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RING, EPISCOPAL. See VEsTMENTs AND INSIGNIA, ECCLESIASTICAL.

RINK, MELCHIOR: German Anabaptist; b. in Hesse in 1493 or 1494; d. after 1540. He matriculated at the University of Leipsic in 1518, and in 1523 was teaching in a school at Hersfeld, where he helped introduce the Reformation, taking an open stand in its favor in 1524. Soon afterward he came under the influence of Thomas Miinzer (q.v.) and removed to Thuringia, where he labored first - at Oberhausen (near Eisenach) and later at Eckardthausen. He took part in the Peasants' War, acting as leader in the battle near Frankenhausen. Neither the defeat of the Anabaptists in this engagement nor the death of Milnzer could change his course; and he now proceeded to work for the propagation of Anabaptist tenets, and henceforth led the life of a wanderer. In 1527 he was at Worms,. where, with other Anabaptists, he challenged the Evangelical clergy to a debate.. In the following year he was again in Hesse, where he gathered some adherents in the vicinity of Hersfeld and attracted the attention of the authorities. Landgrave Philip, though enforcing no coercive measures, directed the theological faculty of Marburg to confer with Rink, but the negotiations, which were held on Aug. 17-18, 1528, led to no result, and the landgrave merely disciplined Rink with public ecclesiastical penance.

It was not until this period of his career that Rink's ability as an agitator was fully developed. He now formed small communities in Hesse and Thuringia, and saturated them so thoroughly with Anabaptist doctrines that only in rare instances do they seem to have recanted when brought to trial for their beliefs before the civil magistracy. In 1531, Rink and twelve other Anabaptists gathered for worship were discovered in the course of a domiciliary visit at the village of Vacha on the Werra. Henceforth the Anabaptist leader seems to have been held in custody. Butzer interceded with the landgrave in his behalf (Mar. 17, 1540), but since he refused to recant, he probably did not recover his freedom. The year of his death is unknown.

Rink was an opponent of infant baptism, and of the doctrines of original sin, the real presence, and the vicarious atonlament, as well as of the literal interpretation of Scripture; and stood for a mystical and spiritualistic type of Christianity. At the outset, like Milnzer, he contested the legitimacy of civil authority; but after the Peasants' War he restricted himself to denying the Christian's right to occupy a civil position and to demanding that the churches have authority to elect civil magistrates. The propaganda for these ideas met with great success. Rink personally evinced the courage to stand loyal to his convictions amid the gravest obstacles; while his strict morality and his learning were

BIHLIOaEAPHY: B. N. Krohn. G eachichte der janadixhen and enthschen R'iedertduler. Pp. 18 aqq.. Leipeic. 1758; J. Haet, Geachichte der Waedertaujer, pp. 264-255, Miineter, 1838; K. W. H. Hochbuth, in ZHT, uviii (1858), '.r11-553. xxx (1880), 272; L. Keller, Geachichte der WiederUiuJer and ihrea Reicha zu Mfinatcr, pp. 127-128. Miinater, 1880· DI. Lens, Briejwechael LandgmJ Philippa des Groaamiitipen van Hesse mit Bucer, i. 158, 181, 184, 325, Leipeio. 1880 F. H. Reusch. Der Index der verbotenen Blither. p. 120, Bonn, 1883; F. O. our Linden, Melchior Hofmann, pp, 171-185, Leipsie, 1885; A. H. Newman, Hint. of Anti-Pedo6aptiam. PP 274-278. Philadelphia, 1897· K. Rembert, Die "WiedertBUJer" im Herzoptum

·lulich. PP. 170, 198, 453, Berlin, 1899; O. Clemen, in MonataeehriJt der Comeniua-Geaellachaft, ix. 113-118, ib. 1900.

RIPPON, JOHN: English Baptist hymnologist; b. at Tiverton (47 m. n.e. of Plymouth), Devon, Apr. 29, 1751; d. at London Dec. 17, 1836. He was pastor at London, 1773-1836; and he edited the Baptist Annual Register, 1790-1802. He is best known as the compiler of Selections of Hymns from the Best Authors (London, 1787; new ed.·after the 30th, 1840; Comprehensive Edition, known as" The Comprehensive Rippon," 1844). The earliest edition was intended as an appendix to Isaac Watts' Psalms and Hymns. His final work has stood as one of the first half-dozen of hymn-books of historical importance, as a basis for subsequent compilation, and through its immense sale is said to have gained wealth for him. Among the few hymns of his own was, "The day has dawned, Jehovah comes."

BIHLIOa$APHT: J. Ivimey, Hiat. of English Baptists, iii. 452, 4 vola., London 18110; J. A. Jones, Bunhill Memorials,

pp. 232-238, ib. 1849; Julian, Hymnology, pp. g83-gg4; DNB, xlviii. 318-319.

RISHELL, CHARLES WESLEY: Methodist Episcopalian; b. near Williamsport, Pa., Mar. 9, 1850; d. at Newburyport, Mass., Sept. 27, 1908. He was educated at Drew Theological Seminary (18741875), Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ill. (A.B., 1876), and the University of Berlin (1889-91). In 1876 he entered the ministry of his denomination and held Ohio pastorates at Finley Church, Cincinnati (1876-78), Winton Place (1878-80), Delhi (1880-83), Avondale (1883-86), First Church, Urbane. (1886-89), Asbury Church, Cincinnati (18911894), and Central Church, Springfield (1894-95). After 1895 he was professor of historical theology in the School of Theology of Boston University and assistant dean after 1904. In theology he was a progreqeive conservative. He wrote A History of Christianity (Chicago, 1891; based on R. Sohm's Kirchengeschichte); The Higher Criticism (1892); The Official Recognition of Women in the Church (1894); The Foundations of the Christian Faith (New York, 1899); and The Child as God's Child (1905).

RIST, JOHANN: German hymnist and dramatist; b. at Ottensen, a suburb of Hamburg, Mar. 8, 1607; d. at Wedel (13 m. w. of Hamburg), Aug. 31, 1667. He was educated at the universities of Rinteln and Rostock, and is also said to have studied at Leyden, Utrecht and Leipsic, though during this latter period he seems actually to have lived at Hamburg and Ottenaen. In 1633-35 he was private tutor at Heide, but in 1635 accepted the pastorate of Wedel, where be spent the remainder of his life.