Posner, Augustus Siegmund

Posner, Augustus Siegmund (formerly Simon), a German minister of the Lutheran Church, a convert from Judaism, was born May 19, 1805, at Auras, in Lower Silesia. His early education he received at the public schools of Breslau. When seventeen years of age, he went to Berlin to continue his studies. There he became acquainted with a Hebrew Christian, who sowed the first seed of the Gospel. In the year 1828 he received public baptism, assuming the name of Augustus Siegmund. He betook himself to the study of theology, and upon its completion filled several situations as tutor in private families. In the year 1838 he received a call to proceed as a missionary to the East, and accordingly set out for Berlin to prepare for his journey. On the road his intention became the subject of conversation with a fellow-traveler, a gentleman holding a high situation under government, and to his no small surprise he was informed by the latter that he must relinquish the intention of becoming a missionary, as he had just been appointed by the government chaplain of the Penitentiary at Sagan (in Silesia), and the necessary documents respecting it were nearly completed. In September, 1838, he entered on his new charge, which he discharged as becoming a faithful disciple of Christ. In addition to the discharge of his heavy duties, Posner edited a monthly publication under the title The Prodigal Son, which became a great blessing to many readers. In the year 1840 he was formally ordained by the consistory. Seeing that his duties at Sagan were far beyond his strength, the government made the offer to him of another ministerial charge at Lebenthal-adding, however, that if it were practicable his remaining at his present post would be regarded with great satisfaction. The expression of such a wish was sufficient to lead Posner to consider it his duty to remain. Thus he labored and suffered on. In the beginning of the year 1846 Posner was invited by the congregation of a newly erected church in Berlin to become their pastor; but the consistory refusing to comply with Posner's wishes to adhere to the formularies of the Lutheran Church instead of those of the Prussian National Church, Posner had to relinquish the appointment. Broken health, in connection with domestic afflictions, hastened his end, and on Monday, Jan. 22, 1849, he was called to his eternal rest, enunciating with a weak voice the words, "Make an end, make an end, O Lord! Come, Lord Jesus! come, come, come quickly! Lead my soul out of darkness." See A. S. Posner, Der treue Zeuge Gottes, weiland Pastor an der königl. Strafnstalt zu Sagan; Von einen Freunde (Schreiberschau, 1851, 2nd ed.); and the biography prepared by a brother of the deceased in the Sontags-Bibliothek, vol. 4, pt. 3 (Bielefeld, 1850); Jewish Intelligencer (Lond. 1853); Zuchold, Bibliotheca Theologica, 2, 1201. (B. P.)