Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/174

 GEORGE H. HIMES

164

On Monday, September 15, 1834, Mr. Lee and party arrived at Fort Vancouver, and were kindly received by Dr. McLoughlin and the gentlemen of the fort. Several days were ister.

spent by Mr. Lee in looking" out a mission station. At length a suitable one was found, whereupon he returned to the fort on

The next day he held religious servand the following account I take from his

Saturday, September 27. ices at the

fort,

diary:

"Essayed to preach to a mixed congregation of English, French, Scotch, Irish, Indians, Americans, half-breeds, Japanese, etc. some of whom did not understand five words of English. Found it extremely difficult to collect my thoughts or find language to express them but am thankful that I have been permitted to plead the cause of God on this side of the

Rocky Mountains, where the banners of Christ were never Great God grant that it may not be in vain, but may some fruit appear even from this feeble attempt to

before unfurled.

!

labour for thee.

Preached again, but with as little liberty as in still I find it is good to worship in the public congregation. My Father in Heaven, I give myself to Thee. May I ever be Thine and wholly Thine always directed by Thine unerring counsel, and ever so directed as to be most beneficial in the world, and bring most glory to the Most High, that I may at last be presented without spot, and blameless

"Evening:

the morning: but

before the throne."

Lee intended to locate in the Flathead country, but Dr. McLoughlin nersuaded him to abandon that idea and establish his mission in the Willamette Valley, giving as a reason that he would be more easily protected in the event of attack by Lee Indians if he was not so far away from Vancouver. vielded to this argument, and began his work in what is now Marion County, a few miles below Salem. That mission farm It may be of interest is now owned by Mr. A. M. Lafollet. to know that on September 22, 1834, Lee and his companions were on French Prairie, that on the following Sunday, Sep~