CHAPTER V
1834—1845
THE ERA OF EVANGELISM—THE AGITATION OF HALL J. KELLEY—THE QUEST OF THE FLATHEADS FOR THE "BOOK OF HEAVEN"—THE COMING OF JASON LEE—THE MARCUS WHITMAN PARTY—THE CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES—DE SMET, THE GREAT APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS, ANSWERS THE CALL OF THE FLATHEADS—THE RIVALRIES AND WORKS OF THESE MEN—THEIR SERVICES TO OREGON AND THE NATION.
It is now seventy-eight years since Jason and Daniel Lee (Methodists), the first Christian missionaries to Oregon, entered the Oregon country to carry out their unselfish work of Christianizing the native Indians. The Lees were followed by Rev. Samuel Parker (Congregationalist) in 1835; by Dr. Marcus Whitman and wife, H. H. Spalding and wife, and W. H. Gray (all Presbyterians) in 1836; Rev. David Leslie and wife (Methodists) in 1837; Rev. Elkanah Walker and wife and Cushing Eells and wife (Congregationalists) in 1838; Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet, vicar-general, and Rev. Modeste Demers (Catholic priests) in 1838; and Peter John De Smet in 1840. These were the pioneer missionaries. Others came after them. The Methodists were specially active, the Methodist general missionary board in the eastern states sending out in 1840 the ship Lausanne, with a large and well equipped force, consisting of Rev. J. H. Frost and wife; Rev. Gustavus Hines and wife; Rev. W. H. Kone and wife; Rev. A. F. Waller and wife; Rev. J. P. Richmond, M. D., and wife; Dr. T. L. Babcock, physician, and wife; George Abernethy (missionary steward 1 and wife; W. W. Raymond (farmer) and wife: L. H. Judson, cabinet maker, and wife; J. L. Parrish (blacksmith) and wife; James Olley (carpenter) and wife; Hamilton Campbell (carpenter) and wife; Miss C. A. Clark, teacher; Miss Elmira Phelps, teacher; Miss Orpha Lankton, stewardess; Miss A. Phillips, Thomas Adams, an Indian boy and seventeen little children. Along with this company of preachers, teachers, artisans and farmers were sent machinery for the erection of flouring mills, saw mills and all necessary implements for agriculture and house building in a new country, together with a large stock of miscellaneous merchandise. Of this missionary expedition the Catholic bishop of Oregon, who was here when the ship arrived, is said to have remarked: "No missionaries were ever dispatched to represent the various sects in any land under more favorable auspices than were the ladies and gentlemen of the Methodist Episcopal church in the wilds of Oregon." The total expense of the expedition cost the Methodist missionary board in New York the sum of $42,000; and the good ship sailed twenty thousand miles—nearly around the globe—to land its unexampled cargo at its appointed destination. Nothing equal to it was ever witnessed before or since in the history of missions by any church. It is a fair illustration to say that the Lausanne was to the Pacific coast in 1840 what the Mayflower was to the Atlantic coast in 1620.
113
