Meineke, Johann Heinrich Friedrich

Meineke, Johann Heinrich Friedrich a German theologian, was born at Quedlinburg Jan. 11,1745, and was educated at the University of Helmstadt, which he entered, when in his nineteenth year, as a student of divinity; later he studied at Halle. He returned to Quedlinburg in 1767, and was two years after appointed to a position in the high-school of that city. He gave himself up to the study of literature and philosophy, especially Kant's system, which he studied diligently for several years. Though much engaged in his profession as a teacher, he yet wished, as he advanced in years, to leave the pedagogical sphere, and he very readily accepted an appointment as minister at St. Blasius' Church at Quedlinburg. In the beginning of 1825 he was taken ill, and died July 25, 1825. Meineke united a perfect knowledge of theology, philosophy, and ancient languages, with a talent for the practical application of his knowledge. Though liberal in sentiment, he yet displayed the most decided abilities of a polemic who gave no quarter. He knew only one cause, that of his God and of his Church, and to serve it faithfully was his only endeavor. His best polemical production, entitled Finsterlinge unserer Zeit, he published under the nom de plume of Aloysius Frey (in 1822). For the use of ministers, he published in 1811 Repertorium fur alle Kanzelbedurfnisse der Prediger an Sonn- und Festtagsfruhpredigten oder in der Woche (Quedlinburg, 1811, 8vo), vol. i; the second volume was never published, but an appendix to this he published in 1817:-Tagliches Handbuch-fur Prediger und Predigamts-Candidaten zur leichtern Auffindung der Materialien zu ihren Kanzelvortragen (ibid. 1817, 8vo). But perhaps the most valuable production of his life was Die Bibel ihrem Gesammtinhalte nach summarisch erkladrt zurichtiger Beurtheilung und zweckmassigem Gebrauche derselben fir Lehrer in Burger und Landschulen (Quedlinburg, 1819, 2 vols. 8vo). See Doring, Gelehrte Theol. Deutschlands, s.v.