The Report From Jamaica

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

The Report From Jamaica

Last week Brethren Luther Warren and Lee E. Wellman arrived in New York from Jamaica, the latter stopping off in Washington on his way westward, and giving us the first full report from our brethren in Kingston.

The meetings had only fairly opened. Sunday night Elder Warren had spoken in the town hall, nearly a thousand being present. On Monday afternoon, when the violent shock came, the visiting brethren and others were inspecting the school site in the country, twenty-five miles from Kingston. They knew by the violent shaking of the earth that the situation must be serious in the city, and proceeded at once by train for Kingston. As they neared the city, after many delays on account of obstructions, the sky was overcast with clouds of smoke made lurid with flames. All our American workers were without injury, though some had narrow escapes. It is evident that two or three Jamaican believers lost their lives, among them Brother Norman Johnston, a devoted worker and treasurer of the conference, who was visiting the bank in the district where the loss of life was greatest.

At the time of the shock Elder J. A. Strickland was leading a meeting of about one hundred and fifty of our people in the Kingston church. They were singing a hymn. Had they rushed for the stairways, no doubt many would have been injured in the panic, as the meeting hall is on the second floor, above the book depository. The leader urged the congregation to remain, and the singing was continued until the shock was over, although the plaster and moldings rained down upon them. Providentially the church was one of the few buildings left standing, though its walls were sadly cracked.

The people were compelled to sleep out of doors or wherever partial shelter could be secured. About three hundred of our brethren had come in from other churches in Jamaica. These were advised to return to their homes, owing to the difficulty of getting food in the city. Business meetings of the conference were held in the open, and officers were elected, and plans laid for the distribution of workers and the conduct of enterprises. It was then thought best for all to get back to their fields at once, as no public meetings could be held in the midst of the confusion in the city.

Elder U. Bender was elected president of the union. Professor Hughes and his family, who were present, remain to go forward at once with the industrial school enterprise. The prospects for the school are very encouraging. Our West Indian brethren and sisters gathered at the meeting were calm and courageous in the midst of the disaster, and may be depended upon to push the work with greater energy than ever. Elder Beckner, president of Jamaica, was transferred to British Guiana, and Elder W. G. Kneeland, of British Guiana, will act as president in Jamaica. Elder H. C. Goodrich, of northern Central America, will take the presidency of the new West Caribbean Conference, which includes the Panama region.

We shall have fuller reports next week. Doubtless Elder I. H. Evans will have returned to Washington ere this paper reaches the reader. Our first page gives a view of the ruin wrought by the earthquake. Other photographs taken by Brother Lee Wellman will appear next week. The Caribbean Watchman, printed in Trinidad, will put out a special number which will doubtless have a very wide circulation through all the West Indian and Central American field. Truly the world is being warned of the swift approach of the end.