Haiti by W. J. Tanner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 2, 1911

Haiti

By W. J. Tanner

W. J. TANNER

THE cycle of time has nearly completed another turn, and we find ourselves in the midst of annual reports and retrospective views of the advancement of God's cause during the year 1910. This has been a prosperous twelve months for the Haitian Mission. An examination of the church records shows that forty-one have been baptized, and seven taken into the church on profession of faith, giving us a net gain of forty-one members. The field now has a baptized membership of one hundred forty-nine. Our accounts, too, show that there has been a very encouraging increase in tithes during the year. Piety and faithfulness seem everywhere to be taking deeper root among our people, and I believe the Lord has many more good things in store for this mission.

As the year closes, we find that our battle lines are drawn closer to those of the enemy than ever before. As I write, I have before me a copy of what I suppose is the first journal ever dedicated by the Catholic clergy for the express purpose of combating the third angel's message. This is a little four-page monthly called Bulletin Catholique de Grande Rivière. The first issue appeared November 15; and the first paragraph of this issue, translated, runs as follows:—

"The Sect of Sabbath Observers

"The little Adventist sect is stirring up and spreading erroneous doctrines. Catholics have so often had their ears knocked off (by the famous beast) that they will have a certain pleasure in reading this little organ, that henceforth from month to month will pursue error into every corner. We shall examine the brochures that the gentlemen who publish Les Signes des Temps [our French paper] send abroad, and we shall gather out and expose the dishonest arguments that they are giving to the public. We place ourselves under the protection of Sainte Rose de Lima."

True to its avowed purpose, the 1st number of this little paper is devoted exclusively to us and to our doctrines. As an exponent of the Scriptures, however, the editor, who is a priest, does not make it worth while for me to translate any other passages for the edification of the readers of the REVIEW. He draws a sort of verbal caricature of Adventists, though even that shows just

what phases of our message trouble his peace of mind the most.

Another thing that throws light on the appearance of this little sheet is the fact that at Grande Riviere, where it is published, I have baptized twenty-nine Roman Catholics this year, and have a class of eighteen more who have come out of that church, and are preparing for baptism.

Our work in Haiti is not dead, by any means. The week following the publication of the above-mentioned paper, our brethren at Grande Riviere were compelled to begin a series of meetings to satisfy the demand of the Catholics to hear further about the beast, Babylon, and the Sabbath. These meetings were the largest we have ever held in this place; as to what the results will be, we can not say, but the end is not yet.

Cape Haitien.