p. 20 | France | AdventAI

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 13, 1909

France

I began a series of meetings Nov. 13, 1908, in the city of Lyons. For a few weeks Brother J. P. Badaut helped me, but he was obliged to go to St. Etienne to continue the work which Brother Jules Rey from failing health was obliged to drop.

The Lord helped me in presenting the great truths of the message to interested audiences. Sister Jeanne Bourquin rendered valuable help in Bible work in the homes of the people. It takes us longer to hold a series of lectures in France than in the States. Instead of six or seven evening meetings a week, we can get the people out to only three. On April 17 we had the joy of baptizing into the likeness of Christ’s death eight converted souls. Five of these had been Roman Catholics. Men who had used tobacco and wine gave up their cherished idols. One of the candidates was twelve years old, a German girl who had heard the truth in Germany.

Our winter’s experience in the city of Lyons has given us much confidence and courage for the work in our large cities.

I spent March 26-29 with the believers in the departments of the Doubs, baptizing three souls at the city of Besancon and one at Valentigney; these persons were brought to the light of present truth by the labors of Brother Cæsar Guenin, who has recently been called to labor in the northern France mission field. He will doubtless begin an effort in the city center of Rouen. I was with the churches and isolated believers in southern France from April 1-12. There are two nurses working at Marseilles with whom I spent one day, but nothing yet has been done to present the message in this great metropolis. Missions and gospel halls opened by other denominations are well attended, and at an early date our work must be started in this city of over five hundred thousand inhabitants. A ship missionary would here find a vast field of activity; for into this port come ships from many nations.

Two days were spent with the three believers at the beautiful city of Nice, situated near the Italian frontier. Three years previous I had visited these isolated believers for the first time. They appealed to me to come to their city to open up the work; but we could give no definite answer to their earnest call.

I held a meeting and visited the believers at each of the following places: Nimes, Montpellier, Cette, Brignon, La Salle. At the last-named place we held a general meeting of the believers from Anduze, St. Jean-du-Gard, and St. Hippolyte-du-Fort. I baptized one sister and held the ordinances.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH RECENTLY DEDICATED AT KEENE, N. H.

The work in France would make encouraging progress if we had a few more experienced laborers. We have twelve workers in all for our large field, seven of these are young men and women who have been in the field only a short time. May the Lord make them successful workers in his vineyard.

France has given two of its best men to the Latin Union Conference for the Algerian field. Brother U. Augsbourger, whose labors in Paris were crowned with success, finds the work in the city of Algiers less encouraging, though lately he baptized four new converts.

I left Lyons April 18 for Paris, on my way to the General Conference. I was glad to speak Sunday night to a hall crowded with attentive hearers. Present truth has gained a firm foothold in the capital city. The church, numbering fifty members, has lately moved into its newly rented hall in an entirely Catholic quarter of the city. It looked good to see across the broad front of the hall the words, “Adventistes du Septieme Jour” [Seventh-day Adventists].

Elder Paul Badaut is the only worker in Paris, but is soon to be assisted by a young man from our Gland school.

Below is a translation of a card, thousands of which are distributed on the crowded thoroughfares:—

“The Seventh-day Adventists

“WHAT THEY ANNOUNCE

“The Seventh-day Adventists are Christians who have returned to all the practises of the primitive faith. The Bible is their creed. From the prophecies of this Holy Book they teach to the world the fulfilment of the signs of the last days, as also the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Meetings are held on these important subjects, at 11 rue Coettegon. A cordial invitation extended to all.” H. H. DEXTER.