Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/270

258 REVEREND EZRA FISHER The meeting closed without any formal action in relation to the amount necessary to his salary, but I will be respon- sible that $100 will be raised toward his salary in this place; perhaps $150. Now our case is a most urgent one. We have never had but little pastoral labors performed in Oregon City. The fact that our school is located here demands the labors of an effective man every day in the place, who may be always ready to co-operate with the teacher by counsel and action. Since Brother Chandler left, nothing has been done by way of sustaining the Sabbath school, except what is done in the school room at the hour, and when I am absent, which is about three-fourths of the time, the male department is some- times left without any teacher. . . In view of all our circumstances, we must have a minister, acceptable to be sure as a preacher, but a practical, pious, common sense pastor. The Congregational church has such a man here, 338 the Methodists will keep such a man here, the Episcopalians will soon have such a man here and the Baptists must have such a man here, if they sustain no other pastor in the Territory. Taking everything into account, this is the first appointment that should be filled, if I do not greatly err in judgment. I think you should appoint a man with a salary of $700, $100 of which the church will pay. . . . Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER. Received Nov. 29, 1853. Oregon City, O. Ten, Jan. 2d, 1854. To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. Dear Brother : Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint- ment of the Home Mission Soc. as General Itinerant for the 3d quarter ending Dec. 31st, 1853. I have labored 13 weeks during the quarter; preached 15 sermons; delivered ten lec- tures on temperance and to the young in Sabbath schools and 338 Dr. G. H. Atkinson was the Congregationalist. Geo. H. Himes.