Johannas Richteris ir Lietuvių kalbos seminaras Hallėje

ACTA LINGUISTICA LITHUANICA XLIV (2001), 41-54 The article deals with the circumstances of the foundation of the Lithuanian Seminary at the University of Halle and the activities of the first teacher at this seminar, Johann Richter (1727-1728). On the basis of materials from the archives of the Martin-Luther-Universitit Halle Wittenberg, new facts from Richter’s biography are established, e.g., with regard to the place where he was awarded his MA degree (University of Wittenberg). The Lithuanian Language Seminary, which operated at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Halle from 1727 to 1740, is the second centre of Lithuanian studies in Germany, after the University of Karaliaučius. The first Lithuanian- -German and German-Lithuanian dictionary was published in Halle in 1730. The Halle seminary was first described by Franz Specht (Specht 1935), and the most extensive review of the seminary's history was made by Eduard Winter (Winter 1954). Gertruda Bense, Vaclovas Biržiška, Kostas Korsakas, Leonas Gineitis, Jurgis Lebedys, Jonas Palionis, Domas Kaunas, Zigmas Zinkevičius and others have written about the seminar in the context of Lithuanian linguistics and cultural history. Recent studies include Christiane Schiller (Schiller 1994, 1994a) and the author of this article (Drotvinas 1998, 1998a). However, the history of the workshop has not been fully studied so far. In this article, we will try to examine the circumstances of the establishment of the Lithuanian Language Seminar in Halle and the working conditions, highlighting one other feature of the life, studies and activities of Johann Richter, the first lecturer of the seminar. As we know, the great plague and famine in Prussia in 1709-1711 devastated especially Lesser Lithuania: about 4096 villages and towns were left empty. King Frederick I of Prussia took measures to economically and culturally revive the northern part of the kingdom, inhabited by Lithuanians. According to the Retablissement (restoration) plan, the king in his 1718 rescript ordered the establishment of Lithuanian language seminars in Karaliaučius and Halle. This refers to the King- * —The material used in this article was found in the archives of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg during my research internship at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Southernism of the University of Halle-Wittenberg and the Francke's Foundations in 2000. Udo Stratter. —The article uses material that was found in the archives of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg during my scientific stay at the Interdisciplinary Center for Pietism Research of the University Halle-Wittenberg and the Francke Foundations in 2000. For the scholarship and good working conditions I would like to thank the Fritz Thyssen Foundation Cologne and the Managing Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Pietism Research Prof. Dr. Udo Strater. 42 | VINCENTAS DROTVINAS The reform of the university professor and East Prussian school inspector Johann Heinrich Lysius (1670-1731) aimed at improving the preparation and catechization of priests in Lithuania Minor. The seminary in Karaliaučius started operating in 1723, and in Halle — a little later, only in 1727. What was Halle at the beginning of the 18th century and why was the Lithuanian Language Seminary established in this city? What was the political and cultural atmosphere in Halle in the first decades of the 18th century, what was the academic system at the University of Halle when Richter and the first “target” students from Lesser Lithuania arrived? Hallé (Middle German: hal, "salt mine") was first mentioned in 806, when Charlemagne established a fortress to protect salt merchants. Halle grew and flourished thanks to salt mining and trade, and in the Middle Ages belonged to the Hanseatic League, and from 1680 to the Electors of Brandenburg-Prussia. At the end of the 17th century, Halle became a university and crew town, governed from Berlin and Potsdam. In 1694, Frederick III of Brandenburg founded a reform university in Halle, in opposition to the strictly Lutheran universities of Wittenberg and Leipzig. Pietism emerged in the second half of the 17th century as a religious movement directed against the excessively pronounced rationality of Protestantism, despite the mystical-- sentimental needs of the believers and the intimate nature of their faith (Arnašius 1994: 53). It was founded by the German theologian Friedrich Jakob Spener (1635–1705) in Frankfurt am Main in 1670. Spener's disciple and follower was the German theologian August Hermann Francke. (1663-1727), who preached the views of his teacher in Leipzig and Erfurt and was dismissed from his priestly duties for this. As a priest of the parish of Glaucha in the suburb of Halle, he developed social care and education for young people, and in 1695 established a school for poor children and an orphanage (Waisenhaus, Greek: Orphanotrophium), which later grew into the Francke's Foundation institutions (Franckesche Stiftungen) as a structural annex to the university. In 1691, Francke began teaching Greek and Oriental languages at the newly established University of Halle, and was an advocate of deep humanistic education at the Waisenhaus schools. In addition to him, Halle was the home of the famous German philologist, the classic Joachim Lange, whose Greek grammar, the so-called Waisenhaus grammar, was published 57 times between 1705 and 1821, and whose Latin grammar was published 60 times in about the same period (Martens 1989: 167-168). The Halle University was famous for the most prominent authorities of the time. Christian Thomas (1655-1728), a lawyer and natural law advocate, was perhaps the first to give lectures in German in Leipzig (and throughout Germany) in 1687, and he published the scientific journal Monthly News (Monatliche Nachrichten). Thomasius legitimized German as the language of university lectures and as a means of scientific publication (although he did not deny Latin, which was still used in the writing of theses). Filosofas Christianas Wolffas (1679-1754), Gotfriedo Wilhelmo Leibniz's follower, called the second teacher of Germany (Praeceptor Germaniae), was exiled from Prussia in 1723 for his progressive views, and called back to Halle in 1740 (Kathe, 1998: 19). Together with theologians Joachim Just Breithaupt and Paul Anton, they rejected the old university ideal (the Ivory Tower) and based the university reform on the principle that "Science must serve life". Therefore, they are considered the first modern- J. RICHTER AND LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE SEMINARS IN HALL [43 of them German universities creators. In the 18th century, the University of Halle was known as the Saal-Athen, after the river Saale that flows through the city. Franke himself was the most prominent theologian of Hall's Pietism. In his person, he combined a strict discipline of repentance with an original system of teaching and education. Franke was the initiator of model educational institutions, which later spread in Germany and abroad. It is no coincidence that the Southernist Faculty of Theology of the University of Halle was given the task by King Frederick I to prepare Southernist priests for the parishes of Prussia, especially of Lithuania Minor. This is evidenced by an entry in Francke- ’s diary of 1718: “The king sent a rescript that here, in Halle, people (Schulleute) should be trained who could be schoolmasters and later preachers in Lithuania” (Winter 1954: 44). Although the king urged Francke to start the seminary in Halle sooner, things did not go as quickly as he had hoped. Initially it was planned to establish a seminary for 7-8 theology students who would learn Lithuanian and later be preachers in Lithuania Minor (Schiller 1994: 205)". This rescript- ’s instruction to establish a “small seminary” in Halle was first implemented in the autumn of 1725, when the first nine theology students from East Prussia arrived in Halle. This was noted in the King's Rescript of 17 November 1725. Based on this, Winter tends to consider this date as the beginning of the Lithuanian language seminary (Winter 1954: 47) and disagrees with Specht’s opinion that the seminary began operating in 1727. However, the first students of the seminary were not yet taught Lithuanian, because until then no teacher had been found. Therefore, the king emphasized in his rescripts of 2 and 26 May 1727, as well as 12 July, how important it was for him to find Lithuanian language teachers. Unfortunately, the search for the right people took a long time. In order to fulfil this obligation, the Halle Southernist leader Francke approached his colleagues in Lithuania Minor with the request to propose candidates for the Lithuanian language seminary. The dean of Klaipėda (Erzpriester) Johann Arnold Pauli responded to Francke- 's request- ." In a letter dated January 26, 1727, he recommended two candidates to Francke — Johann Richter and Friedrich Wilhelm Haack, together indicating that they were collecting Lithuanian words from printed Lutheran writings in black and preparing a dictionary (Winter 1954: 48; Drotvinas 1998a: 84).” Richter continues to be mentioned in the king's decrees. From the letters of the king's chancellery in Berlin we learn about the confirmation of Richter's candidacy. The King, pleased that he had found a teacher of Lithuanian language suitable for the future seminary in Halle, in 1727..... wollen Sie gerne ein kleines Seminarium in Halle von eben 7-8 Subjectis angerichtet wissen...” (Schiller 1994: 205). Johann Arnold Pauli (1682-1741) was born in Johannisburg, in 1698 studied theology at the University of Karaliaučius, in 1703 he was head of the elementary school, from 1708 all-Russian evangelical war chaplain and priest-inspector of the Lutheran parish of St. Petersburg. After returning to Germany, he received a doctorate in theology from the University of Frankfurt am Oder in 1712, and was invited to the University of Kraków as an extraordinary professor. He refused this position and was appointed superintendent of Klaipėda (Krollmann 1967: 492). He was interested in the history of the origin of the Prussian language, and published an article Kurzer Entwurf einer Weitlaufigen Ausfiihrung einiger Schitze von der alten Preussischen Sprache, Königsberg, 1754 (Draft of some broadly formulated statements about the old Prussian language- ). (1963) 34. From the contents of the letter, it appears that it is Pauli's reply to Francke's letter. Unfortunately, so far, it has not been possible to detect the earlier letters of the latter, showing the beginning of their correspondence. 44 | VINCENTAS DROTVINAS reports to Francke in a rescript dated September 8: “I am pleased that a theology student named Richteris, who speaks Lithuanian well, has decided to teach others this language”- *. The words of the King’s rescript of November 27, 1727 confirm that Specht was indeed right: “I am really pleased that the seminary of Lithuanian language has been started.” At the start of the Lithuanian Language Seminar®, Francke’s Foundation had 3000 students, teachers and educators. In 1727, the University of Halle had 256 theologians, 245 lawyers and 44 physicians, a total of 549 students. In the decade 1731–1742, Halle had more students than any other university in Germany (Dreyhaupt 1755: 147). The library, which began with 8 books in six languages, received by donations, had 18,000 books bought and donated in 1721, and special rooms were built for it in 1728 (Storz 1992). At that time, a printing press, a bookshop, a Bible publishing centre, a pharmacy and other institutions began to operate. However, the conditions for the students were not the best: there was a lack of theology lecturers, theology and philosophy lectures were given in one room in the library of the Marienkirche (now Marienbibliothek), many lectures were held in the professors' apartments, only later the university received rooms from the magistrate for common events and ceremonies (the Waage), see. Hertzberg (1891). It is true that Francke himself was a patron of foreigners (Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians), helping them to form a kind of translators’ clubs to translate the Bible and other religious texts into their national languages. Various student associations, called by sounding names, at least in our eyes, were dedicated to more in-depth study of the Bible and theology in general. The information about Johann Richter, his years of education, and his linguistic and pedagogical activities is rather vague and laconic. Richteris was born in Klaipėda in 1704 to a merchant family from Lūbeckas. Therefore, in Klaipėda he could learn Lithuanian from an early age, and he received his initial education here. On 14 September 1722 he enrolled at the University of Karaliaučius, where he studied theology, probably strengthening his knowledge of Lithuanian at the Lithuanian Language Seminary. The study in Karaliaučius could last two or three years. "What happened to the Hall of Fame?". A letter from Pauli to Francke states that his father allowed him to continue his studies of theology in Germany. "Besides this, I am pleased that a Studiosus Theologiae named Richter, who is so proficient in the Lithuanian language, has resolved to teach others in this language" (Winter 1954: 48). “I am delighted that a start has been made with the Lithuanian seminar” (Winter 1954: 49). In Halle's archive documents, the seminary is referred to as Seminarium Lithuanicum, Littauisches Seminar, Seminarium Theologicum Lithuanicum, Collegium Lithuanicum, Institutum Lithuanicum. 7 In Lithuanian historiography, Johann (Jonas) Richter is called Richter II (different from Johann Richter, also called Rikovius), cf. (1966) (1966). Paul in his letter to Francke writes about the lack of priests in Lithuanian parishes, indicating that three priests died in a few years. The situation is particularly difficult in the Curonian Spit, where 55 families live in a narrow stretch between the sea and the bay. They have to travel 24 miles here and there to get a priest. After the Reformation, a priest was promised, but in 150 years the parishioners did not receive him. He also writes about the poor material condition of priests, where one poor priest has to be supported by nine other poor people. In the absence of priests, this small flock of Christ often does not hear the word of God for four weeks or more and can easily become overwhelmed, in need of better guidance (Winter 1954: 202). J. RICHTER AND LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE SEMINARS IN HALL |45 We learn about Richter’s studies at the University of Halle from the enrolment record: 15 September 1727: Joh. Judge Memela Boruss dd Theol. (see Figure 1). Record by the applicant- 's own hand, minimal, little informative. The second date of immatriculation is 18 May 1728 (Winter 1954: 48).” In Halle, Richter not only studied theology, but was also the first lecturer of the Lithuanian language seminary. Unfortunately, we have little data about the teaching of Lithuanian language in the seminary. Lithuanian language lessons, probably following the example of Karaliaučius’ seminary, held for two hours a week, as well as any text translation or preparation for a Lithuanian sermon, required textbooks. Richter could already use at least three grammar books of Lithuanian written by Daniel Klein and Sapūnas-- Šulcas. As can be seen from the letters to Francke, they were provided to the Halle seminary by the Southernist theologian Georg Friedrich Rogallis (1701—1733), a professor at the University of Königsberg. It was more difficult with the Lithuanian dictionary: until then there was no printed dictionary in Prussia. For this reason, Rogallis probably sent a manuscript Lithuanian-German dictionary from Karaliaučius, which Richter copied. This is evidenced by the anonymous manuscript of the Lithuanian-German dictionary now preserved in the Francke's Foundation library, on the last (300th) page of which Richter's handwriting indicates the date of completion of the transcription —A. MDCCXXVIII die 18. June. The dictionary is still considered by many uncritically as Richter's work (this is a separate article). 1 PAV. JOHANNES RICHTER- 'S REGISTRATION RECORDS T&S GIRLY mre 38. — R item PR OAS) Hasna r SI LL Aden Je er (Shslirus) | do > Jr den ict choi FT (24 k "p. Galtano aj — es Fu irrmana skh er, ii’ Fok: Yes ff CNtrntkla off. i As for Lithuanian religious books, Richter did not come to Halle empty-handed. He brought and donated to the seminary three books: John Bretkūnas’ Postilla (1591), John Reza’s Psalter Dowido (1625) and the New Testament (1727). All these books are dedicated to the Lithuanian Language Seminar with Richter’s entries: In usum Seminarii Lithuanici consecravit Joh: Richter Memela Boruss (see fig. 2,3). These dedication texts are valuable in several ways: this early3 Si date is taken from the book of the protocols of the convent of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Halle. 46 | Vincent Drotvin 2 PAV. DEDICATED TO JOHANNES RICHTER BY JOHN BRETKŪNAS ► October (1591) PO Ss TTL LA N 2 LJ Wrafias Vldantoimas Buangelin / fafamuiu Dafni Rrikfchesionifchfoie/mig Advent if Welifu, Per daa Breefuna Ciccunos Dlebotia Ravaliaycsinie Drufūfi 4 fen Jertitarii a. anicr ox Sifpande Rare leukemia; 7s. m. Jurgis Ofierbergaras, “< Wixta foo 3 § 9 1 t 3 Pav. JOHANNO JUDGE] DEDICATED JONO RHESIS PSAL TERAS DOWrIDo (1625) er MVigijer Šios Qeuefih bud Lieearifip, PSALTE RAS DOWIDO VVOKIS CHK AJ BEL LIETUVISCHKAT, > IR ih T 4. T = fo E : E (į iš ASN 48 | VINCENTAS DROTVINAS public authentic Richter signatures from the Halle period. As we know, the above-mentioned dictionary manuscript is without the name of the author (or transliterator). When comparing Richter’s autograph with the drawing of the dictionary, it is obvious that the dictionary was transcribed by Richter’s hand. Finally, it is important to emphasize that the books donated by Richter to the Lithuanian Language Seminar were the first Lithuanian publications in Halle. Therefore, Richter can be rightly regarded as the pioneer of the Lithuanian collections of the Francke- 's Foundation Library." On March 20, 1728, Francke informed Rogall in detail about the activities of the Lithuanian Language Seminary and the behaviour of its members. About Richter and his colleague Haacka, he writes that Mr. Richter and Mr. Haackas, who teach in Lithuanian, also do not exceed the good limits and use the opportunities to improve spiritually. About Richter he adds that Paul, in order to strengthen the latter’s intentions to study, gave two ducats to Lithuanian institutions (Winter 1954: 48). On 30 April 1728, Richter was awarded the degree of magister artium at the University of Halle (actually Wittenberg, see below) and left Halle in August of the same year. Franke wrote in a letter to Rogall on 3 September that Mr. Richter and Mr. Schraube were accompanied by many Prussians when they left on Wednesday. He was ordained a priest on 13 December 1728, received a parish in Katyčiai, and from 1736 was a priest at St. John's Church in Klaipėda. He was the assistant of the Lithuanian priest of St. James’s Church and later the deacon of the German parish church, as well as the priest of the Curonian Spit (Nehrungspfarrer- ), cf. Moeller (1968: 94). From 1744 until his death on 14 November 1754, he was a priest in the Lithuanian parish of Klaipėda. He did not break his ties with Halle. In 1736-1738 letters from Klaipėda he writes about religious issues, as well as about the construction of a school with funds received from the king, etc. " He did not participate in Lithuanian activities. This is probably all we know about Richter, the first lecturer of the Lithuanian language seminary in Halle." Of course, the existence of the Lithuanian language seminary itself, which lasted only a few years (1727-1740), was only a short episode in the life of the entire Faculty of Theology of the University of Halle, and it is even less likely to find anything about Richter, who worked there for just over a year. In recent years, I have become more interested in the history of Halle and found material that helps to better illuminate the university’s academic life during the years of the Lithuanian Language Seminar’s activity. In the archives of the University of Halle and Francke's Foundation, some new information about Richter's studies at the Faculty of Theology was found. Based on this, I will try to explain another moment of Richter’s life in Halle. The study and education of future priests were regulated by the internal rules of the Faculty of Theology, based on Francke's teaching and educational methods. Pietism published a number of books donated by Richter and later acquired by the Seminary, which were first reviewed in Lithuanian by Franz Specht (Specht 1935: 49), and later their list was clarified by Gertrude Bense in an unpublished bibliographical description, which is very useful for Lithuanianists. Franckesche Stiftungen Archive, C 467: Letters 8, 11, 12. 2 Albertas Juška indicates that the first lecturers of the Seminary were A. Pottas and J. Richteris (Juška 1997: 573), but it was not possible to find a student, let alone a lecturer, with such a surname in the Halle archives. Only August Friedrich Pott (1802–1887), a professor of the University of Halle since 1833 and an interested person in the Baltic languages, is known. J. RICHTER AND THE LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE SEMINARS IN HALL (49 no. 1) The seminar focuses on the possibilities of man to experience and know God himself, the personal conquest of Christianity („die Erringung des persönlichen Christentums“) and the personal devotion to God („die persönliche Hingabe an Gott“). The general principle of education — de cultura animi — is to prepare the pupils for useful practical activities through instruction, mental training and labor education. These requirements are set out in Francke's special instructions: "30 rules for protecting conscience and behaving well in communication or in public"; ‘Procedures to be followed by students receiving free board in the Halle orphanage in Glaucha’; “Academic wisdom of a Christian theology student, set out in useful rules with an appendix on the image of a theology student” *. In his Universal Project (1704), Francke claimed that universities must become real nurseries and the nursery of God, where everything is done, perfected and fruitful. These instructions emphasize that theology students must strive to be well prepared for the ministry of the soul and the church, therefore it is not appropriate for them to show off in clothing, it is not appropriate to turn night into day and day into night, it is necessary to divide time wisely, so that the morning hours are devoted to work, and the night rest for the body is enough to maintain health, etc. The spirit of piety of Southernism demanded separation from the world. Theatre, circus tours and other mass entertainment were officially banned throughout City of Halle. This meant a requirement for students to refrain from any entertainment; in general, to regard theatre, dance, tobacco smoking as dangerous frivolity, not to admire music, art, creation that serves earthly love (Kawerau 1888: 90-97; Hertzberg 1891: 104; Martens 1989: 186). The so-called royal, or Prussian-- Lithuanian “table” (Preufisch-littauischer Freytisch) was established to provide material support for poor students, mostly from far away, i.e. a scholarship for free meals (lunch). The first such table was established in 1704 for ten students. For a while there were even 13 staly, then ten remained. In 1718 there were 8 tables, each with 12 students. The number of freely fed students depended on voluntary fees and taxes from the domains (the theological faculty table was financed by the Prussian domain board). Applications for free meals were consideredbut did not accept those who studied idly and behaved inappropriately. In the case of illness, table money was not used, three pfennigs were deducted from each sick person per week. Initially, table services were available for three years, later, as the number of requests increased, the time was reduced to two and even one year. Each desk was assigned a Senior from among successful and reliable students. The tables were controlled by an inspector, who held conferences with seniors every Monday. All the tables were managed by a board of supervisors (Collegium Ephororum), consisting of four professors (one from each faculty), a quaestor, who handled all the finances, and an inspector. Students were also fed in an orphanage. 3 "JO Rules for the preservation of conscience and good order in conversation or society", Halle, 1689; "Order so under which Studiosis the in the Waysen=Hause to Glaucha at Halle des Freyen Kost genieflen, to be observed is", Halle, 1699; "Academic wisdom of a Christian Studiosi Theologiae in some useful rules |...] Idea Studiosi Theologiae, or illustration of a Studiosi of theology |...)" obtained from August Hermann Francke, Halle, in edition of the Waysenhaus, 1712.