Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/378



328 CHARLES HENRY CAREY

was one of our oldest missionaries, having been devoted to the work for the last ten years. His early fellow la- borer, Rev. Jason Lee, appears much to regret that he considered it his duty to return home. Still, he thus encouragingly addresses the Board, under date of Octo- ber 13th, 1843: "On one point I have not the shadow of a doubt, namely, that the growth and spread, the rise, glory and triumph of Methodism in the Willamette Val- ley, are destined to be commensurate with the growth, rise and prosperity of our now infant, but flourishing and rapidly increasing settlements. Such is the adapta- tion of Oregon soil to the genius of Methodism, and such the fruit she has already produced in this country, that I am persuaded she is destined to flourish here in spite of all the chilling blasts of adversity that can be brought to bear against her. I cannot conclude without saying that there is the best of feeling among our people that has existed since our arrival in 1840; and the emigrants are perfectly surprised to see the religious state of this country."

It may be proper to remark here, that in addition to Brothers D. Lee and Frost, with their families, Dr. Bab- cock with his family, has also withdrawn from this mis- sion, sailing for the Sandwich Islands, on his way to the United States.

However proper and urgent may have been the rea- sons for the retirement of such brethren from these fields of Christian labor, still it must have been the cause of deep affliction to those who are left in charge of this great work. Brother J. Lee, in a letter dated August 12th, 1843, indulges in these reflections : "With all the discouragements which I encounter, I feel it to be a duty to God and the Board to say that my interest in the Oregon Mission is not the least abated, and unless com- pelled to do so I could no more abandon it now than I could the first day I laid myself on the missionary altar. Oregon is still of infinite importance as a field of mission-