British West Indies by A. N. Durrant

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1911

British West Indies

By A. N. Durrant

CARRIACOU.— For five weeks — beginning April 28, when we pitched our tent — we conducted a series of meetings in this island, the largest of the Grenadines.

The island is beautiful, and our tent being pitched near the seashore, we were often reminded of the time when the Great Teacher taught by the Sea of Galilee.

We had some trying experiences in maintaining order during the meetings. Some nights, after solemn discourses from the Bible, we would appeal to our hearers to yield to the Word; then some would come forward feigning earnestness, and while we were praying with them, after having talked with them, they would get up or creep quietly away.

Only eight have accepted the message, but for even these we praise God. Two have come directly from Romanism. One of these, a young man, has since borne the following testimony: “While I was standing [in meeting] the Holy Spirit came into me and said I must raise my hand if Mr. Durrant asked. I held up my hand; and I am glad to say to-day, I feel the peace of God in my heart. . . . I am a changed man. . . . A few days before, Satan came into me, and I said to a friend, ‘Let us buy a bottle of rum, take a good drink, and when Mr. Durrant calls, we’ll go forward, and when he comes to bless us [pray with them], we will take out the bottle and drink the remainder in his presence,’ but I now beg the Lord for pardon.”

Brother A. G. Peart and his wife and Sister Moore assisted in the work here, and Brother Peart now remains to further develop it.

The accompanying picture shows some of the new Sabbath-keepers; but it does not represent the class that attended the meetings, being taken when we could not get a truly representative gathering.

The great problem now confronting us is the securing of a place of worship. Land is very scarce, as the island contains only 8,467 acres, with a population of about 8,000. More than half of the island is owned by one or two proprietors. We went to the commissioner to see if we could obtain a piece of ground, but found we could not. A large town lot, with an old building about thirty-six by twenty feet, on the main street near the court-house, is now offered to us for one hundred sixty dollars. This seems like a providential opening.

Those who have accepted the message are very poor in this world’s goods; in fact, the island is poor. The chief products are cotton and corn. If we give permanence to the work in this island, help will have to come from outside. If any one reading this report, would feel it a pleasure to send an offering to purchase this property and to establish a memorial among these small islands, it would indeed be casting bread upon the waters. Offerings should be sent through the regular channels. Pray for these dark, priest-ridden people in this needy field. A. N. DURRANT.