Locust Grove, Ky by D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1872

Locust Grove, Ky.

By D. T. Bourdeau

THE work in this section is advancing slowly, but we trust surely and permanently. There are no townships in this State. The land is divided up into counties, and farmers generally have large farms. As a result, there is not that public spirit and enterprise centered at numerous small points that there would otherwise be; roads are generally very much neglected; and it is more difficult to keep up an interest in the country, especially when the weather is bad; yet we usually have a fair attendance.

We have nearly canvassed the Sabbath question, and reports of our meetings are being circulated far and near. Occasionally new ones come in from a distance to hear the new doctrine. Last night we had two Baptist preachers to hear us, with several of their members, and at their request we broke from our natural course and explained the principal symbols of the chart.

We cannot take the people by storm in an entirely new field like this. Prejudice must be removed, and the people must be patiently instructed. We desire to move in the opening providence of God, to be wholly consecrated to him, to exercise more living faith in him, and give him a chance to work, and not take the work into our own hands. We also desire to have the cause of God at heart, and not make our work simply a mechanical thing. We must get into the hearts of the people and move their affections toward God and the truth. We must have the power of the truth as well as the form. We must walk more closely with God, and be more in earnest, and give God the praise, and then he will work mightily in behalf of his truth.

We held our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. A few came out. Others, perhaps, like Nicodemus, feared to come out in broad daylight on the Sabbath; but may they, like him, increase in strength and boldness. Of Nicodemus, we read: “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they [Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea] the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” John 19: 30, 31. What a contrast! At first going to Jesus by night for fear of the Jews, and finally waxing sufficiently bold to take a leading part in caring for the dead body of his despised Master. God help us to be patient toward our fellow-men as God has been toward us. D. T. BOURDEAU.

Locust Grove, Ky., Feb. 19, 1872.