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Early Missionaries
The early missionaries who entered the Oregon Country in answer to the Macedonian call of the Nez Perces, were received kindly by Dr. McLoughlin. They came first to Fort Vancouver, where they rested and were refreshed, before going to their chosen fields of labor. All of the missionaries were greatly impressed by what they saw, and many of them remained at the Fort during the winter months studying the Indians and their customs. The original letters, diaries, journals and publications of these early missionaries tell of the wonderful kindness and generosity of Dr. McLoughlin, who would accept no pay for fare or merchandise supplied them, and who on at least one occasion gave a substantial purse in aid of the work of the missionaries.
The first to come were the Reverends Jason and Daniel Lee in 1834. On preaching his first sermon at Fort Vancouver. Reverend Jason Lee made the following notation in his diary: "Sunday, 28th Sept.. 1834. A. M. Assayed to preach to a mixed congregation. * * * Am thankful that I have been permitted to plead the cause of God on this side the Rocky Mountains, where the banners of Christ were never before unfurled. Great God, grant that it may not be in vain, but may some fruit appear even from the feeble attempt to labour for Thee."
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On October sixteenth of the following year Reverend Samuel Parker reached Fort Vancouver and was the guest of Dr. McLoughlin. He took up his residence at Fort Vancouver for the winter, and on November 24th. 1835. he visited the falls of the Willamette. He hired eight naked Clough-e-wall-hah Indians to carry the canoe around the falls; climbing to a point of vantage he looked upon the beautiful scene and soliloquized thus—"I can
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