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THE LESSER ANTILLES

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 26, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 48.

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THE LESSER ANTILLES.

By E. Van Deusen

Not having been able to visit some of the islands in this field for the past two years, we embraced the opportunity to go to St. Thomas, and assist in the work there, while Elder Haysmer was locating some of the new workers in other fields. We were in St. Thomas five weeks, and made many pleasant acquaintances with the kind-hearted people. Each of these little West Indian islands is a world of itself, and has its own peculiar customs. The Lord has a people in each one.
From St. Thomas we went to St. Kitts, where Brother and Sister Spring had recently gone to take the place of Elder Morrow and wife who had been assigned to British Guiana. We spent one week pleasantly with them, helping them to plan, and becoming acquainted with the best methods to pursue the work in that place. Our next visit was to Antigua, where we found Brother and Sister Wellman just about settled in their new quarters, and fitting up a place for church service. It was a real treat to spend a week with one of Michigan’s old laborers. How good to meet in distant lands those we have known in the home land, of the same faith! These dear workers were in excellent health, and of good courage. I consider this one of the most difficult of all the Antilles, on account of its low financial condition. Twenty places of business which were opened there two years ago, are now closed.
Our next point was the island of Dominica, where three of our former Sabbath-keepers in Antigua are now located. They have a small company there. A canvasser is needed very much; and very soon there will be an opening for a minister and his wife.
Montserrat, a small island in close proximity to Antigua, also should have attention at once. Brother Wellman expects to visit this place and look over the field. A canvasser could work both islands at the same time. Although earthquake and storm keep this island in a wrecked condition, yet the Lord certainly has a people there.
Brother Sweaney and wife looked after the work in Barbados while we were gone. I am now planning to go to the island of St. Vincent soon, and locate there for a time. It has been well canvassed with our books, and seems ready for the word.
Two of our canvassers have been there for the last year. Two more of our native canvassers will go to Grenada to resume their work soon. It has been left for a few months. On most of these islands there is a certain time to canvass and a certain time to deliver, because at regular times during the year the products are sold, and then the people have money with which to purchase the books.
Times on these islands are very hard, and wages are low. The worst place I know of, however, is Antigua, where a woman receives eight cents a day to work with a hoe on the public road, and perhaps has from two to four days’ labor each week. The men get twelve, fourteen, and sixteen cents for the same number of days. Twenty-four cents is more common in the other islands. From this you will see if a person buys a high-priced book, it takes a long time for him to get the money to pay for it.
We praise the Lord for His manifold mercies, and our highest wish is to live to His glory.
E. VAN DEUSEN.