The Cause in Vermont by Daniel T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1872

The Cause in Vermont.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

I have spent the last two Sabbaths with the church in this place. I came here to find rest in a change, but found enough to do—more than my wasted energies could accomplish. The sick, widows, and orphans, needed help, the weak and wounded ones needed to be visited and strengthened, and some were withering spiritually for want of exercise.

What God requires of those who profess to believe the last message of mercy is to act; to act earnestly, wisely, systematically, and unitedly; to act in paying up their pledges to sustain the cause in its different branches; to act in proclaiming the truth orally, and through our written works and periodicals in new fields, and in strengthening those already in the truth, that we may not lose as much in old fields as we gain in new. Here is work enough for all to engage in, and none need to rest for want of exercise.

The Lord is working for the church here. Among other interesting features in our meetings, was the first testimony of a cousin recently from England.

Although owing to the binding influence of customs and associations of long standing, numerous manufacturing establishments that run on the Sabbath, etc., it takes more power to move people to obey the truth east, than it does in more newly settled States, yet we are thankful for what the Lord has wrought in new fields in Vermont for the past two years. But twice or three times as much might have been accomplished, if all of our forces had been in the field. I am interested to see the part Bro. Grant of Minnesota, formerly of Vermont, is acting in connection with Bro. Canright. Now there are a dozen of men in Vermont, who are qualified to do a similar work that Bro. G. is doing. For want of just such help I nearly lost my life last year. Thank God that this year I have labored under more favorable circumstances. But where are the men who should stand by companies of young believers, while we push on the work in new fields, in the absence of my brother and Bro. Bean, to keep up the missionary work in the churches? Where are the men that I could call upon as minute men in cases of emergencies in new fields? They are either on large farms, burying up their talents in the earth, or teaching, or engaged in business that keeps them away from the work of God. And as I value my life and the cause where I have been laboring, I must refrain from entering new fields, or from going on a trip through the churches in Vermont and Canada East, which I have not had the privilege of doing for eight years. I shall watch with interest the success of my brother in the churches.

I have been pleased with the interest that the church of Frasburgh and Charleston have shown in the work in their part of the State. But there are men in that church who are qualified to do three times more than they are doing to build up the cause in new fields. Shall we have their help in this direction? Until men of talent, means, and experience among us act the part God would have them as helps in this cause, I have but faint hopes of seeing large ingathering of souls in Vermont, and but little courage to go largely into new fields.

May God arouse us as a people, to a sense of the responsibilities of these times. God will open the way before us if we seek him, and inquire after duty by prayer and fasting, and are willing to sacrifice in his cause.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Bordoville, Vt., Nov. 12, 1872.