Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/390

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340 CHARLES HENRY CAREY

in the valley of the Columbia River ; where, for ten years, he labored, suffered and sacrificed, to an extent beyond what the Church generally has ever realized or appreci- ated. "But his record is on high" and his reward is sure. His attachment to the Oregon Mission and his deep interest he felt for its prosperity, continued to the last. His mind dwelt upon it during the greater part of his illness. He was only divided from it by death. Death only could snap the cords which bound his soul to that mission. But perhaps the cords may still be unbroken. For who can tell whether his redeemed spirit may not still linger over the scene of his probationary labors, with an interest more intense than ever. With the aid of his faithful coadjutors, he has laid a foundation of good in Oregon which is already visible and which we have strong reason to believe will be permanent. Future generations will rise up to call him blessed; and scores of redeemed spirits from among the Rocky Mountain trappers and the children of the forest will hail him on the heights of the celestial Zion as the honored instrument of their salva- tion.

Brother Lee has left a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn his loss; among whom is an orphan daughter, who is still in Oregon in the family of Brother Hines, one of the missionaries. How consoling and de- lightful the thought, under such circumstances, that the God of Missions is the orphan's Father!

Twenty-seventh Anniversary, Mulberry Street Church, May 18, 1846.

OREGON MISSION. There is perhaps no one of the missionary fields under the supervision of this soci- ety respecting which public opinion has been so fluctu- ating. At one time it has been the most popular of all missions; at another it has been set down as a perfect failure. In some instances the Church's expectations concerning it have been entirely too sanguine; and in