125 Jahre Zwingliverein: Eine «freie Vereinigung von Männern» – Zur Vorgeschichte und Gründungsmotivation des Zwinglivereins von 1872–1897

The Zwingli Association celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. In 1897, the founding fathers of the association explicitly referred to a Zwingli exhibition in January 1884 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Huldrych Zwingli’s birthday. However, the dedication of a Zwingli monument was planned for this date. But this ceremony did not take place until 1885, one and a half years later than originally intended. This article explores the question of how the Zwingli monument and its genesis are connected to the Zwingli exhibition of 1884. Which circles and their specific national or ecclesiastical-theological interests were involved in the process of finding the monument? Special attention is paid to the process of choosing between the Zwingli models made by the sculptors Ferdinand Schlöth and Heinrich Natter in the “Concours.” How come today Zurich is a “weighted Zwingli,” as Alexander Schweizer expressed his disappointment at the selection process? The Zwingli monument and its possible theological-historical impact are also discussed. The book concludes with a look at the Zwingli museum of 1897, from which today’s Zwingli Association has evolved