CORRESPONDENCE 285
the Baptist cause in this city somewhat improved and the territorial legislature, in which are two of our Baptist brethren, 182 in session, and, providentially falling in with two other brethren from the country, we held an interesting con- ference on the subject of the necessity of taking action for the establishment of a literary institution in Oregon and, preparatory to this work, unanimously agreed to call a meet- ing of friends of education in the denomination to be held in this place on the 21st and 22d days of the present month. This city, situated immediately below the great falls of the Willamette, at the head of which two saw-mills, with two saws each, and two flouring mills, 18 * are kept constantly employed, begins to assume a business like appearance. The town contains ten or twelve drygoods stores, a variety of mechanic shops, five places of public worship Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalist, Seceder 18 * and Roman Catholic and a population of about six hundred souls. At present this is the most important place in the Territory and it will always form the great connecting link between the Willam- ette Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Here I spent four days in visiting families and the members of the legislature.
8th. Travelled 16 miles to the sti^e church on the Molalla over a rolling country interspersed with forests of fir and open lands generally set thick with ferns and scat- tering grass. Soil generally good, but settlements few. 9th. Preached to an interesting congregation on the Molalla prairie. This church, numbering about eight members, has had preaching but a few Sabbaths since its constitution. Manifest a laudable desire for a stated ministry and are willing to contribute liberally, in proportion to their numbers, for its support.
182 These two Baptist members of the legislature were probably R. C. Kinney and W. T. Matlock, members of the House. Rev. H. Johnson was chaplain of the House. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. II .-72; 1=633; H:i43- Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. In the first reference in Bancroft the initials of Matlock seem to be wrongly given as W. S. The manuscript records of the Oregon City church show W. T. Matlock to have been a member there.
183 The two flour mills were owned, respectively, by Dr. John McLoughlin and the Oregon Milling Company. The sawmills were apparently also owned by them and connected with the flour mills. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:2-5.
i84.Th Seceders were the New School Presbyterians.
