This Week in Texas Methodist History April 3, 2022 April 3, 1785 Martin Ruter Born in Charlton, Massachusetts Today is the birthday of Martin Ruter leader of the first Methodist Mission to Texas. Ruter would be famous in Methodist history even if had not volunteered for the Texian Mission. As the denomination spilled over the Appalachian Mountains it became necessary to establish a publishing house to serve the western conferences. In 1820 Ruter was elected Head of the Book Cncern in Cincinnati. In that post he served as author, editor, revival speaker and since his office served as a post office for itinerant preachers, became acquainted with a huge percentage of preachers in the west. In addition to being a compelling preacher, linguist, author, editor, he was also a college president ----twice. He was already a main figure in 19th century Methodism when he resigned the presidency of Allegheny College to join two younger men, Robert Alexander and Littleton Fowler in spreading scriptural holiness across the religious desert that was Texas. Unfortunately Ruter’s life ended in Texas after only a few months in Texas. His legacy though remains enormous. I once made a pilgrimage to Charlton Massachusetts, the birthplace of Martin Ruter. I went first to the old Methodist church, built in 1903. The congregation had built a new facility and sold the old church building to a business specializing in quilting and other sewing supplies. I visited the old church, now with aisles of fabric, needles, thread, etc. Decorative quilts lined the walls except where the stained glass windows were still in place. The congregation had also left the organ behind. The proprietor of quilt store greeted me and after a conversation about my purpose in being there, asked if I would like an organ recital. Although the organ was not really the best, you can imagine the acoustics with all the fabric on the walls-----I requested old favorite hymns and as the organist played them, I thought about Martin Ruter.