Magazin (Hanov. 1787-90); Neueres Magazin (ibid. 1791-92, 3 vols.). Meiners's literary works e^-ince great activity, and at the same time a great variety in his themes; the most of his writings, however, are devoted to show the difference between past and present morals. Meinhold, Johann Wilhelm, a German theolo- gian, was born Feb. 27, 1797, at Netzelkow, on the isle of Usedom, and was educated at Greifswalde. In 1820 he was appointed rector of the school at Usedom, and soon after minister at Koserow, near the Baltic; in 1826 at Krummin, and in 1844 at Eehwinkel, near Star- gard. He resigned this position in 1850, and joined the Koman Catholic confession. He died in 1851 at Char- lottenburg. He published Athnnasia oder die Verkldr- ung Fi-iedrich Wilhelm III (1844): — Die habylonische Sprachen und 1 deenvericirrung der modernen Presse (Leips. 1848). His works were collected and published at Leipsic (1846-52), entitled Gesammelte Schriften.
Meinrad, St., a German Roman Catholic ascetic, was born towards the close of the 8th century. He was educated at the abbey of Reichenau. He secluded him- self in a desert near the Etzel Mountains, and afterwards near the spot where now stands the Benedictine convent of Einsiedeln, which was built in 934 by the canon Ben- edictus of Strasburg. Meinrad was murdered Feb. 21, 863. — Regensburger Encgklopddie, s. v.
Meintel, Conrad Stephen, a German theologian, was born at Schwabach, Bavaria, in the early part of the 18th century. In his very youth he made such rapid progress in old and modern languages that he had finished in his twelfth year the reading of the Bible in the original. He studied theology at the university at Altdorf in 1745 ; continued in 1746 at Jena ; went in 1747 home to Peternaurach, where his father was then installed as a minister of the Gospel. In 1751 he re- turned to Altdorf. He gained great notoriety in 1751 by means of his dissertation De locis quibusdam Jobi, in quibus celeberr. Schultens majorem lucem desideravit. In the latter part of 1751 he went home to assist his fa- ther, and staj'ed there till 1754, when he went to Er- langen, and then gained great distinctitin by his defence of the dissertation Observutionesjihilohgico-jihilosophicm in Ecclesiastis septem jyriores versus. He was given the privilege of holding public lectures. He had hopes of a professorship, but love for his home made him return to it again, and he became an assistant of his father. He finally accepted a call from St. Petersburg, Russia, and died, as minister of the Protestant congregations at Was- sili-Ostrow, Aug. 13, 1764. A. short time before his death the doctorate in divinity was given to him by the University of Konigsberg. Besides several literary es- says, he published the following : Notm selectissimorum commentatorum Judaicorum in Psalmos Davidi ex col- lectione Hebraica celeberr. H. J. v. Bashuysen, Latine red- ditai (Suabaci, 1744, 8vo) : — Cento quattro histoi-ie scelte della Biblia raccolte dul fee Sgr. Giov. Hubner ed hora tradotte de original Tedesco in Italiano (ibid. 1745, 4to). Meir, Rabbi (surnamed " illuminator" i. e. the en- lightener, from the estimate which his contemporaries had formed of his merit), lived about 120. He was a native of Asia Minor. Legend traces his origin to the emperor Nero. He was a disciple of the famous rabbi Akiba (q. v.), and was very intimate with Elisa ben- Abua, who, after his apostasy and subserviency to. the Romans, was called Aclier, i. e. the other one. Meir's talents early procured him ordination from his teacher Akiba. As an instructor, he was remarkable for a thorough and effective investigation of his subject. The rabbins used to say, in their Oriental manner, that he dealt with difficulties of the law as a giant would uproot the mountains, and shatter them against each other. So replete was he with knowledge, and so successful in the communication of it, that '• were a man even to touch the staff of rabbi Meir, he would become wise." His wife was Beruria, the talented and accomplished daughter of Chananja ben-Teradion, who was burned,
MEIR
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MEIR BEN-BARUCH
wrapped in the roll which he had been discovered study- ing, (luring the persecution under Hadrian. Meir sup- ported liimselfby making copies of the Scriptures. This occupation required not only considerable learning, but cs[)ccially scrupulous exactness, a quality for which Meir was not particularly distinguished. His teacher, the conscientious Ishmael, anxiously set these things before liim, representing the danger which must result from any neglect on his part. But Meir, who felt no peculiar scruples, and was vain of his excellent memorj-, which on one occasion had enabled him to copy the whole book of Esther, set these jjrudent counsels aside. It was the practice of Jewish copyists to use an ink which, ill case of any mistake, could easily be oblitera- ted. On the other hand, Meir, confident of his accu- racy, used an indelible ink prepared from sulphate of copper (Chalcanthon). Referring to this, he replied to Ishraael's admonitions in his usual off-hand manner, "Oh, I have a remedy at hand against all mistakes: I use sul[)hate of copper." As has already been said, his talents had procured him ordination from Akiba. The youthful appearance of the rabbi excited the jealousy of some, whom he reminded that, as it was not the ves- sel but its contents which were precious, it might hap- pen that, while a new vessel contained old, an old-look- ing vessel might only enclose new wine. Meir was very fond of illustrating his doctrine by apologue and parable, and is reported to liave invented no less than three hundred fables about foxes {Saiili.oH,b; Sota, 49, a). The only lasting merit of rabbi Meir was liis con- tinuation of the labors of Akiba in the arrangement of the Halacha. This he carried a stage further, by divid- ing, according to their contents, the traditions which had hitherto been only strung together according to their number. In this respect Jehuda Hakkodesh, the com- piler of the Mishna, was much indebted to his tuition.