Read the section on Hoenecke and Tholuck.
Pietism
The state church situation in Germany tended to foster a nominal Christianity. The incredible suffering of the Thirty Year’s War (1618-1648), and Orthodoxism’s18 lack of response to the needs caused by the Thirty Years War, produced the soil from which Pietism grew. Spener (d. 1705), Franke (d. 1727), and Zinzendorf (d. 1760) guided its development. However well-intentioned it was, Pietism was poison for the church. Its many doctrinal aberrations obscured the Gospel and robbed sinners of its comforts.19 With its subjectivism, Pietism proved totally unable to resist the inroads of Rationalism into the church. Pietism was carried by Lutherans and by the Methodists to America.20 ...
The Training at Halle
Hoenecke enrolled at the University of Halle. He had not previously contemplated studying for the ministry, so he had not learned Hebrew, a prerequisite for enrolling as a student of theology. Hoenecke enrolled as a student of philosophy until he could meet the Hebrew requirement. He devoted himself to the study of Hebrew. After six weeks, he attempted to pass his examination; but he failed. Six weeks later he passed the exam, meeting the Hebrew requirement needed for a student of theology. It was as such that he then enrolled at Halle. The spirit of Johann Semler, the father of German Rationalism, haunted Halle. However, Pietists and some staunch Lutherans also taught there. H. E. F. Guericke was a staunch Confessional Lutheran who taught at Halle. However, he had little effect on Hoenecke. Guericke’s long-winded lectures and his lack of personal interest in his students did not win him any fans. Hoenecke learned Hebrew from Hermann Hupfield, an Old Testament critic who was the successor to H. F. W. Gesenius 37(d. 1842). Hoenecke regarded Hupfield’s lecture style as boring. Hoenecke also had Julius Mueller as a teacher. Mueller tried to harmonize science and the Bible (Vermittlungstheologie). Hoenecke regarded him as a melancholy pessimist. The teacher who had the most profound influence on Hoenecke was August Tholuck, the Dean of Students. Some have described Tholuck as a pietist and a unionist. August Pieper, however, indicated that we must be careful about judging Tholuck. In those days, Rationalists called anyone who held to the inspiration of Scripture a “Pietist.” Further, Tholuck did not actively promote the Union. He was averse to controversy. For that reason, he could not bring himself to support a fight for separation from the Union.
August Pieper described Tholuck as follows:
Tholuck was one of the most gifted, brilliant, and learned theologians of his time. He reportedly knew nineteen ancient and modern languages. He was at home in all areas of theology. Moreover, in contrast to the university theologians of his time, he did not teach in the spirit and tone of an objective scientific method. No, with his childlike faith in the word of Scripture as the Word of God, all his teaching was at once an exercise of pastoral care for the souls of his students, a testimony concerning sin, grace and sanctification.38
Tholuck took a personal interest in Hoenecke, as he did with all of his students. He liked to take walks with his students, using the occasion as a time for peripatetic Seelsorge. Tholuck also gave Hoenecke quite a few free meals, which he had sorely needed.
Hoenecke received no support from home for his schooling. The poverty he endured as a student had a profound effect on him. It influenced him eventually to go to America against Tholuck’s advice. Yet, we can thank God that he made the nest in Hoenecke’s homeland uncomfortable enough that he was ready to travel to America rather than endure further poverty.
From Hoenecke’s Graduation to the Opportunity to Go to America
Hoenecke took his examinations in 1859, at the age of 24. Tholuck had encouraged Hoenecke to continue his studies in the field of Lutheran dogmatics, focusing on the writings of Calov (d. 1686)39 and Quenstedt (d. 1688). 40 However, Hoenecke did not have the money for further study. Tholuck arranged for Hoenecke to serve as a tutor in Switzerland. On January 11, 1860, Hoenecke began his work. He served as a tutor for two years. The favorable climate and less-demanding schedule allowed Hoenecke to strengthen his health. It also gave him time to deepen his knowledge of Lutheran theology by studying Calov, Quenstedt and the Lutheran Confessions. It was also at that time that Hoenecke met the woman he would eventually marry. She was Rosa Mathilde Hess, the daughter of Rudolph Hess, a Reformed pastor in Bern, Switzerland. She became the mother of their nine children.
The Decision To Go To America
The Berlin Mission Society was faced with the problem of a surplus of trained candidates for the ministry. The Mission Society requested permission from the High Consistory to call candidates to do work among their fellow Germans who had emigrated to America. The Prussian Church officials readily approved this request. They called on the Prussian universities to bring the request of the Mission Society to the attention of the graduating candidates. Hoenecke was ready to go to America. Hoenecke’s decision to go to America brought him into conflict with his mentor. Tholuck had wanted Hoenecke to further his education so he could secure a position at a prestigious university. However, this would have cost a great amount of money, money which Hoenecke did not have. Tholuck also had advised Hoenecke to wait for a call to a congregation in Prussia. However, that could take three to seven years. Besides, Hoenecke did not want to keep his fiancée on hold for years while she waited for him to be able to support her. The mission societies encouraged men to go to America as pastors by telling them that after a few years they could return to the fatherland. The time they spent in America would count toward their seniority. Upon return, they could get a call into a congregation in their homeland. Uncharitably, Tholuck suggested that Hoenecke was going to America to seek material gain. He told Hoenecke so in a letter. Hoenecke never responded to that letter. The tie between teacher and pupil was broken–perhaps providentially–to the benefit of the Wisconsin Synod.
