The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 19, July 1915 - April, 1916 Page: 319

Bool Reviews and Notices

governor, and Sam TIouston was made commander-in-chief."
Smith and HIouston were chosen to their respective offices by the
Consultation in November, 1835, and not in 1833, as the book
would lead one to believe. The fact that in the same paragraph
it is stated that San Antonio was taken December 10, 1835, does
not remove the obscurity in dates.
Again, on page 147, the author says the Texas Declaration of
Independence was issued December 20, 1835, at Goliad. Nowhere
do-es he mention the Declaration of Independence issued at Wash-
ington on the Brazos March 2, 1836. The reader of the book
must bear in mind that up until Ma5 ch 2, 1836, the Texans were
fighting for Mexico--fghting to preserve the Constitution of
1824- against Santa Anna's, usurping power. As none of the
members of the Alamo garrison knen independence had been de-
clared, they dlid not know they were dying that an independent
republic might rise from their ashes.
JAMES C. OSLIN.
Martin Ruter. By Ernest Ashton Smith. (Cincinnati: Metho-
dist Book Concern, 1915. Cl. 1Smo. Pp. 127. Portrait.
25 cents, net.)
In the pages of this little book is sketched briefly, in broad
outline, the character of this pioneer Methodist missionary. Very
little is added to the information concerning Ruter's work in
Texas, contained in Dr. Cody's article in the Texas Methodist
IHistorical Quarterly, I, 7-38, but Professor Smith's chapters on
"The youthful itinerant," "The self-taught scholar," "The edu-
cational pioneer," "The editor and author," and "The president
of Allegheny," give one a perspective that lends a new interest
to Ruter's work. The cause of the Texans appealed so strongly to
him that in May, 1836, while president of Allegheny College, he
tendered to the General Conference his services as a missionary
to that country. He crossed the Sabine November 23, 1837, and
was claimed by death at Washington -on the Brazos May 16, 1838.
During the brief period of his ministry in Texas he labored in-
cessan fly for the cause of the gospel and of education.

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