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In Switzerland from 1516 to 1525 - James Aitken Wylie

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choked by the love of arms and the power of<br />

superstition. Oswald Geishauser – for such was his<br />

name till Erasmus hellenised it in<strong>to</strong> Myconius–was<br />

one of the sweetest spirits and most accomplished<br />

minds of that age. He was born at Lucerne (1488),<br />

and educated at Basle, where he became Rec<strong>to</strong>r of<br />

St. Peter's School. <strong>In</strong> <strong>1516</strong> he left Basle, and<br />

became Rec<strong>to</strong>r of the Cathedral School at Zurich.<br />

He was the first of those who sought <strong>to</strong> dispel the<br />

ignorance of his native <strong>Switzerland</strong> by laboring, in<br />

his vocation as schoolmaster, <strong>to</strong> introduce at once<br />

the knowledge of ancient letters and the love of<br />

Holy Scripture. He had previously contracted a<br />

friendship with Zwingli, and it was mainly through<br />

his efforts and counsel that the Preacher of<br />

Einsiedeln was elected <strong>to</strong> fill the vacant office at<br />

Zurich. The two friends worked lovingly <strong>to</strong>gether,<br />

but at length it was resolved that Myconius should<br />

carry the light <strong>to</strong> his native city of Lucerne. The<br />

parting was sad, but Myconius obeyed the call of<br />

duty and set out.<br />

He hoped that his office as head-master in the<br />

collegiate school of this city would afford him<br />

122

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