Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887

A Victory Meeting

The Sabbath was drawing on now, and a special meeting limited to ministers was planned for Friday evening, September 25. Bourdeau was not the only worker with difficulties. Three of the workers from Britain seemed to be cold and distant in their relationship with the council members. Seventeen ministers and their wives were present. Mrs. White was afraid that D. T. Bourdeau would not come, but he was there. EGWE 81.5

There was no formal sermon. God's servant opened with a simple heartfelt prayer. Then she told everyone frankly that the object of the meeting was to seek the Lord for His blessing. Albert Vuilleumier prayed; so did Elder Matteson. Then Daniel Bourdeau himself prayed. “He began to break and confess,” Mrs. White wrote later, and finally “wrenched himself from the shackles of Satan, and surrendered his will to the Lord” (Ibid.; and Manuscript 20, 1885). Others followed, praying with broken hearts and with confessions, uttered in tears. These included the workers from Britain. EGWE 81.6

“Light, precious light, was breaking in,” Mrs. White exclaimed. “My peace was like a river; Jesus was very near to me.”—Letter 23, 1885. EGWE 82.1

Earlier in the week, she had told in one of her sermons how, in the early days of the message, when disagreements arose between brethren, a day of fasting and prayer had been set aside. Now it was time to follow the practice again, and the next day, Sabbath, was reserved for this purpose. EGWE 82.2

Mrs. White slept little that night, and she was up early in the morning for a season of prayer. Although she hardly felt able, she made her way to the ministers’ meeting at six o'clock. Again Bourdeau prayed and testified. “He made a more full surrender to God and was coming to the light.”—Manuscript 24, 1885. EGWE 82.3