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GOTTESKASTEN, LUTHERISCHER (" Lutheran. Poor-box"): The name of a number of societies of Lutherans in Germany aiming to help and support in church matters Lutherans living abroad

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(see Diaspora). The German Lutheran Church has ever been responsive to the needs of its breth ren. 3n the hundred years between Beginning 1677 and 1777 the churches in Ham ofburg made eighty collections for for Movement. sign congregations. Through G. A. Francke and others, ministers were sent to America, among them H. M. Mühlenberg (q.v.), in 1742. Tobias Kissling, a merchant of Nuremberg, beginning in 17¢3, made 106 personal visits to the scattered congregations in Upper Austria, Styria, and Carinthia and spent,the greater part of his fortune in the effort to provide them with church buildings, schools, preachers, and teachers. The work first found a special organization, however, in the Gustav-Adolf-Verein (q.v.). But this society was limited by its constitution to the help of Evan gelicals living among Roman Catholics, and many strict Lutherans held themselves aloof. Such found an abundant field for their labor by responding to an appeal from America brought by Fritz Wy necken. Wilhelm Löhe (q.v.), pastor in Neuendet telsau, gave a practical direction to the work by organizing efforts to educate and send ministers to America. The name "Gotteskasten" was adopted by three Hanoverians, Pastor L. A. Petri, General Superintendent Steinmetz, and Consistorial Member A. F. O. Münchmeyer (qq.v.), who published a statement of their purpose in the Zeitblatt für die Angelegenheiten der lutherischen Kirche for Oct. 31, 1853. They expressed approval of the aim of the Gustav-Adolf-Verein, but took exception to some of its ecclesiastical principles, and solicited voluntary contributions to be used for the same purpose. Got teskasten were established in Mecklenburg (1854), the duchies of Bremen and Verden (1856), the duchy of Lauenburg (1858), and in Bavaria (1863). The society in Mecklenburg developed the greatest activity. All were actuated by opposition to the Gustav-Adolf-Verein because it extended aid to the Reformed and so-called United Church as well as to Lutherans, and because it limited its field to local ities where Roman Catholicism predominated. After the formation of the German Empire the movement received new life. In 1876 the original Hanover society resolved to employ Progress agents, to hold an annual meeting and after issue an annual report, and to unite 1871. with similar societies. General con ferences were held in 1878 and 1879, and in the latter year the Bavarian Gotteskasten was reinstituted. Gotteskasten were then established in Württemberg, Reuss, Sleswick-Holstein, Hamburg, Oldenburg, Brunswick, Hesse, and Thuringia. The "Lutherische Hilfsverein" was founded in Lippe-Detmold, and in 1889 the " Evangelisch lutherische Gesellschaft in Elsass-Lothringen " joined the union of Gotteskasten, which had been perfected at Hanover in 1880. The rules adopted at that time are in the main still authoritative. A certain society, selected for five years, acts as the head and arranges for an annual conference. A special branch of the work-the administration of the Lutherstift in Königgr#tz, the work in Austria, in Brazil, etc.-is assigned Jo each society. Since 1880 a periodical, Der lutherische Gotleskasten, has been published quarterly by the Bavarian society. The annual income is from 110,000 to 120,000 marks. A summary of the work of the Gotteskasten may be divided into three heads: (1) Aid to Lutherans among Roman Catholics-in Bavaria, the greater part of Hanover, Paris, the Austrian Summary Empire, Peru, and Brazil. The first of Work. minister was sent to Brazil in 1897; in 1905 thirteen ministers were at work there, preaching was carried on at thirty-eight places in three States, and the formation of a synod was contemplated. In Peru the Hanover Gotteskasten founded the united congregation of CallaoLima in 1897-98. In Austria-Hungary the most work has been done for the Lutheran Czechs. Congregations have been formed among them and preaching stations established, and they have been helped to maintain their parochial schools. The "Lutherstift" has been founded at Königgratz to provide Christian family life, religious instruction, and Sunday services for Lutheran students in the schools. Promising students of theology are aided to continue their training at German universities, and help has also been given to Lutheran students at Vienna. (2) Aid to Lutherans among Reformed and other Evangelical confessions-in certain German cities (Metz, where a self-supporting congregation was established in nine years; Mühlhausen; Borkum; Blumenthal; etc.), some Austrian congregations, Lippe-Detmold, Switzerland, North America., South Africa, and Australia. The work here has been to supply ministers, help students, and support weak congregations. The Lutheran Emigrants' Mission (see Emigrants and Immigrants, Mission Work Among) also receives support from the Gotteskasten as a part of their work. (3) Aid to Lutherans among the United-Bremerhafen, three congregations in Baden, the Breslau synod and the Immanuel synod, now united with it. According to the order of the sovereign, dated Sept. 27, 1817, the Lutheran Church exists no longer in the ancient provinces of Prussia. Reformed ministers can be appointed for so-called Lutheran congregations and vice versa, not to mention the doctrine of the Lord's Supper. Nevertheless, some refused to join the union and such are entitled to the support of strict Lutherans. The matter, however, is beset with difficulties.

W. Funke.

Bibliography: W. Funks, Dan Werk der luther£aden Gob tmkanten, Hanover, 1883; C. Hofstatter, Gustav-AdolfVerein and luderische Gotteekasten, Erlangen, 1881; G. C. N<ingk, Der Gudav-Adolf-Veretn und der luthsriarAe Gotteskasten, Bernburg, 1884; J. Hieronymus, Ana der lutherischen Diaspora, Bischofewald, 1897; M. Ahner, Der lutherische Gotteskaeten, Leipsic, 1898; idem, GustauAdolf-Verein and Gotteskantsn, Leipsic, 1898.

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