Hasenkamp

Hasenkamp the family name of several German theologians.

JOHANN GERHARD was born in Wechte, Prussia, June 12, 1736. Having become a student at the Academy of Lingen, 1753-55, he distinguished himself by an eager thirst for knowledge, and by great earnestness of religious activity. For preaching without license he was several times arrested. After eleven years' suspension he was made rector of the Gymnasium in Duisburg in 1766, and soon after married, and settled down earnestly to his work of restoring the fallen fortunes of the gymnasium. His religious tendencies always inclined him to favor pietism, and to urge the necessity of deep Christian experience. He therefore sympathized fully with. Collenbusch (q.v.) and Oetinger (q.v.). He was again: suspended as a "mystic" and disturber, but was soon restored by the higher Church authorities at Berlin. He died July 10, 1771. His autobiography, extending to 1766, and continued by his son, was published in the journal Wahrheit z. Göttseligkeit (vol. 2, 5, 6,1836). He also published Predigte and. Geschmack der drei ersten Jahrhunderte (Frankfort, 1772). His other writings are of little importance.

FRIEDRICH ARNOLD, his half-brother, born Jan. 11,. 1747, succeeded Johann as rector of Duisburg, and married his widow. Following in the footsteps of his brother, he shared his religious opinions and feelings, and wrote several pamphlets in exposition of the views of the so-called "mystical" school of Stilling and Lavater. He also wrote against Semler and other rationalists, who fared badly under his fiery attacks. See his U. die ver-dunkelnde Aufkldrung (Duisb. 1789): — Briefe über Propheten (Duisb. 1791), etc. He died in 1795.

JOHANN HEINRICH, another brother, was born Sept.19, 1750. After helping his parents until he was sixteen years old, he began his studies, was from 1776 to 1779 rector at Emmerich, and, having been appointed pastor of a small congregation near Altona, remained there during the last thirty- five years of his life. The loneliness of his life in the solitude of his remote parish influenced his character, yet he is the most genial of the three brothers, as is seen in his Christliche Schriften (Munster, 1816-19, 2 vols.). He died July 17, 1814. Herzog, Real-Encyklop.; Pierer, Universal- Lexikon, s.v. (J. N. P.)