The Wesleyan-Methodist missions, in Jamaica and Honduras ...

Front matter

class.;' ■ :

Book^i

THE

Contents

Chap.

I. Origin of the West India Mission. — Difficulty of establishing a Mission— Conversion and efforts of N. Gilbert, Esq.— Baxter's arrival and labours— Dr. Coke driven to the West Indies— Rapid extension of the Mission, 9

II. Port Royal. — First impressions of the Island — Scenery — Account

Chapter I. Origin Of The West India Mission

Difficulty of establishing a Mission— Conversion and efforts of N. Gilbert, Esq.— Baxter's arrival and labours — Dr, Coke driven to the West Indies — Eapid extension of the Mission.

The success which has crowned the efforts of Evangelical Churches to diffuse the glorious Gospel, within the last half century, calls for devout thanksgivings, more earnest prayer, and enlarged exertions on the part of all who long to see the day when " the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in, and all Israel saved." As various circumstances have operated to accelerate or retard the progress of the glad tidings of salvation among the heathen, the Mission field presents a variety of features, more or less interesting to the religious public. Each Mission has its extraordinary, as well as its common- place aspect : its period when incidents, full of all that is exciting in disclosures of the degraded condition of the human family, abound : when the Missionary has penetrated the dark places of the earth, with the torch of Gospel truth, and witnessed the ravages of sin among his fellow-creatures, his discoveries are sought after with an eagerness proportionate to their novelty, which gradually dies away, as the ameliorating influence of Christianity assimilates the once degraded heathen to the ordinary condition of the professing Christian world.

This fact has received a striking illustration in West Indian Missions. Who that remembers the thrilling tales generated by slavery, and the struggle that terminated in its annihilation in the British colonies, can forget the deep interest felt by every Christian and philanthropist during these periods ?

As a field for Missionary enterprise the British West Indies were far from encouraging, from the sacrifice of health and life required by a climate inimical to European constitutions ; the resistance inherent in slavery to the spirit and claims of Christianity ; the heterogeneous character of the population, from physical as well as social and political causes ; the mental degradation and absence of education ; the pernicious influence of Obeahism and African superstition ; the stringent discipline necessary to extort labour from the unwilling captive ; the suspicious light in which every religious teacher was

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viewed by those whose intelligence made them aware of the fact, that their power must be proportioned to the blindness of their victims. The immense influence possessed and exercised by West Indian proprietors in the Parliament of the mother country, as well as in the Colonial Houses of Assembly, gave a respectability, a consistency, an air of justice, and a degree of power sufficiently formidable to the apparently weak efforts of a few humble missionaries, whose whole strength lay in the blessing of Him who is pleased by the most insignificant means to bring about the grandest results of his moral government.

It is a remarkable as well as pleasing fact, that the Methodist Mission in the West Indies was originated by a slaveholder, who was also Speaker of the Honourable House of Assembly in the Island of Antigua. This gentleman, whose name was Nathanael Gilbert, being on a visit to England, was brought to God by the ministry of Mr. Wesley, who notices him in his Journal of Feb. 17th, 1758 : — " I preached at Wandsworth. A gentleman come from America has again opened a door in this desolate place. In the morning I preached in Mr Gilbert's house. Two negro servants of his, and a mulatto, appear to be much awakened." Again, in December, he observes : — " I rode to Wandsworth and baptized two negroes belonging to Mr Gilbert, a gentleman lately come from Antigua ; one of these is deeply convinced of sin ; the other rejoices in God her Saviour, and is the first African Christian I have known. But shall not our Lord in due time have these heathens also 'for his inheritance?'" Here we have the first-fruits of the West India Mission : the master and his slave, — a happy pledge of future success !

Mr. Gilbert began to call sinners to repentance ere he left England. In 1760, Wesley, on arriving at Bristol, remarks : — " I perceived by the liveliness of the people that Mr. Gilbert's labours had not been in vain." The anxiety he felt for the happiness of his fellow-men was now particularly diverted towards those in darkness around his W r est Indian home. He tried to prevail on the illustrious John Fletcher to accompany him as the first missionary to his benighted people, as appears from the following extract of a letter written by that good man, to the Rev. C. Wesley, dated March 22d, 1759 : — " A proposal has lately been made to me to accompany Mr. Nathaniel Gilbert to the West Indies. I have weighed the matter ; but, on the one hand, I feel that I have neither sufficient zeal, nor grace, nor talents, to expose myself to the temptations and labours of a mission in the West Indies ; and, on the other, I believe, that, if God call me thither, the time is not yet come. I wish to be certain that I am converted myself, before I leave my converted brethren to convert heathens. Pray, let me know what you think of this business : if you condemn me to put the sea between us, the command would be a hard one ; but I might.

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possibly, prevail on myself to give you that proof of the deference I pay to you judicious advice."

Returning to Antigua, Mr. Gilbert invited one or two to join him in his family worship. " On the afternoon of the first Sunday six besides his own family attended ; on the second, nine ; and on the third, about eighteen." It was immediately reported throughout the island that he had turned preacher ; from this time he lost all relish for the practice of the law, and felt an exclusive desire to proclaim the glorious Gospel ; a natural shame and fear of man, to which he had been subject, entirely left him as soon as he began publicly to proclaim the word of God. His brother, Francis Gilbert, supported him ; general attention was excited ; his house, though capable of accommodating about two hundred, soon beeame too small for the growing congregations. Unmoved by the ridicule with which he was assailed, he continued his efforts as long as he lived ; and when called to rest from his labours, two hundred negroes, convinced of sin or converted to God by his ministry, wept over his grave. Left as sheep without a shepherd, a few were picked up by some Moravian Missionaries, who arrived about this time in the island, and the remainder were found by Mr. John Baxter, who, against the earnest remonstrances of his friends, proceeded to Antigua in 1780 to pursue his business of shipwright in his Majesty's dockyard in English Harbour. This excellent man, who had been a local preacher at Chatham, in England, full of zeal to do good, returned from the exhausting toils of the day only to spend the evening in instructing the slaves on the plantations ; while all his Sabbath hours were sacredly devoted to religious labours. Not u counting his life dear unto himself," he continued steadfast in his career of usefulness, though assailed by much opposition and persecution. At length he gave up his situation of storekeeper, with a Government salary of £400 currency per annum, trusting his Heavenly Father for bread; in order that he might be at full liberty to pursue his apostolic toils among a willing people, who hungered and thirsted for the bread and water of life. His end was in harmony with his character ; he was ardently loved by the negroes, for whose eternal happiness he sacrificed all he possessed, and toiled incessantly till, in 1805, he went to glory from among them in the full triumph of faith.

From his success his toils became so severe, that, unless relieved by some assistance, he must soon fall a sacrifice. Mr. Wesley was repeatedly and earnestly written to, but no help arrived, till, by a singular Providence, Dr. Coke was brought to witness with his own eyes the necessity of the case. This distinguished missionary having, in 1785, left England for Nova Scotia, accompanied by Messrs. Hammet, Warrener, and Clarke, was unexpectedly carried to the Island of Antigua, the scene of Baxter's labours. The voyage proved one of the most perilous ever witnessed by those on board

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the ship : one tempest followed another in rapid succession ; the vessel sprung a-leak ; the stores were nearly exhausted, and all hope of reaching America given up, when the captain resolved to run for the most convenient port that might present itself in the West Indies. During this season of trial the missionaries continued in earnest prayer to " Him who holdeth the winds in his fist, and the waters in the hollow of his hand while the captain raved like a maniac, crying out, " There is a Jonah on board ! there is a Jonah on board !" In a fit of superstitious frenzy he rushed on Dr. Coke, seized his books and papers, cast them into the raging sea, and vehemently declared that, should he again dare to pray, while he remained on board his ship, he would throw him overboard !

As they approached the West Indies, the weather gradually became mild, and with it the temper and conduct of the captain. The first port they reached was St. John's, in the Island of Antigua, at which they arrived on Christmas-day. No sooner were they put ashore than the Doctor and his companions met Baxter, who was on his way to preach to a large congregation of black and coloured people.

The mystery of their disastrous voyage was now solved : the set time to favour the West India islands was come ; a great and effectual door was opened for missionary efforts ; the fields were " white unto the harvest " Ethiopia was stretching out her hands unto God." The joy of the devoted Baxter and his people was fully shared by their unexpected visitors. The pious heart of Coke was stirred in him at the sight of a thousand Africans listening with intense interest to the glad tidings of salvation from his lips, and receiving at his hands the memorials of the Redeemer's dying love. His reception by all classes was cheering. A salary of £500 per annum was offered if he would settle in the island, and he was invited, as a mark of respect, to a public dinner, at which the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William the Fourth, was one of the guests.

If the soul of Columbus was thrown into ecstasy at the sight of these enchanting islands, where nature has poured out in rich profusion her choicest beauties, the sight of the moral condition of their inhabitants engaged the deepest sympathies of the devout missionary, who was so providentially cast upon their shores. Fired with the thought of diffusing scriptural Christianity throughout the islands of the Caribbean Sea, he left Mr. Warmer to assist Baxter, and proceeded to some of the neighbouring islands in order to extend the mission. St. Vincent's presented an open field ; a society was formed which soon numbered 500 members. St. Christopher's gave similar encouragment. The success which crowned their labours at St. Eustatius kindled the rage of the enemies of the Gospel. " Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort " set on, and encouraged by, the magistrates, succeeded in driving the missionaries from the island. The flock being thus deprived of their shepherds continued

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to assemble, and encouraged each other to hold fast, and hope for better -days.

In 1788 the missionaries visited Tortola and Nevis, where they met with a cordial welcome from many who received their message with joy. At the latter island a society was formed, which gave great encouragment ; whilst at Tortola their success was still greater ; within six years 1500 were received as members, who gave genuine evidence of a desire to "flee from the wrath to come." An extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit accompanied the preaching of the word, by which it had " free course " and was " glorified."

In the month of December an attempt was made to establish a mission at Barbadoes, but the determined hostility of the planters rendered it impracticable. At this time Dr. Coke arrived at Port Royal, in Jamaica, and commenced a mission amidst mingled opposition and encouragement.

Thus, in the short period of two years, promising missions were established in Antigua, St. Christopher's, St. Eustatius, Nevis, St. Vincent's, Dominica, Tortola, and Santa Cruz, under the care of thirteen missionaries, who succeeded in uniting about four thousand souls in church membership.

The rapid progress of the Mission in its commencement continued unabated ; the more it was opposed, the more it multiplied and grew ; persecution assumed many forms, and plied its energies in vain. In the British Senate, the Missionaries were denounced as incendiaries, and Government earnestly urged to save the colonies from their mischievous hostility ; while colonial laws were enacted to arrest them in their efforts in the islands. Missionaries were imprisoned, their people scourged with the whip, chapels and meetinghouses destroyed, while a venal press kept the minds and passions of the colonists in a constant fever of suspicion and rage against the preachers of the Gospel. Still all failed to hinder the advancement of the truth, and its genuine results — civil and religious freedom.

The progress of the Anti Slavery Society in England rendered the colonists desperate ; and, though the missionaries had no connexion with that philanthropic society, they were denounced as its agents, in spite of their protestations, and the evidence furnished by their simply evangelical labours and devoted lives. The length to which their opposition proceeded in 1832 gave the final blow to a system which set itself against the best interests of mankind in both worlds. The sufferings of the missionaries and the people of their charge roused the British public to demand of the legislature the termination of Slavery, as abhorrent to humanity, justice, and religion. The public voice reached the ear of Parliament, and of the throne, and the demand was responded to in a manner which reflects imperishable glory on the Crown and Government of Great Britain. The memorable 1st of August, which wiped away the

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darkest stain that ever marked the escutcheon of our country, removed every barrier to the diffusion of Christianity in the West Indies. If, under slavery, cheering success attended missionary effort, it increased a hundred-fold after it was removed.

The Wesleyan Mission in the West Indies has assumed a magnitude that must astonish all who calmly consider it. There are now 5 districts, 55 circuits, 197 chapels, 186 minor preaching places, 86 missionaries and assistant missionaries, 7 catechists, 143 day-school teachers, 1464 Sunday-school teachers, 181 local preachers, 52,086 church members, 1290 on trial, 107,267 hearers, and 18,359 scholars in the schools ; and, besides contributing largely towards the support of the Gospel among themselves, in building churches and supporting their own pastors, for many years the members have assisted the General Mission Fund, for the diffusion of the Gospel in other parts of the world : last year the sum they thus contributed amounted to near £3000, though suffering to a lamentable extent in temporal matters !

That a mission, among one of the most despised and injured sections of the hum a a family, should be distinguished by such unexampled prosperity, is encouraging to all who are engaged in promoting the grand object of evangelizing the world.

Though the painful tales which formerly gave interest to the West Indian Mission, during slavery, no longer assail our ears, and excite our feelings, yet the sober-minded Christian will continue to regard with deep interest the peaceful triumphs of the Gospel. India, Western and Southern Africa, New Zealand, and the Islands of the South Sea, will long continue to furnish materials for strikingincidents to stimulate the Church to further efforts. Something has been accomplished towards saving the world ; but, alas ! what is it, compared with what is yet to be done ? More than 600,000,000 of our race are still unvisited by the messengers of the Churches ! While past success abundantly encourages, let future triumphs be earnestly sought by every disciple of Him who shall }^et have the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession.

Chapter II. Port Royal

First impressions of the Island — Scenery — Account of Port Royal— Rise and Progress of the Mission.

Baffled by unfavourable winds, sixty-eight days were consumed in the voyage between London and the Island of Jamaica. During the night of January 3rd, 1832, the rain poured in torrents, giving us a specimen of those tropical showers so often witnessed and spoken of with astonishment by travellers from more temperate latitudes. Towards morning it cleared up, and, as it began to dawn, Blue Mountain was descried by a seaman from the mast-head. The discovery was instantly communicated to the captain, and by him to the slumbering passengers below, Avho, in a few minutes, were all assembled on deck : one with a cloak half-thrown over his night habiliments, another in gown and slippers, with night-cap in hand ; the absence of sufficient covering was wholly lost sight of in the hurry to catch a first glance of the object which promised a termination of our marine captivity. The peak, as usual, being enveloped in dense white clouds, it was some time ere the unpractised eyes of those on deck could make out what appeared so plainly from the topmast. Curiosity accelerated the process of dressing : a few minutes sufficed to place each new comer in the best position for feasting the eyes on every striking object that might present itself as we sailed along the shore.

As our barque glided along, the majestic mountain that rears its cloud-capped head in solitary grandeur above the island, gradually enlarged to the view, deep dyed in purple, slightly tinged with green and grey, mingled with streaks of fleecy mist, till, as we drew nearer, it became more defined, breaking into piles of mountain and hill of minor magnitude, whose bases terminated in luxuriant vales and plains under cultivation, adorned with whitewashed plantation works, dwelling-houses, negro huts, cane fields, and pastures of guinea grass, whose clear verdure contrasted beautifully with the deeper green of the cocoa nut, Palmetto Royal, Mangoe, and other trees, of richest foliage. Morant Point, Port Morant, Morant Bay, the White Horses, and Yallahs, successively came into view. The sun beamed with dazzling brilliancy over sea and land, imparting a vividness of beauty surpassing the most glowing conception we had formed of even tropical scenery. On nearing the east end, a canoe wa& seen making towards us, rowed by two coal-black Africans,

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nearly naked, and steered by a mulatto. The tiny vessel breasted the waves of the beautiful blue sea in gallant style. As soon as it shot alongside of our barque, the blacks sprang on board with sur ■ prising ease : in an instant, greetings of recognition were passed between them, our captain, mate, and steward. The mulatto proved to be a pilot ; at once he was invested with command of the ship. The other two plied the captain with a profusion of begging compliments : — " Dat Massa, be so good as gib we someting for n'yam : only one piece o' beef like Massa use for do, for old 'quaintance sake, bekaysen we spetience Massa? s goodness from time" Having succeeded, they quickly took to the canoe, and pulled towards the land.

Our pilot, a tall, well-formed man, of graceful address, announced that the slaves on the north side of the island were in a state of open insurrection, and that alarming intelligence was arriving in Kingston every hour. Our captain looked unutterable things, and our military fellow-passengers observed that they seemed to have come just in time to get into a kind of active service, on which they had not calculated.

Tow r ards evening, we anchored at Port Royal, and were instantly surrounded by canoes, whose sable occupants were clamorous for the honour of taking us ashore. The health officer paid his official visit, cast a scrutinizing glance at each on board, asked some questions of the captain, and in a few minutes was comfortably seated in his canoe, and out of sight. The Rev. J. Corlett, who had long expected our arrival, now hailed us. We dressed with all possible speed, arranged about our luggage, bade farewell to our fellow-passengers, and, for the first time, trusted ourselves to a frail canoe, and were soon landed at the wharf.

The gorgeous colouring of every surrounding object produced a kind of admiration, as if we had arrived in some fairy land ; it was only now that the rich glowing tints of Italian pictures we had seen appeared to have any resemblance in nature. The clear deep blue of the sea, gently ruffled by the expiring trade wind, — the face of the heavens, bright, cloudless, and calm, glowing with the golden effulgence of the setting sun, produced in the western sky a scene of aerial glory that bids defiance to any attempt at description. The land was no less imposing ; the lofty mountains, lighted up by the solar beams, threw their broad shadows over the deep ravines and vales below ; while Port Royal, almost level with the sea, presented its batteries, barracks, hospital, wharves, and houses, surmounted by clusters of the cocoa nut tree, whose palmy foliage gracefully yielded to the evening breeze. On landing, we were subjected to the scrutinizing gaze of a motley crowd of all classes and colours of people, from the pale- faced European to the jet-black African. On our way to the mission house we were politely saluted by some who recognized us as newly arrived missionaries. Mrs. Corlett gave us a

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kindly welcome, and the first specimen of the Christian hospitality for which West Indian missionaries and their wives have ever been distinguished.

After tea, my brother missionary and fellow-passenger, Mr Burrows, preached to a most attentive congregation of black and coloured persons, the singing was soft, sweet, and devotional. At the end of the service the people crowded about us, shook hands, enquired about our voyage, health, friends, England, missionaries who had formerly preached to them, or whatever the inspiration of the moment suggested, expressed their delight at seeing us, and poured forth a thousand good wishes for our happiness and usefulness among them. The rest of the evening was spent in conversation about home, friends, travelling incidents, our new circumstances, the missionary work, the country, the people, climate, the best methods of preserving health, and promoting the object of our mission. After family prayer, we retired, with grateful feelings towards Him who had so mercifully brought us to our desired haven.

No sooner were we prepared to enjoy the luxury of sleeping on shore, than the crowing of cocks, whose shrill clarions resounded on every side, mingled with the chirping of insects, and the hum of an army of mosquitoes, effectually prevented sleep ; the atmosphere was sultry and stifling, and, though a single sheet was all our covering, it seemed too much to bear. We felt as if breathing the air of a brick-kiln. After a restless night, we sallied forth betimes, to breathe the morning air, and see the town.

Under the guidance of a young friend, we wandered about this famous locality. The town is erected at the west point of a narrow tongue of land, composed of coral rock, thinly covered with arid sand, partiallv overgrown with mangrove, sea-grape, and several species of cactus. It stretches in an easterly direction, and joins the island at Rock Fort, about seven miles distant, forming a powerful barrier to Kingston Harbour against the incursions of the sea, which, in stormy weather, breaks over, and lays portions of it under water, Though Kingston Harbour is considered large enough to shelter all the navies of Europe, its entrance at Port Royal is narrow and intricate, and so defended by batteries that no hostile armament can attempt to enter, without certain destruction. Fort Charles stands on the south-west of the town, bristling with heavy ordnance, which completely command the mouth of the harbour. The barracks accommodate a large body of troops. The Royal Hospital is a remarkably neat, light, and handsome structure, iron being the principal material of which it is built : for the sick in such a climate, it is well adapted, being quite exposed to every breath of air, and furnished with every convenience. Everything about the Fort is characterized by strict attention to cleanliness and order. Directly west, on the opposite shore, on an elevated rock, stands a battery of

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twelve guns, significantly titled " the Apostles' battery." At the north-west angle of Kingston Harbour, on a small peninsula of coral, which joins the hills at Port Henderson, by a narrow isthmus of sand, the long level walls of Fort Augusta appear, the guns of which sweep completely the channel. The buildings of the fortress occupy the entire area of the point. The south face of the batteries are washed by the waters of the ship channel, while the wall on the north and west rises from a shallow lagoon lying in that direction, the effluvium of which is carried off during the day by the trade wind. The barracks are well ventilated, and afford accommodation for four service companies. In 1763, the magazine of this fort was struck by lightning ; in an instant three thousand barrels of gunpowder exploded, the buildings, bastions, and guns were blown to atoms, and three hundred human beings swept into eternity ! The royal dockyard presents a perfect contrast to what it did formerly, when it was the chief naval establishment of the West India and American colonies. The harbour will contain a thousand large ships ; it swarms with sharks, and such other fish as dare to keep their company. The parish church, government buildings, and a few respectable dwellings, along with the Wesleyan Mission Chapel, a sketch of which is here given, are the only objects worthy of notice in this once celebrated town, whose history is one of the most remarkable on record. Under the government of Sir Charles Littleton, the first House of Assembly held its sittings alternately here and at St.

Jago, the one being the seat of government, the other the centre of trade. It was also the head rendezvous of all the pirates, corsairs, and buccanneers, that infested the seas of the New World : to it they brought the immense treasures they tore from the Spaniards, by deeds of startling valour on the high seas, which they squandered in licentiousness and riot, with a rapidity only equalled by that which marked their attainment. Attracted from every European nation by the treasure -laden ships of cruel and haughty Spain, these desperadoes, banding together, acted frequently under the patronage of the island governors, who divided the spoil with them, as the price of their non-interference. So immense was the prey taken by the celebrated Morgan, in one expedition undertaken by him and his buccanneering companions in 1666, that the plate, jewels, and other treasures, were piled in heaps under the eaves of the houses in Port Royal, from want of warehouse room to receive them. On war being proclaimed against Spain, by beat of drum, at Port Royal, in July, 1670, Morgan, joined by several young men of family from England, having received a commission from the governor to harass the enemy, sailed out with a fleet of thirty- seven ships, having on board two thousand soldiers, in addition to large crews of experienced seamen. In this, his last expedition, after a desperate conflict, he captured Panama, and brought away one hundred and seventy-five mules, laden with gold, silver, and jewels.

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His companions, suspecting him of practising fraud in the division of the spoil, mutinied, on which he precipitately left them, and escaped to Jamaica, carrying with him two or three ships, and a portion of the treasure ; on his arrival, he retired to private life, purchased a plantation, devoted his attention to its cultivation, conducted himself with so much propriety that he gradually rose into favour with the public, was made naval commander in His Majesty's service, obtained the honour of knighthood, became president of the island council, and thrice filled the office of lieutenant-governor. Some state that he was impeached, and sent prisoner to England, where he sank under the disgrace neaped upon him, and the trials he had to suffer, through the machination of his enemies ; others, that he died at Port Royal, in peaceful retirement, beloved by all who knew him. That a town, inhabited by such desperate characters bearing the Christian name, while familiar with deeds of blood, rapine, and licentiousness, who braved the seas, like spirits of the storm, fought like fiends, carrying terror and desolation wherever they appeared, strangers alike to the fear of either God or man, should altogether escape some token of the displeasure of Him " who is angry with the wicked every day," was too much to expect.