ESSLINGEN

(es’ling-én), a town of Germany, in Wiirttemberg, on the Neckar, 7 miles E.S.E. of Stuttgart. It is of Roman origin, was long an imperial free town, has walls flanked with towers, a castle, and an ancient Gothic church, dating from the thirteenth century, with a tower 230 feet high. In 1488 the Swabian League was formed at H lingen. It has mannufactures of machinery, articles of wood cutlery, philosophical instruments,and spinning and other mills. Pop. 40,586 ESTABLISHED CHURCH, a Church having a form of doctrine and government established by law in any coune try for the teaching of Christianity within its boundaries, and usually endowed by the State. The upholders of the establishment theory maintain that it is the duty of a State to provide for the religious instruction of the people. On the other hand, it is argued that the State has no right to endow or support any particular sect or denomination, unle they a ume that that denomination alone is po e ed of religious truth and worth. Regarding the established Church of England, see ENGLAND; for Church of Scotland, see SCOTLAND.