Vermont Church Meetings and Visits, Winter 1872
By A. C. Bourdeau
After Nov. 4, 1872, I continued holding meetings and visiting in East Charleston over the next Sabbath and first-day. Some were hindered from attending these meetings in consequence of the epizootic among horses. Nov. 16, held three interesting meetings with the church at home. The attendance was large. Enjoyed freedom in speaking the word, and the testimonies which were given in quick succession, were cheering to all present. The next week, spent three days at West Bolton. Sabbath, held three preaching meetings and one social meeting. Sunday, organized the church in working order, relative to the Missionary and Tract Society, and preached once, Monday evening. Four weeks previous to that time, Eld. Hutchins had moved away from West Bolton, and the clergy in the place had taken the opportunity of his absence to hold protracted meetings for three weeks, having, as their object, to crush down the Sabbath-keepers in that vicinity; but their effort failed to meet their purpose, as it resulted in leading one more to embrace the Sabbath, and another one fully resolved to keep the whole truth. The next Sabbath and first-day, Bro. Bean and I met with the few friends in Huntington. A severe snow-storm hindered them and ourselves from attending a meeting in Starksborough, at that time, as we had designed to do. A sister in H. told us then how she had sent copies of the REVIEW and several small tracts to her sister in Waterbury, who in reading them had become interested in the truth, and had embraced the Sabbath. Dec. 6-8, attended the quarterly Tract and Missionary meeting for the first district, at Bordoville. Held six meetings. The business meeting was deeply interesting. A good start was made in pledging for the health book fund, and for the poor fund, and several good reports were handed in which showed that some had tried to labor in the missionary field. Yet there are many more who should take an active part in this work. A hard snow-storm and very cold weather made it impracticable to hold meetings in Berkshire, Dec. 10, and in Richford, the 11th, as I had arranged. Dec. 14 and 15, attended the quarterly meeting for the second district, in East Charleston. On account of deep snow and stormy weather, not many of the old friends of the cause from Irasburgh and vicinity were present; yet we had a good attendance of the new friends of the cause. Two were buried in baptism by my brother, and others are expected to be baptized soon. Bro. Hutchins was present and aided in preaching the word. Arranged to have him fill my appointment for Sutton, the next Wednesday; and I spent five days in visiting families in West Charleston, Brownington, Irasburgh, Eden, and Johnson, soliciting means and pledges for benevolent purposes, encouraging the brethren to pay their pledges on S. B. up to Jan. 1, 1873, and to renew their figures for the ensuing year, &c. Sabbath, Dec. 21, held two preaching meetings and one social meeting, in Wolcott. The cold weather prevented our holding a business meeting, the next day, for the third district. Since then, have received a full report from the agent in that district. Dec. 28 and 29, Bro. L. Bean and I, accompanied by Bro. and sister W. J. Cross, attended the quarterly meeting for the fourth district, in Bristol. Several new friends of the cause were present from Starksborough, Huntington, Richmond, and Shelburn, a distance of from seventeen to twenty-five miles, who enjoyed the meetings much. Four united with the church. The next Wednesday, held a profitable meeting at Bro. R. M. Pierce’s, in Andover, and Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 4 and 5, 1873, held seven meetings in Jamaica. These were our most important meetings. This is next to the largest church in Vermont. While several persons there may be reckoned as being true friends of the cause, it is evident that the enemy has been working through certain influences to cause division in that church, and to lead some to take positions, and to advocate views that are opposed to some of the fundamental principles of present truth. We have reason to believe that God did assist by his Spirit, as we tried to work in these meetings. While the remnant church in this closing work of reform are trying to walk in the light that shines on their pathway, step by step, the only safe way for us is to try to keep pace with the body. Let us not be “of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Nearly twenty-five dollars were raised for benevolent purposes, and several became members of the Tract and Missionary Society by the payment of one dollar each. Bro. Bean’s help was appreciated in these meetings. On our way home, last Tuesday evening, we enjoyed a good season at the house of Bro. Dr. Tagart, in Shelburn, with Bro. Tagart, Basford, and Fletcher, and their families, three of whom have recently embraced the Sabbath by reading our publications, and are all searching after the truth. In looking over the field, we find that since last spring over forty new ones have embraced the Sabbath in this State. My brother and I design now to interest ourselves, for several weeks, under the management and advice of the President of the S. D. A. P. Association, in translating and helping to prepare works to be published in French. A. C. BOURDEAU. Bordoville, Vt., Jan. 10, 1873.