Michael Lang (theologian)

Michael Lang around 1830

Michael Lang (born March 30, 1803 in Pest in the Kingdom of Hungary ; † January 31, 1874 in Budapest in the Kingdom of Hungary) was a Protestant theologian and German preacher ( provost from 1843 ) of the Evangelical Church Community AB in Pest / Kingdom of Hungary.

Life

He was born in Pest as the son of Johann Lang and his wife Franziska Beck. He spent the first years of school in his hometown. Then he continued his training in Modern . At first he worked as a teacher at a girls' school in Modern before he began studying theology at the University of Vienna . After graduating, he will return to his hometown of Pest.

Last Supper chalice which Pastor Michael Lang received after the flood of 1838 as a thank you from the Israelite religious community.

After the granting of the tolerance patent by Emperor Joseph II in 1781, a Protestant parish AB was founded in Pest in 1787. At that time there were complicated ethnic conditions in the Pest community. The first preacher after the founding of the congregation was János Molnár (* 1757, † 1819), who spoke all three languages ( German , Slovak and Hungarian ) and was also able to preach in these languages. He was followed in 1819 by Joseph Kalchbrenner (* 1776, † 1834).

In 1832 Michael Lang became assistant preacher with Joseph Kalchbrenner (* 1776, † 1834) and from 1836 the first German preacher in the Pest parish. His choice was also actively supported by the then Palatinessa of Hungary, Archduchess Maria Dorothea von Württemberg . Michael Lang had a strong German national consciousness of which he was proud; despite the fact that he was born in Pest, he did not learn the Hungarian language in his whole life. And he did not speak the Slovak language either.

In 1837 the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Protestant parish in Pest was celebrated in a festive service held by Michael Lang. Unfortunately, the celebration was no longer carried out together with the Slovaks and Hungarians, as each congregation celebrated this anniversary for itself due to the major national differences.

Theologically, Lang was - presumably under the influence of the Enlightenment - a representative of theological rationalism . Archduchess Maria Dorothea, who held him in high regard, called him a " philanthropist ". He belonged to the liberal wing of the Lutherans in Hungary, but the Inner Mission also had a great influence on his work. His pastoral activity was characterized by an extraordinarily strong sense of social justice. Shaped by his faith, he was a deeply rooted philanthropist. Like his two predecessors (Molnár and Kalchbrenner), he was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Protestant school. He had a winning appearance and was generally popular. He maintained friendly relations with his colleague, the (later) Bishop József Székács (* 1809, † 1876) and his German colleague Johann Schranz (* 1830, † 1910).

Lang earned special services in the devastating Pest flood disaster during the 1838 flood in Pest. Along with Baron Miklós Wesselényi , he was the leading figure in rescue work. Regardless of denomination, he helped everyone in need. One of his successors, Pastor Alexander Doleschall (* 1830, † 1893), wrote about Lang in this context: "I think it was particularly Pastor Lang who surpassed everyone in his service as the Good Samaritan in the rescue work." Pest Israelite Community , Herman Löwy, was deeply impressed by Michael Lang's willingness to help. Therefore, he gave Lang a valuable ring and a communion chalice with the inscription “Michael Lang dedicated to the German preacher of the German Evangelical Church Community AB, whose church in Pest provided friendly and safe shelter for many Christians and Jews during the time of the great flood in March 1838 . Pest on May 3, 1840 ”. Lang gave the gifts to his community, who still own the items today.

The Protestant church on today's Deákplatz was the place of work of Michel Lang. (historical photo around 1890)

In the Hungarian Revolution of 1848/1849 he played a passive role (as a German patriot he was more on the side of the Austrians and the imperial family ), similar to the Transylvanian Saxons . Unlike many Germans, as the preacher of the German Protestant parish AB to Bratislava Paul Razga or the general of the War of Independence it Karl Graf zu Leiningen-Westerburg held it politically back. Because of his passivity during the revolutionary years, he won the trust of the victors and gained - as Protestant provost of Pest - a certain political influence with the Austrian occupying power. This enabled him to protect many Hungarians who were involved in the revolution from reprisals. His Hungarian official brother József Székács, who was actively involved in the revolution, should be brought before a military court. It is thanks to Lang's commitment and advocacy that Székács was not tried.

Michael Lang also played an important role in the rescue of the three underage children ( Ferenc (* 1841, † 1914), Vilma (* 1843, † 1862), Lajos (* 1844, † 1918)) of Lajos Kossuth . After Kossuth's escape, Kossuth's three children were held captive in the barracks of the Pressburg Palace . On the initiative of Archduchess Maria Dorothea and the British government at the time ( Palmerston ), Haynau was ready to release the children from captivity. Thereupon Michael Lang was asked by Kossuth's mother to take over the guardianship for the children for the time being, which Lang (despite his loyalty to the ruling house) did without hesitation.

Lang took a neutral position in the dispute over the "Imperial Patent", which was to be issued by Emperor Franz Joseph I on September 1, 1859 , which was to reorganize the organization of the Protestant Church in terms of content and administration. Ultimately, this patent was rejected by a majority by the municipalities and was replaced by a modified Protestant patent in 1861 .

Michael Lang remained unmarried and died after 42 years of service on January 31, 1874 in Budapest and was buried in the Kerepescher Friedhof in Budapest.

literature

Anton Klipp: Fragments on the History of Protestantism in Old Hungary. Carpathian Yearbook 2006, ISBN 80-88903-78-5 , p. 49 ff.

Péter Zaszkaliczky (Red.): Oltalom a zivatarban , Budapest 2011, ISBN 978-963-08-1512-3 (Hungarian)

Web links

Szigethy Lajos: Evangelikus magyar arcképcsarnok, p. 17 (short biography, Hungarian)
The Evangelicals in Hungary in the 19th Century (Hungarian)

References and comments

↑ The illustration was made available by the Evangelical National Museum ( Hungarian Evangélikus Országos Múzeum) in Budapest, where the original painting (by an unknown master) is located.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Information from the Evangelical National Archives in Budapest ( Evangélikus Országos Levéltár , Budapest)
↑ Today the chalice is owned by the Evangelical National Museum (Evangélikus Országos Múzeum), Budapest.
↑ The Germans had the majority, followed by the Slovaks; the ethnic Hungarians were the smallest group. Therefore, the services had to be held in three languages, which led to numerous differences of opinion and conflicts. These conflicts led to the separation from the German community in the 1830s.
↑ János Molnár held three German services per month, one service per month in Slovak and only three services per year (!) In Hungarian. The number of Hungarian Lutherans was so tiny in the early days.
↑ Joseph Kalchbrenner from Ödenburg was - after János Molnár (* 1757, † 1819) the second preacher of the Pest parish after its foundation. However, since he did not speak Slovak, Ján Kollár was hired as the second preacher to take care of the Slovak parishioners .
^ In the same year (1836) the Hungarians founded an independent Hungarian community. The Hungarian József Székács was elected the first preacher of this community. At that time the church had only 180 parishioners.
↑ Maria Dorothea was the third wife of Palatine Joseph of Austria .
↑ Johann Schranz came from Drumling in Burgenland . He was a graduate of theology at the University of Basel . Later professor of theology in Eperjes . Between 1868 and 1873 he was a preacher in Leutschau , before Michael Lang was called to the parish of Pest as the second German preacher.
↑ The Danube flood flowed between March 13th and 18th, 1838. During the plague, the water stood up to 2.6 m in the streets. 2281 houses collapsed and 50-60 thousand people were left homeless. In Pest, the flood claimed over 150 lives.
↑ Alexander Doleschall: The first century from the life of a metropolitan community, Budapest 1887
↑ Count Leiningen-Westerburg was one of the thirteen martyrs of Arad who were executed on October 6, 1849 on the orders of Julius Haynau . Besides him, four other German generals who fought on the side of the Hungarians were executed, namely Ludwig Aulich (* 1793), Ernst Ritter von Poeltenberg (* 1808), Joseph Schweidel (* 1796) and Georg Lahner (* 1795).
↑ In May 1849 the Feldzeugmeister Julius Haynau took over the high command in Hungary with unlimited powers.
↑ Kossuth's mother, Karoline geb. Weber (* 1770, † 1853) came from a Protestant family from Eperjes .
↑ The Kerepescher Friedho f is considered a celebrity and honorary cemetery in the Hungarian capital. Many important personalities from Hungarian history were laid to rest here.

personal data
SURNAME	Lang, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Hungarian Protestant theologian
DATE OF BIRTH	March 30, 1803
PLACE OF BIRTH	Pest , Kingdom of Hungary
DATE OF DEATH	January 31, 1874
Place of death	Budapest , Kingdom of Hungary

[1] The illustration was made available by the Evangelical National Museum ( Hungarian Evangélikus Országos Múzeum) in Budapest, where the original painting (by an unknown master) is located.

[:0-2] Information from the Evangelical National Archives in Budapest ( Evangélikus Országos Levéltár , Budapest)

[3] Today the chalice is owned by the Evangelical National Museum (Evangélikus Országos Múzeum), Budapest.

[4] The Germans had the majority, followed by the Slovaks; the ethnic Hungarians were the smallest group. Therefore, the services had to be held in three languages, which led to numerous differences of opinion and conflicts. These conflicts led to the separation from the German community in the 1830s.

[5] János Molnár held three German services per month, one service per month in Slovak and only three services per year (!) In Hungarian. The number of Hungarian Lutherans was so tiny in the early days.

[6] Joseph Kalchbrenner from Ödenburg was - after János Molnár (* 1757, † 1819) the second preacher of the Pest parish after its foundation. However, since he did not speak Slovak, Ján Kollár was hired as the second preacher to take care of the Slovak parishioners .

[7] In the same year (1836) the Hungarians founded an independent Hungarian community. The Hungarian József Székács was elected the first preacher of this community. At that time the church had only 180 parishioners.

[8] Maria Dorothea was the third wife of Palatine Joseph of Austria .

[9] Johann Schranz came from Drumling in Burgenland . He was a graduate of theology at the University of Basel . Later professor of theology in Eperjes . Between 1868 and 1873 he was a preacher in Leutschau , before Michael Lang was called to the parish of Pest as the second German preacher.

[10] The Danube flood flowed between March 13th and 18th, 1838. During the plague, the water stood up to 2.6 m in the streets. 2281 houses collapsed and 50-60 thousand people were left homeless. In Pest, the flood claimed over 150 lives.

[11] Alexander Doleschall: The first century from the life of a metropolitan community, Budapest 1887

[12] Count Leiningen-Westerburg was one of the thirteen martyrs of Arad who were executed on October 6, 1849 on the orders of Julius Haynau . Besides him, four other German generals who fought on the side of the Hungarians were executed, namely Ludwig Aulich (* 1793), Ernst Ritter von Poeltenberg (* 1808), Joseph Schweidel (* 1796) and Georg Lahner (* 1795).

[13] In May 1849 the Feldzeugmeister Julius Haynau took over the high command in Hungary with unlimited powers.

[14] Kossuth's mother, Karoline geb. Weber (* 1770, † 1853) came from a Protestant family from Eperjes .

[15] The Kerepescher Friedho f is considered a celebrity and honorary cemetery in the Hungarian capital. Many important personalities from Hungarian history were laid to rest here.