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
(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.
