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The '''Zionites''' were a religious sect in the eighteenth century at [[Ronsdorf]] ([[Duchy of Berg]], Germany). |
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The '''Zionites''' were a religious sect which flourished in the eighteenth century at [[Ronsdorf]] in the [[Duchy of Berg]]. The sect sprang from a [[Philadelphians|Philadelphian society]] founded at [[Elberfeld]] in 1726 by Elias Eller and the pastor Daniel Schleiermacher. Eller was the foreman of a factory owned by a rich widow. He read eagerly the writings of ancient and modern visionaries, and then formed an apocalyptic, millenarian system of his own. He made such an impression on the widow, twenty years his senior, that she married him. Thus, he obtained the means and influence to draw adherents around himself. The pastor Schleiermacher, grandfather of the celebrated theologian [[Friedrich Schleiermacher]], was also influenced by Eller. The prophetess of the society was the daughter of a baker, [[Anna van Bushel]], who had dreams and visions and saw apparitions. After the death of his wife, Eller married her. She called herself mother of [[Zion]], her husband father of Zion, and prophesied that she would bear the savior of the world. The new order of things was to begin in 1730. Her first child was a daughter, but Eller was able to console the society with Scriptural texts. A son born in 1733, died two years later. Eller made himself the central point of theology. Christian morality was replaced by the craving for coarse and sensual pleasures. In 1737, the sect left Elberfeld and founded [[Ronsdorf]] which soon prospered, and, through Eller's influence, was raised by the State in 1745, to the rank of a city. Eller took the most important offices for himself, lived with his wife in great pomp, and generally governed tyrannically. When Eller's wife died suddenly, in 1744, doubts arose in the mind of Schleiermacher, who was pastor at Ronsdorf. He confessed his mistake and sought to open the eyes of the deceiving leader, but Eller managed to maintain himself until death. The sect was carried on by the pastors who took Schleiermacher's place, by Eller's stepson, Blockhaus, and continued to exist until 1768. The new pastor chosen in this year, and his successors, brought back the inhabitants of Ronsdorf to Protestantism. The after-effects of the movement could be traced into the nineteenth century. |
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==History== |
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===Elberfeld=== |
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The sect was created by members of the [[Philadelphian Society]], who were a group of [[Christian]] [[dissenters]] and [[mysticism|mystics]] based in England. |
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The Zionites were founded at [[Elberfeld]] in [[Wuppertal]], [[Germany]] in 1726 by Elias Eller and the pastor Daniel Schleiermacher. |
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Eller was the foreman of a factory owned by his wife, a rich widow. He had read the writings of ancient and modern visionaries and then formed an apocalyptic, [[millenarian]] system of his own. Schleiermacher, grandfather of the celebrated theologian [[Friedrich Schleiermacher]], was also influenced by Eller. |
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The group had a [[prophetess]] named Anna Catharina vom Büchel, who was a baker's daughter. Vom Büchel had "dreams and visions, and saw apparitions". After the death of Eller's wife, vom Büchel and Eller became a married couple. The newlyweds were known as "the mother and father of [[Zion]]" and prophesied that Anna would bear the male saviour of the world. The couple's first child was a daughter, but Eller was able to console the society with Scriptural texts. A son was conceived in 1733, but passed away two years later.<ref>[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37404/37404-h/37404-h.htm#:~:text=Of%20a%20like%20nature%20too%20was%20the%20sect%20of%20Zionites%20at%20Ronsdorf%20in%20the%20Duchy%20of%20Berg. Gutenburg Number 170.4]</ref> |
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The theology became centralised around Eller, and the "Christian morality" which the Zionites were founded upon was replaced by the craving for coarse and sensual pleasures. |
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===Ronsdorf=== |
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In 1737, the sect left Elberfeld and founded the settlement of [[Ronsdorf]] which soon prospered. Through Eller's influence, Ronsdorf was raised by the State in 1745 to the rank of a city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theodora.com/encyclopedia/r/ronsdorf.html | title=Ronsdorf - Encyclopedia }}</ref><ref>https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Ronsdorf</ref> Eller then received the office of burgomaster<ref>[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37404/37404-h/37404-h.htm#:~:text=Of%20a%20like%20nature%20too%20was%20the%20sect%20of%20Zionites%20at%20Ronsdorf%20in%20the%20Duchy%20of%20Berg. Gutenburg Number 170.4]</ref> and lived in prosperity, reported as a 'tyrannical ruler'. |
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When Anna passed away unexpectedly in 1744, doubts arose in the mind of Schleiermacher, who was pastor at Ronsdorf. He confessed his mistake and sought to change Eller's mind, but Eller managed to maintain himself until death. |
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Schleiermacher left the group and moved to the Netherlands. The sect was carried on by the pastors who took Schleiermacher's place, including Eller's stepson, Blockhaus. A new pastor was chosen in 1768 and he and his successors brought the inhabitants of Ronsdorf back to Protestantism.<ref>[https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/zionites Catholic.Com website]</ref> The after-effects of the movement could be traced into the nineteenth century. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Wikisource1913CatholicEnc|Zionites}} |
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---- |
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*{{Catholic}}{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2015}} |
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* {{CE1913|wstitle= Zionites |volume= 15 |last= Löffler |first= Klemens |short=1}} |
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[[Category:Former Christian denominations]] |
[[Category:Former Christian denominations]] |
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Latest revision as of 01:27, 6 November 2024
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (September 2022) |
The Zionites were a religious sect in the eighteenth century at Ronsdorf (Duchy of Berg, Germany).
History
[edit]Elberfeld
[edit]The sect was created by members of the Philadelphian Society, who were a group of Christian dissenters and mystics based in England.
The Zionites were founded at Elberfeld in Wuppertal, Germany in 1726 by Elias Eller and the pastor Daniel Schleiermacher.
Eller was the foreman of a factory owned by his wife, a rich widow. He had read the writings of ancient and modern visionaries and then formed an apocalyptic, millenarian system of his own. Schleiermacher, grandfather of the celebrated theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, was also influenced by Eller.
The group had a prophetess named Anna Catharina vom Büchel, who was a baker's daughter. Vom Büchel had "dreams and visions, and saw apparitions". After the death of Eller's wife, vom Büchel and Eller became a married couple. The newlyweds were known as "the mother and father of Zion" and prophesied that Anna would bear the male saviour of the world. The couple's first child was a daughter, but Eller was able to console the society with Scriptural texts. A son was conceived in 1733, but passed away two years later.[1]
The theology became centralised around Eller, and the "Christian morality" which the Zionites were founded upon was replaced by the craving for coarse and sensual pleasures.
Ronsdorf
[edit]In 1737, the sect left Elberfeld and founded the settlement of Ronsdorf which soon prospered. Through Eller's influence, Ronsdorf was raised by the State in 1745 to the rank of a city.[2][3] Eller then received the office of burgomaster[4] and lived in prosperity, reported as a 'tyrannical ruler'.
When Anna passed away unexpectedly in 1744, doubts arose in the mind of Schleiermacher, who was pastor at Ronsdorf. He confessed his mistake and sought to change Eller's mind, but Eller managed to maintain himself until death.
Schleiermacher left the group and moved to the Netherlands. The sect was carried on by the pastors who took Schleiermacher's place, including Eller's stepson, Blockhaus. A new pastor was chosen in 1768 and he and his successors brought the inhabitants of Ronsdorf back to Protestantism.[5] The after-effects of the movement could be traced into the nineteenth century.
References
[edit]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Löffler, Klemens (1912). "Zionites". Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15.
