The Work in Northeastern Jamaica
By HUBERT FLETCHER
This field comprises the parish of Portland, with an area of about two hundred and eighty-eight square miles, and a population of thirty-two thousand. This is the chief banana-producing parish of the island. It is also the headquarters of the United Fruit Company, the largest fruit-trading company in the island, as well as of other smaller companies. Its capital, Port Antonio, the next shipping port to Kingston, is a town of growing importance, and could well be styled an “American town,” as one sees more of the American customs there than elsewhere on the island. There is a great future for Port Antonio. Besides the great improvement being made to the town through the United Fruit Company, an American company has undertaken the construction of hotel buildings, which, when completed, are to be the best in the island. The streets are expected soon to be lighted with electricity. They are being reconstructed, and a park has been recently added, while the town is extending more and more. During the tourist season, which begins about the first of the year, the town does its best business, being visited by hundreds of Americans; in fact, throughout the entire year it is visited by Americans and others. During the banana season, called the “long days,” which begins also with the tourist season, money is freely circulated. The planters receive 2s. 6d. a bunch for their fruit, which is a profitable return. We would add, too, that in this parish are to be found people from every parish of the island, who have come to earn money. In this interesting parish we have the third angel’s message permanently established. In Port Antonio we have a neat and attractive church building, which is a credit to the cause. It is thirty-six feet by twenty-four feet, with a frontage of eight feet by seven feet. This was dedicated November 13. Thus in this capital there is a memorial of the great truths for these last days. Seven miles to the south (with Port Antonio as a center) is situated the John’s Hall Church, on the top of a mountain which overlooks the harbor, as a beacon light, indeed, pointing out the17reefs of danger, and guiding souls into the quiet haven of rest. About nine miles to the east is the Sherwood Forest church. Thirteen and one-half miles west, and three and one-half miles from Hope Bay, is the Swift River church, situated in a beautiful valley, and watered by the river from which it takes its name. Seven miles across the mountains, and eight miles from Orange Bay, is the Moore Park church. And a pleasant walk of two miles from Buff Bay brings us to the Hart Hill church. Thus we have six strongly built church buildings in the parish. Of these four are organized churches and two are companies, with a total membership of one hundred and seventy. These brethren have labored hard to erect these buildings, and now that they are completed, there is a great work for the brethren to do. Each company has been raised up by God to form a nucleus, with its apportioned territory assigned it. By faithfully living out the truth, and giving it to those around them, these brethren and sisters can work. Filled with the missionary spirit, they can say to the ministers, “Go to those places where the truth has not been proclaimed, and establish the work. We will carry on the work here.” Thus the whole parish will be worked. There are several small interests at present; but these can be looked after by the brethren in the different churches. The writer has spent three years and nine months of interesting labor in this field; and as he leaves for his new field of labor, his prayer is that the grace of God may abound richly to all, and, “My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”