p. 197 | Leaving for Europe by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 23, 1875

Leaving for Europe.

By D. T. Bourdeau

I have been negotiating with the “Compagnie Générale Transatlantique,” of New York, and if my last proposition is accepted, and Providence favors, we shall leave New York for Havre, France on the Péreire, a French steamer, December 25, as we are permitted by the company to transfer our baggage and occupy our berths on the ship the day before (Friday). The wharf is at the foot of Morton Street, Pier 50, North River. If I follow this arrangement, I shall reach New York with my family December 22. Any assistance rendered us by brethren in the city will be appreciated.

It is after weighing well the dangers and difficulties of the mission before us, and with a clear sense of duty and with faith in an opening Providence, that we leave for Europe. We go seeking no other pleasure than that growing out of the service of God in the work of saving perishing men. We have aimed to make a full surrender of ourselves to God, and think we have laid our property and our lives upon the altar, to be spent to the glory of God. We have not been without a sense of our infirmities and lacks, but we trust that God will strengthen us.

Although we have crowded two weeks’ work into one for several weeks, and have lost much rest, we feel stronger to-day than we did a month ago. We feel that God is strengthening us for the work before us, and shall praise him, and try to be faithful and truly humble.

Our five days’ stay with Bro. Wm. Saxby and family and Bro. Morin at St. Albans, Vermont, on our way to Burke, was very pleasant. I held two small meetings and visited with some of the French during that time. I expect a church will yet be raised in that place.

We had an unusually large attendance at Bordoville last Sabbath and a good meeting. I tried to leave counsel that will be of lasting benefit to the brethren and sisters. This is the largest church in Vermont, and the people here have been highly favored. May they not lose the spirit of sacrifice and the brotherly love that characterized them years ago. The danger of this dear people is to be slack in carrying out church discipline and in cherishing the spirit of tender love and forbearance that it is designed to inculcate; also to overlook the fact that God claims more of them in the missionary work. Where are the men and women and the youth in this large church who are preparing for the ministry?

Bordoville, as our birthplace, and as the place where we spent most of our youthful days, Bordoville with its surrounding scenery, called to mind events and thoughts of the past, which I mused upon to profit. But no spot in Bordoville is so sacred to me as that where my only sister and beloved father sleep in Jesus. It was our privilege to call on Mrs. B’s. dying mother who has a firm hold on the better world. We proposed to stay with her another week. Her reply was: “If duty calls you away, I would not detain you.”

I had hoped that the Providence of God would so direct that the lot of my dear and only brother and mine would be cast together in the missionary work. But as God has ordered otherwise, I would submit to his will, believing that he can make us a host as we separately push away from shore and reach after the strength of God.

A letter from a French brother near Green Bay, Wisconsin, brings the cheering news of an esteemed family who have taken a firm stand on the truth, and of a good prospect at another point. God give still greater success to the cause among the French West. We shall remember St. Anne, Kankakee, Serena, Wequionok, Green Bay and Duck Creek.

We are made near to each other by the one Spirit and by the glorious cause we have espoused. And whether we labor in Europe or in America, may we meet when the trump of God shall sound and the redeemed shall be gathered from every land.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Burke, Vt., Dec. 10, 1875.