This Week in Texas Methodist History  Nov. 1

 

Methodists Dedicate State Historical Marker at Rutersville, Nov. 6, 1936

 

To say that Texas Methodists embraced the Texas Centennial would be an understatement.  The celebration actually began in 1934 with the celebration of the Texas Methodist Centennial in San Antonio.  That celebration brought the Texas conferences together, and the members liked being together.  In 1936 the European-American Conferences of the MECS and MEC met jointly in Houston in celebration of the Texas Centennial.  As part of the celebration, they toured the San Jacinto Battleground.

 

About the same time Travis Street Methodist Church in LaGrange sponsored the unveiling of the Texas Historical Marker at Rutersville, just a few miles from LaGrange, and the site of the organization of the Texas Conference on Dec. 25, 1840. 

 

The text of the marker, which still stands, is as follows:

 

Rutersville College

First institution of higher education in Texas.  Recommended by Martin Ruter, D. D. Chartered as a Methodist school in 1840.  Granted four leagues of land by the Republic of Texas.  After educating more than 880 students, it merged in 1859 with the Texas Monumental and Military Institute.  Erected by the State of Texas.

 

The site also contains the grave of Chauncey Richardson, First President of the college.

 

The main speakers for the dedication were Dr. Frederick Eby of the University of Texas and Bishop Hiram Boaz.  Eby was a historian of Texas schools.