MDDM18: German

[jbor]

> 
> I seemed to remember some Religious etymology for the
> word Enthusiast and sure enough:
> 
> Main Entry: en.thu.si.asm
> Pronunciation: in-'thu-zE-"a-z&m, en-, also -'thyu-
> Function: noun 
> Etymology: Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein to be inspired, irregular
> from entheos inspired, from en- + theos god
> 
> Date: 1603 
> 1 a : belief in special revelations of the Holy Spirit b : religious
> fanaticism 
> 2 a : strong excitement of feeling : ARDOR b : something inspiring zeal or
> fervor 
> 
> Coupled with the fact that the phrase used is "German Enthusiasts" (caps)
> meaning 1 above, may be relevant.

Yes, in this sense it might literally refer back to the prominent "German
Pietist" faction in Philadelphia which was mentioned to Mason 293.17, and to
previous references to Martin Luther in the text.

Pietists. A 17th Century Lutheran movement seeking to revive the life of the
Lutheran church in Germany. It was started by P.J. Spencer (1633-1703), and
the name was applied derisively by the orthodox in the same way as the term
"Methodist" was used in England.

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