Progress in Porto Rico by N. Z. Town

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1915

Progress in Porto Rico

By N. Z. Town

N. Z. TOWN

From July 30 to August 8 a general meeting and workers’ institute were held in Santurce, a suburb of San Juan, Porto Rico. About sixty of our own people were present at this meeting, and a goodly number of others attended the evening services.

In a brief review which Elder William Steele, the superintendent, gave of the work in Porto Rico since 1909, when he entered that field, he presented the following encouraging figures:—

In 1909 the tithe paid in the island amounted to $53; in 1914 the amount was $1,199; and in the first half of 1915, the $874. In 1909 the Sabbath school offerings came to $3; in 1914 they were $366; and during the first half of 1915, $239. The literature sales in 1909 amounted to $1,551; in 1914 the amount was $7,006; and the total sales from 1909 to 1914 were $24,800. At the time of the previous general meeting here, eighteen months ago, the membership in the mission was less than forty; now it is eighty-five.

WORKERS AND BELIEVERS ATTENDING RECENT GENERAL MEETING IN PORTO RICO

In the early days of the work in Porto Rico, when Brother and Sister B. E. Connerly were located on the island, Brother Connerly began the publication of a little monthly paper called El Centinela de la Verdad. As quite a portion of the paper was devoted to news items, some of our Spanish-speaking workers in other fields did not consider the Centinela so very valuable as a factor in giving the message. But the efforts of Brother Connerly were not in vain. In a little town away in the west end of the island, a copy of this little sheet fell into the hands of a man who became interested in the truth it contained. He became a subscriber, and later began to keep the Sabbath. In response to his urgent calls, last year Brother Steele and Brother and Sister C. E. Moon conducted a series of meetings in Moca, where this brother lives. The Lord blessed the effort, and after a few months of labor they were able to organize a church of twenty-seven members. As reported in the REVIEW, this company now have a neat little chapel of their own, which they were able to dedicate free from debt.

For several months Miss Jessie Butler has been associated with Brother and Sister Moon, doing Bible work. The evening I visited them, the children of the church entertained us with a very interesting program of recitations, songs, etc., in which one could see the result of the faithful work of Sister Butler in training them. The Lord has richly blessed Brother and Sister Moon and Sister Butler in the study of the Spanish language, and in their efforts among the people. They are now branching out into neighboring villages, and hope soon to see others uniting with the Moca church.

A New Church and Headquarters

Eighteen months ago, when I visited Porto Rico, the brethren in San Juan were meeting in a hired hall separated from a noisy saloon by only a single board partition that reached part way to the ceiling. It was also on a very noisy street, so that with the street noise and the rows in the saloon it was almost impossible to hold evening services. But now, by the blessing of God, that is all changed, and this year we could meet in a neat little building of our own. This building, a picture of which accompanies this report, is located in Santurce, a beautiful suburb of San Juan, about fifteen minutes’ ride from the center of the city by street car. It is only one block from the principal street and trolley line. There are three rooms in the basement, which will be used for church school, book depository, and office of the Porto Rican Mission and Tract Society. Above is a chapel that will seat about two hundred persons. The lot and building cost about $2,300, more than $1,200 of which was raised among the believers on the island. As will be seen by the picture, this new headquarters is beautifully located in a grove of coconut palms. It is a very quiet, desirable place, overlooking San Juan Bay, and, best of all, it could be dedicated free from debt.

The brethren and sisters in Porto Rico are rejoicing, not only over having Brother and Sister Moon and Sister Butler, who have been with them over a year, but also because of the arrival of Brother and Sister D. D. Fitch and Sister D. A. Fitch. They have settled in Santurce, near the new chapel, where Brother Fitch will begin a series of public meetings as soon as he gets the Spanish sufficiently learned. They have already engaged a teacher and are busily studying the language.

When Sister Butler first went to Porto Rico, she engaged in nursing in Santurce for several months. As a result of this work and her good influence, there is a great demand still for one of our nurses in that part of the city. The Porto Rican committee, therefore, voted to ask the General Conference to send a good lady nurse for Santurce at the earliest possible date. As there are many Americans living in this part of the city, she can begin work at once among English-speaking people. There is also an excellent opportunity for a visiting nurse who is also a Bible worker to connect with Dr. J. F. Morse on the south side of the island. The doctor offers to pay the salary of, and furnish a room to, such a worker. The committee voted to ask for a good lady nurse and Bible worker to fill this opening.

For several years colporteurs have been circulating large quantities of books and papers in Santo Domingo. As a result, many have become interested in

the truth, and there is an urgent demand for a minister to follow up this work in that island. The prospects are good for bringing out a company of believers there in a short time.

The church in Santurce had for some time been collecting funds with which to start a church school; they now have on hand nearly two hundred dollars for this purpose. At the general meeting, definite plans were made for opening this school in September. Mrs. G. D. Raff will act as teacher. She expects to have an attendance of more than twenty children.

Since Brother and Sister Steele went to Porto Rico six years ago, Brother Steele has acted as superintendent and treasurer of the mission. Mrs. Steele has done faithful work in assisting him with the bookkeeping, sending books to the canvassers, etc.; but with the removal of the office into the new building, Mrs. D. D. Fitch will act as secretary and treasurer of the mission.

Steps were taken at this meeting to organize more fully the home missionary work and the young people’s work, in harmony with the plans of these departments. Brother Fitch was elected secretary of these two departments for the coming year. As there are several of our young people in the island who wish to prepare themselves for more efficient service in the work, the brethren hope next year to begin a little training school for workers in the Porto Rican Mission. One young man expects to attend school in Cuba this year.

The outlook for the work in the Porto Rican Mission is very encouraging. If the workers they are asking for are sent, we believe that by the blessing of God they can easily double their membership before the end of 1916.