SPENER, PHILIPP JAKOB, 1635-1705.
Receipt, 1688 Jan. 10.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 133

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CITATION:  Philipp Jakob Spener Receipt, MSS 133, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University. 

Philipp Jakob Spener, called the "Father of Pietism", was born on January 13, 1635 at Rappoltsweiler, Upper Alsace.  He was educated in theology at Strassburg, Tubingen, and Basel. Upon completing his studies he became the private tutor to the Princes Palatinate, Christian and Charles.  In 1663 he was employed as a pastor in Strassburg and lecturer in philology and history at the university.  In 1666 he was appointed first pastor at Frankfort where he began his famous collegia pietatis (prayer meetings). These meetings eventually brought him into conflict with the orthodox clergy. After leaving Frankfort he became preacher to the electoral court of Saxony at Dresden in1686, but lost this position after reproving the elector for his vices. Spener was appointed provost of the Church of St. Nicolai in Berlin in 1695. He died in Berlin on February 5, 1705.

This is a single receipt on paper, written in German and signed by Philipp Jakob Spener. The receipt is dated January 10, 1688 and acknowledges the payment of ten Talers "from the Electoral Saxon fisc into the Alms-chest." An English translation of the document is included.