St. Anne, Illinois by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1874

St. Anne, Illinois.

By D. T. Bourdeau

PROGRESS OF THE WORK AMONG THE FRENCH.

Have held two Sabbath meetings here. We held our first Sabbath meeting two weeks sooner than we usually do. But the Lord was with us. Three took a firm stand on the commandments. Last Sabbath, six spoke, expressing their determination to obey the truth. There are others keeping the Sabbath, and still others are convinced, but are waiting to hear a discussion, which commences to-morrow night, if the man who challenged me will adopt such regulations as are in harmony with the rules of discussion. In the meanwhile, I am reviewing opposition discourses on the Sabbath question, which deal quite largely in stories of ascension robes, and other remarks which are designed to answer for argument. But all are not disposed to receive them as such. Yesterday (Sunday) morning, at the close of their first meeting, I politely handed a notice respecting a reply to an opposition discourse which had just been given; but an elder sternly refused to read it, and answered roughly, though I said not a word. Last night the preacher approved this elder’s course, insinuating that, though he had not advised the elder, the people should not give the least countenance to our work. He indefinitely announced the discussion. After the benediction, I asked the privilege of saying one word, as I was concerned in the discussion. I was pointed to the door by an elder.

The French are proverbial for their politeness, but I confess I could not discern much in the treatment I received. What some here would regard as politeness on my part, would be for me and my people to be blackened by slanderous reports, and for the views I represent to be lowered in the dust, and I not have the privilege of a reply before those who have heard us opposed.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

May 25, 1874.