Garve Karl Bernhard

Garve Karl Bernhard, a German divine and Christian poet, was born near Hanover, January 4, 1763. He studied theology in the seminary of Barby, and soon after became professor of philosophy and history at Niesky. This he left in 1797, and afterwards served in different functions in Amsterdam, Ebersdorf, Norden, and Berlin successively, distinguishing himself particularly in the latter place, where his ministrations mere eminently successful, despite the disordered state of affairs during the years 1810-16. He was afterwards at the head of the Moravian community at Neusalz, on the Oder, which post age and infirmities compelled him to resign in 1838. He died June 22, 1841. Garve was one of the best of modern German hymn writers, especially excelling in versification, and combining fecundity and ease of production with rare beauty of language and deep religious feeling. He published Christliche Gesange (Gorlitz, 1825), containing 303 pieces, mostly original: — "Brudergeshinge" (Gnadau, 1827); and left many hymns in manuscript. — Herzog, Real-Encyklopadie, 4:663.