Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/422



394 EZRA FISHER

be readily obtained and every brother is ready to give timely assistance. I have spent no time in my private business be- yond the above named labors, and they probably have cost me 135 miles' travel and three weeks' time, yet I have met all my regular preaching appointments and most of the prayer meeting appointments, but my pastoral visits have been neg- lected, to my grief. But such must be or I must abandon the desired enterprise. Preached 21 sermons and have been assisted by several visiting brethren on Sabbaths; 12 prayer meetings, 8 conference meetings, 5 covenant meetings and traveled 124 miles ; no hopeful conversions among my people ; none baptised; received none by letter. Monthly concert is attended at one place, Rock Island church. Made 48 religious visits. . . . Assisted in the organization of the Pine Bluffs Church in the south part of this county on the first Sabbath in February, and in the ordination of Br. Cyrus G. Clarke as their pastor. Addressed the church on the occasion and gave the charge to the candidate. . . . Received nothing from any auxiliary soc. toward my support, but about $30 . . . from subscriptions. Have one Bible class and about 12 scholars, two Sabbath schools and about 50 scholars and 7 teachers. The church at Rock Island are making ar- rangements to finish the house they purchased last summer and will probably be able to occupy it by June next.

I wrote you about two months ago requesting you to for- ward in advance of the report the amount of my salary up to the first of April in a draft in connection with the advance draft for my salary next year. But as yet I have received neither. Will you forward me the draft immediately, if you have not done it.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER, Missionary at Rock Island.

N. B. I have received no letter from you since the 29 of Nov. In a letter of the 4th of Nov. you informed me that my salary would be paid in advance about the month of