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Letter #30
Missionary House, Boston;
25 Feb. 1842.
The Members of the Oregon Mission.

Dear Brethren,

Owing to the want of regular and frequent communication between Boston and your part of the continent, a much longer time has elapsed since I wrote you than was desirable, or than I had supposed be necessary. This is the more to be lamented as your mission has been, in many respects, in so unhappy a condition. May the Lord in some manner overrule this delay for the honor of his name and the furtherance of his cause of the Indians among whom you are.

The Committee have been [illegible] why the Stations at Waiilatpu and Clear Water might not, so far as the Indians are concerned, and other external circumstances, be continued with the expectation of their being prosperous and highly useful, both to the Indian race, and as plantings and nourishing the seeds of Christianity and Christian institutions in a country into which a white population will be pressing at no distant day. But as it seems to be the unanimous opinion of all those connected with the south branch of the mission, with, perhaps Mr. Spalding excepted, that the stations must be discontinued or supplied with new men, in which opinion the brethren at the Sandwich Islands concur, the Committee have taken the subject, in that view of it, into serious consideration. They felt compelled to this the more by the despondent tones in which many of your number wrote about the smallness of the number and the unpromising character and habits of the Indians, and the unsuitableness of the country for supporting any numerous or dense population.

In view of all the circumstances of the mission as presented in letters from your number, the Prudential Committee, on the 23rd inst. adopted resolutions-

The reasons which the Committee would assign for the steps which they have taken must be given very briefly. They are aware that they have not a full and clear view of the whole case; but as no adequate and satisfactory investigation can be had, considering the remoteness and secluded location of the mission, they must act on such information as is accessible.

While the Committee, as before remarked, do not think that these stations must necessarily be abandoned, as promising no good results, they at the same time see little prospect that the laborers now on the ground will maintain them happily and usefully. Nor is it likely, especially since Messrs. Paris and Rice have stopped short and entered on the work at the Sandwich Islands, that the Committee could send the men requisite to maintain the stations efficiently, without a delay that would be equivalent to giving them up.

Against Mr. Spalding the Committee would of course bring no charges without giving him an opportunity to vindicate himself. Still it is evident that he does not enjoy the confidence of his brethren of the mission, nor of those of the mission at the Islands, in such a degree as to justify the Committee in continuing him longer in the mission. He will therefore be expected to return home, or cease to draw his support from the Board, and surrender to those appointed to dispose of it, the property of the Board now in his hands. The Board will defray the necessary expenses of his return, if he returns by the earliest opportunity. The Committee would much prefer that he should return by the route overland than around Cape Horn.

The health of Mrs. Smith is such that the Committee have little hope that she will be able to labor successfully either in the Oregon country, or in such a climate as that at the Sandwich Islands. It therefore seems best that they should also return. If, however, her health should be fully restored, and it should be the opinion of the physicians and missionaries at the Islands that they could both labor there efficiently and happily, the Committee would assent to their remaining there.

The Committee do not think that Mr. Gray is likely to labor happily or usefully in the Oregon country; nor do they see that any field is open for him in connection with the mission at the Sandwich Islands.

The services of Doct. Whitman, the Committee suppose, will be useful and acceptable at the station near Colville, they see no reason why he should not, as soon as the labor assigned to him in closing up the affairs of the south branch of the mission shall be closed, remove thither.

The Committee entertain similar views relative to the labors of Mr. Rogers, and though they are aware that he has never been regularly appointed an assistant missionary of the Board, they would hope that, as he is already in that remote field, and in a high degree qualified and prepared to be useful in various departments of labor, he will continue in the mission, presuming that in conference with Messrs. Eells and Walker, with Doct. W., some satisfactory sphere of action may be agreed upon.

Should Mr. Rogers have left the country or be indisposed to aid in the work of disposing of the mission property, Doct. Whitman will feel authorized to proceed in it alone, obtaining such counsel from any of his brethren as they may be able to give him.

These, with the best view of the painful case which they can take, are arrangements which will conduce most to the honor of the missionary cause and to the welfare and usefulness of the several individuals now connected with the Oregon mission; and they trust that all the persons concerned will do all in their power to carry these arrangements into effect in such a manner as will best accomplish the objects aimed at in them. Towards the individuals the Committee are conscious of exercising no other feelings than those of impartial kindness; and so far as lies in their power, they desire to do what will most promote their usefulness in the vineyard of the Lord.

In the assignments proposed in this letter, the several members of the mission will see why their respective communications not before acknowledged, are not fully replied to. The circumstances of the individuals do not now seem to call for such replies.

It is a cause of much grief and disappointment, as you may well suppose, that a mission which seemed to promise so great and speedy results, as did yours four years ago, should so soon be brought to such a close, and that too owing to disaffection among its members. The Christian community, when the catastrophe becomes known, will also be grieved and disappointed. And we fear that in the eyes of many, besides the [illegible] who have witnessed or been otherwise acquainted with your unhappy dissentions [?], the missionary work will be dishonored and prejudiced. May the Lord avert such consequences: and may all the members of the mission, in the new spheres in which they may move and labor, do what in them lies to recommend and promote this great work of Christ in the world.

Very truly your servant in Christ.

David Greene,
Sec. A.B.C.F.M.

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Source:
Marcus Whitman, Crusader, edited by Archer Butler Hulbert and Dorothy Printup Hulbert; with maps and illustrations. Hulbert, Dorothy Printup - joint editor. [Colorado Springs]: The Stewart commission of Colorado college and Denver: The Denver public library; 1936; 3 v. : ill. ; 25 cm (Overland to the Pacific. v.6-8. Notes: OCLC no: ocm03463986; LC card no: 36017963; Half-title: The Crusaders; the Charles B. Voorhis series of Overland to the Pacific, a narrative-documentary history of the great epochs of the far West, edited by Archer Butler Hulbert ... and Dorothy Printup Hulbert; Vol. 1: First printing July 1936; v.2.: First printing June 1938; v.3: First printing June 1941; Contents: pt.1. 1802 to 1839.--pt.2. 1839 to 1843.--pt.3. 1843-1847.

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