The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-09-13


A feature of the exercises held at
Whitman station this afternoon par
ticipated in by 1913 delegates en- route
to Seattle to attend the annual con-
vention of the Board of American
Commissioners for Foreign Missions
of the Congregational church, was an
address on the Significance OF the
Whitman Commission" delivered by
Rev. Samuel Capen, president of the
American Board as follows:
l feel it to be a great honor here at
this consecrated spot, to be asked tc
make this address. 1t was a happy
thought to halt here in our journey tc
the annual meeting of the board at
Seattle 1t would have been almost a
sacrilege to have hurried us by with
out an opportunity to speak our word
of admiration of Marcus Whitman,
and have our Christian purpose and
our patriotism fired anew by the mem
DRY of what he mas wrought.
Every time we learn more about thi-
life we must be impressed by its great
ness and especially at the providential
way in which he was used by God to
found an empire. All history is in
teresting and much of it important
but there are a few great events upon
which the fate of nations hinge. Such
an event was the landing of the Pill
grims at Plymouth Rock. We never
weary of that story or of the wonder
full compact in the Mayf1ower which
Charles Sumner calls, The first writ
ten constitution of government in hui
man history and the very cornerstone
of the American republics"
In this same class of great events is
the story of Marcus Whitman and of
what he did to save this great NORTH
western empire to the United States.
l have wondered whether the mission
of the American board to the Sand
witch Islands in 1919, or this mission to
Oregon Is years later has had the
widest reach and influence in shaping
the destinies of the country. Blot
out either event and you would have
to rewrite the history of the nation
We have time only to outline the
story. Marcus Whitman was born in
Rushville, N. Y, Sept. 4, 1902, of sturdy
New England stock. His father died
when he was but eight years of age.
Physically weak he studied medicine
instead of preparing for the ministry,
spending some years in the east after
mis- education was completed where
God was fitting him for his life work.
On the other side of the continent the
early pioneers had told the Indians of
God and of a book that told of Him.
Because of this story, four Indians
came from this very region 1900 miles
to st. Louis in order to know more.
Two of these died and the other two
disappointed turned homeward The
address of one of these men before ne
left is one of the most pathetic pas
sages l have ever read. Here it is:
Il came to you over a trail of many
moons from the setting sun.
You We're the friend of my fathers,
who have all gone the long way. I
came with one eye partly opened, for
more light for my people who sit in
darkness. l go back with both eyes
closed. How can l go back blind to
my blind people? 1 made my way to
You with strong arms, through many
enemies and strange lands, that l
might carry back much to them. 1
go back with both arms broken and
empty. The two fathers who came
with me-the braves of many winters
and wars-we leave asleep mere by
your great water. They were tired
in many moons and their moccasins
wore out. My people sent me to get
the white mans Book of Heaven. You
took me where you allow your women
to dance, as we do no.
ours, and the Book was not
there. You took me where
they worship the Great Spirit with
candles and the Book was not there.
You showed me the images of good
spirits and pictures of the good land
beyond, but the Book was not among
them. l am going back the long, sad
trail to my people of the dark land.
You make my feet heavy with the
burdens of gifts, and my moccasins
will grow old in carrying them, but
the Book is not among them. When
tell my poor blind people, after one
more snow, in the big council, that I
did not bring the Book, no word will
be spoken by our old men or by our
young braves. One by one they will