IN THE FIELD

The results of the labors of Eld. D. T. Bourdeau at Branges, France, during the summer of 1884, were encouraging. The community was largely Catholic; but the people of this faith gave earnest and respectful attention to the preaching of present truth, and showed even less prejudice than the Protestants. He had been led to go to this locality through correspondence with a brother who had embraced the Sabbath from reading Les Signes.HSFM 49.4

The manner in which the meetings here were conducted illustrates the, custom of the people of this class in many parts of France, and the means that have to be used in order to reach them. The inhabitants of this section are mostly farmers, and the country is not very thickly settled. The soil has been under cultivation for so many centuries that it is necessary to bestow great care upon it in order to secure even a moderate crop. Most of the people are in very moderate circumstances, and have to exercise the greatest economy and diligence in order to live. They work in the fields from four o’clock in the morning to nine in the evening, and during the busy time of harvest are often found in their fields at an earlier hour than we have named.HSFM 49.5

As these meetings were held during the busiest part of the season, it was found impossible to commence them be - fore nine o’clock in the evening. The people being scattered, some came considerable distances on foot in order to attend. It will readily be seen that the interest to hear the truth must have been great to lead the people to assemble at so late an hour after their long day’s work; and yet meetings were held nearly every evening under these circumstances, and were quite well attended. As the result of this effort, several persons embraced the truth, and were organized into a church before Eld. Bourdeau left for another field.HSFM 50.1

From Branges Eld. Bourdeau went to Bastia, in the island of Corsica. In this city a young evangelist of the Baptist denomination had become interested in the Sabbath from reading Les Signes, and had begun to observe it. The island of Corsica has about 150,000 inhabitants, all of whom are Catholics except about fifty who have embraced the Protestant faith. The island formerly belonged to the kingdom of Genoa, hence the people all speak the Italian; but nearly all speak the French also. The influence of Bro. Comte, the young evangelist mentioned above, had in a measure prepared the way for the preaching of the message, as he had agitated the question of the Sabbath and conditional immortality among those for whom he labored.HSFM 50.2

Although Bro. Bourdeau remained in Corsica less than a month, twelve persons embraced the Sabbath, and a church of eleven members was organized, with all its officers regularly appointed.HSFM 50.3

From Corsica Bro. Bourdeau proceeded to visit Naples, Bari, and Barletta, Italy. In the former city he held meetings with the believers, and labored to encourage them in the missionary work. At Bari he found several persons observing the Sabbath and holding regular meetings on that day, although the company had not been organized. During this visit in Italy, Bro. A. Biglia accompanied Eld. Bourdeau, acting as interpreter for him.HSFM 50.4

Bro. A. C. Bourdeau met with decided opposition in his public labors in Roumania. On his arrival at Pitesti, he began meetings in a private house; but the congregation increased to such an extent that it was thought advisable to secure a hall. Here the meetings were attended by a large number of persons; but so much opposition was raised through the influence of the priest, that it became necessary to abandon the meetings in the hall, and return to the private house.HSFM 50.5

Special efforts were made to instruct the believers there more perfectly in the truth, and some others were added to their number as the fruit of the meetings. A church of fourteen members was organized, and several were baptized.HSFM 50.6

Eld. Erzenberger labored for some time in the city of Gladbach, Prussia, and also gave a course of lectures in an adjoining city. As the result, several persons embraced the truth. In the former city there were quite a number of those who had been among the first to receive the Sabbath under the preaching of Eld. Lindermann. Bro. Erzenberger labored faithfully and with some success to bring these persons fully into harmony with our work; but he was not able to effect an organization among them.HSFM 50.7

During the months following the Council, Bro. Albert Vuilleumier had been laboring as a colporter in the cities of Locle and Chaux-de-Fonds. In the latter city he had excellent success in his work, especially in obtaining subscribers for Les Signes des Temps. In this city alone he obtained more than one hundred and fifty subscribers. Other colporters had also been laboring in different parts of Switzerland, but no public effort was made during this season. An increased degree of activity had been manifested in the missionary work, and quite a decided advance had been made in the amount of publications issued, as the following figures show:-HSFM 50.8

From Oct. 1, 1883, to Oct. 1, 1884, the number of copies of Les Signes printed was 62,900; of the Herold der Wahrheit, 46,200; AdevãrPresent, 23,000; and L’Ultimo Messaggio, 14,000; or, in the aggregate, 146,100 copies. The entire editions of Les Signes and the Herold had been distributed, except those reserved for binding, and quite a proportion of the Messaggio and Adevãr.HSFM 51.1

During the winter of 1884-5, Eld. D. T. Bourdeau gave a course of lectures in Torre Pellice, Italy, which was largely attended. He was assisted in his work by Bro. Adémar Vuilleumier, and several persons were added to the number of the friends of the cause in this valley. At the close of the effort, in which Eld. A. C. Bourdeau and Bro. Albert Vuilleumier also joined, a church of fourteen was organized.HSFM 51.2