ZIONITES
761
ZIRCZ
platform of a Jewish autoncmy in the new Jewish
state.
GoTTHEii,, The Aima of Zionism (New York. 1899); articles by NORDAC in the International Quarterly 0902); by Zangwill in Lippinrolt^s Magazine (1899); Herzl, Zionitiache Schri/ten (Berlin. 1905).
Walter Drctm.
Zionites, a sect of visionarj- fanatics which flour- ished in the eighteenth century at Ronsdorf in the Duchy of Berg, now part of the Prussian province of the Rhine. The sect sprang from a Philadelphian society founded at Elberfeld in 1726 by Ehas Eller and the pastor Daniel Sclileiermacher. 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 apocalj-ptic, millen- arian system of his own. He made such an impres- sion 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 Sclileiermacher, grandfather of the celebrated theologian, was also duped b}' EUer. The prophetess of the society was the daughter of a baker, Anna van Buchel, who had dreams and visions and saw ap])ari- tions. 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 saviour 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. Chris- tian morality was replaced by the craving for coarse and sensual pleasures. In 1737 the sect left Elber- feld and founded Ronsdorf which soon prospered, and, through Eller's influence, was raised by the State in 174.5 to the rank of a city. Eller took the most important offices for himself, Uved with his wife in great pomp, and 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 main- tain himself until death. The sect was carried on by the pastors who took Schleiermacher's place, by EUer's stepson Bolckhaus, and continued to exist until 1768. The new pastor chosen in this j'ear and his successors brought back the inhabitants of Ronsdorf to Protestantism. The after effects of the movement could be traced into the nineteenth century.
Krdq, Kritischr Ceachickle der proteatantiachcn religiosen Schwarmerei im Henoglum Berg (Elberfeld, 1851); Gobel, Gesrhichle dea chriatlichen Lebens in der rheiniachen u. weatfdliachen erangeliachen Kirche, III (Coblenz, 1860). 450-59S.
Klemens Lopfler.
Zips (SzEPES), Diocese of (Scepusiensis), in Hungary, suffragan of Agria (Eger), founded by Maria Theresa in 1776, and composed of the exempt provostship of St. Martin, the date of foundation of which is unknown, but probably in the beginning of the thirteenth century. Besides the provostship, a collegiate chapter also existed at Zips. The bishops of Zips were among the mo.st prominent ecclesiastical dignitaries of Hungary, and were appointed by the chapter; in later times the bi.shops were appointed by the kings of Hungary. The provostshap was directly subject to the Holy See, and the provost exercised quasi-episcopal functions. In 1291 Pro- vost Jacobus is mentioned as Bishop of Zips, but this dignity was not transmitted to his succes-sors. The chapter consisted originally of four members. In the thirteenth centurj', the Tatars destroyed the church and burnt the archives. After the departure of the Tatars, B^la IV had the church rebuilt. A great number of parishes were establi.shcd by tlic Saxons who .set tied in Zips. In 1271 they received from King Stephen V the privilege of free election to the parishes. This privilege was exercised by thirteen towns of
the Diocese of Zips pledged to Poland by King
Sigismund in 1412, as well as by other towns not
pledged. Protestantism found a fertile soil in Zips,
and spread especially under Stanislav Thurzo. Vigor-
ous steps towards the re-establishment of the Cath-
oUc Faith were not taken until 1641. After that
Cathohcism made better progress. In 1776 the see
was estabhshed, and Karl Salbeck appointed first
bishop. Among his successors may be mentioned:
Ladislav PjTker, 1816-21, an eminent poet, later
Archbishop of Agria and Patriarch of Venice; Joseph
Samassa, 1871-73, later Archbishop of Agria; George
Csdszka, 1874-91, later Archbishop of Kalocsa.
Alexander Pirvy is the present bishop (1910). The
diocese includes the Komitate of Zips, Arva, and Lipto.
It is divided into three archdeaconries and has in
its territory one abbey and five titular abbeys, one
provostship and thirteen titular provostships. The
number of parishes is 165; that of the clergj' 245. In
the diocese there are 11 monasteries, with 83 inmates.
The patronage is exercised by 34 patrons. The
chapter includes 10 canons and 6 titular canons.
The Catholic population is 237,140.
PiBHAU, A Szepeai pripoalxdg tHrtfnele (Hiatory of the Provoat- ahtp of Zips) (Loose, 1891): A katalikws Magyarnrazdg {Catholic Hungary) (Budapest, 1902); Dioceaan Directory (Hungarian) (1911).
A. XldjCsy.
Zircz (ZrncENSis) or Boccon, Cistercian abbey, situated in the Diocese of Veszpr^m, Hungary. The early history of the monasterj- is enveloped in much obscurity, as regards both names and dates, on ac- count of its being so often referred to under both these titles. Whether Zircz and De Boccon were separate abbeys cannot now be definitely determined. It seems most probable that the foundation was made by Bela III, King of Hungary (1182), as the monastic domain was formerly a royal farm. Besides this grant, on which now stands "the city of Zircz, many other donations were made to the nascent abbey, which soon became one of the most celebrated in the countrj'. It was rich not only in temporal possessions but also in the spirit of fer\-our and re- ligious regularity. This hap])y state continued for three centuries, but decadence set in before the end of the fifteenth century, and by 1.526 the ravages of heresy had depopulated the monastery, not one religious remaining at that year; the buildings and possessions p.assod into the hands of laymen. In the seventeenth centurj' (1609) it was acquired by Canon Michael Monoszloy; thenceforth it remained the property of ecclesiastics, and in 16.59 it was given to Holweis, Abbot of the Cistercian abbey at Lilienfeld, who appointed Martin Ujfalusy (1660) its abbot. From the jurisdiction of Lilienfeld it was transferred successively to that of Borsmonostor (1678) and Heinrichau (1700). From this latter abbey came a number of religious who gradually restored first the monastic buildings and church (consecrated 1745) and then regular observ-ance in its primitive vigour. In 1810 the community, in common with many others, was ex])elled, but was restored in 1814 under Abbot Antonius Dr<ta, from which time the abbey pros- pered more than ever before. Under his administra- tion the abbeys at Pilis and Paszto were united to Zircz; as was likewise, in 1878, the .abbey at Szent- gotthard. Zircz is now governed by Dom Edmund Paul Vajda, elected 9 May, 1S91, and is one of the most flourishing abbeys in Himgarj'. It contains 105 priests, 35 clerics, and 11 novices; in all 151 choir members.
Manrique, Annales Citlercienais (Lyons. 1642); Jonqelinub, Notitia nhhaliarum O. Cialercienaia (ColoRne, 1640); FpxHOrrER, Monaaterialogia regni Uunaaria. lihri, IKBudapest. 1858) : Rosev- THAl.. Ada S. Ord. Cislercienais (\ionna. 1649); Chifflet, Chron. Clnrnral in .S. Bernnrdi illustrr genua aaaertrtm fllijon, 1660): SATOBirs. Cistrrritim hia-lerlium (Praglie, 1700): Heimb, Xot. Hiatoriea de orlu ei proareaau Abhat. B. M. an .S. Gofthnrdum, S.O.C. (Vienna, 1784); Kovacs, A Moramonoalori apittag
