The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Spitta, Karl Johann Phillip

SPITTA, Karl Johann Phillip, German hymnist: b. Hanover, 1801; d. Burgdorf, 1859. After completing studies at Göttingen University, he taught from 1824 to 1828 at Lüne, where he composed the hymns which brought him into prominence. He served as pastor in several localities and became superintending clergyman at Burgdorf in 1859, a short time before his death. His hymns of perfect lyric form and purity of style are marked by spiritual elevation and a wealth of thought and sentiment embodied in fresh, vigorous language. They came into general use and retain a high position in the hymnology of the period. They appear in ‘Nachgelassene geistliche Lieder’ (1861 et seq.); in ‘Psalter und Harfe’ (1833; rev. ed. with bibliography, 1890; Jubilee ed. 1901). Consult Münkel, ‘Phillip Spitta’ (Leipzig 1861); Majer, ‘id.’ (2d ed., (Bremen 1891).