THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
Paris, 1624. Consult: J. Lanigan, Eccl. Hist, of Ireland, iv. 228-244, Dublin, 1829; DNB, xlii. 339-340.
OTTE, CHRISTOPH HEINRICH: German archeologist; b. in Berlin Mar. 24, 1808; d. at Merseburg (56 m. s.s.e. of Magdeburg) Aug. 12, 1890. He received his theological education at Berlin and Halle, and passed his second examination in 1832; he was then pastor at Frohden near Jiiterbog in Saxony, 1832-7S, and retired for his last years to Merseburg. His great interest in archeology was not gained from his university course, but rather from observation of the monuments and from the cathedral at Merseburg; he was stimulated also by association with Puttrich and K. E. Forstemann, and in this way became the leading authority in German ecclesiastical archeology of the Middle Ages. His first book, Kurzer Abriss einer kirchlichen Kunst-Archdologie des deutschen Mittelalters (Nordhausen, 1842) grew from thirty-two pages in its first to 1,462 in its fifth edition (1883-85), an illustration of the development in the science under the man who was really the pioneer in this particular field. Indeed, all of his books passed through several editions, and remain useful in their departments. Among these may be named Archaologisches Worterbuch zur Erkldrung der in Schriften uber mittelalterliche Kunst vorkommender Kunstausdriicke (Leipsic, 1857); Archdologischer Katechismus: kurzer Unterricht in der kirchlichen Kunstarchdologie des deutschen Mittelalters (1859). He also edited the brief-lived but worthy Zeitschrift fur christliche Archdologie und Kunst (1856-58). It is noteworthy that these works were accomplished by a man engaged in the absorbing cares of the pastorate. (Victor Schultze.)
OTTER, JAKOB: Reformer; b. at Lauterburg (34 m. n.e. of Strasburg) c. 1485; d. at Esslingen (7 m. e.s.e. of Stuttgart) Mar., 1547. In 1507 he came as baccalaureus to Strasburg, and became a priest of the cloister of the Penitents, and secretary to Johann Geiler of Kaisersberg (q.v.). He then edited some of his master's works, and Gerson's Sermo de passione. Upon Geiler's death, 1510, Otter went to Freiburg, obtaining the master's degree in 1515, and was qualified as licentiate in 1517. He continued issuing Geiler's works until 1513. In 1518 Otter became pastor at Wolfenweiler, near Freiburg, and labored there as an adherent of Luther even as early as 1520. In 1522 he removed to the Austrian village of Kenzingen. There he pursued his calling as a Reformer with quiet moderation and much success. He defended himself from the reproach of heresy and insurrection by publishing his sermons on the epistle to Titus (Strasburg, 1524). The sovereign, Archduke Ferdinand, demanded his removal, and the diet threatened him with forcible procedure. To spare his congregation, Otter withdrew, on June 24, 1524, escorted by 150 citizens; turning first into the district of Margrave Ernst of Baden, then to Strasburg. From Strasburg Otto was recommended to the Knight Hans Landschad, a zealous adherent of Luther, who granted him the pastorate of Neckarsteinach, near Heidelberg. He won the whole congregation to the new faith, soon abolished the mass, procured by
sale of church properties a regular administration of church charities, and maintained peace and quiet at Neckarsteinach during the excesses of the Peasants' War. Otter dedicated to his patron, 1528, the beautiful tract, Christlich Leben und Sterben (Strasburg, 1528). King Ferdinand and his counselors viewed Otter solely as an agitator and seducer of Kenzingen, and the king more than once demanded his dismissal. Hans Landschad valiantly defended his pastor, who, in turn, justified himself against the calumniations of his adversaries, by means of his sermons on " The First Book of Moses" (Hagenau, 1528). Ferdinand persisted in urging Elector Ludwig of the Palatinate to proceed against Otter; and finally, in Feb., 1529, succeeded in having Landschad summoned before the high court of justice at Heidelberg. Otter's dismissal was demanded under threat of the emperor's disfavor. Landschad refused, and the elector now forcibly expelled Otter, who then went to Strasburg. Capito commended him to Zwingli, through whose mediation he was called as pastor to Soleure by a minority of the council. Provoking only unrest by his preaching, he relinquished the position, and went to Bern, whence, at the end of Aug., 1529, he went to Aarau. Here he married; wrote a catechism, Ein kurz Ynleitung (1530), which was but little adapted for children; and was recording chairman of the conference with the Anabaptists at Bern in 1531. He was also an eager mediator in the negotiations between Zurich and the original cantons, Sept., 1531.
On Apr. 2, 1532, Blaurer (q.v.) called him to take charge of the church at Esslingen, where the former had labored as Reformer, and where Luther's cause had early found friends. At first Otter's efficiency was impeded by jealousy on the part of Chaplain Martin Fuchs, and Otter even thought of resigning, but Fuchs was dismissed. Otter labored very faithfully in propagating the Reformation. He created an order of worship in 1533; a form of order and discipline 1534, and lay ministration for the sick. He provided for the improvement of juvenile instruction, issuing his revised catechism in 1532 and a brief summary of the faith, 1534, with succinct directions concerning spiritual attention to the sick and dying. He mitigated Blaurer's form of expulsion with deference to those infirm. He antagonized both Roman Catholics and Anabaptists, and also Schwenkfeld, who had made some advances toward him. When Duke Ulrich of Wiirttemberg recovered his domains in May, 1534, Otter was called, in July, to preach at Stuttgart as colleague of Alber; but the Lutherans about the duke received him distrustfully, because Otter held Zwingli's view and that of the South Germans regarding the Eucharist. Strife ensued, until Otter, with Butzer and the South Germans, went to Wittenberg in May, 1536, and ratified the peace with Luther in terms of the Wittenberg Concord; to which conclusion Otter in vain sought to win Blaurer. Otter rendered service to the entire Evangelical church by means of his excellent Betbilchlein fur allerley gemein Anliegen der Kirchen (Strasburg, 1537-41). The " little man " gradually gained a firm position at Esslingen, but collapsed