The East Caribbean Field by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

The East Caribbean Field

By I. H. Evans

LEAVING New York, June 6, on the boat “Grenada,” for Trinidad, after an eight-day voyage I arrived at the island of Grenada, where the boat made its first stop. Nearly two days before this we had passed within the northern boundary line of this island conference. Island after island we left on either side of us; but as the boat made no stop, I was carried on in spite of my desire to see the people.

As our boat pulled into the beautiful little harbor at Grenada, the gang-plank had scarcely touched the dock when Brother Sweany came aboard and gave me a hearty welcome. I went ashore, and rested awhile in the house of a Mrs. Walker, where we met Sister Sweany, who, with her husband, was going to the conference on the same boat on which I had passage.

No church of our people has ever been raised up in the city of St. George, Grenada, although two efforts have been made; but Brother Sweany has just closed a very successful campaign about sixteen miles in the country, where he organized a church of about twenty-five members, and baptized twenty adults the Sabbath preceding my arrival. About twenty more, besides numerous children, who he expects will obey, are either keeping the Sabbath or are much interested.

St. George is a pretty little town, with narrow, well-paved streets, and antique, tile-roofed houses. About seventy thousand people live on the island, with about ten thousand in St. George itself.

It has been a long, hard struggle to get a foothold among this interesting people, but the brethren hope for better things in days to come.

Leaving Grenada on Friday at about 9 A. M., we arrived in Port of Spain about 8 P. M., when we were met by Brother Sterrie Wellman, and taken at once to his hospitable home, where I enjoyed meeting Elder D. E. Wellman and his family.

Sabbath was a busy day for the church in Port of Spain. After Sabbath-school and the election of officers for the ensuing six months, the writer spoke of the love of God to his people, after which eight precious souls were baptized by Elder Wellman, and received into the Port of Spain church. The membership of this church is about one hundred and forty, and is increasing year by year. The ordinances were then celebrated, in which nearly all present joined.

I was impressed with the quiet behavior of this people in the house of God. After the service was dismissed by benediction, instead of breaking out into a babel of confusion, they instantly sat down and bowed their heads in silent prayer. During the service they pay the best of attention, and are very orderly and well mannered.

The conference opens June 24 and closes July 4. The use of the largest hall in the city has been secured for four nights during this meeting

have been thoroughly advertised, and the brethren confidently expect a large attendance.

Already this conference has twenty-three organized churches, with twenty-one church buildings. Its membership is about eleven hundred. Delegates to this coming conference are expected from various islands, and all are looking forward to a successful meeting.

Just in the rear of the church building in this place is the Watchman Press. It is a two-story building about eighteen by forty-six feet. It has a tile and galvanized iron roof. A new cylinder press has recently been installed, and together with their jobber, they are in a condition to do considerable work. They run this large press by hand, and on it they print the Caribbean Watchman, a bright, well-edited, sixteen-page monthly. They circulate seven thousand copies monthly of this excellent paper, and do all the printing by hand. They greatly need a small electric motor, of about two horsepower, with varying speed, with which to operate their machinery.

It is truly painful to see the self-denial of the workers in this hot, tropical country, putting up with every conceivable inconvenience in order to get the truth out cheaply before the people.

Almost fifteen million persons are within the boundary lines of this West Indian field. The publishing work is an important factor in placing the truth before them. With more than three thousand Sabbath-keepers, we have not a single school, or sanitarium, or institution outside of this little publishing plant, in all this vast section.

Something must be done to give the work a permanency and the facilities which it greatly needs. We hope this coming conference will develop plans for future aggressive work.

I. H. EVANS.