Floh, Jacob Hendrik, was born in the year 1758, at Crefeld. He studied theology in the Baptist semi- nary in Amsterdam. He was invited in 1783 to take charge of the Baptist church at Enschede. Here he labored between forty and fifty years. He was a man of extensive knowledge and of a ready wit, and was indefatigable in his labors. He contributed greatly to promote the cause of education in the section of the country where he was located. Several valuable es- saj's were written by him on the subject of education. One, on the Best Theory of Punishments and Retvards in Schools, received the prize from the Slaatschappy tot nut van 't algemeen. Several works on other sub- jects were written by him. One, on the Indissoluble Connection between Virtue andtrtte Happiness, was crown- ed by the same society-. Another, on a kindred sub- ject, we deem worthy of mention here : National Hap- piness cannot Exist without national Virtue. For a few years Floh allowed himself to be drawn aside from his ministerial vocation to engage in political life. In 1796 he was chosen representative of tlie people in the National Convention at the Hague. In 1798 he was chosen secretary of the first chamber of the represent- ative body of the Batavian people. He acquitted him- self in these positions with great credit. His theolog- ical views were Latitudinarian. His principal works are, Proeve eener Ijeredeneerde verhlaring der geschiedenis van's Heilands verzoeking in de woestijn, Deventer, 1790; lets over bedestonden, 18i7. His attack on the Heidel- berg Catechism, as teaching, in the answer to the fifth question, a doctrine dangerous to the state, made in the National Assembly at the Hague, was regarded as highly injudicious, and excited great indignation. It elicited a triumphant reply from the pen of Ewaldus Kist, one of the most highly esteemed ministers of the Reformed Church. Floh attempted no reply. It was thought that he was himself convinced by the moder- ate and judicious reply of Kist. AVe may add in hon- or of Floh that this attack of liis was regarded as an exception to his otherwise impartial conduct as a pub- lic representative. He died at Enschedo in March,
[ 1830. See B. Glasius, Godgeleerd Nederland, i Deel, biz. j 467 en verv. ; Ypej' en Dermont's Geschiedenis der Ne- j derlandsche Hervormde Kerk, iv Deel, biz. 206 en verv. (Breda, 1827). (J. P. W.)
Flohr, George Daniel, a minister of the Luther- an Church, was a native of German}', born in 1759. He died in Wj-theville, Va., in 1826. He studied med- j icine in Paris, and was one of the throng that witness- ] ed the execution of Louis XVI. The accidental but tragical death of an individual in the crowd standing near him, part of whose mangled body was thrown upon his person, most deeply afl:ected him, and so op- erated upon his mind as to lead him to change all his purposes and plans for the future. This was the turn- ing-point in his character. A train of serious thought was awakened which resulted in his conversion, and subsequent consecration to the work of the ministry. Soon after he came to America, and pursued the studj' of theology under the direction of the Rev. William Carpenter, Madison Count}', Va. After his licensure to preach the Gospel, he engaged in successful mission- ary service in south-western Virginia, but fubscquent- ly took charge of several congregations in Wythe County, among whom he faithfully labored till his death. Mr. Flohr exercised an extraordinar}- influ- ence not only upon the members of his church, but upon all classes of society. When difficulties occurred in the communitj' tliej' were always referred to him ' for adjustment, and from his decision scarcely any one ever thought of an appeal. The basis of this influence was the unlimited confidence which every one had in his personal worth and Christian integrity. So far as his professional engagements allowed, Mr. Flohr Mas devoted to study. His acquaintance with the German and French was extensive and thorough, and his at- tainments in Latin and Greek considerable. The only woik of his ever published was a posthumous volume of sermons. (M. L. S.)
Flood (the rendering of several Heb. words [see Rain], but especially of 3^3^, mabbul', KaraK\v(Tf^i6c'), an event related in the book of Genesis (ch. vii and viii), by which, according to the usual interpretation of the description, the whole world was overwhelmed and every terrestrial creature destroyed, with the exception of one human familj' and the representatives of each species of animal, supernaturally preserved in an ark, constructed by divine appointment for the purpose. See Ark.
1. The successive stages of its progress were in order and at intervals as follows. In the 600th year of his life, Noah was commanded to enter the ark, taking with. him his wife, and his three sons with their wives. One week afterwards, on tiie 17th day of the 2d month (answering nearly to our November), there began a forty-days' rain, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up, so that its waters rose over the land until all the high hills under the whole heavens were covered. Fifteen cubits (twenty-seven feet) upward did the waters prevail (rise). On the 17th day of the 7th month (about April), or 150 days after the deluge began, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, or Armenia, the waters having begun to abate. Thej' continued to decrease till the 1st day of the 10th month (July), when the tops of the mountains were visible. Forty days after this, Noah sent forth a raven from the !}rk, which never returned. He next (apparently after seven daj-s) sent forth a dove, wliich came back. Seven daj'S afterwards he dispatched the dove again to ascertain the state of the earth, and in the evening she returned with an olive-leaf in her mouth. After an interval of seven days the dove was sent forth a third time, and returned no more. On the first day of the 1st month of the new year (Sept. -Oct.) the waters were dried from oft" the eartli, and on the 27th day of the 2d month (Nov.) Noah came out of the ark, built an altar, and off'ered sacrifice. See Noah.