The fourth annual session of the Jamaica Conference was held in Kingston, Dec. 31, 1905, to Jan. 3, 1906. A goodly number of delegates were present. Help from the General Conference was expected, but at the last moment it was found impossible to supply it.
WORKERS IN THE JAMAICA CONFERENCE
At the present time there are two American laborers and seven native workers on the conference pay-roll. Several canvassers are also working faithfully. During the year two of the workers, Elder W. Jay Tanner and Brother Frank Hall, left the island; the former having accepted an invitation from the Mission Board to labor in the island of Hayti, and the latter, at the request of our conference, sailed on the eleventh of November for Grand Cayman.
The reports of the treasurer and others showed that there had been a substantial gain in membership and tithe during the year. This was very gratifying, and all present felt to praise God for his mercies and blessings.
There are fifty Sabbath-schools in our conference, with a membership of twelve hundred and eighty-nine. During the first day of the session, a Sabbath-school convention was held, which did much good to the visiting brethren. There is a growing interest in this work.
The business of the conference was transacted harmoniously, not a discordant note being sounded during the entire session. The spiritual interests received attention. Each day, at the close of the first meeting, preaching services were conducted by different workers, and light and power was received from the great power-house on high, to enable us to stand in the ranks and faithfully perform our duties. A special evangelistic effort was also made in the city. The town hall was procured, and for four nights interested congregations listened to the message. The Lord blessed, and the word was preached in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. About twenty persons gave in their names, as the result of these meetings.
Among the important resolutions and recommendations passed by the conference are the following: A recommendation that the island of Jamaica be divided into three conference districts, and that an ordained minister reside in each district, and devote his time wholly to the direction of the work in his district, under the direction of the conference president; also that a systematic plan for visiting the churches be provided in such a way that each church shall be visited at least once a month by a minister if possible; and, further that the dry season of each district be devoted to tent work, except in those places where the rain is constant; in such counties the tent work should be done at the most convenient season. The conference, feeling the need of an increase of workers, passed resolutions asking the conference committee to take into consideration the advisability of increasing our corps of licensed preachers by the addition of at least one new man. Further resolutions were offered encouraging the holding of a general meeting in each conference district during the year, and the continuation of the publication of our conference paper, the Jamaica Record; and also that an effort be made to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Seventh-day Adventist home in Jamaica.
The need of elementary schools in which to begin the education of our children was discussed quite freely, and resolutions were passed instructing the workers to give the subject special attention as they go among the people, and urging the churches to consider the matter of a day-school in each church, in which their children can be taught the principles of Christian education.
Since the Caribbean Watchman is undoubtedly God's appointed medium for disseminating the truths of the third angel's message in the West Indies by the printed page, it was urged that each member of the conference earnestly endeavor to increase the circulation of the paper.
Further recommendations looking toward self-support in all our financial affairs, thus allowing the Mission Board to use the money it is now sending us in other and more needy mission fields of the world were discussed at length and adopted.
Since our workers in Jamaica are isolated from the educational institutions of the denomination, it was planned to hold a workers' institute in each conference district during the time of the general meeting the coming year.
For the thousands of heathen coolies and Chinese among us in this island, who are becoming interested in present truth, it was resolved to procure suitable literature from our Mission Board for distribution among them.
Ministerial credentials were granted to J. B. Beckner, J. A. Strickland, and M. Jones; ordination and credentials to H. Fletcher and W. H. Randle; ministerial licenses to Frank Hall, Norman Johnston, Adam Durrant, L. Rashford, and David Blake; missionary licenses to Wellington Burkley and Philip Porter.
The following officers were elected: President and Treasurer, J. B. Beckner; Vice-President and Assistant Treasurer, J. A. Strickland; Secretary, Norman Johnston; Conference Committee, J. B. Beckner, J. A. Strickland, Norman Johnston, Wellington Burkley, R. M. Rennalls; Secretary and Treasurer of the Sabbath-school Association, Mrs. J. B. Beckner; Contributor to the Caribbean Watchman, J. A. Strickland; Editor of the Jamaica Record, Norman Johnston.
The outlook for the work in Jamaica the coming year seems to be encouraging, and it is the prayer of the writer that the Lord will continue to bless the Jamaica Conference.
