Schade, Johann Caspar

Schade, Johann Caspar an eminent pietist, was born in 1666. He studied at Leipsic (1685-89), came into intimacy with Francke, and shared in the religious awakening of which Francke was subsequently a leader. In 1690 Schade was called to the Church of St. Nicolas, in Berlin. Spener had just previously begun his fruitful ministry in this church. The two other colleagues were also pietistically minded. Here now began for Schade a very laborious and fruitful ministry. His zeal was seraphic, his temperament ascetic. He abstained from marriage that he might be more wholly devoted to Christ. Soon there arose differences between him and Spener. Schade knew no moderation in the pursuit of what he regarded as duty. He raised his voice against the abuses of private confession, and Spener refuted him. After much agitation, a governmental decision of 1698 removed the exaction of private confession and absolution, and permitted a merely general public confession in its place. But Schade did not live to enjoy this release from what had been to him an oppressive duty. He died in July of the same year. See Evangelische Kirchenzeitung, 1860, No. 489 sq.; Herzog, Real- Encyklop. (J.P.L.)