benefit. But I am inclined to think I can make out a case if it shall be deemed proper to make the trial. In such case Broth. Wilson would have to be bought off, but at a low price I assure you if my notions prevail.
Judge Bryant who has just come into the country has promised to write to the man who framed the Oregon Bill in order to ascertain if any light can be thrown on the question from the Original intention of the framers of the bill. 4 Any suggestion or order the Board can give will be in place. The question is not raised here yet, and my thinking is almost entirely to myself. But this question of gaining or holding property is very small in my estimation compared to the importance of more immediately training the intelect and Heart. This can not be effected without money. Our church by preocupancy has an undoubted right to stand upon vantage ground in this particular, but rather than retard the work or prejudice the kindred questions of Education and piety / would lei oil land claims & town sites go to Indians or Speculators in up town lots and throw our cause ta once upon the Community at once for patronage and support. Therefore let not the question of sending a teacher depend on the repurchase of the property. By all means do the one, and 1 think you may safely do the other You are aware that Broth Wilber is not a classical scholar but he is a capable teacher, and the man you send will be successful indeed if he does better with the school than it is now doing or than it has been doing for 7 months past but we cannot spare Broth Wilber and therefore ask for assistance I AM UTTERLY UNABLE TO FILL THE IMPORTANT PULPIT AT OREGON CITY with aay man. we have in the country while Broth Wilber Is i:i the Institute and yet he cannot be removed untill some one is raised up to take his place. At our annual meeting a committee was appointed to correspond with the Board in relation to the Institute the Brethren desired me to be one of that committee. I declined stating that I must white officially and would prefer you should have two communications so that the Board may see our agreement on this question. And here let me say that
4 The misunderstanding growing out of this attempt to hold the property for the school until such time as proper corporation laws would be passed was not settled until many years after this time and caused much hard feeling. This incident has been used by some in an effort to discredit the so-called "Missionary party,'clearly only a bit of prejudice and ill nature when we recall that the entire claim made for Christian education was merely such as a single private family claimed for their own use.
