West Indies by A. J. Haysmer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 18, 1902

West Indies

By A. J. Haysmer

TRINIDAD.—After a rather tedious passage from St. Thomas, I arrived in Trinidad, January 10. I found the workers all usually well. I was sorry to learn on landing that I was one day late to attend the laying of the corner stone of the new church in Tunapuna, but was glad to hear that the work, which had received a terrible blow by the conduct of some of the workers, was again raised in the public mind to a higher plane. This church, when completed, will be the largest and strongest yet erected in this island. It is in the midst of thousands of East Indians, and some circumstances make this and San Fernando important places in which to begin work for this people. There are nearly eighty thousand persons in the island, about ten thousand of whom are reported to have accepted Christianity. The castes are broken, and workers should be trained to labor in their native land. We hope to begin this work soon. Some have already accepted the truth, and others are interested. Among the former is a family who have been working in connection with the Presbyterians for eighteen years, the husband holding a ministerial license. A wholesale and retail merchant who became convinced of the truth when we held a tent-meeting in San Fernando two years ago, recently told us that we ought to build a church there, and work among his people. He said that he would give a lot and one thousand feet of lumber. When we told him that we did not have money to complete the building, he said that he wished he could give us a church. This is clear evidence to us that the Lord desires us to move forward in this work, and we are laying plans to do so. But we must have help. Who are interested? We need means to erect churches; we also need reading-matter in the native language. The Hindi is the most generally used.

Since coming here we have spent the time in visiting the different companies, and considering plans for the development of the work. January 24–27 was occupied in a council meeting held in Port of Spain. Delegates were present from six churches and companies in different parts of the island, also others from different places, and a good attendance from the city. This was a profitable meeting, nearly all phases of the work being considered, and plans laid for a more systematic effort to carry this last message to the people. The following are the recommendations considered, and accepted:—

1. That a General Sabbath-school Secretary and an Assistant Secretary be elected for the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

2. That a Corresponding Secretary and an Assistant Secretary be elected for the island tract and missionary society.

3. That we make our weekly missionary meetings educational; and to that end we recommend that one night in each month be given to health and temperance work, and the other nights to such work as those in charge shall plan.

4. That we rejoice in the steps taken in connection with The Forward Movement, and that we carry on this work as adapted to our field.

5. That, in harmony with the custom of Seventh-day Adventists, we adopt the envelope plan of collecting First-day offerings, and further, that we urge our people to adopt the ten-cent-a-week plan.

6. That our Sabbath-schools be encouraged to increase their donations.

7. That in each church a building fund be established; and that our people be urged to give systematically to this fund; that this fund be used in building churches in our field. And as Port of Spain is the capital of the island, and the work in all parts of the island is affected by the condition of the work there, we further recommend that, for the present, this building fund be used in assisting to build a church in that place.

8. That ways and means be devised for placing a library consisting of the “Testimonies for the Church,” health books, etc., in each church.

9. That we recommend the securing of temperance pledges, and that we advise all our people not only to sign the pledge themselves, but to labor with those not of our faith to do the same.

10. That we consider ways and means by which our church schools may be made self-supporting.

11. That we hold a Sabbath-school and a tract and missionary convention as soon as possible, that we may become more intelligent in these important branches of the work.

12. That since the Lord has told us that the work is halting because of the haphazard way of carrying on the canvassing work, and also that to make prompt remittances is the only way of carrying on business, we recommend that plans be adopted to carry out this instruction from the Lord.

During the meeting, discourses were given on the importance, sacredness, and qualifications of the gospel ministry, also on the duties of church officers, health and temperance, missionary work, etc., etc. We believe there are brighter days before the work in this island. The delegates and the laborers returned to their work full of courage.

One of the urgent needs of this island is a church building in Port of Spain. There is a good interest, but no suitable place to which to invite the people. This matter should not be delayed longer. Are there not some who desire to help build a church here?

I leave to-morrow for St. Vincent, to assist Elder E. Van Deusen in a series of meetings there. We trust that our people will remember the work and the workers in this field. A. J. HAYSMER.

Port of Spain, Trinidad, Jan. 29, 1902.