Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/385

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METHODIST REPORTS WILLAMETTE MISSION 335

prevent the success of our missionaries, should be at once removed.

Our new Superintendent, with his lady, sailed from this port on the 30th of November, 1843, and arrived at Willamette on the first of June, 1844, about ten o'clock P. M. Here they were refreshed and comforted by a most cordial welcome from the missionaries, who were anxiously awaiting their arrival and looking with intense desire for letters from home. The mail was opened, the letters and papers delivered and after partaking of some refreshments they retired to rest a little after midnight. It being the quarterly meeting occasion at that place, our new missionaries had the opportunity of attending a love feast the next morning, which seems to have made a favorable impression on their minds in relation to the piety of the members of the mission.

On Monday morning June 3rd, Brother Gary called a council of the brethren who were present on this occa- sion, both preachers and laymen. These consisted of D. Leslie, G. Hines, A. F. Waller, G. Abernethy, A. Beers and H. Campbell. After solemn and earnest prayer for the divine guidance and blessing, Brother Gary proceeded to lay before them the object of his appointment and a summary of the instructions and suggestions which he had received from the Board of Managers and the Bishop having charge of Foreign Missions. He also requested from them any and all such information as would enable him to form just and accurate views of the state and prospects of the mission; and also to decide understand- ingly upon such changes as it might be found necessary to make. To this request they replied in substance, that since the arrival of the emigrants from the States last autumn considerable jealousy had been manifested to- ward the mission. This, it was represented, grew out of the fact that the mission had laid claim to several im- portant sections of land in different places, which they did not occupy themselves nor allow others to occupy.