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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 23.

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West Indies

By W. Durant Forde

ST. LUCIA.—Despite the difficulties that confront us in this stronghold of Roman Catholicism, God is blessing the work, and causing the seed to spring forth. The Catholics seem set against the message, while the few Protestants of the Church of England and Wesleyan Methodists stand afar off. But God is back of his message, and is showing himself mighty to save in spite of Catholic prejudice and Protestant indifference.
It is to the shame of the Catholics that the island is buried in the very blackness of superstition and ignorance. To illustrate: When a person is sick, the first one generally sent for is the priest, who confesses and absolves the patient. Candles are lighted and left burning in the sick-room; in these the sick person has much faith, for should he die, he is sure to have light to guide him through the valley of the shadow of death. These superstitious ideas have given rise to “obeahism”—the native name for necromancy—which is a highly practised art here. Not only the lower and ignorant classes, but the higher and so-called educated classes, indulge in this base invention of Satan.
The island is not behind other places in drunkenness and other vices. From six to nine in the morning and from one to two in the afternoon on Sundays the rum-shops are allowed to be open; but should grocery stores, dry-goods stores, or provision shops dare to open their doors, the owners would find themselves summoned before the justice of the peace for Sunday violation. It is unnecessary to say that in the streets where rum-shops are located, scenes of disorder and indecency are most common on Sundays; for then the people have more time to become intoxicated.
In the midst of this moral darkness Isa. 55:10, 11 is being verified; the fulfilment of the promises of God gives us courage, and we are looking forward to greater victories. In Castries, the capital, ten have stepped out to walk with us. These have been receiving instruction for some time, and are now awaiting baptism, which we hope will be performed soon. This will make our company seventeen in number, while our Sabbath-school has increased from eight to twenty-eight. We are receiving rich blessings in this department also, which we believe come to a great extent as a result of our trying to help others by giving all our Sabbath-school offerings to missions.
Our week-of-prayer season was one of spiritual refreshing. The Spirit of God came very near to us as we met early in the mornings to pray for the success of the work in general, and for spiritual strength and consecrated devotion to carry forward the work in the year before us. The following week I went to Victoria, thirty-five miles from the city, and conducted week-of-prayer services with the company at this place. Eight are awaiting baptism here, making a total of eighteen awaiting baptism in the island.
It is imperative that we have a church building in St. Lucia if our work is to make greater progress. This will give us a better standing among the people, and cause our work to be more influential. The company at Victoria has given a lot for the erection of a school and church building. A school is also needed. The nearest school in their district is three and one-half miles distant; to this the parents will not send their children; for it is a Catholic school.
When further plans are laid, we shall be glad for the help of the lovers of the cause in the erection of a monument to the truth in St. Lucia.
A Young People's Society was organized at the opening of the new year, which has already begun to reap results by winning to the cause one Christian woman. Two members of the Salvation Army are also on the verge of casting in their lot with us. We ask to be remembered at the throne of grace in behalf of the work here.
W. DURANT FORDE.