p. 70 | A. C. BOURDEAU by A. C. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 12, 1873

A. C. BOURDEAU

By A. C. Bourdeau

Vermont

The first Sabbath and first-day in June, I attended the quarterly T. and M. Society meeting for the first district, at Bordoville, Vt. Had a good attendance. Sabbath, had three meetings, and attended to the ordinances of the Lord’s house; and first-day had two business meetings. Important matters were considered relative to some who were in a backslidden state, and to carrying out successfully the plan of Systematic Benevolence, etc. Organized a Vigilant Missionary Society for Franklin Co., Vt. About $50.00 were pledged on delinquent fund, and about $500.00 for the school at Battle Creek, Mich.

Sabbath, June 14, attended the quarterly meeting at West Charleston. Preached three times, had a good social meeting, attended to the ordinances of the Lord’s house, had a business meeting, $14.00 were pledged on delinquent fund, and $230.00 for the school at Battle Creek. The next day (Sunday) drove twenty miles to West Burke, aided in holding three preaching meetings under the Vermont tent. Bro. M. N. Cross, who had helped in pitching the tent, and had acted as tent-master for two weeks, free of charges, and Eld. A. Stone, decided at once to leave for their respective homes. I continued with my brother, holding meetings, visiting, and aiding him and Bro. P. W. Saxby to purchase locations in Burke, till Monday, the 23d. Sabbath, the 21st, we held two interesting meetings in Westmore, Willoughby Lake, about ten miles from Burke. Was glad to find Bro. Litchfield, whom I had not seen for more than fourteen years, having fresh courage, and being much revived in the truth, and to see interesting individuals, who embraced the Sabbath under my brother’s labors last winter, rejoicing in the present truth. When I left the tent the 21st, Bro. L. Bean had just returned from attending, in my stead, the quarterly meeting in Wolcott, designing to remain with the tent one week. There were pledged at that quarterly meeting $7.00 on delinquent fund, and $80.00 for the school at Battle Creek.

The next Friday, on my way to West Bolton, I received the sad intelligence of the sudden and unexpected death of Daniel L. Fuller, who was drowned while bathing in the La Moille river, and learned that I was desired to attend his funeral the next day (Sabbath, the 28th), at West Bolton. The funeral was largely attended at the Baptist meeting-house in West Bolton. Evening after the Sabbath, held a preaching meeting in Jericho, near Bro. Smith’s. Brethren and sisters were in attendance from Huntington, Starksborough, Bristol, New Haven Mills, and Essex Junction. Though they were disappointed on the Sabbath on account of the funeral, yet they were deeply interested in the remarks that were made on that occasion, and none of them felt in any way to regret the pains they had taken to attend this meeting. Had an interesting meeting on Sunday.

July 3, Bro. L. Bean and I went to Jamaica to attend a quarterly meeting in that district. The state of things was such there that we concluded to spend two Sabbaths and Sundays with the church in Jamaica. During our stay there, we held ten business meetings, besides several other meetings. We are glad to report that a large majority of that church are earnestly resolved to keep pace with God’s people toward the Mount Zion. We hope that they will ever “dare to do right,” and “dare to be true.” Either God is with this people, or he is not. While we have every reason to believe that God has set his hand to this work, and we profess to believe that he has, it is not wisdom for us to hang back by entertaining a spirit of jealousy, distrust, fault-finding, and murmuring. Consistency would teach us to believe that God will carry on his work, and to have confidence in the means and agencies that he uses, in his own appointed way, to carry it on. This we are resolved to do by the assisting grace of God. $16.20 were pledged on delinquent fund, and $130.00 for the school. The general quarterly State T. and M. Society meeting, held in this place last Sabbath and Sunday, and attended by Bro. S. N. Haskell, was of deep interest and profit to all who attended. May the good work go on.

A. C. BOURDEAU

Bordoville, Vt., July 25, 1873.