The Work in Panama City by B. E. Connerly

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

The Work in Panama City

By B. E. Connerly

LAST March it was my privilege to begin work with a small company of canvassers in Panama City, the capital of the little republic of Panama. This city is one of the hundreds of Latin-American cities that have waited long to hear the third angel’s message. It is one of the oldest cities of America, having been founded in 1509, and is situated at the southern terminus of the great isthmian waterway that is to separate the two great continents of the Western world. It has a radically cosmopolitan population of about fifty thousand people, many of whom are employed in work on the great canal.

Our work has been principally canvassing. In a small room we have held three meetings a week besides the Sabbath-school. Here many have heard the advent message. It is our hope that by the first of the year we may have a new church building completed, and the company organized into a church.

Living is very high, and the rents are exorbitant; nevertheless, our canvassers have stood faithfully by the work through severe trials and discouragements, and the Lord has blessed their efforts. We have sold several hundred dollars’ worth of books, besides thousands of papers and tracts in the English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Chinese languages.

The legislature has recently passed a bill providing for the closing of the stores on Sunday. This gave us an opportunity to set forth the evil principle of Sunday legislation in our papers, the Caribbean Watchman and Centinela de la Verdad, which we circulated freely. This is the beginning here of the great conflict which will close only when Jesus comes.

The work is most interesting. We love it, and are of good courage.

B. E. Connerly.