EXPANDING THE WITNESS

In 1908 a convention was held outside of Kingston for the first time. It was in the small seaside town of Annotto Bay, five miles from Camberwell, the birthplace of the Kingdom-preaching work in Jamaica. This convention had a peak attendance of about 350.

BROTHER RUSSELL’S VISIT

Charles Taze Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, made a three-day visit to Jamaica in February of 1913. A convention was planned to coincide with the visit. On the first day about 600 brothers and sisters, as well as interested people from all over the island, came to hear Brother Russell. The Watch Tower magazine reported on the convention and stated: “Some of these dear friends spent nearly all that they possessed to come to the convention. We found them a very interesting company, very earnest for the Lord and for the Truth.”

Typical of the zeal and determination of the Bible Students was that of Sister Eveline Prendergast, who walked 36 miles over dusty roads from Camberwell to attend the convention. Such zeal was also evident in the spirited singing of the Jamaican brothers. Said the Society’s president: “Their singing was excellent.”

The public talk during the convention drew such a large crowd that two auditoriums had to be used, one for the public and the other for the Bible Students. Jammed into the building for the public were 1,800 people, and over 2,000 were unable to get in! Included in the audience were a number of clergymen, some of whom commented on the eagerness of the people to hear the message. An Episcopal minister observed that the secret of the interest lay in the fact that the message was a “Gospel of Hope.”

The press also gave much favorable publicity to the convention. Said The Watch Tower of March 15, 1913, pages 94, 95: “The newspapers, commenting on the people comprising the convention, commented upon their cleanliness, order, etc.; and the fact that they used neither tobacco nor liquors, and needed no attention from the police. . . . They also referred to the fact that money and collections were not mentioned in connection with this convention.” That 1913 convention lived on in the memories of those who were privileged to attend.