This Week in Texas Methodist History February 10

Martin Ruter Reports on Texas To Mission Secretary February 1838

By February 10, 1839 Martin Ruter had been in Texas for more than two months and had traveled from the Sabine to the Navidad.  He had visited settlements along the Brazos and Colorado Rivers and preached, organized, and married couples.  About the middle of February he reported his observations of Texas.  He wrote in part

Texas is a country where darkness, ignorance, and superstition have long held their dominion.   Profaneness, gaming, and intemperance are prevailing vices against which we have to contend.  The scattered state of the population renders it necessary to travel far between the appointments, and the want of convenient places for public worship serves to increase the obstacles in the way; yet amidst difficulties, dangers, and sufferings, we rejoice in being able to say that the great Redeemer’s kingdom is rising in this distant and destitute land.  . . .  We now reckon four circuits in Texas, namely, Houston, Washington, Trinity, and San Augustine.  These we are trying, with the aid of local preachers, to supply as well as we are able. But we are greatly in need for more laborers for this interesting vineyard.  It has appeared to me that we ought, as soon as practicable, to establish in this Republic a well endowed university and several subordinate schools of different gradations. . . .