Albert Knapp
Albert Knapp ( born July 25, 1798 in Tübingen, † June 18, 1864 in Stuttgart) was a German priest, poet and founder of the first animal protection association in Germany. His grandson was the pacifist Paul Knapp.
Life
Albert Knapp was the son of Hofgerichtsadvokaten and administrators Gottfried Gabriel Knapp (1764-1828) and Henriette born Finckh ( 1775-1827 ). His childhood and youth were spent in Alpirsbach, Rottweil and Tübingen. In Maulbronn, where he entered the Protestant seminary in 1814, he already wrote poems and dramatic texts. Among his literary models included William Shakespeare, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Jean Paul and Ludwig Uhland.
In 1816 he began the study of Protestant theology in Tübingen. In addition, he was particularly interested in history, philosophy and poetry. Knapp was a zealous fraternity, on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo a seditious speech was delivered in 1819 ( against the authoritarian monarch, and for a united Germany ).
Through his friend Ludwig Hofacker he received in 1820 a Vicariate place in Feuerbach near Stuttgart. Just fought too one-sided pietistic view. Further stations of his spiritual career include: Vicar in Gaisburg, deacon in Sulz am Neckar (1825 ) and in Kirchheim unter Teck ( 1831). In 1836 he came to Stuttgart to the hospital and the Collegiate Church and took over in 1845 as the successor of Gustav Schwab, the office of parish priest of St. Leonhard's Church.
In December 1837, he also founded, inspired by his friend and role model, who died in February of the same year pietistic Christian pastor Adam Then, the first animal welfare organization in Germany. He designed a leaflet which was annexed in 1838 the Swabian Mercury and called for the establishment of local groups. A reproach of him was that there were still no public law against cruelty to animals. Animal welfare is a deeply Christian concern, with Knapp on the scripture Romans 8:18-23 called LUT.
Albert Knapp was married three times: since 1828 with Christiane von Beulwitz († 1835), since 1836 with the widow Emilie Osiander († 1849) and since 1850 with Minette Lark ( † 1897). He died on 18 June 1864 in Stuttgart at the age of 65 years.
Artistic creation
Albert Knapp wrote a total of about 1200 secular and sacred poems and songs, whose language is oriented to the Bible, Martin Luther and Paul Gerhardt. He also wrote portraits of poets and theologians. Many of his hymns have been included in hymnals. Wilhelm Nelle designated Knapp as the " spiritual Klopstock of the 19th century".
Was nearly as Hymnologe important. In 1837 he published in the Evangelical Liederschatz for church and house a selection of nearly 3590 songs. Since the earlier texts had many changes ( including even free versions of poetry ), he was so harshly criticized by Philipp Wackernagel.
Works ( selection)
- Protestant Liederschatz for church and home. A collection of spiritual songs from all the Christian centuries, collected, and according to the needs of our time edited by M. Albert Knapp, deacon at the Hospital Church in Stuttgart. 2 vols. Stuttgart and Tübingen: JG Cotta bookstore in 1837.
- The earnest expectation of the creature. ( Albert Knapp et al ), 1843.
- Picture of life in 1867.
- Against the Cruelty to Animals. Early Views on animal welfare from the Württemberg Pietism, ed. v. Martin H. Jung. Leipzig: Evang. ET - Anst. 2002nd ( = minor texts of Pietism; 7) ISBN 3-374-01988-9
- Christo terpene. A Handbook for Christian readers to 1837 Tübingen. CF Osiander 1836.
Remembrance
June 18 in the Protestant calendar name.