Haitien Mission by A. F. PRIEGER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Haitien Mission

By A. F. PRIEGER

A. F. PRIEGER

HAITI, the meaning of which in the native Indian language is “high mountainous land,” was discovered by Christopher Columbus on Dec. 6, 1492, and was the first place at which he landed on his second voyage in searching for India. Although at a comparatively short distance from its neighboring islands and the United States, it is little known. While the average West Indian traveler is well acquainted with Cuba, Porto Rico, and Jamaica, this island, of which the republic of San Domingo forms a part, is only known as “mysterious Haiti.”

It has an area of 10,294 square miles, and is very mountainous, with plains here and there from fifteen to seventy-five miles long. Across these plains roads which are just wide enough to allow a man and a small horse to walk on, wind amid beautiful scenery, while the traveler is greeted by the occasional sound of the voodoo drum.

We receive our mail from New York twice a month, and once a month from Europe. The Roman Catholic religion predominates, and is supported by the state, but voodooism and fetishism are practiced all through the island, and superstition reigns supreme.

Among Haiti’s 1,500,000 inhabitants the Protestant churches have apparently made little headway, but the Wesleyan, the Baptist, and the Anglican have several churches scattered through the island.

Our work was organized here in 1905. Considering the poor facilities of travel and the continual political revolutions, the truth is making good progress. The Lord is with his people and is watching over them.

The language spoken in the interior is Creole; along the coast cities it is mixed with French. We love the dear brethren in Haiti, and we know that the Lord has many more precious souls among them that must hear this message.

Elder W. Jay Tanner was the first superintendent of this field. Because of the illness of his wife, he had to leave after nearly six years of profitable work. After this, Haiti had no superintendent for one year and six months. When we arrived, in November, 1912, we found that our native brethren had done all in their power to keep up the work, and the Lord had blessed their efforts. During the past two years about one hundred and seventy-five have been baptized.

At the end of 1911 we had four churches and fifteen companies, with 187 members (estimated). At the end of 1913 we had eight churches and six companies, with 275 members, or a gain of four churches and one company and eighty-nine members. The tithe for the years 1910 and 1911 amounted to $933.08 (gold), or $5.55 a member; for 1912 and 1913 the amount was $1,719.93, or $6.88 a member, a gain of $786.85 in tithe, or an average gain of $1.33 a member.

We have only two native laborers in the field. At Port de Paix a good church of twenty members was raised up. Brother M. N. Isaac labored in Hinche, a city in the remote interior, where several other Protestant churches tried and failed. A company of believers has now been brought into the truth. At Fort Liberte we now have a little company started. The other churches have been strengthened, and a healthier condition prevails. But when we look at the map, we see that a great work is yet to be done. The southern part has not heard the living preacher of the third angel’s message.

When we arrived and saw the small force in this field, we at once decided to hold a canvassers’ institute. Four were trained for colporteur work, and many books and over ten thousand tracts have since been sold throughout three fourths of Haiti. Fourteen of “His Glorious Appearing” were sold in the palace of the president just before the last revolution broke out. There were twelve men and women selling the printed page when the last revolution came on, but since then they have not been able to work. While in 1910 and 1911 nothing could be reported, we have now sold $785 worth of books and tracts, and trust and pray that much of this gospel seed has fallen into good ground.

A remarkable growth has taken place in our Sabbath school department. In 1911 we had 8 schools, with 184 members, which paid a total contribution to missions of $10.39. We now have 14 schools, with 302 members, and the offerings amounted to $118.98. Add to this the sum of $25.24, the thirteenth Sabbath offering, and we have a total of $144.22 for missions, or a gain over the two previous years of 6 schools, 118 members, and $133.83 in offerings.

One young man of twenty-three has gone to our school in Huntsville, Ala., and is preparing for efficient work in the future.

We need more knowledge, more wisdom, more diligence, a more thorough organization, and, last but not least, more of the spirit of Jesus. We feel our weakness, our insufficiencies, and ask our brethren everywhere to pray for us, that the message may be quickly sent throughout Haiti.