Mt. Idaho May 12^th 1887
Rev. T. M. Boyd

Your postal in regard to the $46.00 has reached me (advanced by Miss McB for expenses of Parsons & Moses to Presbytery.). Many thanks for all your kindness and help to McB and our boys. They have returned very much pleased with their trip. Parsons had been to Moscow, but it was the first good glimpse of Moses into the outside world, and has given them both a long stride in advance. I want them and the best of my pupils to attend the Presbytery at Lapwai, as many as care. I am so glad of the ‘Committee’ to have the ‘oversight’ of the Nez Perce workers and that Mr Boyd is of that Committee.

Of course Miss McB is awaiting prayerfully the result of the meeting of Presbytery at Lapwai, and the disposition of ‘forces’ so big with fate for us too. Can you do anything, think you for the Crows and the Shoshones? Forgive me but I think Miss McB could scarce be at rest with those two tribes, at least, still without the Gospel, especially the Crows – the old friends and allies of the Nez Perces of whom our boys have talked so much. It was for them and such as they that four ministers of her 2^nd class (Peter Lindsley, Silas Whitman, Enoch Pond, & William Wheeler) were trained as Evangelists, (not pastors for the more enlightened Nez Perces) our younger boys to follow, in the changed conditions, which we hope awaits the race. (Dr Lowrie knew of my hopes all along.)

That class (Moses was of that 2^nd class), but an interruption of some years in his studies, threw into this. He was in the ‘Buffalo Country’ fighting the heredity enemies of the Nez Perces, when the Gospel came to the Nez Perces here, and through so young had nearly ‘won this spurs’ for his bravery. My hope was (is) to have him go back to those same tribes. All save James Hayes were full grown heathen when the Gospel reached them; knew how a heathen felt, and how best to reach them, could command the respect of the wild tribes for age (all under about 30 or 35 are "only boys" to them, knew something of the language of some of those tribes, were childless, or with children grown – save Willam and James – so that they were ‘foot loose’ as Evangelists among the wild tribes; knew (and some of the if need be could preach in) the wonderful ‘sign language’ common to all the tribes between here ad the Rocky Mts, too of the ‘Chinook’ common to the tribes between here and the Pacific. The younger Nez Perces know little of either; and a knowledge of these or of the language of the tribes is needed to reach the adult heathen of this generation more than a knowledge of English speaking (though I would be so glad if they held that too.) All through the years when that 2^nd class were studying if Mr Boyd had been with us, he would have heard: "When you go to the Crows’ (or the Shoshones) tell them ___________" and from our boys: "When we go to the Crows _________&c."

When Miss McB visited our boys at Umatilla, some years ago, she started from there to Spokan Falls purposing to visit the Crow Reservation, if the NPRR which goes through or near the Crow Reserve was finished our boys at Umatilla eagerly desiring it; teaching her more of the sign language & to put her into communication with their old friends. But she founds at the Falls that the R.R. would not be finished for some weeks, to our boys great disappointment. (Silas told me lately that a Crow Chief had come, on that R.R. to Umatilla seeking his old friends the Nez Perces hoping that it (the R.R.) reached their Reserve, but found it did not come nearer than Umatilla – perhaps 100 miles and returned home. I do not know if the story is true. Silas has so changed, through Archie’s influence) More than nine years ago came the call to my first class from the Shoshones: "Come, and tell us about these things." (the Gospel). "We want to them too."

Miss McB was so in hopes that in the changes this spring, some move would be made in the direction of those tribes. Peter Lindsley lived a year among the Crows, if I remember rightly and, I think, shared their rations, or annuities. Save the cost of travel there the expense of support would perhaps, be no greater there than among the Nez Perces, and there are three of four thousand Crows (the predatory "mountain Crows’ and those on the Reserve, the latter our boys say, more like the Nez Perces than are any other Indians) without a minister while the little Nez Perce tribe is crowded. But enough. Forgive this plea before Mr D. leaves us for those who have lain on my heart so long.

Of course this letter (i.e. about the Crows &c) is to Mr D. too (if Mr Boyd will be so kind.) Our boys say that he (Mr D) was to start on June 2 for his tour of the churches shortly after his return, and a letter might not reach him beofre Presbytery, and Mr Boyd will see him there. (D.V.) It is needless to say that Mr D does not go home with Miss McBs consent. I was so in hopes he would feel it his duty to remain where so much is waiting to be done among the tribes beyond even tho he has known so much sorrow here. But he alone (with God) must decide.

(I wish he could take two of the 4 ‘pioneers’ to the Crow Reserve and if he can do no better (with the consent of the Agent there) leave them, putting them under the care of the nearest Presbytery. Not practicable? I want, so much a Crow Indian among my pupils & Shoshones and one or two Spokans. Our boys have written of three Spokan men who would like to come and study. Samuel Boyd and George Jacob (Wellpinit) and Charlie Abraham (Deep Creek). Peter has since written that Charlie had fallen into sin.

Would Mr D, when he goes to the Spokanes (D.V.) please see about them, and select one or two of them to come next fall if God should spare us, and prosper us.

S. L. McBeth

"If you instate the ‘pioneers’ as pastors where are the pioneers when the Board is ready to sent them? The one chosen by the Lapwians (Peter Lindsley) is the most gifted of them all as an Evangelist while he has scarcely a pastoral qualification. He was young enough for 10 or 15 years of good pioneer work, God willing, & our younger boys to follow as pastors we hoped fitted to meet the changed needs, if God wills.

S.L. McB

Since this was written, Miss McB has sent word, by William, to the Spokans Samuel & George to work hard, and gather all the money they could this summer (They are good men but very poor (work saturdays & in vacations with white farmers near us would ‘help them to help themselves and teach them ) William says and come to her, God willing, in Sept. prepared to enter school Oct 1^st D.V.

If Miss McB could afford it she would visit the Crow Reserve this summer D.V. or send Robert who had a letter, last fall from a Crow – a returned school boy, he thinks. The Crows know R well. One or two men and their wives (families) from the Crows & other tribes would be enough at first while it is an experiment (tested successfully with the Nez Perce.) Then the design of the school as Miss McB understands it being to try with Gods help to raise up a native ministry and trained Elders as at K who will be the leaders in a Christian civilization too. The object is not number of men (Miss McB never cared for numbers only for results of work. One carefully selected, and thoroughly taught as a leader is more profitable (she thinks) than if the same time and strength were ‘scattered over half a dozen.

Her hopes of reaching pupils from the Shoshones, Crows &c was through the ‘pioneers’ D.V. (as the Spokans through William). Or if Mr D should accompany the pioneers there through him perhaps. He knowing nothing of the sign language or the people, or they of him would need one of our boys (Moses Monteith is the only one of my present class who understands well, the sign language & some of the wild tribes.)

Dear friends of the Board, is there no hope of the extension of the Nez Perce Mission into these two tribes at least? (the Crows and the Shoshones, ‘preempted’ long ago) if the good news is true that the ‘debt’ which perhaps was the hindrance is removed. Forgive this plea of Miss McB for those who have ‘lain upon her heart for so long’ and who are passing away uncared for in heathen darkness in a land of Gospel light and with a wide open door to send that Gospel to them. In the hope of, and prayer to the Master for that sending,
Yours truly

S.L. McBeth