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THE FRENCH MISSION

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1860

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 15, No. 15.

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THE FRENCH MISSION.

By A. C. Bourdeau

BRO. SMITH: I am happy to inform you that our French mission is in a prospering condition; especially among the French Baptists in this vicinity.
About three years ago, soon after I embraced the third angel's message, Eld. Letourneau commenced to preach to the French in this place, and he opposed us greatly, inasmuch that but a few individuals manifested any anxiety to search the truth. Fourteen honest souls however, at that time, decided to turn away their feet from the Sabbath, and embraced the third angel's message. And notwithstanding the indifference the French people manifested in regard to the truth, we watched every opportunity to converse with them, hoping that a way might be opened for us to give them a series of lectures.
About two weeks ago Bro. Czechowski and myself visited a few French families in this place, and on the 21st ult. we held a meeting in Bakersfield. The next day, being the first-day, we met with the French Baptists at Montgomery, in their new meeting-house, twelve miles east of Enosburgh, where we gave nine lectures, and went from house to house presenting the word of truth during six days.
At the commencement of our meetings a man from B. informed Eld. L. of our doings, and there was no small stir among the French Baptists in Enosburgh about it. The elder promised to attend our meeting on the evening of the second day, and the French people assembled together to that extent that they could not all be seated in the meeting-house. But to their disappointment the elder was not present. At the close of the meeting two individuals influenced the congregation against us, and they decided in one accord to not let us occupy their house any longer; but we presented them a few words in a meek and quiet spirit, and before twenty minutes had elapsed they repented and a full vote was taken in favor of our lectures being continued. The next day a man went toEnosburgh to invite Eld. L. to attend our next meeting which was held in the evening of the same day. He promised to do so; but disappointed them a second time. We preached to a large and attentive congregation, and sold all our French tracts, which was an evidence in our minds that the truth which they had heard had already found a place in their hearts. Our hearts were cheered and we were encouraged to work with new zeal in this glorious cause. The day following, a man who made no pretension to religion went after the elder with his team, who could not refuse to accompany him under such circumstances. The elder heard us preach with freedom on the preparation for Christ's coming; and after we closed our lecture we invited the congregation to speak for themselves, but they looked towards their pastor, expecting to hear him speak, but he uttered not a word. At the close of the meeting he expressed a great deal of astonishment because we had given them the privilege to speak when, according to his estimation the privilege was theirs and not ours. We answered him to the satisfaction of the congregation, in a few words.
The elder had prepared his ammunition, and he thought that the time had come for him to commence a fire upon us, not knowing how well prepared we were for the battle; and all perceived at once that we presented plenty of scripture in favor of the truth, while on the other hand the elder could not produce any scripture to sustain his groundless theory.
In compliance with their request we proposed to hold a public discussion with the elder on the subject of the Sabbath, but he gave no answer.
On the day following, according to our previous appointment, we preached to the American friends in a large school-house, two miles and a half south of the village. Several French Baptists were present who invited us to go and preach to them once a fortnight, and oftener if we possibly could. I accepted the invitation, hoping that our labors among them will not be in vain, and that they will prove a savor of life unto life to the honest.
On the 29th Bro. C. preached to the French in the French mission-house at West Enosburgh, and I went ten miles south to preach in a new place where the present truth was not presented before.
Four individuals have recently embraced the Sabbath in this vicinity, two of whom are French.
A. C. BOURDEAU.
West Enosburgh, Vt., Feb. 3, 1860.