Progress of the Work in Haiti by ALBERT F. PRIEGER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

Progress of the Work in Haiti

By ALBERT F. PRIEGER

ALBERT F. PRIEGER

WE have received many letters from the States making inquiry concerning the work here in Haiti. Most of these we must answer through the REVIEW AND HERALD. We hope those who are praying for the work here, and who gave so liberally to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering last year, without which the work in Haiti could not have been carried on so successfully, are all subscribers to our good old church paper, and in it will find the answer to their inquiries regarding our work here.

Ten months have passed since my return from the United States, and the Lord has blessed the work of every one who has made any effort to seek for souls during this reconstruction period since the American occupation. The Lord has blessed in such a manner that I was permitted to baptize eighty-seven believers, making a total of ninety with the three baptized by Brother G. G. Roth at St. Marc. Brother Roth made us a visit, of which he gave a report in the REVIEW of June 22. Before me I have the names of twenty-four persons who have presented themselves as candidates for baptism, eight of whom took their stand during our visit into the interior.

Three more churches and one company have been organized, and five church buildings are in process of construction, also a church school building in Grande Rivière. The tithes and offerings for six months from January 1 equal the amount paid during the entire previous year.

I wish there was space to relate experiences as we meet them. While passing through a village it was my privilege to meet the young man who was the only one saved out of that fearful massacre at Port au Prince, where the one hundred and forty in prison were shot. He was in a cell with thirteen others, and when the executioners entered, as the victims were shot down, they of course fell, and this young man dropped under the others, hoping thus to escape. After all had apparently been shot, orders were issued to bayonet every one, for fear that the wounds of some might not be fatal. Although this young man did receive a thrust in the side, inflicting a flesh wound, he never moved nor uttered a sound. After all was over, he was the only living one among them, and later he was rescued. He is not a Seventh-day Adventist, and has not yet given his heart to God, but his father was a very zealous elder of one of our largest churches, and did much to help the work. He died in 1909, leaving his wife, who is also firm in this truth.

Upon hearing this experience, the thought came to me. Who can tell if perhaps because of the faithfulness of the old pastor or the prayers of the aged mother, another lease of life has been given the young man, another opportunity of grace afforded wherein he may prepare to meet Jesus when he comes?

In every place that Brother Arioste Péan and I visited, there was a very good attendance, especially of our own people, and every one consecrated himself anew to God. Wrongs were righted, sins were forgiven, and every one pledged himself to be more faithful in tithes and offerings.

As a result of Brother Péan’s visit, previous to mine, five took their stand for the Lord and were baptized. Brother Gregoire Obas reports eight converts on the island of La Tortue, where he was the first man to carry this message. Brother M. N. Isaac reports two more converts at St. Marc, and the same number are reported by Brother J. J. Baptiste, at Limbé. While I have not yet received a report from Brother E. A. Curdy, who is looking after the building of a church at Port de Paix, I am hoping soon to hear good news from there.