that it injected new ideas into the stagnant mentality
of the period. That the men who brought them were brusque and exclusive,
was of small account. When Stohlmann, who had recently been called to
St. Matthew's Church, visited Pastor Oertel in his attic room, his
Lutheranism, with a sly allusion perhaps to the stairs, was promptly
challenged by the remark: "You climbed up some other way."

Nor did it matter that on some points the new comers themselves were not
agreed? The Prussians, later known as "Buffalonians," led by Grabau, had
a hierarchical theory of the ministerial office. The Saxons, later known
as "Missourians," led by Walther, had the congregational theory of
church government. For a score of years a titanic conflict was waged
between these two parties. It ended in a decisive victory for
"Missouri." Today "Buffalo" numbers 49 congregations, "Missouri" 3,689.

The Houston Street party in 1839 held hierarchical views. Subsequently
they adopted the congregational theory of the church and established in
1843 the first "Missouri" congregation in New York under Pastor Brohm.
After several removals the congregation settled at Ninth Street and
Avenue B, where it still maintains its place of worship.

The chief field of the "Missourians," as their name indicates, is in the
West. And yet in Greater New York they number 51 churches and many more
in the suburbs. They maintain numerous missions among special classes.
At Bronxville they have a college. They alone of all Lutherans make a
serious effort to conduct parochial schools. More than any other
variety of Lutherans do they educate their promising young men for the
ministry.

But, as has already been intimated, the chief significance of their
entrance into New York history is that thenceforth Lutherans had to give
an account of their Lutheranism. Whether you agreed with them or not,
you had to take sides and give a reason for the hope that was in you.
They brought about that "contiguity of conflicting opinions" which is a
condition of all progress.

Ten years later a different class of German immigrants came to our city.
The Revolution of 1848 had resulted unsuccessfully for the friends of
political freedom, and many were compelled to take refuge in America.
Some were professional men of ability and high standing, whose
contribution to the intellectual life of our city was considerable.
Others were only half educated, young men who had not completed their
studie