Hochstetter's History: review by Lehre und Wehre (1 of 20+)

[2020-05-19: added note (in red below) on question of authorship of book review.] — ToC in Part 3.
      Over 2 years ago (blog of Jan. 29, 2018) I threatened to publish a copyrighted manuscript of English translation of Christian Hochstetter's 1885 original German language, 480-page book A History of the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod in North America: and her doctrinal controversies from the time of the Saxon emigration in the year 1838 until the year 1884 (German original here).  

      Before I carry out my "threat", I would like to show that this book was highly regarded by Old Missouri, even if later generations have ignored, questioned, or buried it.  A search of the name "Hochstetter" in the contents of the journal Lehre und Wehre ("Doctrine and Defense") turned up a book review published in the same year as the original book, 1885.  This review was written by a "G.S." which was quite possibly Prof. Gottlieb Schaller, although I am not certain of this. Now let us listen to the review of Hochstetter's book from the chief doctrinal journal of the Old Missouri Synod. [2020-05-19: August Suelflow, in his book Servant of the Word, p. 147, n. 54, stated that George Stoeckhardt was the author of this book review.  However, Stoeckhardt typically signed his name "G. St." in Lehre und Wehre articles, not "G. S.".]

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Excerpt from Lehre und Wehre, 1885 (vol. 31), p. 243-245. Translation by BackToLuther using DeepL Translator with modifications. All highlighting and emphasis is mine.

Literature.

The History of the Lutheran Missouri Synod in North America and its Doctrinal Struggles from the Saxon emigration in 1838 to 1884, presented by Chr. Hochstetter, pastor in Wolcottsville, N. Y. Dresden. Published by Heinrich J. Naumann 1885. Price: hardcover $1.40.

It is a memorable story, one might say, that is presented to us here, a story in which the admirable workings of Almighty God and His grace confronts the reader in a truly moving way. The author refers on p. 159 to the founding of the Missouri Synod, which held its first session in Chicago on April 26, 1847, and then continues: “But the gracious and merciful God gave such a rich and spiritual blessing without all our merit and worthiness that in the course of 38 years the mustard seed became a mighty tree.” A mighty tree indeed! From the small number of 22 pastors who met with their congregations in the year mentioned for a Lutheran synod, after only four years they had already become 80 pastors and 12 teachers, and according to the present history the number of Missourian pastors has risen to almost 850; but in the teaching institutions of the Missouri synod, which are becoming more and more numerous, there are about 900 students who are taught by 34 professors. With such an exuberant blessing, God's undeserved grace crowned the Missouri Synod, which was built on the foundation rock of the divine Word and the pure and pure confession of faith; the Lutheran Church, at rest, had to stand for the jewel of the pure and unadulterated Lutheran doctrine in a fierce struggle and was constantly challenged and blasphemed by countless opponents of the saving truth from all sides. And as the two delegates of the Missouri Synod delegated to Germany, Prof. Walther and President Wyneken, could say as early as 1851 in an address to their fellow believers in Germany, in consideration of all sorts of concerns: “We prefer to answer: ‘Come over, see and examine for yourselves, and then judge whether you do not like this active, joyful life, founded on the Word of God and flowing from it, this life so lively and yet regulated according to firm, eternal principles, moving within divine boundaries, if you are at all delighted and pleased with the life and activity of Christian freedom in love.’” (p. 223): so also the author testifies at the end of his historical account, p. 475, with a basis of truth: “We can comfortably point to what is before our eyes and say: come and see!” — Yes, if one had only wanted to take the trouble to get to know the Missouri Synod in more detail, to examine impartially its standpoint with regard to doctrine, its church orders, its local governing, etc., according to the guidelines of the Word of God and the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, how many false, unjust judgments, insults and slander against the Missouri Synod and its leaders, especially Dr. Walther, would then have been omitted on this side and the other side of the sea! 

Now here is a faithful account [page 244] of the history of the Missouri Synod, from its inception to the present day, presented to friends and opponents alike. The honored author was undoubtedly able to write the history of the Missouri Synod before many others, since he testifies in the Foreword (p. V) of himself: “It has not been easy for us, the former members of the Buffalo Synod, to prove right those in whom we once thought were church destroyers; the readers will recognize from what is reported at the end of Chapter VIII that it was only under various tribulations, which had to serve us in the best possible way, and after the temptation which teaches us to remember the Word, that we were set on the path by God's gracious guidance, which we have now walked for 18 years in unity of spirit with the members of the Missouri Synod.” And already before that he says: “The author believed that he had to make this preliminary reminder because it is shows that the writer of this is not only in many places an eye- and ear-witness of what he reports in this book, but is also to some extent involved in the doctrinal disputes and struggles that were decided upon by the Missouri Synod.” 

The writer, to whom God has bestowed a special gift of historiography, has not fictionalized anything from his own head, but, as befits a reliable historian, has only communicated what he has drawn from Der Lutheraner, Lehre und Wehre, the synodical reports of the Missouri Synod and other authentic sources. And so also this writing of his, with great prudence and efficiency, is a thoroughly source-rich, faithful representation of the history of the Missouri Synod, as the title says. It gives a vivid picture of the external development of the Missouri Synod, as well as of its doctrinal position in the many doctrinal struggles it has had to endure to this day. And we can confidently put this book into the hands of all our opponents and say: 

“If you want to know the essence of the Missouri Synod according to the truth, read it; its history is its best apology.” — But with what joy will the members of the Missouri Synod take this book into their hands, so interestingly written and so excellently presented! A glorious and great picture of wonderful divine government and mighty divine acts is served up before their eyes.  Many will undoubtedly read with amazement what he has learned from the history of his Synod, which he loves from the bottom of his heart, either completely unknown up to now or not known according to its actual context. Many characteristic details will appeal to him and captivate him; he will be granted welcome explorations and insights into the history of men dear to him and of the value of the men of good standing, whom God the Lord used as his instruments in the founding and continuation of the Missouri Synod. Even the older members of the Missouri Synod, who find almost only what they have experienced recorded here, will, in their old age, once again take an active desire to go back to that past blessed time in which the breath of God poured out a new spring of spirit over His Lutheran Zion of this Western world [Occident] and did great things in it. — … G. S. [Gottlieb Schaller?]

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      The reviewer continued on from this point to reprint the Table of Contents to give potential readers an idea of the main topics covered. — In the next Part 2, we will hear more from translator Prof. Fred Kramer on Hochstetter's History…  (Table of Contents in Part 3)