REPORT FROM BRO. A. C. BOURDEAU.
By A. C. Bourdeau
After our return from the General Conference I spent three Sabbaths with the church at home. Our meetings were very interesting, especially the Quarterly Meeting, which was held June 6 and 7. Eld. Stone was present, and assisted in preaching. Sabbath afternoon I enjoyed good freedom in speaking to a large congregation from the following words: “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto all men.” Titus iii, 8. In the social meeting which followed, the brethren and sisters heartily responded to the word spoken, which encouraged me much in my fatigued and worn condition. After thirty minutes’ intermission sixty-three attended to the ordinances of the Lord’s house. At the commencement of this meeting several of the young members of the church, who felt unworthy, took their position, some on the back seats, and others out of doors. We did not feel to say, “Let them go!” I entreated them with earnest appeals, and then called on the elders of the church to go after them, and have them seated with us. As they came to the front seats some of these young souls were in tears, which evinced to us that we had pursued a rigid course in their case. The next day, at the close of the meeting, we got up a subscription for Bro. A. S. Hutchins, and the brethren and friends pledged $54.25, to help him in buying a horse. On Sabbath, June 13, I met with the Sabbath-keepers in Sutton, C. E. Preached twice, and had a good social meeting. Sabbath and first-day, June 20 and 21, I met with the few in Bristol, Vt. Found that they had not lost their interest in the good work since our visit among them last winter. Sabbath I preached twice, after which the brethren and sisters manifested promptness in responding to the truth spoken in their testimonies. We were interested in the case of Sr. Evert’s son, who spoke in this meeting for the first time. Sunday morning I dwelt on church order, and systematic benevolence. I did not leave the subject till all were free to act in unison with the body in the matter. The result was that eleven had their figures set down on s. B. amounting to nearly $90 per year. We appointed a treasurer and a leader, and I had $23.50 handed in to help in the different departments of the cause. In the afternoon, at half past four o’clock, I gave a discourse to a respectable congregation, composed mostly of unbelievers, who listened very attentively to the word spoken. On my way to Jamaica, June 23, I met with the brethren in Andover. The friends of the cause here are trying to be in the work. Most of them attended the meetings in Jamaica. The brethren in Jamaica were greatly encouraged by my visit among them. They had made a start in getting out some timber for their meeting-house; but on some accounts had come to a stop, and felt quite discouraged. I spent one week with them, during which time I held five meetings; baptized three persons, arranged s. B. for thirty-three names, amounting to $122.20; assisted the brethren in forming themselves into a society to legally hold and manage their house of worship, and the land upon which it is built; and worked four days on the meeting-house. Bro. C. A. White was present, and labored to advantage on the house. When we left the frame was raised, and nearly all inclosed, and the work was still progressing. While I was setting down the figures on s. B. a brother thought that the Lord would excuse him from paying s. B. this year, on account of his having lost a good ox last spring; but before I left Jamaica he came up nobly with full figures, and further stated that he felt fifty dollars better on account of the effort that had been made in the meeting-house enterprise, therefore would pledge to give $50 more to help in this enterprise. July 4, I attended the Quarterly Meeting at Berkshire, Vt. Fourteen teams of brethren and sisters from Enosburgh accompanied us to this meeting. Bro. Stone was present, and assisted in preaching. Some were present also from Richford, and from Sutton, C. E. This was a good meeting to all present. Sabbath, July 11, was a good day to the church in Enosburgh. In the morning I spoke on baptism, and at 2 o’clock, P. M., we repaired to the Branch, where I baptized eight persons. During the following week I met twice with the church, and the next Sabbath made a special effort for the young who had recently united with the church. In the social meeting sixty-five testimonies were given in less than an hour, and our hearts were made glad to see several of the young make a new start for the kingdom. A. C. BOURDEAU.
Bordoville, Vt., July, 1868.