What We're Saying

...a field of labor of great extent and full of promise.  This is how early missionary, the Rev. John D. McCarty, D.D., described the possibilities for mission work in the newly created Washington Territory - but it could just as easily be used to describe our archival mission. 

Last week I provided a few resources to help you start organizing your records.  However, if you haven't quite gotten everything together yet - don't worry about it!  I've been doing this job for almost 18 years now and I'm still working on it!  However,  whatever you do DON'T GIVE UP!!  It doesn't happen overnight!!  But, with a little effort, a little time and a little help - IT CAN BE DONE!!     

So, my plan for this year is to provide you with the help you need! Nevertheless, since all work and no play makes for a very dull blog, I'm going to try and mix things up a little by alternating between the nuts and bolts of archives and records management and the stories we're going to such lengths to preserve!!  

With that in mind, this week I'm going to tell you about Dr. McCarty, who was one of the earliest Episcopal missionaries in the Northwest and quote from his journal which is safely protected in one of our parish archives!

The Rev. John D. McCarty, D.D.

John McCarty was quite a guy!!  Originally from New York, he served as an army chaplain during the Mexican War and was sent to the Northwest by the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church.  He arrived in Portland, Oregon on January 19, 1853 and, coincidentally, found three companies of his old regiment at Ft. Vancouver, situated across the Columbia River from Portland . Within a few days of his arrival, he was requested to resume his chaplaincy.   He agreed, providing that half his time could be given to missionary work.  Sunday mornings he held services in Portland and in the afternoon at Ft. Vancouver.  

Today going back and forth between Portland and Vancouver is no big deal.  Yes, traffic can be heavy but the bridges make it a relatively quick trip.  In 1853, there were no bridges - and Dr. McCarty made the trip via three ferries and on foot!  McCarty travelled primarily on foot because in this place, where living is about four times as dear as in the Atlantic states, I could not keep a horse without great expense.

On March 2, 1853, Washington Territory was created. Settlers were arriving and McCarty decided to make a visit to the Puget Sound area.  Of the trip he wrote:

May 16th I set out on an extensive tour of explorarion and missionary duty into the new Territory of Washington which is separated from Oregon by the Columbia River.  I went by steamboat down this river to the mouth of the Cowlitz up the same against a strong current in an Indian canoe...them by horseback to Steilacoom, a military post on the east side of Puget Sound.  I officiated Sunday, the 22nd, to a congregation composed of the garrison, with some of the few inhabitants living about the Sound...The next day I reached Olympia...which, though a very narrow and small village of about one hundred inhabitants, is the only place in the territory that can be called a village...It is generally regarded as a place likely to become of great importance, and will probably be the capital of the Territory, at least for the present...On my return I had an evening service...at Cowlitz landing...The next day I officiated...at Monticello, near the mouth of the Cowlitz...Taking a steamer up the Columbia, I reached Portland the 2nd of June, after an absence of fourteen days, having traveled three hundred and twenty-five miles.  Of these, ninety was by steamer, sixty-eight by canoe, and one humdred and sixty-seven on horseback.  The roads for a part of the distance were barely passable. ..There are but few Episcopalians in the Territory...At Olympia a missionary would have the small beginning of an Episcopal congregation.  There, and in places starting up about the (Puget) Sound, he would have a field of labor of great extent and full of promise."

Fourteen days from Portland to Olympia and back with a few stops along the way! The everyday hardships taken in stride by the early pioneers and the endurance and perseverance it must have taken for missionaries such as Dr. MCCarty to carry out their purpose are an inspiration to us all.  I'm fascinated by accounts such as these contained in the journals and diaries of our early missionaries and hope you will find them interesting and inspirational too - as I intend to share some of them with you!!

We are so fortunate to have these documents and it is our job to make sure that they are preserved for generations to come.   This is why I do what I do - and I hope that these stories will encourage you in your efforts to protect the Church's heritage.  It really is ...A Field of Labor of Great Extent and Full of Promise.

Diocese of Olympia Archives

Diane Wells, CA