bid you to
trust in God and all would be well?"
Günther, Cyriacus--1650-1704--born at Goldbach, a preceptor in the
Gymnasium at Gotha.
Heermann, Johann--1585-1647--a native of Silesia, born at Rauden, the son
of a furrier, early destined for the Church by his pious mother. He was
minister at Koban, in Fürstenthum Glogau, but his bad health obliged him
to resign his appointment, and he spent the last thirteen years of his
life at Lissa. Being much tried during the horrors of the Thirty years'
war, in which he several times almost miraculously escaped being
murdered, his mind became more spiritually enlightened through his bodily
sufferings, in the midst of which he wrote the greater number of his
hymns, which are a true picture of his pious, humble, and prayerful soul.
He dedicated them "Seinen lieben Kindern" (to his dear children).
Lange, Ernst--1650-1727--of Dantzic, member of the town-council of that
place. His hymns appeared in 1701.
Lavater, Johann Caspar--1741-1801--minister in his native town, Zuric;
who, with many infirmities and peculiarities, was an active and sincere
Christian, and a talented orator, writer, and sacred poet. He died, after
having performed the most blessed actions, and having been tried with
many afflicitons, which he bore with piety and constancy, in consequence
of a fatal shot, which a French soldier maliciously aimed at him, after
the storming of Zuric in 1799, as he was consoling and administering to
the wants of the sufferers, in the streets. His hymns are numerous, and
have been repeatedly printed.
Luther, Doctor Martin--1483-1546--born at Eisleben--the bold and
uncompromising Reformer, whose simple yet vigorous hymns, full of
evangelical doctrine, (for many of which he himself composed the tunes),
found their way to the hearts of his countrymen; and had, perhaps, as
much influence as his polemical writings in furthering the great work of
the Reformation.
Meyfart, Johann Matthias--1590-1642--born at Wahlwinkel in the Duchy of
Gotha, a learned and talented theologian. His hymn "Jerusalem, du
hochgebaute Stadt," in point of simplicity and sweetness has few equals.
Neuss, Heinrich Georg--1664-1716--native of Elbingerode,
superintendent[2] at Wernigerode. He published one hundred and
thirty-four hymns in his "Hebopfer," (heave-offering).
[2]That is, in the Lutheran Church, one who has the ecclesiastical
direction of a certain district.
Nicolai, Philipp--1556-1608--a native of Waldeck, a learned theologian,
and a parish priest a Hamburgh. His hymns "Wachet auf, ruft uns die
Stimme," and "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern," with their
incomparable tunes, will ever remain favourites with the German nation.
The latter was, in earlier times, almost always sung at weddings,
especially of the country people.
Oswald, Heinrich Siegmund--privy-counsellor at Breslau, who published, in
1793, "Gedichte und Lieder fürs Herz!" He lived to a great age. From the
"Schwanen-lieder," (swan's songs) of this venerable old man, is taken
"Wem in Leidenstagen."
Rambach, Johann--1693-1735--born at Halle, professor and superintendent
at Giessen, a learned and truly pious man. His hymns combine the
simplicity of the old with the fervour of the later school. They formed a
much needed counterpoise to the preponderance of most hymn-writers of his
day to sentimental and egotistic effusions.
Richter, Christian Friedrich--1676-1711--a distinguished and pious
physician of Soran, in Lower Lusatia; he died in the prime of life, as he
had himself predicted, while physician in the Orphan Asylum at Halle.
Rinckart, Martin--1585-1649--a Saxon of Eilenburg in Misnia, where he was
an archdeacon. His hymn "Nun danket alle Gott," with the fine tune
appropriated to it, has been called the national Te Deum of Germany.
Rist, Johann--1607-1667--of the province of Holstein, born at Ottensen,
near Altona, member of the ecclesiastical council and minister at Wedel;
one of the most celebrated and influential poets of his day. He was, in
the pulpit, as well as in sacred verse, an earnest preacher of
Christianity, and was consequently attacked by the zealots of his time,
because he did not preach enough upon matters in dispute, and against
erroneous doctrine. To this he replied, that, "In his parish there were
scarcely two persons who held erroneous doctrine, but there were many who
led sinful lives." He had great trials in his youth, and in his later
years he suffered from pillage, pestilence, and all the horrors of war.
"The blessed cross," he says, "has produced from me many hymns." Though a
great number of his hymns were adopted by many churches even during his
lifetime, he would never suffer them to be sung in his own church, with
the exception of a Christmas hymn, which, on one occasion, he allowed the
children of the school to practise, and to begin to sing on that
festival, "Wenn das Volk aus der Kirche zu gehen beginnt," as the people
were beginning to go out of church.
Sacer, Gottfried Wilhelm--1635-1699--a native of Naumburg, who was at his
death an advocate and privy-counsellor at Wolfenbüttel, distinguished in
his official duties by a strict conscientiousness, and the most unbounded
benevolence. He wrote the greater number of his hymns whilst a student at
the university of Greifswald. Only a part of them appeared during his
lifetime: they were collected and published in 1714, and immediately
procured him the reputation of a distinguished poet.
Schenk, Theodor--born at Alsfeld, died in 1727, whilst minister of the
town of Giessen.
Schmolck, Benjamin--1672-1737--a Silesian born at Brauchitschdorf,
minister at Schweidnitz; a man of great piety, and very influential in
his day. Most of his hymns (and they were above a thousand in number) are
distinguished by a truly poetical and peculiar genius. Their
characteristic is a simplicity and sincerity, which emulates that of Paul
Gerhard, but without his sublimity.
Schröder, Johann Heinrich--native of Calenberg; in 1696 he was minister
at Magdeburg.
Schütz, Johann Jacob--1640-1690--native of Frankfort, an attorney and
member of the council of that city. His one single hymn "Sei Lob und Ehr
dem höchsten Gut," appeared anonymously in 1673, and at once excited much
interest, being ascribed to Hugo Grotius and others. It has ever since
been considered one of the chief ornaments of German hymnology.
Tersteegen, Gerhard--1697-1769--born at Mörs; he resided at Mülheim an
der Ruhr, as a ribbon-maker; a gentle heaven-inspired soul, whose hymns
are the reflection of a heavenly, happy life, his mind being full of a
childlike simplicity.
Wiesenmayer (or Wiedemayer), Burchard, the author, not otherwise known,
of several hymns. The first line of his Morning Hymn is in imitation of
Nicolai's more celebrated hymn, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern."
Wülffer, Daniel--1617-1685--born at Nuremburg, a professor and minister
in that city. The hymn "O Ewigkeit, O Ewigkeit," is a serious and pious
consideration of, and apostrophe to, Eternity, which in the last verse
replies to man. The first seven verses, as far as the words "O lange
Freud, O langes Leid," Wülffer found in an old hymn-book, perhaps that of
Cologne; he improved them, and added the spirited conclusion.
Zihn, Johann Friedrich--1650-1719--Archdeacon at Suhla, in the province
of Henneberg, of which place he was a native. He was the author of six
hymns, of which "Gott lebet noch" is the best known.
Zwick, Johann--of Kostnitz, who died 1542; he was first a jurist, and
afterwards a theologian and minister in his native city; a pious and
learned man.