Bitzius Albert

Bitzius Albert a Swiss theologian, was born in 1835 at Lutzelflut, in the Emmenthal. He was educated at Burgdorf, and afterwards studied theology at the University of Berne, and later at Berlin and other German universities. After serving as vicar in two or three parishes of his native canton, he accepted the pastorship of the German congregation at Courtelary. His literary activity was devoted chiefly to serial works. He obtained the first prize offered by a Dutch society for an essay on capital punishment. In 1878 he became a member of the government of Berne, after resigning the parochial charge at Twann, and the last years of his life were devoted almost exclusively to the reform and completion of the educational system of the canton. He died Sept. 20, 1882. (B. P.)