Hahn, Michael

Hahn, Michael a German theosophist, was born Feb. 2, 1758, at Altdorf, near Böblingen, Würtemberg. The son of a peasant, he was from early youth under the influence of profound religious convictions, and devoted himself, in retirement, to the study of the Bible, and of the works of prominent theosophists, as Behmen and Oetinger. He claimed to receive from God special revelations, and wrote down their contents. As a speaker in the meetings of the Pietists he attracted large crowds, was several times summoned before the consistory to defend himself against the charge of heresy, but was finally allowed to spend the last twenty-four years of his life without further annoyance upon an estate of the duchess Francisca of Würtemberg. There he died in great peace in 1819. The followers of Hahn, called the Michelians, constitute an organized communion which has never separated from the State Church, but the members of which annually meet for consultation, and, in particular, for making provision for the poor. The celebrated colony of Kornthal (q.v.), near Stuttgart, was organized under the direct influence of Hahn. The works of Hahn, which contain a complete speculative theosophy, have been published at Tübingen in 12 vols. (1819 sq.). Several of his hymns were received by Albert Knapp into the hymn- book which he prepared for the use of the State Church. Like many of the Würtemberg Pietists, Hahn believed in the final restoration of all things. — Haug, Die Sekte der Michelisner, in Studien der evang. Geistlichkeit Würtemberg, vol. 11; Illgen, Hist. theolog. Zeitschrift, 1841; Römer, Kirchl. Geschichte Würtemberg; Herzog, Real-Encykl. 5,472. (A. J. S.)