Battle of Bull Run in 1862, he resigned from the service, the resignation being accepted October 26, 1863.[1]
The Pacific Coast apparently appealed to him as a place for his permanent abode. On leaving the military service he asked to be transferred from the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to the California Conference and he soon re-entered the ministry. He was appointed to the Powell Street (First) Methodist Church, of San Francisco, where he remained for the greater part of two years. In the fragmentary material which is available covering the period of this pastorate there are hints of discord in the latter part of his connection with this church which may have led to his next move. At any rate he accepted appointment in 1865 as president of Willamette University and pastor of the Salem, Oregon, Methodist Episcopal Church.
The following letters[2] pertaining to this appointment are illuminating and are quoted because of the light they shed on various aspects of Wythe's character, and because they indicate some of the circumstances of his appointment to the Oregon post. The first is a letter from Bishop C. Kingsley to Alvan F. Waller, one of the trustees of Willamette University, and reads as follows:
San Francisco, Sept. 20, 1865.Dear Br.
Yours of the 7 inst. came to hand last night, and I telegraphed to you to elect Dr. Wythe President of the Willamette University. I sought an early opportunity of conversing with him, but not until I had made enquiries of those who know him well. Br. Thomas, and Dr. Peck speak of him as well qualified for the Post, and the more I see and learn about him, the more I am persuaded he is the man for you. I think he will throw his whole soul into the work.
To enable him to take the position and to save the University as much expense as possible I propose to put
