picture of life in New York closely corresponding with that which is
given in Dr. Francis' interesting story. There were leaders of the
church in those days who were not free from the vice of drunkenness.
Evangelical religion in all denominations had a severe conflict in
doctrine and in morals with the ultra liberal tendencies of the time.

A marked defect of our church life was the inadequate supply of men for
the ministry. For 140 years New York Lutherans had been dependent upon
Europe for their pastors. For 60 years more this dependence was destined
to continue.

Kunze had long been desirous of providing facilities for theological
education in this country. Under the bequest of John Christopher
Hartwig, he organized in 1797 a Theological Seminary. The theological
department was conducted in New York by himself, the collegiate
department in Albany and the preparatory department in Otsego County.

One of his students was Strebeck. Another, Van Buskirk, a promising
young man, died before he could enter the work. The Mayer brothers,
natives of New York, became eminent pastors of English Lutheran
churches, Philip in Albany and Frederick in Philadelphia. It was a
trying time in which Kunze lived, but he planted seed which still bears
fruit.

One event of the eighteenth century seems worthy of spcial [sic]
mention, even when seen through the vista of a hundred and fifty years,
although at the time it may have attracted little attention. Because of
the side light which it throws upon history we permit it to interrupt
for a moment the course of our story.