In Western Jamaica by William Ambrose Spicer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1903

In Western Jamaica

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE work in the western district of Jamaica is under Elder J. B. Beckner's supervision. Two local and two general meetings were held with our people in this district. We spent one night at Grovetown, holding a meeting in the unfinished church building which the brethren, and sisters too, are rearing by the roadside. The foundation and floor and the framework and roof are completed, and preparations are made for burning the lime and putting up the customary Spanish walling, of stones, mortar, and possibly a finish of cement. These small cultivators have little to pay tithes upon, and in addition it means no little effort on their part to get together the timbers and materials for a substantial church building.

Thirty or more associated with us gathered in to the evening meeting, with perhaps an equal number of other listeners. Living their quiet lives on their little garden plots, these believers were glad indeed to hear of the general progress of the work, and of plans for its more rapid advancement in Jamaica. As the ranks are lining up for the final charge, you may be sure that these simple believers desire a place in the advancing columns.

One thing we may notice in any part of the world, however out of the bustling world it may be; this truth has always an influence to broaden the horizon and fire the interest of even the most retired believer. It sets people to reading and studying whose whole lives have been removed from the atmosphere of thoughtful observation and study. This truth does everybody good who receives it.

Early next morning Brother Beckner and I were off with his horse and buggy for a twenty-two mile ride to Southfield. Here the country becomes less typically tropical. Pasture land is more abundant. The dry, bracing atmosphere makes it as healthful a region as one could desire. The tendency to drought is somewhat of a hindrance in the district, but the countryside seems fairly prosperous. Everywhere in Jamaica people talk of industrial depression. Less money is in circulation than in former days. Yet all united in saying, so far as I inquired, that there is little real suffering from hunger in Jamaica. One sees little of distressful poverty. The country people seem always to have something growing that is eatable, and they have no long cold season to prepare for. Outside of Jamaica's one city, Kingston, I think I may safely say there is little of the grinding struggle for very existence such as is known in more populous lands.

At Southfield, our people have a good church building, white-walled and neatly finished. About seventy-five gathered for a long evening meeting. Two things seemed to press in as the message in such flying trips to brethren whom I was meeting for the first, and perhaps the last time,—the preparations for a speedy finishing of the work of the gospel in the earth, and the necessary preparation on our part to go to heaven and live with God and the angels in just a little from now. And everywhere the hearts of our brethren have proved receptive soil for the seeds of truth. The Southfield company is an aggressive one. They have a teacher engaged to conduct a church school this year. Another company is also starting a school. The Jamaica public school system is so under church domination and control that it is poor indeed.

At the close of our evening meeting here, quite a number of the members started on foot to Santa Cruz, eighteen miles distant, at the foot of the Santa Cruz mountains, where a general meeting was appointed for Sabbath and Sunday. Here were gathered believers from churches and companies within a radius of thirty miles. From mountain top and valley they came, walking in over the moon-lit roads, filling the little building at Santa Cruz to overflowing on Friday evening.

I need not say that those who came so intent upon sharing the blessings of the meetings were not sent empty away. It was an encouragement to all to see one another. It was the largest gathering of Sabbath-keepers that most of those present had ever seen, though we numbered only about one hundred and thirty. All were inspired with renewed zeal and courage as we studied the call of the hour, and discussed plans for bringing Jamaica more directly into the world-wide forward movement. Sunday night a large attendance of interested people in the town greatly encouraged the local company.

After the Sunday evening service we set out for Savanna-la-Mar, forty-eight miles distant, where our next general meeting was appointed to begin the following evening. The town hall was used for the three evening services. Citizens freely remarked that they had never known so quiet and respectful attention given to religious services in the public hall. Again the brethren and sisters from the surrounding churches came in, and responded well to the call of the hour.

The hearty singing in Jamaica is an inspiration in any meeting. In the prayer and testimony meetings you may recognize everywhere the ring of the true coin of the message. The truth is doing its work in the hearts of the people, and preparing believers here to stand in their place as the ranks move forward.

W. A. SPICER.

Georgetown, British Guiana.