p. 55 | SWITZERLAND by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 8, 1878

SWITZERLAND

By D. T. Bourdeau

The work at Orbe and at Valleyres is progressing as fast as we could expect, considering the obstacles we have to meet. We hailed the coming of Bro. Andrews with joy, believing that “two are better than one” in breaking up new ground that requires so much anxiety and wearing labor as does even Switzerland, a country indeed favored in many respects, but where great blessings have been abused. This is true of the measure of freedom that Switzerland has so long enjoyed; many have taken advantage of this to do evil, and others have indulged extreme independence, while religious fanatics from abroad have crowded upon the people false doctrines that have aroused the caution of many, making the work of introducing present truth more difficult, and in some places impracticable until prejudice is removed by prudent and patient effort. We do not, however, despair of Switzerland as a field of labor, but believe it will yield a rich harvest of souls.

The false reports published against us in four leading papers of Lausanne and Geneva, of which I spoke in a previous article, had to be met here, also additional calumny from a minister in Morges. This led the National minister of Orbe, editor of the leading religious paper of his church in this canton, to attack us publicly the second Sunday we were here. Fortunately I was present. We had but about twenty-five persons at our next meeting. God gave freedom in vindicating the right, and the scales turned, several taking pains to set forth matters in their true light, and showing us sympathy by letters and otherwise, so that the next evening we had more than our usual attendance.

Our expenses were high, as we were at a hotel and had to pay for everything, even for the use of our hall. But our little bank, hung at the door, has turned out 50 francs; and friends, through sympathy, and partly as a reaction of false reports, have handed in 110 francs as presents to sustain the mission; so that our running expenses, including what I paid in moving my family here, and for a license to sell tracts, have been more than half met. Thus far we have sold 45 francs’ worth of tracts. We must also work at other points to take advantage of our license to sell tracts, which costs 21 francs a month.

We had to suspend our meetings here several days because of opposition revival meetings. Yet we watched the work carefully and kept up the meetings at Valleyres. We begin meetings again at Orbe this evening. We have, up to this date, held fifteen meetings at Orbe and six at Valleyres. Some are seriously examining the truth, and we hope they will obey as they fully see its importance.

Good news comes from our Belgian brethren in Wisconsin. They seem to have gone to work in earnest, and report that the heads of seven families, with quite a number of youth, have embraced the Sabbath and kindred truths. They are obtaining subscribers for the French paper. This is as it should be. We encourage them and our French brethren in Illinois, etc., to obtain and circulate our French tracts, many of which have not yet been published in America. This can be done through the tract societies, or through responsible persons recommended by their brethren. D. T. BOURDEAU.

Orbe, Vaud, Switzerland, July 17, 1878.