Keller (Cellartus), Jacob

Keller (Cellartus), Jacob a German Jesuit, was born at Sackingen, in Swabia, in 1568, and entered the Jesuitical order when only twenty years old. He gained an unenviable notoriety by his controversies with Protestants; most prominent among them is his public dispute with Jacob Heilbrunner. The Jesuits claim that Keller silenced the Protestant, but evangelical writers all deny the truth of this assertion. Be this as it may, Keller himself became a great favorite in his order, and was honored with a professorship of theology at Regensburg, and later with the rectorate at Munich. He was in great favor also with the duke of Bavaria. Klose (in Herzog, Read-Encyklop. 7:508)

accuses Keller of having contributed, both by pen aid by word of mouth, towards the feeling of hatred which divided Protestants and Romanists just before the. Thirty Years' War. Keller died Feb. 23,1631.