p. 46 | Among the French by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 20, 1874

Among the French.

By D. T. Bourdeau

I HAVE now labored three weeks in this county, speaking from seven to eleven times a week, besides visiting more or less every day. My hearers being scattered, I have to speak in two townships, besides speaking to our American brethren on the Sabbath, and giving now and then a discourse in English for the benefit of those who do not understand the French.

I made it my first point to call on the French preacher, and give him the first chance to hear. I spoke three times before him to his congregation, who seemed to highly appreciate the remarks I made on sanctification and the leading signs of Christ’s coming. The preacher himself seemed to indorse these subjects. But from remarks he dropped, and from his not inviting me to speak yesterday (Sunday) at the close of his very brief sermon, but filling the time in singing several hymns, I should judge that his mind was more on position and to keep his flock within the circle of his creed than on the importance of present truth, which he treated as non-essential.

I have had to suspend my lectures at one point on account of bad roads, but especially because of the following circumstance: One of our hearers who was under conviction took sick as the result of taking cold in attending to his own business, and because of an hereditary difficulty causing fits at times. A physician and others maliciously attributed the cause to our preaching. The news spread far and near, until a candid physician of Ottawa examined him, and said the people need not lay the difficulty to us, but to a disease of long standing. I gave a lecture in English yesterday in a hall in this place to remove prejudice, and enjoyed much freedom. I have got to the Sabbath question, and feel the need of more power to reach hearts filled with prejudice and the love of this world, and which some are endeavoring by studied and determined efforts to turn away from the truth. Pray for us.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Lorena, La Salle Co., Ill., Jan. 12, 1874.