Letter From Bro. Czechowski.
By M. B. Czechowski
DEAR BRO. SMITH: I am sorry that I have nothing interesting to write of our French mission in northern N. Y. I have visited as I was able, in Chazy, Ellenburg, Constable, Malone, Bangor, and lastly, in W. Enosburgh and Montgomery, Vt. I consider the last two places the most promising field for the French mission in this region. The French Baptist church in Montgomery, consisting of about 60 members, passed a vote that Bro. A. C. Bourdeau and myself should lecture in their new chapel a week. The pastor, who was absent at the time, was very angry when he returned and found the meetings in progress; but this did not change the feelings of the people, who were anxious to hear. We sold about three dozen French tracts. I attended meetings two evenings in North Fairfield with Bro. Buck, who lectured to attentive audiences, and Bro. Herrick, who has recently embraced the truth, brought me nearly to St. Albans, on my way home. While waiting for the cars in St. Albans, I went into a large store, and entered into conversation with the merchant. I asked him if there were any French Protestants there, and informed him that I was a missionary. He asked me what denomination I belonged to. I replied, the denomination of Jesus Christ. He inquired what church I belonged to. I replied, the church of God. What is your creed? I replied, the Bible. Where is your clerk's office? In heaven; our record is the Lamb's book of life. What is the foundation of your religion. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins; keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I believe immersion is the only baptism. To the inquiry, "If a man repents upon his death bed, and cannot go to the river, how shall he be baptized?" I referred him to 1 Peter iii, 21. He appeared satisfied. We then talked about the commandments, especially the fourth, after which he remarked to two gentlemen who had listened to the conversation, "We cannot help it, Saturday is the Sabbath, and we must keep it." In this the gentlemen concurred, expressing their belief that the opinions were scriptural, and all said they never heard so pure religion preached before; and the merchant said he was ready to be joined with us, and hoped he should be enabled to be consistent. He told me there was one man in the place who kept the seventh day. I called upon him a few minutes, and asked him how it happened that he began to keep the seventh day? He told me that ten years ago he attended an ordination; and on questioning the candidate with regard to the Sabbath, why he kept it, he replied, Because God set apart the seventh day and sanctified it, according to the fourth commandment. They told him that we had nothing more to do with the fourth commandment; that was abolished at the crucifixion. This so wrought upon the gentleman's mind that he examined the Scriptures on the point, and has ever since kept the Sabbath. I asked him if he knew anything about the first, second, and third angels' messages. He said he did not understand me. He knew nothing about the messages. He belonged to no church. Providence permitting I will visit him again soon. There will be a general meeting in Chazy, commencing the evening of the 24th of this month, (February), and continuing over first-day. All French brethren are requested to attend. Perry's Mills, N. Y., Feb. 7, 1860. The appointment for conference as above, should have been given last week; but being appended to the communication was overlooked.—ED.