Seventh-Day Adventists in Barbados OVERA CENTURY M ADVENTISM 1884 - 1991 ASTR Research Center Ubrary
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Seventh-day Adventists in Barbados OVERA CENTURY M ADVENTISM 1884 - 1991 ASTR Research Center Ubrary General Conference of Seventh-day A ttortisi» Over a Century of Adventism 1884-1991 Genere! Conference of Seventh-day Adventists — • OVERA CENTURY OF ADVENTISM 1884-1991 Glen O. Phillips East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists East Caribbean Conference of S.D.A. P.O. Box 223 Bridgetown Barbados, West Indies. Copyright © 1991 by Glen O. Phillips First published 1991 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part o f this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except by reviewers for the public press, without the prior written permission o f the copyright owner. ISBN 976 8083 37 9 East Caribbean Conference o f S.D.A. Printed by Caribbean Graphics & Letchworth Ltd.. Barbados IV Contents Page List of Appendices vi Foreword vii Acknowledgement ix Introduction 1 Chapter I 4-10 The Corning of Seventh-Day Adventism 1884-1891 Chapter II 11-20 The Formation of the Adventist Church 1891-1900 — The Founding of the First Church, 1891 — The Arrival of the First Permanent Adventist Minister, 1896 — The Establishment of Adventist Medical Work, 1898 — The plans for the Building of a Church, 1899 Chapter III 21-38 The Early Adventist Community, 1900-1924 — A letter from Mrs. E.G. White to the Barbadian Church — Adventists’ Response to the Epidemic of 1902 — Barbados Selected as Adventist Headquarters in 1904 — Overcoming Problems and Prosperity, 1910-1923 Chapter IV 39-47 Entering the North, 1924-1930 Chapter V 48-59 The Years of Consolidation, 1930-1945 — 1931 Evangelistic Series at Bank Hall — Leeward Island Mission Office comes to Barbados, 1935 — The Promotion of Youth and Literature Programs, 1936 — The Death of Dr. Charles Cave, 1939 — Coping with the Hardships of World War II Chapter VI 60-78 The Adventists During Decolonization 1945-1966 — Strategies and Breakthroughs of the Early Fifties — Adventist Education and the Founding of the Secondary School — Hurricane Janet and Church Responsiveness of Mid-1950's — Facing the Challenges of the Early 1960’s Chapter VII 79-103 The Adventist Church Since Independence, 1966-1991 — Action for Penetration, 1966-1970 — Working the Community, 1970-1976 — Intensive Community Outreach, 1976-1982 — Preserving the Church's Good Will, 1982-1985 — Building for Tomorrow, 1985-1991 v Conclusion 104-109 Pictorial Review 111-122 Tables 123-147 Bibliography 148-150 Messages 151-156 Church Locations 157 List of Appendices Page Table I Chronology of the Formation of S.D.A. Churches in Barbados, 1891-1991 123-124 Table II Chronology of Barbados’ Adventist Membership Growth, 1891-1991 125-126 Table III The Chronological List of the Pastors of the King Street Church, 1891-1991 127-128 Table IV The Membership Distribution of S.D.A. Churches in Barbados during 1933 129 Table V The Comparative Statistical Report of 1946 and 1956 for the Caribbean Union of S.D.A. 130 Table VI The Chronological List of the Leaders of S.D.A. Churches in Barbados, 1890-1991 131 Table VII The 1991 Barbados Church Districts and their Pastors 132-133 Table VIII Barbados S.D.A. Church Membership and Leadership Distribution in 1991 134 Table IX The Growth of East Caribbean Conference of S.D.A. Church and Membership 1966-1991 135 Table-X A Chronology of Seventh-day Adventism in Barbados, 1884-1991 136-137 vi Foreword One hundred years ago the seed of Seventh-day Adventism was planted in Barbados. During that time since its establishment, this church has been impacted upon by social, economic, political, religious and cultural ideologies which have been very much a part of the colonial and post-colonial environment in Barbados. It too has been instrumental in helping to shape and mould society by its unobtrusive yet dynamic influences. Dr. Glenn Phillips, author of this volume, has skillfully woven into this book many colourful threads which assist the discriminat ing reader in seeing life as it developed in an emerging nation, while concentrating on the growth and development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Barbados. Many Seventh-day Adventists have carried in their memories interesting fragments of information about people and events which now constitute the history of a dynamic and progressive church organization. However, Dr. Phillips, for the first time, has been able to research, document and put in an interesting and readable form, this information for the benefit and use of those interested in secular and church history. Sincerest appreciation is extended to him for his efforts in pro viding this book on the occasion when the 100th Anniversary of Adventism in Barbados is being celebrated. I must also express appreciation to Mr. Carl Johnson of Caribbean Graphics who so readily responded to our request and facilitated the printing of this book. We thank God for inspiring all contributors, including lay per sons such as Dr. Charles Cave of Barbados, the Tract Society of Battle Creek and New York and a host of missionary minded clergy such as Elam Van Deusen and Dexter A. Ball. We pay tribute to the members of the Planning Committee set up by the Conference Executive Committee and chaired by Dr. Norma Niles. Each par ticipant played an important role by sharing ideas and thoughts towards the 100th Anniversary celebrations. As you read this book, may you be inspired to re-dedicate your talents and resources to keep the torch of truth burning where you are. Never underestimate the value of a mustard seed sown in the right soil. Everette W. Howell President, East Caribbean Conference of S.D.A. vn Acknowledgments The preparation of this narrative is in direct response to the kind invitation and request of Pastor Everette W. Howell, President of the East Caribbean Conference of S.D.A. and his planning committee for the 1991 centennial celebration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Barbados. I thank him for giving me the reason and opportunity to focus for the last few months on this fascinating theme. There are many others who have contributed to this effort in various ways. Bert Haloviak, Associate Archivist at the General Conference of S.D.A. in Silver Spring, Maryland made available primary sources and Adventist publications for my review. Others who made materials and information about the Seventh-day Ad ventist Church work available to me were: Oswald C. Boyce, of Florida, Norma E. Greaves, Librarian at Caribbean Union College, Dr. Timothy S. Greaves of Pasadena, California, Ms. Ishbel Bayne, Dr. Bradley E. Niles, my father, E. Owen Phillips, of Barbados and Dr. Noel A. Brathwaite of Maryland. There were many others who gave helpful hints in the prepara tion of the manuscript and they included Mrs. Carmel Bullard, a young journalist, and Dr. Lyndrey A. Niles, Professor of Communi cations, Howard University, Washington, D.C. I did not always follow their suggestions as they will observe. The difficult task of typing the manuscript from my handwriting and retyping the drafts was performed by Mrs. Patricia Thomas of Morgan State University and Ms. Aminah Batta of Loyola Col lege of Baltimore, Maryland. I thank my brother, Dr. Dion E. Phillips; my wife, Ingrid and daughter, Mariette for giving me the encouragement and the in centive to complete it in the short time available. Of course, I am responsible for any matters overlooked and ideas not perfectly expressed. I encourage others to continue the healthy exercise of recording the very interesting experiences of those who were involved inti mately in the advancement of Seventh-day Adventism in Barbados and around the Caribbean. Glenn O. Phillips IX Seventh-day Adventists in Barbados 1884 - 1891 INTRODUCTION The Seventh-day Adventist (S.D.A.) Church has been proclaim ing its special message from the sunny shores of Barbados in the eastern Caribbean for over one hundred years. This century-long experience in Christian work and adventure has been extraordinar ily remarkable, genuinely inspirational, and overwhelmingly heartwarming. The criteria for measuring the effectiveness of the S.D.A. Church in Barbados may be based on the Church’s membership growth, its acceptance as a positive influence in the society, and the significant role its members, programs, and activities have played in helping to nurture the rapidly changing Barbadian soci ety during this hundred-year period. The S.D.A. Church’s century- long involvement in Barbados also parallels and mirrors the on going struggles, challenges, and triumphs of organized religion across the Caribbean, at a time when major socio-economic and political adjustments are constantly unfolding throughout the re gion. However, the growth of Adventism in Barbados has a distinct story to tell the world. Its review will also remind us of the outstand ing contributions that so many unnamed persons have made to the present well-being of Barbadian society. The initial arrival of Adventism in Barbados almost immediately created a great stir among the complacent colonialists as well as strong opposition from the leaders of the island’s mainline Chris tian Churches. Nevertheless, the powerful preaching and the in sightful Biblical teachings of the eager pioneering Adventist mis sionaries captivated the hearts and jolted the minds of inquiring, inquisitive Barbadians in a most dramatic manner. The conversion to Adventism in the early years of the Church was frequently as daring an act as it had been among the early Christians. For dec ades, the Adventist membership in Barbados remained small but 1 f aithful and sacrificial to the goals of the Church. From those early days of Adventism in Barbados, the S.D.A.