p. 14 | West Indies by Philip Giddings; Louise P. Giddings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 4, 1905

West Indies

By Philip Giddings; Louise P. Giddings

ROSEAU, DOMINICA.— We left British Guiana Dec. 21, 1904, and arrived at this place the twenty-ninth.

Sister Roskruge, one of two lone sisters, gave us a kind welcome, and we remained with her for six weeks, as we found some difficulty in procuring a place on account of Catholic prejudice. In the meantime we held meetings in her spacious hall (the upper part of her brother's store), and, better than our expectation, the people thronged the hall from night to night. Our Catholic neighbors who did not approve of us, attempted to break up our meetings by playing the piano, singing aloud, and calling out at us when praying, but finding us unmoved, they became quiet, and now we smile and exchange compliments.

Our program was as follows: Sunday afternoon, open-air preaching; Sunday night, preaching; Monday night, preaching; Tuesday night, women's Bible class by Mrs. Giddings; Wednesday night, men's Bible class; Thursday night, general Bible reading; Friday, short exhortation, prayer, praise, and an opportunity for any desiring to seek the Lord; Sabbath, the usual meetings of Sabbath-school, etc.

Our first open-air meetings were not without disturbance, but we prayed and preached. The behavior of those in attendance now is good. Intelligent natives say they are surprised at the good order maintained at the meetings.

Roseau contains between nine and ten thousand souls, mostly Catholics. The rest are Anglicans, Wesleyans, and Christian Mission.

Mrs. Giddings has opened a school in physiology, hygiene, and calisthenics. The Catholic editor who advertised it put in also favorable paragraphs of his own, and asked me to send him an article for publication. He said he gave us a hearty welcome to his country for the help they need. Now and then we meet Catholics who are broader than their teaching.

I called on a rich Catholic lady a few days ago to show a book. I saw in her home a copy of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation;” and although she did not take my book, when she said, “God bless you in your work,” I was comforted.

This island at one time belonged to France. The French impress is still discernible. Although the people speak English, they have a dialect of broken French, called the patois, with which they are more familiar. Indeed, that is their native tongue. In some country places there are those who understand nothing else. Many of those who speak English, however, speak book English, and hence are more precise than the same class of people in English-speaking islands.

We are scattering our papers and books. Five have begun to obey. Remember us before the throne of grace.

PHILIP AND LOUISE P. GIDDINGS.