Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/379

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METHODIST REPORTS WILLAMETTE MISSION 329

ary endeavor among the Indians." Brother Perkins, who still remains at his post, writes thus: "The happy seasons we have spent in shouting and rejoicing together over these repenting red men of Oregon, and the days and months of trembling anxiety with which we have followed the wandering, are known only to God. The happiest hours of my poor life have been spent in Oregon, and also my days and weeks of deepest anguish. The trials of an Indian missionary God only knows, and Heaven only can appreciate. But through all

We've shared our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens borne.

Well, you are ready to ask, What will become of the mis- sionary cause? God supports it, sir. All the depart- ments hitherto and all that will take place this year to come, will not materially affect the cause here. The tri- umphs of the Gospel in this country will be no less sure."

To conclude this somewhat extended sketch of the Oregon Mission, we rejoice to be able to say that the Gospel has already triumphed in this field. The mis- sionaries of the cross have "gone forth weeping, bearing precious seed," and they are already "rejoicing" over the sheaves they have gathered for Christ. The mighty truth of salvation by grace, through faith, which was once preached by Paul and his coadjutors throughout Asia, Greece and Italy, now resounds through the exten- sive plains beyond the Rocky Mountains.

This mission still calls for our Christian sympathies, and demands our unabated zeal and untiring efforts in its prosecution. We must continue our Christian efforts in those transmountain regions. Already many of the Indians there have been ensnared by the wily Papists and received baptism at their hands. The Romish priests are constantly strengthening their missionary corps, and making arrangements to extend their operations and in- fluence among these artless children of the forest. Dr.