Mayer, Johann Friedrich

MAYER, EMIL HUGO WALTHER: German Lutheran; b. at Lyons, France, Sept. 9, 1854. He was educated at the Lyons Lyceum and at the University of Berlin, where he studied from 1872 to 1876 (Ph.D., Halle, 1879). He was a teacher at the Königliches Friedrich-Wilhehns-Gymnasium in Berlin from 1880 to 1893, and in the latter year accepted the appointment of associate professor of systematic theology in the University of Strasburg, where he was promoted to his present position of full professor in 1900. In theology he. is an adherent of the scientific school, and has written: Das Verh4ltr nis der Kantt'achen Religyionaphilosophie sum Ganten des Kantischen Systems (Berlin, 1879); Die christliche Moral in ihrem Verhhltnia zum slaatlichexi Recht (1892); Das christliche Gottverlrauen uttd der Glaube an Christ= (Göttingen, 1899); Ueber die Aufgaben der Dogmatik (Tübingen, 1902); Die Aufgabe der innern Mission gegenuber der gegenwdrtigen Gef4hrdung der chrisawhen Lebensanschauung durch antichristliche Geistmstr6mungen (Brunswick, 1903); Der christliche Gottesglaube und die natunvissenschaftlicheWelterkidrung (Strasburg, 1904); Christentum and Kultur (Berlin, 1905); Das psychologische Wesen der Religion (Strasburg, 1906); and contributed to Philotesia (in honor of Paul Kleinert'a c.eventieth birthday; Berlin, 1907).

MAYER, JOHANN FRIEDRICH: German polemical writer and orator; b. in Leipsic Dee. 6, 1650; d. in Stettin March 30,1712. He studied in Leipsic, taking his master's degree in 1668, and in Strasburg. He was appointed Saturday preacher in Leipsic in 1672, and pastor and superintendent at Leisnig in 1673, whence, in 1678, he was called to Grimma. His one desire was for an academic life, and on April 7, 1684, he accepted the appointment as fourth professor of theology at Wittenberg, becoming at the same time substitute preacher for Quenstedt in the Castle church of the town. It was here that he was awakened to a more earnest understanding of Christianity by Spener (q.v.), whom he praised in his first sermon given before the venerable Calov. Mayer shone in argument and was a, very popular preacher and lecturer. In spite of scandal caused by his unhappy marital relations, he was appointed preacher at the St. Jacob's Church in Hamburg, 1686. Although gratified at his promotion, Mayer had no wish to give up his academic vocation, but Spener did not retain him, and his attempt to hold his position as professor and dean of the theological faculty at Wittenberg failed, though he succeeded in obtaining the post of extraordinary professor at the Hamburg Academy, and in addition was made honorary professor of the theological faculty at Kiel in 1687. On Quenstedt's death, May 22, 1688, Mayer made another attempt to be reinstated as professor in Wittenberg University, but in spite of the representations of Johann Winckler (q.v.) Spener was unyielding. From this time, Mayer ranged himself on the side of Spener's opponents.

Among the many religious controversies at that period was one relating to the opera. Mayer and Winckler were opposed to each other on this question, the latter having attacked operatic representations in July, 1686. In the ensuing conflict, Mayer gained a victory over Winckler before the senate and ministry. In the controversy on the "religious oath" Mayer took a prominent part, and appealed for a decision to the theological faculties, while his opponents sought the support of several distinguished theologians outside Hamburg, and in particular of Spener, against whom Mayer vented his personal animosity. Mayer was even more bitter in his controversy with Johann Heinrich Horb (q.v.). He discovered every conceivable heresy-Pelagian, popish, Socinian, quakerish, and Arminian-in a pamphlet put in circulation but not written by Horb, entitled Klugheit der Gerechten (Hamburg, 1693), and although Horb explained that it was to be understood only according to the "analogy of faith," Mayer induced the ministers of Hamburg to withhold the sacrament from Horb, who fled the city. Mayer's standing in Hamburg had been greatly injured by the whole controversy, but he was more than ever honored as a theologian and scholar in other countries, and traveled to Sweden and Holland, making the friendship of kings and princes, and receiving titles and honors. He was appointed general superintendent in Pom erania and Ragen, president of the consiatory, professor primarius, procanoellarius perpetuus, and pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Greifswald. He wished to still retain his Hamburg pastorate, but as

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this was refused him, he induced his friends to have him recalled to St. Jacob's Church, which, after violent controversy, they did in 1704. But Mayer now wrote to the senate that he had no desire to leave the king's service, and Charles XII. declared that Mayer bad no thought of going to Hamburg, and increased his stipend and retained him. Mayer held the theological decanate in Greifswald for eight years. When the Russian General Buck, in January, 1712, requested him to omit the war grayer or give up preaching, he chose the latter and went to Stettin where he died. Before leaving Hamburg he published the first hymn-book for standard use, containing two sacramental hymns by him. The titles of 581 pieces from his pen are given in the sketch found in Lerikon der hamburgischen Schriftsteller, v. 89-164, Hamburg, 1870.

(Carl Bertheau.)

Bibliography: J. Geffeken, Johann Winckler und die ha»r burgische Kirche seiner Zedt, Hamburg, 1864; idem, in Zeitschrift des Vereins far hamburpische Geschichte, i (1$41), 567 sqq.; ADB, xxi. 99 sqq.; and the literature under Horb, Johann Heinrich.