The life of Rudolf Stier

Front matter

ILIBRAHY OF CONGRESS. #

#|I«'l? ^ogBtighf r ^o ^ f UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f

THE LIFE

Preface

tN the preparation of this Life we lay no claim to originality. We have simply woven into a plain, rapid narrative the substance of the materials at our command. These materials, apart from our own general acquaintance with Stier's writings and position, were : first, a brief monograph by Dr. Carl Nitzsch ; * second, an essay by Dr. Tholuck in Herzog*s Encyclopedia; third, letters received from friends and relatives of Stier ; but fourthly, and chiefly, a Life of Stier by his two sons, f This latter work consists of two thick, closely-printed duodecimo volumes of somewhat less than a thousand pages in all, and is, despite its prolixity, a delightful book for all who read German. As it gathers within itself nearly every thing that is known, or has been written, of Stier s life, we have used it through-

* Dr. Rudolf Stier als Theologe^ von Dr. Carl Immanuel Nitzsch, Barmen, 1865.

\Dr. Ewald Rudolf Stier, Versuch einer Darstellung seines Lebens und Wirkens von G. Stier, Dir. d. Herzogl. Francisceums in Zerbst, in Verbindung mit F. Stier, Diaconus zu Set. Nicolai in Eislcben, Wittenberg, 1871.

iv Preface.

out as our chief source — always, however, freely tempering our narrative by a careful utilization of the other sources.

A Life of Rudolf Stier in English seems to be desirable for several reasons : —

It brings us into elevated associations. Stier studied successively under Schleiermacher, Neander, and Dr. Wette, at Berlin ; Knapp, Gesenius, and Wegscheider, at Halle; and Nitzsch, Schleussner, and Heubner, at Wittenberg. He was the early companion of Tholuck, the life-long friend of Rothe, and the beloved intimate of Carl Nitzsch. Throughout life he stood in close relations to many of the rarest spirits of Europe.

It throws open the secret heart-life of a thoroughly Christian. German theologian. We have many histories of the outside-life of great men ; but the true life is the inner life of the soul. Few lives will bear such a thorough undraping as does that of Stier. This is freely done here, and in such a manner as to preclude misrepresentation — by a constant reference to documents and testimony.

It introduces us to a beautiful Christian courtship. One is tempted to wonder at the naivete with which Dr. Stier s sons have disclosed to the public a whole series of incidents which usually remain forever locked up in the hearts of bride and bridegroom. Love-letters, for example, are rarely seen by more

Preface. v

than a couple of pairs of eyes. The chief love-letters of Stier are here published in full, as also a few extracts from the answers he received. We think there has been no indiscretion in this. The courtship of Rudolf Stier is published to the world, for the good reason that it is one which will ^^^r publishing. We cordially recommend this chapter both to parents and to young folks.

It portrays a marvel of productive work. Stier united in himself the teacher, the savant, the pastor, and the author. In each of these characters he accomplished more than the whole life-work of an ordinary man. And the fruits are still abundantly visible. Pupils of his training abound in the schools of eastern Prussia, and beneficently dot a wide scope of foreign missionary ground. Of his four periods of pastoral labor, two fell upon uncongenial, stony fields ; but in each case the desert was made — at least in spots — to blossom as the rose. His literary productiveness is simply astounding. Not to mention his numerous unpublished or destroyed manuscripts, and the thirteen elaborately planned works which he did not live to produce, his actually published original works — some of them profoundly erudite — fill more, than fifty volumes. And yet Stier was a great physical sufferer — almost an invalid — from the very beginning of his clerical career.

But, best of all, it bears striking witness to the vi Preface.

potency of divine grace. Stier was not very plastic material out of which to form a humble Christian. His original disposition was decidedly gnarly and obstinate. His will was eminently willful ; but, after it had once traversed the crisis of a radical conversion, it was thenceforth as loyal to God as it had hitherto been loyal to itself The general result was a character admirable for strength and for fineness of texture — a life that does not need to be beautified in order to be beautiful.

Such are the reasons which encourage this modest narrative to approach the public. Persuaded of their sufficient validity, it is conscious of a real and earnest mission. Inspired by its noble theme, it aspires to diffuse that inspiration abroad. It has, indeed, no immaculate saint to depict ; but it does portray one whose whole soul was ablaze for the Christian ideal, whose habitual breath was drawn from a very serene sphere, and whose daily outlook took in unusual horizons ; — and it hopes to lead others to love the image portrayed.

Ohio Wesleyan University,

Delaware, Ohio, January, 1874.

CHAPTER I. UNTIL ENTERING THE UNIVERSITY. [March, 1800, to October, 1815.]

Parents of Rudolf Stier — Birth — Poverty — Christmas Festivities — Mischievousness — Gymnasium at Stolpe — A Blustry School-master — Hermann Waldow — Boyish Oratory — Tempted to Dance — Makes a Map — Gymnasium at Neustettin — "Crusoe" in Latin — School Trials — Home Cheer — Scans Homer — Geographical Perplexity — Examined at Berlin for the University Pages 1-9

CHAPTER n.

STUDIES IN BERLIN UNDER SCHLEIERMACHER, DE WETTE, AND SOLGER.

[October, 1815, to April, 1818.]

Great Men at Berlin — Solger — Stier Benefited by Solger — Grandfather Langner — An Ideal Preacher — Neander — Stier Repelled by Schleiermacher — Patriotic Gymnastics — Muscular Christianity — J aim — A Social Pipe — Youthful Patriotism — The ** Burschenschaft" Movement — "Off the Stage with Luther" — "Dido" — A Bonfire — Religiously Impressed by Langner — Friendship with Tholuck, Jean Paul, and Fouque — Stier's Independence 10-20 viii Contents.

Chapter III. Studies At Halle Under Knapp, Gesenius, And Weg- Scheider

Rationalism at Halle — A Romantic Friendship — Pedestrianism — Esoterica — Gesenius' Unfairness — Wegscheider — Moralizing in the Pulpit — Theology versus Philosophy — The ** German Garb " — The *' Student-mirror " — True Gallantry Pages 21-26

Chapter IV. Pauline's Death — A Winter At Halle — A Vacation At Stolpe

[1818-1819.]

A Romantic Attachment— Pauline's Death — Effect on Rudolf — A Passionate Letter — Spiritual Awakening — Religious Patriotism — Jean Paul — Rennecke — Rudolf Moody — Kotzebue Assassinated — " Ninety Crocodile-eggs " — Rudolf at Stolpe — A Dancing Incident — "Tales and Dreams" — Metger — Melanchthon's Prayer — A Removal 27-40

Chapter V. Studies Again At Berlin — Conversion

[October, 1819, to April, 1821.]

Studies under Marheineke, etc. — Helps himself by Teaching — An Epic Shelved — Melancholy — Spiritual Struggles — " Paradise Apples" — Jahn Again — Disenchantment — S tier's Originality — The " Imitation of Christ" — Attracted to Mysticism — Baron von Kottwitz — A Pietistic Salon — A Hallowed Circle — A Lay Consecration — Father Janicke — Stuhr — Self- reformation — Neander — Gichtelianism — Refutation of Mysticism — Self-reproaches — Stier Breaks with Worldliness — Discards Schiller — Bible Revision — A Pietist Band — Stier Cautioned by Metger — Goes to Wittenberg 41-64

Contents. ix

Chapter VI

STUDIES AT WITTENBERG UNDER THE ELDER NITZSCH, SCHLEUSSNER, AND HEUBNER.

[1821-1822.]

The Wittenberg Seminary — Heubner — Stier's First Sennon — A Goose in Church— Schleussner Lectures in Latin — Bible Study — Rothe — Griindler Criticises Stier — Stier's Defense — Rothe on Stier — Suffering Reproach — Stier Reformatory — Krummacher — Stier and Tholuck — A Testimonial Pages 65-82

CHAPTER Vn.

CONTINUES AT WITTENBERG — COURTSHIP. [1822-1823.]

Loneliness — Not Good for Man to be Alone — Ernestine — Her Beauty of Character — How Stier fell in Love — A Holy Club — The "Abbess" — Letter to Ernestine — A Love-Letter — Christian Marriage — Notes from Ernestine — Stier among the Moravians — Gnadenfrei — A Gifted Lady — Secular Literature — Rudolf's Love — Felling Cherry-trees — Playfulness^— Stier's Criticism of his Past — He Retracts — The Yes ! for Life— Stier's Exaltation — He Asks Dr. Nitzsch for his Daughter — Mother Nitzsch 83-118

CHAPTER VHL

TEACHER IN LITHUANIA — MARRIAGE — JOURNEY TO BASLE.

Stier Teaches in Lithuania — Learns Charity — Heart Revelations — Borowski — Stier Preaches at Gumbinnen — Francke — A Touch of Vanity — Stier as Pedagogue — Growth in Holiness — Stier Hastening his Marriage — An Unrealized Ordination — First Important Book — Stier's Conscientiousness — A Naive Letter — Petition to Dr. Nitzsch — Stier called a "Mystic" — Von Meyer on the " Hints" — Schmicder — Stier Invited to Basle — Blumhardt — A Letter from Ebel — The Last Bride-letter— Bliss 119-145

X Contents.

CHAPTER IX.

LABORS AT THE BASLE MISSION SEMINARY.

[November, 1824, to August, 1825.]

The Wedding — Address of the Bride's Father — A Festive Evening — An Embarrassment — Farewell — Journey to Basle — Alwine — Interview with Von Meyer — The Atonement — Nitzsch on Missions — Gobat Meets Stier — Welcomed by the Students — A Young Housewife — The Basle Dialect — A Tea-Meeting — The Seminary — Stier's Colleagues — Stier's Creed — Ordination — Isaiah — The Atonement — Bishop Gobat on Stier — Martha versus Mary — Ernestine — Giftsurprises — The Wolf z/^. the Sheep — A Serious Sprain — French Maids — Unfortunate Poems — Rothe — Rennecke's Wish. . . .Pages 146-179

CHAPTER X.

FURTHER LABORS IN BASLE.

Rejoicings over a Son — A Strange Gift — Secret-keeping — Nursery Maxims — Bitter vs. Sweet — Family Affliction — The Cross — Heartrending — Stier's 111 Health — Literary Labors — Misunderstandings — The Second " Hints " — Horror of Routine — Rennecke's Mistake — Determination to Resign — Changes in the Seminary 180-193

CHAPTER XL

LAST YEAR AT BASLE — INTERIM AT WITTENBERG.

Teaching — Suffering — Lecturing from a Sofa — Basle Liberality — Hebrew — " Words of the Apostles " — Noble Wife ! — Stier Esteemed — Farewell — Journey — Tubingen — Father Nitzsch — Why Wait so Long? — Rationalism — Curious Faults — Stier's "Vacation" — Rothe and Stier — A Second Son — Blumhardt Offended — Correspondence with Steudel — Mystical versus Scientific — ''Keryktics" — Assailed by Lucke — New Field 194-206

Contents. xi

CHAPTER XII.

FIRST THREE YEARS OF PASTORAL LABOR AT FRANKLEBEN.

A Rural Parish — Frankleben and Runstadt — St. Martin's — The Parson's House — ^Journey — Installation — A Zero Morality — Confession — Stier Laughed at — Festina lente — Bible-preaching — The Confessor's Fee — An Organ Dedication — Stier no Stoic — A School Festival — Ernestine among the Women — Whitsuntide Follies — Maternity —Marriage a Duty — An Angel of Mercy — A Daughter — Death of Father Nitzsch — Ernestine's First Visit to Father Stier. Pages 207-222

CHAPTER XIII.

SIX FURTHER YEARS AT FRANKLEBEN — CALL TO WEST- PHALIA.

[October, 1832, to October, 1888.]

Barren Soil — Longing for a Revival — The Temperance Cause — "Fanatic," ''Mystic" — Anecdote by Tholuck — A "New System of Hebrew Grammar" — Hymn-Book Editing — " The Hymn-Book Crisis" — Burdens of Ernestine — Stier's Sleeplessness — Children — A Trial — A Sad Christmas — The Valley of the Wupper — The Collenbuschites — Advice of Nitzsch — Farewell to Frankleben 223-237

CHAPTER XIV.

FIRST PASTORAL LABORS IN BARMEN — ERNESTINE'S DEATH.

[November, 1838, to AprH, 1839.]

The "Wupperthal" — Sander — A Festive "Entrance" — Welcome — " God's Acre " — Induction — Charge — Stier's Boldness — Grand Preaching — Labor with the Children — Too Laconic — Friction — Early Rising — Affliction — Death of Ernestine — Her Assurance — Funeral — Grave-yard — Condolence — Words from Schmieder — Words from Tholuck — Effect upon Stier 238-250 xii Contents.

CHAPTER XV.

FURTHER LABORS IN BARMEN — SECOND MARRIAGE.

Motherless Children — Fresh Energy in Preaching — Style — Venturing upon Mysteries — The Higher Life — The Safer Position — Confession-fees — Temperance — Instruction of Children — Model Pastoral Visiting — The Sick — Downrightness — The Origin of the " Words " — Baal — A Ministerial Meeting — Stier Writes to Alwine — Alwine, Ernestine's Choice — Strange Advice — A Brief Courtship — Marriage — Bridal Excursion — An Inside View — A Long-lived Sexton — Weary Pages 251-274

CHAPTER XVI.

SEVERE LABORS AND TRIALS.

Proposals for a New Field — Projected New Seminary — Latin— A Journey to Gumbiimen — Impatient of Trammels — Stier near Death — Little Louise Buried — Morphine — A Mistake for Life — More Poems — " Hebrews " — " James " — A Festive Centenary — " Polyglot Bible" — Journey to Switzerland — Visit to Rothe — To Basle — Unreasonable Demands — Pastor versus Flock — Economy of Time — Refreshed Spirits — Unappreciativeness — Disenchantment. . .275-283

CHAPTER XVII.

RESIGNATION OF OFFICE — LAST MONTHS IN BARMEN.

[August, 1846, to March, 1S4T.]

A Collision — The Self-righteous Irritated — Stier no Flatterer — The Pretext — Conciliatory but Self-Respecting — The Office not to be Degraded — Resignation — Faithful Labors — Made a " D.D." — What Stier Thought of it — Besought to Resume his Office — Nervousness — Kindnesses — A Festive Breakfast — Modest Charitableness — Peace after the Storm ; 284-293

Contents. xiii

CHAPTER XVIII.

THREE YEARS OF RETIREMENT AT WITTENBERG.

An Heroic Step — One Year becomes Three — "A Zoar" — Stier's Politics — Anti-bigotry — A Pamphlet — " Ephesians " — " Isaiah " — Alford Writes to Stier — Opinion of Romanism — Anonymous Abuse — Suffering — Call to Schkeuditz — A Wife in Tears — An Uninviting Field — A Hesitating Acceptance — Stier to the Burgomaster. Pages 294-301

CHAPTER XIX.

NINE YEARS AS SUPERINTENDENT AT SCHKEUDITZ.

Removal — Welcome — " Induction" — Cholera — Small Coin — Pastor Weiss — Fruits — Testimony of Dr. Elze — Forgivingness — Reformatoriness — Doting Parents Offended — Stier Shows the Insolent the Door — Good Effects — Bible-hours — Stier's Unction — Parish Visitations — Pastoral Conferences — Stier Jocose — Literary — Correspondence — Mr. Pope — Alford — The Neo-Lutherans — Domestic Affliction — Happy Marriages — Leaves Schkeuditz 302-312

CHAPTER XX.

THREE YEARS AS SUPERINTENDENT AT EISLEBEN — SUD- DEN DEATH;

[August, 1859, to December, 1862.]

Eisleben — A Higher Style of Preaching — Bible-hours — Social Influence — Stier's Physique and Manner — " What ? How ? and Who ? " — Zeal — Pastoral Conferences — Stier's Affability — Bright Plopes — Hildegarde — Failing Strength — Approaches of the End — Humility — Love in Wedlock — Blessed Bible-hours — Last Sermon — A Walk — Last Evening in his Family — Death — Alwine's Account of it — General Surprise — Condolence — Funeral — Grave — Life-motto. . 313-332

RUDOLF 8TIER.

CHAPTER I. UNTIL ENTERING THE UNIVERSITY. [Marehi, 1800, to October, 1815.]

J HE childhood and early youth of Rudolf Stier were passed in East and North-east Prussia. His parents were of the better citizen-class and of good general culture. His mother was the daughter of an excellent Lutheran pastor, and was graced with a cheerful temper, clear judgment, and domestic virtues. His father, after studying at the Breslau gymnasium, entered the Prussian provincial revenue-service, and with slight interruption continued in this employment throughout his life. He was a sturdy, strong-willed, jocose man, thoroughly and loyally Prussian, and outwardly devoted to the Lutheranism of his fathers.

Rudolf Stier was born in Fraustadt, March 17, 1 800, the second of a little flock of eleven children. At baptism, in his fourteenth day, he was christened Ewald Rudolf

The parents of the future theologian had a hard struggle of it in their early married life. Their income was very scant. In 1801 they lost their all by fire. Four years later came the scourges of famine and war. They had frequently to change residence. Scarcely had they settled under more promising circumstances in Prussian Poland when an insurrection broke out, and a band of the populace, armed with scythes and hay-forks, entered their town and penetrated their house, demanding the contents of kitchen and cellar. The terrified mother hustled her children into a little bed with the ominous words : " Now you will have to sleep." Happily, the lives of all were spared. But the six-year-old Rudolf received impressions from that day, and from the wild cannonading of the night following, which clung to him till his latest days.

After many delays, and long patient waiting for promotion, we find the family, in October, 18 10, removed to the far North, and settled in Pomerania, at Stolpe, with an income of four hundred thalers. This was to be their home for nine years.

Rudolf was now ten years old. So many changing circumstances had given him a rich experience. Brightest among his early recollections were the Christmas joys prepared for the little ones by parents and grand-parents. For many days beforehand the expected gifts were fondly talked of by children, and stealthily collected by parents. A big armed-chair was set apart in a distant room, and covered over. Upon this chair the intended gifts began to accumulate weeks before the longed-for day. Great was the joy of the little ones at being allowed occasionally to

A BhisUy Rector, 3

approach the mysterious chair and peer around the cover, and surmise what was under it. Though not daring to Hft the cover, they yet had immense de- Hght in perceiving how the mass beneath it grew in magnitude from day to day.

Rudolf was sent to school at the age of seven. Early among his studies was Latin, in which he made rapid progress. His father, with the usual vanity of parents, loved to show off his boy before company. Once^ however, he had to bite his lips with chagrin ; for, having asked Rudolf to compare bonus, the mischievous little fellow put on a forced seriousness and cried out : bonus, bonior, bonissimus I But usually Rudolf allowed himself very few liberties with his father, and he was early accustomed to unconditional obedience. In after years he used to relate how hard this was to him in some cases. Once, having finally succeeded, after great pains, in completing a beautiful little play-castle in the yard, he was peremptorily ordered to tear it down and remove it hnmediately ; and he did so. But he never forgot how bitterly his little heart was disappointed.

At Stolpe Rudolf had further school privileges. The gymnasium of the place, however, was but a passable affair. The rector was a very moody man^ One day he would be as bright and bland as May ; the next, as surly as a March wind. When in a cheerful humor he wore a very tall, ancient-patterned black hat ; when in a blustry humor, a tight little cap ; so that the boys could always pretty well forecast what was to come. And woe to the unhappy urchin upon whom the first blast of one of his stormy days broke loose ! The whizzing of the hazel rod would buzz in his ears for days after. This rector piqued himself on his mastery of French. But once he suffered a mortifying shipwreck in the presence of some of his scholars ; for the town was overflowed with French soldiery, but he was unable to make the unwelcome visitors understand a single word ! The second teacher was a man of more solid parts than the rector, but he had also some peculiarities. His way of punishing is now happily pretty well out of fashion. He was very robust ; and when he had occasion to chastise— which sometimes happened—it was his custom to seize the culprit by the pants behind, and, suspending him in mid-air with one hand, to lay on the birch with the other. These two men, together with a third of no special peculiarities, were the teachers to whom young Rudolf was now committed for over two years.

In October, 1810, the scholars of the gymnasium were thrown into great commotion by the announcement of the rector, that, after careful examination of the scholarship of the son of the newly-arrived revenue officer, he had concluded, notwithstanding his youth, to introduce him into prima^ (the highest class). And many were at once prepossessed with envy toward the little stranger. But no sooner had the modest, almost maiden-like, boy made his appearance than all envy had vanished, and he was cheerfully tolerated. Among the larger scholars who became warmly attached to him here was Hermann Waldow — a friendship which lasted throughout life. It must have been in the absence of Waldow that

A Dancing Adve7iUire. 5

once, while waiting for the professor, some of the larger boys mischievously took hold of Rudolf and hoisted him upon a lofty mineral case, from whence he had to be helped down by the rector. As the studies were not rapidly pushed, Rudolf and Waldow had much leisure for indulging their spontaneous whims. Waldow was a poet, and Rudolf became a dramatist and orator. To give scope to their tastes they instituted a literary society, and delivered original poems and dialogues to the great delight of the parents and friends.

By these boyish enterprises, and by his general cheerful humor, Rudolf gave great pleasure to his father. And yet at this early period a certain radical difference between father and son began to show itself. This appeared most emphatically on the subject of dancing. Of this amusement the father was excessively fond ; but Rudolf always disrelished it. On one occasion the father required that Rudolf should attend the customary ball that was given once a year to the pupils of the gymnasium, and, when present, he insisted on his taking part in the dance. As there was no escape, he outwardly obeyed ; but he petulantly demeaned himself so awkwardly, dancing right and left out of all order, as to call down upon himself a general outburst of laughter, whereupon he rushed out of the hall and ran home. In most respects, however, he was very glad to second and help his father. He became a sort of secretary to him, and thus formed habits of method in writing, which greatly advantaged him in after-life. In those days a detailed map of a province was a rare and costly thing. The father, being hardly able to purchase one, borrowed a fine one for a few days ; and Rudolf, by the help of a large sheet of paper, a few pencils, and some colors, soon prepared so perfect a copy of it that his father could and did safely rely on it for all the details of his official journeys during his whole stay at Stolpe.

But this was only mere mechanical skill. Rudolfs talents soon excited in his father a desire to give him a better education than Stolpe afforded. Inquiry was made after a gymnasium more worthy of the name. That of Xeustettin having been selected, Rudolf left home with high heart, and in May, 1813, was admitted by Rector Lentz into the next to the highest class. His last day in the Stolpe school was a pretty proud occasion. During the closing exercises the name '' Rudolf Stier'' had stood in bright letters before the eyes of the whole public upon a laurel-encircled tablet of honor.

The gymnasium of Xeustettin was not, however, equal to its reputation. Its ideal was far below that of a Prussian gymnasium of the present, and its reality was far below its own defective ideal. Not enough teachers were employed. Very few pupils reached the higher classes. Moreover, in those days of military devastation the recruiting officer not unfrequently came and stripped the school of its older scholars. The subject-matter of the instruction was not very high. Latin was pretty extensively pursued, and its study was made attractive by the use, early in the course, of a Latin " Robinson Crusoe." Greek was taught two or three years, be-

Studies the Classics. 7

As might be anticipated, Rudolf, who had been able to read Horace at the age of ten, was rather disappointed at the grade of the school. Add to this that the three larger boys with whom he shared a room were very uncongenial, and even rude to him, and that in the whole school he found no such companion as Hermann Waldow had been, and we can readily comprehend the young scholar's gladness as the July vacation approached, and permitted him to visit his parents. In his joy at seeing the famihar old Stolpe coachman drive up and stop for him before his boarding-house, he so far forgot all rank-distinctions as actually to rush out and kiss his hand.

Two weeks of home-life restored him pretty well from his discouragement, and he cheerfully returned to school determined to make the best of it. His mother accompanied him this time, and obtained for him better lodgings, leaving him a good supply of home delicacies, and conciliating the servants in his favor by liberal gratuities before starting home.

In 1 8 14 Rudolf was promoted to the highest class. But owing to the siftings of war, this class consisted simply of himself and one other. Rector Lentz, however, did his best to keep up his interest in teaching so small a class. To give it a little more the show of an audience he sometimes added to it his own not untalented daughter. The studies which here most interested Rudolf were the Latin and Greek classics. He became acquainted pretty thoroughly

* A certain widow had a hen, etc.

with Virgil, Horace and Cicero, Xenophon, Theophrastus, Herodotus, Thucydides, and Homer. His favorite of all was Homer. He studied him so assiduously that he was able to translate many passages exte^npore into the hexameters of the original. But the rector s method was the old-fashioned, dry, grammatical one. He required every word to be parsed, and all the rules and exceptions to be punctiliously rehearsed in each case. Sometimes he would, thus, get over not more than two lines in a lesson. To the speaking of Latin — then almost universal in German gymnasia — no attention at all was here given. Under such circumstances it was only an innate knowledge-thirst such as Rudolf's that could give any charm to such studies.

The geographical instruction in the gymnasia was just now very unsatisfactory. The Napoleonic wars had so many times reconstructed State boundaries that it was really difficult for frontier teachers to keep the track of events. After some hesitation, Rector Lentz concluded to look upon all these changes as a mere abnormal state of things, and, in the mean time, to hold fast to the ancient State boundaries. Thus Rudolf had the pleasure of forming acquaintance with the some hundred and fifty German States as they existed before the irruptions of the troublesome Frank.

Unfortunately, after three quarters of a year's study in this class, Rudolf's sole class-mate was called away to military service ; and as the rector preferred not to keep up the class with only a single member, he advised Rudolf's father to seek out another gymnasium.

Examined at Berlin, 9

But as the paternal treasury would ill admit of this, it was concluded to send Rudolf at once to the university. For this, however, the boy of fifteen years was relatively only poorly prepared. His opportunities had been far less than those enjoyed by the majority of applicants for matriculation. As he could furnish no certificate of gymnasial examination, he had to be examined at the university. His solid abilities, however, stood him here in good place. After a brief preparation by private study he repaired to Berlin at Michaelmas, (September 29,) 18 15. He readily passed the dreaded ordeal, having succeeded, without the least help, in solving the linguistic difficulties proposed, while all the others examined at the same time with him had come with their pockets well stuffed with all sorts of aids. Among those who examined him were such men as Bockh, Snethlage, and Bernhardi.

The next chapter will present the ambitious young student amid the passions of a tumultuous university career.

Chapter II

Studies in Berlin under Schleiermacher, De Wette, and Solger.

[ October, 1815, to April, 1818. ]

JHE University of Berlin, at the time when Rudolf Stier entered it, was the focal point of the culture and patriotism of the Fatherland. It was the youngest (founded in 1807) and the most flourishing of all the German high schools. Rarely has a single university had, at one and the same time, such a brilliant galaxy of professors as Schleiermacher, De Wette, Marheineke, Neander, Savigny, Eichhorn, Hufeland, Grafe, Solger, Bockh, etc. These men were mostly at this time in the prime of manhood. They breathed into their several departments an unwonted enthusiasm. Fichte had just fallen, but the inspiration of his kingly spirit still hovered over the school.

The real motive of Stier in coming to the university was a longing to see the world, and a vague aspiration for knowledge in general. To please his father he entered the law department, and even succeeded in interesting himself in some of the lectures, especially those of Eichhorn. The first few months, however, he employed in hearing occasional lectures i

Studies in Berlin, ii

in all the departments, just as the whim of the moment might incline him. He thus obtained a general acquaintance with the workings and the person7iel of the university, and had a good opportunity to learn his own strength, and that for which he had the strongest natural inclination. Among the lecturers to whom he thus casually found himself attracted was the philosopher Solger — a man who had been called to Berlin as a partial counterpoise to the Pantheism of Fichte, and whose sound and not anti-Christian philosophy proved a potent and beneficent factor in Rudolfs spiritual growth.