The Cause Among the French, Scotch, and Americans, in Brown Co., Wis
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The Cause Among the French, Scotch, and Americans, in Brown Co., Wis.
By D. T. Bourdeau
I HAVE now been laboring in this county three weeks and a half; have spoken fifteen times in French, seventeen times in English, and traveled on foot from twenty to thirty miles a week. I have had three objects in view in making this, my first direct experiment for those of my tongue: first, to raise up the young believers on those points of advance which are regarded as essential to the prosperity of the cause among our American brethren; secondly, to see what could be done at present to push the work still farther among the French; and, thirdly, to enlist, if possible, the influence of some in a small neighborhood of Scotch and Americans, in favor of the truth and cause among the French. And I am thankful for being able to report some progress in these three directions. The brethren generally receive the truth with eagerness, receive the health reform, as far as I am prepared to present it without the assistance of Mrs. Bourdeau, and manifest a spirit of sacrifice in point of means and other efforts to help advance the truth, that I have not seen excelled, if equaled, among our American people. Yesterday, twelve of our Belgian brethren came together, to see what they could do on Systematic Benevolence. They were all poor or in very moderate circumstances; seven of them were women, one was a widow, and one (a brother) was sick with lung complaint. I must confess that I never took up the subject with more delicacy; but, to my astonishment, $60 were pledged in less than five minutes; and the whole amount was voted to the Wisconsin Conference Fund; “for,” said the brethren, “we want to unite with our American brethren in the work.” This spirit of union and true sacrifice starts my tears while I write, and I think it would start the tears of others in pleasant circumstances, if they were permitted to see the destitution of these families in home comforts, etc. A church of twelve members was organized. On account of prejudice, lack of interest in religious things, and, perhaps, partly because of a disgraceful occurrence between two who professed to keep the Sabbath, our advance on new ground among the French has been slow. But we find a few who are interested; and to-day, with the aid of French notices which we have had printed at our Office, we commence a more thorough effort to see what can be done for the French at this point. But I am aware that the work will require a long, steady pull; and that under certain circumstances the work may have to be postponed at some points until certain influences have worn away. We are gaining the confidence and affections of the Americans, and take up the Sabbath question to-morrow evening. I am satisfied that in many efforts that are made in new fields, the Sabbath question and other subjects are introduced too soon. More than half of my discourses have been on practical religion in harmony with the coming of the Lord and a preparation to meet it. The neighborhood is small, and we cannot expect great results. But I should feel that the effort was not in vain if none received the truth at present, as the Lord has approved the effort by his Spirit. I am sure that the people would have closed their ears against us if we had urged our peculiar views upon them too soon. It is difficult to convince some of our French brethren that they are not neglected in not having works in their own tongue. To illustrate: Sister Capman, of whom I spoke in my last report, has come about one hundred miles, with her youngest son, aged thirteen years, to hear French preaching for the first time. All she had had for her instruction for thirteen years was her Bible and two French tracts which were published sixteen years ago, when our facilities and experience were very limited. She and her son walked fourteen miles, last Friday, to be at our meeting. She was perishing for want of knowledge. Without my suggestions, her little son offers his services to help set French type after receiving some instruction. Sr. C. reports that two Catholics have received the truth through her efforts in connection with the two French tracts she had. Yes, we need French works, and I earnestly desire that Bro. White’s plan to carry on this branch of the work on a large scale, as though we meant to do something, be carried out without delay. All I wish is, to know the place the Lord would have me fill, and I will humbly fill it. We are in perishing need of one or two small works to serve as stepping-stones between Catholics and Protestants; for I believe that many Catholics in this country, who are partly dissolved from the influence of Romanism, will yet embrace the truth. All our French brethren in this section were Catholics a few years since; and why may not others situated as they were be led to rejoice in the truth that they love? But where are the tracts for our judicious brethren who have the cause at heart and might greatly help as colporteurs to hand out? How can we meet those who, when hearing on interesting and important questions, ask us, “Have you tracts on this subject?” We have doubtless been too anxious for this branch of the work, but what part shall we act? What shall be done with translations of Bro. White’s work on the 24th of Matthew, “Which Day do you Keep? and Why?” etc., by my brother and others? Eight were baptized yesterday; but our way was greatly obstructed. The wind was so high that we could not baptize at Green Bay, two miles from this place. We then decided to baptize in a brook near by, but were refused the privilege. The people had gathered together from various points, and we were obliged to go nearly two miles farther, the candidates and most of the people following us on foot. This circumstance has given us the sympathy of many. Truly God does strengthen, and he will have all the praise. Wequiock, Brown Co., Wis., Oct. 6, 1873.