The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-09-15
REuINISCESCRs OF OREGON SET
TLEMENT.
rHE oHEGos METHODIST MISSION.

rHE oEEGos METHODIST NissI0S.
CoHetusioa
The manner In which property acquired by
funds contributed u support Mis- ion vas H..
t1Dutef Il as open 10 censure as the alloNsuc..
OF IL members to dspossess DR. Mclaughlin ~
tse oregon City claim. DIR Elijah Whit. with
whom superintendent Lee could 10; hsrmogi.
oasiy get along, bad been dismissed from the
Oregon Mission IN ls40 and returned to the
states Oral and written complaints against
the Superintendent as consequence had fol-
lowed. t was charged that the Board hsd
been wilfully msled as 70 the number VI Inii
ans Ia the Territory In consequences Of which
much greater number Of Missionaries had been
semi and maintained than were necessary There
was delay ia making report Of the manner In
which the large appropriation 10 the reinforce
ment OF 1910. had without satisfactory explsna.
ton, been disburaed. As consequence result
ing from these complaints Of disanectiOn ia the
Missionary families, but more from the seemipg
neglect 70 make satisfactory report on the 18th
OF jaly. 1b33, the Beard recommended 20 the
Bishop 10 charge OF Foreign Missions 10 appoint
special agent 10 proceed 10 Oregon and in
yestigate the financial concerns Of the Mission.
or supersede Rev Jason Lee. BIshop Heddlnr
adopting the latter alternative, appointed Rev.
George Gary, Of Black River, New York, SUPER.
intendent Of the Oregon Mission. Unaware of
this hostile action without aotice TO the accns-
ed of pending charges, Rev Ison Lee had dur
isS the fall 1913 started for the east via the
Sandwich Islands to solicit iaBds for the Oregon
Institute. Rev Gastavus Hines was T. have
accompanied him. They had arrived At Homo
lulu, where awaiting O vessel bound for the
United States, they learned that Mr. Lees sue
cessor was en- route 10 Oregon. A passage for
one only Offering 10 MaZatlan was embraced by
Lee. who from thence proceeded via Vera Cruz
TO New York.
Rev Gustavus Hines returned TO Oregon.
where he arrived April 23. 1874. The annual
meeting vi the Mission was held lsev ID les
lie acting ~ Superintenden Leslie was as.
signed 70 the WaIlamet settlement, Hines
70 fualitan Plains, Parrish 10 Clatsop and Per-
kins TO the Dailes. Rev DIR Richmond and
kevs Messrs kone, Frost and Daniel Lee had
previsusiy abandoned the Mission and retarned
10 the East.
The only Indian Mission was at the Dales.
The four appointments, the mission school and
The several secular departments now constitu.
ted the Oregon Methodist Mission. superinten-
dent Gary shortly arrived. he was not hamp-
cred with instruetions. bat was vested with
unlimited discretion and full powers TO continue
the Mission as conducted or sbolish is, secular
character.
The condition OF the country now filling up
with settlers rendered unnecessary Mission
colonies. Missionary labor could better he per-
formed without farms, stores, shops, etc.---thus
dispensing with the secular department. Su-
perlntendent Gary called a meeting OF all the
missionaries. ministers and lsymen. The result
was decision 10 sell the Clatsop mission farm
and stock. The lay members we've al. dis
charged except II. b. Brewer. at the Dales.
They were allowed sum sufficient TO enable
them 10 reach the Eastern States. or. n they
elected 70 settle In the country. an amount in
property equal 10 such travelling expenses. DIR.
BabeOck returned 10 the States all the rest
became settlers. The Oregon Mission Manual
Labor School still remained undisposed of. IL
had been erected at an expenss of ten thousand
dollars.
Superintendent Gary called q meeting of the
Oregon NJ. +. Church June 18th. at the Mission
SehoOihouse. 10 determine what disposition
should he made. lt was resolved TO abandon
II. superintendent Gary sold the property TO
the Trustees OF the Oregon Institute for $1,000.
The Oregon Institute Farm found purchaser
aud the Oregon Mission Manual Labor School
became the Oregon Institute. Thus terminated
the secular and colonial character OF the Oregon
Methodist Mission.
Its accumulated stock and personal property
were distributed among its late members. Its
discharged laymen received property repre-
scented 10 be worth eight hundred TO q thousand
dollars per share, aggregating, according to
rates at which il was disposed of. upwards Of
twenty six thousand dollars.
Rev. Mr.. Perkins left for the East in the fail.
and the Oregon Mission alter ten years OF ex-
istence numbered four preachers. viz Superin-
tendent Gary, David Leslie, A. +. Waller aud
Gnstayus Hines. The latter who may justly
he called the Historian OF the Oregon Mission.
remarks =" The finances Of the Oregon Mission
were thus summarily brought 10 q close. and
the Mission was not only relieved OF ponder
Gus load, bat assumed 9 decidedly spiritual
character"
IL Is doubtful whether its presence la Oregon
contributed any benefits temporal or spiritual
10 the native population OF Oregon. As "A civil
izer or Christianizer Of Indians il was failure.
But TO the Territory, 10 the settlers, tc the
future Of Oregon. It's presence was attended
with benefits. Their reports 10 the Missionary
Boards gave valuable information OF the char
acter OF the country, Its soil, climate. and in-
ducements for immigration. The support the
Mission gave 20 the Provisional Government
fused the American element and FASTENED the
day when Congress extended Federal jurisdic-
ton over the Territory. These Missions were
thoroughly American; they were the nuclei of
American combination and eentGalixatlou.
They infused vitality into the American ele-
ment To their presence may largely be attSL
buted the unincation OF the American ele-
naent, the haImonizstinn uf the American set
tiers. The assertion may not be warranted that
the wholesome submission " that sei-consti.
tuted government. that obedience Ia Invited
authority depended upon missionary influence.
but the fact that those who had been connected
with the Mission were elected to the prominent
Offices and their administrations were satisfsc
tory 20 the people, Is ereditable to the Mission
and lis former lay constituents. As an Amer
icanixer, rs an impresser OF Oregon social lie
by the establishment OF churches and schools.
is agency in colonization was lasting and IN
,slculable. The Oregon Mission In time be-
came the Oregon Conference, ehurch--a
wholesome adjunct 20 but not . factor 10 settle
ment, From little Mission party ol four II
has assumed vast proportions. Is stlli steadiiy
progressing, with . membership nImbeTing