In the Upper Columbia by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 2, 1908

In the Upper Columbia

By W. A. S.

ABOUT 1831 four Indians of the Upper Columbia valleys made a long journey to St. Louis, to learn if it were true, as they had heard, that the white men had a better religion than the Indians. It was this visit of genuine inquiry after a better way that led to the sending of missionaries into the Oregon country. And the missionaries were among the pioneers of the new Northwest.

Riding from Seattle to Portland, I had as fellow passenger an old lady, hale and hearty, who came to these parts with the associates of Whitman, the missionary who led the advance into the upper Oregon country. She told of the rapid changes that had come,—instead of scattered Indian villages, now populous cities; and where once she made the slow journey into Washington by ox-team, fording rivers with the water-tight wagon-box as a boat, now railway systems have opened the entire country.

Our own work has made rapid growth, and it is the day of large camp-meetings in the Northwest. The Upper Columbia meeting was at Spokane, and the Lord blessed the believers. The campers raised about thirteen hundred dollars to

finish their share of the Walla Walla College debt, and without a doubt that institution will very soon hold its jubilee meeting. The school is a strong missionary factor, and many of its students will doubtless soon be out in mission fields.

The brethren of the Upper Columbia believe in the missionary advance. They approved of the gift of four thousand dollars from the tithe to mission fields, and added to it something over thirteen hundred dollars in cash and pledges. In this conference there have been no intermediate schools to pass the young people from the church-school to the college. At the camp-meeting it was voted to start three intermediate schools, to be financed locally. This means some stalwart lifting in the three sections represented. This is a land of long distances, and it was felt that the needs could best be supplied by three small intermediate school plants.

All these steps mean the rapid development of workers. Our young people are pushing into the book and periodical and evangelistic work, and with eyes upon the fields are aiming at a quick preparation for service. The reinforcements are on the way to relieve many an outpost in the mission fields.

In the meantime I am sure we shall hear from this prosperous and fertile Northwest in the way of strong support for missions. For what other purpose than to advance his blessed cause does the Lord place those who know this truth in possession of fertile acres? The only use we have for any resource; of strength, or time, or means, is to devote it to the finishing of the work of God that at last is to win the triumph in our day.

The Advent people are surely coming into line for the closing work. Everywhere there is a reviving and re-awakening to the issues of the hour. The day of the Lord’s power has come, and he is making his people willing.

W. A. S.