Michael Meurer

Michael Meurer , Latinized Michael Muris or, according to his place of birth Michael a Muris Galliculus, also: Michael Haenlein (* around 1475 in Hainichen ; † 1537 in Königsberg ) was a Lutheran theologian, hymn composer and reformer.

Life

Meurer had been a Cistercian monk in the Altzella monastery since 1499 , where he distinguished himself through his erudition in philosophy, theology and music. In the winter of 1500 Meurer was registered as Brother Michael de Henichen at the University of Leipzig and on April 28, 1525 as Michael Meurer ex Henekein at the University of Wittenberg . As early as 1514 he had published several works, including a “ Compendium musicae ”. In 1519 he had a font “ De statu animae ” printed. He had been in correspondence with Martin Luther since 1520 , presumably resigned from the monastery in 1522, went to Wittenberg and married.

When Danzig requested a competent preacher in 1525 and Johannes Bugenhagen could not come to an agreement, Luther recommended him in his letter to the council of Danzig on May 5, 1525. He must have set off straight away, because after 4 weeks he met his Woman in Gdansk. The council bore the cost of the trip.

In Danzig he received the pulpit of St. Mary's Church , where he preached for the first time on Pentecost. He continued this activity until it was forbidden to him by the representatives of the old Church. The King of Poland intervened in Danzig and the Reformation was bloodily stifled.

Duke Albrecht I of Brandenburg-Ansbach was only able to get rid of Meurer and Hitfeld, a second preacher, whom he took with him to Prussia . Meurer became archdeacon in Rastenburg and deputy bishop for Masuria . On behalf of Bishop Erhard von Queiß , he carried out the visitation there and worked towards the establishment of synods. In 1531 he was called to Königsberg and worked there at the Löbenicht Church in community with Johann Briesmann , pastor at the Königsberg Cathedral and Johannes Gramann (Poliander), pastor at the old town church.

At the Rastenburg Synod, which was held on June 8th and 9th, 1531 negotiations with the supporters of Kaspar Schwenckfeld , he took a leading part. In addition to Paul Speratus and him, the whole Masurian clergy was gathered there. Duke Albrecht valued him and sometimes gave him special assignments. For him he translated Philipp Melanchthon's text " Sententiae patrum de coena domini " into German, which was printed in 1532 in Wittenberg.

Also as a music connoisseur he was dear to the duke. It is also noteworthy that he has already given thought to the care of the pastors' relatives. He worked out a draft from "Concerns about the old and frail pastors, their widows and children" .

literature

• Paul Tschackert : Document book on the history of the Reformation in the Duchy of Prussia. Leipzig 1890, vol. 1, p. 137f.
• W. Hubatsch: History of the Evangelical Church in East Prussia. 1, Göttingen 1968, pass.
• Robert Stupperich : Reformatorenlexikon. Verlag Gerd Mohn, Gütersloh 1984, ISBN 3-579-00123-X .
• EJ Brill: Julius Pflug Correspondance Tomo 1. Leiden 1969 Online (Dutch)