318 CHARLES HENRY CAREY
Lee, from which we learn that the affairs of the mission are in a prosperous state, and that the brethren with their families have been assigned to their several fields of labor. The regular annual report not being ready at the time of this vessel's sailing, is now on its way, by the land express over the Rocky Mountains and will probably reach us soon. For want of it, however, we are unable to give accurately the statistics of the mission and are obliged to content ourselves with a probable estimate.
The unbelief which seemed to pervade many minds in relation to the expediency of the large appropriation necessary for founding this expensive mission in view of our embarrassed treasury, has all been dissipated by the extraordinary success of the Gospel as reported to us during the year. The news from Oregon that a re- vival of religion in that mission had resulted in the con- version of many hundreds of the Indians, seemed to give a new impulse to the prayers and liberality of our entire church fellowship. And notwithstanding the tens of thousands of dollars which have been already expended in its establishment, and the heavy expense which must still be incurred in its support, there can be little doubt, from the interest now everywhere felt in behalf of Ore- gon, and the missionary zeal the success of this mission has already inspired among our ministry and member- ship that every dollar expended or demanded for its sup- port will soon be refunded into our treasury as the fruit of our appeals in its behalf. Instead of hundreds of Indians we hope soon to report thousands and tens of thousands gathered into the fold of Christ, when the fires of civilization and the lights of Christianity shall every- where illuminate the shores of the Pacific Ocean and re- flect their holy beamings until the darkness of heathenism shall be driven from that portion of our western conti- nent, and the light shine upon the very summit of the Rocky Mountains.
