Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 15.djvu/638

 WEBER

574

WEBER

As poet Weber was an honour to German Catho- bos; the name given him "Dreizehnlinden-Weber" (Weber of the thirteen linden trees) is immortal. In three forms of poetry, the epic, lyric, and didactic, he wrote works destined to live. His early poems were frequently imitations of foreign poets, and seldom show independence; it was only in his riper years that the originality of his powers was displayed. He deserves much credit as one of the translators who made Scandinavian and English poetry access- ible to Germans. His reputation, however, was founded on his epic, " Dreizehnlinden " (1878). This made Weber celebrated not only in Germany but also throughout the entire civiUzed world. The epic enjoyed a wide circulation and has been frequently translated, cast in a melodramatic form, and arranged for the stage. His second work, far superior in poetic value to "Dreizehnlinden", is his "Goliath" (1892), which has been reprinted .some thirty times. His "Gedichte" (1881) and "Herbstbliitter" (1895), published after his death, have also been very popu- lar. His " Marienblumen " (1885) is a proof of his manly piety. Two other religious poems written for special occasions, "Vater unser" and "Das Leiden unseres Heilandes" (1892), are less important. Weber's latest biographer sums up his character as a man and poet thus: "In Weber fine talent and a many-sided education, nobility and purity of thought, the poet and the patriot, were all united into a per- sonality which commanded the greatest respect".

There are three biographers of Weber; the two smaller ones are Keiter, Friedr. W, Weber, der Dichter von Dreizehnlinden (1884) HoEBER, Friedr. W. Weber, sein Leben u. seine Dichtungen (1894) the larger one is: Schwering, Friedr. W. Weber, sein Leben u. seine Werke (1900), it gives all necessary bibliography in the notes. The best commentary of Dreizehnlinden is a literary study by Tibesar (1895).

N. SCHEID.

Weber, Hbinrich, German Church historian, b. at Euerdorf in the Diocese of Wiirzbtirg, 21 June, 1834; d. at Bamberg, 18 January, 1898. His father, Heinrich Weber, left the Bavarian civil service and entered the employ of Prince von Leiningcn-Harden- burg-Dachsburg. The family now lived at Amor- bach in the Bavarian Odenwald where the father held the position of seigniorial judge until his death in 1846. Young Weber went to the primary school at Amorbach and then to the Latin school; after the death of his father he continued his studies at Wtirz- burg. In 1849 he entered the seminary and later the gymnasium at Bamberg, where he graduated in 1853. He studied philosophy at the Royal Lyceum at Bamberg, and theology at the University of Wiirzburg. On 9 August, 1857, he was ordained priest at Wiirzburg by his godfather. Bishop Dr. George Anthony von Stahl, and became chaplain at Sulzbach-on-the-Main on 11 October of the same year. On 18 February, 1859, he was transferred as chaplain to Sonderhofen, and on 21 September, 180, to Schwcinfurt as parish priest. On 5 September, 1865, he was appointed teacher of rehgion and history at the royal gymnasium at Wiirzburg; on 7 August, 1871, he was made professor of history at the royal lyceuin at Bamberg, a position he held for over twenty-six years, up to the time of his death. Besides his professional duties Weber was a prolific writer. His most important work is the "Geschichte der gelchrten Scluilen im Hoehstift Bamberg von 1007 bis 1803", which was publislied in the "Bericlite liber Bestand und Wirken des historischen Vereins zu Bamberg" (1SS0-S2). During the years 1894 and 1895 Weber also issued in these "Berichte": "Das Bistum und Erzbistum Bamberg, seine Einteilung in alter und neuer Zeit und seine Patronatsverhiilt- nisse". Ho fiuther published: "Geschichte des Christenlehrunterrichts und der Katechismen im Bistum Bamberg" (Bamberg, 1883); "Bamberger Beichtbiicher aus der ersten Hiilfte des XV. Jahr-

hunderts" (Kempten, 1884); "Der Kirchengesang im Fiirstbistum Bamberg" (Cologne, 1893), issued by the Gorres Society; "Forchheim in der Geschichte (Forchheim, 1884); "Kronach in der Geschichte" (Ivronach, 1885); " Vierzehnheiligen im Frankenthal" (Bamberg, 1884); "Die St. Martinspfarrkirche in Bamberg" (Bamberg, 1891), with a necrology of the Jesuit college at Bamberg for the years 1614-1772; "Geschichte des Freiherrlich von Auf- sees'schen Studienseminars in Bamberg" (Bam- berg, 1880). Weber also wrote two biographies: "P. Marquard von Rotenhan S.J. 1691-1733" (Ratisbon, 1885), and "Johann Gottfried von Aschhausen, Fiirstbischof zu Bamberg und Wiirz- burg 1575-1622" (Wiirzburg, 1889). A treatise published in 1886 had for its topic the veneration of the holy "Fourteen MartjTs". In the series of pamphlets called "Frankfurter zeitgemasse Bro- schiiren" Weber issued: "Die 'Siindenwage' zu Wil- snack" (1887); "Die Trappistenmission in Siidafrika" (1891); "Die Kaiseridee des Mittelalters" (1892); "Bunte Bilder aus dem alien Zunftleben" (1892); ' Die Klostersuppe " (1895). Weber also collaborated on the " Historisch-politische Blatter", and other periodicals, on the "Kirchenlexikon" of Wetzer and Welte, for the second edition of which he wTote some fifty articles; he also wrote for the " Katholische Flug- schriften zur Wehr und Lehr" (Berlin, pubhshed by the "Germania" newspaper). On 8 July, 1889, he received an honourary degree of Doctor of Theology from the University of Wiirzburg in consideration of his services as an historian of the Church. Weber was not only noted as an historical investigator but also as a model priest who gave all his energies to the promo- tion of religious life in the City and Diocese of Bam- berg. In particular he encouraged the Catholic Press and Catholic associational life; he also did much for a house of the Sisters of the Most Divine Saviour at Bamberg, a branch of the mother-house at Niederbronn, and for twenty-five years was director and confessor to the Sisters at Bamberg.

Heimbucher in Kalendcr fiir katholische Christen, LIX (Sull- bach in the Oberpfalz, 1899), 126-36, with portrait.

Max. Heimbucher.

Weber, Karl Maria Friedrich Ernst von, composer, b. at Eutin, Lower Sa.xony, IS Dec, 1786; d. in London, 5 June, 1826. His father, Franz Anton von Weber, a nobleman of reduced finances and a former army officer, later became a strolling theatrical manager. This gave young Weber an opportunity for acquiring that stage routine and adajitability which stood him in good stead later; but it also inter- fered with his general and musical education. His father realized the talents of the youth, and saw that he received the best .available instruction in violin, piano-playing, and harmony. Karl enjoyed at two intervals and for a considerable time the theoretical guidance of Michael Haydn at Salzburg, and later of Abbe Vogler in Vienna. LTpon the latter's recom- mendation, Weber was appointed in 1804 conductor of the opera at Breslau. On accotmt of his youth he was unable to enforce disciphne, and had to relinquish the post at the end of one year. In 1806 he entered the service of Prince Eugene and Prince Louis of Wiirtemburg, as private secretary and teacher of music. In 1810 an indiscretion on his father's part caused him to be exiled. The next three years were spent in coni])osing and concert izing. In 1813 he accepted the conductor.ship of the national opera at Prague, where he continued until called to Dresden in 181<'> by the King of Saxony to organize a German opera company in the Saxon capital.

Willi tlic assumiilion of his duties at Dresden, Weber's real significance as a factor in German national art takes shape. The somewhat frivolous spirit of former years now gave way to .seriousness. The romantic literature of the day, with its echoes of