JAMAICA by F. I. Richardson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1900

JAMAICA

By F. I. Richardson

Another year has passed into eternity; and as we halt a moment to take a brief review of the past, we are stirred with conflicting emotions. First, by the rapidity with which prophecy is becoming history. The United States is repudiating every principle of Protestantism and republicanism. The nations of Europe are fast becoming the kings of the East. The mighty armies that are being raised, and the vast preparations that are being made for war, show how rapidly they are getting ready for the great battle of Armageddon. All these things are the most conclusive evidence that we are in the last trembling moments of probationary time.

Secondly: our hearts have been made sad by the death of some of our prominent laborers, who, it would seem, could not be spared at the present time, yet the Lord knows best. Here in Jamaica, none have been called away, although one came near death's door, so near, indeed, that the friends pronounced him dead, and began preparations for the funeral; but the Lord raised him up, and to-day he is apparently as strong as ever. A few lay members have passed away.

Thirdly: we rejoice in the progress of the Third Angel's Message. Here in Jamaica it stands in a new position in the eyes of the people. Until within the last year, the ministers of other denominations have ignored us, or if questioned about us, have said that we would soon leave the island, as some others had done, and our work come to naught. But our work has spread to every parish in the island

. We have erected eight chapels, and three more are nearing completion, also five class houses, as they are called here. A class house is a building with a thatched roof, and wattled sides. These ministers begin to think we have come to stay, and have begun a strong opposition, such as we are all well acquainted with. Again: we have not been acknowledged as a Christian denomination in the past, one argument used against us being that the government would not grant our ministers a license to perform marriage ceremonies; but the last year has seen that argument done away.

During this time, too, the Lord has blessed the efforts of our laborers in giving each of them souls for his hire. Two hundred and twenty-nine persons have been baptized, making a total church-membership of seven hundred and thirteen, with about one hundred more keeping the Sabbath. There are nineteen Sabbath-schools, with a membership of eight hundred. Our twenty-two canvassers have sold over ninety-one hundred dollars' worth of books, retail price. We have two church schools in successful operation, with a present enrollment of seventy pupils. The tithe and offerings for the year amount to $1,470.27. The Sabbath-school offerings to missions was about one hundred and fifty dollars. We give the Lord the praise, and take fresh courage to go forward to the end, which is near at hand.

F. I. RICHARDSON.