Kamiah, March 31, 1884
Rev. J.C. Lowrie

Dear Sir
Your blank for ‘Summary Reps’ reached me some time ago, and I begin to answer it soon. I will not weary Dr Lowrie with the story of hindrances, only that a ‘spell’ of these troublesome eyes and the many calls (both from pupils and people) on my time, outside of school hours and school days, gave me no earlier day when I could have written it. And I must write hastily now.

I have ‘reported’ my school so fully from time to time to Dr Lowrie and Mr Rankin. Robert told me when I applied to him for statistics outside of it (and yet so inside of it) that Mr D had sent to him for statistics of the Kamiah church, to send to you sometime previously. He gave me the enclosed statistics of the earlier date then. The Communion season occurring since. I had him give me the statistics (of communicants &c) now and both, giving a ‘birds eye view’ of Kamiah. I do not know from what date the ‘year’ begins. Dr L will know which date to use. Will Dr Lowrie be so kind as to take from the ‘views’ what he thinks best from the ‘Summary Report?’

A few words of explanation:
1^st ‘Kamiah’ includes – as always – the small settle of Willihp about 16 miles from here.
2^nd The statistics taken of No. present in Church & S.S. one Sabbath after the Sum. Rep. came is about the average for the year, I think. In inclement weather it is somewhat less. In pleasant weather, Robert tells me there are often 400 present in Church. (Communion seasons I do not count as then perhaps only the bedridden or those utterly unable to reach here are absent.
3^rd The ‘religious services’ are principally preaching services, conducted by Robert or James Hayes or Peter Lindsley or some of our boys. This winter James Wilbur one of the Elders who lives about 16 miles up the river has helped much by conducting the week day prayer meetings in his neighborhood, when our boys could not well go.  He has not missed a Sabbath that I can remember, (even in the deepest snows and cold weather) coming to study his ‘himtakash’ (little sermon or exhortation), feeding his horse &c before daylight, that he might have a little time to study his ‘himtakash’ with me before church or while the S.S. in is session. And I am glad to teach it him. It is not wise as I know to leave even the prayer meetings in the hands of untrained men so lately out of heathenism. There is a strange mixture of teachings, sometimes. (All the K. Elders are trained to ‘supply’in the absence of Robert, and licentiates.)

Our boys would willingly preach often to the little community at North Fork as of old, but they do not feel at liberty to do so, without the permission or orders from Lapwai, North Fork being connected with the L. church. Robert made a preaching visit to N.F. of some days this winter, and told me on his return that James Hines (so the people there told him) was to be ordained and placed as pastor over the North Fork people. I think this must be a mistake. I hope so for the honor of the Office, and the sake of the Cause & because of the weight such an act of Pres. would give to his ignorant teachings among an ignorant people. James Hines was too old when he was put into my hands to study and had spent too many of his years in heathenism [illegible]. If I had seen signs of promise in him I would have continued him in his studies. But I did not, although he learned to read (articulate) in the English quite well. Having been in his young days a ‘packer’ with white ‘packers’ so long, his vocal organs were trained to English (‘packers English’ he calls it) so that he can (could) articulate the sounds in reading better than Silas, Peter, and others of my pupils who came little into contact with the whites, and yet understand so much of what they read. He has a graceful manner too, in the pulpit, and no lack of words, so that to those who did not understand well the subject matter of his discourse, he would give a good impression.He is a good natured, gossipy old man, and very subservient to Mr D through whom favors reach him but would be a poor spiritual guide. Shortly before our Miss’ry boys left us, I had to send him word to stop preaching that there ‘were horses (literal) in heaven." From Rev. 6^th I suppose. My sister heard of it at Lapwai, and others heard it elsewhere. It seemed to be his favorite sermon; suiting the tastes of so many of his audience, and confirming them chiming in with their old superstitions. I would not write this to Dr Lowrie but that I must, or not be ‘guiltless’ if hurt to the Cause came from the silence. Having written it, the matter lies outside of his former teachers responsibility. It may be that the N.F. people misunderstood. At all events this will do no hurt, save to weary Dr. Lowrie, Forgive me that.

There is something else which, perhaps Miss McB did wrong in not telling Dr Lowrie before (But it laid outside of as well as inside of her province) i.e. that unless there is a change in the pursued course toward James Hayes and Peter Lindsley she cannot hold them much longer for the Church. (Did not know how else to word that last) They have shewn a good deal of ‘stamina’ to persevere so long in the face of so many discouragements. If something is not done in their direction in the coming Presbytery or no encouragement given them, she cannot be sure that they will present themselves again. "For what should I go?’ asked Peter when I spoke to him of the coming meeting. They have gone so often as ‘spectators.’ There is no reason in their lives why they should not be ordained as Evangelists, at least and not feel as if ‘dropped’ by the Church. [illegible] is there any reason in Enochs life that I know. He would have gone back to the Spokanes in spite of his hard experience but his wife was the hindrance. I doubt if the friends realize this. ‘It is not my will’ decidedly when they came to see me after their return, and I am the ‘tiniyumawa’ (the one who wills’ The Nez Perce women for ages were and those who can manage it – women still are the ‘bosses’ as it is said the Alaska women are. But Enoch is outside of my school now.

I am writing this very hastily as I must and with many interruptions, if anything is amiss in it, please forgive. I have not time to write much now, [illegible] Dr Lowrie to read the ‘story’ of the winter at K - a some what peculiar story because of a new element in it. Let me give a brief glance at it;

Archie being expected (still) at Kamiah this Spring. Of course no ‘stone’ has been ‘left unturned’ for him and his brother (with unexpected help and peculiar facilities) to ‘make a road for Archie’ (as one who was helping expressed it) in the Kamiah Church. But by Gods grace and help the ‘road’ is not yet any more open than it was last fall. (That the above comes into my province as for a time their ‘work came into my school.) Then a mistaken impression received by Silas, before he came from Mr D (as Silas tells it) doubtless caused by not being able to communicate clearly) together with the lack of instructions as to his position in the Church here, threatened trouble for a time, which has eventuated in good, by defining in the minds of the people and their own – the ‘status’ of those who returned here as he: Shewing too, that even an ‘ordained minister’ has ‘limitations.’ ‘It was well that I came first’ said Silas, when he had found his footing. The ‘story’ of this Spring is a united, wisely and well cared for and prosperous Church all the stronger apparently for what it has gone through as is my school, by Gods grace and help. Looking back things which were hard in the passing through are seen to be among the things which work together for good.

‘Hitherto hath The Lord helped us.’ To his blessed Name be the praise. The future, as the past in His Hands. Pray that He may speed the time when not only the Nez Perce, but the heathen who are dying in darkness all around them may have the light of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus. Pray too for the Nez Perces and the Masters Cause and the workers among them. In that work and a dear Saviours love.
Yours truly

S.L. McBeth

Later
Not yet having found an opportunity to send this to Mt Idaho to mail I enclose with it a note to Mr Rankin which please read. I know how very busy Dr Lowrie must be preparing for General Assembly &c. Still, shall I not receive a note at least, when he has time to write it. Letters say so much to our isolated lives. I have not seen Mr D for more than a year. He was here last July but I was absent.