Knapp, Albert, a German theologian, and one of the ablest ^vorkers in the Wiirtemberg Church of the 19th century, peculiarly distinguished for his poetical gifts and influence in establishing a school of religions poetn,', was born in Tiibingen July 25, 1798. His child- hood was passed in the village of Alpirsbach, under the old 11th-century Benedictine cloister, and he enjoyed the careful instruction of Handel, afterward pastor at .Stamm- heim. Night and day he dreamed poetry. His miivcr- sity studies, upon Avhich he entered in 1816, were rather poetic than theological; the authorities did not restrain his choice, and for that he always expressed his grati- tude. In 1820 he was established vicar near Stuttgard, and here, through intercourse with the pious AMlhclm Hofacker (q. v.), he received that deep religious impres- sion which ever after characterized his work. In 1831 he became deacon at Kirchheim, where, at the instance of a friend, he began tlie publication of the Chriftoterpe, an annual which contained religious selections from va- rious eminent authors, was popular, and often sought as a Christmas gift in families, but ceased with the year 1853. In 1836 he was made pastor at Stuttgard. and la- bored there with great zeal for the cause of his IMaster, exercising a large influence until his death, .June 18, 1864. The prayer expressed in one of his best liymns was answered : " Grant me one thhig here below — thy
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Spirit and thy peace, and the honor in my grave of hav- ing known thy love."
Albert Kiiapp is chiefly known by his religious poems, and as the best of these may be pointed out his Chi-ist- Ik'he Gedichte (in 2 vols. Stuttg. 18-29-, 3d ed. Basle, 18-13), Ilerhstbliithen (1859), and Christoterpe, alreadj' referred to. To the hj'mnology of the Church Ivjiapp render- ed special service in preserving, in the revision of the Church hymn-book, many forgotten treasures. His Lie- derschatz, generally acknowledged to be one of the most valuable collections of Christian hymns of all ages, was first published in 1837 (2d ed. 1850, 2 vols. 8vo), and the Ecangdlsche Gesant/buch in 1855. His avowed principle of modernizing obsolete forms in the old hymns was sharply assailed, and he himself restoretl at a later day some of the original expressions. As a preacher the manifold richness of his thought and delicacy of diction was his attraction. He did not suffer himself to appear the poet in his sermons, never having once so used a poem of his own, nor even having appointed one of his own hymns to be sung, yet no one could listen to him without acknowledging a rare union of extensive learn- ing with original genius. His singular merit as a hymn- maker remains, notwithstanding a haste of composition and lightness of tone in some of his poems, and although the subjective individuality of the author, according to the spirit of the times, often characterizes his weiglitier pieces, yet his individuality is ons of simple faith. In theologj' he was fully evangelical in his doctrine of salvation, which he defended not in mere polemic, but in heart-devotion against all opposers. See his preface to the Christoierpe of I84G for a statement of his belief. He grounded all defence of doctrine upon the necessities and joyful faith of spiritual experience, and severely con- demned a merely external method and the zeal of argu- mentative orthodoxy. He had no sympathy with sects as such. Knapp's biographical contributions in the Christoterpe are of great interest and beauty; we name that on his own " Childhood Days" in the issue of 1849, on Ludwig Hofecker (1848), Hedhigcr (1836), Steinhofer (1837), Jacob Balde (1848), Jeremias Flatt (1852). The writer's poetic humor and narrative power, joined with love for his theme, make these sketches perfect art- ■\\-orks. Dr. Friederich Wilhelm Krummacher, in his autobiography (translated by Easton, Edinb. 18G9, 8vo, p. 203, 204), pays the following tribute to the high poet- ical talents of our subject : "That in Albert Knapp there ^vas a true poetic inborn genius no one will seriously deny, and yet he is not generally mentioned in our re- cent histories of literature as ranked among the 'Suabian poets,' although, without doubt, he would have been named among them, and in the very foremost rank, had he consecrated his harp to the spirit of the world instead of seeking aU his inspiration from the Spirit of God; but ■worldly fame, to which the way and the door stood wide open for him, he gladly cast at his feet, and recognised it as his calling, as it indeed was the impulse of his heart, to sing the praises of the heavenly Prince of Peace, througli. whom he knew he was redeemed and ordained ' to the inheritance of the saints in light.' Instead of worldly fame, there was destined for him, so long as a Church of Christ shall remain on earth, the glorious re- ward of (iod, that his Eiiies u'iinsch ich niir vor allem Andern, his An dein Bluten uml J-Jrhkichen, his Abend ist es, Ilerr, die Stunde, and many others of his hymns, will never cease to be sung in it. We bless him in the name of many thousands to whom the melodies of his harp, breathing peace and joy, have lightened their steps on the way to the city of God, and we hope that the people of Stuttgard may long refresh themselves at the ' streams of living water' which, according to the word of the Lord, yet flow for them to this hour from the life and labors of their highly-gifted pastor." See Herzog, Reid-Eiiri/klop. xix, s. v.