RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Nicolaus Cabasilas Niemeyer
Die Gott in Christus (Tubingen, 1899); Absolutheit des Christentums (1900); Ein Pfad. zur Gewissheit (1900); Wie predigen voir den modernen Menschenf (2 parts, 1902-06); Die paulinische Erldsungslehre im Konfirmandenunterricht (1903); Die Kasualrede (Gottingen, 1905); Hilligenlei undmoderne Theologie (Tubingen, 1906); Welches ist die beste Religion? (1906); Praktische Auslegung des Evangeliums Markus (1907); Was ist uns heute die Bibel (1907); Mut und Trost furs geistliche Ami (1907); Praktische Auslegung des Neuen Testaments (2 vols., 1907-09); Die Bedeutung der Religionspsychologie fur die Praxis in Kirche und Schule (1909); and Jesus im Unterricht (1910). He is editor of Praktisch-theologische Handbibliothek, to which he also contributes.
NIEDNER, nid'ner, CHRISTIAN WILHELM: German church historian; b. at Oberwinkel, near Waldenburg (12 m. n.w. of Chemnitz), Saxony, Aug. 9, 1797; d. at Berlin Aug. 13, 1865. He studied theology at Leipsic, where he became successively privat-docent (1826), extraordinary professor (1829), and ordinary professor (1838). His Philosophim Hermesii Bonnensis novarum rerum in theologia exordii explicatio et existimatio (Leipsic, 1838-39), on account of its thoroughness took front rank among the wealth of literature on George Hermes (q.v.). He was interested, not only in church history, but also in the history of philosophy, and his lectures on church history were pervaded by his philosophical spirit. After the death of Professor Illgen (1844) Niedner became president of the historical-theological society founded by the former, and took over also the editorship of the Zeitschrift fur die historische Theologie. In 1846 he published his chief work, the text-book Geschichte der christlichen Kirche (Leipsic, 1846, 2d ed., Berlin, 1866), a work wide in scope, and embodying the results of a most thoroughgoing investigation into the stupendous amount of material, but written in a scholastic and ponderous style (cf. Baur, Die Epochen der kirchlichen Geschichtsschreibung, pp. 244 sqq.). His speech at the festival held on the three-hundredth anniversary of the death of Luther gave expression to his free position towards the Reformation. It was published under the title Vorlesung zur akademischen Gedachtnisfeier (Leipsic, 1846). The last work published during his Leipsic career was his De subsistentia rti deiu Adyu apud Philonem tributa (1848-49). In 1850 he resigned his professorship, and settled in Wittenberg; and in 1859 he was called to the chair of theology at the University of Berlin, where he remained until his death. While in Wittenberg he published in the Zeitschrift fur historische Theologie two valuable treatises, entitled respectively Das Recht der Dogmen in Christentum in geschichtlicher Beirachtung (1851, part iv.), and Richtungen und Aufgaben der Dogmatik in gegenwdrtiger Zeit (1852, part iv.), the latter being a critical review of the dogmatic writings by J. P. Lange and Martensen. (P. M. TzscHiRNERf.)
NIELSEN, nil'sen, FREDRIK KRISTIAN: Danish church historian; b. at Aalborg, Denmark, Oct. 30, 1846; d. at Aarhus Mar. 24, 1907. He
received his education at the University of Copenhagen (B.A., 1863; candidate in theology, 1870); taught privately till 1873; was in that year made catechist at Our Savior's Church, Copenhagen; and became professor of church history in the University of Copenhagen, 1877, where he taught till 1900, when he resigned to become bishop of Aarhus. He was prolific in the field of church history, and may be regarded as the greatest in that field produced by Scandinavian countries. His leading works are: Romerkirken i det 19. Hundredaar, part i., Pavedbmmet (1876, 2d ed., 1895-98; Germ, transl., 2d ed., Gotha, 1880; Eng. transl., History of the Papacy in the XIX. Century, 2 vols., London, 1906); part ii., Det indre Liv (1881; Germ, transl., Carlsruhe, 1882); Statskirke og Frikirke (1883), treating conditions in Scotland and Switzerland; Haandbog i Kirkens Historie (2 vols., 1885-92) ; Ledetraad i Kirkens Historie (2 vols., 1887); Kirkehistorie (2 vols., 1900-08). In 1896 he began to issue and edit Kirkeleksikon for Norden; and was one of the editors of Dansk Kirketidende 1873-82. He stood high in the councils of his church, where his advice was constantly sought, and he was one of the judges at the competitions for professorships in church history at the universities of Lund (1893), Christiania (1897), and Upsala (1898). The language of Nielsen, always plastic in writing, and convincing in delivery, combined with great stores of learning, made his influence deep-felt and far-reaching. His historical methods were genetic and scientific.
John O. Evjen.
NIEMEYER, ni'mai-er, AUGUST HERMANN: Professor, chancellor of the university, and director of the Francke institutions in Halle; b. at Halle Sept. 1, 1754; d. there July 7, 1828. He was educated at the Peedagogium of his native city, and after graduation taught at the German and Latin schools on the Francke foundation. In 1777 he began to lecture at the university on Homer, the Greek tragedians, and Horace. In 1779 he was appointed professor extraordinary of theology and inspector of the theological seminary, in 1784 ordinary professor and inspector of the Psedagogium, in 1785 he became assistant director of the Francke institutions and in 1799 a director. In 1792 he was appointed councilor of the consistory and in 1793 prorector of the university. In 1806 Napoleon abolished the University of Halle, and Niemeyer was sent to Paris as hostage. After an exile of six months he was allowed to return, but in the mean time Halle had been separated from Prussia and attached to the kingdom of Westphalia. King Jerome restored the university and appointed Niemeyer its chancellor and perpetual rector (1808). On account of Niemeyer's attachment to the Prussian cause the university was again abolished in 1813. On the reorganization of the institution under Prussian government in 1815, Niemeyer laid down his office as rector, but as chancellor retained the superintendence of the external administration. It is owing to his talents and ability that the institutions founded by Francke continued to prosper. In pedagogics he stood forth for the principle of humanity, and his theological standpoint was that
Niemeyer Nikon