EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES: I am sending you some views of our new church building in Arima, Trinidad, which we dedicated just before leaving there. It is 20 x 44 feet, and contains two rooms—one, 20 x 32 for public services, seats 125 persons; the other, 12 x 20, is for school and other purposes. In addition to this, a six-foot "gallery," or porch, runs the full length of the building on either side. The lot, 70 x 90 feet, in an ideal location, and worth $150, was given to us by friends not of our faith.
The building, finished and furnished with seats, lamps, ordinance utensils (including individual communion service), cost $470. About a hundred days' work was donated by some thirty persons, no money being paid for labor. About $60 was received from friends in the states; the rest was raised in this conference, by far the greater part of it being given by the conference laborers, as is the case in all church-building enterprises in these fields. A full set of the "Testimonies" and a number of other books were secured as the nucleus of a library, to which other books will be added from time to time.
A church of twenty-five members was organized, eight being added by baptism just before we left. The others had been previously baptized, or joined by letter. The Sabbath-school and missionary society are flourishing and active. The interest in the community is good, and we expect that the Lord will add to the church such as shall be saved. Several more are already candidates for baptism and membership.
Pastor W. A. Sweany and Family.
We left Arima January 25, just one year from the day we moved there. A little more than half of this time I was away from Arima, in the interests of the work in other places. Yet, by the aid of the mighty Helper, we were enabled to hold a ten-weeks' tent-meeting, organize the work, and finish and dedicate a neat, comfortable church building. A very large amount of our literature was circulated—more than $200 worth, at wholesale rates.
I attended the council meeting of our conference committee at Barbados, January 13-15, at which time it was decided for us to move to Grenada, to take the place of Brother W. G. Kneeland, who was transferred to British Guiana, to succeed Brother D. C. Babcock, who will soon return to the States. We are now settled in Grenada, having reached here a week ago, and are ready to take up the work begun by Brother Kneeland nearly a year ago.
Grenada is the most beautiful and picturesque place we have yet seen. It is a healthful place, having an abundance of good water, with plenty of all kinds of tropical fruit and other produce. Imported supplies are higher than in Barbados and Trinidad. Conditions are about the same as in the other islands of the West Indies. Being a part of the British Empire, of course freedom and liberty are enjoyed, and one meets many kind, courteous people. But truth compels the admission that among the masses immorality, superstition, and ignorance of the Word of God abounds, altho almost every one belongs to some church—the Catholic and Anglican being the strongest, with the Wesleyan and Presbyterian next.
Our work is not yet established here. We find about half a dozen persons beginning to obey the message, and others are interested.
The New Church at Arima, Trinidad.
We desire and request that the prayers and interest of our friends may accompany us in our new field of labor. We have sent an order through our conference office for the SIGNS and Little Friend to be renewed, and sent here. We could not do without them. Your recent "Specials" were the best yet. May God bless the SIGNS, and continue to make it the effective messenger of truth it has ever been. We are well, and of good courage to prosecute the work till it is done.
Yours in the faith of Jesus,
W. A. SWEANY.
Box 118, St. George, Grenada.
