A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

John McClintock & James Strong • SECTION 989

Section 989

← McClintock & Strong Cyclopaedia — Volume 8

the order, with all revenues connected with them— the dime, for instance; that the bishop should have only one third for ins share, but with this additional stipulation, thai in the two thirds which want to the order, such ad- vantages as could be enjoyed only by a bishop should

al-o accrue to the latter. 'The bishop was obliged to sub- mil to the legate'- decision. The difficulties between the order and duke Conrad could not be so easily removed. The Knights of Dobrin had joined the Teutonic Order,

and the latter bad taken possession ofthe fort of Dobrin,

with all its dependencies, In -,. si of the

duke. The pope, in a bull of April 18, 1236, approved the fusion of the Brothers of Dobrin with the Teutonic Order, main]] al the request ol the bishop of Ploi k. The latter and the papal legate, after negotiating through the summer months, succeeded in Octobei in restoring eon- cord. The knights delivered to Conrad the castle of Do- brin- with its aependencies, and received In exchange

PRUSSIA

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PRUSSIA

other territories, of which the most important was Slonzk, with its salt-mines. Gregory IX, in spite of his manifold Italian cares and troubles, endeavored with all his might to promote the enterprise of the order. The preaching of the crusade was not interrupted in Germany, and measures were taken to increase the number of the knights. Fresh troops of crusaders having arrived from Germany, the war was resumed. PomesaTiia and Poge- sania were conquered: with the former of these prov- inces the whole eastern shore of the Vistula was in the power of the order. Those of the enemy who surrendered were spared, experienced mild treatment, and were im- mediately christened by the priests who followed the army. Hermann Balk and his knights endeavored to subdue by the influence of Christian meekness these sav- age spirits, whose faith iu their gods was shaken by so great misfortunes. A chronicler says: 'Not like lords, but as fathers and brothers, they rode about the land, vis- ited both the rich and the poor, invited the new Chris- tians to their meals, took care of and nursed iu their hos- pitals poor, sick Prussians, provided for widows and orphans whose husbands and fathers had perished in the war, and sent clever young men to Germany, especially to Magdeburg, to get well instructed in Christianity and in the German language, and to become afterwards teach- ers in Prussia.' It was at this time that Henry Monte, who became so distinguished afterwards, was brought up in the celebrated monastery school of Magdeburg. The expenses of these young men were paid with the alms gathered in Germany. The landmaster's humane meas- ures did not fail to make their impression even on the un- converted part of the nation. All measures of coercion had been prohibited. Wherever the order established its authority churches were built: Thorn, Culm, Rheden, Marienwerder, had their churches. The city of Elbing built a church and a monastery iu the flrst year of its ex- istence. Even the open country had not been left with- out churches: we find in 1230 a mention of the parish of Postelin, in Pomerania. Some pious men exerted them- selves in order to instruct the people iu the Christian faith. The papal legate, William of Modena, preached with great success ; he was powerfully assisted by the Dominicans, several of whom were masters of the Prus- sian language. The most distinguished among these monks was St. Hyacinth, who belonged to the house of the counts of Odrovanz, one of the oldest, and most cele- brated of the families of Silesia. His father was count of Konski, and his uncle chancellor of Poland and bishop of Cracow. Hyacinth was born in 1185 iu the castle of Gross-Stein, district of Gross-Strelitz, in Upper Silesia, and studied at Cracow, Prague, and Bologna. In the lat- ter city he received the title of doctor of laws and theol- ogy. On his return home he was promoted to a canonry at the cathedral of Cracow, and assisted the bishop in the administration of his diocese. When his uncle Ivo of Konski became bishop of Cracow, he went to Rome, and took along with him Hyacinth and his brother Ces- laus. In the year 121S, when St. Dominic was in Rome, both brothers entered the Dominican Order, and Hyacinth became one of the most active northern missionaries. Another powerful missionary was bishop Christian, but his dissensions with the order could only be detrimental to the cause of Christianity. Iu 1237 a pest-like disease spread over the dominions of the order, and caused many of the neophytes to waver in their new faith. On May i>, 123S, a treaty was concluded with Waldemar, king of Denmark, through the exertions of the papal legate: the king received the fort of Reval and the territories of Har- rien and Wirland, while the order received the district of Ierwen ; only no forts were to be built in the latter with- out the king's consent. The king promised not to put any obstacle in the way of the order in their work of con- version, but to help them where he could: two thirds of the conquests were to go to the king, one third was the order's share. Hermann Balk, thus assisted by the Danes, undertook an expedition against the Russians, who had invaded the diocese of Dorpat ; but soon important events recalled him to Prussia. The knight Hermann von Al- tenburg, a pious man, but rigid and austere, whom the grand-master had intrusted with the administration of the dominions of the order during his absence, had not imitated the wise moderation and patient meekness of his superior. On hearing that a Prussian village had gone over to paganism again, he set fire to it, and priests and villagers perished iifthe flames. This created in the country bitter dissatisfaction, and the fruit of the restless labors and struggles often years seemed to be lost by one reckless act. Other misfortunes had come upon the or- der. Their old friend Swantepolk of Pomerania had become their foe: it was fortunate that the duke was threatened by other enemies, and found it prudent to make peace. Then Hermann Balk was recalled by the grand-master iu 123S, and took his departure after pro- viding for the good administration of the country; hut he never saw it again. He died March 5, 123!). On March 20 the noble grand-master, Hermann von Sal/.a, died also, and was succeeded by Conrad, landgrave of Thuringia. Henry of Wida was appointed land-master in Prussia. After pro- tracted hostilities with the Prussians and duke Swante- polk of Pomerania, a treaty was concluded on Feb. 7, 1249, VIII.— Z z

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