Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-14

twelve different churches. The United
Brethren and the Protestant Methodists
have each some three or four principal
charges. The exact statistics Of these
denominations ] cannot give. not having
seen their recent utreports. Bat ,hc above
estimate, based on my personal observa-
tions and inquiries, proNimates presume
nearly TO The truth.
The CampbclEtes are found in nearly
every part Of Oregon in small numbers.
but do not seem to be exerting any dc
cided true religious influence. The Bap-
lists have a college OF high school in Ore
go9 city, and the Peesbyterians one on
Forest Grove Prairie.
San Missionary work has an
been Ssh'SBy the Me,hod'sts, md the
Presbyterians and the Catholics, The
Catholics have excrted a strong influence
on the Indian mind. Their system seems
perfectly adapted TO their degraded con
dition. Their forms and ceremonies, pic
lures, crucifxes and beads, &c, delight
them, while morality they preach does
not seem to intetcre much with their
pleasures. Oregon Territory was erect
ed into an Apostolic Vicariate, in 1913.
by Pope Gregory 10Th. Two brothers
nov exercise Episcopal authority over
what was formerly Oregon Territory
One OF them resides in Oregon city, and
has the special oversight Of Oregon, and
the other resides at Vancouver. and pre-
sides over the Nesqaally diocese, which
embraces the Washington Territory. It is
impossible to estimate correctly, ;he.r
numbers in the Territories. Their prin-
cipal stations among the White settle
ments are at tue French Prairies, Ore
gon city, Portland, Vancouve., the Cow
litz, and two or three places near Puget
Sound. Their Indian mission stations
are widely spread from The Dalles to the
Walla Walla, to Fort Colville, and even
near the base Of thc Rocky Mountains
In lS47 they published that they had
eighteen chapels and six thousand con-
verts. But I am pursuaded that their
influence in the territory has not only
relatively but really diminished since that
time. Their schools at the French Prai-
ries and Oregon city have both been
clqsed up, and am not aware that they
have opened denominational schools ii
other T5laeez. The Indians Ignorant and
uncultiyated, eannot otaTPreciate the disiinc-
tive doctrinal differences of the difItreutdr-
nominations and hence since ihey can OIL
tain 50 easy indulcenccs for their crimes,
they seem 10 prefer that Denomination
which offers eternal life the cheapest and
easiest to the poor natives.
The Spokanz, among whom the Pres
byterlans had a mission, viii not, il is said
receive Catholic missionary. This fact
shows how successfully their carly mis-
sionaries instilled into their minds the
elementary principles of the Gospel.
Amid AL the wars and commotions
among thc Indians in Oregon, The Cath
olics have contrived to keep on good tr IS
with the Indians.
Since the Protestant missionaries have
been driven by war from the Indian couu.
try in 1847, some Indian families nave
kept up the forms Of domestic worship in
their wigwams. And occasionally an in
cident occurs showing that the former
services Of the missionaries sre not with
out their influence. A Clickitat Indian
showed, a year or two since, one of our
ministers a Testament which he received
: from Bro. Perkins in the days Of the
early mission. lie kept it carefully rolled
in skin and though he could not read he
knew II was the good book, and said lllat
he occasionally ma-wa-ed preached lo)
tie Indians.