Book Two - Pages 183-190
[[revert to p. 183]] The congress which was then in session had passed a law, to take effect on the first of July following, reducing the Postage, so that it was thought that many of the P. Offices would yield but little remuneration to the P. Masters, and the Gentleman who held the Office in N. Albany, being a man of considerable wealth had signified his determination to resign, as the business would not be worth his attention. When Bro. Ruter returned from the South, still in feeble health, some of his friends solicited him to apply, for the appointment, as it would be a light business, and yet afford him a little pecuniary aid, and after having been informed by the P. M. that he should resign, he consented and a recommendation, was circulated by some of his friends, & unanimously signed by men of both political [[183/184]] parties, and he was appointed P. Master, and took possession of the Office on the first of July 1845, the duties of which he faithfully, punctually and impartially discharged during the time he continued in office. The compensation was indeed small, but it was hoped that it would be made better, which was done, in a small degree, at the next session of Congress.
On the 8 th of October 1845 Conference met in Madison, Bishop Morris Presiding. This Conference Bro. R__ attended though in feeble health, and was voted a superannuated relation. He returned to N. Albany where he spent the year, attending to the business of the P. Office, and Preaching occasionally as he was able; his health however but little improved. Rev. Jas. Crawford was stationed at Centenary Charge & Rev. F. C. Holliday at Wesley Chapel. Rev. E. R. Sims P. E. who this year buried his wife, a most estimable Lady.
October 7 th 1846, Conference met at Connersville Fayette County Ia This Conf,, Bro— Ruter was unable to attend, being at this time confined to his room, This was a cause of considerable regret to [[184/185]] him; it being the first session of the Indiana Conf— he <had> ever [been unable del] <failed> to attend. He was continued in a superannuated relation. Rev Jas,, Kerns [John Kerns] was appointed to New Albany District, F. C. Holliday reappointed to Wesley Chapel & Rev. A. Wiley to the Centenary Charge. Bro Ruter was able to Preach but little; there being little perceptible improvement in his health. (37)
John Kerns
On the 6 th day of October 1847 Conference met in Evansville Ia Bishop Waugh. Presiding. Rev Jas Hill was appointed to Wesley Chapel & Rev. Thos. H. Rucker to Centenary Charge. Rev. Allen Wiley Recieved + a superannuated relation; which was asked and granted more on account of the affliction of his companion, than of affliction in his own person, He removed his family to Vevay Ind a where he erected a residence for his family, and was still able to Preach, and did Preach, nearly every Sabbath, untill + in July, 1848, while performing some labours about his newly erected house, he recieved + (what appeared at the time a slight) injury, which however proved fatal in a few days. He was one of the [[185/186]] oldest travelling Preachers in the Conference, having been admitted into [the del] Ohio Conference in 1817 at the same time that Bro. Ruter was admitted. He was an excellent man, and his end was peace, and doubtless many will rise up at the last day and call him blessed. (84) At this Conference Bro. R— was continued in a superannuated relation. During this year, the health of Bro— Ruter improved some, so that he was able to Preach more frequently, and began to entertain hopes of again being able to take his place in the regular work, as an efficient minister, or at least be permitted to hold that relation to the Conference, for he felt that was the work to which he was called, And was often heard to say, that, while so afflicted that he was entirely unable to travel & preach, he could, aided by divine grace, school his feelings as to his condition, and enjoy himself in a superannuated relation, and was disposed, feeling it to be a duty, to do all he could, in any honest calling, toward making a support for his [[186/187]] family, But that whenever his health improved so that he could do efficient labour in the itinerant field, any other employment became an unpleasant burden, and the idea of continuing, for the sake of worldly gain, in any other calling was even disgusting; and that when able to do the work of itinerant Minister, he would not abandon it for the richest office in the gift of the Government.
October fourth 1848 Conference met in N. Albany, Bishop Morris Presiding. Rev. J. Kearns was continued on the N. Albany Dist— Bro. Hill reappointed to Wesley Chapel & Bro. Rucker to Centenary Charge, Bro. Ruter stated to the Conference that his health had considerably improved, and if there was any field of labour, where it was thought by his brethren that, he could do the work, he was ready to go, as he felt desirous, of again being in the field of regular itinerant labour. A Brother setting + by mentioned that the P. Office would be in his way,
He replied not in the least, for with one dash of the pen, he could resign that at any time, & would gladly do so, if the [[187/188]] Conference judged him able for the work, It was thought, however by his Brethren, that he had not sufficiently recovered to justify his taking an appointment, and continued him in a superannuated relation, In which Judgment. he cheerfully acquiesced; and concluded to remain where he was another year, which however he afterwards regretted. In the fall of 1848 a new President of the U, S, was elected, and in March ensuing a change took place in the Administration, and supposing that changes would be made, and thinking some one might wish the P. Office there, he proposed to resign at once, but his friends opposed it & advised that he should retain at least untill fall, unless removed sooner. But wishing to act correctly, He went to his particular friend, Doctor S. L. Leonard, who was one of the most prominent and useful official members in the Centenary Charge, and who was one of the new Administration, and told him that probably some of his Political friends would desire the Post Office, that his health continuing to [[188/189]] improve, he intended to give it up in the fall and take an appointment from the Conference, That he wanted to avoid all occasion of contention or strife, that when he took it, there was no one wanted it because it was of little Value, it was now of more Value, and that if any one wanted the office, he wished no strife, or asking for removal, <but> to let him know, and he would resign at once and quietly retire, as he had quietly come into office, The Doctor advised him by no means to resign, said he did not believe that anyone desired to take it from him, and that he must say, not only as his friend, and Brother, but as his Physician he doubted whether his health would be such as to justify him in taking an appointment in the fall, and at any rate to say nothing about resigning at present, and if any attempt should be made to obtain a change, he <Doct. Leonard> would be likely to hear it, and would immediately let him know, and then he could act as he pleased. Thus answered <he> went on as usual attending, to the business of the office, untill + the [[189/190]] fore part of Summer, when he wrote to one of the P. Elders in the upper part of the State, saying that he hoped to be able for an appointment at the coming Conf.. and should be pleased to go into that part of the work. And he was supposing he would be permitted quietly to retire from the little office he had held nearly four years, and which had aided him considerably in the supporting his family. But at length he was surprised & greatly disappointed to find that a petition had been secretly circulated asking his removal, and when a number of names had been obtained, an ungentlemanly attack upon him in one of the City papers, designed to injure his character, (and calculated to do so, should the false statements therein, be recieved + as true,) He found on enquiry that the proceeding had been kept secret from the Doctor, & many other supporters of the new administration who were known to be <not only> personal friends of Bro,, Ruter, but also men of too much sterling Christian integrity, to engage in, or even [[190/191]]