SOUTHERN FRANCE by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 14, 1876

SOUTHERN FRANCE.

By D. T. Bourdeau

When I wrote my last report, I was holding several meetings a week in a meeting-house which had been opened to me in this place. Since that time, in addition to the burdens connected with moving my baggage to this country and preparing for house-keeping, I have continued my course of lectures in the meeting-house, and held a few meetings in another commune, not far from the largest Protestant church in this department. At this point, three ministers heard me, and heartily endorsed my testimony on the evidences of Christ’s second coming, thanking God that I had come from America, and making me flattering offers for the future. They said that it was just the testimony that was needed to revive the work among the Protestants in France.

At this point, I was offered the use of a temple which will accommodate one thousand persons, in which to give a course of lectures commencing last Monday night. The invitation was made by the pastor of the temple, who is said to be the ablest preacher in the department. I accepted the invitation. In the meanwhile, my practice in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, and the order of my subjects, as well as the progress of the meetings, made it necessary for me to give my reasons in favor of the ancient Sabbath. Immediately consciences were favorably impressed, and deep convictions fastened on many hearts.

I do not believe that there were two of those who heard me on the fourth commandment who did not acknowledge the correctness of our position. But some who had acknowledged the truth, and who were turning against it because of the cross, reported unfavorably to the preacher who had invited me to preach in his temple, making the impression that I had brought disturbance into my meeting the day before (Sunday), in speaking on the Sabbath question; whereas they were the very ones who had disturbed the meeting by bringing in their objections on the Sabbath question while I was about to speak on the seven seals, according to two previous announcements. Of course, I was obliged to meet their objections. This I did with much patience and tenderness, and to the satisfaction of all.

Last week, as the result of the above misrepresentations, the preacher who had sent me an invitation came to see me in company with the president of the National Churches of this department, as I was instructing a pastor on the prophecies, who had been six years a professor in the city of Smyrna (the Smyrna of the Apocalypse), and as I was about to introduce the Sabbath question. These men told me what they had heard, and said they knew that I was a Sabbath-keeper, but thought I kept the Sabbath as one keeps his handkerchief—in his pocket. They said that they were interested in the signs of Christ’s second coming, and would let me speak in their temple provided I said nothing on the Sabbath in the temple or out of the temple.

I corrected the false impressions they had received, and said that the Sabbath reform was a sign of the coming of Christ and that I could not be faithful in preaching the signs of Christ’s coming without giving the Bible Sabbath its proper place among my subjects. I also said that I could not submit to their wishes without doing violence to my conscience; yet when I was invited by a preacher to give lectures in his temple I never treated the Sabbath question in the temple without his permission; and I would lecture in their temple up to that point, if they wished to have me. We then had a two hours’ discussion on the Sabbath and commandments (three ministers against one), at the close of which I felt that God had given me my opponents as prisoners, so far as the argument was concerned; and I am sure that they left with the conviction that we had the Spirit of Christ; for last Sunday they assembled their leading brethren, and told them that though they did not carry out their first plan, yet they thought we had a good spirit, and had resolved not to throw stones at us.

Last Sunday the preacher who had helped build the church I had occupied in this place came to quiet consciences; and Monday night after abusing us in the most shameful and vulgar manner, he closed the church against me. But, as we sometimes say in America, he overshot the mark in calling us wolves in sheep’s clothing, false teachers, false prophets, etc., and in making false statements concerning our course in this place to close the sympathy of the people against us as to giving, etc. We have a few friends who sympathize with us and are continuing their investigation. We speak to them at their homes and twice a week in our kitchen which was the hall for prayer-meetings before we occupied it. The law permits us to speak to twelve persons besides the members of our family. If we go beyond these limits we are liable to pay a fine and to be imprisoned during a period of from one month to two years. I state these facts that our brethren may know our situation and remember us in their prayers.

You can judge of the unpleasantness and anxiety connected with a letting down from a temple where we can speak to the crowds, to a private room where we are permitted to speak to only twenty persons. And this is a sample of our experience wherever the authorities are disposed to refuse to give us a legal permission to speak outside of temples. We are under the laws of the empire, which will be modified at the close of this presidential term (in four years), when we hope to have full liberty of speech. The Republican party have to move with caution in making changes. We see the hand of God in the change in this government. Let us pray that God may still favor us, that we may be able to preach without being fettered as we are at present.

Since 1875 we can in France, circulate journals that are published in other countries, provided they do not speak against the government. Therefore I can get subscribers for our French paper. But to sell numbers of our paper as colporteur, I would have to get permission of the government, otherwise I would be liable to a fine and to imprisonment.

I cannot sell or circulate books, pamphlets, or tracts without being subject to a heavy fine and imprisonment, unless I first get a permission from the government. I have through the authorities of this department, sent fourteen kinds of tracts to the capital to have them stamped. Should I succeed in this my prospects will brighten up before me. I have espoused the cause of France and shall not leave for another field unless I am obliged by insurmountable obstacles to do so for a while.

I am not located here permanently. Should Providence favor me, I purpose to settle in a city whose inhabitants are mostly Protestants, and rent a hall in which I can preach fearlessly the whole counsel of God. With the exception of a few localities where the Methodists and l’Eglise Libre have a foothold, there has been no spirit of reform in all this part of France for generations. The Advent doctrine is new, and commands the attention of the people. We desire to move with prudence and patience.

Many perplexing things come up. Should the way open before us, the work will be too heavy for any one man, yet I am willing to labor alone if the Lord so directs. We have repeatedly been brought into most trying circumstances, when we had reached the point of extreme exhaustion, and when we must do the work of two men or lose all we had gained. At such times we have moved by faith, and God has wonderfully sustained us, and we have felt the power and presence of God as we have not felt for years. Praise the Lord. We long for a full baptism of the Holy Spirit, a thorough conversion to God, that God may help us mightily to his glory.

In less than two weeks I have met five ministers on the Sabbath question, besides speaking in public, visiting much and traveling on foot. I feel worn, and must take rest. The French are quick, and we must be quick as lightning at times to meet their wants. Pray for us.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Barcelone, Chabeuil, Drome, France, Nov. 22.