ularly as neither party was able conscientiously to yield to the other, but bound by duty to combat the contrary opinion with all the zeal that was in it. Dr. Whitman could readily see that the ceremonials of the Catholic faith must prove attractive to the childish minds of savages, who were likely to turn away from the lessons of an austere religion to the delights of bells and beads.
Hence, when Rev. F. N. Blanchet and Rev. Modeste Demers came overland from Canada in 1838, making a brief pause at Walla Walla to hold a "mission "among the French Canadians, and to baptize all the natives whom they could reach into the holy mother church, the supererintendent of the Presbyterian missions was filled with anxiety, and not without reason. The more ignorant people are, the more bitter are their prejudices, and rancorous their animosities. A religious schism among Indians was therefore to be feared, and if possible avoided.
Dr. Whitman had before him a fine example of religious toleration in the head of the Hudson s Bay Company, who received and listened to protestant missionaries of whatever sect visiting Vancouver, whom he also aided in various ways by courtesies and by contributions. He and all his officers and dependants were friends of Dr. Whitman. Pambrun, to whom they were indebted for many kindnesses, was a French Canadian arid a Catholic. Mr. McKinlay, Pambrun s successor at Fort Walla Walla, was a Presbyterian, and a warm friend of Dr. Whitman, but not more so than Pambrun. The Canadian servants of the company were Catholics, but they never refused friendly aid and neighborly kindness to the Methodists or Presbyterians. And 3 T et Dr. Whitman was alarmed, with some reason we musj admit, considering that he lived ever over a mine of savagery that needed but a match to touch it off. The Catholic fathers taught their converts to say a few simple prayers, and gave them a picture called the "Catholic Ladder," explanatory of the principal points of their faith; that was all. Mr. Spalding opposed to the "Catholic
