CORRESPONDENCE

97

general view of the relative importance of that country in three or four weeks. My present impressions are that the Baptist cause in that region is not suffering so much for

more populous parts Here we have numbers of organized church, which must be visited occasionally, and of settlements where churches might be constituted if they

the want of immediate attention as the

of

Oregon and

California are.

could have the encouragement of preaching four Sabbaths in a year, and for want of which labors our members are lying still or joining Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterian churches. I visited Salem on my return from Find Salem, the capital Pleasant Butte Church last week.

either

of the Ter., with a population of about 1200 souls, with a Methodist Episcopal church and a good house of worship,

a Protestant Methodist church and house nearly finished, an Episcopal house completed and a Congregational church and

Found but five Baptist members in the house completed. and them who can be considered permanent. but one of place There are two members probably permanently located two miles from the town who wish to promote the cause in town. The whole surrounding country is settled mostly on The place must have a section claims one mile square. There is doubt no but a man if sent there rapid growth. call a small congregation around him, and supported would if his talent were popular and piety undoubted, with good, sound common sense, and he might hope to see his congregation increase with the growth of the place. Besides, a good substantial, efficient minister located there would do good service through the whole surrounding country with .

its

four Baptist churches.

Salem

certainly

should not be

Some aid no doubt could long neglected by your Society. be obtained from the surrounding churches towards sustainan

minister in that place. Yet most of a would have to come from home, and it would require from $600 to $800 to give a family of ordinary I have no doubt but the expenditure size an annual support. for such an appointment would be judicious, if your Board

ing

effective

minister's

salary