Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/358



308 CHARLES HENRY CAREY

ary labors may be extended in almost every direction among the natives and those emigrants who may here- after settle in that vast and fertile territory. Such were the opening prospects for missionary efforts among the surrounding tribes, as detailed to the Board by Brother Lee's letters, that it has been determined to strengthen the mission by sending out another mission family, two female teachers, a physician, carpenter and a blacksmith. These have accordingly been selected among those who volunteered their services for important enterprises and they only await a favorable opportunity to proceed on their journey.

Eighteenth Anniversary,

Held May 22, 1837,

Greene St. Church, New York.

From the Oregon Mission we have no very recent in- formation. The last account we received from Rev. David [Daniel] Lee. His letter was dated at Hono- lalu, one of the missionary stations at the Sandwich Islands, whither he had gone for the benefit of his health. His letters give a glowing description of the state of things in those islands and of the Oregon territory. From his representation, and from that made to the board previously by the Rev. Jason Lee, the superintendent of the mission, w r e were induced to send a reinforcement to the mission. Accordingly, in August last, a physician and blacksmith, with their wives and children, a carpen- ter and three female teachers, in all thirteen, sailed from Boston by way of the Sandwich Islands. 6 With these were sent out a large quantity of household furniture, about twenty boxes of clothing of various sorts and sizes, valued at not less than $2,000, agricultural, mechanical, and surgical instruments, as well as medicine for the

6 These were Alanson Beers, blacksmith, wife and three children; Susan Downing, Elvira Johnson, Anna Maria Pittman, teachers; J. L. Whitcomb, teacher; Dr. Elijah White, physician, wife, and two children. They arrived in May, 1837.