Schmid, Konrad

Schmid, Konrad a coadjutor of Zwingli in the reformation of Switzerland, born in 1476; died (with Zwingli, on the battlefield of Cappel) October, 1531. After studying at Basle, he entered a monastery at Kussnacht, and in 1519 became its commander. This same year Zwingli came as preacher to Zurich, and with him Schmid entered at once into close intimacy. In 1522 he threw aside Latin and preached at Zurich a stirring sermon in "good German," in which he opposed the excessive claims of the pope and the abuses of image worship. In a religious conference at Zurich, October, 1523, he acted as mediator between the violent iconoclasts and the conservatives. "Let the weak have the images," said he, "as a sort of staff to lean upon until they have taken hold upon Christ; when they once have done this, they will let go the staff as being no longer needful." Also he blamed the coarse manner in which some spoke of the mass, as if it were a mere invention of the devil. At the close of his discourse on this occasion, he recommended to the civil authorities great moderation, and urged them to provide a thorough religious education of the masses. When Zwingli attended the conference with Luther at Marburg (Oct. 1529), Schmid filled his place as preacher in the cathedral of Zurich. He was an able and holy priest of God. See Bullinger, Reformationsgeschichte; Herzog, Real- Encyklop. s.v. (J.P.L.)