Conference Meetings in the West Indies by S. A. Wellman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1908

Conference Meetings in the West Indies

By S. A. Wellman

DECEMBER 6-25 were held, at Port of Spain, Trinidad, the sessions of the East Caribbean and South Caribbean Conferences, and of the West Indian Union Conference Committee, and of the Watchman Publishing Board. To attend these meetings nearly all the members of the union conference committee came to this city, and we were pleased also to welcome Elder I. H. Evans, from the United States, during the last five days of the meetings.

During the days in which the work of the conferences and the committees was being accomplished, regular services for the interested ones outside were held, and large numbers attended. Among these are some who have since signified their intention of obeying the whole truth. Elders W. J. Tanner, of Hayti; B. E. Connerly, of Porto Rico; U. Bender, of Jamaica; I. H. Evans, of America; H. C. J. Wallaker, of St. Thomas; L. E. Wellman, of Barbados, H. C. Goodrich, of Panama; and J. B. Beckner, of British Guiana, carried the burden of these services.

In the meetings of the South Caribbean Conference plans were laid looking toward aggressive work during the year to come. During the year past fifty-four have been added to the faith through baptism, forty-one in Trinidad, eight in Tobago, and five in Grenada. One new church has been built and dedicated at Mt. Rose, Grenada, and two others are awaiting completion in Trinidad.

Among the plans and resolutions adopted by this conference were the following:—

“Whereas, Death has entered the ranks of our workers, and taken from our midst our beloved Brother C. W. Enoch; therefore,—

“Resolved, That while we bow in submission to this affliction, we tender our sympathies to the relatives and friends of the deceased, and express our sense of loss in being deprived of his faithful labors.

“Resolved, That Sabbath-school and Young People’s Society conventions be held in all our churches during the coming year, beginning early in the month of June.

“Whereas, The West Indian Training-school is in urgent need of the means to be derived from the sale of ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ so generously donated to its upbuilding by the General Conference, and,—

“Whereas, This conference has still on hand a large portion of its quota of three hundred fifty copies, therefore,—

“Resolved, That we exert ourselves to sell the remainder of our quota during the year 1908.”

Other resolutions bearing on the local work were adopted, which, if carried out, we believe will materially advance the work during this year; but as they are not of general interest, we will omit them here.

Ministerial credentials were granted to J. B. Beckner, W. A. Sweany, S. A. Wellman, and T. L. M. Spencer; missionary licenses to Miss B. D. Moore, R. L. Price, Miss Annie Osborne, Mrs. W. A. Sweany, and Mrs. S. A. Wellman.

The officers elected for the year are as follows: President, J. B. Beckner; Secretary, R. L. Price; Treasurer, Treasurer of the Watchman Publishing Company; Sabbath-school and Young People’s Secretary, Mrs. S. A. Wellman; Executive Committee, J. B. Beckner, S. A. Wellman, R. L. Price, John Ramoo, and A. Riley.

Elder D. E. Wellman, the former president of the conference, has been granted a year’s furlough to the United States on account of the health of both himself and wife. They have spent nine years in arduous labor in the tropics, and greatly need the change. They will first go to Jamaica for a month or two, till warmer weather, and then to America.

The meetings held at this time are a source of great encouragement to all local believers. Excellent instruction was given, and we believe it has been received with good results.

Tent-meetings will be held in the South Caribbean Conference at St. James and Arouca during the year to come, and new stations will also be opened in Tobago and Grenada. The brethren and sisters are of good courage, and are anxious for these advance steps to be made.

The meetings of the other conferences and committees will be duly reported by their respective secretaries.

S. A. WELLMAN, Sec. South Caribbean Conf.