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HUT (HUTT), HANS: A leader of the Anabaptists; b. at Hain, near Grimmenthal, in Franconia; d. at Augsburg Sept., 1527. As an itinerant book pedler he traveled over a large part of Germany and Austria and imbibed radical ideas. At Weissenfels, probably in 1524, he came into contact with the Anabaptists. His tentative adhesion to their ideas and his promulgation of the writings of Munzer led to his expulsion from Bibra. He joined in the peasant uprising, was with Munzer during the battle of Frankenhausen where the peasant bands were overwhelmed. At Pentecost, 1525, he appeared at Bibra, and summoned the peasants to rise against the authorities. Expelled once more, he resumed his wandering life, and in the summer of 1526 was finally won over by Denk to the tenets of the Anabaptists. He now entered upon a tremendously active apostolate. A man of simple and fiery eloquence, and of passionate convictions, he wandered through South Germany and Austria preaching, baptizing, and appointing apostles to carry on the

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work. In the mighty rise of the Anabaptist movement in Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia, and Austria between 1526 and 1528, his labors were of primary importance. Around his personality, mysterious and partaking somewhat of the prophet's, legend gathered. There was a popular belief that he made use of a magic potion to win men to himself, and he was reputed to be the possessor of a book given by the Lord to the prophet Daniel. He was personally convinced of his divine mission, and regarded himself as the prophet sent to announce the approaching end of things. He presented a detailed scheme of the final judgment and the resurrection and promulgated his ideas with a vehemence that brought him into conflict with the moderate Anabaptists. Thus toward the end of 1526, while at Nikolsburg, dissension arose between him and Htlbmaier. A disputation took place in the presence of the territorial lord, Von Liechtenstein, in the course of which Hut is said to have formulated certain articles which, in different editions and the general designation of the Nikolsburg Articles, played an important part in later Anabaptist history. What is certain, however, is that Hut, in opposition to H(ibmaier, upheld ideas of an extreme chiliastic nature and argued for the exemption of believers from secular authority, and that he was declared defeated and forced to flee. [He insisted upon community of goods, and asserted that Christians should not pay taxes to the civil powers because the money might be used in carnal warfare. A. H. N.] Hübmaier presented fifty-two articles as emanating from Hut, the authorship of which the latter denied. Nevertheless, it is certain that some of the propositions, such as that announcing the advent of Christ within two years and the coming destruction of the godless, were taught by Hut, while more extreme statements like that asserting the humanity of Christ were held in circles with which Hut stood in close connection. In Aug., 1527, Hut came to Augsburg to attend the general assembly of Anabaptists. He was arrested on Sept. 15, and was subjected to torture, confessing, however, to no more than was already known of his teachings. Anticipating conviction, he is said to have set fire to his prison cot and died of his injuries after eight days.

(A. Hegler+.) K. HOLL.

Bibliography: C. A Cornelius, Oesdhie" des nltanatvischen AufruArs, ii. 39 sqq., 251 sqq., 279 sqq., Leipsic, 1880; J: E. JSrg. Deutschland in der Reoolueiontyeriads, pp. 677 sqq., Freiburg, 1851; F. Roth, Aupsiurpirehe Reforn,ationageschichte, pp. 199 sqq., Munich, 1881; A. Nicoladoni, Johann Btanderlin, Berlin, 1893; Q Meyer, in ZRO, zvi (1893), 248 sqq.; A. H. Newman, Hist. of AntipedobapSam, pp. 151-219, Philadelphia, 1897.

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