Ritschl, Georg Karl Benjamin, an eminent minister of the evangelical Church of Prussia, was born Nov. 1, 1783, at, Erfurt. He studied theology at Erfurt and Jena, was licensed to preach in 1802, and came to Berlin in 1804, serving first as a private tutor, next as an adjunct professor in a gymnasium, and finally as a preacher in St. Mary's Church. Eighteen years were given to the duties of that station, during which he approved himself both as a pulpit speaker and an in- structor of the young. In 181(5, Ritschl was made a member of the consistory having supervision over Brandenburg, and distinguished himself in the conduct of the examination of candidates for the ministrj' to a degree that secured for him the title of doctor of divin- ity. He also aided in the preparation of the Berliner (Jesaiigbuch of 1829, a task for which he was qualified by the possession of musical talent and thorough musi- cal culture. In August, 1827, Ritschl was appointed bishop of the evangelical Church and general superin- tendent of Pomerania, etc., and in the spring of the fol- lowing year he entered on the duties of his high station. The plan of union in the Prussian evangelical Church was successfully introduced during his administration, and the visitations devolved on the superintendency were so efficiently performed that he sustained direct and personal relations with the entire clergy of tlie prov- ince, and was acquainted with tlie character of each in- dividual in its membershi]). Having reached the age of seventy years, ami having completed a public career of half a century, Ritschl resigned his position in 1854. He was, however, constituted an honorary member of the Supreme Ecclesiastical Council of Prussia, and thus induced to give his thought and lai)ors to the Church down to the close of his life. He died June 18, 1858. — Ilcrzog. h'eal-h'iiri/kloj). s. v.
Rittangelius, or Rithangel, John Stephen, a (iermau writer of the 17 til century, was a native of Forch- heim, in the bishopric of Bandjcrg, and is said by some writers to have been Imrn a Jew; but others assert that he was first a Roman (Catholic, then a Jew, and lastly a Lutheran. This, however, is certain— that he published several hooks containing .ludaical learning, was professor of Oriental languages in (he Academy of Kiinigsberg, and died about 1052. His works are. Commentary on Jeziruh (Amsterd. 1G42, 4 to): — l)e Veritute Rclif/ionis Chrislitinte (Franeker, UVM) ■.—Lib)-a Verilalis (1(;98): — Letters : — German Translation of Prayers used by
Jeu-s in their Synagogues, etc. Rittangelius maintained this paradox, that the New Testament contains noth- ing but what was taken from the Jewish antiquities. See Chalmers, Bing. iJict. s. v,
Ritter, Erasmus, a Bavarian, the Reformer of Schaft"hausen, lived in the middle of the IGth century. He was at first opposed to the Reformation, and, being possessed of oratorical talents, was invited to Schaft- hausen in 1522 to confront Seb. Hofmeister (q. v.) ; but being led to study the Scriptures in the progress of his work, he was converted, and at once entered on the work of strengthening the evangelical cause. 'He dis- played great prudence and moderation, but nevertheless his Zwinglian principles involved him in angry disputes with Burgauer (1528 sq.), the successor of Hofmeister, in consequence of which it was found advisable to dis- miss both the controversialists. Ritter went to Berne, where new troubles awaited him. The condition of his later life is not known. He married in 1529 the sister of the abbot of All-Saints in SchafFliausen. and was long in steady correspondence w'ith Zwiugli. — Herzog, Real- Encyklop. s. v.
Ritter, Joseph Ignaz, a Roman Catholic divine, was born at Scliweinitz, in Silesia, April 12, 1787. In 1811 he received his first orders; in 1813 he was chap- lain at Grottkau; in 1818 at Berlin; and from thence he was called, in 1823, as ordinary professor of theology to Bonn. In 1830 he was created doctor of divinity and appointed professor of theology and member of the chapter at Breslau, and advanced in 184(; as cathedral dean, which position he occupied till his death, Jan. 5, 1857. He wrote. Manual of Church History (5th ed. Bonn, 1854, 2 vols.) : — Irenikon, or Letters for Pro- moting Peace and Concord between Church a7)d State (Leips. 1840) : — IJisto7-y of the Breslau Diocese (Breslau, 1845) -.^Popular Lectures on the History of the Church in the First Four Centuries ( Paderborn, 1849 ) : — On Bunsen and Stahl (Breslau, 1856, etc.). See Zuchold, Bibliotheca Theologica, ii, 1073 ; Winer, Handbuch der theol. Literatur, i, 543, 586, 598, 607, 887 ; ii, 736 ; Sup- plement, p. 156, 296 ; Niedner, Kirchengeschichie, p. 864. (B. P.)
Ritter, Karl, an eminent German geographer, was born Aug. 7, 1779, in Quedlinburg, Prussia. He stud- ied at Halle, and after travelling in Switzerland, France, and Italv, was appointed professor extraordinary of ge- ography at the University of Berlin in 1820. He was also director of studies of the military school. Ritter was the founder of general comparative geography, and exercised a decisive influence on its study, remodelling the whole science, and attracting general attention to its problems and results. He died at Berlin, Sept. 25, 1859. His chief works are. Die Erdkunde im Verhiilt- nisse zur Natur nnd Geschichte des Menschen (Berlin, 1822-54, 17 vols. [19 pts.]) : — Europa, ein geographisch- historisch-statistisches Gemdlde (Fraidifort, 1807, 2 vols.): — Die Stupas, oder die architect. Monumente, etc. (Ber- lin, 1838): — Die Colonisirung von Neu-Zealand (ibid. \S\-2) -.—Blick atif das Ni/qi'ielland (ibid. i84i):—Der .Jordan und die Beschiff'ung des Todien Meeres ( ibid. 1850) : — Fin Blick auf Paldslina und die christliche Be- vdlkerung (ibid. 1852). Parts of his works have been translated into English by (iage : Comparative Geogra- 2)hy (Edinb. 1865), and llie Comparative Geography of J'aksline and the Sinaitic Peninsula (ibid. 1866, 4 vols.). See (iage. Life of Karl Ritter, in the For. Quur. Rev. Oct. 1837; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale,».y.