Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/238

190 he started for Mo. he wrote to his P. E. [Presiding Elder] for the proper testimonials the Conf. granted him a Location and appointed the sec. and P. E. a com. to prepare and forward the proper [credentials] they reached him on the road and consisted of a certificate of Location and a copy of the Res. of the conf. appointing the sec. & P. E. a com. as above but nothing further.

The certif. he preserved the [resolution] he did [not] thinking it of no account. Now how can he become a member and minister of our church perhaps he may never wish to [enter] the itinerary but he does wish to be one of us he is with us in heart soul and feeling and labors also he is an ex-preacher and wants to come in as a local preacher among us without of course going on probation]. When his case comes before the Con. it was the wish of himself and all that your advice and course in the case should be obtained his brother also (just arrived) is in the same condition we had waited long to see something in the action of the Gen. Conf. which would relieve the case but finding nothing we write to you. These are cases in which every thing is right so far as the brethren are concerned what course must be taken with them.

A minister from the P. U. [United Presbyterian?] Church has applied to join and is almost the only representative of that ch. in this country. Now on condition that the conf. should be satisfied of his being in orders &c. can I in virtue of my (nondescript office as Stevens calls it) as Supt. administer the ordination vows (without the ) and furnish a certif [icate] &c accor[ding] to Discipline] p. 41 I suppose I cannot what is the proper couse. In conclusion we are now anxious to know when the said visit is to be paid it is indeed [essential] to the pres [progress?] of our porwk that one of our Bro. visit us the coming season so as to be present at the conference in Sep 1st week). 1850. The plan will be to cross the [mountains?] so as to reach Cal. before the 1st of June visit the principal places there and by the 1st of July start for Oregon, travel over the country survey its interest and after the session (the time of which might be altered if necessity required) return to the States in the most direct manner possible. (A judicous regard in California will extensive travel there for they to Nov 1st unless necessity required it?) Now can you or one of your colleagues come? I think it will