Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/362

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312 CHARLES HENRY CAREY

principles of the Christian religion and that though the natives are in general in a deplorable state as it respects their civil and moral condition, yet there is a wide field open for usefulness among them, that now is the time to enter it before the natives become yet more defiled by the proximity and intermingling of unprincipled white men, who may settle among them for the sake of traffic. From the local advantages of the territory, the salubrity of its climate, and richness of its soil, and the prospect of gain by opening a more extensive trade with the na- tives, it may fairly be presumed that the country will be, at a no distant period filled with white inhabitants. It is therefore highly important that the best interests of all concerned may be secured for the institutions of Christianity to be established there, that the settlements may be saved from the contaminating influence of vicious indulgences.

These representations being made to the board of managers, after a full investigation of the subject and counsel had with Bishop Hedding 10 and others, it has been determined to send out a reinforcement of five mis- sionaries, one physician, a blacksmith, millwright, cabi- net maker, three carpenters and joiners, three farmers, a mission steward to take charge of the temporal affairs of the mission, and some young ladies for teachers, to- gether with those farming and mechanical utensils which are necessary to carry on their respective trades and oc- cupations, as well as a quantity of goods, composed of such articles as are neeful for the supply of the mission family, and to enable them to purchase such articles as they may procure of the natives.

Though this outfit will be expensive, and for a time will require much to keep the mission in operation, yet if success crown our efforts by a prudent management, the expenditure to the Society will be diminished by the income from the cultivation of the farms, etc. And this

10 Bishop Elijah Hedding, of Lynn, Massachusetts.