Dedication in Jamaica by F. I. Richardson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 11, 1902

Dedication in Jamaica

By F. I. Richardson

AGAIN we have been made to rejoice by the completion of another house of worship. This one is located at Fonthill. We now have good, substantial buildings scattered over the island, silent but constant reminders to all who pass them of the great warning message that the Lord is sending to the island of Jamaica and to the world.

This church is eighteen feet wide by forty feet long, built of Spanish walling. The outside is in imitation of cut stone. The inside is painted a light-blue. The pulpit and seats are of cedar, and are varnished. It is a well-finished building for the place. Some have made real sacrifices during the building of it. One brother, a carpenter, remained so closely at the work for months that he provided only the barest necessities for himself and family. A young man who lives forty miles from there, and who is not a member of the church, spent, altogether, three months in assisting them; and yet it has taken nearly three years to complete the house, for everything has to be done by hand. All the materials have to be conveyed to the spot on the heads of individuals or on the backs of donkeys. The brethren being very poor and having families to care for, months at a time would elapse during which they were unable to help on the church, and it is only through the assistance that has been given them that they have been enabled to complete it. Over one hundred dollars in cash was donated. When the materials were ready, there being no mason, one of our ministers took the trowel and built the foundation pillars, and remained with the brethren until the frame was up.

This is the third building that has been erected by this company. The second was provided with a corrugated iron roof, and stood until the increasing number demanded a larger one.

This is the second oldest company in the island. A sister from Kingston visited some friends at this place, talked the truth, and left some reading matter with them. Soon two began to keep the Sabbath. They imparted the light they had received to their neighbors. The good work has gone on until the present membership is fifty-seven, besides children. No public effort by a minister has been made.

The dedication of the building took place on the sixteenth of February. Brethren W. J. Tanner and H. F. Humphrey and the writer being present. The house was handsomely decorated for the occasion with foliage plants, flowers, and oranges, a beautiful arch over the rostrum being the crowning feature. There was a large attendance of outsiders. The exercises passed off nicely. Preaching services were held in the evening with a still larger attendance. Many became much interested, and pleas were made for more meetings; so Elder W. W. Eastman has gone there in answer to the call.

I can hardly close without mentioning the view from the windows of the church, which is one of almost unrivaled beauty. The church is built upon a mountain crag. Looking down hundreds of feet, a beautiful valley is seen, dotted with sugar estates which extend away in the distance until met by the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Across the valley, and on every side, rise to great heights ever-green mountains of almost endless variety of forms. As the eye wanders over this grand panorama, the mind almost involuntarily turns to the wonderful Being who created it all, and acknowledges him as worthy of all adoration and praise.

F. I. RICHARDSON.

Kingston, Jamaica.