French Meetings at St. Anne, Illinois.
By Daniel T. Bourdeau
I REACHED this place last Wednesday night. I had determined to rest at least one week from the wear connected with my closing labors at Serena and Wedron; but the people were so anxious to know what the stranger had to say that, with the aid of Mr. Marshall, a kind friend with whom we are stopping, I at once secured the use of a hall at the rate of $5 a week. I gave my first lecture to about thirty last Saturday night. Sunday morning I spoke in English while the different French churches were holding their regular services. At the close of my sermon, two trustees of the first French Presbyterian church in the place urged me to occupy their meeting-house in the evening. At 2 P. M. there were about one hundred out to hear me on the symbols of Dan. 2. At the close of the meeting, one of the elders of the Presbyterian church arose, and said I might preach in their meeting-house as long as I desired. I accepted the offer, and spoke to upwards of two hundred last night on the symbols of Dan. 7. This is a French village of about five hundred inhabitants. It has five French churches. Two are Presbyterian, one is Roman Catholic, one Episcopalian, and one Baptist. The Baptists have a respectable meeting-house, but they have been greatly reduced in numbers by the emigration of several of their members to Kansas. Their preacher, one of my old acquaintances, has, from a want of support, been compelled to devote a part of his energies to the mercantile business. He will shortly return from a tour East. The Presbyterian church was started by M. Chiniquy, formerly a Catholic priest, who twenty-five and thirty years ago was the well-known champion of the Roman Catholics in opposing the progress of the French Baptists in Canada East. He came West about twenty years ago, soon left the Roman Catholics, and turned quite a large number to the Bible, so far as he had received it. He has started a high school, and will soon return from a voyage to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Pray that we may be enabled to revive the interest, and unite them on the great theme of the coming of Christ and the necessary preparation to meet him. St. Anne, Kankakee Co., Illinois, April 27, 1874.