Oct 6^th 1884
Rev.G. L. Deffenbaugh

Dear brother
Do you remember my late ‘prophesy’ that Jimmy Lawyer would get hold of P? It is already fulfilled. An experience (what an experience!) of eleven years of the Lawyers enables me, so often, to predict their movements with almost unfailing certainty. P returned from packing one saturday evening after you was here, preached here and up the river on sabbath; came to see me early monday morning; could only stay a little while, he said, he had so much work to do at home after his long absence. The next day or the day after, he and his wife leaving home work &c started with Jimmy Lawyer, his Js wife) and sister, P and his wife on a hunting expedition. P had no word, or thought apparently of such a movement when I saw him. I cannot tell how it was effected with him. I only know that an exactly similar movement was effected with F last July though the Lawyer women, and Jimmy’s nephew operating on Fs in his absence – I told you, I think how Jimmy’s Cayuse son-in-law had been ‘shadowing’ P especially since the trouble caused between him and one of my other pupils. (I write only initials of my pupils names to Dr L because it would make them ashamed and grieved if they know that Dr Lindsley whom they so venerate and trust and pray for knew of such things)

I had told P that he could study this winter, and he was to go to Robert, as I told you, and was to carry Mr Ds message to him, but was taken off (by Jimmy) in another direction. (Of course P had lost his desire or purpose of study when he returned from the hunt with Jimmy and was not in school this winter – as soon as J knows of a prospect of a new pupil entering – efforts are invariability set a foot to hinder them from doing so)

Jummy was in such haste to get away with his prey that he left his dying grandchild – his only childs’ only child. It was buried that same week. P purposed before starting to be back in time to go to Lapwai with Robert and the other licentiates. But it is within the possible compass of the Lawyer band, he will be kept away until it is too late. God only can interpose now.

No stone is being left unturned, no means untried by the Lawyers to prevent P from being ordained and sent to North Fork, and to have Jim Hines ordained and placed there instead; work on P, work at N.F. and it may be work at Lapwai (Lapwai is a strategic point, or Archie would not voluntarily have taken up his residence there – when his home is here).  With Archie at Lapwai, Jimmy here, James Hines their tool (as J Montieth could have told you he was of their father) at North Fork; and the Cayuse son in law to work among the Umatillas they can then work ‘all along the line.’ In some of the stories which have reached P I recognize Archies hand, others are from women Lawyers.

Jimmy father in law as a N. Fork chief as perhaps you know. His band is there – three women (‘tinum’) work with Jim Hines. The women helping the Lawyers to compass Marks ruin, accomplished last fall just in time to prevent his liscensure. Their fear of rivalery then was of Mark; now it seems to be P. (Mark – the brightest pupil I have ever had was buried last New Years day a year ago from consumption, contracted in his sinful wanderings, came back to the fold before his death)

About two days after Jimmy and party left A came to me in great trouble. You know something of his story – Briefly now: He had just returned from a long search (urged by his wife) for the orphan child of his brother among the Snake Indians, and wanted to begin his studies. But his wife, a Umatilla, and Mrs Jimmys most intimate friend was determined to go on a long visit to the Umatillas; had packed up all ready to start in the morning. Nothing could stop her. If he did not go with her she would go alone she told him. There was nothing to call her to the Umatillas he said. They were there last June. He did not know why she was so determined to go and it made him suspicious of her "I have two minds" he said. "One is to let her go alone, and then let her live in a different house from me when she comes back. The other is go with her to the Us and leave her with them." Her U friends are heathen and Catholics. ‘No’, I said ‘You must not do either. In what a strange place am I placed – to see my boys hindered and led into temptation, or cause trouble between them and their wives. Since they left I have heard repeatedly

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…is true then the talk of As wife about the Umatillas was a ruse to get her husband started (knowing his distrust of Jimmy and his objections to her intimacy with his wife) perhaps to be taken on from the hunt to the Us if other efforts to separate him from or keep him out of school are not successful. A & wife returned with Jimmy &c – long after Ps return. God helped me with P though he was hindered long in the fall he is still in school. God only knows what is before him. (In order to understand: Last fall a year ago, under pretext of his wife’s wishing to attend school – she never had shewn the least desire to study before- Jimmy Lawyer who lives about two miles distant, on the other side of the river, moved to within little more than a stone’s throw of my school and the church and spent the winter in trying to ‘make a road for Archie in to the church.’ As one who was helping him to work expressed it- giving me a new experience – trouble inside my school, lack of harmony among my pupils; trouble almost division in the session – [three member of it are my pupils] – Only God knows al the story of those months of trouble; as He only helped up. The ‘road’ was not opened. School not broken up or church divided. But I do not think I could have lived through another year.)

Mr D can perhaps imagine the troubled days and nights of their teacher with these two of our boys in the clutches of those who wrought the ruin of M and of P. Even if P should return in time to go to Lapwai, he must go without preparation. If the efforts of the Lawyers were to gain, honestly, power and influence that they might advance the people, and advance the Masters Cause among them, I would held (as I would have helped) them gladly. But their efforts are as they have always been to hinder the advance (enlightenment) of the people – or lead them back in order to regain their own old heathen power – using that power and influence for their own selfish aims in every possible way to hinder my school (the schools) to keep the wives of my pupils out of school and so hinder them (my pupils) and secure for their won women the sole benefit of the Womans School (as last Spring) reaching and hindering my pupils through their wives.

I write all this that Mr D may understand clearly, and help us – if he can. Is there any help for us – save God? Some of our boys as P are under the care of Presbytery; others as my pupil Elders are connected with it, as Archie is or will be, for whose sake my pupils must be hindered lest they get in advance of him, or be gotten out of the way. But Archie will be very careful not to committ

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...reach him. And it would be impossible to convict him if he did – As I said of Jimmy ‘You cannot get hold of him. There is no place from which he cannot work himself out. He works ‘peloits’ (secretly or under cover) though others (as for instance in his "master stroke" thorough Elder Paul (and Noah, years ago and through Jimmy who is one in work with him.

But Jimmy is not connected with Presbytery. 2 years ago when the session here attempted to discipline him (as he had earned not once, but many times). The session is no check to him, they fearing not him, they could have managed him then but further rebuke. He & they feeling that he was shielded from them; he growing bolder by impunity until now, the session here is no restraint to him.

He works ‘kiyi kiyi (with sublety) ‘pelait’ through others - his women, his band – through whom it would be impossible for even Presbytery to convict him. Could Archie be given to understand that whatever hindrance or hurt is worked to school or Church with his (As) connivance, or he not trying to prevent Presbytery will hold him accountable? Will Mr D help us when he can before he leaves? Dear brother, I am pleading not for Miss McB but for our boys, and the Masters Cause through them in the K. church.

There is one way by which Mr D can help us very much now; by teaching the lesson, practically, that all their efforts to lead astray P (one of our boys) or keep him away from Lapwai when the "Council meets, in order that by his absence they might secure the ordination of Jim Hines which would give Archie two votes in Pres. &c &c availed nothing as far as accomplishing their object in the ordination of James Hines was concerned. Their failure in this would help (perhaps) to check a little further plottings, and efforts against our boys.

They have had time to work an unanimous vote for Jehosphat (North Fork) although the first, unbiased vote of the majority of the N.F. people was for P. Archie had time to coach J. as far as he is able to do so.

A late, incidental remark of Mr D causes the fear of that ordination of J. H. to trouble me! Dear brother – please do not mistake. When Miss McB made the solemn protest last spring against James Hines ordination (as once, against Archie’s) Archie Lawyer had not come into the question. Nor had [missing] either to her mind. That protest would stand the same even if the Lawyers or P were not in existence. Nor is it a personal matter with Miss McB. It was (is) because his teacher who knows him (D.V.) better than any other can. He is so subservient to those through whom favors reach, or may reach him) knows his utter unfitness for the sacred office.

He is only a good natured, gossipy old man at the best: with no lack of words (in the pulpit or out of it) but with little mental ability – save to work out what others plan. He was too old a man when the Gospel reached him; too old a man when he began to study; though from having been so long associated as a ‘packer’ with white packers when he was young, he learned to read (articulate) the English better than P, S. &c. may ever be able to do. If I ad seen signs of promise in him, I would have continued him in his studies, notwithstanding his age. They tell me that from weakness or partial loss of voice, he is, at times, now on the list of the disabled. But that does not come into his teachers protest. He knows nothing of Church Government from Confession of Faith. In the about 3 1/2 years when I taught him I did not commanded enough of the language to teach him (it). He understands little of the Bible (i.e. not translated) for the same reason. He is only a ‘blind’ leader.

Just before W & S went to the Umatillas I had to send world to him to stop preaching that ‘there were horses – literal – in heaven’ (From Rev. I suppose. My sister heard of it at Lapwai, Others heard it elsewhere. It seemed to be his favorite sermon, chiming in with their old traditions and just suiting the tastes of so many of his hearers. Making him pastor of North Fork shuts out that people from even occasional visits of others who might teach them aright. Forgive my pleading for the North Fork, people now, but I must, or not be guiltless for I was the means through which J.H. reached a place from whence it were possible; Although I told the one who took him (and Archie away for licensure very plainly about them both.)

S.L. McB