French Discussion at St. Anne, Illinois, on the Sabbath Question.
By D. T. BOURDEAU.
This discussion was held between myself and Eld. Paradis, a Presbyterian preacher of Kankakee, Ill. It embraced four sessions of two hours each, and closed last Friday evening. It was held in the Baptist house, which was filled to overflowing. I had not solicited this discussion, but was obliged to engage in it by a challenge. I had labored up to the very day of the discussion in meeting opposition from two other preachers, and was extremely feeble. But I found God a present help, and can report, to his praise, a glorious victory of truth over error. Knowing that a large proportion of the people here were but a small step from the Catholic church, and would be governed by worldly and selfish principles, I was not willing to leave the order and regulations of the discussion to the congregation, therefore labored three hours to get my opponent to sign written rules. I was glad I had succeeded in this; for at the very first session he showed himself to be very lawless and ungentlemanly in two important particulars. First, as I was on my feet to open in the affirmative of the question: “Does the Bible teach that the obligation to keep the seventh-day Sabbath exists in this dispensation?” he arose to say a few words of apology, and took especial pains to prejudice the people against us by introducing points on which the people had not heard, and presenting them in a wrong light. I appealed to the chairman, and told my opponent that he might speak when his turn came, that we were going to discuss the Sabbath question. Secondly, in his closing speech for the first session, he quoted largely from history, although firmly held to the question by my moderator. But he was determined to carry out his point regardless of the question and of the rights of the moderators. Some who were determined to crush us and put down our views exulted over this, and manifested their approbation by clapping their hands and stamping with their feet. Others were dissatisfied and censured him. The next evening before my opening speech, he acknowledged that he should have pursued a different course. I replied to his last speech. God helped; and even those who were partial to him boasted very modestly afterward. BENEFITS OF THE DISCUSSION.
1. Some have heard who would not have been induced to attend our common meetings. 2. Many who, for a want of knowledge, are not prepared to decide to keep the Sabbath, yet lean toward the truth. 3. Even our enemies see that our views are hard to be met. 4. Our friends are all strengthened by the discussion. Eleven arose for the Sabbath yesterday (Sabbath). Among these is the man who served as my moderator in the discussion, a man of refinement, principle, and influence, one of the leaders of the Reformed Presbyterian church. Another is an able France French Baptist. In short, we have material enough to start a good church. CONCLUSIONS AFTER SERIOUS REFLECTIONS.
1. I am satisfied that the time has fully come when we should make vigorous, prudent, and well-organized effort to push forward the work among the French. 2. There are fields where a preacher can work to good advantage alone. But there are other fields which furnish labor that no one man should undertake alone. First, because he would endanger his life by overdoing. Secondly, after doing all that he could do, all would not be accomplished that might have been had there been sufficient help. Some will say, Do only what you can do. This is very good advice. But all who have had any experience in laboring know that there are times when just so much must be done if anything is accomplished. And then if a man has the work of two men on his hands, he must do the work of two men or the cause will sustain a loss. Hence the wisdom of Christ in sending the disciples two by two. 3. If two French laborers cannot be had to labor together in important fields, why should there not be an American minister provided to help in cases of discussion, and to speak in English at least half of the time? Such a course would give influence to the work in both languages, and more could be accomplished. What harm would there be in pitching a tent in a city or village whose population is equally divided between French and Americans? Would not such a course increase a missionary spirit in our American brethren for those of other tongues? This is what I plead for. We would have enough to sacrifice even if such a plan were adopted, without neglecting the other wants of the cause in the Conference. On account of not being able to speak in English at times, the Americans, not knowing what our arguments are, will work against us, while they would help us, could they hear for themselves. If the Wisconsin and Illinois Conferences can help me on these points, Mrs. B. and myself prefer to remain West the coming season. St. Anne, Ill., June 1, 1874.