Efforts After the Earthquake by J. A. Strickland

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1907

Efforts After the Earthquake

By J. A. Strickland

J. A. STRICKLAND

Six months have passed since the great earthquake disaster at Kingston, Jamaica. The city still presents a sad scene of destruction, although much has been done toward restoration. The business men of the community have been sorely hindered in their endeavors to resuscitate trade and commerce, because a majority of the insurance companies refuse to pay claims.

Two refuge camps are still maintained, but the number of campers has been reduced by several thousand who have repaired and entered homes. The British government has given Jamaica £150,000, in addition to a loan of £800,000.

The people generally are courageous, and full of hope for the future. A bigger, better, and more beautiful Kingston is the dream and determination of the citizens. Our own people are also seeking to regain their foothold. Every individual is doing his best in the work of rebuilding a church edifice, and earnestly and consistently proclaiming the last message of truth.

Since I penned the preceding sentence, a little eleven-year-old colored girl entered my study, and handed me an envelope containing a pair of silver bracelets, and said: “Elder, I haven’t any more money to give, but I’ve brought you these bangles. I used to wear them before mother and I began to keep the Sabbath. Won’t you take them, and sell them, and use the money for the new church building?” “God bless you, my child. You have done well. Your gift will be a real help in our work,” I said. This is but one of many instances that might be mentioned to show the spirit and fidelity of our people here.

We laid the corner-stone of the new edifice May 24. It was a never-to-be-forgotten, glorious day. The contribution on the occasion amounted to about two hundred dollars. We have the foundation finished, and have planned to complete the building and have the dedication January 14 of next year, which will be the anniversary of the awful disaster.

It may be well to add here a line or two of information concerning the growth and extent of our work in Kingston. The message was first proclaimed in this city about fifteen years ago. Since then we have grown from one lone Sabbath-keeper to a church of over four hundred members. Quite a number of our native young men have developed into successful workers. Some are now laboring in the States, one is in the Canal Zone, one in Costa Rica, one in Porto Rico, one in South America, and one on the little island of Grand Cayman.

Numbers of our young men and women have gone to our institutions in America, to be trained for doctors, and for business.

The Kingston church conducts a day-school, with over one hundred and sixty pupils enrolled. We have a Young People’s Society, with a membership of one hundred and eighty-seven. But our brethren in the home land must not think that because of our numbers, we are well off financially. Conditions in the tropics are entirely different from what they are in more northern climes. And now especially since the destruction of last January, we are having a hard struggle. Brethren, help us with our work of reconstruction. Work on our buildings will soon come to a standstill unless we receive some assistance from abroad. Shall we let the growing work here receive a setback? Send all donations to the Mission Board, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., or to the treasurer of the Jamaica Conference, H. H. Cobban, Linstead, Jamaica, W. I.