Report from Bro. Bourdeau.
By A. C. Bourdeau
My last report, Oct. 20, 1870, was concerning meetings we held at Jericho Corners, Vt. Last week my brother wrote a short report about further labors in that place. Yet it may be proper to say that after the Methodist meeting-house, in which we had lectured for three weeks, and even the school-house, had been closed against us, because some were adopting our views, Eld. Estes, a Baptist minister in the village, gave two discourses against the seventh-day Sabbath, in his meeting-house, and the Methodists suspended services in their meeting-house, to go and hear him. We had previously requested the preachers in the place to meet us on the Sabbath question, which they refused to do. And while Eld. E. made his effort against the Sabbath, he was respectfully invited, himself, or any one that he might choose, to meet us in public discussion, and was asked to read the request to the congregation. This he would not do. And as the truth was trampled under foot, and no other way opened for us to defend it, my brother took the liberty of briefly answering Eld. E.'s main position in tract form, for general circulation in that section. This little tract of thirty-two pages, which has just come out under the direction of Bro. White, will be of use, not only in Jericho, but also in adjoining towns where we design to labor, the Lord willing, this winter. Letters recently received represent that the friends there are having fortitude to endure the pressure from without, and are becoming stronger in the faith, and that others are favorable to the truth. On Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 5 and 6, while my brother and Bro. Bean met with the friends at Jericho, I held meetings with the church at East Richford, Vt. Bro. Stone was present, and assisted in preaching the word. Two were received into the church. Had some success in restoring reconciliation between those that were in difficulty. And, though the brethren there had become discouraged because they did not feel able to proceed further in finishing their house of worship, which is in process of building, and were inclined to deed over the meeting-house, as it was, to the Vt. State Conference; yet, at the business meeting we held, they took new courage, and more than $225.00 were pledged to help complete their meeting-house. We deeply regret that some of the wealthy in that church have been slow in coming up to the figures on Systematic Benevolence, and in donating to various benevolent enterprises. We may believe that if we freely and promptly bring “all the tithes into the storehouse,” and bestow of our means for the furtherance of the cause, to help the needy, etc., the Lord will pour us out “a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it,” and our “health shall spring forth speedily.” The God who forgetteth not the sparrows, and who feedeth the ravens, cares for his faithful, sacrificing children, and even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” During the past few weeks, we have had some profitable meetings with the church in this place. The work of the Lord is reviving in our midst. Our quarterly meeting last Sabbath was a refreshing season to all present; especially in the evening following, when we attended to the ordinances of the Lord's house. Upwards of $400.00 have been pledged by the members of this church, here and abroad, in response to the calls for the book fund, the library, and to defray expenses to Kansas. Since the 12th of November, we have given fifteen lectures in a school-house, in the east part of Bakersfield. Two families are keeping the Sabbath there, and others are inquiring after truth. Last evening, Mr. Wright, the Congregationalist preacher of Bakersfield, gave a discourse against the seventh-day Sabbath, in the school-house where we are lecturing. My brother reviews him this evening. An interesting Baptist family in a French settlement at Richford, has recently embraced the Sabbath. We continue to have urgent calls to labor among the French. Bordoville, Vt., Dec. 5, 1870.