ROTHAAN
141
ROUMANIAN
systematically oppressed and the Roman Catholics fa- vored. All order by which all soldiers, including those of the Ldiulwehr, which consists of citizens, were obliged to kneel whenever the Romish Sanctissimum should be carried about excited great dissatisfaction ; and Roth was censured in this business because it was believed that he had been timid or indifferent in contending for tlie rights of Protestants. Later events have shown that he was acting from prudential motives which would not permit him to risk all while striving to se- cure a particular end ; but the feeling against him rose to such a height as to compel his retirement from the high consistory in March, 1848. The ephorate was likewise rejected by the students in that year of revolts. The result of the persecution was, however, beneficial to the cause of Protestantism in the end, because it united its adherents, increased their spirituality, and settled their determination to insist on a recognition of their rights ; and at the proper moment a letter to the king from Roth secured a revocation of the military or- der which was so greatlj' resented. Roth was, soon af- ter his retirement, called to a seat in the council of state; but, after completing the fiftieth year of his of- ficial life, he sought and obtained a dismissal to private life. He died Jan. '21, 1852. A collection of Roth's writings was published by himself at Frankfort, con- sisting chiefly of panegyrics and addresses. He also edited the Gekhrten Anzeif/en, issued by the Academy of Sciences, from 1835 to 1850, enriching them with ar- ticles of his own and with reviews of English, French, and other foreign works. — Herzog, Reul-Encyklop. s. v.
Rothaan, John Philip, a Dutch Jesuit, was born Nov. 23, 1785, at Amsterdam, entered, Feb. 3, 1804, at Dunaburg, in Russia, the Society of Jesus, and be- came professor of rhetoric, Greek, and Hebrew at Po- lotsk, in Russia. When the Jesuits had to leave the Russian empire, he retired into Switzerland, and in 1829 was elected vicar-general of the order. Being obliged to leave Rome on account of the Italian revolution, he visited a great part of the European provinces of the Jesuits, returned again to Rome, and called together a general congregation of the order; but before it con- vened he died. May 8, 1853. He published, Exercitia S. P. Ignatii LoyolcB (Rome, 1835; Paris, 18G5; German translation, Regensburg, 1855) : — De Rutione Meditandi (Rome, 1847 ; German translation, Regensburg, 1853 ; Vienna, 1857). (B. P.)
Rothe, Richard, an eminent German divine, was born at Posen, Jan. 28, 1799, and became successively member, professor, director, and ephorus of the Theo- logical Seminary of Wittenberg. He was for five years chaplain of the Prussian embassy at Rome, conducted a theological seminary at Heidelberg for twelve years, and was a professor of theology at Bonn and Heidel- berg, where he died, Aug. 20, 1867. His religious views are tinged with the philosophy of Schleiermacher and Hegel. He published. Die Atifdnge dtr christlichen Kirche und ihre Verfassung (1837): — Ziir Dogmatik (1863):— and Theolo'gische Ethik (1845-48,3 vols.; re- vised by Holtzman, 1867-71, 5 vols., with the author's posthumous notes). Since his death there have appeared his university lectures, Dogmatik (1870) ; essays, SHlle Stunden (1872), and his lectures on Church history (1875, edited by Weingarten). For the best account of his life, see Nippold, Richurd Rothe (Wittenberg, 1873). See also the Studien und Kritiketi, 1869, No. 3; Meth. Qmir. Rev. July, 1872; Bib. Sacra, July and Oct. 1874. See Ethics.
Rothem. See Jlniper.
Rotheram (or Rotherham), John, an English divine, was born in Cumberland, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford. He became fellow of Univer- sity College, Oxford, rector of Houghton-le-Spring, and in 1769 vicar of Seaham. Rotheram died in 1788. Among his published works are. Sketch of the One (jreiit Argument for the Truth of Christianity (Oxford, 1752-
54, 8vo) : — Force of the A rgument for the Truth of Chrittiauity from Prophecy (2d ed. 1753, 8vo) : — Origin of Faith (1761, 8vo) : — Apology for the Athanasian Creed (Lond. 1762, 2 vols. Svo): — On Faith (1766-68, 8vo) : — besides Sermons and Essays,
Rothwell, Richard, an English divine, was born in Lancashire, near Bolton-in-the-Moors, about 1563. He received his education at Cambridge, and, after spending a number of years in the university, was or- dained presbyter by Dr. Whitgift, archbishop of Can- terbury. He was made chaplain to a regiment under the earl of Essex in Ireland; and afterwards, refusing several benefices, was for a time lecturer at a chapel in Lancashire, and domestic chaplain to the earl of Dev- onshire. Still later, he spent most of his time in the bishopric of Durham, having gone there at the proposal of lady Bowes. His death took place in 1627. — Middle- ton, Ecang. Biog. ii, 450.
Rotuman Version. About 300 miles north of Fiji is an island called Rotumah, with a population of less than 3000, and until lately wholly enveloped in heathen darkness. In 1865 the Rev. W. Fletcher, of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, commenced mission- ary work among the people, and his three years' labor in that place resulted in bringing a large proportion of the population under the influence of the Gospel. In the year 1869 Mr. Fletcher commenced a translation of the New Test, in the Rotuman dialect, which was printed at Sydnej', and has been in circulation since 1871. Mr. Fletcher, in consequence of the extremely trying character of the climate, was compelled to leave the island, but his translation was prepared with all possible promptitude. European missionaries are not allowed to reside permanently in Rotumah, and the future progress of the mission must dejiend mainly on the efforts of native teachers and the presence among the people of the Word of God in their own vernacular. (B. P.)