Voice from Vermont

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 7, 1863

Voice from Vermont.

Bro. White; Your suggestions in regard to the propriety of holding a General Conference in Michigan as early as the last of May next or the first of June, meet our hearty approval. The reasons you advance in favor of holding the Conference at that time are satisfactory.

Those who have seen and realized the benefits of church and State organizations, cannot fail to see the necessity of a General Conference. If State Conferences

are necessary to promote unity of faith and action in the churches of the different States, will not a General Conference, to which the several State Conferences can report themselves, serve to unite and strengthen the entire church in the important work that is before us, and prove conducive to the prosperity of the cause generally. Our hearts beat in unison with the principles you advance on this point. We have felt deeply on this subject, and have not expected that the Lord would work mightily through the church in the East, until they adopt and carry out that order which is based on the Bible, good common sense, and sound reason.

We rejoice that we are about to see better days in the East; but we would not overlook the fact that the Lord works through his people, and that he uses means to carry out his purposes.

Brethren in the East, let us get out of the way, and let us no more grieve the hearts of those who would help us by their experience and judgment.

The work of the Lord will advance. Angels are at work, and the people are anxious to hear. The thing will proceed; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Who will engage in the work? Shall we relieve God's servants by speaking freely on this subject? Shall we prepare to help by our means as well as by our words?

We are now holding meetings in Fairfield, Vt. We have given eight lectures, and quite a number are interested. Three or four have embraced the truth, and we hope that more will have grace and courage to receive the message.

D. T. Bourdeau, A. C. Bourdeau, Albert Stone.