Antigua and St. Thomas by U. Bender

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 15, 1912

Antigua and St. Thomas

By U. Bender

SAILING from Demerara on March 21, I arrived in Antigua the evening of the twenty-seventh. On the way the ship stopped two days at Barbados. Here I had the pleasure of visiting Elder and Mrs. E. C. Widgery and Dr. and Mrs. Cave. I spoke in the church one night, and was glad to meet many with whom I had become acquainted on former visits, also to greet the others.

In Antigua the believers from different parts of the island met, April 5-8, in the church in St. John. Elder J. H. Matthews has labored with success during the past year in various parts of the island where companies and interested ones are located. Over a year ago Elder Matthews's wife died, and a few months later his little baby passed away. This has been a heavy blow and continual sorrow to the husband and father, but the promises of God are his consolation.

Elder H. C. J. Walleker and I left Antigua on April 12, and reached St. Thomas the next day. During the following week we visited some of the islands eastward. From April 25 to 28 we held meetings in the church in Charlotte Amalie. Quite a number of our people came over from St. Croix, and one or two from the islands to the eastward, to attend this meeting.

The night services were given to preaching, the early morning hour to prayer and praise. The Sabbath-school and the young people's work were considered, papers being read upon these subjects. Mrs. Walleker read a paper on how to keep in health. The hour given to the consideration of the distribution of literature was occupied by reading from the Testimonies and relating personal experiences. From 11 to 12 A. M. we had Bible studies. Sabbath morning just at sunrise, Elder Walleker baptized four persons in the sea, in a quiet little bay where we had gathered for the occasion. As the sunlight streamed over the tops of the mountains, the people were singing, "There is sunlight on the hilltop." As we rowed back across the bay to the city, the beauty of the rising morn over the hills caused gratitude and praise to spring up in our hearts to the God of nature.

The meetings in St. Thomas and Antigua were profitable, and the brethren and sisters expressed themselves as being greatly benefited and encouraged. May the Lord keep the people faithful and humble.

May 1, I sailed to Porto Rico. Two days later, in company with Elder Wm. Steele, I left for Jamaica. The ship stopped two days at the city of San Domingo, allowing Elder Steele to go ashore and look after the work at that place. We reached Kingston the evening of the twelfth. U. BENDER.