REPORT FROM A. C. BOURDEAU.
By A. C. Bourdeau
ON Friday Aug. 14, 1868, in company with Bro. N. Orcutt, I started on a trip to hold meetings in Stowe, Braintree, Sutton, and Irasburgh, Vt. I had not visited these places for several months, yet my object in visiting them was not merely to have a good time with the brethren and sisters, but it was especially to set things in order, to assist the churches in these localities to be in readiness to report their standing to the coming annual session of the State Conference, &c. I would here say, that ever since I have been connected with the cause, I have endeavored to labor, as far as circumstances would permit, where I thought I could accomplish the most good. Hence I have never deemed it expedient, or profitable to the cause, to leave a church where I was laboring, at home or abroad, that needed special help, to go and visit churches that could very well get along without my help, even though by so doing I might not meet with some churches for months, or years. Sabbath, the 15th, we held a good meeting at Stowe. We each spoke once, had a good social meeting, and at half past 5, P. M., had a profitable season with the church in attending to the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The church here are prompt in coming up to the figures on s. n., and are firm believers in the present truth on all points; yet I noticed here, as I have in other places, that old Sabbath-keepers are generally slower to adopt all the principles of health reform, especially the reform dress, than those who are young in the truth. We visited several families, and we think that our time was not misspent in this direction. We reached Braintree, Aug. 18, visited a few families, regulated the church records, and s. n. book, held an evening meeting in a school-house near Bro. E. Cram’s, and Sabbath, the 22nd, met with the church at Bro. Dempster’s. Bro. and Sr. Hutchins were present. In the morning Bro. H. spoke, to edification, on the messages of Rev. xiv. In the afternoon I followed on our duty to each other as a people. The social meeting which followed was cheering to all present, and we were blessed in attending to the ordinances of the Lord’s house. Sunday morning, at 9 o’clock, arranged figures on s. n., received one into the church, and raised nearly $5.00 for benevolent purposes, and through the day held two preaching meetings in the village for the benefit of the friends from without, who turned out well, and heard us gladly. On Thursday, the 27th, met with the few at Sutton, Vt. Several of the neighbors attended this meeting. Bro. Orcutt led out in preaching. The social meeting was encouraging. The church were prompt in paying up their advanced figures on s. n. for last year, and showed a willingness to pay as much the ensuing year. The next day we visited our afflicted brother, William Barrows, at Barton Landing, Vt., who had been sick, nigh unto death, of inflammatory rheumatism, and was then a great sufferer caused by a severe blow that he had received in one of his eyes. We were glad to find Bro. and Sr. B. trying to hold on to the truth whereunto they have attained. Aug. 29, we attended the Quarterly Meeting held with the church at Irasburgh. Brethren and sisters were present from Sutton and Charleston, Vt., and from Compton, C. E. Bro. and Sr. Hutchins also attended. Meetings commenced at half past 10, A. M., and continued till 9, P. M. All appreciated the word spoken, and felt to take new courage in the good work. At the business meeting more than $50.00 were pledged for benevolent purposes. The day following we traveled forty miles to Enosburgh, and on reaching home we learned that Eld. J. Byington, of Michigan, had just held a two-day’s meeting with the church in this place; and found the brethren and sisters feeling well on account of this visit from our venerable brother, accompanied by Bro. Hilliard of New York. Through the week I met twice with the church here. Was sorry to find that a spirit of fault-finding, and of casting off the erring, had crept into the hearts of some. I realized that it needed wisdom to check this spirit, and to help the erring at the same time. In our effort in this direction we were quite successful. To God be all the praise. Testimony for the Church, No. 16, has just come to hand. I have read the article “To Ministers” with deep interest. Hope to profit thereby, and will endeavor to heed its timely warnings and instructions. Bordoville, Vt., Sept., 1868.