Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 19/Correspondence of Reverend Ezra Fisher, Part 3
CORRESPONDENCE OF REVEREND EZRA FISHER
Edited by SARAH FISHER HENDERSON, NELLIE EDITH LATOURETTE, KENNETH SCOTT LATOURETTE
(Continued from Page 163 in Quarterly for June, 1918)
Oregon City, Ore. Ter., June 14, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., N. Y.
Dear Br.:
I shall now only have time to communicate the state of things in connection with my labors in Tualatin Plains the past month. I attended the yearly meetings of the West Tualatin Church on Friday, Saturday and Sabbath, the 22d, 23d and 24th of April. The weather was very rainy on Friday and but four persons, were in attendance. On Saturday and Sabbath our congregation became unusually large, although the weather continued wet and cool, and the house being an open log school house (a thing noways uncommon in Oregon), the congregation were in a very unfavorable condition to be benefited by the gospel; yet the meeting became interesting and, after the public service closed, Christians of various denominations expressed a regret that the meetings had not been continued through the week. So much solicitude was manifested on the part of professors of religion that Br. Weston and myself consented to visit the church in four weeks and labor three days with that people.
On the second Friday, Saturday and Sabbath in May the yearly meeting of the West Union church, ten miles east from the West Tualatin Church, in another [part] of the Tualatin Plains, was held. Br. Weston, their pastor, and myself were the only ministers present till the evening of the last day. Although a political meeting was held in the neighborhood on Saturday and the political excitement preceding the general election was waxing warm,[1] our meetings were solemn. The brethren began to confess their wanderings and give tokens of true penitence for past remissness in duty. On Sabbath some of the impenitent manifested unusual interest in the preached word and their hearts appeared softened. The meeting closed without any evidence that any souls were savingly converted. On Friday before the fourth Sabbath in May a meeting was commenced with the West Tualatin Church and the first day had not passed before we began to witness tokens of Divine favor with the brethren who were convened from both the afore-named churches, as well as with the brethren from other churches. Sinners manifested solicitude for the salvation of their souls and on Sabbath a young man and his wife asked for baptism. The wife dated her conversion from the time of the meeting two weeks previous in West Union Church, she and her husband having attended that meeting. At three o'clock the congregation repaired to one of the branches of Tualatin[2] River, in which I had the happiness of burying these candidates in the watery grave and raising them up, I trust, to walk in newness of life. The scene was solemn. Before closing the public exercises of the day the question was propounded to the church and congregation, Will you have this meeting continued? Almost the whole congregation, consisting, of about 130, rose to their feet as an expression of their wish that the meeting should be continued. The meeting was continued with increasing interest through the week; by Saturday the congregation had increased to nearly 200. During the prayer meeting before preaching a brother, who had left the church six years before and joined the sect generally known as the Campbellites, rose and confessed his wanderings with deep emotions and said he had no other home but in the Baptist church, and closed by saying, "I now knock for admittance at the door of the church, if you can receive me." He was followed by his wife and three others who had been in similar condition. Two others came forward with letters, all of whom were received into fellowship with the church. An opportunity was then given for any who CORRESPONDENCE 237 wished to unite with the church by baptism; three young converts came forward and related what God had done for their souls and were likewise received for baptism; all young men. The next Monday two of these young men were bap- tized by Br. Weston. The other will join the West Union Church very soon. There were several other cases of hopeful conversion and the meeting closed at the end of eleven days, apparently with as much interest in the minds of the impenitent as at any period of the meeting. The labors were performed mostly by Br. Weston and myself, in connection with Elder Porter, 320 the pastor of the church, and the lay brethren pres- ent. A meeting was appointed for Br. Weston to preach the next Saturday and Sabbath, at which time probably others will go forward in the ordinance of baptism. The subjects of our discussions were mostly such as the following The Nature and Consequence of Sin, The Nature of Penitence, The Exclusive Claims of the Gospel, The Office of Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice and Mediator, In What the New Birth Consists and In What the Work of the Disciples of Christ Consists. The church will probably make arrangements to secure the labors of Br. Weston half the time from this time and the two above-named churches will make arrangements to pay him about $600 salary and liberate him from his black- smith shop entirely. This church are making arrangements to build a good, neat house of worship at Forest Grove, 321 a little village springing up in connection with a school designed to be the literary organ of the Congregational churches in Ore- gon. On the whole, our Zion seems to have an onward ten- dency in Oregon, notwithstanding the many opposing barriers the enemy raises in our way. Pray for us that our faith may increase more and more and that we may abound more and more in every gospel labor. Yours affectionately, EZRA FISHER, Exploring Agent. 320 Rev. William Porter came to Oregon from Ohio in 1847 and was for a time pastor of the West Union Church. He helped organize the West Tualatin Church, near which he had a donation land claim, and was its pastor for some years. He died in 1872. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., I:i, n, 192. 321 The town grew up on the claim of Rev. Harvey Clark, who gave the town- site for the benefit of the college. Tualatin Academy was incorporated in 1849, and Pacific University a few years later. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:32-35. 238 REVEREND EZRA FISHER Received Aug. 9, 1853. Marysville, Ore. Ter., June 27th, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., New York. Dear Br. Hill: The meetings of the Willamette Baptist Association closed yesterday. All the churches except two were represented. One of that number was the LaCreole Church, some of whose delegates last year took the lead in opposing benevolent opera- tions. All the deliberations were conducted with the utmost harmony and resolutions were passed in favor of the American Baptist Publication Society, the A. B. H. Mission Soc., Sunday schools, Oregon City College and religious periodicals. Sub- scribers were obtained for the latter and books sold by the agents of the American Baptist Publication Society. The sub- ject of the importance of the Baptists in Oregon and Wash- ington territories sustaining a religious periodical at an early period was discussed and a committee was appointed to corre- spond with printers and editors on this subject and report at the next anniversary. 322 Two churches were received into the body, one of which is the Table Rock Church, located at Table Rock or Jacksonville, in Rogue River Valley, the other on the forks of the Santiam River. 323 Two other churches are organ- ized, which will unite with the Association next year. The preaching through the sittings was instructing and impressive, the congregations good and seriously attentive. The exercises will not fail to make a good impression on the public mind. We have now arrived at the long prayed for period when this body may pass beyond a blighting anti-mis- sionary influence. At the close of the morning services the claims of the Home Mission Society were presented for about five minutes and a collection of forty dollars and twelve and a half cents ($40.12^) was taken up in favor of that Society and this pen toon. 322 This agitation resulted in 1856 in "The Religious Expositor," which sus- .ded after twenty-six issues. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:24. 323 This was the Providence Baptist Church, organized April q, 1853. Mat- , Bap. An. of Ort., I:ia. CORRESPONDENCE 239 morning Sister Margaret Robinson gave ten dollars for that object. The churches are small, but are becoming convinced that the ministry should abide in their calling and that it is the privilege of the churches to sustain their spiritual servants, and are fast coming up with the work. The churches of the Association have received, the past year, 14 by baptism, 38 by letter and relation. Total number is 245, number of churches 13, making in all 15 churches nom- inally missionary. Yours sincerely, EZRA FISHER. Received Aug. 30, 1853. Marysville, O. Ter., June the 27, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., New York. Dear Br. Hill: Herein I send you my report of labor as General Itinerant under the appointment of the Home Mission Society for the first (1st) quarter ending June the 30th, 1853. I have labored thirteen weeks in the quarter. Preached twenty-eight sermons, attended twenty-six (26) prayer meet- ings, eleven covenant meetings (11), visited religiously sixty- two families and other individuals, two common schools, bap- tized two (2) persons, traveled to and from my appointments five hundred and forty- five miles (545) ; ten have been received by letter and one by experience and eight have been hopefully converted. Respectfully submitted, EZRA FISHER, General Itinerant. Marysville, O. Ter., June the 27, 1853. To the Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc. Dear Br. Hill : Herein I send you my report of labor as exploring and 240 REVEREND EZRA FISHER collecting agent under the appointment of the Home Mission Society for the first quarter ending June 30th, 1853. I have visited as towns Portland, Oregon City, Marysville and Albany and Shilo, Lebanon, West Union, West Tualatin and Marysville churches. Have travelled to and from my appointments five hundred and forty-five (545) miles. Have labored thirteen (13) weeks. Have collected fifty dollars and twelve and a half cents ($50.12^). Have paid one dollar and twelve and a half cents ($1.12^) for traveling expenses and twenty-five cents for postage (25) $1.37^. Delivered twenty-eight sermons (28). Baptized two (2) persons. Attended a meeting of eleven days (11) with the West Tual- atin Church in which my labors were almost incessant. Respectfully submitted, EZRA FISHER, Exploring Agent. N. B. Received by collection at the Marysville Association $40.12^. Mrs. Margaret Robinson's donation, $10.00. Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 10th, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., N. Y. Dear Br. Hill : I have just returned from a seven weeks' tour to our Asso- ciation and thence to Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. I found yours of May 4th and 28th on my return. Rejoice to learn that Br. Post is finally appointed by your Board to the charge of our school, and prayerfully hope nothing but God's special providences will prevent his immediately taking the steamer for Oregon. Yesterday I attended the quarterly examination of our school, found that there had been over forty students during the quarter and that the average attendance was something over thirty. We have employed the same teacher for next quarter, hoping that Br. Post will arrive soon enough to commence the winter term. CORRESPONDENCE 241 I shall leave for Washington Ter., especially that part bordering upon Puget Sound, in a few days. The tour will occupy six or eight weeks. I regret that I could not have delayed this tour till next summer as Sept. is the month in which the yearly meetings of the churches are mostly appointed, except those that are deferred till spring. My presence would contribute somewhat to the furtherance of the cause of Christ as it relates to the interests of Home Missions, our school, and the revival of religion in the churches, but God is not limited and I withheld my name from attending those meetings in reference to the above-named tour, knowing that our rainy seasons commence sometime in October and a delay from that tour till after these meetings would throw me in heavy rains and open boats in a new and sparsely settled country, with nothing but natural roads and subject to the necessity of camp- ing out some of the nights. My personal attention is much needed in this vicinity with the churches to raise some funds for the school building while the hearts of the brethren are opened by the spirit of the Most High to Christian enterprise. But I can only do what I can and leave the event with Him who sympathizes with all our desires to see His cause advanced in the midst of error, where all our organizations are new and feeble. Yet I often, nay daily, cry to Him for more laborers who can give themselves to the ministry of the Word, in the most liberal sense, to every good work. In this I must not fail to re- quest the Board to appoint Rev. Jas. S. Read their missionary to Table Rock Church and town, more generally known by the name of Jacksonville, the seat of justice for [Jackson] County, lying in Rogue River Valley. This valley contains about the amount of six townships of farming prairie land, about half of which is exceedingly rich and fertile; the remainder is com- paratively unfit for cultivation. Portions of the hill and mountain sides afford good grazing six or eight months in the year, while other portions are sterile, except that here and there a solitary, long-leafed pine towers above a scattered growth of chaparral and manzanita, sure index of desert land. But through all these mountains are deposited by the Master 242 REVEREND EZRA FISHER hand rich treasures of gold, and thousands of our countrymen are here employed in digging and washing it from the other- wise almost valueless earth. In this place Br. Read found a number of valuable brethren last Oct. or Nov., who solicited his sojourn with them through the winter. In May he organ- ized a church of twelve, including himself. The members of the church, without exception, are among the most influential citizens in the county and seem to understand remarkably well for a new settlement the duties and responsibilities of a church. At present there is no other minister of any order in the county. Br. Read's influence with the citizens and miners is decidedly good. The church are about building a meetinghouse in Table Rock or Jacksonville, as it is called this season. Have agreed to raise $250 for Br. Read's support and say they intend to make it $300. Br. Clinton says he will give him his board and washing and furnish him his horse to ride for the year for his part. The church evinces a true missionary spirit. Were the church supplied with a house of worship and their own houses and barns built, as is the case with churches in older countries, they say they could support their own min- ister. I think Br. Read needs $700 salary in order to sustain him in the place. Provisions and clothing are at least 50 per cent higher than at Oregon City. I cannot predict what will be the final result of the mining business but it will pay large wages to the laborer for years to come. I think it would be a judicious arrangement to appro- priate $300 or $400 to Br. Read's support for one year in Table Rock and vicinity. Our new counties are more fluctuating than older, yet there is an appearance of stability sufficient to warrant the appropriation. The principal drawbacks to the hope of usefulness will be the instability of the mining part of the population. Yet the agricultural interests, and even manu- facturing interests, will be stable, should the mines fail. Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Received Sept. 12, 1853. CORRESPONDENCE 243 Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 22, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., N. Y. Dear Brother : I wrote you by the last mail describing as nearly as I could the geographical position and relative importance of Rogue River Valley as a missionary field. In that letter I recommended the appointment of Br. James S. Read as a missionary for Jacksonville (Table Rock) and vicinity. In this I wish to give you a brief definite view of the Umpqua Valley. The rim of this basin is formed by the Cascade Moun- tains on the east, the Umpqua on the south, the Coast Range on the west and the Calapooia Mountains on the north. The distance from the south base of the Calapooia Mts. to the north base of the Umpqua Mts. varies from sixty to eighty or eighty-five miles, and from east to west from twenty to thirty or thirty-five miles. This basin is little else than a concatena- tion of hills and low mountains interspersed in every direction with valleys varying in breadth from a few yards to three or four miles and in length from two to three miles to one hun- d'red and thirty, by the meanderings of the streams. The valleys are almost uniformly prairie, except occasionally a grove immediately skirting the margin of the streams, and are uniformly rich and well adapted to every branch of agricultural pursuits. Every twenty acres, under a good state of cultiva- tion, would produce enough to support any ordinary family. The hills are generally covered with a fine growth of nutritious grasses and studded with groves of branched oaks resembling in appearance large orchards of old apple trees more than a forest of straight, upright trees. These are interspersed with an occasional long-leafed pine, while here and there in the defiles of the high hills and along the water courses are found groves of excellent fir well adapted to fencing and building purposes. The valleys are generally too small to render all the purposes of religious society convenient, while each family claims from 320 to 640 acres of land. Consequently the min- ister must travel great distances and preach to small congrega244 REVEREND EZRA FISHER tions embracing a great variety of religious views. But the large land claims will soon become divided and subdivided as lands become scarce and the prices high. This valley will have its own ports and its commerce will soon become as distinct from the Willamette as Connecticut is from Massachusetts. A few miles from the mouth of the Umpqua, on the tide water, a small commercial town has sprung into existence by the name of Scottsburg, which is approached from the main valley by a pack trail. Twenty miles south of the mouth of the Umpqua is an entrance into a bay called Cowes Bay (pro- nounced Coos Bay 324 ) which extends into the interior about 30 miles. At the head of this bay a town is soon to be laid off 325 and a wagon road constructed to the southern part of the Umpqua Valley so as to intersect the road leading from the Willamette Valley to the mining district. Around the several arms of the bay it is said there is a large tract of rich, level, timbered land, sufficient to form a small county. Umpqua Valley now contains 3000 souls and' about twelve or fifteen Baptist members, mostly from Missouri and Ohio. Among this number is Elder Thomas Stevens, 326 of Welch origin, who formerly preached in or near Utica, N. Y., and, for the last fifteen years, near Sandusky City, Ohio. He says he is personally acquainted with W. R. Williams, D. D., 327 of your city. I spent two Sabbaths in the Umpqua Valley on my tour to Rogue River. On my return, I assisted Brother Stevens in constituting a small church at the mouth of Deer Creek. 328 The point is one of as much apparent importance as any in the valley and it is spoken of as the most probable place for the permanent county seat. A large flouring mill is just erected at the place and there are two small stores and a post office at the place. Br. Stevens retains many of Welch 324 The name now spelled Coos is of Indian origin, and was the name of a tribe and of the Bay. It was variously spelled Cowis, Cowes, Kowes and Coose. F. V. Holman, Hist, of the Counties of Oregon, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. XI -39 325 The Coos Bay Company was formed in May, 1853, and the first settle- ment in the Coos Bay country was made that summer. The town referred to as about to be laid out was Empire City. Marshfield was laid off later. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:331, 332. 326 See note 284. 327 See note 236. 328 This was ten miles east of Roseburg. It was organized July 24, 1853, in the house of William Perry. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1: 13. CORRESPONDENCE 245 peculiarities, especially in his preaching full of figures, imag- ination lively and never fails to interest his hearers. Seems not over prudent in the control of his tongue ; yet if he could live in the midst of an affectionate church which could appre- ciate the importance of a living ministry, I think he would be a rich acquisition to the cause of Christ. I have my diffi- culties in recommending him for an appointment, yet my pre- vailing opinion is that he should be appointed to preach to the church at the mouth of Deer Creek, with liberty to fix his out- stations in Ujnpqua Valley according to his own judgment, with salary of $300 or $400, if he apply. I have named him this sum because he has a good claim, with a few cows and a team of oxen, within one mile of the place where the village will be built ; this his family and a brother can manage without materially engrossing his care or time, so that that sum will be as much for him as $600 will be for Br. Read at Jacksonville. . . Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. N. B. The Methodists have two ministers in Umpqua. Besides these there is no minister of any order except Br. Stevens. I trust one of the six or eight Baptist ministers now on their way overland for Oregon 330 will find a home in Umpqua Valley and help in sowing the seed and reaping the harvest in promising fields. The climate in this valley is mild and remarkably salubrious. Received Oct. 6, 1853. Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 23d, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., N. Y. Dear Brother: In this I design to write you a general letter touching our affairs in Oregon. I will begin with the state of things in Oregon City. Our city or rather town has undergone a great 330 Among these Baptist ministers were Revs. C. C. Riley, T. Bond, W. M. Davis, G. W. Bond, D. Hubbard, R. D. Gray, J. D. South and W. P Roger. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1: 100-07, 10, 14. 246 REVEREND EZRA FISHER change in its business appearance during the last four months. We have now four wholesale stores and fourteen retail dry- goods stores, and probably four times the amount of goods are sold in a month as in the same month last year. We have now a large foundry in operation, where mill irons and all the castings for our river steamboats may be made. On the opposite side of the river a permanent breakwater is being constructed for the double purpose of rendering available the water power and putting it in requisition, and letting the boats from the upper trade down to receive the merchandise at the foot of the falls. Two steamboats are now building in our city and one just above the falls, in a village, half a mile above the place, called Canema, in which place there are two or three drygoods stores, an extensive plough factory and other mechanic shops. Our population are all the while changing, yet the tendency is toward a permanent increase. Several large business houses have been built this season ; three or four more are now on the way and will be completed in five or six weeks, and it is said that the number does not meet the demand. It appears to me that, under these circumstances, the demand for a good profes- sional teacher in our schools is imperious. In the department of teaching, and, as a member of our feeble church, acting as superintendent of our Sunday school, such a man's influence will no doubt be felt in Oregon more than the labors of any pastor of any of our churches. I know not how to cherish the thought that Br. Post must stop at San Francisco for want of means to bring his family from that to this place. I know not how cheaply Br. Thomas carries his goods to San Francisco, but I do know that it costs nearly half as much to ship from that place to Oregon as it does to ship from N. Y. to Oregon. Br. Post, in my estimation, had better have shipped himself and family on board the clipper Hurricane for Oregon than to leave half his family in N. Y., take the other half and his furniture to San Francisco and a few cases of books to Ore- gon. To me this does not look quite enough like burning the ship. However, I will do what I can in the case. But the CORRESPONDENCE 247 circumstances are rather embarrassing. We feel inclined to the opinion that it will operate against the interests of the school in our immediate community, if we appeal to the public liberality to pay his passage and that of his family from San Francisco just at the time when their benevolence is highly taxed every year to meet the sufferings of the overland immi- gration by sending them provisions above the Cascade Moun- tains and by aiding the poor after their arrival in the valley. If we apply to the churches, they are scattered over a country almost half as large as the state of N. Y. I think, however, an appeal to the churches would meet with a tolerably cordial response. But this I must make, if it is done this year. Then your Board are growing impatient for me to visit Pugets Sound and, should I delay this journey five or six weeks, the rainy season, high waters, difficult travelling and the embar- rassments attendant to an exploring agent's business in the winter, would be the result. By advising with the brethren, they say, Delay your tour to the Sound till this object is secured. And this is the course I should regard Providence marking out for me but for the fact that your Board are look- ing to the Sound with a deep interest and I am unwilling to disappoint them. I shall endeavor to see the agent of the Rowland and Aspinwall Company 331 and do what I can for Br. Post in a few days, attend the yearly meeting of the Oregon City Church commencing Friday before the first Sabbath in Sept., and leave for the Sound just as soon as this meeting closes, take the first part of the rainy season into the tour and leave the event with Him who does all things well. I wish to state that Marion County, with Salem for its shire, which is the capital of the Territory, has no Baptist minister within its bounds. In this county are three mission- ary and two anti-missionary Baptist churches. The three missionary churches are nearly twelve miles from Salem. The three churches are nearly able to sustain one minister. Now I think your Board would do well to appoint a minister for 331 The Rowland and Aspinwall Company operated steamships from New York to the Isthmus of Panama. Geo. H. Himes. 248 REVEREND EZRA FISHER Salem and vicinity. He will be sure to be taken up in part by these churches and receive at least half his support from them before he has been three months in Oregon, if he is a man in any degree adapted to the work in Salem. These churches may despair of finding an immigrant preacher to settle on the public lands and preach to them, as the public lands are all taken up in their vicinity. These churches, at least two of them, are feeling the importance of an efficient ministry given to the work. I know of no Baptist member in Salem, yet other denominations, with little strength in the country, are laboring to build up an interest here. Salem is growing with the rapidity of western towns on navigable waters. Albany, also, about 25 miles above Salem, is growing fast. In this town we have a feeble church. Albany is the county seat for Lynn County. 332 The church in this place has only occasional preaching. I think a good opening for a minister will be made in this place before next spring. Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Received Oct. 6, 1853. Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Sept. 6th, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc., New York. Dear Brother: I received yours of July 5th, principally in reference to Br. Post's outfit, by the last mail. I had just written you that I should be on my way to the Sound immediately upon the close of the yearly meeting at this place, but the tenor of your last letter inclined me to delay the tour to the Sound four or five weeks, attend the yearly meetings of two or three churches in the valley and perform the double service of labor- ing in these meetings and raising what I can to aid Brother Post in his passage from San Francisco to this place. At the close of the forenoon service in the Baptist meetinghouse last Lord's day, the subject of Brother Post's wants was pre- 332 Linn County was organized in 1847. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:715. CORRESPONDENCE 249 sented, and we took up a collection of $25.35, which we shall apply to that object and, as you have now an educational department to the Home Mission Society, if it is consistent with your rules, you will credit this amount and charge it to Brother Post as part of his fare from San Francisco to Oregon City. I think we shall be able to raise $100 or $150 more with- out materially interfering with my official duties, if these are not a part of them, and reach the Sound so as to visit most of the important settlements in Washington Territory and return by the middle of December, which will give me five or six weeks of exposure to the heavy rains of the winter, unless it should be unusually mild. But the cause of our blessed Lord demands this service and I shall leave the event with Him and explore that territory as soon as I have performed the other service. To human probability, a failure of securing Brother Post to this station would prove a calamity too great for us to sustain in Oregon, although our brethren do not justly appreciate the importance of this enterprise upon the future interests of the denomination on the Pacific Coast. Our yearly meeting with the Oregon City church has just closed. The meetings were well attended, even to a crowded house on the Sabbath ; at all the services the congregations were attentive and solemn, even to weeping, in numbers of instances ; yet we have learned of no cases of conversion. Brother Johnson preached in the morning; Brother Chandler at 3 P. M., and I in the evening. The Sabbath before, I preached and baptized a young brother who has been led to submit to the Messiah's reign within the last three months. The Sabbath school and Bible class in this church are still quite interesting, although we are destitute of teachers. Mrs. Fisher is the only permanent teacher in the female classes. Whenever I am at home, I superintend the school and teach the male Bible class. Since Brother Chandler closed his labors with the church, Brother Johnson is our supply, but his health is so poor that he can perform no pastoral labors. I will here introduce another subject. The long expected 250 REVEREND EZRA FISHER Cbloma has arrived at last, having been out somewhat over eight months. Our goods all arrived in good order except such as were damaged by the action of the salsoda as it con- tracted moisture, dissolved and ran promiscuously through the goods. Of the eight pounds of the salsoda put up, we found about one-fourth of a pound in the paper. The rest had been converted into a fluid and stood in crystalization on the old books, my hat, frock coat, flannel and both the bolts of cotton sheeting. About half the hat was as rotten as brown paper. The back and part of one sleeve of the coat were saturated with salsoda, the colour changed to a pale snuff and the texture destroyed ; also a place about the size of the palm of my hand in each fold of the coat. The coat was literally ruined. The soda saturated through the folds of about half of the red flan- nel, so as to entirely ruin about one-third of the bolt, or six yards. We shall lose about one-third of both bolts of sheeting, one bleached and one unbleached. I have estimated the dam- age as follows: 1 hat, dead loss, $2.00 $ 2.00 1 frock coat, damaged, $12.00 12.00 1 bolt of bleached cotton, damaged, $1.29 1.29 1 do unbleached do, do, $1.23 1.23 8 pounds of salsoda, dead loss, $0.33 33 6 yards flannel, @ $0.25 per yard, $1.50 1.50 Total $18.35 I am ignorant of the rules regulating insurance offices. But this one thing I will say, that I should never have thought of packing old books with leather covers around a bundle of salsoda and another of saleratus, wrapped in paper, and then packed on the top of or underneath a good coat, a hat, a piece of flannel and cotton goods, for a voyage of twenty thousand miles. It seems that the box was stowed away in the ship bottom side up. so that all the liquid salsoda as it contracted moisture settled into the above named goods. I have no doubt the vessel was loaded too deep for so long a voyage, but I have CORRESPONDENCE 251 no expectation that the insurance company will pay for dam- ages occurring under such circumstances. I have stated the facts as nearly as I can as they appear to me and leave the matter for you to adjust as nearly right as the case may appear in your judgment. I will say, however, that I had rather pay for the freight of good, clean, dry, white pine shavings than for old school books, for in the nature of the case one is worth just as much as the other. The shavings will contract little moisture ; the books with leather bindings will always mold in the hold of a ship. I have learned a profitable lesson in this matter (yet it is rather an expensive one for somebody), that, should I in coming time order saleratus and salsoda, I shall order them put up in tight vessels, packed apart from valuable clothing. Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Received Oct. 29, 1853. Oregon City, Oct. 1st, 1853. To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. Dear Brother : Herein I send my report of labor under the appointment of the Home Mission Society as their exploring agent for Oregon Ter. for the 2nd quarter, ending Sept. 30th, 1853. During the quarter I visited Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, and the towns of Jacksonville, or Table Rock, in Rogue River Valley; Winchester, on the Umpqua River, Marysville, county seat of Benton County, Albany, county seat of Lynn County; Portland, Washington county, Marysville, Santiam, Lebanon, French Prairie and Oregon City churches. Labored 13 weeks during the quarter. Paid $12.75 for travel- ing expenses and twenty- four cents for postage. Delivered twenty-seven sermons and fifteen addresses, mostly in the yearly meetings. Baptized one person, a young man, at Ore- gon City, and four in the Santiam church. Have labored three 252 REVEREND EZRA FISHER weeks in the yearly meetings with the Lebanon, Santiam and French Prairie churches. Respectfully submitted, EZRA FISHER, Exp. Agt. N. B. If time permits, I intend to give you a brief view of the influence of the yearly meetings on the churches. Oregon City, Oct. 1st, 1853 To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. Dear Brother : Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint- ment of the Home Mission Society as general itinerant for the 2nd quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1853. I have labored 13 weeks in the quarter; preached 27 sermons and delivered 15 addresses ; attended six church and covenant meetings ; eight prayer meetings and visited religiously 98 families and other persons ; baptized five persons ; assisted in the organization of one church on Deer Creek in the Umpqua Valley ; traveled to and from my appointments 849 miles. In connection with the labors of other brethren in the ministry where I labored in yearly meeting, which will not be reported to your Board, eight persons have been received by letter, three by experi- ence, 12 by baptism and two more were received as candi- dates for baptism, 333 who will soon be baptized by the pastor. Rev. Geo. C. Chandler. In connection with the labors of other brethren where I have labored, there have been eleven cases of hopeful conversion. One young man of promise is preparing for the ministry within the Willamette Baptist Association. Three Sabbath schools are sustained in the churches in the Willamette Valley and Br. Chandler sustains one at one of his outposts. Respectfully submitted, EZRA FISHER, General Itinerant. Received Nov. 29, 1853. 333 One of these two candidates was a Mr. Jackson. Mss. Records of the Oregon City Church. His initials and the other's name are not given in the records. CORRESPONDENCE 253 Oregon City, Oregon, Oct. 3rd, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc. Dear Brother : I wish to give you a birdseye view of things as they are connected with the Baptist cause in Oregon. And first, I will give you a brief history of the yearly meetings of the past summer and autumn, or rather of the season now passing, as they have occurred, a part of which you have reported in your last associational minutes. The darkness which has hung over our feeble churches for the past four years has been truly alarming, not on account of any serious outbreaks among the members, neither on account of any sinful strife and rending divisions occasioned by agitation of naughty doctrinal debates. But the four years may properly be denom- inated the years of the reign of gold. Worldly mindedness seemed to hold imperious claim upon the throne of the affec- tions. But early last spring our brethren in the ministry began to manifest something like a fresh anointing from the horn of salvation, and almost everywhere it became apparent that the ear could be charmed by the simple story of a Saviour's love. In May, meetings were held with the West Tualatin and West Union churches, during which the one more than doubled its members and the last received four by baptism. The sessions of the Association passed off harmoniously, happily. I then visited Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. I found affairs, on the whole, apparently under the smiles of the great Head of the Church. Our yearly meetings were now about to be renewed and my mind was distressingly divided between the labors assigned me by your Board to proceed to Puget Sound and explore that important field, hitherto untried by Baptist ministers, and what I held as the no less important duty of laboring with the churches (dearly beloved by me) in the Willamette Valley in their yearly meetings then just coming on. I often went to the throne of grace for direction. Your letter urging the importance of our making immediate efforts to help Br. J. D. 254 REVEREND EZRA FISHER Post from California to this place aided me in deciding the path of duty. Yet I found our brethren all of opinion that my duty was to stay and labor in these meetings and at the same time, as I chanced to fall in with a brother, do some- thing if possible for Br. Post. Our meeting at Oregon City was of but three days' con- tinuance, with favorable indications, but has not as yet resulted in any hopeful cases of conversion. The yearly meet- ing with the Shilo church, 11 miles south of Salem, continued six days and resulted in five or six hopeful cases of conver- sion. Five were added to the church by baptism 334 and two or three by experience. Br. J. G. Berkley 335 was the only ordained minister present, but he was assisted by faithful young brethren of the church. The yearly meeting with the Lebanon church followed on the 2nd Saturday of September, which continued till Monday evening. One was received by letter; the church was revived; two backsliders were pro- fessedly reclaimed and two or three were inquiring what they must do, when the meeting closed. The engagements of the ministers present were such that we were obliged to close the meetings at the very period when it was becoming increasingly interesting. From Lebanon church I proceeded to the Santiam church as fast as my business would permit, traveling through an unusually heavy rain two days. The meeting had been in progress for six days, conducted by Elder Chandler and assisted by Elder Sperry. The evening of my arrival an interesting young man professed a hope in Christ, some few backsliders had returned to their first love and the church was truly revived. The interest of the meet- ings daily increased till on Sabbath Br. Chandler baptized three interesting young persons, among whom was a young married lady from Holland who could speak but broken English. She had been a member of the Presbyterian church. She expressed such strong confidence in God and such endear- 334 One of those baptized was Rev. Andrew J. Hunsaker, since then erown to be very prominent m the Baptist work of the state. 335 This was Rev. Jesse G. Berkley, 1796-1872. He came to Oregon from Missouri in 1852. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:97. CORRESPONDENCE 255 ing attachment to her Bible as sent a sensation of sympathy through the congregation, as she exclaimed in broken accents, yet with an eloquence which seemed more than earthly, "My dear blessed Bible, that precious book, I do love to read it every day ; it is not like your Bible," referring to the English translation. All the services of Sabbath were deeply solemn. On Monday evening nine persons, mostly children of the members of the church, found peace in believing. On Wednesday following, Br. Sperry and I baptized nine persons in the waters of the Calapooia, among whom was a Presby- terian brother and his wife. I was obliged to leave that evening, yet numbers were still enquiring where they might find ease for their troubled conscience. The meetings of the French Prairie church followed on the next Friday. This was a meeting of unusual interest. Several were found disposed to seek a forgiveness of their sins. The church was revived, although we have no cases of conversion to record. At the urgent request of some of the leading members of the Santiam church, I consented to spend the 2nd Saturday and Sabbath with Br. Chandler on the south side of the south fork of the Santiam. How long I shall continue will depend upon the indications of Him who sends His people times of refreshing from His presence. Such is the present state of things in general in the churches and such the impor- tance of raising something for Br. Post, together with the fact that several Baptist ministers are now arriving in the valley with the overland immigration who are seeking places for a settlement, where for a season they may be useful as self-supporting ministers and are asking counsel as to the place where they may best serve the cause of Christ and their families, that I cannot think your Board would advise me to leave this field to explore the Sound, with all the exposures and uncertainties of winter, while the country is very new, provisions scarce, settlements scattered and immigrants, just coming in, are all in confusion. Now my plan is to leave the Sound till the waters fall next summer and proceed thither immediately after the Association closes, during the 256 REVEREND EZRA FISHER time of our wheat harvest, so as to be in the valley again at the yearly meetings of the churches next fall. The people at the Sound raise but little wheat as yet and during the summer months a new country can be much better explored than in the winter and the people will more readily come and hear the preached Word. I fear I shall not be able to raise much more than $100 for Br. Post's passage from San Fran- cisco to Oregon City. Money is very scarce in Oregon, or rather much more so than it has been since '48, and numbers of the brethren promised to do something for him, but will be unable to do it in time to meet his wants. Many of our fore- handed farmers tell me that they have not a dollar to their name. But they have barns full of wheat and oats and plenty of cattle and horses and hogs on the prairies. We have a little money in the Institution treasury, so that I hope to be able to forward Br. Post about $150 to San Francisco in time. You have doubtless read accounts of the Indian war in Rogue River Valley 336 and are waiting with anxiety to learn of its influence on our little band of disciples at Jacksonville. I have feared much and prayed oft for those lovely brothers and sisters, and especially for young Brother Read. The Lord has kept them all in the hollow of His hand and I believe not one of them has fallen by the hand of savage barbarity. It was reported that our beloved brother Judge Rice was mas- sacred. But we learned in a few weeks, to our great joy, that it was all a mistaken rumor. No doubt the business relations of those brethren have been much deranged and I fear they will be unable to build a suitable house for worship this fall; but the war is ended, except with a few scattering clans who may annoy the people some. The government will keep a garrison sufficiently strong to keep the Indians quiet hereafter. I forwarded the letter you sent to Br. Read addressed to this place to my care, immediately on its arrival. Our school is doing very well this quarter. Mr. Shat- 336 This war broke out early in June, 1853, and ended in September of that year. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:311-321. CORRESPONDENCE 257 tuck 337 gives his undivided tune to it during the regular school hours. Yet we must have a man in the school who will identify himself with its present and future prosperity and likewise identify himself with the interests of the denominaton, if we will secure the confidence and cordial co-operation of all our brethren in the Territory. We must bring our brethren to feel that the school stands connected with all that is promis- ing in the future of our denomination in Oregon and on the Pacific shores, at least, and then we shall have patronage most cheerfully. But the work of harmonizing discordant materials and developing the spirit of true Christian philanthropy requires the persevering patience and love and prayers of men more than ordinarly devoted to the honor of the King of Zion. O, that I had more grace and adaptedness for this work! But for this work I cheerfully live and in this cause I sometimes feel that I would wish to die, or see the work crowned with complete success. Soon, perhaps very soon, we shall have young men in Oregon looking to the ministry asking instruc- tion from our school, if it continues in existence. Yours, EZRA FISHER. Received Nov. 28, 1853. Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Oct. 5, 1853. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc. Dear Brother: The Baptist church in this city last Saturday at their regular church meeting took up the subject of providing themselves with a pastor, which resulted in the following resolutions: Resolved that this church invite Elder Hezekiah Johnson to become our supply till we can obtain a pastor. 2. Resolved that we appoint a committee of two, in the absence of our deacon, to correspond with the Home Mission Society Board to send us a suitable man to fill this place as a pastor. 337 This was E. D. Shattuck. See note 316. 258 REVEREND EZRA FISHER The meeting closed without any formal action in relation to the amount necessary to his salary, but I will be respon- sible that $100 will be raised toward his salary in this place; perhaps $150. Now our case is a most urgent one. We have never had but little pastoral labors performed in Oregon City. The fact that our school is located here demands the labors of an effective man every day in the place, who may be always ready to co-operate with the teacher by counsel and action. Since Brother Chandler left, nothing has been done by way of sustaining the Sabbath school, except what is done in the school room at the hour, and when I am absent, which is about three-fourths of the time, the male department is some- times left without any teacher. . . In view of all our circumstances, we must have a minister, acceptable to be sure as a preacher, but a practical, pious, common sense pastor. The Congregational church has such a man here, 338 the Methodists will keep such a man here, the Episcopalians will soon have such a man here and the Baptists must have such a man here, if they sustain no other pastor in the Territory. Taking everything into account, this is the first appointment that should be filled, if I do not greatly err in judgment. I think you should appoint a man with a salary of $700, $100 of which the church will pay. . . . Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Received Nov. 29, 1853. Oregon City, O. Ten, Jan. 2d, 1854. To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. Dear Brother : Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint- ment of the Home Mission Soc. as General Itinerant for the 3d quarter ending Dec. 31st, 1853. I have labored 13 weeks during the quarter; preached 15 sermons; delivered ten lec- tures on temperance and to the young in Sabbath schools and 338 Dr. G. H. Atkinson was the Congregationalist. Geo. H. Himes. CORRESPONDENCE 259 to young Christians; attended eleven prayer meetings and six church covenant meetings; visited religiously 41 families and as many more individuals ; visited two high schools ; bap- tized one ; traveled to and from my appointments four hundred and thirty-eight miles. Eighteen persons have been received by baptism, in connection with the labors of myself and my fellow-laborers, and five by letter. The church in Tualatin Plains, called West Union, have completed a meeting house; most of the work has been done the present quarter. Connected with the churches I have visited are five Sab- bath schools, but they are generally small, averaging about 25 children and four teachers to the school ; probably in all about 400 volumes in the libraries. All of which is respectfully submitted. EZRA FISHER, General Itinerant. Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 2d, 1854. Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. A. B. Home Mission Society : Herein I send you my report under the appointment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for Oregon and Washington Territories for the third quarter ending the 31st of Dec., 1853. During the quarter I have visited the towns of Marysville, Benton County; Forest Grove and Portland, Washington County; Oregon City, Clackamas County, and Santiam church, Lynn County; Marysville church, Benton County ; West Union church twice and West Tualatin church, Washington County; have labored 13 weeks during the quarter; collected one hundred dollars to aid Br. J. D. Post from California to Oregon and paid the same to Br. J. D. Post; have paid two dollars and seventy cents for traveling expenses; twenty- five cents for postage; preached fifteen sermons; delivered ten addresses; baptized one person; attended one meeting of eight days with the Santiam church, during which time Brother Chandler, the pastor, and Br. Cheadle, the father of some of the converts, baptized seventeen 260 REVEREND EZRA FISHER converts. I was present and preached the dedication sermon in the new house built by the West Union church, an account of which I shall give you in another letter. All of which is respectfully submitted, EZRA FISHER. N. B. I wrote you some time since that I had collected something more than $150 for Br. Post's traveling expenses from Cal. to Oregon. That all things may appear straight, I will state that on the arrival of Br. Post we found that the house must have some work done on it to make it comfort- able for his family. He therefore agreed to take $100 and let the balance be applied to carrying on the work on the school building, as a part of the funds collected were paid over to me to be used at my discretion where it was most needed, either to aid Br. Post or to carry on the work on the house. You will therefore credit the donors to the amount of $100 and charge the same to Br. Post so that your books may stand fair. I will give you the names and the amount paid by each person or congregation accompanying this report. Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Oregon City, O. Ten, Jan. 2d, 1854. Dear Br. Hill : The following sums were collected to aid Br. J. D. Post from Cal. to Oregon : Collection taken in the Oregon City church $25.25 James Hunt 50 Israel Chamnies 5.00 Rev. Richmond Cheadle 8.12j^ Joshua Brooks 1.00 Daniel Smith 2.00 Collection taken at the Santiam church 12.62^ J. H. Pruett 339 2.00 339 Of the above-named donors. J. H. Pruett (1820-1866) came to Oregon from Missouri in 1847 and settled near Gervais. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., I. -65. George Cornelius 3.00 D. D. Stroud 5.00 John Trapp 5.00 Alfred Rinehart 5.00 Martha Avory 5.00 Martha Robinson 2.50 Jeremiah Lewis 1.50 Arnold Fuller 2.50 Thomas M. Read.. . 14.00 Total $100.00
This hundred dollars you will please credit to the donors on your books and charge it to Br. J. D. Post and not to me, as I have paid it over to him. In yours of Nov. 9th, 1853, I noticed this paragraph, "Ere this I trust Br. Post is with you and entered upon his work. I am glad your people evinced a liberal spirit in aiding him to get from Cal. to Oregon. He is worth and worthy of it. The credit and charge will be made on our books and, if you report more, we will do the same."
Now I suppose you charged that sum to Br. Post and not to me, as I have paid him the $100 herein reported as collected. If you have charged it to me, you will please correct the mistake.
Received Feb. 10, 1854.