Benjamin Kurtz (1795-1865) declined his election to professorship at the Lutheran Theological Seminary because “He loved his work on the Lutheran Observer too well to give it up for any other… He was not under the control of any Synod or Board, and pursued his own independent way.”

“Dr. Kurtz stoutly maintained what was called the Evangelical standpoint… He was not what we call a learned man or a profound theologian… but he was uncommonly intelligent in all the ordinary affairs of life and achieved more good in the ministry than many of far greater attainments. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by the Washington College, and that of LL. D. by the Wittenberg College.” (source: John Morris in Jensson’s American Lutheran Biographies. 1890)