Vitus, Stephanus

Vitus, Stephanus a Reformed theologian of Germany, was born at Schaffhausen, Feb. 3, 1687. As for his knowledge, he was a self-made man, and, before he left his country for attending the lectures at foreign academies, he passed, in 1710, an examination pro minisierio with such an excellency that the city awarded to him a present of two hundred thalers. In the same year he went to Heidelberg: was appointed in 1711 co-rector at the Reformed gymnasium in Halle; in 1713, rector at Cassel; in 1719, professor of theology and ethics in the Collegium Carolinum there; and died May 2, 1736. He was a fierce opponent of the Lutherans, and wrote, Apologica, in quna Synodus Dordrascena et Reformata lides Vindicatur: —Vindiciae quibus ea quae il Apologiat Synodi Dordracence dicta sunt Vinzdicantur Schedicasma quo Augustini, Lutheri Supralapsarsiorumque Sentenlia a Malnichceismi-Calumnia Vindicatur. See Jocher, Allgemeines Gelehrten- Lexikon, s.v. (B. P.)