J. GERSHOM DASENT by J. Gershom Dasent

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

J. GERSHOM DASENT

By J. Gershom Dasent

Barbados

St. James.—This, the smallest of the eleven parishes that go to make the island of Barbados, yet about the most important from a historic standpoint, runs along a portion of the western coast of the island about seven miles. To the north of it is the parish of St. Peter, and St. Michael's parish is its southern boundary.

The capital or chief town of St. James is Holetown, formerly Jamestown, built on the coast line, and is noted as being the first landing place of Great Britain's representatives about three hundred years ago.

As in other parts of the island, the greater number of the inhabitants of this place are of the laboring class, and as laborer's wage is quite low here, the people are very poor, and it is with a great struggle that many succeed in getting a livelihood; yet they are charitable and hospitable, a people that love the Lord, and a few are willing to lay their little all upon the altar of sacrifice.

About six different denominations are represented in this parish, which may be subdivided into two sects—the Changed-Law Sect and the No-Law Sect; the latter is in the minority.

Feb. 22, 1906, the writer, accompanied by a little band of believers from Speights Town,—the second town on the island,—who helped in the singing, entered St. James with the last message of warning, the Lord leading the way. We had succeeded a week before in securing a small hall in a village called

The Garden, about two miles from Holetown, which was made ready for the services; and in faith, with prayer and much perseverance, service was held night after night, Saturday night excepted, in spite of the workings of the enemy. The Family Bible Teacher was very helpful.

After three months of hard labor, we were able to organize a Sabbath-school of about twenty-two members, including children, and some have already begun to pay tithe and make offerings. Let us return thanks to God for the victory gained, and pray that the Lord may keep these new believers steadfast in the faith.