Friedrich Germanus Lüdke

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friedrich Germanus Lüdke (born April 10, 1730 in Stendal ; † March 8, 1792 in Berlin ) was a German Protestant theologian of the Enlightenment in the 18th century, writer of theological works, field preacher in the Seven Years War and archdeacon at the Nikolaikirche in Berlin.

ancestry

Copper engraving by Friedrich Germanus Lüdke (Chodowiecki, Allg. D. Bibli. 1785)

Friedrich Germanus Lüdke was a member of the Lüdke family , which is related to the first Protestant dean at the Havelberg Cathedral, Matthäus Ludecus (1517–1604) and who has the following direct descendants up to Friedrich Germanus Lüdke:

  • Lucas Luidtke , (* approx. 1562, † 1596), lawyer and canon in Havelberg
  • Germanus Luidtke (* 1592, † 1672), lawyer and mayor in Stendal, ordinator of the Kurmark landscape, Canonicus in Havelberg
  • Christian Luidtke (* 1621, † after 1685), lawyer and mayor in Stendal
  • Germanus Lüdke (* 1683, † 1735), theologian, archdeacon in Stendal Cathedral
  • Friedrich Germanus Lüdke (* 1730, † 1792), theologian

With the exception of Christian Luidtke, all ancestors were active in the church service. The theological tradition ends with Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, as his descendants did not take up any theological professions.

His father, Germanus Lüdke (1683–1735), was a master's degree and archdeacon at Stendal Cathedral. His mother was Maria Elisabeth Otte.

In 1764 Lüdke married Charlotte Luise Weissenberg, daughter of the tent tailor Johann Jakob Weissenberg, in the garrison church in Berlin. She died in 1789. In 1791 he married the widow Johanne Caroline Richter geb. Schmidt, the daughter of the preacher Schmidt from Fürstenwalde. There were no children from this marriage. Lüdke died after 6 months of marriage.

At his death there were still 3 sons and 3 daughters alive, of which the following people are worth mentioning:

  • Johann Peter Germanus Lüdke (1772-1845). After attending several, he attended the Berlin grammar school from 1785 and passed the exam in 1781. On the advice of his teachers, however, he did not attend the university, but took the opportunity to work as an extraordinary expeditionary secretary at the first Kurmark customs and accise directorate. At the end of his career he was Privy Councilor in the Berlin Ministry of Finance.
  • Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Lüdke (1782–1834). He was a farmer, royal Prussian chief bailiff, and leaseholder of the state domain in Altlandsberg, northeast of Berlin.
  • Frederike Lüdke. She was first married to a Mr. Holz and in 1820 married Major Karl Friedrich von Perbandt from Potsdam (1768–1839) for the second time. Her husband was a member of the administration of the Great Military Orphanage in Potsdam. His third wife is not mentioned in the nobility dictionary. The marriage is probably proven by the newspaper advertisement. Karl Friedrich von Perbandt was the brother of the Prussian general Ernst Heinrich von Perbandt
  • Louise Charlotte Lüdke (1783-after 1834). She was the second oldest daughter and in 1803 married the Prussian Finance Councilor Carl Friedrich Otto Westfal (1763-1834). She was obviously very wealthy as she had a fortune of more than 10,000 thalers.

School days, studies

In Stendal, Lüdke first attended the Latin school (grammar school) until 1748 and was then a student at the Königlich Joachimthalschen grammar school in Berlin in order to prepare for studies. He then studied theology in Halle and was a pupil of Siegmund Jakob Baumgarten (1706–1757), who taught at the university and who , like the father of Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, had attended the pedagogy of the Halle orphanage and also an Orthodox Lutheranism and spirituality of Halle Pietism was connected.

Probably his first publication took place in 1751, when he was still studying in Halle, as a contribution to the theological dissertation of his college friend Valentin Christoph Müller, at whose disputation , chaired by Adam Struensee, he appeared as an opponent . In the appendix to the dissertation of his close friend Friedrich Johann Emanuel Eisenberg (1726–1802) from Stendal, when Lüdke was already living in Berlin, he wrote a poem as a greeting and a gift that was influenced by the early phase of the “Sturm und Drang "and very emotionally and expressively in the last stanza described his friendship with Eisenberg, who was appointed governor of the royal military academy in Berlin in 1766 :

Oh that heaven never parted us!
That my dust could mix with you!
God, let us, shall one of us die
Die together

In the letter (s) to friends mentioned below , this poem is reprinted in the 65th letter to Mr E *** on p. 217.

In 1754 Lüdke published a memorial to the late general superintendent Johann Rudolph Nolten , who had been senior pastor to St. Marien and superintendent in Gardelegen in 1735 and, since 1741, senior pastor at  St. Nicholas Cathedral  and general superintendent in Stendal. In the Scriptures he describes Nolte as a patron, benefactor, advisor and friend, to whom he owed part of his principles and his prosperity. He supported him, who was a child without a father, with his instructions and, in doubtful cases, gave him good deeds. He mentions with love the youngest son of the deceased, with whom the bonds of friendship have bound him so strongly "as the blood". He wished that the two sons would continue to love each other “as our fathers loved each other”. The friend was obviously Ernst Christoph Nolte . He also studied in Halle, disputed with Baumgarten in 1753, became a field preacher and died very young in 1761.

Hofmeister

Lüdke finished his studies in Halle at the end of 1752. Afterwards Lüdke was Hofmeister (educator of the children) for 5 years until 1757 with the Prussian Minister of Justice Levin-Friedrich von Bismarck (1703–1774), who also came from the Altmark near Stendal. Even after Lüdke left the family, there was a friendly and trusting relationship with the von Bismarck family, which is reflected in the content of the funeral sermons that Lüdke gave after the von Bismarck couple's death.

In 1756 he published his letters to friends in Danzig without specifying the author

Field chaplain

From the age of 28, i.e. from 1758, he was a field preacher during the Seven Years' War in Silesia with the Prussian regiments, Infantry Regiment No. 20 “Bornstedt” (Major General August Gottlieb von Bornstedt ) and Infantry Regiment No. 1 “Lattorf” or “Zeuner” (Major General from 1758: Johann Siegismund von Lattorff and from 1760: Karl Christoph von Zeuner ).

In 1762 he had some sermons printed in Breslau (e.g. on the immortality of the soul).

Deacon in St. Nicolai in Berlin

On the recommendation of Major General Karl Christoph von Zeuner , he received the vacant position of 4th Dean at the Nikolaikirche in Berlin. It was introduced in 1765 by the provost Johann Joachim Spalding . Over time he advanced to the position of archdeacon and is said to have fulfilled his profession with rare fidelity.

Lüdke died on March 8, 1792. Probst Johann Friedrich Zöllner , the successor of Johann Joachim Spalding , gave him the commemorative sermon. He was buried in the Nikolaikirche. In a “fictional” novel about the “gymnastics father” Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, Horst Bosetzky describes his father, the pastor in Lanz in the Prignitz district, Friedrich Alexander Jahn (1742–1811), and Friedrich Germanus Lüdke as friends. Afterwards Friedrich Alexander Jahn attended Lüdke's funeral and heard the funeral sermon of the provost, whose name he had forgotten. Lüdke is referred to as one of the most important Protestant theologians of the Enlightenment. Unfortunately, the text of the funeral sermon, which was certainly printed, is apparently not yet verifiable.

Writing activity

According to Wagenmann, who is quoted verbatim in the following, Lüdke was a man of many insights and tireless diligence, a self-thinking and enlightened teacher of religion who was primarily interested in the practical interests of Christianity and the preaching office, and a hardworking employee, for a time also a theological co-editor Nikolais General German Library, for which he has contributed numerous articles, mostly reviews, from the time it was first published until his death.

Of his own writings, the most important, which, according to Wagenmann, have "earned him general fame", are the following writings:

  • On tolerance and freedom of conscience, insofar as legitimate religious zeal promotes them and unlawful zeal prevents them , Berlin 1774. 8 °;
  • On false religious zeal , Berlin 1767, in which he describes the symbolic books as obstacles to freedom and peace; as well as his
  • Talks about the abolition of the state's dispensable, even harmful, clerical class , Berlin 1784, and
  • Letters on the new Prussian hymn book , 1781

The greatest applause from his enlightened contemporaries was his first edition in 1772, and the fourth, improved and increased edition in 1793 (with a preface by JA Hermes)

  • Communion book together with an idea against the contempt of the h. Last Supper , 1772. 8 °.

Of his printed sermons have a certain historical interest:

  • Two sermons at the change of government in the Prussian lands , 1786 and
  • Stand and funeral speech for H. Otto v. Bismark , Stendal 1774
  • Description of the life of your Excellency the benevolent wife of the secret budget minister Ms. Sophia Amalia von Bismark, born from the Schulenburg of Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, preacher at the Nicolai and Klosterkirche in Berlin . In: Memorial speeches in memory of Jhro Excellenz of the Minister of Finance, Sophie Amalie von Bismark, born from the Schulenburg from the Betzendorff house (...). Stendal 1783, full text [10]

Reviews

470 digitized reviews can be read on the Bielefeld University server.

Works (selection)

Read on the internet as digital editions:

  • Dissertation Ivris Gentivm De Forma Litterarvm Credentialivm Legatorvm, Halae, Magdeb. 1753, online version: [11]
  • Necessary ideas against the contempt and abuse of Holy Communion, Berlin 1772, online version: [12]
  • On tolerance and freedom of conscience, insofar as the legitimate religious zeal promotes them and the unlawful prevents them, First and Second Book, Berlin 1774, online version: [13]
  • Book of Communion, Containing I. Brief Instructions on the Dignified, or Right and Useful Use of Holy Communion. II. Reflections and prayers […], Berlin 1779, online version: [14]
  • Discussions about the abolition of the clergy, including an investigation: Whether it is dispensable to the state, and even harmful, Stettin, Berlin 1784, online version: [15]

Reprints

  • On false religious zeal, Ulan Press 2011
  • About tolerance and freedom of conscience, Nabu Press 2012

Recent literature (selection)

  • Jan Rohls, The Confessio Augustana in the Reformed Churches Germany, p. 83 f., In: Should the Augsburg Confession become the basic confession of the Evangelical Church in Germany ?, A vote of the Chamber of the Evangelical Church in Germany for Theology, EKD texts No. 103 , Hanover 2009, online full text [16] (statement on the text "Vom False Religious Seifer" and the demand for the abolition of the commitment to the confessional documents)
  • Marcus Twellmann, On the oath, discipline and criticism in the Prussian Enlightenment, Munich 2010, p. 149 f, ISBN 978-3-86253-000-7 , online full text [17] (rejection of the symbolic obligation and the confessional oath ) * Thomas Hahn , State and Church in German Natural Law: Natural Church Law of the 18th and 19th Centuries (approx. 1680 to approx. 1850), Tübingen 2012, p. 216 f, ISBN 978-3-16-150997-1 , online reading sample [ 18] (Continuation of Christian dogmatics in the face of efforts to measure all traditional revelation against human reason)
  • Ulrich Wyrwa, Jews in Tuscany and Prussia in comparison: Enlightenment and emancipation in Florence, Livorno, Berlin and Königsberg i. Pr, London 2003, p. 192 f, ISBN 3-16-148077-5 , online reading sample [19] (tolerance also against Jews, since any intolerant politics could not "go off without horrific murder and bloodshed")
  • Albrecht Beutel, Johann Joachim Spalding: Master theologian in the Age of Enlightenment, Tübingen 2014, p. 257, ISBN 978-3-16-153266-5 , reading sample: [20] (reference to the benevolent criticism of Lüdke of his official brother Johann Joachim Spalding regarding his work Vertraute Letters, regarding religion . New edition 2004. ISBN 3-16-148145-3 )
  • Thomas K. Kuhn , Religion and Modern Society: Studies on Social and Diaconal Action in Pietism, Enlightenment and Awakening Movement, Tübingen 2003, p. 173ff, ISBN 3-16-148169-0 , reading sample [21] (comment on the work: “ Talks about the abolition of the clergy ")
  • Christopher Spehr, Enlightenment and Ecumenism: Reunionsversuche between Catholics and Protestants in the German-speaking area of ​​the later 18th century, Tübingen 2005, p. 82 (with footnote 147) and 378, ISBN 3-16-148576-9 , reading sample: [22] ( Examination of the "Reunionsschrift" by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Jerusalem )

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl Aner Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, JB for brandenb. Church history 1914, p. 161
  2. ↑ Communication from the sexton of St. Nicolai Berlin from January 15, 1937
  3. ↑ a b c d e Julius August Wagenmann:  Lüdke, Friedrich Germanus . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 19, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1884, p. 383 f.
  4. ^ Anton Friedrich Büsching , invitation to the examination of high school students, Berlin 1782. p. 17 [1]
  5. ↑ Florian Seiffert, Family Research, accessed on November 23, 2017, [2]
  6. Jump up ↑ Berlinische Nachrichten von Staats- und learned things: 1820,1 / 3, 1820, advertisement from March 28th 1820, [3]
  7. ↑ Unger, address calendar of the royal Prussian royal cities Berlin and Potsdam, especially the high and low colleges, instances and expeditions located there, 1803, [4]
  8. ^ Yearbook of the German Nobility. Vol. 2, 1898 / ed. from the German Nobility Association. - Berlin 189 p. 788, [5]
  9. ^ Rolf Straubel : Biographical manual of the Prussian administrative and judicial officials 1740–1806 / 15 . In: Historical Commission to Berlin (Ed.): Individual publications . 85. KG Saur Verlag, Munich 2009, ISBN 978-3-598-23229-9 , pp. 1094 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  10. ↑ The above biographical information comes from a handwritten curriculum vitae from March 15, 1792, the author of which is unknown. This writing obviously served as the basis for the funeral sermon, which unfortunately has been lost.
  11. ^ Avi Lifschitz, Language and Enlightenment: The Berlin Debates of the Eighteenth Century, Oxford 2012, p. 56F, ISBN 978-0-19-966166-4 , reading sample: [6]
  12. ^ Struensee, Adam / Müller, Valentin Christoph / Lüdke, Friedrich Germanus: Dissertatio Theologica De Gavdio In Spiritv Sancto Tanqvam Genvino Verae Religionis Christianae Criterio, Halae, 1751, VD18 10306706, digital
  13. ↑ Biographical Handbook of the Prussian Administrative and Justice Officials, 1740–1806 / 15, p. 240
  14. ^ Eisenberg, Friedrich Johann Emanuel, Dissertatio iuris gentium de forma litterarum credentialium legatorum, Halae Magdeb .: litteris Ioannis Christiani Hilligeri., [1753] (at the end) digital: [7]
  15. ↑ Lüdke, Friedrich Germanus, On the dying of the benevolent Mr. General Superintendent Nolten ( Johann Rudolph Nolten ), Berlin, the 24th of the Christian month 1754, Berlin 1754 digital edition
  16. ↑ Meditations limitibus libertati conscientiae ponendis , 1793, google books
  17. ↑ Christian Gottlieb Jöcher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon: Therein the scholars of all classes, both male and female, who lived from the beginning of the world to the present day, and made themselves known to the learned world, After their birth, life, remarkable stories, Withdrawals and writings from the most credible scribes are described in alphabetical order. Continuation and additions by Heinrich Wilhelm Rotermund; Vol. 5. Moriac to Pfeiffer. 9, Bremen 1816 p. 790, google Books online
  18. ↑ Written communication from the superintendent of the Evangelical Church District Stendal from January 2, 1929
  19. ↑ digital slub-dresden [8] and Berlin State Library, call number: Yz 82201 Catalog Use only in the reading room
  20. ↑ Feldprediger - Page 4 - Ahnenforschung.Net Forum
  21. ^ Karl Aner, Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, JB for brandenb. Church history 1914, p. 161
  22. ↑ Lüdke, FG (Royal Prussian Field Preacher with the Infantry Regiment von Zeuner), Sermon of the Immortality of the Human Soul, on Pred. Sal. 3: 16-22: held in the garrison church in Bresslau. Breslau 1762, Collection Research Libraries UK Union Catalog, evidence: digital
  23. ^ Karl Aner Friedrich Germanus Lüdke, JB for brandenb. Church history 1914, p. 162.
  24. ↑ Horst Bosetzky, Turnvater Jahn: A biographical novel (Google eBook), Berlin, 1st digital edition 2014, ISBN 9783955521721 , reading sample (without page numbers ) Keyword: "Friedrich Germanus Lüdke" [9]
  25. ↑ Wagenmann is wrong here. It is about the funeral oration and funeral sermon for the funeral of the former Prussian Minister of Justice Levin-Friedrich von Bismarck , at which Lüdke gave the funeral sermon
  26. ^ Reviews of Friedrich Germanus Lüdke's works at Bielefeld University
personal data
SURNAME Lüdke, Friedrich Germanus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Theologian, field preacher, archdeacon Nikoleikirche in Berlin
DATE OF BIRTH April 10, 1730
PLACE OF BIRTH Stendal
DATE OF DEATH March 8, 1792
Place of death Berlin