Switzerland by D. T. Bourdeau

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 18.

Switzerland.

By D. T. Bourdeau

WE have at Geneva several warm friends who meet with us at our house since the meetings closed at the hall. God is blessing the work for French and Germans at Lausanne. It was a good thing to call in Brother Conradi and other laborers, and I am enjoying this precious season with these workers. Last Sabbath five of those who have attended our French meetings from the first kept God's holy day with us. We look for fully as many of the Germans, who are even more interested than the French. This is largely due to their having left their native land, thus being less bound by the influence of relatives, friends, and home customs. Our dear Brother Ertzenberger has been sick for a number of weeks, but we expect he will soon be in a condition to join us in the work.

Last week while returning to Geneva to hold an evening meeting, I fell in company with a Swiss missionary who was returning to Algiers, Africa, from a visit to his relatives. He said he was having some success in that country, with Jews who seemed to be better disposed toward the gospel than the Jews on the continent. I then asked him if he did not believe he would have still more success among that people if he kept the seventh-day Sabbath. He replied: "Yes, I do. We find that a great obstacle in the way." He then told me that he had read our French paper, and that his first helper in his mission had decided to keep the Sabbath. I then gave him some printed sermons which we had used at Lausanne. He promised to read them on the ship, and to hand them to his friend and to Jews in Africa. As we parted we covenanted to pray for each other.

This man and his friend had been led to desire to see me by a malicious article written against me which had appeared in a Swiss religious paper. Said the missionary to me: "My friend urged me to call and see you. He will be so glad that we have met. I will tell him all about it."

There are 200,000 French and 100,000 Spaniards where he is going. I regard this as a good field. This missionary also encouraged me to go to his birthplace in French Switzerland, where he has many relatives and friends.

D. T. BOURDEAU.