Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/118

 REVEREND EZRA FISHER

110

gelical Christians have opened schools adapted to the wants of the people, employed good, pious teachers, and by these schools they wield a strong influence. If we remain inactive,

we must lose our hold on the confidence of the people and be set down as inefficient; besides, the sooner we can commit the denomination to

them and the other

work

some benevolent

rising generation.

strictly

enterprise the better for They will do the more for

of an evangelical character.

Again,

I

strongly think we must look to our churches for our rising ministry on the Pacific borders before twenty years roll around. The great question with me is, Ought the ministers

and almost worn out to give any considerable to the cause of education, while so much time of their portion waste for the want of faithful, Godly ministers field lies our of

now

in the field

given wholly to preaching the Word? Br. Chandler baptized two converts into the French Prairie

church Sabbath before

last.

Affectionately yours,

EZRA FISHER. Received April

9.

Oregon

To

Rev. Benjamin M.

Cor. Sec.

Am.

Bap.

City,

O. Ten, April

1st,

1855.

Hill,

Home

Mission Soc.

Dear Brother: Herein

I

ment of the

send you my report of labor under the appointHome Mission Society as General Itinerant for

the 4th quartet ending

weeks

in

March

31st, 1855.

15

this

I

have labored 13

sermons; attended 10

quarter; preached prayer meetings and four church meetings visited religiously 45 families and other persons visited one common school





my appointments 307 miles. Two were received into the French Prairie church by baptism under Sabbath schools in the labors of Rev. George C. Chandler. traveled to and from

the territory are the same as last quarter. During the quarSeveral ter I have distributed about 2500 pages of tracts.