Mt. Idaho Dec. 24^th 1890

Kate – dear Sister
I must scribble as fast as possible – with these long letters to Dr. Ellinwood & Dr Gunn which should have been on their way long ago not yet begun & pressing.

My blanks &c for Robert for Summary Report for 1890 (like that sent to you) came, as usual, in Oct – and I have not been able to touch it yet. Robert is to come (D.V.) after New Years to Report for himself and help me. But, I have to write to Dr Gunn before anybody can report correctly on Kamiah church (Roberts). According to ‘Presbyterial Law & Usage there is no other church there. Is this the first time those blanks have been sent you? I thought they had been coming all the time, as to me. Probably they were sent to Mr D at Lapwai. I am so glad they have come to you and that you are taking hold of them – for the sake of the other churches &c &c.

I was about to write to Mr D for sal Reports of salaries of the other ministers for 1890, fund in treasury &c when he reached into my school to take away Parsons for the Spokans, & take Emma away from school, and send her & children back to Billy’s and it would not have been best perhaps for me to write to Mr D then so I asked you to get salary reports &c from him &c and wrote you . No no to your questions ‘if you should ask Archie for report of his new church. Don’t touch that church Kate to Archie or Indian, or Mr D or you will do mischief & hurt. Not one word remember. Dr. E has written to Mr D to make full statement of the Kamiah matter? Not one word to Mr D about anything – save salaries & supporters of native ministers - treasury &c. I never reported my school to Mr D or anyone – but to the NY Board directly always – No one can report my school, or my work, or the Kamiah church (linked inseparably with my school) except myself; and you may be very sure, both school & Kamiah, are very fully reported.

I send some statistics to you simply to help fill out your report. They are all of Mt I & K which you need. "Harry Hayes’ is Mr Ds own report, not mine. The Board understands – but you see how mistakes come from those who do not understand. So simply write in your report of Mt I & Kamiah church – what I send in this letter of statistics: That is all you need.

I am glad Dr E sent you the blanks, because it looks like the doing without Mr D in the Nez P mission to which he has caused such hurt & loss & hindrance – Robert & James Hayes would have been reporting directly to the Board years ago and could.

The ‘deaf & dumb’ (English) pioneer Evangelists, Peter, Silas, W. Wheeler, Enoch, whom he placed as pastors will still need to be reported by somebody. So you will have Lapwai, North Fork, Wi [illgible] to report. I am glad you are there & with leisure to do it. Send to James Hayes for his report too this once. I hope he will not again have to reach the Board thro others.

If the Board wishes you to become treasurer I do not know why you should not for Native Ministers & licentiates who cannot do it for themselves. I was Mission treasurer until some time after Mr D came. Of course you would have nothing to do with Mt Idaho and only to send quarterly check to Robert for Parsons too.

Moses came back from the hunt and went straight to Archie - whom he has been helping preach & work ever since. Never entered Roberts church once – refused to go to Spokans at first but went for the big salary.

Silas has not ‘watsu shapakut’ preaching, is helping Archie in the new church. Silas has only ‘resigned’ the jurisdiction of Presbytery obeys Archie alone. The plan of work is plainly seen: Silas is to be placed in charge of the new church as soon as matters are all arranged at Kamiah. Then Archie goes to Lapwai – if Peter can be brought to resign or worked out by that time Peter (& every one) sees this, and Peter knows there is no civil protection from for him, or help from Presbytery. There is strong, secret-work going on there these days – P. knows too, doubtless that his Elders go to Miss M^cBeth with their stories & complaints against their pastor. If you only had on and take away & distribute Miss Kates words, I do not wonder he is discourage & weak. Help him Kate

And Kate – that fussing about ‘the Methodists’ to Dr Gunn and other was what caused Presbytery to authorize or recognize that new church at Kamiah. Dr Gunn wrote me after Pres. that Presbytery saw fit to authorize the organization of that church – rather "considering was better to hold and control so large a congregation rather than have them go to the some other denomination' Dr E says '‘The Methodists.'’ That Methodist Scare was a very sharp trick of Archie & Co and they are playing the very same trick with Miss Kate again at Lapwai (tho is has done her good about her house) to get Presbytery to '‘authorize’ the building of a new church at Lapwai "to keep the Methodist from getting so large a congregation from us there. I am very doubtful [illegible] of your weak backed Elders coming so often with complaints. Watch yourself & help Peter. The K Christians are sorry for him. You do not know all. I never was the least afraid of the Methodists. There is no money for native preachers from the Methodists. There never was – is not - the least danger from the Methodists. Mr Maxey the ME minister at Grangeville told me long ago and again a few days ago after the visit of his Presiding Elder that the Methodists had not (never), had the least intention of coming on the Nez P reserve to work. That, when the Inds were distributed to the Churches Grant gave the Nez Perce to the Presbyterians, and the M.E. had no intention of coming or working up it – tho Johan &c had petitioned Conference. This Lewiston M.E. is not appointed but is being ‘manipulated’ by the ‘sharp clique, he being weak backed). He will have (has) no authority or support from the whit M.E. church. Mr Maxey understands the ‘clique’ and their object, and his P. Elder also knows) will not touch Nez P-s

I have been so hindered and am writing at night again, ruining my eyes. I cannot give another of these precious days to this letter. Billy, Parsons, Emma, the children started for Kamiah Xmas today, the last. The others went yesterday. (I am glad you gave Billy flannels to change the warm, new red flannel ones I had give him.) He says the K Christians are looking on in wonder to see some of Benjamin church (even heathen) as they come in from the hunt, quietly slipping into their old places in Roberts church – not going near Archies. The one member – a woman – whose name Mr D took from Roberts church has stopped Archie & sits sabbaths in her house, longing to come back, but afraid they will not take her (her husband – a forged name on the list tho excommunicated would not leave Robert). This women is the only one who has come for her name. Do not breathe that to Mr D or a Reservation white or an Indian – remember or you will do great hurt. After a while D.V. I will tell you - not now – only you must keep me posted about movements at Lapwai.

I am glad the Portland gifts came in time. But I must not have such worry again (D.V.) I managed to scribble a note to the Northern New York Board and enough for a small tree came in time – so that with what you sent - there will be abundance.

Did you recieve my letter about floor Oil Cloth? Vollmer sent me oil cloth which somebody must have ordered for me and he returned change for the check I sent you for it - and Willie brought over the oil cloth today – a bright - blazing nigger yellow which I suppose they could not sell readily in Lewiston. But Willie had to take it back to the store again. My eyes could not endure it. It hurt them & it was so very ugly.

My pupils & families were invited by the Mt I people to participate with them in the Xmas Tree here tonight. But K needs them more to help the Christians there to thank God. Pray that God will be with them there in these Christmas times by His Spirit. Communion is next Sabbath D V.

The promised minister for Mt I not here yet. And I wanted him so much to help me as Mr Nelson last year. I hope he will come soon. My boys are so glad of the school for their wives (Charlotte here too) and Mrs Shearer is succeeding well with the woman. They like her & she is so interested in them. But that is enough by candlelight. Write to Mr D simply business at once please &, send report of salaries &c &c to me - tho you must report the whole Report of Lapwai & North F with W [illegible] I am so glad you are there to do it. Put down what statistics of Kamiah church & Mt Idaho schools which I send in this - I send them simply to fill help fill out your blanks – But that is all I al This letter to Dr E –s to Dr Gunn must first be written. Then full report of Kam. When R comes D.V. to Dr E himself. But you send on Reports of your own, whenever you have them ready. It is a good idea to file letters if you can - for reference. It saves mistakes.

Help me to thank God for the Kamiah ‘Outlook’ of Roberts church which Billy & others brought me. I cannot write more now. Try to get, and keep a hold on Peter. Kate & help him all you can. No doubt many words from you are carried to him to separate.

God guide you, always and give you wisdom & all things needed! by His Spirit prays

Sister Sue