The Kingston Church Building by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1907

The Kingston Church Building

By I. H. Evans

The Kingston earthquake, which occurred last January, tore the ends of our two-story church building away from the sides, leaving the building in a wrecked condition, and unsafe for occupancy.

The building was a story and a half in height, the chapel being over a basement, which was principally above ground. The chapel being rendered entirely useless by the earthquake, the basement was fitted up with seats, and the Kingston brethren have used it for meetings since the tent was taken down.

The building was so racked that it was impossible for it to be repaired except by rebuilding from the foundation. Besides, the location of the old building was most undesirable from every standpoint. It was completely isolated from the better class of citizens. About it on every side were cheap, low buildings of an inferior quality. In front of it ran a low stagnant stream, which must be crossed in order to reach the church. In the wet season this stream would often become a dashing torrent.

The church has done wisely to locate its new building on a beautiful large corner lot, on one of the best streets in the city. This lot fronts on what might properly be termed the Boulevard, or driving road of the city, and is one of the most attractive streets for a church building site that could be reasonably obtained. The location is just out of the noise and bustle of the commercial life of the city, and yet so close to the heart of the city as to be easy of access from all parts. The elevation of the present site is excellent, and the location all that could be asked.

More than four hundred persons residing in Kingston are now keeping the Sabbath. There has been a bountiful ingathering of souls the last year, especially since the earthquake. It is impossible for the present membership to find accommodations in their present quarters. A letter just received from the president of the conference says: “At the present time about half of the congregation have to stand outside during services on Sabbath and Sunday nights.”

Again he asks a question. “Yet what is to be done with four hundred members of the Kingston church, with one hundred and fifty children in the day-school, with no proper building in which they can gather and worship, to say nothing of the one hundred to two hundred interested persons who usually attend our services in spite of the lack of accommodations?”

It must not be forgotten that these people are very poor. Most of them are renters and live by daily toil. Wages are low. Often a man works all day in the field for from twelve to twenty-four cents. This means absolute poverty; often hunger and want. Such people can do something, but they are powerless to supply all the means necessary to the task of the erection of a suitable church building in the city of Kingston.

Last spring Elder Strickland called for help on this church building, and there has been received up to date, $348.60. This is not a very large sum for our people in the United States to contribute toward the erection of a much-needed church building. We must not forget that most of these people had the houses in which they were living ruined by the earthquake, and even if they did not own their homes, it brought to them great distress and perplexity.

The brethren have asked that two thousand dollars be contributed by our people toward the erection of this church building. From another letter, under date of July 4, from Elder Kneeland, president of the conference, I quote as follows:—

“The brethren in Kingston are doing well in raising money, considering their circumstances. The country people have suffered severely from the long drought, and will not be able to help much until next year’s crop. I am sure it will take no long argument to convince you that we alone can not raise the required amount for a long time. In the meantime, must the building stand as it is for six months or more until we can put on a roof? That alone will cost five hundred dollars, and our people can not raise this before Jan. 1, 1908. If the two thousand dollars could come in soon, we could get on far enough to shelter the people from sun and rain this year. Otherwise I have no idea how this can be done.”

We trust that there are many of our people scattered throughout the field who will be glad to send in from five to ten dollars to help on this fund. We believe that our people will esteem it a great privilege to assist our Jamaica brethren who lost their church building, and many of them had their homes completely destroyed by the disastrous earthquake. Send all donations to I. H. Evans, Treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

I. H. EVANS.