FLIEDNER, THEODOR; D.D., 1800-04; a Christian philanthropist; b. at Eppstein, a village on the frontiers of Hesse and Nassau, where his father was pastor of the parish church. He studied at the universities of Giessin and Gattingen, and the theological seminary of Herborn; was licensed to preach at the age of 20, and the next year became pastor of the small church at Kaiserswerth, a town on the Rhine below DUsseldorf. His salary was to be 180 Prussian dollars, but even this the congregation (through the failure of the factory in which many of them were employed) soon became unable to pay. This induced him to undertake a tour to raise funds in their behalf. "Never did a man begin to ask for help with a heavier heart, nor with worse success, till a brother pastor at Elberfeldt took him home to dinner and told him that the three requisites for his work were patience, impudence, and a ready tongue. The recipe, to which F. added much prayer and faith, proved so successful that he became the most accomplished beggar known in Germany. England, America, and many distant regions lealmed to pour their contributions into his wallet, and often his worst necessities were relieved by what seemed almost miraculous, unsolicited gifts, which exactly answered the demands made on him." During a visit to England in 1823, he became acquainted with the benevolent work of Elizabeth Fry. Having returned home, he visited the prisons around him, and found them- in a dreadful condition. The convicts were crowded together in narrow, dirty cells, and dark. damp, and close cellars; boys were mixed up with conning old sinners, and young girls with corrupt women. There was no classification whatever; persons committed for trial, who might he proved innocent, and be discharged, were placed with criminals condemned to a long imprisonment. There was no supervision except to prevent escape. For more than two years F. tried by his personal toil alone to remedy these evils; afterwards he formed the first German society for improving prison discipline. When seeking a matron for the women's wards at Dlisseldorf he found his wife, whose parents refused to let her take that posi tion alone, but approved her acceptance of the young pastor himself, although the second offer included all the duties of the first. In 1833, he took into a summer-house
in his garden a poor discharged prisoner who wished to reform, and this act proved the beginning of his Vork for the reformatiOn of 'Convicts. A friend': of his wife, coming 'to take charge of this small beginning, was styled a deaconess. Soon the summer-house was replaced by a larger building, the solitary deaconess obtained companions, and the establishment continued to grow. This suggested the order of deaconesses for the care of the sick poor. He bought a house without money to pay for it, but with great faith. All his enterprises began in this small way. His hospital was started with one table, some broken chairs, a few worn knives and two-pronged forks, seven sheets, and four severe cases of illness. • The institution soon flourished under royal favor. In 1838, he first sent deaconesses to work in other places, and from this beginning " mother-houses" multiplied until, in 1866, there were 139. In the course of his life P. established at Kaiserswerth training colleges for school-mistresses and governesses, a lunatic asylum, a boys' ,school, and a training college for schoOl-masters. All these institutions are turned to account in the training of deaconesses. Many curious incidents are related to show his personal interest in his work. In his infant schools he would throw himself down on the floor to illustrate the killing of Goliath; he distributed bread and honey to show the excellence of heavenly manna, and sent boys under the table to enliven the story of travelers falling down a precipice. ills toil continued until, physically worn out, he died. To the last, he took eager interest in the details of work, persevered in earnest exhortations, and closed his life by receiving the communion with his whole establishment and • family, including two sous whose' reception into the church lie had earnestly desired.