REPORT FROM BRO. A. C. BOURDEAU.
By A. C. Bourdeau.
Several weeks have elapsed since I reported through the REVIEW; yet this has not been because I have no interest in the great work of spreading the truth. No, no! for never have I felt more confident that God has set his hand to the work, nor felt a greater desire for an entire consecration of myself to God, and in the service of my heavenly Master, than I do at the present time. And since the Lord has deigned of late to give a more signal token of his love and tender care for his people in the special manifestation of his Spirit upon his humble and devoted servant, my heart has been cheered. And though, in the end, this testimony from the Lord may prove to contain a rebuke for me, and to be a reminder of my wrongs in the sight of high Heaven, yet I would feel to say, “Let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.” “Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” The last report which appeared in the REVIEW relative to the cause in Roseburgh, Vt., reached to the interesting Sabbath meeting held April 25, 1868, when more of the youth embraced religion, and expressed their determinations to endure faithful unto the end in serving the Lord. It was then announced that the next Sabbath my brother would give his farewell discourse to the church. Accordingly Sabbath, May 2, at half-past 10 A. M., more than one hundred Sabbath-keepers assembled at the house of worship, besides several friends from without; after singing and prayer, my brother read to us the following text: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” 2 Cor. xiii, 11. In the middle of the verse, he paused a few moments, not being able to refrain from weeping. The congregation were all in tears. He spoke for the space of two hours, with clearness and great earnestness, enforcing the principles in the text, and beseeching his dear brethren and sisters to continue steadfast in the faith unto the end, that we might all be saved, and meet in the kingdom. At the close of his remarks, half an hour was profitably spent in hearing testimonies from the brethren and sisters, after which we repaired to the waterside, where seven new converts were buried with their Lord in baptism. Though we felt very solemn because our dear brother and his wife were soon going to leave us, yet we felt that this was a good day to us all. Our parting scene the next day was solemn. When Bro. Daniel and Sr. Marian started with me to attend the Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., none of us knew that they would go to California; yet we were of the opinion that we would not all meet again in this life. When we reached the Health Institute, we were greatly rejoiced to find my wife improving healthwise; although we were assured by the physicians that her case would need the closest attention for months, or even years, in the future, in order to release her from the difficulties caused by the enlargement in her side. During my stay of about two weeks at Battle Creek, I enjoyed many sweet seasons, in hearing lectures on health by Bro. Dr. Kellogg in the Health Institute, and by Dr. R. T. Trail in the S. D. A. meeting-house; in attending the General Conference, which was said by many to be the best they had ever attended, and other yearly meetings which were no less interesting than the Conference; and in hearing rich instructions from the lips of God's servants, especially Bro. and Sr. White whom God in his great goodness has qualified to fill an important place in the cause, and whose labors we all feel to appreciate. I often look back to this yearly gathering of God's people, with fond remembrance and heartfelt gratitude to God; and I feel that we have reached a very important stage of the work, more so than any we have ever before witnessed. Dear brethren and sisters, let us try to be at our posts, and always ready for every good word and work, that in the end it may be said unto us, “Well done.” Jamaica, Vt., June, 1868.