Blumhardt, Johann Christoph

BLUMHARDT, JOHANN CHRISTOPH: German Lutheran; b. at Stuttgart July 16, 1805 d. at Boll (5 miles s.w. of Göppingen) Feb. 25, 1880. He studied at Tübingen; became teacher at the missionary institution at Basel 1830; succeeded pastor Barth at Möttlingen, near Calw, 1838. By the reported cure by prayer of a girl named Gottliebin Dittus, supposed to be a demoniac, which cure was effected after a two years' struggle, Blumhardt gained great fame. A revival followed, attended by so many people from so large an area that on Good Friday, 1845, no less than 176 localities were represented at the service. At his services, so it is reported, healing of physical infirmities resulted from Blumhardt's laying on of hands in token of absolution. Blumhardt received calls to other places, but felt that his gifts and time belonged to the "distressed"; in order to be able to devote himself entirely to them, he bought in 1853 the royal watering-place Boll, which became an asylum for sufferers of all kinds, and from all ranks of society. The girl he had cured went with him as an assistant, accompanied by a brother and a sister whom Blumhardt had also cured. In 1869 and 1872 his sons joined him in the work. From all countries the afflicted flocked to his asylum, where his unique treatment seemed to give them new vital energy. At last sickness attacked him, and he ordained his son to the work with the words "I consecrate thee to victory." In 1899 this son withdrew from the clergy, but continued to maintain the establishment at Boll.

(J. Hesse.)

Bibliography: F. Zündel, Pfarrer J. C. Blumhardt, Zurich, 1887; T. H. Mandel, Der Sieg von Möttlingen im Licht des Glaubens und der Wissenschaft, Leipsic, 1895; C. Blumhardt, Gedanken aus dem Reiche Gottes im Anschluss an die Geschichte von Möttlingen und Bad Boll und unsere heutige Stellung, Bad Boll, 1895.