4. Social Condition. — The Roumanians, claiming to be the descendants of the ancient Dacians, betray that origin largely in their language, which is a Latin dia- lect, three fourths of the words being Latin (the Dacian has disappeared), the other fourth being made up of words indicating a Grecian, Gothic, Slavic, or Turkish origin. A Grammaiica Daco-Romana was published by Johann. Alexi (Vienna, 1826), and a Historia Lin- gum Baco-Romance by Laurianus (Vienna, 1849). A large Latin-Romanic-Hungarian Dictionary was care- fully executed by the bishop of Fogarasch, Job. Bob (Klausenburg, 1839, 3 vols.). The nobles of the land generally speak French, and indeed French ideas and customs are in favor with the Roumanians, particularly the young. Tliere is no middle class. The common people, though very poor, are on the whole good-hu-
mored, frugal, sober, and cleanly; murder and larceny are almost unknown. Their dwellings, however, are, as may be supposed, of the most wretched description ; composed chiefly of interlaced ivillow-withes, covered with mud, cane, and straw ; and often, even in the large towns, they are only of mud ; a cloak serves for a bed, and the whole house-furniture is comprised in a few kitchen utensils. The education of the countrj^ is not in a very forward' condition, but promises under the present administration to take advanced ground. The trade of the country is largely in the hands of foreign- ers, especially Jews, who fare badly. Gypsy communi- ties are an important element in the population; up- wards of 150,000 of this mysterious race are serfs be- longing to the rich boyars and th6 monasteries. In 1844 about 30,000 were emancipated, and settled in col- onies in different parts of the land ; they are rided by a Bataf, or king, of their own choice, of which every gypsy village has one : they call themselves Romnitschel or Romni.
5. Religion. — (1) Ecclesiastical Status. — The establish- ed religion of '• Roumania" is that of the Greek Church, but all forms of Christianity are tolerated, and their pro- fessors enjoy equal political rights. At the head of the Greek clergy stands a metropolitan archbishop chosen by the general assemblj^ of the different estates, con- firmed in his office by the prince, and serving 4,275,000 members. Every bishop is assisted by a council of clergy, and has a seminary for priests; the superin- tendent of the preaching clergy is the Proto-pajja of the diocese. In INIoldavia there are 1795 churches, 3268 priests, and 491 deacons; also 7622 married secular cler- gy and 60 monasteries, of which the richest is that of Niamtz, with 1300 monks. In AVallachia there are 4171 churches (of which 2587 are wooden), 36,638 persons belonging to the families of married priests, 10,749 dea- cons, 9500 monks and nuns, and 202 monasteries and nunneries. The property belonging to the priesthood of the principalities is immense, and at present (1875) efforts are being made by the government to have it secularized. The Roumanians are very superstitious, and care little for human life. The catechism of their morals contains scarcely anything more than fasting and hospitality. They hate all foreigners except the Latin races, and are especially severe against the Jews, who are there in large numbers, and are invaluable for the commercial interests of the country. They number over 400,000. Public persecutions against Jews have continued until very recently, and in consequence the great powers have threatened armed intervention. The United States has pursued a humane policj' in select- ing a Jewish representative. (2) Evangelism. — Christi- anity must have early made its way to these parts, and been strengthened during Gothic invasion. St. Nicetas, who flourished about 400, is regarded as the apostle of Roumania, The barbarians in part removed Christian influences, and in 861 Cyril attempted anew the Chris- tianizing of the people, especially the Bulgarians. In consequence the Slavonian language secured a foot- hold, and in the conflict between Constantinople and Rome this Danubian country sided with the Eastern Church. Rome made repeated efforts to regain her hold, but ineffectually. For political reasons princes now and then favored Rome, but in the 15th century, when it became a dependency of the Turks, the Greek Church gained absolute adherence. In the days of the Reformation Wallachia remained unmoved, but in Mol- davia John Heraclides (Jacob Basilius), an adventurer who had gained the throne, favored Protestantism (1561-63). Twenty years later the prince was again Protestant — Jankcd Sass, "the Lutheran" (f 1584). From that time but Uttle was heard for Protestantism, and even to-day, though ruled by a Prussian prince, there is only 1 Protestant for 6 Armenians, 50 Roman- ists, 1450 Greek Catholics, and 280 Jews. Protestant societies exist at Bucharest (one Lutheran and one Re- formed), at Crajona, in Wallachia, and at Jassy and
MOLDEXHAWER
436
MOLE
Galatz, in Moldavia. Besides these, Protestants live scattered in ditfercnt places. See Michel de Koyalm'- tchan, Ilistoire de la Valucliie, de la Moldarie, et des Valaques Transdunnbiens ; the Reports of the Gustavus Adolphus Societv, St. John, in Lond. Acad. Aug. If), 1874, p. 181 ; Prof. Wells, in Meth. Qu. Rev. Jan. 1873, art. i ; Stanley, JJasf. Cli. p. 10-1.
Moldenhawer, Joiiann IIkiniucii Daniel, a German tlicdln^^ian, was born at Halle, Oct. 29, 1709. He was ((liicaU'd at the '■ Colleij;ium Fridericianum," and later at the University of Ktinigsberg, where he was a diligent student in ancient languages, especially the Greek and Hebrew. He was appointed in 1733 deacon at Krenzbiirg, and in 1737 to the Sackheinsche Kirche at Kiinigsljerg, but had very many difficulties in this new position, and did not live in harmony with his colleagues. He therefore gladly accepted a call to the University of Kfinigsbcrg as professor of divinitj' in 1744. He published there in 1745 his Jutrodudw in li- hros sacros Vetei-is et Novi Testamenti, of which Home says that few treatises of the kind are more useful than this. He shows the canonical authority of the Bible in general, and treats of the author, time of writing, argu- ment, scope, chronology, etc., of each book in particu- lar. He was appointed in 175(1 ecclesiastical counsellor, and also librarian of the Wallenrodsche library. He received a call in 17G5 as minister to Hamburg, where he died, April 8, 1790. Besides several contributions to journals, he published Diss. I et II Acta apostoli Panli ckronolof/ice dif/esfa (Kfinigsbcrg, 1744, 4to) : — Einltit- ung in die A//i li/iiimi r </, /■ .l-:f/i//,fiii, Jinhji, Crhrlnii. und Romer (il.id. 17.'il, Svoi-,- i ; fiimirtrh, Krliinl, nii,;i- en der schin n n Sl,ll,n <h r l„U',ii,n lilhhd- (Ax uiiuii Testaments (Leipzig und Kiinigsberg, 17t)3-70, 4 vols.): — Betrachtumjen iiher das Vaternnser (Hamburg, 17G5, 8vo): — Ilaiiptinhalt der Betracliiumjen iiber die Ueils- wakrheiten, welche in den Mo/iiat/s-Betstunden in der Domkirche 17G6-68 vorgetragen warden sind (Hamburg, 1768, 8vo): — Der Brief Pauli an die Romer, nach dem Gi-undtext iibersetzt, nehst Erkldrungen und Anmerkunr/- en (ibid. 1770, gr. 8vo). He also translated and wrote commentaries on all the most important books of the New Testament. He was likewise the author of A iis- fuhrliche Prufimr] desfiinften Fragments axis der Wolf- enbiittelschen Bibliothek von der A riferstehitng Jesu diirch welche zvgleich die Au/'o-stekunr/sgeschichte Christi be- stdtigt und eridutert wird (Hamburg, 1779, 8vo): — Ausfiihrliche Prufunf] des dritten Fragments aus der Wolfenbiittelschen Bibliothek. von dem Durchgange der Israeliten dvrclCs rothe Meer (ibid. 1779, 8vo) : — Aus- fiihiihhr P III I'll IK/ ih.< ::ir(i/(ii Fragments aus der '\Volj\„l,i}il,h,j„i, ):;i,i:<,lh,h m,, ,l,r UnmOglichkdleiner OJ'iiihuniii'i. die iilli Mntsclini an f cine gegriindete Art glauben konnen (ibid. 1782, gr. 8vo) : — iJer Ilaupt- zvceck des Leidens und Sterbens Jesu (Kiithen, 1787, 8vo). Sec Dciring, Gclehrle Theol. Veutschlands, ii, 557-02.