British Guiana by D. C. Babcock

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

British Guiana

By D. C. Babcock

D. C. BABCOCK

THERE is an increased interest in the Lord's work in this colony. Our good meeting held in May and June has proved a great help to our workers generally, and to the churches.

In a former report, I referred to the general topics considered, and I am especially glad to see the good results from the principles of health reform placed before the people.

Brethren Morrow and Downer hold three public meetings each week, besides the Sabbath service, in the same hall where our general meeting was held. These are well attended. We are now putting forth every effort in our power to build a house of worship, so long needed in Georgetown. Our people are very poor, and I know of some who are actually sacrificing some of the necessities of life to save a few pennies to help in this good work. I am thankful that some in the United States have remembered us with very liberal contributions for the church building. Any one wishing to contribute toward this good work can forward his donations to the Mission Board, Battle Creek, Mich.

Brother Giddings returned to the Essequibo district a few weeks ago. I was with him at Queenstown, and then went to our Indian mission, on Toppercrooma Creek. In a recent letter from Brother Giddings he writes that three are awaiting baptism.

On my arrival at the Indian mission I was sorry to find many of the Indians very sick, and word has reached me since that one aged sister has been laid away to await the coming of the Life-giver. On Sabbath morning, though many were sick, several came to the little mission church to worship. The good Sabbath-school lesson on the life of Daniel was studied, and a deep impression was made in the meeting following the school. I continued the same subject, and gave all an opportunity to speak. The power of the Lord came in, and confessions of the use of intoxicating drinks were made by some of the Indians. Every one in the house wept, and all signed the pledge wholly to discard such things.

On Sunday morning, in company with one Indian brother and one colored brother, we went down the creek to our steam launch “Glad Tidings,” and started on our first missionary trip, up Supernaam River. We visited a family of Indians who had become discouraged and given up the truth. The brother was sick, but after talking and praying with them, he decided to attend our meetings. In the afternoon we came down the river to Sand Road. At this place one of our ministers and two other brethren some years ago were so bitterly opposed by the rough element that they were compelled to go away. By an urgent invitation of the old gentleman who assisted me in building the launch, I held a meeting on Sunday evening. More than two hundred were present, and the best of attention was given.

A request was made for us to return.

Monday morning we started across the

Essequibo River, a distance of twenty-five miles. As we were passing a freight boat working against the tide, they asked us to tow them to the open sea. This we did, and while traveling with them, we sold two copies of “Christ's Object Lessons,” and distributed other reading matter.

Arriving at Leguan on Friday, we found Brother Hyder, our cooly worker, with other brethren of the Leguan church, with a good interest among the Hindu people. I can probably do no better than quote from a letter received from Brother Hyder to-day:—

“I am happy to state that the Lord has dealt bountifully with me, inasmuch as he has opened the way for the preaching of the everlasting gospel to my poor, benighted countrymen, and has blessed me in health and strength to perform the work. There are fifteen students in attendance at the night school.”

It was a pleasure to me to be present at two of these meetings, and see the deep interest taken by cooly men and women. I counted twenty-five cooly women present—something I never witnessed before—and fully fifty men. Surely God is working upon the hearts of this people. I hope soon to see Brother Close, from the Sanitarium training school, to assist in the work among the aboriginal Indians.

It seems very difficult to associate the different nationalities of this colony in religious services,—the creoles in one place, coolies in another, and aboriginal Indians in another. After they receive the message, it is not so difficult to get them to worship together.

There are many perplexities to meet in such a field. But the promise of the Lord is to us here, as in other parts of the world; so we shall move forward in the fear of the Lord, trusting him for health and strength to carry forward the work.

Georgetown.