Opposition to the Message
By Editor
God will cause at last even the wrath of man to redound to his praise. We believe this will be true in the opposition which is now made against the preaching of the gospel message in Albany and Montreal. We have a report in this paper of the opposition which Elder E. L. Cardey is meeting in the former city. In Montreal, Elder J. A. Vuilleumier, our French laborer, has been meeting with even more serious opposition. He began work in that city July 13. From the very first more or less opposition was developed. While the interest was good on the part of the general public, there was an undercurrent of ridicule and scoffing, and some even went so far as to cut the ropes of his tent. The second week of the services occasion was taken of the absence of police in that section of the city to raise serious disturbance in his meeting, and before the officers of the police force could be secured the meeting was broken up. The police arrived in time to escort Elder Vuilleumier and his wife to their home, and later dispersed the crowd. Appeal was made to the chief of the police for better protection. This was disregarded. Taking advantage of the absence of the police, the mob beset the tent on the following Wednesday evening. The tent was torn to the ground, ropes cut, and much damage done. Elder Vuilleumier and his group of French believers found refuge in the home of a near-by grocer. The officers arrived just as the large tent was falling to the ground, scattering the crowd in time to save the small tent. Undaunted by this spirit, Elder Vuilleumier reerected his tent the next day, and services began the following evening. Again the mob attacked the tent, notwithstanding the efforts of several police who were present. It seemed to be only the protecting providence of God which preserved our brethren and sisters from serious bodily injury. The crowd was finally dispersed. At this point in the meeting the temporary abandonment of the service became necessary. This fierce opposition, however, on the part of the mob element, aroused many of the citizens to insistent demands upon the police department for better police protection in that part of the city. This was finally afforded. When services were resumed, it was with about twenty uniformed police standing about the tent, and as many more secret police in the audience and about the grounds. At last reports the services were being well protected, and the brethren state that it is gratifying to see a different attitude being taken by some of the men who before had cherished such a spirit of opposition to the work. Brother Vuilleumier and his workers believe that God will gather out of those who are attending the meetings a number of souls for his kingdom. To this end let us pray. These experiences indicate the times into which we are coming. The spirit which is working under the surface will many times in the near future manifest itself in such outbursts as on this occasion. We surely need the God of Jacob for our refuge, and his everlasting arms of protection around us and beneath us. Dedicating our all to him and walking humbly before him, we need not fear what man can do unto us.