CORRESPONDENCE 271
July 2d. Preached for Br. Johnson, and after preaching Br. Johnson baptized a sister in the Willamette, a large con- course of citizens witnessing the scene, which was solemnly interesting. In the afternoon visited and addressed the Union S. school. Br. Johnson's meeting house enclosed except win- dows, but yet unpainted.
3rd. Rode 15 miles up the east side of the Willamette to the Molalla River. Visited an anti-missionary Baptist min- ister l6 s ; found him antinomian in doctrine. Spent the night with Br. Cornelius and wife. The plains on this stream (Molalla) are sufficiently large to afford a good settlement. Here are some eight or ten Baptist members and a church will probably soon be constituted. 166
4th. Rode 25 miles through a rolling open country, inter- spersed with prairies. The way lay back of the main French settlement, the Roman stronghold of Oregon. l6 ? Spent the night with a Br. Hunt and family, with whom I became ac- quainted fifteen years ago in Indiana. Br. H. is some ten miles from any other Baptist family of kindred spirit on the subject of Christian enterprise and about twelve miles from Salem. 168 How important that Christians should always, especially in new countries, select their place of residence in reference to their usefulness and Christian privileges.
5th. Rode ten miles to Br. Matlock's, another brother with whom I labored in Indiana, one and a half miles from
165 Possibly Rev. Isom Cranfill. George H. Himes.
1 66 The date of the organization of the Molalla church, the editors have not been able to find. It was admitted to the Willamette Association in 1851 (Minutes of the Association of 1851), but was in existence at least as early as September, 1849, and had been organized after this letter was written, probably in the spring or summer of 1849. Had it been organized by March, 1849, the author would probably have mentioned it in his journal, and it is mentioned in his journal of September, 1849, as having been organized.
167 This French settlement is usually called French Prairie, because first set- tled by French Canadians formerly in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:70.
168 Salem was laid out on lands belonging to the Oregon Institute shortly after the removal of the latter to Salem in 1844. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:222. There had been a settlement there from an earlier date.
