East Caribbean Conference by L. E. WELLMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 6, 1909

East Caribbean Conference

By L. E. WELLMAN

L. E. WELLMAN

THE record of the work of the East Caribbean Conference during the last two years is one of continued advancement.

At the beginning of the year 1907, immediately after the union conference in Jamaica, so suddenly interrupted by the earthquake in Kingston, our field was for a time very feebly manned, owing to the withdrawal from Barbados of Elder G. F. Enoch, and of myself from the Leeward Islands. After seven years' labor in the islands, I spent a three-months' furlough in the States, whither my family had already returned on account of a breakdown in health, thus depriving the field of the labors of its only American worker. The financial side of the conference work was looked after during this interval by Elder S. A. Wellman from the office of the South Caribbean Conference.

Early in May, my family and myself returned to the field, locating in the island of Barbados, which was at that time conference headquarters. Elder F. G. Lane and family, of the East Michigan Conference, accompanied us to the field. The needs of our field having been presented to him at the East Michigan Conference meeting, at Holly, Mich., he offered himself as a volunteer, to help us in our work; and his home conference kindly consented to bear his expenses to the field, and support him while there.

ROSEAU, DOMINICA, W. I.; HEADQUARTERS OF EAST CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE

He located in what was then the central part of the conference, making the city of St. John, Antigua, his home. As a result of his labors in this part of the field, one good company, with a small church building, has been added to the conference, one company organized into a church, and between twenty and thirty baptized and added to our conference membership.

About the middle of the year, there also came among us Elder H. C. J. Walleker and family, who located in the northern islands, making St. Thomas his headquarters. This addition brought the number of our American laborers up to three before the close of the year.

At the close of the year 1907 it was impossible for us to hold a regular conference session, but the conference committee as elected at the union conference in Jamaica, met in connection with the South Caribbean Conference in Trinidad, where plans were laid for the work during the year 1908. It was thought best by the members of the union conference committee, who also met at this time, to cut off from this conference the Danish and Virgin islands. Thus our constituency was reduced by about fifty members, and our ministerial force by one American and one native ordained minister, leaving our list of workers as follows: two ordained Americans and one ordained native worker; three native licentiates and two missionary licentiates.

At the close of 1907 our work was further added to by the arrival among us of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Cave. Dr. Cave having obtained an English diploma, and his wife being a graduate nurse, they were qualified in an eminent way to enter upon the medical missionary work in this field. The doctor and his wife are both natives of the islands comprising this conference. We trust their coming will give an added impetus to the work in this part of the Lord's vineyard. Though they are starting in a small way, with meager facilities, the work has steadily grown; it has been self-supporting, and is becoming day by day a means in God's hands of helping on the message in this field. For all this we feel to give thanks to our Heavenly Father.

During the year just closed, 1908, the work has made steady advancement, both from the spiritual and the financial standpoint. Though our constituency was materially reduced by the division of our territory at the close of 1907, the accessions during the year 1908 have more than filled the gap, about seventy having been added by baptism to our numbers during the year. Our conference now numbers about four hundred.

In financial lines we can report decided gains also, as the excess of local receipts for 1908, from all sources, amounted to about two hundred forty dollars over and above the total receipts for the preceding year, the total for 1908 being very slightly less than one thousand dollars. We are hoping for better things for 1909, both spiritual and financial.

Two church buildings have been dedicated during the year, one in Roseau, Dominica, which was started in August, 1907, by Elder P. Giddings, and a small one in Cedar Grove, Antigua. This work was done under the supervision of Elder Lane, the dedication taking place early in November, the conference president also being present.

The dedication of the Roseau (Dominica) church took place in August; the workers present were: Elder Giddings,

the local laborer; and from other fields Elder Lane and Brother W. D. Forde, and myself. The occasion was one we shall long remember.

During the latter part of the year, it was deemed advisable for Elder Lane to remove his family, on account of his wife's health, to Barbados, and he is now located there in charge of that part of the field, assisted by one licentiate and two missionary licentiates.

On account of the central location of Dominica, thereby affording greater facility for reaching all parts of the field in the shortest time and at a minimum of expense, it was decided to locate the president's office there; therefore, the present address of the East Caribbean conference office is Roseau, Dominica.

At our annual conference at the close of the year it was decided to locate Elder Giddings at Pointe Pietre, Guadeloupe, thus for the first time making an effort for the evangelization of the Catholic French islands of our field.

We will be, in fact, the first Protestant church that has opened mission work in those islands. Elder Giddings will locate in his new field after a well-earned furlough of three months, which he is spending in Barbados since the conference. Our earnest prayer is that God may add his blessing to this new work, and to the work in all its phases throughout our field and the world.

Roseau, Dominica; W. I.