CANTON OF VAUD, SWITZERLAND.
By D. T. Bourdeau
In my last report I gave an account of a fierce persecution raised against us in this place. But the authorities have acted a noble part in taking measures for the safety of our persons, and have fined several. Immediately following this rude exhibition came in a volley of false statements concerning it and us from at least eight dailies and weeklies. In every paper the cry of Mormonism was raised, and it was stated that the intelligent portion of community did not attend our meetings; that the authorities at Orbe did not check the rabble, but had obliged us to discontinue our meetings, etc.! It seemed for a few days last week that the way would be completely hedged up before us in these parts. But soon articles in our favor, written by friends in Orbe and exposing the calumnies of our enemies, appeared in Le Journal de Genève, Le Journal Suisse, La Gazette de Lausanne, La Semaine, etc., bringing the slanderous reports in question upon the heads of their authors. The first three of the above-named journals are the first dailies of French Switzerland, one having been published for nearly one hundred years. Among other things they say:— “The American preachers in question do not belong to the sect of Mormons, but to that of the Seventh-day Adventists. . . . This distinction is quite important, seeing that the Adventists, however singular may be their doctrines, do not constitute an immoral sect, as do the Mormons; which explains and justifies the tolerance of which the authorities have given proof in their favor. It is not true that the charivari given to the American preachers by the youth of Orbe left the authorities indifferent. The perturbators were condemned to a fine by the municipality, which did not forbid the preachers to continue their meetings. These are still being held.” Le Semaine, a liberal weekly paper which is extensively circulated in the country, says, with regret, that the doings of the mob at Orbe give the lie to those who have pretended that liberty of conscience and of worship had decidedly entered into the manners and practices of the Swiss people for the last quarter of a century. The editor continues: “But it appears that there is more than this, and that to palliate the excesses which have been committed, some have not feared to distort facts. At least this is what appears from the following protestation sent us by one of our honorable citizens, and which we publish, as being entitled to a place in this controversy:— “‘A few words to refute a wicked and calumnious article published in Le Nouvelliste of the 24th, which audaciously accuses of Mormonism religious meetings purely evangelical, and concludes by an attack against the honor of the authorities of Orbe in pretending that these have ordered the discontinuance of these meetings, thus treading under foot liberty of speech and of conscience, and thereby the cantonal and federal constitutions. The suspension of the conferences for a few nights was not by order of the authorities, but from the choice of the lecturer.’” Farmers here arise at three in the morning at the sound of the town bell, to work at harvesting or in the vineyards, and work as long as they can see at night. There is with a large proportion of the male population either religious bigotry or notorious infidelity; and it is reported that some have whipped their wives for attending our meetings. Yet our meetings are progressing here, and at Valleyres; and several are reading on the Sabbath question and are convinced we have the truth. We look for fruit. D. T. BOURDEAU.