Jamaica by E. C. BOGER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

Jamaica

By E. C. BOGER

E. C. BOGER

WE wish to send you a message of good cheer from our beautiful island home, Jamaica.

“Fair island on a sunlit sea, Thy vales girt round with serried hills: Majestic palms their greetings wave to thee, And thatch roofs, cots, and children Thy lack of beauty fill.”

We came to Jamaica from British Guiana, South America, June 25, 1914, after a pleasant voyage of eleven days, three of which were spent on the island of Trinidad, with Brother N. H. Pool's family, and two at Colon, where we visited the mission family and the Gatun locks.

On arriving in Jamaica, we were kindly entertained by the brethren and sisters until we were settled at the mission house, at 124 Manchester Square, Kingston. Two weeks later Brother Charles Degering, our incoming secretary, and his wife came from Colon.

Our growing church school demanded more floor space, so it was thought best to remove the partition separating the schoolroom from the conference office, at 58 James St., and thus enlarge the schoolroom, and to move the depository and office fixtures to Manchester Square. This was immediately done. The two front rooms are utilized as offices, while the wing, consisting of three rooms, is nicely fitted up as treatment rooms. One room, the wet room, has recently had a concrete floor put in, which adds much to its comfort as well as to its appearance.

Our medical missionary work is growing. September saw the largest number of patients treated since the department opened. October was also an excellent month. With the treatment rooms, offices, and four families (counting the two lady nurses as one family) under one roof, we think this is truly a mission house. But we are all happy, and find plenty of work to do.

I have visited most of the churches in Jamaica. We planned seven conventions in central places where a number of companies can come together. Five of these have been held. They were enjoyed by all present, and the afterresults are also most gratifying. Sabbath school, church missionary, and Christian educational work are discussed and planned, and papers are read by different ones. Some excellent papers have been presented.

From 1,200 a month, the circulation of the West Indian Watchman came up to 7,000 for October. The Watchman Press issued a neat, two-sheet War special in September, which sold at one cent a copy. These papers went with a rush, 31,000 being used in our conference. Our faithful pressman has been rushed to fill the orders, at the same time putting out a beautiful edition of “Best Stories From the Best Book” for the West Indian Union field, also many tracts. A typesetter and a printer have been hired from Kingston to assist him, and still they cannot catch up with the work.

We returned October 13 from a trip round the island. While on this trip we held two conventions, visited nine churches, and held communion service with six. At Montego Bay, where we have a small company, nine persons were baptized in the clear water of the sea, on the morning of October 12. Quite a large crowd gathered on the white sands, some of the fisher folk put down their oars and sat in their boats a little way off to witness the scene, and we know bright ones from the country of the tideless sea were there also. Elder and Mrs. William Crothers are coming here to reside. They will visit near-by churches and greatly strengthen the work. There are others to receive the rite of baptism erelong in the various churches. The Kingston church has the largest baptismal class. It numbers forty.

We were away two weeks, and traveled three hundred and fifty miles. We find our little motor cycle very useful. There are thriving towns on the island, which have scarcely been touched by the message. A good tent, thirty by fifty feet, has been ordered. We expect it soon, and look forward with pleasure to entering some of the cities on its arrival.

Brother and Sister A. E. Holst, our field canvassing agent and his wife, reached us from the States eight weeks ago. They are located in Kingston. He is meeting with success in his work, and finds many opportunities to speak of the blessed hope. We are glad that they are here.

On our return the conference committee met for counsel. Careful consideration was given the Harvest Ingathering work. “A long pull, a strong pull, and a hard pull all together,” is being planned for. A good beginning has already been made, which bids fair to show a better ending.

Much time and thought were given to laying plans for the coming conference, which will probably convene during the present month (January). We hope to make it, by God's blessing and presence, a season of true refreshing. We are of good courage and enjoy our work. Our island is feeling the hard times occasioned by the strife on the shores of the mother country; but God is over all, his work is the same in strife or peace, and victory is written on his banner.

We know we share the prayers of God's people. We are determined to stand with them, “within thy gates, O Jerusalem.”