Nickel, GoswiN, a noted Jesuit, flourished as gen- eral of his order near the middle of the 17th century. He was successor to Alexander Gottefredi, who died in March, 1651. The dislike which the order cherished against the latter was considerably intensified against Nickel, who, though it cannot be said that he contem- plated any radical reforms, generally speaking, was wont to insist obstinately on his own views, and in his man- ner and conduct was rough, repulsive, and wanting in due respect for others. By this he very soon offended the self-love of powerful members of the order so pro- foundly and so sensibly that the congregation general of 1661 took steps against him, such as might have been thought impossible, if we consider the monarchical char- acter of the institute. He was finally deposed, and is seldom heard of after. For details as to the Jesuitical intrigues to bring about his deposition, see Kanke, Hist, of the Papacy, ii, 247. (J. H. W.)
Nickell, James Haggard, a Presbyterian minis- ter, was born Aug. 1, 1829. He was educated at Cumber- land College, Princeton, Ky., class of 1854; studied the- ology privatel}'; was licensed in 1854, and ordained in 1855 ; and labored within the bounds of Princeton Pres- bytery at Salubria, Sharon, and Liberty churches, in Kentucky, until 1860, when he removed to Salem, Jla- rion County, 111., and there labored until his death, Nov. 20, 1864. Mr. Nickell was learned in Biblical and the- ological science, using his knowledge with rare skill. As a man, he possessed all the requisites which constitute a perfect gentleman ; as a preacher, he was dignified, ear- nest, and imjiressive. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Alma- nac, 1866, p. 301. (J. L. S.)
Nickerson, Heman, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Orrington, Me., Sept. 3, 1797, and there spent his childhood and youth, enjoying the privileges of the common schools, and being trained in habits of industrj- and virtue by pious parents. When twenty-one years of age, under the labors of Rev. Enoch Mudge, he experienced religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after he felt called to preach, and in 1821 was received into the New Eng- land Conference. At the organization of the JMaine Conference he was one of the original members, and soon took a i)r<>minent position among his brethren. After filling important charges he was appointed pre- siding elder, and sustained the responsibilities of that office twenty-one years. AVith the exception of three years, from 1828 to 1831, Ids life was spent in the itiner- ant work. Poor health obliged liim to take a superan- nuated relation in 1866, and that he was justified in this
step is evident from the rapid decline of his health, finally terminating in his death Dec. 26, 1869. "Heman Nickerson was distinguished for solid and enduring qualities of mind and heart. A good judgment, clear perceptions of the truths of the Gospel, a firm adherence to the doctrines and polity of the Church, and a manly utterance of his sentiments, made him a useful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. His candor and knowledge of human character enabled him, when presiding elder, to put the right man in the right place. He was highly esteemed by his brethren in the ministry as a safe coun- sellor and a judicious friend. In difficult questions his opinion was sought and his advice justly prized. Four times was he chosen a delegate to the General Confer- ence." See Minutes of A nnual Cojiferences, 1870, p» 147.
Nicklaushausen, Johx. See John of Nick- lausiiausex.
Nicobiilus, an Eastern ecclesiastic of whose per- sonal history we know scarcely anything, was a friend and relative of (Jrcgory Nazianzen. Nicobulus is noted as the author of a poem, addressed to his son of the same name, in reply to one by Gregory, in which the latter had begged him to allow his son to leave his native country for the purpose of studying eloquence. The poem of Nicobulus is found among those of Gregory, beginning Tekvov t^iov, /.tv^^ovc, Tvo^ewv Tro^ietg ra (pspiara. See Fabricius, Bibl. Grwc. ix, 311; Smith, Diet, of Greek and Roman Biog. and Mythol. s. v.
Nicodeniites was the name given, in the times of the Reformation, to temporizing Frenchmen who, although reformers at heart, com])lied with Romish rites and customs, thus going to Christ secretly, and in the spirit of Nicodemus. Calvin wrote several tracts against them, for instance. The Sinfulness of Outward Conform- ity to Romish Rites (in Calvin's Tracts, translated from the original Latin by Henry Beveridge,Edinb. 1849-51, 3 vols. 8vo). See Hardwick, Reformation, ch. ii, p. 118, note 8 ; Darling, Cycl. Bibl. i, 559.
Nicode'mtis (StKul^rjitog, conqueror of the people), a Pharisee, a ruler {dpx^oi', the usual title for a member of the Sanhedrim) of the Jews, and teacher (the article in o SicdcTK. is probably only generic, although Winer and bishop IMiddleton suppose that it implies a rebuke) of Israel (.John iii, 1, 10), whose secret visit to our Lord was the occasion of the discourse recorded by the evan- gelist. The name was not uncommon among the .Jews (Josephus, Ant. xiv, 3, 2), and was no doubt borrowed from the (irecks. In the Talmud it appears under the form "jTaitpD, and some would derive it from "^pi, in- nocent, on, blood (i. e. "Sceleris purus"); Wetstein, N. T. i, 150. In the case of Nicodemus ben-Gorion, the name is derived by K. Nathan from a miracle which he is supposed to have performed (Otho, Lex. Rab. s. v.).