Johann Wilhelm Meyer

Johann Wilhelm Meyer

Johann Wilhelm Meyer (also Wilhelm Meyer ; born September 18, 1690 in Schaffhausen ; † December 27, 1767 there ) was a Swiss Reformed clergyman and hymn poet .

Life

Meyer went through the schools in his hometown Schaffhausen. He decided to study theology and passed the exam in 1720 at the age of thirty. His trial sermon was described as orthodox, learned, methodical, and edifying. It is not known why he only took the exam at this advanced age. He was first pastor in Hemmental in 1721/1722 and then came to Siblingen . He stayed there until 1737, but couldn't fully cope with the local population and the rural character. During this time he began his work as a poet.

Meyer was appointed Preceptor at the grammar school in Schaffhausen in 1737 . In addition, he was employed as a pastor in Herblingen until 1739 , before he was given the position of evening preacher at the Schaffhausen Minster . In 1749 he was released from teaching and at the same time rose to the position of chief pastor at the cathedral and to a triumvir . Finally, in 1756, he received the office of pastor of St. Johann in Schaffhausen and became Antistes of Schaffhausen and dean .

He gave edification lessons and was in contact with the Herrnhuter Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf . As a result, he was sometimes criticized.

Works (selection)

• Jesus, vine of noble grapes. In: Kaspar Zollikofer : God cheaply, highly glorifying prayer music. St. Gallen 1738.
• The singing soul, awakened from its security, carried on into true conversion, and growing up to full age in Jesus Christ, singing in 190 songs. Heidegger, Schaffhausen 1740.
• 20 songs were included in the Schaffhausen hymn book from 1728, including:
  • Now God sings to praise and honor .
  • O everlasting word, Lord Jesus, great teacher .
  • Seal the stone after all , Easter song.

literature

• Johann Jakob Schalch : Memories from the history of the city of Schaffhausen. 2nd volume. Hurter, Schaffhausen 1836, pp. 94-102.
• Eduard Emil Koch : History of hymns and hymns. First main part: the poets and singers. 6th volume. Belser, Stuttgart 1869, pp. 91-94.
• lu:  Meyer, Johann Wilhelm . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 21, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1885, p. 584.
• Hans Alfred Girard: Johann Wilhelm Meyer, Antistes. In: Schaffhauser Contributions to History. Volume 46. 1969, pp. 196-200 (PDF; 81 kB).

Web links

• Matthias Wipf: Meyer, Johann Wilhelm. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .