390 EZRA FISHER
I will answer partly your proposed questions. I verily be- lieve the enterprise is of God and trust he will prosper it and fondly hope the time is not distant, when we shall see churches in Oregon able and ready to sustain the gospel and even carry it to others. Your Board will readily see that I can give you no definite answer. I am willing to confide that matter to the wisdom and integrity of the Board, when they shall have learned the true state of the cause by an actual survey of the field.
I should hope never to encumber the cause of missions with any obligation to support my family, while my labours are un- profitable. As soon as we can open the way for our support in Oregon, it will be our greatest pleasure to see your Board directing their aid to other and more destitute fields. As it relates to remittance after the expiration of the first year, should your Board think it for the honour of the cause to continue my services, I think, were you to permit us to make drafts at the expiration of each semi-annual report on your treasurer, or on yourself, we could sell those drafts by endorsing them our- selves, as I understand there is a merchant from Boston doing business at Oregon City at the falls of the Willamette. 72
Yours, E. F. . . .
Rock Island, 111., Jan. 10, 1845. Rev. B. M. Hill,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc. Dear Brother :
In my quarterly report of December 16th I promised to write you soon and give the Board in brief my views of the plan of our future operations in Oregon, should God graciously per- mit us to labor in that field.
We expect to find our field of labor, so far as our denomi- nation is concerned, in an entirely new and unformed state; we shall consequently find everything to do or things will be
72 This is possibly a reference to F. W. Pettygrove, the Oregon City agent of A. G. and A. W. Benson. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:417, 422.
Money could also have been sent by Hudson Bay Company's drafts.
