A Word from Bermuda by M. Enoch

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1903

A Word from Bermuda

By M. Enoch

M. Enoch

While Bermuda is in darkness as far as the last message is concerned, and while there seems to be a total unwillingness to hear anything about it on the part of the people, yet there are a few who love this precious cause. We are satisfied that many will be waiting and watching for the Master when he returns. How this is going to be brought about is known only to him who is the fountain of all wisdom. As I notice this unwillingness even to listen to what is the truth for the last days, I am often led to say, How long, O Lord, how long?

Besides this, the hand of sickness has been upon some, and the lack of work, for the truth's sake, is bringing trials upon us. But no one is discouraged, and these things serve only to drive us nearer the Lord, whom we find precious indeed.

Financially, all are poor; and for the reasons already given, some have thought that it might be necessary to give up the hall where we are holding our meetings. I thought that perhaps it might be best, until I read the following from “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 100: “The place should be thoroughly worked, until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God's Sabbath, a light amid the moral darkness. . . . In many places where the message has been preached and souls have accepted it, they are in limited circumstances, and can do but little toward securing advantages that would give character to the work. Often this renders it difficult to extend the work. As persons become interested in the truth, they are told by ministers of other churches,—and these words are echoed by the church members,—‘These people have no church, and you have no place of worship. You are a small company, poor and unlearned.’ . . . Can we suppose that this will not bring strong temptations to those who see the reasons of our faith, and are convicted by the Spirit of God in regard to present truth? It has to be often repeated, that from a small beginning large interests may grow.”

With these words before us, I felt that I could not consent to give up the hall.

It is with much reluctance that I would ask our brethren and sisters in America, or anywhere, if they would not be willing to help us retain our place of worship, which costs only $7.30 a month. To us here it is a large amount.

If I could bear this burden myself, I would not make this appeal, but I cannot bear to give up this our only place of worship in all Bermuda. Any help will be thankfully received, and it will be a source of encouragement to the few struggling ones here.

When Elder Bartlett was here, every hall was closed against him; and now that we have a place in which to worship, shall we give it up? Some have tried to persuade the owner of our hall to rent it to them for a dancing hall, of course offering more rent than we are paying; but he said, “No, as long as Mr. Enoch wishes the hall, I will not take it away from him.” In this I recognize the hand of our God.

Let no one think that we are discouraged—far from it; for the Lord is very precious here in Bermuda; and as we confess and forsake our sins, our souls are watered from the wells of salvation . We are holding on to the great cable, faith, and we find that it reaches within the veil, and that it is fast to our mighty anchor. Mighty ships may drag their heavy anchors, and their strong cables may break in the midst of storms and tempests, but the anchor within the veil never drags; faith, our cable rope, holds; and so we press on in the name of our Captain, who gives us the victory day by day.