GUSTAV-ADOLF-VEREIN ("GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS ASSOCIATION"): A society of German Protestants, aiming to give aid and support to Protestant families and congregations wherever needed, especially to succor the "Diaspora" (q.v.). The idea of the association was conceived by Dr. C. G.' L. Grossmann of Leipsic in 1832 in connection with the celebration of the second centennial of the death of Gustavus Adolphus (q.v.), at

Origin and Liltzen. An association was formed

Earlier by committees in Leipsic and Dresden,

History. and on Oct. 4, 1834, its statutes were confirmed by the Saxon king. Sue pass was slow; contributions were scares; and the

foundation was hardly known outside of Saxony.

But it gradually developed and gained the acknowledgment and support of King Frederick William III. of Prussia and of King Charles XIV. of Sweden. Continual, appeals for assistance, particularly from Austria; forced upon the leaders the idea of soliciting a larger participation by change of the statutes. Before this was done, however, a pastor of Basel named Legrand suggested at a conference of preachers an association to support poor Evangelical congregations, and on Oct. 31, 1841, Karl Zimmermann, court preacher at Darmstadt, propounded a similar plan, though neither knew of the existence of the Saxon association. Zimmermann's proposal was eagerly seized everywhere in Evangelical Germany and Switzerland. After an agreement with the leaders of the Saxon movement, the older and. younger associations united. Leipsic remained the center of administration, and the association was now called Evangelischer Verein der (3taatav-Adolf-Stiftuttg (" Evangelical Association of the Gustavus Adolphus Foundation "). At the second convention in 1843 at Frankfort, new statutes were adopted, twenty-nine associations being represented by delegates, including representatives of countries outside of Germany.

Every country, every larger state, and every province has a main association with branch associations. At least every third year a general con-

vention takes place. Since the general Later convention of Frankfort, the aesocia-

History. tion has developed rapidly. Only Ba-

varia, the Stronghold of the Roman Catholics, closed its doors, the introduction of the association into that country being prohibited by royal edict of 1844. A controversy arose in regard to the admission of preachers of "free congregations" as delegates, and the majority decidgd that only members of the Evangelical State Churches should be admitted. The confessional basis was considered necessary for the sound development of the association. Owing to the events of 1848 and 1849, the interest in the movement slackened, and the contributions decreased considerably; but the lost ground was soon recovered, and by an ordinance of 1849 Bavaria was also open to the .work of the association. In 1851 at the suggestion of Dr. Jonas, preacher in Berlin, a new branch was added in the organization of women's associations. After 1852 associations originated also in Holland, Sweden, Austria, Transylvania, Hungary, and in 1859 an association for supporting Lutheran congregations was formed in Russia. At several universities students' associations were called into existence. Institutions like the Evangelical Society for Protestant Germans in North America at Barman and Elberfeld, the Society for Pastoral Assistance in Berlin, the Rhenish Institute for Pastoral Assistance in Duisburg, the Jerusalem Association in Berlin, the Lutherischer Götteskasten (q.v.), all originated under the influence of the Gustav-Adoif-Verein. Associations in foreign countries, working in the same spirit, but having no connection with the original German association, have been established in Belgium, France, Rumania, and Italy, though England, Denmark, and America do not possess them.

Since its beginning, the Gustav-Adolf-Vereia has

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expended 33,094,069.74 marks and supported 4,518 congregations of which 2,729 belonged to the German Empire; 1,203 to the Austrian Monarchy, and 586 to other European countries and countries outside of Europe. To this sum must be added 424,334.33 marks for personal support and contributions in kind. The Association has built 1,972 churches and houses of prayer, 882 schoolhouses, 768 parsonages and established 80 cemeteries. It has paid special attention to Evangelical instruction in the Diaspora, and has also cared for widows and orphans of ministers and teachers and contributed to the erection and maintenance of asylums and teachers' seminaries. The principal periodicals published in the interests of the association are the Dormstddter Bote (since 1843), Markischer Bote, Thiirirnger Bote, Rheiniaeh-westfdlisches Gustav-Adolf-Blatt, OesterreichiScher Protestant, Gudav-Ado(j-Berichte aus Leiden, and others.

(K. Zimmermann.)

Bibliography: K. Zimmermann, aewAichte des GuetaeAdolf-Vereins, Darmstadt, 1877; W. pressel, Bausteine zur Geschichte des Gudaro-Adolf-Vereim, 2 vols., Freienwelde, 1878; Der Guetas-Adolf-Veredn and doe Volk Israel, Tübingen, 1879; W. Zschimmer, Bins Gwtao-AdoltBeiee, Halle, 1888; K. Benmth, GeerhicW des Hauptvereins der Gvataro-Adolf-Stittung, 18¢¢-8.¢, Königsberg, 1894; F. Blanclmneister, Gustaro-Adott-Stunden, Leipsic. 1894; idem, Fedschriften far Guetaro-Adolf-Vereine, ib. 1902 sqq.