Ellen White: Woman of Vision

France

In London for a day or two en route to France, and with improving health, Ellen White wrote several letters for B. L. Whitney to carry with him as he traveled to the General Conference session to begin in Battle Creek November 18. Then she and Sara, her son, and the Ingses were off for Nîmes, France, where tent meetings were being held. WV 242.8

D. T. Bourdeau had rented a home in Nîmes. He pitched an evangelistic tent there and for a few weeks had worked with a reasonable degree of success. He encountered some opposition, and some rowdies had attempted to break up the meetings, but by the time Ellen White joined in the work, matters were quite stable. On Sabbath, October 16, Ings spoke at the early-morning meeting; his message on the restoration of the Sabbath was well received. Mrs. White spoke in the worship service Sabbath morning and again in the evening. Sixteen people were keeping the Sabbath in Nîmes (Manuscript 70, 1886). The meetings that were held through the two weeks Ellen and the Ingses were there were evangelistic—for the church and the general public—with Ellen taking the evening meetings in the tent. She did some sightseeing in this large city, which had a history that predated the life and ministry of Christ on earth. WV 242.9

As this was an evangelistic series, she preached Christ-centered, soul-winning sermons. And from day to day she was able to do a little sightseeing, some shopping, and as ever, write, write, write—100 pages while in Nîmes. WV 243.1