Kurtz, John Daniel, D.D., a distinguished minis- ter of tlie Lutheran Church, the son of the Rev. J. N. Kurtz, was born at Germantown, Penn., in 1763. Verj^ early in life he had a strong desire to prepare for the ministry of reconciliation. After leaving school he pur- sued his studies under the direction of his father, and subsequently with Rev. Dr. H. E. Miihlenberg, of Lan- caster. In 1784 he was licensed to preach by the Synod of Pennsylvania. He commenced his ministerial labors by assisting his father in preaching, catechising, and vis- iting the sick. Afterwards he took charge of congrega- tions in the vicinity of York. He removed in 1786 to Baltimore, where he labored with great diligence and fidelity for nearly half a centurj'. In 1832, in conse- quence of advancing physical infirmities, he resigned his position, although he occasionally preached, and en- deavored to make himself useful whenever an opportu- nity offered. He died June 30, 1856, in the 98d year' of his age, loved and honored by all who knew him. Dur- ing his ministry he baptized 5156 persons, buried 2521, and solemnized 2386 marriages. Being once told that the Methodists were gathering in German Lutheran emigrants and organizing chiu"ches among them, his re- ply was, " And is it not better that they should go to heaven as Methodists than be neglected and overlooked as Lutherans ?" He was one of the founders of the Gen- eral Synod of the Lutheran Church, a director of the Theological Seminar}', and closely identified with aU the benevolent institutions of the Church. He aided in the formation of the Maryland Bible Society, and for many j-ears was president of the trustees of the Female Or- phan Asylum. (jM. L. S.)
Kurtz, John Nicholas, one of the earlier Luther- an ministers in this country, was bom at Lutzelinden, in the principality of Nassau -Weilburg, and came to this country in 1745. He pursued his studies at Giessen and Hallo, and was regarded by Dr. Francke as peculiarly fitted for missionary labor among his countrj-men in America. He was the first Lutheran minister ordained in this countrj'. He labored successively at New Hano- ver, Tulpehocken, Germantown, and York, Pa., although he frequently spent whole months in visiting the desti- tute places of the Church, preaching, catechising, and administering the sacraments. During his residence at Tidpehocken the services of the sanctuary were often conducted at imminent risk of life, as the ruthless In- dian lay in wait for victims, and whole families were sometimes massacred. The officers of the church stood at the doors armed with defensive weapons, to prevent a surjirisc and to protect minister and people. In trav- elling to liis preaching stations and visiting among his members he was often exposed to danger from the at- tack of the tomahawk and scalping -knife. He was pastor at York when Congress, during the Revolution, held its session there, and bishop White, the chaplain, was his guest. As an evidence of his interest in the American struggle, it is mentioned that, after preaching
on the Lord's day, he invited his hearers to collect all the articles of apparel they could spare, and send them to his residence tor distribution among the suflering, destitute soldiers. When he reached his threescore years and ten he felt that it was his duty to retire from the active duties of the ministry. He removed to Bal- timore, where he spent the remainder of his days in the famUj' of his son, John Daniel Kurtz (q. v.), until 1794, when he peacefully passed away to his rest. He was held in high estimation by his contemporaries as a man of great learning and earnest piety. (M. L. S.)
Kushai'ah (Heb. only with 1 paragogic, A'!/s/;rt^a'- hu, in^'j'lp, boiv of Jehovah, i. e. rainbow ; Sept. Kicrai- ac), a Levite of the family of Merari, and father of Ethan, which latter was appointed chief assistant of He- man in the Temple music imder David (I Chron. xv, 17) ; elsewhere (1 Chron. vi, 44) called Kishi. B.C. 1014.
Kussemeth. See Rye.
Kiister, Karl Daniel, a German theologian, was born at Bernburg May 6, 1727. In 1745 he entered the University of Halle, and studied theology until 1749, when he became teacher in the German-French orphan asylum in Magdeburg. In 1754 he entered the army as chaplain, and in this capacity served the Prussians dur- ing the Seven Years' War. On his return he became preacher at Magdeburg, and was made the first pastor of the city in 1768. He died Sept. 21, 1804. Kiister was a truly pious man, and greatlj' served the cause of Christianity, especially among the soldiers of Frederick the Great. For his works, see Dciring, Gelehrte Theol, Deutschlands, ii, 218 sq.
Kiister, Ludolf, a learned German Greek scholar, who was born at Blomberg, Westphalia, in Fcl>. 1670, held first a professorship at the Joacbimsthal Gymnasi- um in Berlin, and latei^ enjoyed the favor of Lotus XIV, and a pension with membership in the French Acad- emy, and who died Oct. 12, 1716, deserves a place here for his edition of MiU's Greek Testament, published at Rotterdam in 1710, and entitled Collectio Milliana, etc. Kiister's additions consist of the various readings of twelve ]MSS., of which the most important is the Codex Boe7-nerianus, afterwards admirably edited by JIatthaei. The edition also contains a preface by Ktlster, and a letter of Le Clerc's discussing a number of various read- ings, of some historical interest. According to Trcgelles, it is usually considered inferior in accuracy to Jlill's orig- inal edition. — Kit to, Cyclopcedia of Biblical Literature, ii, 764.