Report from the Brn. Bourdeau by Albert C. Bourdeau; Daniel T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 8, 1870

Report from the Brn. Bourdeau.

By Albert C. Bourdeau; Daniel T. Bourdeau

JUST as I commenced to write this report, on this 20th day of October, A. D. 1870, at 22 minutes past 11 A. M., my attention was suddenly arrested by a rumbling, subterranean sound, that I heard as coming from the distance, which, as it approached, increased more and more until the house shook quite hard; the stove, doors, and windows, around me, rattled exceedingly, and it seemed very much as though I was riding on the cars when the brakes are applied to stop them as the train is nearing the station. This was an earthquake. I think it lasted nearly two minutes. Are we not nearing the heavenly station? Oh! let us watch and be ready.

My brother and I have spent nearly five weeks in this place, during which time we have given twenty-six lectures, besides attending several meetings held by the Methodists and Baptists, and visiting faithfully those who became interested in the present truth in this village and vicinity. We were invited to come

here and hold meetings, by Bro. I. Roscoe, a carriage-maker in this village, who was led to embrace the Sabbath by reading our French tract on the Bible Sabbath, when he resided in Canada, about eight years ago.

By the permission of the trustees of the Methodist society, we lectured three weeks in the Methodist meeting-house, which stands on the opposite side of the road from the old brick meeting-house in which Bro. Wm. Miller gave a course of lectures during the ’44 movement. We were not greatly encouraged when we learned that only one family in this place had embraced the Advent faith as the result of Bro. Miller’s lectures. Yet we tried to labor in the name and strength of God, having to encounter strong and determined opposition on the part of the Methodist and Baptist clergy, and popular orthodoxy, who tried hard to hinder the people from attending our meetings. At the close of the third week we held a Sabbath meeting; and when it was known that six or seven families had pronounced themselves to be in favor of our views, and that some of the best members of the M. E. church, and some non-professors, were embracing the Sabbath, two of the trustees were prevailed upon to advise us not to continue our lectures any longer in their meeting-house. A vote had been passed a few years ago against having any religious meetings held in the school-house in this village; yet, contrary to our expectation, by permission of the prudential committee, we were enabled to commence holding meetings in the school-house on Friday evening, the 14th inst.

But since last Sunday, desperate efforts have been made by many, even by church members, to prevent us from holding meetings in this place, to oppress those that are keeping the Sabbath, and to discourage others from adopting our views. Some are called crazy, and others are turned off from working where they have had steady employment for years, because they keep the Sabbath; and they are threatened to be prosecuted if they are known to work on Sunday, &c.

Last Tuesday evening, just before our meeting commenced, we were notified that from twenty to forty were coming to mob us during the meeting. We arranged at once, by taking legal measures, to have help on the ground. While my brother was proceeding with his discourse, a large crowd entered the house very abruptly; one of their company broke in upon us with hard threats and denunciations because we were leading the people to keep the seventh-day Sabbath; we were compelled to dismiss the congregation, and to discontinue holding meetings in the school-house; but as we left the school-house, our friends surrounded us, and we went to our boarding place followed by the mocking crowd, who, as we firmly believe, were prevented from laying their hands upon us by the power of God, which was greatly manifested in our behalf that night. Nine are keeping the Sabbath, and others have said they would keep it. We know not how many will endure this pressure. We visit families and hold meetings in private houses.

A. C. BOURDEAU, D. T. BOURDEAU.

Jericho Corners, Vt., Oct. 20, 1870.