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A. C. BOURDEAU

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1871

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 23.

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A. C. BOURDEAU

By A. C. Bourdeau

Vermont.

MARCH 31, 1871, Bro. D. T. Bourdeau and I went to Jericho. In the evening, enjoyed a good meeting with the few friends there. The next day, Sabbath, held a meeting at the house of sister J. Oaks. All present appreciated the word spoken. Sister O. had been seriously opposed by her near relatives and professed friends because she kept the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; and she was thankful for the privilege of having a preaching meeting held at her house unmolested. The evening following, held an interesting meeting at Bro. Bugbee’s.
April 5, held an evening meeting in the M. E. meeting-house at Weybridge. A respectable audience listened with interest to a discourse by Bro. D. T. Bourdeau, on some of the promised signs of the times. The 8th and 9th, we each gave two discourses in the Munger St. school-house in Middlebury, held a business meeting evening after the Sabbath at Bro. Purdon’s, and organized a Bible-class and Sabbath-school for the church of Bristol and New Haven. We believe that if the young Sabbath-keepers in New Haven and vicinity hold fast the profession of their faith, they may serve as stepping-stones in helping others to embrace the truth.
The 10th, drove to Pittsford and spent the night at Bro. S. D. Yaw’s, where we had a profitable visit; and the next day went to Andover, where on Wednesday, the 12th, we each spoke once in the house of Bro. R. M. Pierce, to a little band of Sabbath-keepers and friends, who enjoyed the meeting much and responded to the word spoken, with cheering testimonies. We were glad to hear the young express their determination to go to the kingdom with God’s people. During our short stay at A., we enjoyed a good season in visiting and praying with Bro. Pierce and his family. He is in a very feeble state of health, having a lung difficulty with other ailments, and other members of his family are unwell; yet their hope is upon One who is mighty, and a present help in every time of need.
April 15 and 16, met with the church at Jamaica. Found their new meeting-house completed ready for dedication, and meeting-house sheds in process of building. In 1868-69 while I was laboring among them, they decided to build a house of worship corresponding as nearly as possible to their means and to the wants of the cause in their place; and by the blessing of God they now have a respectable meeting-house, all paid for without receiving any assistance from abroad; and though their means are limited, with willing minds, they are building sheds to shelter their teams when they go to meeting. During our stay there we each gave three discourses, held one social meeting, and one business meeting, and arranged Systematic Benevolence for thirty-nine names amounting to $211.12. The preaching meetings were all well attended with candid hearers from without. We encouraged Bro. N. Orcutt to try to keep up the interest there by holding meetings besides those held on the Sabbath. The 18th, held another meeting in Andover.
On Sabbath and first-day, the 22d and 23d, held meetings in a school-house near Bro. E. P. Cram’s, in Roxbury. The church at R. has been greatly weakened a second time recently by the removal of several of their members to other parts. Can brethren be justified in leaving a small church where their help and influence are needed to go where there is a large church and their help is not needed?
Monday morning, April 24, I received a letter from home informing me of severe sickness in my family. We drove home the distance of eighty miles before the next morning. Were sorry to disappoint the brethren at Stowe, April 26. Owing to continued sickness in my family, I would not feel justified to leave home at present, hence have arranged with Bro. D. T. Bourdeau, and A. S. Hutchins to fill my appointments for meetings in this month, at East Richford, Johnson, Wolcott, Sutton, and Charleston.

A. C. BOURDEAU

Bordoville, Vt., May 8, 1871.