The West Indian Training-School by GEO. F. ENOCH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 8, 1906

The West Indian Training-School

By GEO. F. ENOCH

GEO. F. ENOCH

We are sure that the readers of the REVIEW will be interested in a new educational institution that is being started in the West Indies. The progress of the third angel’s message in this island field forms an interesting chapter in the history of our missions. The workers sent there were firm believers in the circulation of our literature, and the continued, faithful, persistent distribution of the printed page has borne its fruit. At the present time there are more than three thousand baptized believers in these islands.

The School Constituency

In such a mission field as the West Indies, a large industrial school like the one proposed should come as a matter of growth. The investing of a large sum of money in such an enterprise where there is no constituency for a school is unwise. But among the more than three thousand believers in the West Indian Union Conference there are many scores of young men and women who are hungering for an education. With longing eyes they have looked toward our schools in the States, yet but few have been able to reach them. Some have hoped and waited for years, until they have well-nigh given up in despair. Many of them are drifting to-day—where, we do not know. Unless something is done for them quickly, they will be lost to the cause, and may lose their own souls. We can not afford to leave them thus unfitted for the work of God while the needs of this field are so pressing.

In the REVIEW of August 9 the writer reported a trip through Jamaica and Central America, in the interest of that school. At our conference meeting in Trinidad, in June, the action of the Jamaica brethren was ratified. The following petition sent from that conference to the General Conference represents the unanimous voice of the West Indian young people, and is worthy of our consideration:—

“Dear Brethren in Christ, Greeting:—

“We come to you with this petition, knowing your deep interest in the work in the West Indian field.

“From the very beginning the General Conference has liberally maintained the work in this territory. Quite a large number of men have been sent to this field, some of whom have laid down their lives, while others have continued in the work with a greater or less degree of success.

“We have in the territory embraced in the West Indian Union Conference about three thousand Sabbath-keepers. A large per cent of these brethren and sisters are poor in this world’s goods, and have no more than is sufficient to supply their daily needs. However, they love this truth, and as far as their ability goes, are really earnest in supporting and maintaining the cause. Among this constituency of three thousand Sabbath-keepers there is a large number of young people from the age of fourteen to twenty-five, who are in dire need of educational advantages. The public schools in these islands are largely denominational. These schools are not adapted to the training and educating of workers for our cause. In the West Indian Union Conference there is a large number of bright and intellectual youth, who need the advantages of a school where they can be taught the dignity of labor, the economical use of their time and means, as well as the usual literary branches.”

“ABBY PALM,” IN THE YARD OF OUR WEST INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

“We believe that, owing to the depressed financial condition of the West Indies, very few of the youth from this field will ever be able to pay their transportation to the States, or the larger expenditure of maintaining themselves while attending school there, and therefore the majority will never enjoy good school privileges unless a school is provided in this field.

“We assure you that we will use the utmost economy in the handling of the funds, and will endeavor to keep out of debt. The Jamaica Conference has already raised cash and pledges to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars for this enterprise. Other conferences will do all they can to assist, and yet we find ourselves wholly unable to bring this work to a completion, without assistance.

“We shall be grateful to you for all that you do in behalf of this school, and trust that you will be free to give us counsel and advice at any time concerning the same.”

Now, what shall your response be to this petition, my brethren and sisters? The message preached by those who have gone out from among you to labor in the West Indies and Central America has been greatly blessed of God. Many have believed through their word. These turn now to you, saying that the message which you have sent has separated them from the world, and kindled in their hearts the desire for an education and a training for their youth and children, who are dear to them. We can not now turn a deaf ear to the cry that comes from their hearts as a result of the message which we have sent them.

Need of Workers

Within the borders of the West Indian Union Conference there are more than fifteen million people, scattered over thousands of square miles, speaking eight different languages. Swallowed up in this great territory, we have a handful of workers. Their numbers must be increased, for the work will be finished in this generation. Now that the Lord has given us hundreds of bright young men and women right in the territory itself, is it not right that an educational center should be established there, so that an army of workers may be developed on the ground?

We need an educated native minister. Our hundreds of children plead most eloquently for an army of church-school teachers; a great door is opened for the Bible worker; and we must have a multitude of canvassers and colporteurs to lead out in the work of covering the field with our literature. The homes of our people in the field need the uplift that such an educational institution may be in their midst. Not only will our field be benefited by this school, but the Southern States have already drawn on us for workers. Without a training-school, we have seen thirteen of our young men in the West Indies enter the gospel ministry. Five of them have already had sufficient experience to warrant their being set apart by ordination.

But away to the east of us, in the same latitude, lies tropical Africa, with

its millions in heathen darkness. Already the hearts of our young men and women are yearning to carry the gospel message to their brethren in that dark continent. The Young People’s Societies are now saving their donations for the Sudan. Some are preparing to go. Our workers on the Gold Coast are already pleading for the first delegation.

And why should it not be so? England conquered and holds in subjugation her possessions in tropical Africa, by her West India regiment. The Anglicans, Baptists, and Wesleyans have missionary colleges here, where their recruits for tropical Africa are trained for service.

Here in this beautiful “Isle of Springs,” surrounded by the wealth of tropical vegetation, the Lord has led us to a quiet retreat, where our young people may be trained to bear their part with us in the finishing of this work. We feel sure that our brethren everywhere will esteem it a privilege to have a part in establishing this work. Next week we shall describe some of the unique features of this proposed school.