Among the Islands by A. J. Haysmer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1902

Among the Islands

By A. J. Haysmer

THE last five weeks I have been visiting St. Kitts, Saba, Antigua, and St. Lucia. Brother and Sister Wellman went with me to Saba, which is an island nine miles in circumference, composed almost entirely of high rocks. There are about two thousand people upon it, mostly white. The men are sailors. The only denominations working on the island are the Roman Catholic and the Church of England. During the last few years there has been a sect of missionaries there who, by their teaching, have created a distaste for the Word of God. They have about two hundred followers.

I never saw more friendly people than those belonging to the Church of England and those not connected with any church. Some of the Catholics were also very friendly. We spent eleven days on the island, held two or three meetings daily, and visited every district. We sold some books, and gave away considerable reading matter. The very best homes were open to us, and the houses and yards were full of eager listeners. I called on the governor, and also the English minister; and they were both very friendly, indeed. The governor and his sister attended our meetings in town, and when we were leaving, sent us their cards, wishing us a safe journey, and inviting us to visit the island again.

The Lord helped us in presenting the simple gospel truths and the signs of the times, and the terrible disasters in two of our own islands made the truly solemn times more solemn. About sixty thousand souls were cut off unwarned. Elder and Mrs. Van Deusen have only just begun work on St. Vincent, and nothing had been done in the part of the island which was destroyed, except the circulation of some literature. Martinique was controlled wholly by Romanism, and Protestants were not tolerated. This is only a foretaste of what is coming. May the Lord help us to warn this people quickly.

There should be a good worker on Saba at once. Many shed tears when we left, but we could not remain longer, as work in St. Kitts and Barbados called us away.

I spent a few hours in Antigua. The church here is growing, and should have a building. Half a lot has been given us, and if we could receive one hundred dollars from abroad, we think, with the four hundred dollars that the church and friends here are able to raise, we could erect a building. The Lord has blessed the work here in a wonderful manner. I long to see it triumph.

A. J. HAYSMER.

St. Thomas.