Jamaica by U. Bender

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 15, 1912

Jamaica

By U. Bender

The annual meeting of the Jamaican Conference began with preaching services Sabbath evening, Dec. 29, 1911. It had been planned that Elder N. Z. Town come from Cuba, where he was spending a few days, to attend this meeting. He was prevented from carrying out this plan, which caused the Jamaican brethren disappointment.

I had sent word from Haiti that I would arrive in Jamaica about December 20. I took ship at Port au Prince for Kingston the seventeenth of the month, but the steamer did not take her regular course. After calling at two ports in North Haiti, she went direct to Port Limon, Costa Rica, and then called at Kingston on her way to New York. Thus a voyage that should have consumed but thirty hours required twelve days. I arrived in Kingston Sabbath night about one hour after the close of the first preaching service of the conference session.

Having learned that Elder Town could not come, and not having received my letter, thus not knowing where I was, Elder Wellman had told the brethren that each one would have to lift a little harder to make up for the help they had and expected from outside. When I arrived, I found this burden-bearing spirit very manifest. No one was complaining, but each one seemed determined to do his part. Every laborer knows that this spirit insures success to any meeting.

This meeting was an excellent one. The attendance from the churches throughout the island was very good. The people were faithful in attending the appointed meetings from the beginning to the close of the session.

The business of the conference was disposed of promptly and in a good spirit. Great interest was shown in the afternoon meetings, which were given to conventional work. A good program had been arranged, and papers were read upon subjects of vital interest to the gospel work. It was evident that the matter in the papers and the discussions were more to the point than they were one year ago. I trust there will be improvement in practising the principles also. These things are very helpful to the people.

The evenings were given to preaching on doctrinal lines, or to stereopticon views which enlarged our vision with reference to the power and growth of this advent message.

May the Lord bless the laborers and people in the Jamaican Conference as they begin another year's work. They do run well; may nothing hinder them.

U. BENDER.