BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE WEST INDIAN MISSION FIELD

A. J. HAYSMER

This field includes all the islands of the Caribbean Sea, also Central America, and the northern coast of South America as far as the southern boundary of French Guiana. Its extreme limit from east to west is about 2,200 miles, while from north to south it measures not far from 1,600 miles. Its population, numbering 15,511,000, is a mixture of people speaking the English, French, Spanish, Holland, Danish, East Indian, and native Indian languages.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.2

At present this field is divided into seven mission districts, namely, Central America (North), Central America (South), British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, Trinidad, Lesser Antilles, and Jamaica. Our workers number 10 ministers, 3 licensed preachers, 16 Bible workers, and 41 canvassers. We have 25 church organizations, and 30 companies, while the whole number of Sabbath-keepers aggregate 1,672. There are 9 church schools, taught mainly by native teachers. The tithes paid during this period amount to $4,800.26, and the value of books sold at retail is nearly $16,000.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.3

CENTRAL AMERICA (NORTH)

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Work in this field was begun about nine years ago. In this district there are 126 Sabbath-keepers, 41 having been added since the last General Conference. Two church schools are maintained, and $998.12 in tithes has been received. Only one minister is located here, and other workers are greatly needed to carry on the work in the interior.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.4

CENTRAL AMERICA (SOUTH)

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This is a new field. As the schooner “Herald” has visited the different ports, some books have been sold, and 15 are now observing the Sabbath of the Lord in St. Andrews and Boco Del Toro. A school is just opened at St. Andrews, and others should be started at Old Providence and Boco Del Toro. The laborers here number three,—1 minister, 1 Bible reader, and 1 canvasser. Another minister is needed now to assist Elder Hutchins in developing the work in Costa Rica, as the people seem ready for the message.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.5

BRITISH GUIANA

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This is a large and very important field, with a population of 248,887, representing nearly every nationality in the world. Here, as well as in Trinidad and Jamaica, are thousands of East Indians, who have been brought to these provinces under contract, to work on sugar estates for a term of years. Many become attached to the country; and when their contract has expired, prefer to remain, and go into business for themselves. Others return to the homeland. These people should be enlightened in regard to the third angel’s message, not alone that their own souls may be saved, but that they may act as missionaries to their own people, both in this field and in their native country.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.6

In this district we have 1 minister, 1 licentiate, and 2 Bible workers. There are 6 churches and 3 companies, numbering 250 in all. These have paid in tithes $418.45. The 12 canvassers sold books amounting in value to $1,133.84. There is great demand for laborers here. Two church schools should be started at once.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.7

TRINIDAD

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This island has about 200,000 inhabitants, over one third of whom are natives of the East Indies. As in British Guiana, so here there is great need of reading-matter, and devoted laborers for this people. The missionary efforts for the English portion of the population is well organized, and some native talent is being trained in connection with our tent work. For all of these 200,000 souls, there are only 1 minister and 2 Bible-workers. We have 1 good church school in the country, but there is pressing need of another in Port of Spain, the capital. In this city there should also be a church, and mission building erected; for as no proper place can be rented, much labor is lost. In this island there are 120 Sabbath-keepers organized into 4 churches and 4 companies. Tithes received are $1,154.98, and nearly $4,000 worth of books has been sold.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.8

The island of Tobago, belonging to this mission district, has been thoroughly canvassed, and should receive ministerial labor at once; but this can not be done until more help is provided.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.9

LESSER ANTILLES

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This field is composed of over twenty-five islands, belonging to England, France, Denmark, and Holland. Only a few of these are as yet entered. Our books have been sold more or less in most of the English-speaking islands, and some in the Danish. In Barbadoes we have a good church building, and a modest schoolhouse. There is a small church building in St. Kitts also. In this whole field, we have 1 church organization, and 6 companies of believers. There are 3 ministers, 4 Bible-readers, and 10 canvassers to carry forward the work. The believers in the third angel’s message number nearly 200.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.10

On account of low prices for sugar, storms, droughts, and floods, the poverty is very great in several of these islands, making it necessary to remove all our agents from them. Here we need those who can labor in word and doctrine, sell small books, and scatter small tracts and leaflets to those who are hungering for truth.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.11

JAMAICA

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In this island the work is more advanced than in any other portion of the West Indian Mission Field. All over the island our books, tracts, and papers have been placed in the hands of the people; and as the result, companies are springing up in many places. In this field we have 3 ministers, 2 licentiates, 11 missionary licentiates, and 8 canvassers. The whole number of believers is 961, 109 having been added since the last General Conference. There are 11 church organizations, 15 companies, and 10 church buildings. The tithes received from this island amounts to $1,024.91. The value of books sold is $5,958.75.GCB April 16, 1901, page 275.12

The greater portion of the West Indian Mission field is still practically unentered,—such places as British Honduras, Guatemala, Salvador, Spanish Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Columbia, Venezuela, the Dutch and French Guianas, Cuba, Hayti, San Domingo, Porto Rico, and the Dutch and French islands. These fields are ripe, and already precious grain has been lost for want of reapers.GCB April 16, 1901, page 276.1

We trust that at this Conference, plans will be laid to open the work in Cuba, Porto Rico, San Domingo, and other needy fields. Other denominations are entering, and the longer we delay, the more difficult will it be to start the work. May the Lord impress upon the minds of his faithful people the needs of this field; and may they respond in giving themselves and their means, so these needs may be supplied, and many precious souls gathered out and made ready to meet their Lord when he comes in the clouds of heaven.GCB April 16, 1901, page 276.2

A. J. HAYSMER.