European Mission | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1876

European Mission.

UNDER date of March 1st, Eld D. T. Bourdeau writes of his journey through France, and mentions the feeling there toward the Prussians, as follows:—

“As we were crossing France on our way to Switzerland, we fell in with a French soldier who had served his country in her late struggle against Prussia, and who was well qualified to give a true statement of the real feelings of the French toward the Prussians, and the prospects of a coming conflict between these two nations. He said:—

“We all expect that another war will break out between the two nations in less than six years, and we are preparing for it. We did not have a fair trial in the late struggle. We were shamefully sold. In the coming struggle we will count on our valor as French soldiers, and the Prussians will be unable to stand before us.”

“As we see this storm gathering, God grant that we may not be indifferent in our efforts to persuade men to enlist and serve under the banner of the coming King, that they may be the happy subjects of his peaceful kingdom.”

In a letter of a later date, to the Review, Eld B. gives the following relative to The Progress in the Churches and on New Ground:—

“In our first tour among the churches in Switzerland we could scarcely do more than to acquaint ourselves with the situation of the brethren and sisters. We have now closed a second trip among the principal companies of Sabbath-keepers in this country. On this trip we have been encouraged in seeing several of the brethren resolve to take an advance step in the temperance reform, by either deciding to use less wine, or by concluding to entirely abandon the use of this article, except in case of sickness. The work had received quite an impetus at the last meeting that we reported in the Review. Two of the brethren went from this meeting to the church of La Coudre, where seven at once made a solemn pledge to adopt abstinence from wine as the rule. Others have pursued a similar course.”

“We are closing the translation of the matter we need most for the new fields, and are in the midst of a brief course of lectures in Locle, where we have been residing for two months, and where there are sixteen keeping the Sabbath. This is the third effort at presenting the truth in this place, which is a city of 11,000 inhabitants, whose principal business is watch-making.”

“We struck off 2,000 hand-bills of the size of one leaf of the Review, and by means of a city directory, and through the post-office, provided each family with the programme of our “conferences.” The result is that our hall was filled to overflowing. We have reached the subject of the second message, and though we cannot look for so bountiful a harvest as we would in a new field, yet we hope God will give us encouraging additions. Some are deeply affected. Several follow us closely with their Bibles, among whom is the first teacher of the college.”

“I have just received a very interesting letter from a person in this place who is hindered from attending our meetings by bitter opposition, but invokes God’s blessing on our effort, and wishes to be remembered by us in our prayers, that deliverance may come.”