Fontanes, Ferdinand

Fontanes, Ferdinand a French Protestant theologian, was born at Nimes, May 15, 1797. He studied at Geneva, and entered the ministry in 1821. While discharging his ministerial duties at his native place, there occurred, in 1824, a vacancy in the theological faculty at Montauban. Fontands made an application, and passed such an excellent examination that his appointment. became a matter of course. Rumors from Nimes having reached the faculty as to some liberal opinions of the candidate, it was thought best to prepare a theological formula which Fontanes was to sign. But he refused to do this on conscientious grounds. In 1826 he succeeded M. Olivier Desmont at Nimes, and died there, January 9, 1862. Of his writings we mention, besides his many articles in the Evangeliste: Catechisme Evanglique (8th ed. 1867): — Histoire Sainte, in questions and answers (4th ed. 1866): — De l'Unite Religiouse dans l'Eglise Reforme de France (1844): — De la Lutte Engagee dans les Eglises Protestantes (1842). See Lichtenberger, Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B.P.)