Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/383

CORRESPONDENCE 365 have had a stated ministry in the place almost five years. 347 Yet all the Baptist preaching they have had has not exceeded thirty-five or forty sermons, and that mostly by myself. I can now sit and enumerate 17 Baptist members in Portland, five of whom are in Br. Failing's family, two in Br. Coe's, our former postal agent, two in Br. Leland's family, the post master of the place and a graduate of Brown's University, and others of respectable standing in Baptist churches in Boston, Cincinnati and San Francisco. But they feel now that they must have a minister on the ground adapted to secure an influence and then they can commence and build a house by the aid of the amount they might receive from the building fund connected with the Home Mission cause. They say it is no use to do anything by way of monthly preaching in other denominations' houses. It is labor bestowed to build up other churches and hold back the very cause most dear to us as Bap- tists. Br. Failing says (and what he says they all say, and I suppose he says what Br. Thomas in your city thinks), that, if the Home Mission Society will send them a suitable man and pay him $600 salary, the people of Portland will do the rest. I say there is no doubt they will pay from $100 to $200. The man should be adapted to carry along at once the work of building a good house of worship. Br. Failing will be active in the work. It would be very desirable that such a man should be appointed as would meet the approbation of Br. Thomas, and especially the approbation of the Lord Jesus Christ. I do not believe such a man can be sustained in that place for less than $800 per annum. Yours, E. FISHER. Respecting Br. Post, I think all things are about right and trust his school will give him a support. This school has aver- aged 40 scholars since the first two weeks. We are finishing the building as fast as we can in these hard times for money, while I am! detained at Oregon City. I shall write you imme- 347 Rev. Horace Lyman, who came to Portland in 1849, was settled there until the spring of 1854. The church building was dedicated on June 15, 1851. George EL Himes.