O thou joyful, O thou blessed

Author: Johann Daniel Falk

Falk, Johannes Daniel, was born Oct. 28, 1768, at Danzig, where his father was a wig-maker. With a stipend from the Town Council of Danzig, he entered the University of Halle in 1791, where he studied the classics and theology, remaining as a private tutor for some time after completing his course. In 1798 he married and settled as a man of letters at Weimar, where he was welcomed by Herder, Goethe and Wieland, and where he gained some reputation as a writer of satirical works. During the Napoleonic wars, after the battle of Jena, 1806, Falk found his true vocation as a philanthropist, first in the field hospitals and then in the care of destitute children. With the court preacher Horn he founded the "Society of Friends in Need," and shortl… Go to person page >

Translator: Lester Hostetler

Hostetler, Lester. (Sugarcreek Ohio, April 25, 1892--?). Mennonite. After attending the Sugarcreek public schools, he studied at Goshen Academy, Goshen College, A.B. 1915, and Union Theological Seminary, B.D. 1918, with further summer work at Oberlin, Princeton, and Union. He was ordained at the Walnutcreek [Ohio] Mennonite Church on September 26, 1915. He married Charity E. Steiner on June 26, 1918. They had four children. He held pastorates in the Walnutcreek Mennonite Church, 1918-1926; the First Mennonite Church of Sugarcreek, 1926-1932; the First Mennonite Church of Upland, California, 1933-1941; Bethel College Church, North Newton, Kansas, 1941-1952. From 1925 to 1927 he taught music in the public schools on Sugarcreek and Baltic,… Go to person page >