p. 279 | Kingston, Jamaica by D. E. Wellman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1901

Kingston, Jamaica

By D. E. Wellman

Our Sabbath services are attended by several not of our faith, and on Sunday evening many join with us in our worship, a large number of whom are very much interested. Since coming to the island, I have baptized sixty-four persons. Nearly all are faithful. Nineteen of these are at Above Rock, seventeen miles from Kingston. On arriving in the island, Brother Haysmer heard that a family at this place was interested, and we made them a visit the last of June, 1899. Two were baptized in July, and five more in September. Last summer several others were baptized, and we organized a Sabbath-school of sixteen members. We encouraged them in their missionary work, and they are doing all they can to interest others. Recently we visited them again, when six more were baptized, and the ordinances were celebrated. They were all much encouraged. The Sabbath-school at present numbers twenty-two.

At Gordon Town, eight miles from Kingston, we have another little company, consisting of six adults. We have recently organized a Sabbath-school of ten members. I visit them once a month. Two of our young people from Kingston go out each Sabbath to assist in the Sabbath-school. The city car line runs within two miles of the place, making it easy of access. At Bull Bay, ten miles east of us on the coast, we have four Sabbath-keepers, representatives of three families. Some or all of these are at our Kingston service every Sabbath, walking the ten miles each way. They start at three o'clock in the morning, and return after the Sabbath. I have called a few times, but have not been able to do much for them at their homes, although they plead earnestly for help. I expect to go there next Sunday afternoon and preach for them at their grove, returning to Kingston for the evening service.

To-morrow we go to Lawrence Tavern, fifteen miles from here, to baptize a brother. He has attended our services here several times, but desires to be baptized at home. We will hold a day's service with interested ones in his neighborhood. A Baptist minister at that place has sent me word to call on him. He is an American, and is said to be much troubled over the Sabbath question.

The young people at this place have been organized into a Young People's Society of Christian Volunteers, and they assist in the work. They send two members regularly each month to Above Rock, and two weekly to Gordon Town, one of whom acts as a teacher in the Sabbath-school. With this help we hope to have a progressive work in all the little branches that have sprung up around Kingston.

D. E. WELLMAN,