Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/413



CORRESPONDENCE 385

Rock Island, 111., Nov. 5th, 1844. Rev. B. M. Hill.

Dear Br. : Yours of Sept. 27th was duly received, and I now take pen to answer it, together with other communica- tions which it becomes my duty to make in the same sheet. The Board of the Ifowa] Conv. understands the course your Board has pursued in relation to Br. Seeley's tour last spring and are satisfied, I believe.

On this subject of my going to Oregon next spring, I would state that my views have in no way altered as regards the im- portance of carrying the Gospel of Christ there immediately and, unless some special providence intervenes, we shall make our arrangements to leave this place some time in the month of April next. The question whether the time of our service commences when we leave this place or when we arrive at the field of our future labor will not be material with me farther than the settlement of the question whether the amount will enable me to devote myself to the work of the ministry un- impeded by secular labor. I trust my ruling desire is to render the greatest possible service to the cause of Christ; I feel perfectly willing to refer that matter to your Board.

I have never asked what were the views of the Board re- specting the time of the transmission of the funds to me for my services during the year after our arrival. I suppose, how- ever, that such would be the distance and difficulty of regular communication from Oregon to N. York and so long a time must necessarily intervene between the time of making my reports and that of receiving funds in answer to said reports, your Board would advance to me the amount agreed upon for one year before taking our departure from this place. Your Board may possibly know of some convenient and safe way of transmitting drafts so that they may reach us seasonably to prevent us from being reduced to sufferings for the want of the common comforts of life. 69 I intended to have laid that subject before you personally while at Syracuse last fall, but

69 See note 72.