Lester Hostetler

Hostetler, Lester. (Sugarcreek Ohio, April 25, 1892--?). Mennonite. After attending the Sugarcreek public schools, he studied at Goshen Academy, Goshen College, A.B. 1915, and Union Theological Seminary, B.D. 1918, with further summer work at Oberlin, Princeton, and Union. He was ordained at the Walnutcreek [Ohio] Mennonite Church on September 26, 1915. He married Charity E. Steiner on June 26, 1918. They had four children.

He held pastorates in the Walnutcreek Mennonite Church, 1918-1926; the First Mennonite Church of Sugarcreek, 1926-1932; the First Mennonite Church of Upland, California, 1933-1941; Bethel College Church, North Newton, Kansas, 1941-1952. From 1925 to 1927 he taught music in the public schools on Sugarcreek and Baltic, Ohio. On leave of absence from Bethel College Church in 1950-1951, he was director of the Nachbarschafsheim, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. Returning to the States, he was pastor of the Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota, 1952-1957.

He was secretary to the Church Unity Commission of the General Conference of Mennonites, 1929-1938, a member of the General Conference's Board of Education, 1935-?, of the Board of Directors of Witmarsum Seminary, 1927-1932, and a contributing editor of the Christian Sunday School Quarterly, 1936-?. He contributed several articles and reviews to The Hymn, 1949-1960.

Retiring from active ministry, he settled on a small fruit farm in Sugarcreek, Ohio, but for a few years held short interim pastorates back in Upland, Calif., in the First Mennonite Church in Wardsworth, Ohio, Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron, Ohio, Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio, and the Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio. A registered craftsman member of the Piano Technicians' Guild since 1957, he augmented his retirement income by repairing and tuning pianos and reed organs.

From 1927 to 1928, he was editor of The Christian Experiment. He was co-editor of The Mennonite Hymnary (1940) and author of its handbook (1949). In the latter work, his scholarly accuracy set a new standard for research in hymnology. His Youth Hymnary (1956) with equal sections of classic hymns, gospel songs, spirituals, and canons and rounds, was an ideal songbook for work with young people. He was again a co-editor for The Mennonite Hymnal (1969). After its publication, he conducted many hymn sings in various churches to introduce the new work.

--Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives