Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/267

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

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