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Haiti

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 15, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 20.

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Haiti

By ALBERT F. PRIEGER

On Thursday, February 20, feeling somewhat better from the fever which has been preying upon my system since January 1, I decided to go to Grande Riviere, to baptize several candidates, some of whom had been anxiously awaiting the administering of this ordinance for two years. There I found a substantial house of worship and a church of over one hundred members. On Thursday night I preached to a crowded house on the subject of “Gideon’s Band.” Each person present was stirred to greater faithfulness to the Lord’s work. As we were going home after the service, some who are bitterly opposing our work there threw stones at us, but the Lord protected us and none were seriously injured.
On Friday, my wife, accompanied by our native minister, Brother M. Nord Isaac, came, and each assisted in a material way. That day I examined the candidates and found them to be well prepared for baptism. At night hundreds from the town, besides our church-members, were in attendance at the service. The subjects of “Marriage,” “The Sabbath,” and “Tithing” were briefly presented. The closest attention was paid by all, and the Spirit of the Lord was present in a remarkable manner. On Sabbath the congregation met at 8 A. M., and after due deliberation each of the twenty-nine candidates was accepted for baptism. At 4 P. M. we proceeded to a place one and one-half miles from the town, where in the beautiful scenery the mountains and the river seem to meet, and there in a lovely spot where a large mango-tree stretches its branches out over the river, these twenty-nine dear believers followed their Lord into a watery grave. How we wished that the dear ones in the home land could have witnessed this impressive sight! As the tropical sun set behind the mountains, the congregation of over four hundred persons quietly went back to the church.
One young man who fiercely opposed the baptism of his former sweetheart and had threatened to shoot the elder of the church and me, came with about one hundred others to make trouble, but instead they were quiet and peaceable, and viewed the ceremony with wonderful interest. Nearly all these people were voodoo worshipers. Many of the believers here have come from voodooism. After the baptism, the young man referred to lent his horse to convey our people across the river.
On returning to the church, the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated.
On Sunday at 8 A. M. the brethren came together again, and the officers for the year were elected. The former officers, with a number of additional ones, were unanimously elected. After the election, Mrs. Prieger, who has been appointed to take charge of the Sabbath-school and young people’s work in this field, organized a Young People’s Missionary Volunteer Society of forty-five active members. Three societies are now organized and doing excellent work.
As there was no other business, the meeting adjourned, and we returned to Cape Haitien much refreshed by the spiritual feast that we enjoyed at Grande Riviere. I shall leave at the end of this week for a tour in the interior, where I shall visit several churches and companies.
We find many hardships and experience many bitter trials, but the Lord is here and is blessing us and the work regardless of the many hindrances.
ALBERT F. PRIEGER.