April 21,1836, the Texian army defeated Santa Anna at the short Battle of San Jacinto. When the news reached the General (national) Conference of The Methodist Church, three men came forward to volunteer to be missionaries in the newly independent Republic of Texas.
One of them, Martin Ruter, was president of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. A fine scholar, he left that career to go to Texas. He had already done two spectacular things: 1) passed legislation in a previous national gathering to establish a college in every area as the Methodists moved westward (now numbering more than 170 nationwide), and 2) founded the Western Book Concern. Southwestern University at Georgetown was founded as Rutersville College in his honor.
After a short time in Texas, Ruter died of an illness and is buried in Navasota.
And today, we are connected. I got a reminder of his work: a catalog came from Cokesbury Books, now so named, which grew directly out of the Western Book Concern. This scholar who came to Texas as soon as he could, this one who could speak five languages and read and write seven others, this creative leader of lots of people, came to Texas.
He believed and gave his life in the fulfillment of the mission to Texas. That might not be YOUR mission, or MY mission, but he performed HIS mission in such a way that EVERYONE should be inspired to find and fulfill THEIR mission in life just as energetically.
Texans have a fine heritage! Sometimes as earthy as the backwoodsman, and sometimes as noble as the ones who shaped our high ideals. And almost uniquely to Texas, sometimes it was the backwoodsman WITH the high ideals who models out best.
Aim high.
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