The History of the Lutheran Missouri Synod in North America and its Doctrinal Struggles from the Saxon Emigration in 1838 to the Year 1884, Presented by Chr. Hochstetter, Pastor at Wolcottsville, N. Y. Dresden, published by Heinrich J. Naumann. 1885.
The author of this paper published in 1882 in the Canada "Volksblatt" an essay running through many numbers under the heading: “The Beginnings of the Missouri Synod.” Many who read it immediately recognized the author's gift for beautiful presentation. The article was also published in the “Evang.-lutherische Freikirche” (Evangelical Lutheran Free Church) published by our brethren in Germany, and we are not surprised that it was precisely from the midst of our German brethren, who stand so faithfully by our Synod, that a request was made to the author to expand the article into a complete history of the Missouri Synod.
The author, who has been a faithful member of our Synod for 18 years, is, however, in our opinion, especially suited to write a history of our Synod for another reason; for he was a member of the Ohio Synod for some years before joining our Synod, and then a member of the Buffalo Synod for a longer time, and therefore knows these Synods, with which ours had to struggle, very well. — The “Free Church” quite correctly remarks: “No one will be able to accuse him of knowing only Missouri and therefore being biased in his judgment.” He himself says in the preface that he is “not only in many respects an eye and ear witness of what he reports in this writing, but is also to some extent grown up in the doctrinal disputes and struggles which have attended the Missouri Synod.” (p. V) “It has not become easy for us,” he adds, “the former members of the Buffalo Synod, to do right by those in whom we formerly thought we saw church destroyers; readers will . . . recognize that it was only under many a tribulation, which had to serve us for the best, and after the contest which teaches to mark the word, that we were brought by God's gracious guidance to the path which we have now trodden in unity of spirit with the members of the Missouri Synod for eighteen years.”
In the present history of our Synod, the reader will find not only a dry statement of dates and facts, but — on 480 pages — an interesting and faithful overall picture of our Synod according to authentic sources. The reader is first introduced to the prehistory of our synod: the emigration of the Saxon Lutherans, their first struggles and work, the earlier activity of Pastor Wyneken, “the father of the German-American mission”, the arrival and work of the first emissaries, especially those sent by Loehe, their entry into already existing synods and their resignation from them for the sake of truth. It is then shown how the synod was founded and how it grew so wonderfully. At its constitution (1847) it counted 22 pastors, now more than 850. The author rightly remarks that “rapid expansion sometimes also takes place in fanatical fellowships”, therefore no weight is to be attached to the growth per se. (p. 475) But this growth also has its cause. “Let it therefore be asked,” says the author, “in a narrower sense, whence does it come that congregations press to get preachers from us? Should it be because they perceive that we seek only the wool of the sheep? Or is it not rather because they know that they are not deceived by our preachers, not emptied, but well provided for?” (ibid.)
The various doctrinal battles that our Synod has fought through by God's grace are detailed: the battle with the Buffalo and Iowa Synods, and especially the final doctrinal battle for the alone correct doctrine of election by grace. In addition, it is shown how our Synod has always been willing to establish a true, God-pleasing peace with the opponents on the basis of truth: by delegating delegates to Germany, by religious discussions, by promoting the Synodal Conference, etc. Finally, the work of our Synod for the building of the Kingdom of God is presented to the reader: its institutions, its missions.
Whoever is not prejudiced against our synod, must recognize God's gracious, wonderful government when surveying the history of our synod, must admit that God has given our dear synod a high task. Before our synod was founded, unionism, rationalism, methodism, and other fanaticism prevailed in the so-called Lutheran Church in America. The author also describes these earlier conditions quite faithfully. When members of our Synod came forward with their testimony, they had to hear from nominal Lutherans, e.g. from members of the Ohio Synod: “Don't do that in America!” (p. 136.) “You want to impose on us principles that come from the “old country” (from Germany); we cannot use them here.” (p. 127.) Later, some outside our Synod recognized this task of our Synod. The author shares in the preface such a voice from the “Pilgrim” in Reading. It reads: “This is not the place to go into the history of the Missouri Synod, the largest and most important Lutheran synod in our country, but I cannot conceal, or at least hint at, the fact that there is no more obvious example of God blessing human faithfulness than the Missouri Synod. Had she not held so steadfastly to her confession of pure doctrine, had she not testified and fought so sharply against all and every deviation from the path which she alone recognized as right, had she shown herself more yielding in practice than in doctrine, had she only slightly accommodated herself to the views of our easy-moving times, she would not have achieved what she can now call her own. She has taken her reason captive under the obedience of Christ and the Lord has rewarded her. The honor of God, the truth of the Word, which found its clearest expression in the confession of the “Lutheran” church, stood and stands higher for her than the favor of the world and the windy fancies of men. If God had not had mercy on the Lutheran Church in America by placing the Missouri Synod in its midst, we would be a small group, perhaps still bearing the name Lutheran, but otherwise an open pasture for foxes and other game. When I think of what, with God's grace, has been accomplished by the Missourians, I cannot agree with the clamor against them. It is my conviction that the Missourians attribute their success to the mercy of God and not to their diligence, however proud they may be of it. The Lord bless the valiant Saxons and let their salt work ever more powerfully in the leaven of American churchmanship.” Many of those who still face us today would agree with these words if they knew the history of our Synod. May this “History” reach the hands of many of them!
There are many among our readers who have lived through the whole history of our synod and its prehistory. Should they not welcome with joy a book that presents to them the whole picture of what they have experienced and invites them to praise and glorify the goodness of God? Some of our readers are unfamiliar with the history of our synod, especially the older part. Will they, who nevertheless take such close part in the welfare of our synod, not want a history of it from the beginning to the present time?
It should also be noted that the publisher, Mr. Heinrich J. Naumann in Dresden, has had the book splendidly decorated. The price is $1.40. It can be obtained from Concordia-Verlag. G. [Guenther]
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I was especially struck by the contrast between Guenther's assessment of Hochstetter as a historian:
“especially suited to write a history of our Synod”
“Hochstetter was a disgruntled former Buffalo Synod pastor. He can hardly be expected to present a balanced or reliable treatment of Grabau and the controversy over church and office in the mid-nineteenth century.”
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