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Weltz, Justinian Ernst von

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Welton, Richard, D.D.

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a Hungarian nobleman of the 17th century. He is known on account of his connection with the mystics Breckling, Gichtel, and others. At Ratisbon he met with Gichtel, and both united in forming a fraternity of the pious ("Jesus-Gesellschaft") for the purpose of renewing the inner life of the Church. The members received their names from the society to which they belonged; thus, Weltz received Breckling in Holland under the name of "Der Brechende." Being very rich, Weltz gave $30,000 towards the objects of the fraternity. This was about 1660. The society also had in view a union between the Lutherans and the Calvinists. In 1664 Weltz and Gichtel presented to the Corpus Evangelicorum a plan of their tendencies, which Weltz had approved by the most famous theologians. He was also the first who, in two works, reminded the Church of the holy duty of missionary work; but the orthodox superintendent Ursinus, at Ratisbon, dismissed him mockingly. In the same year (1664) Weltz went to Surinam to preach the Gospel there, which he did until his death. This was the beginning of evangelical missions. See Jocher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexikon, s.v.; Plitt, Gesch. der lutherischen Mission (Erlangen, 1871), page 22 sq.; Theolog. Universal-Lexikon, s.v. (B.P.)