The Wonderful Way of the Lord Among the French in Canada
By G. G. Roth
While visiting the scattered groups of French believers in Canada, I found away up in the mountains at Namur, Quebec, a company of nine believers, not including some ten children and young people, ranging from three to twenty years of age. They heard the truth ten years ago through the efforts of Elder D. T. Bourdeau, who for a few months held tent-meetings among them and baptized them. But since this time they have had no opportunity to celebrate the ordinances of the church, and have at times been nearly led astray through lack of a French worker to look after them. Nevertheless they have continued to send in their tithes to the conference. It is really wonderful, when we know the story of their struggles, that they have stood so firm for the truth, with so little opportunity to be instructed in it. Turning my steps in another direction, I next visited two Sabbath-keeping families near Valleyfield. For six years they have observed the Bible Sabbath, though having no relations with our people. When the last census records were published, these French families were listed under the peculiar religious name of “Sabbatiste.” Some of our brethren noticed this record, and called the attention of the conference workers to it, with the result that they were soon visited, and their story was thus learned. Ten years ago they left the Catholic Church and were drifting into infidelity, when a Bible colporteur came to one of them, and sold a Bible. As they studied it, their interest deepened into belief in its teachings, and soon they began to obey. Arriving at the law, they saw clearly that they should keep the Sabbath, which they at once started to do. When they became aware that they had really found the pearl of great price, the father decided to go twenty miles to his relatives to make known the truth to them. On the journey he found himself confronted by a forest fire, which so delayed him that he did not reach his destination until after midnight. It was very dark, and for some reason no lamp could be found in the house, until after long search they managed to find one which gave a tiny flame. Gathering the family around this little light, he read to them from his precious Book until morning, when he had to return home. Soon they also were keeping the Sabbath. I spent many days there, and was really astonished to see how well they had come to understand the Scriptures with no human help, and thinking themselves the only ones of like faith in the world. Speaking of baptism, the mother told me that for a long time she had desired that she, with all her family, might be baptized in the river which flows near their house. One interesting feature is the fact that when they came to understand the holiness of the law of God, the father desired to bear public witness to his regard for it. So he purchased two large white marble slabs, and upon them had engraved in French the ten commandments. These he set upon the front of his house. I am now in Montreal for a few weeks. Here also the French work is very encouraging. On Sabbath, April 1, five precious souls were baptized and united with the Montreal church; one was also received upon profession of faith, having been previously baptized in another church. Others will follow later, and the interest is good. We should have here one or two permanent French workers, but where can we get them? When I see the great need of workers for these millions of French in the United States and Canada, and hear the urgent calls that come to us, I am glad to know that the General Conference is working to establish a French school, or a special French department in one of our academies. We have, in Canada and the United States a number of French young people. These should have the opportunity of receiving instruction17to fit them for the Lord’s work; but many of them have not the money to pay for their education. Among this number are some five or six substantial, mature young men and women. These give good promise of making workers, and should and must come to the school. Who will esteem it a privilege to help them? Next fall we expect that the Lord will give us a French school. He has already given us the scholars, and we trust that the much-needed means will come also, so that when we present to the General Conference our good prospects for attendance, we may also have some promises of financial aid to present at the same time. Please think of this seriously before the Lord, brethren and sisters, and act as the Spirit of the Lord leads you. Remember that most of the French people are Catholics, and therefore special efforts will be required to take the message to them. What a pleasure it will be to us, and what a joy to Heaven, when we hear many say, “We are coming with our means, which God has given us, to help you sound the last call of mercy among the French.” Let us all pray together that the Spirit of the Lord may find an entrance to many hearts.