THE WORK AMONG THE EUROPEAN FRENCH.
By D. T. Bourdeau
NOTWITHSTANDING the difficulties we have met and the affliction through which we have passed, to the praise of God we are able to report precious lessons learned, victories gained, and good prospects for the cause among the French in Europe. In the past two years, God has given us witnesses in Locle, Switzerland, and in four entirely new fields situated at a considerable distance from each other; viz., Alsace (now a part of Germany), Southern France, St. Didier, near Lyons, France, and Morges, Switzerland. We wish there were more believers in these fields; yet we would not undervalue what God has done. In countries where stubborn difficulties are met at every step, and where the work must move slowly in the start, even a few witnesses are of incalculable value to the cause in removing prejudice and spreading the light in the midst of the dense moral darkness that envelops the people. A French officer and his wife who took their stand for the truth at St. Didier, at the time of our recent trip in France, report encouragingly. They say God has given them great confidence in defending the truth against the attacks of different ministers. The brother will be obliged to join the army for a few weeks by the time this report appears in print. He wishes to be remembered in our prayers. In Morges we have also met great opposition. We have had to meet in our kitchen, and some have even wanted to prevent us from doing this, and to devise some plan to have us leave Morges. But the authorities have checked them by saying, “As long as he behaves himself peaceably, and does not infringe on the rights of others, you cannot compel him to leave.” A daughter of a wealthy citizen has been oppressed for the sake of the truth in a manner reminding us of the treatment some Christians received in the Dark Ages, and has been compelled to leave home. Still, there are seven at Morges who rejoice in the truth and are making daily progress. Others occupying public positions want to obey, but have not as yet had resolution to take up the cross. One difficulty in Switzerland and in Alsace lies in the fact that the laws require parents to have their children attend school on the Sabbath. Although I have been detained at home much of the time, I have tried to labor to advantage. Besides five meetings a week, an extensive correspondence, and visiting, I have searched for a new field of labor, have written a brief reply to a tract in favor of Sunday that is being circulated, and have translated or written eight-page tracts to hand out at different stages of courses of lectures, to gain the good will of the authorities. One favorable feature is that we find the people of Switzerland disposed to buy tracts. I have sold and given away not far from 100 francs’ worth of tracts since coming to Morges, and I might have disposed of three times that amount had not sickness in my family hindered, and could I have obtained the right to sell tracts at the time the interest was the highest at Morges. I have also ordered not far from thirty dollars’ worth of our new publications sent to my brother in Canada. I learn that there is at least a limited influence in favor of the Sabbath in Geneva; and in Lausanne, a city of 30,000 inhabitants (and the birthplace of the missionary who founded the Grande Ligne Mission Institute, Canada East, in which I studied two and a half years), situated about six miles from this place, is a small independent hall with an adjoining room for preachers to rest in, which I can have for $10 a month. And there are several openings in a canton north of this, that should not be neglected, and places in Alsace and in France must be visited. But this point should be braced up by additions in this section. It is therefore evident that whether we have a tent or not, at least a helper is needed in the French mission, besides the labors of Bro. Andrews when he is not engaged directly in the publishing work. When such cities as Lausanne and Geneva are entered, we shall have to speak to English and Americans as well as to those of other nationalities. There are two churches in each of those cities to accommodate English and American citizens. Mrs. B. is gradually improving in health, and is adapting herself to the climate here, which, according to the unanimous testimony of physicians and numerous cases of nervous fever, is hard on the nerves, especially in winter. The time has come for me to move out, and the language of my heart is: Let me see this cause, the best of causes, prosper; let the loud notes of victory echo from the New World to the Old, and from the Old back to the New; and let the message swell louder and louder and spread more and more, till earth’s remotest bounds are illuminated by its glory, and all the honest are gathered; and let me have a humble part in this glorious work. D. T. BOURDEAU. Morges, Switzerland, April 12, 1878.