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The Trinidad Meeting

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 30, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 5.

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The Trinidad Meeting

By I. H. EVANS

After an ordinary sea voyage in a small boat, on the morning of the tenth day we safely arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Most of the West Indian Union Conference Committee were present, besides a number of workers from the East Caribbean Conference. Owing to the yellow fever, the appointment of the session of the East Caribbean Conference was withdrawn, and some of the leading conference workers met for counsel with the brethren in Port of Spain.
The South Caribbean Conference met two weeks prior to its announced appointment, so its meeting closed the day before my arrival. This arrangement made it possible for the West Indian Union Conference Committee to spend the five days before leaving for Panama in considering the work in all parts of the field. There were many questions for consideration, and it was found necessary to hasten the work to get through in the allotted time.
Sabbath was made precious to all our hearts by the rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Satan had made many his bond servants, and it was refreshing to see the people forsake their sins by confession, and seek the Lord. Not a few will long remember the Sabbath blessing received, and we trust they will be faithful to their covenant vows. Meetings were held each night in the Adventist church, and a good audience was present.
Being greatly in need of rest, Elder D. E. Wellman was relieved of the presidency of the South Caribbean Conference, and Elder J. B. Beckner was elected to fill this place. Brother Beckner’s health had been failing in British Guiana, and though he had just been elected president of the British Guiana Conference, it was thought advisable for Brother Beckner to remain in Trinidad and supervise the work there, while Brother O. E. Davis takes charge of the work in the British Guiana Conference, under the advice of Elder Beckner. It was thought that this plan would be satisfactory for a time to all parts of the field. After this arrangement had been completed, word was received from Sister Davis, from Georgetown, that her husband was dangerously ill with heart failure, and that the physician had ordered him to return to the States at once. This was sad news indeed to the workers in this field. Brother Davis had done faithful work in Georgetown, and to hear of his dangerous illness made all our hearts ache. Earnest prayer was offered in his behalf, and we hope the Lord will heal him for his work’s sake.
It was advised to unite the publishing work now carried on in Port of Spain and Porto Rico, and to establish the publishing departments of the West Indian Union Conference at Colon, in the Canal Zone. This will accommodate our English publishing work quite as well as at Port of Spain, while it will be much more favorable for our Spanish publishing work. The mail facilities at Colon are unequaled in the union conference, and all agree that we could save considerable each year by uniting our publishing interests, instead of operating separate plants.
The Watchman press at Port of Spain needs additional room and appliances, while the Porto Rican publishing facilities must be added to at once to keep up their growing work. This recommendation was made, subject to the approval of the General Conference Committee.
The workers report progress in most of the fields, and all seemed of good courage. They felt the need of additional workers, and yet were desirous that other fields should be supplied as well as their own.
The school in Jamaica received consideration, and yet most of the people were so poor that they could plan to do but little to finance the enterprise. The estimated valuation of all the real estate owned by all our thirty-three hundred Sabbath-keepers in this field was not to exceed thirty thousand dollars. The wages earned by men in many places is less than an English shilling a day, and they board themselves. Often work is not to be had at any price. The poor peoplelive in the most abject poverty and destitution. Notwithstanding all this, this people love the Lord, and many are faithful in paying tithes and offerings.
December 25 we set sail for Colon, Panama, where a session of the West Caribbean Conference will be held Dec. 30, 1907, to Jan. 6, 1908. In our company are Elders H. C. Goodrich, president of the West Caribbean Conference; U. Bender, president of the West Indian Union Conference; W. G. Kneeland, president of the Jamaican Conference; and Brother H. H. Cobban, secretary and treasurer of the West Indian Union Conference. The two latter proceed to Jamaica to get ready for the Jamaica conference, which convenes Jan. 10, 1908, at Kingston. The rest of us remain in Colon to attend the session of the West Caribbean Conference.
The workers in this field are compelled to undergo hardships and privations, which our workers in the States and in Europe can hardly appreciate. Oftentimes it is almost impossible to get proper food to nourish the body. Most rivers and streams have to be forded. The only means of transportation between islands is often by a small sailing-boat, in which travelers are exposed to the sea and storms, and to a burning tropical sun. Eternity alone will reveal what these faithful, God-fearing workers have endured for the sake of building up God’s cause. Yet it is by sacrifice and self-denial that this work has triumphed so far, and so it will be to the end.
I. H. EVANS.