Trinidad, British West Indies
By W. G. Kneeland
OVER one year has passed since I was called to take oversight of the work in this island. At that time but little was being done by the canvassers, and the general impression was that the canvassing work was finished. With the assistance of Brother P. Porter, of Jamaica, a class of fourteen was gathered for a ten days’ drill. At the close of this meeting the field was divided systematically, and the canvassers were given their territory for work. From this time the canvassing work began to progress. Not all were successful, but the reports show that about forty-five hundred books and pamphlets containing more or less of the message for this time have been circulated, besides a large number of papers. About fourteen hundred of the books sold were one-dollar books, the financial condition preventing the accomplishment of much with the larger works. During the past year one church building has been dedicated, and two others are nearing completion. We have also been able to pay for two church lots. One church has been organized, and a second is being developed as a result of the tent effort. Twenty-three persons have received baptism, and nearly as many more have applied for baptism at our next quarterly meeting. Not all of those who were baptized accepted the truth this year, some having kept the Sabbath for a longer time. Since December, 1901, Brother George F. Enoch has taken charge of the tract society business, doing what church work he could in connection with his other duties. One native worker has been employed since February. The way has just opened for a native East Indian of some experience to devote his time the coming year to labor for his own people in the island. Another native brother, an ordained minister of the A. M. E. Church, has resigned his position, and will canvass for “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” for a while. Soon after the Martinique disaster our tract society printed a ten-thousand edition of a little tract, entitled “The Voice of the Volcano, or God’s Call to Repentance,” in which we endeavored to call attention to the meaning of these calamities. We also prepared a little tract on the “Coronation.” The sales from these two tracts has more than met the cost of publication. From September 3–15 we held our second canvassers’ institute here at San Fernando. Thirty-six persons were in attendance regularly, and eighteen were assigned to some place in the field. Two will go to the neighboring island of Tobago. While we are glad for what has been accomplished, yet we feel that only a small work has been done in comparison with what must be done before the Lord comes. Destruction and pestilence are17in the land, plainly revealing the fact that we have but a short time in which to rescue the perishing. May we be quick to seize the present opportunities before they pass, and give the warning message for this time. W. G. KNEELAND.