The West Indies: Being a Description of the Islands, Progress of Christianity, Education, and Liberty Among the Colored Population Generally — John Shaqi
The West Indies: Being a Description of the Islands, Progress of Christianity, Education, and Liberty Among the Colored Population GenerallyPrince, Nancy
History
The West Indies: Being a Description of the Islands, Progress of Christianity, Education, and Liberty Among the Colored Population Generally
Prince, Nancy
Black people -- Jamaica; Jamaica -- Description and travel; West Indies -- Description and travel
Monday,—and are we mortals still alive. Tuesday,—Thus far the Lord
has led us on. Wednesday.—Thus far his power prolongs our days.
Thursday—December 3d, to-day made Turks Island. Friday.—This day had
a view of Hayti, its lofty mountains presented a sublime prospect.
Saturday—a glance we had of Cuba. Sunday—December 6th, at six o’clock
in the evening, dropped anchor at St. Anne harbor Jamaica. We blessed
the Lord for his goodness, in sparing us to see the place of our
destination; and here I will mention my object in visiting Jamaica. I
hoped that I might aid (in some small degree) to raise up and encourage
the emancipated inhabitants, and teach the young children to read and
work, to fear God and put their trust in their Savior. Mr. Whitmarsh and
his friend came on board and welcomed us. On Tuesday we went on shore to
see the place and the people; my intention had been to go directly to
Kingston, but the people urged me so to stay with them that I thought it
my duty to comply, and wrote to Mr. Ingraham to that effect. I went first
to see the minister, Mr. Abbot, thought, as he was out, I had better wait
his return. The people promised to pay me for my services for them, or
to send me to Kingston. When Mr. Abbot returned he made me an offer I
readily accepted.—As I lodged in the house of one of the class-leaders,
I attended her class a few times, when I learned the method, I stopped.
She then commenced her authority, and gave me to understand if I did
not comply, I should not have any pay from that society. I spoke to her
of the necessity of being born of the spirit of God, before we became
members of the church of Christ, and told her I was sorry to see the
people blinded in such a way. She was very angry with me, and soon
accomplished her end, by complaining of me to the minister, and I soon
found I was to be dismissed, unless I would yield obedience to this
class-leader. I told the minister that I did not come there to be guided
by a poor foolish woman. He then told me that I had spoken something
about the necessity of moral conduct in church members. I told him I had,
and in my opinion I was sorry to see it so much neglected. He replied,
that he hoped I would not express myself so except to him; they have the
gospel, he continued, and let them come into the church. I do not approve
of women societies; those destroyed the world’s convention; the American
women have too many of them. We talked one hour. He paid me for the
time I had been there; I continued till Jan. with the same opinion that
something must be done for the elevation of the children, and it is for
that I labor. On the Sabbath the minister from the pulpit spoke unkindly
of me. This was in January. I am sorry to say the meeting house is more
like a play house, than a place of worship. The pulpit stands about the
middle of the building, behind are about six hundred children that belong
to the society; there they are placed for Sabbath School, and there they
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