Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/151

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CORRESPONDENCE 139 fatigues and cares and domestic privations incident to the faithful discharge of the appropriate duties of such a mission. Yet, if I know myself, I desire to serve our common Lord in the field he seems to assign me by the counsel of the brethren who seek to understand the wants of Zion and meet them. Should your Board judge, in the fear of God, that the cause of Christ in Oregon would be judiciously promoted by giving me a re-appointment with a salary of $600 and traveling ex- penses, by the grace of God, I will endeavor to devote myself to that ministry. I say $600, not because I suppose that sum will cover my family expenses, but because I think with that and the means saved by the services of the family and rigid economy we can live, by occasional mortifications and priva- tions such as were common to our blessed Master and immedi- ate followers and always have been to the pioneers in the blessed cause. (No signature.) Received March 19, 1853. Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 12, 1853. To the Executive Board of the Am. Bap. Home Mission Society : The Subscriber desires reappointment as exploring agent of the American Baptist Home Mission Society for Oregon Territory for one year to commence on the first day of April, 1853. The total amount of my salary necessary for my sup- port while exclusively devoted to the labor of said agency is $1000 per annum; the least amount that will suffice from the Society in addition to the services performed by my family is $600 per annum and traveling expenses. Should the Board comply with this request I engage to devote myself wholly to the appropriate duties of the agency in accordance with their in- structions. N. B. It will be desirable that I should raise $300 or $400, sufficient to protect our school building from great exposure to the weather and ceil and seat one room, and this, it is thought, may be better done by me, without seriously interfering with