View source for Eglauch, Caspar (1609-1693)

Caspar Eglauch, elder and chronicler of the [[Hutterian Brethren (Hutterische Brüder)|Hutterian Brethren]] in Slovakia, was born 1609 in Württemberg, and died 1693 at Lewär (Velké Levary), Slovakia. By trade he was a shoemaker. Apparently he joined the brotherhood at an early age. In 1647 he was chosen <em>Diener der Wortes </em>(preacher), and was confirmed one year later. As an old man of 79, he became <em>Vorsteher </em>or bishop of the entire brotherhood in 1688, serving in this capacity for five years. His time was a most trying period for the Brethren: repeated Turkish attacks deprived the Brethren of their homes, and the rising Counter Reformation in Slovakia tried to convert them to Catholicism and to compel them to have their children baptized. Some complied, but most of the Brethren remained true to their convictions, willing rather to emigrate than to obey such orders (Beck, 555). The institution of [[Community of Goods|community of goods]] likewise became strained and in places was given up altogether (1685-1695). In these difficult times Eglauch governed the brotherhood with power, industry, intelligence, and great earnestness, as stated in the <em>Väterlied (Lieder, </em>877). He insisted upon the preservation of the community of goods as far as he was able to. As a chronicler of the brotherhood, we know Eglauch from the one manuscript codex which he wrote, a "Chronicle" covering the period 1647-1682, now in the University Library of Budapest (Beck, cod. XXIII). Eglauch's successor as elder was [[Bersch, Tobias (d. 1701)|Tobias Bersch]] <em>.</em>
= Bibliography =
Beck, Josef. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Die Geschichts-Bücher der Wiedertäufer in Oesterreich-Ungarn</em>. Vienna, 1883; reprinted Nieuwkoop: De Graaf, 1967/

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>, 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 508.

<em class="gameo_bibliography">Die Lieder der Hutterischen Brüder: Gesangbuch darinnen viel und mancherlei schöne Betrachtungen, Lehren, Vermahnungen, Lobgesänge und Glaubensbekenntnisse, von vielen Liebhabern Gottes gedichtet und aus vielen Geschichten und Historien der heiligen Schrift zusammengetragen, allen frommen Liebhabern Gottes sehr nützlich zu singen und zu lessen</em>. Scottdale, PA: Mennonitisches Verlagshaus, 1914. Reprinted Cayley, AB: Hutterischen Brüdern in Kanada, 1962.

Zieglschmid, A. J. F. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Das Klein-Geschichtsbuch der Hutterischen Brüder</em>. Philadelphia, PA: Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, 1947.
= Additional Information =
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