Horsch, Michael (1871-1949)
Michael Horsch (1871-1949), an outstanding elder and leader of the Mennonite churches of the Badischer Verband, South Germany, was born of a long line of elders and preachers of two old Swiss-Baden Mennonite families, which settled in Giebelstadt near Würzburg, Germany, soon after 1800 (Horsch and Landes). Born the son of Elder Jakob Horsch, 15 January 1871, he grew up on the estate at Gelchsheim rented by his farmer father, which he with his mother took over at the death of his father when he was only 17. The rest of his life Michael Horsch was a farmer, purchasing the large estate of Hellmannsberg near Ingolstadt where he lived from 1914 to his death. He was married to Maria Schmutz in 1898; one of their 10 children is Elder Hellmut Horsch of Ingolstadt. Michael was ordained preacher of the Giebelstadt-Würzburg congregation in 1909 and elder of the Ingolstadt congregation in 1923.
Michael Horsch, though without formal higher education, displayed a remarkable breadth of interest, vision, and ability as a leader. Conservative in theology, and a devoted Mennonite, he was not denominationally narrow nor bound by tradition. He founded (January 1922) and led as chairman until his death the South German Mennonite relief organization known as Christenpflicht. He was a prime mover in the founding of the Bibelheim Thomashof near Durlach. He was an active promoter of the deaconess work and a supporter of missions and evangelism. Many Bible conferences were held at Hellmannsberg. He died 13 October 1949 and was buried at Hellmannsberg.
Bibliography
Landes, Jakob. "Michael Horsch, aus seinem Leben und Lebenswerk." Gemeinde-Kalendar (1954): 19-53.
| Author(s) | Harold S Bender |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1953 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Bender, Harold S. "Horsch, Michael (1871-1949)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Horsch,_Michael_(1871-1949)&oldid=95319.
APA style
Bender, Harold S. (1953). Horsch, Michael (1871-1949). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Horsch,_Michael_(1871-1949)&oldid=95319.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 815-816. All rights reserved.
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