Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/420



392 EZRA FISHER

period, schools should be established under pious teachers, and, as soon as practicable, one should be founded on liberal prin- ciples, adapted to the wants of the country and especially to the demands of our own denomination, which should rise with the demands of the people till it shall eventually furnish the means for a complete education. Should congress pass the land bill, which has so long been before both branches of our national legislature, 76 I trust we shall find friends to the Baptist cause sufficient to carry out such a plan without materially detracting from our ministerial usefulness.

While other denominations are directing their energies to evangelize the natives and half-breeds, 77 I think Baptist mis- sionaries should not look on with indifference in this work of blessing the remnants of these once numerous tribes. If any- thing more can be done, a way may be opened for the suc- cessful introduction of missionaries in the most favored posi- tions and thereby effect a great saving of time and expense to the cause of missions. I will not multiply. But you will allow me to say that Upper California is becoming a place of great attraction to western emigrants, and among them are Baptists who will ever pray for the ordinances as they were delivered. I am personally acquainted with some of these, who are inquiring whether the Home Missionary Society will not appoint them as missionaries. We shall become acquainted with these brethren, in our journey, and a correspondence at least may be kept up with them by which we may learn the wants of that country. We hope soon to form churches which will relieve your Board, in part at least, of sustaining us, and it shall be one part of our duty to teach the brethren that the gospel is a sacrificing system. As to the amount it may re- quire from your Board to enable us to live the second year,

76 There had been at several times bills before Congress providing for grants of lands to settlers in Oregon. The reference here must be to the Atchison bill in the Senate, and possibly to an Oregon bill in the House neither carried. No Oregon donation land grant act was passed until the famous act of 1850. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1=379, 384, 386, 388; II =260.

77 The reference here is, of course, to the earlier Protestant missions in Oregon those of the Methodists and of the American Board. He seems here not to be thinking of the Roman Catholic missions to the Indians.