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The Cause in Vermont

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 26, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 38, No. 15.

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The Cause in Vermont.

By A. C. Bourdeau; D. T. Bourdeau

At the close of our good camp-meeting, we went home and spent one Sabbath with the church of Enosburgh. While at home, we attended to business connected with the camp-meeting, wrote reports, and prepared to resume our labors in new fields.
On Tuesday of the following week, Aug. 29, we left home for our field of labor, expecting to pitch our tent the same week. But when we reached West Bolton, we learned that an appointment had been given for Eld. Estes, of Jericho Corners, to speak in that place on the Sabbath question the next Sunday evening; so we concluded to do no more in the tent enterprise that week than to find a place to pitch our tent; and we settled on Huntington Center, a village situated fourteen miles south-west of West Bolton, and about midway between West Bolton and Bristol.
Sabbath, Sept. 2, we held two meetings with the brethren of West Bolton and Jericho, and addressed them on the Christian Warfare, and on the subject of Spiritual Gifts. Bro. A. S. Hutchins was present, and added to the interest of the meeting by his testimony. The next day, we gave a discourse at West Bolton on objections to the Sabbath; and in the evening Eld. Estes read a written essay of two hours on the Sabbath question, in the Baptist church, which was well filled. Of course there was policy in crowding this discourse into the night, so that we could not reply to it the same day. At the close of the meeting, Eld. Hutchins announced that we would review the Elder's discourse the next evening, and stated that the trustees of the Baptist church had refused us the use of their house, while we had often offered them the use of our tent when it was up. This told against them. The sermon was reviewed in a large school-house in the place, which, with additional seats prepared for the occasion, was literally crowded. It was estimated that there were between one hundred and fifty and two hundred persons present. At the close of the reply, an expression was called for, to know how many present believed we had the Bible argument on the Sabbath, and most of the congregation rose to their feet at once. Then those who thought that Eld. Estes had the argument were requested to stand upon their feet, and but six arose. One of these was the Baptist pastor of the place.
A second discourse was delivered by Eld. E. in West Bolton last Sunday evening, on the Sabbath and Immortality of the Soul, and was replied to with good liberty the next evening. This time the Elder seemed to be aroused at the result of his first effort, and, waxing unusually fervent, he used expressions against us, which, to say the least, did not breathe that love and pity that should characterize the minister of Jesus Christ.
As the result of these collisions, three more have taken their stand on the Sabbath. There are now, at least, twenty-five Sabbath-keepers that we can depend upon in Bolton and vicinity. A Bible-class and Sabbath-school of seven classes was organized last Sabbath, yet much remains to be accomplished. Bro. Hutchins designs to remain there for a season, and one of us will assist him on the Sabbath for several weeks.
We have now held eight meetings in the tent in this place. Notwithstanding the frosty nights, the average attendance has not been less than two hundred. The interest is good. The Sabbath question comes up next Sunday. The tent is pitched within ten feet of the town house, which we occupy, free of charge, in case of rain or cold nights.
A. C. BOURDEAU, D. T. BOURDEAU.
Huntington Center, Sept. 15, 1871.