Brauges, France by D. T. Bourdeau

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 40.

Brauges, France.

By D. T. Bourdeau

I RETURNED to this place, with Mrs. Bourdeau, on the 16th inst., to prepare the way for, and to perfect, an organization. I found the young converts of good courage, and glad to see us. Though they had much to learn, yet they were willing to receive instruction on all points of doctrine and practice held by Seventh-day Adventists. We baptized fifteen persons, organized a church of seventeen members, and a brother Badout was encouraged to engage in the work as a colporter. Every believer was baptized. We regard this as a great victory, when we consider the fact that immersion has been unknown here for ages. Among those who were baptized was a young man who had come to Brauges on a visit, and knew nothing of our doctrines until the week he was baptized. He returned home, with papers and tracts, rejoicing in God.

We had three seasons of baptism in the night, at two different points, about four miles distant from each other, and in less than one day, having to do all the traveling on foot, as no team could be secured. We chose the night that we might attend to this solemn ordinance undisturbed. I was greatly strengthened physically, and felt that the God of Elijah was our God. We had a good season in attending to the ordinances.

Since our first effort here, Spiritualism is reviving under the apparitions of the Virgin Mary (?), who claims to be holding the arm of her Son, which is about to smite the nations.

D. T. BOURDEAU. September 30, 1884.