Hamilton, Bermuda, December 26, 1899.
My dear Brother:
Having notified you of our purpose to come to this place, I am sure you will be interested to hear a little of what we find.
We arrived here on the 8th of this month, and on the following day, after looking to the Lord for help and guidance, we started out to see if we could find any of the brethren. We had several names, but no house addresses. We only knew that they lived in a country district called Paget, across the bay from Hamilton, which is the chief town of the island. So we took the Salt Kettle Ferry, and asked the boatman if he knew Lemuel Tucker. He said that he did, and that he was a “great man for religion.” We told him we guessed he was the one we wanted, and asked if he could direct us to him. He then called to a man on the boat, who came forward with glistening eyes and a broad smile on his ebony face, who proved to be brother Waldron, returning home from his evening work. He was, or had been, with the Open Brethren, but is now among those gathered. He was full of joy to meet us, and he very gladly conducted us to the home of Mrs. Tucker, who has largely been, through God’s grace, the stay of the few faithful ones here. We found her ironing clothes, and when she found out who we were, she was scarcely able to speak.
She afterward explained to us that her heart was too full for utterance, because the Lord had at last, in His own time, answered their prayers. They had for months “labored in prayer,” that the Lord would send some brother to help them, and confirm their faith; and now He had sent “both a brother and a sister!” Last New Year’s Day they met specially to pray that the Lord would send someone to them; and now they want to meet together next Monday (New Year’s Day) to give special thanks.
We found that six brothers and seven sisters were breaking bread. Rather over twenty years ago a gathering was begun here through some sailors, and went on well for a time. But subsequently trouble arose and they were scattered, many of them falling in with some Open Brethren who had come to the island. Several kept separate from all the different parties, and firmly resisted the effort of those who sought to lead them into their evil association ten years ago; but they remained without any breaking of bread. Our brother C visited them in 1894, but was obliged to leave before matters were cleared up. He did not encourage them to resume the breaking of bread, fearing that the trouble would break out again. So they still waited on, until about sixteen months ago, God began to exercise four of the young men, who had been converted during the time of waiting. They did not know what to do, save cry to the Lord to send them deliverance, which He did in His own way. One attempt they made to get help from without, remained without result. About six months ago, however, acting on the advice of Mr. King, of Barbadoes, these four young men began to break bread; and the others came in one by one after, until they were as we find them, thirteen in all. Another says that she feels she ought to be there, but she has been staggered, and has had little courage.
On Lord’s days, we have found their meetings to be simple and real, with a distinct sense of the Lord’s presence. There is neither haste in taking part, nor any long waiting, and their exercises are simple and scriptural. They are quiet and orderly, and have more intelligence than one might think. They have a good hall, which is sub — let to them by some “Lodge.” Their gospel meeting is really an open meeting; no one in particular is delegated to conduct it. Each evening, the young brothers have both opened and closed the meeting; and on two of the evenings they also spoke a little, much to the point. The first meeting we were present at, began by singing and prayer, then there was a pause of some length, when I got up and spoke for about halfanhour; then there was singing and prayer again, after which young Leighton rose and spoke for about ten minutes, in a very simple and practical way, after which there was singing again, and the meeting was closed by prayer. Last Sunday evening, one of them gave out a hymn, another prayed, then another hymn was given out. After a pause, I spoke for about thirty-five minutes, from Hebrews 10, on the completeness of the work of Christ. Then the hymn “Nothing either great or small,” was given out; and it would have done you good to hear these dear colored people sing it. They have good and powerful voices, which carry soprano, bass, and alto, and they sing as if they meant every word. They stand while singing in the gospel meeting, and some of them keep time with their hands and with a gentle sway of the body, every face bespeaking thorough earnestness. They would wake up some of our dull, prosy meetings in the West. After this hymn Lemuel spoke for about ten minutes, pressing the point, “It is finished.” Then, after a short prayer, there was another hymn, and a second short prayer closed the meeting.
They have a prayer meeting on Monday evening, a reading meeting for all on Wednesday evening, and a reading meeting on Friday evening especially for the “strengthening” of the brothers.” Since we came, one white man has been added, whose father was a Scotchman, and his mother a native of Barbadoes. He had been in the Salvation Army, but much dissatisfied, and has been attending the brethren’s meetings now and again. He has now definitely left the Army. His wife also has applied for fellowship. Mrs. Tucker has been very helpful to both. Others we trust will be helped on. The brethren are confident of this, and regard our coming as a distinct answer to prayer. Just the day before we met them, Mrs. Tucker had told her son that help was coming, though when it did come, they were like those who prayed for Peter’s deliverance from prison, and were “surprised,” so Lemuel told us.
So far, they have been prompt in attendance at the hour. They were a little late the first Lord’s day morning, in coming over from Paget in two boats, but in the evening they were all on time, and the meeting promptly began at 7:30. We took occasion to commend them for their punctuality, and to speak of its importance; this seems to have encouraged them.
The young men are really devoted and zealous, and we believe there is real spiritual energy. Indeed everything indicates that the Lord has helped and led them; only they desired to have their faith confirmed by some one sent to them of the Lord.
The Islands here are a group belonging to Great Britain, coral reefs that have grown up above the water; about eighteen miles long, and two or three miles in the greatest width. There are about 15,000 inhabitants, two-thirds of the people being colored, but they are far more steady and reliable than the colored people of the States. The Islands are thus thickly settled. From one of the highest hills, the houses look like villages scattered all over the islands. The roads are fine, never muddy, as the rock is porous, and the water soon settles in after a shower. They wind about among the little hills, and are very interesting. The climate is equable, the gulf stream on the north tempering cold blasts. The mercury rarely falls below 55, and does not rise above 85 in summer. We have both benefited by the change. Mrs. R. has got to work among the women, and has two or three meetings a week with them.
We have begun a kind of Sunday school on Lord’s day afternoons, in which Mrs. Tucker and my wife have charge of the young, while I have a reading with the elder ones. This can easily be arranged, as the hall is large, and there is also a side room capable of holding 20 or 30. Outside, tracts are always thankfully received....
Affectionately your brother in Christ,