600 Years Of Charitable Work

In Germany

Newtown Genealogy Club will host Dr Gregory Wismar, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown, as its final speaker before summer recess. Dr Wismar will speak on Wednesday, June 10, at 7 pm, in the C.H., Booth Library board room, about Stiftung, a German charity established more than 600 years ago.

Dr Wismar speaks German fluently and has traveled extensively throughout Germany in search of his ancestors. He has previously spoken before the Newtown Genealogy Club about his travels and research.

Stiftung was established for church purposes in 1401 in Luechow, in northern Germany, and continues to this day. Dr Wismar states that in researching Stiftung he was basically able to participate in a 600-year family reunion. Dr Wismar’s ancestors worshipped at the Lutheran Church in Luechow for hundreds of years.

In 1401 two brothers in that church covenanted to donate the proceeds from the crops in their fields to create a charity for the education of the sons of the parish. Today Stiftung still continues, but women from the parish as well as men are now the beneficiaries as long as they attend any university in Germany.

Dr Wismar will also share with the group a copy of the translation of the original charter from 1401, along with slides to tell his story.

Newtown Genealogy Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm, September until June. Guests are warmly welcomed.

For further information, call Harlan Jessup at 426-3981.