Report from Bro. A. C. Bourdeau.
By A. C. Bourdeau
WHEN I wrote my last report, dated the 3d of November, we had spent two weeks at Jamaica, Vt. We remained there one week longer. During our stay at Jamaica, the brethren were very free in favoring us with teams, which enabled us to visit quite extensively. The time that we did not spend in holding meetings, writing, or working on the meeting-house, we spent in visiting, especially in the evenings. In our experience thus far in laboring in the cause, we have witnessed, almost invariably, that in visiting families from house to house, we have been enabled, by the assisting grace of God, to accomplish as much good, to say the least, as in any other kind of labor. In many instances, cases can be reached by this kind of labor, which it would seem could never be reached in any other way. This kind of work is not confined to ministers only; but private members of churches who are spiritual, and whose hearts are in the work, can labor successfully in this way, and thus accomplish good, and become useful in the cause. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James v, 19, 20. Monday, Nov. 9, at 4 o’clock A. M., Bro. Pike, with Bro. Brown’s horse and carriage, very kindly assisted us by taking wife and self to the Manchester station, a distance of sixteen miles. The day following we reached home, and found several letters to be answered, among which was one by Bro. A. Stone in behalf of the brethren in East Richford and vicinity, asking for help in making a start to build a house of worship. In East Richford there is no meeting-house for any religious society; and if the church there could gather sufficient strength and courage, with a little assistance from others who are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel, they might build a meeting-house, which, doubtless, would be conducive to the upbuilding of the cause in that section. I shall endeavor to meet with the church there next week, and the propriety of making a move in this direction will then be considered. Our meeting in Enosburgh, last Sabbath, was very encouraging. We feel an increasing desire to draw nearer to God, and to become more consecrated to his service. Bordoville, Vt., Nov. 17, 1868.