Letters to Friends

Mt. Idaho May 3rd 1892
Miss Juliet L. Axtell

My darling friend
Only a little note today to send with the enclosed copy of a letter from the Rev. Sam’l Woods, pastor at Lewiston & Chairman of Indian Missions, which speaks for itself. My darlings letter of April 8th about Parsons as pastor to be (D.V.) at Lemhi, reached us after Presbytery and before I had the ‘returns,’ and I answered at once (by a card, I think) its question as to the what salary would support Robert Parsons as settled pastor among the Lemhi Shoshones (D.V.) by telling of the salaries at Umatilla Spokan &c. (That card must have crossed my darlings letter of April 21st I think.) I told Sister of your letter, and of her own accord, she wrote to Mr Woods. I had offered Caleb McAtee for the Spokans to whom he was willing to go, did not think of their (Presbyterys) appointing Parson, or would have said something about him & Lemhi (and of course he knew nothing yet of my darlings letter) Parsons submitted to Presbytery altho he did not want to go to Spokans has always preferred Lemhi, as I wrote. I waited to see Parsons before writing to my darling, and he has been so busy arranging home matters for his family in his absence that, I did not have a talk with him until yesterday. He is only appointed as Stated Supply for six months, until the fall meeting of
Presbytery he says, when he will return home. Silas is given until that meeting of Pres to decide if he will return.
Caleb, I suppose would be still willing to go. I am writing (have a letter partly written) to Mr Woods now. He (Rev. Woods) is Charlie Monteiths pastor, and his tone in regard to the ‘Indian brethren’ has a flavor of Charlie, but he acted very justly to Robert Williams, and as his friend in the last Presbytery, when Archie again brought lying accusation against him (R) and Archie not only failed, but was himself rebuked.
A note from Dr. Ellinwood lately tells us that Rev. Eugene Dunlap of Siam has been appointed to the Nez Perce Mission for a year, So he will soon have the control. I am so glad. Rev. Woods was a teacher until about two years ago, when though he is middle aged or more, he was ordained and installed as pastor of the Lewiston church. Of course he has had very little experience with Presbyteries and none with Indians. There is only peace & harmony in Pastor Williams church. It is the trouble wrought by Archie & Co. in the other churches to which Rev. W. refers. The Board refuses to recognize Archies church or pay him a salary and his at Kamiah.
Rev. Dunlop has been a missionary long enough to understand, and Dr E speaks very highly of him. I am so glad he is coming,though it is to late to save the mistake about Parsons. Parsons will have to go to the Spokans until fall. D.V. He leaves his little
son in the School at Lapwai and will ‘keep house’ himself in the little cabin at Wellpinit to which (and the cold) he would not take his delicate babe he says. We can only pray for him and trust him with God. I do not know if my darling thought of Parsons going to Lemhi permanently this summer. From her last letter I infer not. So that, though we shall miss him among the missionaries to Lemhi this summer, if God wills, we will still think of him should God spare him in health & strength as the pastor for Lemhi when God opens the way for him there, fully. But this is only to send with Rev W’s letter. Our Nez Perce pastor Rev. James Hayes has been appointed by his Presbytery East Oregon as Commissioner to the General Assembly at Portland. I do not know if any other of our Nez Perces will be there. My sister purposes going (D.V.) Miss McB not. Our other Nez Perce Commissioner Felix Corbet and his wife (Susie McBeth Corbet) visited me last week. They seem very happy. He talked much of his visit to Lake Forest. He is walking steadily forward with Robert and our boys. He says that the trouble about his
land has passed away. I supposed thru efforts of Miss Fletcher & friends.
I have not heard anything more of the Monticelo Scholarship but we have not had the Estimates returned to us yet so do not know of the appropriations for the coming year, or of any new plan I have had kind [illegible] brief. They are very busy getting
ready for the General Assembly. I am so glad they will meet our "Nez Perce Commissioners’ there if God wills.
All of our Kamian are on the road to Lapwai today at the summons of the Agent. Something about the cattle of the whites on the reserve they say. Miss Fletcher is expected there every day. But, I must finish this tonight, or risk delay. Sometimes pressing matter comes in to hinder when writing my darling her letters. I will write again soon, D.V. And, my darling please answer this and tell me the delay about Parsons does not disappoint her. It makes no change in his heart or ours to the Lemhis whom our
missionaries hope to see this summer – if God wills. Please give my best love to the dear sisters of the ‘Silver Cross,’ Mrs Rumsey & all her dear ones. God bless them & my darling prays Loving yours

S.L. McBeth

[no date]
Miss Fletcher with Nez P vocab
Words copied by Harry Hayes Nez Perce

Sent by S.L. McBeth to Miss Alice C Fletcher for her Harvard Collection from Nez Perce land. By S.L. McBeth in grateful acknowledgement of her help to the Masters good work done for the Nez Perces and the great help and comfort she has been
given to their missionaries among them who have learned to love her dearly. May God bless her and comfort my dear friend Miss Fletcher her always prays

Lovingly her friend

S.L. McBeth

Mt. Idaho March 25th 1892

My dear Miss Foote
Your kind letter of Jan 29th acknowledging the reciept of my subscription for the Indians Friend has reached me in due time but, as yet the paper had not come. Has it been sent?   In your letter you say that the paper was sent me last year by Miss J. L. Axtell of Lake Forest who I suppose subscribes for me. But not one copy. Miss Axtell is a very dear friend, and, I infer subscribed for the paper but not one copy of it reached me last year. There must be some mistake. It has struck me that perhaps the paper has been by mistake sent to my sister Kate C. McBeth who is stationed among the Nez Perces at Lapwai on the Reservation abt 80 miles from here. Her My address is
Miss S.L. McBeth
Mt. Idaho
Idaho Co
Idaho
Will Miss Foote please be so kind as to see if the paper is sent to this address or only to Miss Kate C. McBeth at Lapwai. I want the paper very much or I would not. Please forgive me but I want the paper very much. Thank you so much for your kind offer of help in they way of boxes [illegible] &c of things which may be of use to my pupils &
their families and we will gladly accept the offer gratefully accept the offer; and turn to you in our need. I suppose the pieces of silk sewing material, patch work &c of which you wrote, has been disp[illegible] of [illegible] If not the wives of my pupils will be very glad to get them through me.
May God bless I thank God for the good work done by the friends of the Indian Rights Association and the Indians Friends – May he give them still greater influence & power to help a race in whom we have such deep interest prays and bless with success all their efforts to help a race in whom we have such deep interest prays in His Name
Lovingly Yours
S.L. McBeth.
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