Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/55



LETTERS OF REV. WM. M. ROBERTS 45

Statistics, but I have only had one Quarterly Con. and then the Preachers in charge had not their S, S. reports as per disciplin, they will not be behind hand after this I am confident.

The glory of Oregon in Temperance has departed. 1 There are three dram shops in this city and in spite of all our efforts tippling and gambling abound. We are just now making an effort to alter the organic law so that Prohibition may be the law of the land in regard to all that intoxicates. But I have some hope that we can by the blessing of God put forth some efforts to save the country.

Romanism is here and doing all it can. I give you an incident. The Legislature is in session and at its opening passed the customary resolution inviting the Clergymen of the place to open the morning sessions with prayer. The Com- mittee invited the Catholic Priest among the rest.

I opened the first morning by invitation. The Legislature sits you must know in the Methodist Church 2 as there is no other suitable building in the place. The sec'd. morning the Speaker arose and said he would be pleased if the Clergyman would arrange among themselves as to who would officiate each morning without his making the selection. The Priest who was standing by the stove immediately said he had been invited to officate as their chaplain. That he was present for that purpose, but that he would allow no one else to dictate a prayer to any of his people. We have, he said, authority to preach from the Apostles. This is a political body and can do its business without prayer or each one who wishes it can pray silently but some of my people are members of the body and if any of these persons come here to dictate prayers to my people I will not permit it &C. The Speaker scarcely knew what to reply to all this intolerance, but in a few moments the House proceeded to elect a Chaplain and the Priest was excused.

I have regularly served them since that time and in a few days, the session will close. The Governor (Bro. Abemethy) 3 brought up the School Questin in his message but I fear that

1 Dr. John McLoughlin and Jason Lee had united their influence to keep Oregon as free from liquor as possible. . ._ ,_

2 The first church building in the Pacific N. W.

3 George Abernethy, came to Oregon in 1840 as treasurer of the M. E'. Mission. He became first Governor of Oregon.