Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-06-30

I age OF 20, and later entered Lane The.
illogical seminary, which course he did
not complete He began his missionary
work among the Neg Perces in 1886
and to his unremitting toll and that OF
his efficient wife, for the temporal
intellectual and spiritual welfare OF
these Indians, much credit is due for
their superiority over surrounding
tribes.
Mr.. and Mrs. Spalding came across
the plains with Marcus Whitman and
wife, who settled at his mission at
Waulatpee, not far from Walla Walla.
and was later massacred by the In
dams. These missionaries were pre-
coded by Rev. Jason Lee of the Meth
odist Episcopal church, who settled in
the willamette valley in 1884 with a
party of assistants and teachers.
w. H. Gray. who came across the
plains with the Spalding missions
aries, says:
Jealous in His labors.
The first impression OF stranger
meeting II. II. Spalding is that he
has before him an unusual counten-
ance. He begins to examine, and finds
man with sharp features, large
brown eyes. dark hair, high, project
ing forehead with many wrinkles, and
a head nearly bald. He is man Of
medium size, stoop shOuldered, with a
voice that can assume a mild, sharp
hA nf a
owner; quite impulsive and bitter in
denunciation of real or supposed
enemy. In his professional character
he was below mediocrity. His moral
influence was injured by strong symp-
toms of passion when provoked or ex-
cited.
'In his labors with the Indians he
was Jealous and presevering and in
his instructions wholly practical.
Had he been allowed to continue his
work with the tribe, undisturbed by
sectarian and anti-religious influences,
he would have effected great good and
the tribe been now admitted as citi-
zens Of the United States. AS a citi-
zen he was kind and obliging: to his
family he was kind, vet severe. in his
religious observances.
1.-The loss Of his wife and the excit-
ing and savage massacres of his mis-
sionary associates produced their eff
fects upon him. Charity will find a
substantial excuse for most Of his
faults. while virtue and truth, civiliza-
ton and religion will award him a
place as a faithful, Jealous and COM
paratively successful missionary"
He was not long to work among the
Indians in peace. for in accordance
with the sectarian views of those days
one band of missionaries considered 4
their duty to counteract the heretica
teachings OF the other.
Influence with the Neg Perees.
While Mr.. Spaulding determined no
to remain at his post after the Whit
man massacre of 1S47, his influence
exerted its power over the minds o
the Indians in the period of warfar
that followed. During the Cayus
war not Nez Perez gun was turne'
against the whites, and at the council
Of 1885 1t was noted that the Indian
had not forgotten the instructions i'm
parted to them by Spalding, but he'll
services and forms of worship o.
Sundays. The thoughts Of the beholde
Of the spot selected by Spalding 10
a mission will have a tendency to re
vert back to the Time 70 years age
when the little band settled at tn
mouth of Lapwai creek. He win no
wonder that the pioneer missionar
chose this spot as the scene OF hi
labors. for the place has a charm IA
the red as for the white man. an
from time immemorial had been on
OF the favorite abiding places OF tn
Neg Perces.
The Lapwai basin extends in
southerly direction and about fou
miles from the mouth the little strear
widens into a truly magnificent littl
valley. about two miles long ana
mile wide. eliptical IN shape. the hill
on the west rising by much easie
grades and presenting longer an
gentler inclines than do those on tn
opposite side OF the canyon. At tn
extreme southwestern end of the can
yon. snug up against tho base of tn
hills. are the present Indian agenc
and school. occupying the site Of tn
historic Fort LApwaL