Pastor’s Study
First Presbyterian Church
Lewiston, Idaho
Aug. 19 188? [illegible]
Rev. Dr. Ellinwood

Dear Bro.
Your communication of Aug 5^th was duly received. At the meeting of Presbytery at Lapwai in May I was appointed on a committee to install Rev Robert Williams over the Kamiah church. The installation services were held on Sabbath Aug 7^th. Mr Deffenbaugh and I made the journey together. On my return I called on Miss Sue McBeth at Mt Idaho. On our way we stopped at Meadow Creek on the Reservation where the Nez Perce people wish a church and minister. We arrived at Kamiah saturday evening. We were entertained at the house of Rev Robert Williams. The services on Sabbath were largely attended. I preached and propounded the questions and Mr Deffenbaugh charged the Pastor and the people. We spoke to them through an Interpreter. Mr Deffenbaugh however has a thorough knowledge of the language and speaks it fluently. And in conducting Divine worship for them, except when the Whites are present he uses their language. On Monday Mr D. returned to Meadow Creek and I in company with Robert Parsons, one of the licentiates went to Mt Idaho. On Tuesday I called on Miss McBeth and spend most of the day with her. We had a full and frank discussion of the work pertaining to the Mission. I referred to the salaries of the native ministers. She thinks that they ought to be instructed to live as we live and that they ought to give their whole time and strength to their pastoral work. And in order to do this they should have a salary sufficient to enable them to present a respectable appearance not only among their own people, but also among the Whites with whom they occasionally come in contact.

With reference to Archie Lawyer, I hinted broadly at the fact of her identifying herself with the Williams faction as opposed to the Lawyers. But she claims that Robert is the representative of the Xn element, while Archie represents the heathen element. She thinks that Archie is not a converted man and ought not to have been ordained.

I told her of Mr D having returned to Meadow Creek to organize a church there. Mr D had authority from Presbytery. To this she is opposed, thinking that there are enough churches now on the Reservation and that two of her ‘boys’ as she calls them should be sent to the Crows immediately.

She is waiting anxiously to hear from the Bd with reference to her assistant. That position was filled by James Hayes who was called to the Umatilla church. She wishes to secure the services of Harry Hayes, a brother of James. I have meet Mr D. and showed to him your letter. He has also received a letter from you. He also thinks that the salaries of the native ministers are not too large. And in regard to his own salary for this year, he does not think it just to take from theirs to add to his. And if the rules and funds of the Bd do not admit of an appropriation of an additional amt to that mentioned in the estimate he generously proposes to give his services free until the beginning of a new year.

The Committee on Oversight of the Indians Work was appointed by Presbytery at Union to meet the exigencies of the case as the matter there stood Mr D having determined to return East. But subsequent developments were such that the conviction was forced upon him that it was his duty to reconsider his determination. The affairs of the Mission are not working so smoothly and harmoniously as he had expected. Having spent a number of years in the field he is greatly interested in its success and is loth to take any step that might prove detrimental to the Cause. And it is my conviction that the best interest of the work demands that he should remain until matters are more settled.
Yours fraternally

T.M.Boyd