Myconius (also known as Goinshihhr. his name be- fore he joined the Protestants), Os-wald, a Swiss Prot- estant tlieologian, was born at Lucerne in 1-188, and was educated at Basle. He taught for a while, accepting first a call to Zurich as director of a school : liut he was only three months there when he was recalled to liis native place to take charge of the high school. Taking a leading part in the new doctrine, wliich had just made its appearance, he was in 1523 again discharged, and
returned to Zurich to his old position. When Zwingle was killed at the battle of Kappel, and the citizens of Zurich became rather careless towards theological sci- ence, Jlyconius returned to Basle, where he was ap- pointed deacon at St. Alban, chief minister of the city of Basle, and professor of the New Testament. He re- signed the latter position in 1541, and died Oct. 14. 1552. Myconius was a true confessor of Zwingle's doctrine. He was largely instrumental in the publication of the Basle Confession, and for the sake of a union of all Prot- estant interests favored the Helvetian Confession of 1530. His tolerance towards Lutherans on their con- substantiation doctrine subjected him to many trials from the Zwinglians, who often, though unjustly, (pies- tioned his faithfulness to them. His most important works are, Narratio de vita et obitu Zwinr/li .•— Tracta- tus de libei-is rite educandis: — De crapitla et ehriititte. See Melchior Adam, Vitm Theolof). German. (Heidel- berg, 1620), p. 223 sq. ; Merle d'Aubigne, J/isl. of the Ref. in Switzerland; Kirchhofer, Lehen O. Myconius d(S Ri'formators (1814) ; Ilagenbach, Lehen u. Schriflen der Voter It. Begininder der reform. Kirche (Elberf. 1857, 8vo), ii, 309-447. (J.II.W.)
Myers, Benjamin F., a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, was bom in Cliillicothe, Ohio, April 19, 1801. He was converted at the early age of nine years, and identified himself with the Methodists. In 1833 he was admitted into the Ohio Conference, and for ten years filled charges respectively in AVonsler, Somerset, Cambridge, Newark, Granville, and Hebron. His health failing, he retired from ministerial life, and became judge of Licking County, Ohio. In 1850 he migrated to California, and in 1857 joined the California Conference, where for the next twelve years he was ac- tively engaged in Christian work in Suttee CouiUy, Weaverville, Jackson, Coloma, Cacheville, Bodeya-Yal- lejo, Centreville, Woodbridge, and Linden. He was su- perannuated in 1869, and from that time until his death, which occurred in Stockton, Cal., July 18, 1874, gave himself to the work of re-examining the structures of the Christian Church against the attacks of infidelity and scientific research. See Minutes of Annual Confer- ences. 1.S74. ]). 1 12.
Myers, Lewis, a minister of the Methodist Epis- co()al Church, was born in the vicinity of Indian Fields, Colleton District, S. C. He was of (Jerman extraction. He obtained his education in an academj' near Wash- ington, Ga., and became an itinerant preacher in 1799 in Soutli Carolina, preaching on the Little Peedee and Anson Circuit. In 1800 he was appointed to the Or- angeburg Circuit. In 1801 he was ajipointcd to the Bush River and Cherokee Circuit, having been ordained deacon by bishop Asbury. In 1802 he was stationed in the Broad River Circuit. In 1803 he was ordained eld- er, and changed to the Little River Circuit. In 1804 and 1805 he was respectively at Ogeechee and Bladen circuits. In 1806 he was at Charleston. In 1807. 1X08, and 1809 he was presiding elder of the Seleuda District ; in 1810, 1811, 1812, and 1813, of the Ogeechee District; and in 1814, 1815, 1810, and 1817, of the Oconee Dis- trict. In 1818 and 1819 he was stationed at Charles- ton. In 1820, 1821, 1822, and 1823 he was jtresiding elder of the Edisto District. In 1X24 he was stationed at Georgetown. Having labored incessantly for a quar- ter of a century, he was appointed in 1825 as supernu- merary on the ICllingham Circuit, a spasmodic asthma rendering liim unfit for more active work. He was finally made su|)erainuiate. and settled at (ioshen, Effingham County, (Ja., where lie died, Nov. 16, 1851. From the time of his retirement from active ser\ice until his death he w.is busily engaged witli a school, and occasionally preached. Lewis Myers was well known among the Methodists for his wise, pithy, and practical remarks. His style of preaching was direct and forcible, with ver\- little ornament of gesture; his illustrations often bordered on the humorous, from the
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quaintness with which the subject was represented. See Dr. James Osgood Andrew, in Sprague, Annals of the A mer. Pulpit, vii, 321 sq.
Myesis {fivrjaiq, initiation), a designation of hap- tisni among the Greek fathers, because they considered it to be the admittance of men to all the sacred rites and mysteries of the Christian religion. This term, as well as fivaraywyia, of frequent occurrence in the writ- ings of Cyril of Jerusalem, was intimately connected with the secret discipline, and fell into disuse with the termination of that sj-stem.
Myiagros, a hero who was invoked at the festi- val of Athene, celebrated at Aliphera, as the protector against tiies.
Myles, JoHX, a minister of the Anglican establish- ment, who flourished during the colonial period of this country, was born in England about the latter half of the 17th century. He migrated to America, and in 1C89 succeeded Mr. Radcliff as rector of the Episcopal church that is now known as King's Chapel, Boston. In 1692 he returned to England for aid for his people. In 1696 he again came to America, bringing with him much Church furniture, and several costly gifts from queen Mary and king William. He died about 1726. See Anderson, 7/wf. of the Colonial Church, ii, 681, 682; iii, 539, 540, 582, 59-1.