HALLER, BERTHOLD: Reformer of Bern; b. at Aldingen (60 m. s.w. of Stuttgart), Württemberg, 1492; d. at Bern Feb. 25, 1536. In 1510 he entered the University of Cologne to study theology, but before he finished his studies, he took a position as teacher in Rottweil, and when Rubellus, his former teacher, was called to a school in Bern, he accompanied him as assistant. Here he advanced rapidly. In 1517 he became spiritual notary, and soon an assistant of Thomas Wyttenbach (q.v.) at the Church of St. Vincent. The daily association with this man, who had already influenced Zwingli and Leo Jud, undoubtedly had a considerable effect upon Haller's views. Through Myconius he became acquainted with Zwingli, whom he visited in 1521 and who became his friend and teacher. On the resignation of Wyttenbach in 1520, Holler received his position as canon and secular priest.
His chief efforts were now directed to the introduction of the Reformation in Bern, and in union with the Franciscan Sebastian Meyer he succeeded in gathering a small circle of Evangelically inclined men. The first public attack upon the Evangelicals was made in 1522 when the chapter of Mtlnaingen accused the priest of Kleinhöchstetten, Georg Brunner, of blasphemy against the Church and the clergy. A commission instituted by the government acquitted Brunner, not so much for the sake of Evangelicalism as to check the encroachments of the clergy. Evangelical preaching was also permitted until, in 1523, a man date was issued to check the progress of heresy. Haller was accused of heretical teachings on marriage of the clergy and on monastic vows and regulations, but was not found guilty. His clerical friends, however, were compelled to leave the city, so that Haller stood altogether alone, and the whole work of the Reformation rested upon his shoulders. But under the weight of responsibility his powers grew, and the consciousness of his position gave him a sagacity and courage which would hardly have been expected from his naturally timid nature. Under the influence of Zwingli, he ceased reading mass at the end of 1525, and laid the whole stress of his activity upon preaching. But in 1525 and 1526 edicts against the Evangelicals were issued, and a disputation took place in Baden (see Baden, Conference of) for the suppression of the heretical teachings of Zwingli, where Haller defended his cause to the best of his ability, although alone he could not prevail against the united force of his opponents. On his return to Bern he was requested to resume the reading of the mass, but he adhered to his former decision, and his firmness was not without effect upon the town council. He was allowed to remain and received a salary as preacher although he was deprived of his canonry. He resumed hiss preaching with new zeal and success, and under the constant encouragement of Zwingli the Evangelical cause began to assume larger and larger dimensions. In 1527 Haller received an important aid in Franz Kolb (q.v.) who some years before had left Bern on account of the unfavorable prospects of the Evangelical cause, but returned now when the tide had turned. The resentment of the people against the encroachments of the clergy induced the council to make more and more concessions to the Evangelical cause. Most of the Roman members of the council were converted to the new faith. Freedom of preaching was allowed, and a disputation was ordered to take place in Bern (see Bern, Disputation of).
With the introduction of the Reformation the proper work of Haller's life was completed; but he was prominently connected with the drawing up of the reformatory edict of Feb. 7, 1528, and, with the aid of theologians called from Zurich, continued his reformatory work through sermons, visitations, and examinations. He also held lectures for ignorant clergymen. A catechism which he wrote at the request of the council, has not been preserved. Haller's reformatory efforts in Solothurn (1530) were without success. In the time of the unfortunate Kappel wars he strove for a peaceable settlement of the difficulties, and thus was involved in strained relations with his colleagues Kolb and Megander, who advocated war. In 1531 Haller disputed successfully with Hans Pfister Meyer of Aamu, but the other preachers of Bern were less successful in their disputation with the Anabaptists which took place in July, 1532, at Zofingen. In 1532 Haller became dean of the chapter of Bern. His last anxiety was caused by the dangerous position of Geneva, which was the ally of Bern and at this time hard pressed by the duke of Savoy. Haller feared a new war, which would have endangered the Evangelical cause in both cities, but he
|
127 |
Bibliography: Many of Haller's letters are in vols. vii. and viii. of Zwingli's works, ed. Schuler and Schulthess, cf. A. L. Herminjard, Correspondancs des riforewteure, 9 vols., Paris, 1878-97 (consult the Indexes). Consult: M. Kirchhofer, B. Halter odor die Reformation won Bern, Zurich, 1828; G. J. Kuhn, Die Reformatmnn Beau, Bern, 1828; C. Peetalosai, B. Haller, FIberfeld, 1867; S. M. Jackson, Huldreich Xwinpli, paweim, New York, 1903.
| Calvin College. Last modified on 08/11/06. Contact the CCEL. |  |