Hist20: Hochstetter's obituary; “mouth of Walther”

      This continues from Part 19 (Table of Contents in Part 3), a series presenting an English translation of Pastor Christian Hochstetter's 1885 496-page book entitled (abbreviated) The History of the Missouri Synod, 1838-1884. — I have been informed of an obituary printed in the December 19, 1905 issue of Der Lutheraner, p. 403-404, and consider it worthy of inclusion in this series on Hochstetter's History. In it we hear that our author was imminently qualified to write his book, using "his own experience, as well as on accounts from the mouth of Dr. Walther and other credible witnesses." We hear that his book was well read in the Old Missouri.  This is one more testimony for all Lutherans to consider reading this book, now that it is fully available in the English language, free of critical "scholarly" comments by modernist LC-MS writers. Translation by BackToLuther, highlighting is mine. — In the next Part 21, the full texts of the book.

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† Christian Hochstetter †

Pastor Christian Hochstetter, this faithful servant and witness of Jesus Christ, has long been known and loved by probably most readers of Der Lutheraner especially from his History of the Missouri Synod. He has now gone home. After a long period of severe kidney disease, he passed away in Jordan, Canada, (p. 404) on June 12 at the age of 77 years, 2 months and 11 days. His tired body was laid to rest two days later in God's field [or cemetary] in Wolcottsville, N. America., next to his first wife. At the funeral service, which was held in the church of Wolcottsville, the local Pastor Lohrmann preached on the text John 17:6 which was chosen by the deceased himself. Pastor Senne then gave a short address on Luke 2:29-30., and P. Michel officiated at the tomb. The congregation was all present at the funeral service of their former pastor. The schoolchildren, all of whom had probably been baptized by Pastor Hochstetter, sang a fitting farewell song at his coffin.

The deceased was born on April 1, 1828, in Lorch, Kingdom of Württemberg. After completing his studies in Tübingen, he was first active in the old Fatherland as a tutor and pastor. But because he could not participate in the unionism that had eaten through everything, he moved to America after only a few years. Here he served for several years the congregations belonging to the Ohio Synod in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Toledo, Ohio. In 1857, he followed a call as a deacon to the congregation of the Pastor Grabau in Buffalo, N. Y. and at the same time joined the Buffalo Synod. He remained in this position until this congregation was divided. In 1866, the Buffalo Synod on the one hand and representatives of the Missouri Synod on the other held a doctrinal discussion. The result of this so-called colloquium was that Pastor Hochstetter with a large part of the congregation of Pastor Grabau’s renounced the Buffalo Synod for the sake of doctrines and joined the Buffalo Trinity Church of the Missouri Synod. At this now significantly enlarged congregation he officiated together with the then pastor of the congregations, Pastor Ruhland, for about half a year. In the fall of that year, he accepted a calling from one of our congregations in Pittsburgh, Pa. He then ministered in turn to St. Paul's parish in Indianapolis, Indiana, the congregations in Frohna, Mo., in Stonebridge, Can., in Wolcottsville, N. Y., where he administered the Ministry for eighteen years, and finally in Jordan, Canada.

Pastor Hochstetter was also almost constantly active in the literary field. When he was a member of the Ohio Synod, he wrote a treatise on Holy Baptism in which he defended this sacrament against the despisers of it in and outside of his Synod. He also wrote a booklet on Holy Communion, also in defense of this sacrament. While he was a member of the Buffalo Synod, he was active in the publication Informatorium and was editor of the Historisches Zeitblatt. As pastor of our Synod, while standing in Stonebridge, Can., he was editor of the Lutherisches Volksblatt for several years. In this paper he published a long series of articles, titled “Erinnerungen an Dr. C. F. W. Walther” (Memories of Dr. C. F. W. Walther), which are currently appearing in the "Zeugen und Anzeiger", as Hochstetter himself elaborated. In Wolcottsville he wrote the extremely interesting book:History of the Missouri Synod, which he wrote based on his own experience, as well as on accounts from the mouth of Dr. Walther and other credible witnesses. [Balance in "Read more" below]

Pastor Hochstetter was equipped by the dear God with rich spiritual gifts. He had a thorough knowledge of the Lutheran doctrines and knew how to defend them against all attacks in the strongest possible way. He was at home in the history of the church, and likewise in the "Church Fathers" everywhere. Especially for historical facts he had an admirable memory. At conferences he always knew how to speak the right word and to teach his confreres from his rich treasure. In his congregations he was a faithful shepherd, who was concerned about the salvation of the sheep he had been entrusted with. His church members had a splendid opportunity to be established and strengthened in wholesome knowledge by his sermons and by his private conversations. With all of them he was a humble child of God, faithful and without falsehood in his faith and in his Christianity. And because he was faithful to his God and Savior, he was also a pure and sincere friend to his brethren in the ministry and fellow Christians. Whoever knew him had to love and respect him.

On October 10, 1900, Pastor Hochstetter celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the ministry in the midst of his congregation in Wolcottsville. He was married twice. His first wife and faithful companion of many years was widow [Wittwe] Elisabeth Weinbach. Several years after her death, he entered into holy matrimony for the second time with widow Sophie Pieper. During his long illness he was faithfully cared for by his second wife until his blessed end.

And so the long-time servant and fighter for Jesus Christ sleeps in his small chamber in the tomb until that great resurrection morning. To him, as we may confidently hope, applies the promise which the Lord has made to all faithful servants: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever”, Dan. 12:3. S.

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In the next Part 21, the full texts of the book.