West Indies by Philip Giddings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 15, 1906

West Indies

By Philip Giddings

ROSEAU, DOMINICA.—Our first baptism—the first to be held in this island—will be on the last day of this month, December. A week ago I received a letter from a lady living windward of this island, where I visited some months ago, but did not meet her. She writes: “I do firmly believe and do keep the seventh-day Sabbath as the one given by Jesus himself. He kept it while on earth, and I and my good husband have made up our minds to keep it, God himself being our helper, to the end of our days. We are suffering persecution from those at home and abroad, but we are still trying to hold on to the Rock whence comes our salvation.” Judging from the tone of her letter, she must be an intelligent person. Her history, as nearly as I could learn, is this: Some years ago a brother showed her the Sabbath truth (he has since turned from the Sabbath), which she held to all alone, until her husband has joined her. I have written to her, sending a supply of tracts, The Family Bible Teacher, etc., and hope to visit her as soon as consistent.

In one of the papers here a gentleman, who is one of Dominica’s reputed best scholars, but unfortunately an infidel, wrote concerning one of our meetings which he had attended. This paper is widely read, and anything coming from that gentleman’s pen commands attention, and thus many will read to whom we might never have had opportunity to sell. At the close of the lecture we handed him and his wife some tracts, which we begged them to read at their leisure.

The picture we send is that of Roseau seen from ship’s deck mid-harbor. We had a profitable week-of-prayer meeting. Services were held at 5 A. M. each day. A few strangers were present, even at that early hour.

We are praying that God may bless those at the head of the work with all needed grace to fit them for their tasks.

PHILIP GIDDINGS.