Progress of the Cause in Green Bay and Fort Howard, Wis by D. T. Bourdeau; O. A. Olsen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1875

Progress of the Cause in Green Bay and Fort Howard, Wis.

By D. T. Bourdeau; O. A. Olsen

THERE are about twenty who have embraced the present truth in these places. These are divided among six nationalities as follows: Americans, seven; English, seven; French, three; German, one; Norwegian, one; Dane, one (a backslider who had given up the Sabbath). We look for more. Besides these, three Sabbath-keeping families in Green Bay, who were in a state of discouragement, have been greatly revived. Of this number is a Bro. Hall, a native of Vermont, who bids fair to be a great help to the cause in this section. With the few Danish and French brethren who live in the country, there are upwards of forty Sabbath-keepers who meet in our hall in Green Bay on the Sabbath.

The difficulties we have met in the French branch of the work have been a source of great perplexity and deep anxiety. Though the prospects seemed fair at first, we soon saw that our fears respecting the work among the Belgians here were not groundless; that the Belgian people, owing to their habits and the degrading influence of the papacy, were far behind the other classes of French; and that they must be reached by a much slower process than that by which the France French and the Canadian French are reached.

A people in this condition must be approached with the greatest caution on the health question; and extremes on this question, and dwelling injudiciously on the immortality theme, while the great burden ought to have been to win souls by a consistent life, have created much prejudice, and retarded the progress of the cause among this people.

We have had no public opposition from the French preachers; but some, while they have presented an exceedingly fair and friendly appearance, have hypocritically worked against us from house to house, and hindered the people from attending our meetings. We have done all we could in visiting, and have tried to leave a good influence behind us. As the way seems to be hedged up for labor among the French, we purpose, as soon as things are set in order here, to labor at another point among the Americans, where we have an urgent call. We shall long and watch for further openings among the French.

We have labored in sweet union, and have had great reasons for encouragement among the Americans, and hope that from these, and others who may embrace the truth, light may shine to the French.

D. T. BOURDEAU, O. A. OLSEN. Green Bay, Wis., Oct. 22, 1875.