Otto von Gerlach
Encyclopedia
Karl Friedrich Otto von Gerlach (12 April 1801 – 24 October 1849) was a German
theologian and pastor
from Berlin
.
He was the youngest of five children of Carl Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach (1757-1813), first Lord Mayor
of Berlin
, and Agnes von Raumer (1795-1877), and brother of Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach
(1795-1877) and Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach
(1790-1861).
Otto von Gerlach first studied law
, then theology
in Berlin
, Heidelberg and Göttingen. He was influenced by the Great Awakening
movement and was a member of the Christlich-deutsche Tischgesellschaft of Adolph von Thadden (1796-1882).
In 1835 he started as a minister of the Evangelical Church in Prussia at the St. Elisabeth Church in Berlin
. In the worker district he laid the groundwork for modern social work
, for example, an association of unemployed workers. He pushed successfully for the building of the Elisabeth Hospital, and king Frederick William IV of Prussia
let him assist in the building of the model hospital Bethanien.
In 1847, the king appointed him 4th minister of the Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church. In 1848 he became Konsistorialrat, in 1849 professor at the University of Berlin.
He married Pauline von Blankenburg (1804-1887) on 23 June 1835, with whom he had ten children, six of which died during his lifetime.
In 1844, he was found guilty of mistreating a maid, which lead to her death, and sentenced to one year in prison, but he never had to serve his time.
Due to his work in the worker districts, he suffered from several diseases, including smallpox
and encephalitis
. He died at the age of 48, after suffering several strokes.
, and translated several important texts of the Great Awakening movement from English into German, including works by John Wesley
(1703-1791), Richard Baxter
(1615-1691), and Thomas Chalmers
(1780-1847).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
theologian and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
from Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He was the youngest of five children of Carl Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach (1757-1813), first Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and Agnes von Raumer (1795-1877), and brother of Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach
Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach
Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach was a conservative Prussian judge, politician, and editor. He was the son of Carl Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach and the brother of Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach....
(1795-1877) and Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach
Ludwig Friedrich Leopold von Gerlach
Leopold von Gerlach was a Prussian army general, adjutant to Frederick William IV of Prussia and a Protestant conservative associate of Otto von Bismarck.-Biography:...
(1790-1861).
Otto von Gerlach first studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, then theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, Heidelberg and Göttingen. He was influenced by the Great Awakening
Great Awakening
The term Great Awakening is used to refer to a period of religious revival in American religious history. Historians and theologians identify three or four waves of increased religious enthusiasm occurring between the early 18th century and the late 19th century...
movement and was a member of the Christlich-deutsche Tischgesellschaft of Adolph von Thadden (1796-1882).
In 1835 he started as a minister of the Evangelical Church in Prussia at the St. Elisabeth Church in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In the worker district he laid the groundwork for modern social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, for example, an association of unemployed workers. He pushed successfully for the building of the Elisabeth Hospital, and king Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
let him assist in the building of the model hospital Bethanien.
In 1847, the king appointed him 4th minister of the Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church. In 1848 he became Konsistorialrat, in 1849 professor at the University of Berlin.
He married Pauline von Blankenburg (1804-1887) on 23 June 1835, with whom he had ten children, six of which died during his lifetime.
In 1844, he was found guilty of mistreating a maid, which lead to her death, and sentenced to one year in prison, but he never had to serve his time.
Due to his work in the worker districts, he suffered from several diseases, including smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and encephalitis
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
. He died at the age of 48, after suffering several strokes.
Works
Otto von Gerlach published a major rewrite of the old and new testament after Martin LutherMartin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, and translated several important texts of the Great Awakening movement from English into German, including works by John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
(1703-1791), Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
(1615-1691), and Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
(1780-1847).
External links
- Gerlach, Otto von (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious KnowledgeSchaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious KnowledgeThe Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge is a religious encyclopedia. It is based on an earlier German encyclopedia, the Realencyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche. Like the Realencyklopädie, it focuses on Christianity from a primarily Protestant point of...
)