Fletchei, Joseph, D.D., an Independent minis- ter, was born at Chester in 1784. He entered Iloxton Academy in 1803, and the University of Glasgow in the following j'ear. In 1807 he became minister of the Independent chapel at Blackburn, being at the same time engaged as theological tutor in an academj', and in 1823 he accepted a call as minister at Stepney. He died in 1843. Ilis ])rincipal writings were edited b}' the Eev. Joseph Fletcher, jun., under the title of Select Works and Memoirs (London, 184G, 3 vols. 8vo), including the Memoir, vol. i ; essays on Komanism and Puseyism, vol. ii ; Sermons, vol. iii. There appeared scparatelv, A Discourse (Kom. viii, 3) on Spirituality of Mind (London, 1824, Sd. ed. 8vo) -.—A Discourse (1 John ii, 18) on the Prophecies concerning Antichrist (Lond. 1825, 8vo) : — Discourse (Judc 21), the Christian's Hope of Merqi (Lond. 1832, 8 vo).— Darling, Cyclopce- dia BihUographica, s. v.
Fleury, Claude, an eminent French historian and divine, was born in Paris Dec. 6, 1640. He was educated as an advocate at the College of Clermont, and became a counsellor of the Parliament of Paris in 1658, but subsequ'enth' took orders, and, acquiring a great reputation for learning, he was appointed in 1674 preceptor to the princess of Conti, and afterwards associated with Fenelon in educating the young dukes
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of Burgund}', Anjoii, and Berri. He was made mem- ber of the Academj' in 1G96, and in 1707 obtained from Louis XIV the priory of Ai'genteuil, where lie resided till 171G, when he left it to become confessor to Louis XV. He died Juh^ 14, 1723, greatlj' respected for his learning and his virtues. His reputation rests chiefly upon his Church Ilistonj, in twenty volumes, the first of which was published in 1691, and the last in 1722, ending with the year 1414. Tliis work, as Fleur}' says in the preface, was meant to be rather a popular history than one of research and erudition ; but j'et it is a clear and generally fair account of the progress of Christianity, and evinces a large amount of the proper talent of the historian. It is Avritten from the Gallican stand-point. " Fleury writes diffuselj' and in the spirit of a monk, but with taste and skill, in mild temper and strong love for the Church and Chris- tianity, and with a view always to edify as well as to instruct. He follows the order of time, though not slavishly, prefacing some of his volumes with general characteristics. He also defends antiquity and the Gallican ecclesiastical constitution, without, however, surrendering at all the credit of the Church, its gen- eral tradition, or the necessity of the pope as its head. His principal concern is with doctrine, discipline, and practical piety" (Schaff, Apost. Church, § 20). Fleury, as a writer of Church historj^, is not at all in favor with Ultramontanists ; a specimen of their feeling to- wards him is given by the Univers (Paris) for July 8, 1856, which calls him " the worthless and hateful Fleur}"-, so ardent and furious in liis calumnies and spite against tlie pope !" His Church History was con- tinued by Fabri, but feeblj', down to A.D. 1598. The Ljst edition is Illstoire Ecclesiastique avec coniimmiion par Fahri et Gouget (Paris, 17G9-74, oG vols. ; indexes, 4 vols. ; in all, 40 vols. 12mo). A -very good recent edition is tli it of Didier (Paris, 1840, 6 vols. 8vo). A translation by Herbert, iip to the 9th century, was published in London (1727, 5 vols. 4to) ; and a partial translation by Rev. J. H. Newman appeared in 1842-44 (3 vols. 8vo). The Abrege cle V Ilistoire Ecclesiastique. di Fk'iirij, published at 13erne in 1776, is ascribed to Frederick the Great. His other writings were very numerous ; the most important are, Mceurs des Chre- tiens (Paris, 1682) : — Maurs des Israelites (Paris, 1C81), which was translated and published, with additions, by Dr. Adam Clarke (Manchester, 1805 ; New York, 1836) -.—Institution du divit ecclesiastique (Paris, 1771, 2 vols. 12mo) : — Discours sur les libertes de I'Eglise Galli- cane. His minor works are collected in Martin's edi- tion of (Eupres de Vahbe Fleury (1837, imp. 8vo), to which is prefixed a life of Fleury. Jortin translated his Discourse on Eccles. History from GOO to 1100 (see Jortin, Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, Lond. 1773, V, 72 sq.). See also Dupin, Ecclesiiist. Writers, cent, xvii; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, xvii, 916; Dow- ling, On the Study of Ecclesiastical History, ch. iii.
Fliediier, Theodor, a German philanthropist, was liorn at Eppstein, Rhenish Prussia, in 1798, where his father was pastor. His early education was con- ducted by his father, and he entered the ministry with some misgiving, rather doubting his fitness, and choos- ing rather the function of teaclxer. But in 1820 a call to the pastorate of the little village community of Kai- serswerth, a small town on the Rhine, opened his way, and he diffidently began his work in the place now forever -associated -with his name, and which became, under his hand, the centre of an influence approach- ing that of Wesley himself, whose power of endurance, faith, and incessant labor Fliedner rivalled. The in- habitants of Kaiserswerth were chiefl}'^ supported by a large manufactorj', which failed in 1822. Fliedner devoted himself to the work of helping his flock in- stead of being supported by them. " Never did a man begin to ask for help with a heavier heart, nor with worse success, till a brother pastor at Elbcrfeldt took him home to dinner, and told him that the three requi-