Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/427



CORRESPONDENCE 399

contingencies, with a few exceptions, we think, might be im- proved upon. We cannot find it in our hearts to disapprove of the appointments of your missionaries, except, perhaps, in one or two instances. Yet we feel that moer regard should in- future be had to the position the missionary occupies. We know of instances where we think $50 would afford as much relief to a missionary's family as $100 or $150 would, were the same man to occupy another and more important field. . . . We then would say that we would recommend the appointment of missionaries with appropriations varying in proportion to circumstances. If a minister is to sustain the cause in Burlington or Fort Madison or Galena or Blooming- ton, he must have more than $100 from your Board, or we think little that is permanent will be effected, and you will retain in the older states those very men for the want of whom the cause must suffer in our Territory. We think in a few cases appointments might be made with an appropriation of but $50 from your Board, and through that medium you might be enabled to do more towards fully sustaining men in more important points. Could you visit our prairie country and see its peculiarities, you would feel the force of these views. The great amount of labor must be performed in the populous points and from these reach less populous places.

We hope at our next anniversary to effect another object, to wit: That the convention will be prepared to instruct her Board not to recommend the appointment of ministers to labor in the bounds of any church who will not pledge themselves to raise a sum equal to 25 cents for each member to aid the present Society over and above the amount they pledge for the support of their minister direct.

We have now two applications pending which are not ap- proved, either for want of information relative to the applicant or from informality in the application, which may soon be in your hands. You understand this is a private letter and will not therefore publish it.

One word respecting myself. I received the commission more than two weeks since, but as yet the draft has not reached