KEMPIS, Thomas a, German mystic and devotional writer: b. Kempen, near Cologne, 1380; d. Mount Saint Agnes, near Zwolle, Netherlands, 26 July 1471. His real name was Hamerken or Hammerlein. He was educated at Deventer by the Brethren of the Common Life, a religious order of men who passed a contemplative existence in transcribing manu scripts, compiling and writing religious books of various sorts, and religious exercises. In 1399 he entered the monastery of Mount Saint Agnes, near Zwolle, of which his brother was prior, took the monastic vows in 1406, was ordained priest six years afterward and in 1425 was elected soh-prior. He excelled as a copyist, and delighted to transcribe the Scriptures, the Church fathers and works of ascetic piety, while the fame of his eloquence and zeal was widely extended. He owes his present renown to his treatise 'De Imitatione Christi,' which has been translated into every language in Christendom: Over 2,000 editions have appeared. It has been wrongly but somewhat naturally attributed to the renowned theologian Gerson, chancellor of the University of Paris, and the question was debated with a view to national honor and the interests of ecclesiastical orders. The evidence
in favor of the authorship of a Kempis is over whelming. Three writers nearly his contem poraries mention him as the author. Moreover several copies written in his own hand are ex tant, and in one ancient copy he is expressly named as the author. Both the literary style and the tone of refined piety which characterize this work are also distinguishing features of other devotional works of which he is certainly the author. The first English translation of the 'Imitatione' was made by W. Atkinson and Princess Margaret, mother of King Henry VII, and was published in London in 1502. (See IMITATION OF CHRIST). Consult Bahring, B., N 'Thomas von Kempen, der Prediger der ach folge Christi' (Leipzig 1872) Cruise, T., 'Thomas a (London 1887) ; Kettle well, S., 'Thomas a Kempis and the Brothers of the Common Life' (London 1884) ; Wheat ley, L. A., 'Story of the Imitation of Christ' (London 1891) ; Wolfsgruber, 'Giovanni Ger son, rein Leben and seen Werk De Imitatione Christi' (1880) ; Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (New York 1910).