Kamiah May 3 1875
Rev. J.C. Lowrie D.D.

Dear Sir
Dr Lowrie’s letter of April 8^th which reached me last Saturday, has perplexed me much as it seems, my letter of Feb 29 perplexed Dr L.  I have forgotten the expressions of that letter although I remember a good deal of the subject matter, but I must have expressed myself very badly to have so mixed the impressions of the ‘Christmas greeting’ to S.L. McB. in the morning at her home. I am sorry I mentioned that greeting. It must have sounded very egotistical, indeed, with the Communion Service conducted by Mr Martin in the Church in the afternoon.

My excuse must be that it was a hastily written gossipy about S.L. McB and her work letter such as I used to write to Dr. Lowries father or Dr Wilson, from Choctaw land. And besides – I am never able to altogether separate the idea of Dr J M Lowerie my ‘Spiritual father’ from that of Dr. J. C. Lowerie when talking to the latter, and so am apt to forget that I am addressing a stranger. Please forgive me.

I told Dr. Lowrie I think that I only attended Church when ‘Billy’ took me, in sled or wagon because the long walk fatigued me much – and this is true. And besides; my own pupils usually ‘occupy the pulpit’ generally telling the people something they have learned through the week, or gone over with me sometime Sab morning even when, infrequently, Mr Martin preaches. Well, I have perhaps been spoiled by my Pastors in the States. At all events, I can get nothing in the church here to repay my walk. The only think that would take me would be the example to the Indians and they understand, and are satisfied with the excuse given i.e. the fatigue of the walk.

Did I not mention Mr Martins name incidentally? That was necessary in the narrative. Perhaps Dr Lowrie has observed that I only mention the names of the white workers among the Nez Perce, incidentally leaving each one to report themselves. (I find too much work of my own to do I leave others to attend to theirs altogether.) Perhaps I may have carried out this principle too far, and so have suffered harm to be done. Today, it is perhaps nescessary to ‘speak out’ a little.

I suppose Dr Lowrie knows of Mr Martins opposition to my coming to Kamiah and why and events since I came. If not, and he wishes, I will tell him, although it is a little humiliating & something new to be the subject of such a story. The cause of the opposition could be nothing personal, because he did not know me. Since I came to Kamiah, I think that even Mr Martin cannot find an instance of my treating him, or his unkindly, or uncourteously – save that I did not answer his notes asking me to be cook &c (what could I answer?) I simply sent the notes to the one whom the application, here, for my services should have been made in the first place, i.e., the Agent) and that I would not quarrel with him – as I will not with any one. I have always been taught that to quarrel was both unladylike & unchristian.

Since the notes which came upon me so unawares I have spoken Mr Martins name as little as possible striving to avoid even the least shadow of a pretence for quarrel seeking or complaint. The Indians know nothing of my difficulty from me – For the sake of the Masters cause in their hearts! I would try to keep from them the knowledge of divisions among those who should be as one in the Masters work. They have heard too much of such already. I rarely speak Mr Martins name to them. When they speak of him, incidentally, I answer only enough to avoid their remark. When they speak of him not incidentally, as soon as quietly possible, I change the subject.

Shall I give Dr Lowrie the last illustration of this verbatim as nearly as I can remember it? Lately a long talk about the Sabbath came into our lesson. On Monday mornings my pupils report or give me an outline of their sermons of the day before. Yesterday morning (Monday) Archie came first: came at 5:45 AM so as to get his lesson before going to his days work in the field. (They are all farmers, working nearly every day & yet through all their spring work have only missed 3 or 4 lessons altogether.) In answer to the usual Monday morning question, when I have not been at church "Who preached yesterday?" Archie said. "I did, in the morning and James Hines in the afternoon. I preached from Gen 2^nd ch.1^st to 4^th v." (turning to the place) ‘about God resting on the seventh day when he had finished making the heavens and the Earth; and from Ex. 20^th ch 8^th to 12^th vs. and I told the people that they nor their children, or their servants, or their cattle must not work on the Sabbath but that they must rest, and worship, and keep it holy as God commanded " &c &c.

"Miss McBeth," he said, when he had ended "Yesterday, some Chinamen came to Kamiah from the mines to buy goods and Mr Martin brought them over to my house to buy flour. "He said ‘Hurry up, Archie, hurry up and get the flour for them; they will pay you the money for it. Lucy (Archie’s sister) said, "No, Mr Martin, this is the Sabbath" and I told him "Mr Martin, this morning I preached to my people that they must remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, and I must not break it myself this afternoon." "Didn’t the people know Gods words about the Sabbath before?" I asked. "A little, not much Miss McBeth, my people have been blind" (he was talking in his own language) "they are just beginning to get their eyes open a little and not yet they see very straight. Mr Martin told Felix (this &c was no harm on the Sabbath). The people will think that he (Mr M) ought to know better than us" (the helpers) and we are afraid they will think it no harm to trade (&c) on the Sabbath," he added "Do you think he would?" He was perplexed and troubled. "Archie", I said the question is not what Mr Ainslie or Mr Martin or Miss McBeth says but what God says. Do not believe one word I tell you ever unless it agrees with Gods Word. Let us see again, what God says." And we were still busy with our references when some others of the pupils came & the days lessons began.

Did I report ‘progress’? If I remember rightly, I was not aiming to do that, especially but rather trying to make Dr Lowrie acquainted with the Indian men whom I hoped should soon be under his care, as pastors, or missionaries, or teachers among the people. And here is where the perplexity & trouble comes in. A month or two after I came to Kamiah and while I was teaching the neighborhood (or Day) School Mr Ainslie came to Kamiah with a letter from Dr Lowrie about ‘continuing’ Mr Spauldings work &c, and he, with Mr Martin planned the present arrangement, selected the pupils and informed me that these were my work. Mr Ainslie wrote afterwards that he had reported to Dr Lowrie and that Dr L. approved.

Mr A. also informed these native men of their wishes & of the Board, and while I have been the same time teaching these men to read write &c they have been studying with the aim & prospect of becoming preachers and teachers to their people and will not easily perhaps understand the reason for a change. And scarcely a worse time for such a change could have been chosen. The most advanced of the Nez Perce are still babes in religion [illegible]. They are in reality, without a spiritual leader here and they feel it. There has been and still is a strong Methodist influence at work among the people – for a time it a little unsettled some of my pupils even. Outside of them there has been nothing done to counteract it. Perhaps Mr. Martin, from his ignorance of the language does not know of it. I do not know. Then the Catholics are busy among the Nez Perces are very busy trying to proselytize. The Catholic priest will very gladly take charge of my pupils. He has been sending them messages – wishing them to meet and talk with them and offering to instruct. Through the Nez Perce language I learn many things which I perhaps do wrong not to report. But these matters outside of my school really belong to Mr Ainslie and Mr Martin, and I have scrupulously avoided meddling, in any way with their department so as to leave Mr Martin without pretense for complaint.

I have never had less than five pupils and the usual daily lesson is five and six (or more) hours of unintermitted study – a longer time, and more taxing labor than would be required in the boarding schools (besides my work upon the language.) I doubt much if there could be found five white men who would be more diligent students in like circumstances or who in like circumstances, would have made more progress in the five or six months since they began to study. But still, as I said the most advanced Christians among this people are only babes in religious knowledge. In another year, I hoped, that with Gods blessing and help they could be able to read and study the Bible intelligently for themselves & be more comfortable in the way and take their place as teachers among their people and as they or their people be in less danger of being led astray by the influence which threaten or surrounds them or lost to the Presbyterian Church.

For myself, this letter would not have been written, but I think that God would hold me accountable, now, if I did not give Dr Lowrie a glimpse at least of the state of affairs.  Praying God to Guide by His Spirit Dr Lowrie and all who have the decision in this matter so that they may work out Gods will and the best good to the Nez Perce people, I remain
Respectfully Yours

S.L. McBeth
I sent Dr. Lowrie a long letter a week or two ago about a ‘printing press’ &c.  Did he receive it?