Recent Labors by A. C. & D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 15, 1864

Recent Labors.

By A. C. & D. T. Bourdeau

BRO. WHITE : Jan. 26 we started for Canada East to hold meetings with the scattered Sabbath-keepers in the townships. On our way to Canada, Wednesday evening, Jan. 27, we had an interesting interview with Bro. Steele's family, at Derby, Vt., and were glad to find them firm on the Sabbath, and desirous to learn more on all points of present truth. Bro. and sister S. greatly admire the wisdom with which the Review is conducted, and highly prize the weekly visits of this messenger of truth.

The 28th and 29th we visited Sabbath-keepers in Compton and Westbury, C. E., and on the Sabbath, the 30th, held a meeting in Eaton. Duty required that we should impress the minds of our hearers with the necessity of following a straight, onward course with the people of God, and of moving from principle, and not from those flights of feeling which almost invariably lead to fanaticism.

Feb. 1, drove to Melbourne, and visited the few friends there; but on account of a heavy snow-storm we could not go to Eli, as we had intended.

Sabbath and first-day, Feb. 6 and 7, held meetings at Westbury. We found the cause in a low condition, owing to fanaticism and other influences in the past, which had a tendency to dishearten those who desired to move on with the body. We tried to encourage the true friends of the cause, and told them not to judge of the future from the past, and that as a result of order among them they would soon see the cause prosper in Canada East.

The subject of organization was considered. Eight entered into church covenant together. An elder was ordained, and a clerk appointed, and we organized systematic benevolence, amounting to over $37 per year.

On first-day, contrary to the expectation of some, and to the encouragement of the church, the schoolhouse was filled with candid hearers, who gave good attention to the truths spoken, and purchased several dollars' worth of our works.

Feb. 20, attended a quarterly meeting at Berkshire, Vt. A goodly number of brethren and sisters were present. The Lord blessed in all the exercises, and four new ones spoke for the first time in our meetings, and expressed their desire to keep all the commandments.

Last Sabbath, met with the church at home. Bro. A. Stone was present, and gave two discourses from Num. xiv, 24, and 2 Tim. i, 7. Bro. S.'s testimony is appreciated in this section where he has been known nearly forty years as a preacher. We are now holding meetings in North Fairfield, preparatory to the meetings which will be held there by Brn. Loughborough and Pierce next Sabbath and first-day. Bro. Stone is with us.

A. C. & D. T. BOURDEAU.

West Enosburg, Vt.