The Vermont Tent by Daniel T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 25, 1871

The Vermont Tent.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

We have now been at West Bolton over four weeks, and have held thirty-six meetings. Though we had rain every meeting but two for the first three weeks; and the tent broke down three times on account of age and the very high winds we have in this part of the State; and, though malicious falsehoods were circulated against us by professors and others at first, yet the interest has been excellent till now.

We held our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath, notwithstanding the fact that the Methodist preacher in this place kept some of our best friends away by telling them that there would be no meeting. That same morning we had invited him to attend; and he promised to be present.

On account of other duties which have necessarily kept my brother away from this branch of the work much of the time, my labors have been too heavy for me; yet I have been thankful for assistance rendered by my nephew Willard Saxby, and for calls by Brn. Bean and Hutchins. I am cheered with the thought that my dear brother will join me shortly to push the work in new fields.

Thus far we have not met public opposition from preachers; yet they have busily worked against us in families. But last Sunday after the afternoon discourse by Bro. Hutchins, agreeably to previous notice in our tent and in the Baptist and Methodist meetings, an opportunity was given to ask and answer questions in regard to the Sabbath, Eld. Martin Bentley, formerly an Adventist preacher was at once appointed to represent the Sunday side of the question. But, instead of proceeding in the order announced, he gave a harangue against us, complaining of being gagged, whereupon we propose to have him occupy five minutes and we five; or, if that was not satisfactory he could present his views in a three days’ discussion; or he might speak one or two evenings in our tent undisturbed. He utterly refused to accept any of these terms, and joined with the Methodist minister in making unchristian remarks, which recoiled on their own heads, leaving a strong feeling in our favor.

We have many warm friends here. A few have said they would stand by, and go with us. We do not expect to have as large gathering through haying; yet we do not feel free to leave for several weeks. We want to live down prejudice. Should a camp-meeting be held in this section, an impetus would be given to the work, and a class of minds would be reached that could not otherwise be lead to receive the truth. May God direct. D. T. BOURDEAU. West Bolton, July 12, 1871.