HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 liltij dtlh^ion 
 
 OF THE 
 
 
 f 
 
 HURCH OF THE 
 
 F 
 
 IN 
 
 NITED jSRETHREN 
 
 SAINT KITTS 
 
 FOR THE FAST ITUNDREO YEARS. 
 
 OSitl) a fHap of ti^o Eslanli. 
 
 EEPRlNTliD FROM THE “ PERIODICAL ACCODNTS EeLATING TO THE MISSIONS 
 OF THE Church of the United Brethren.” 
 
 ILontion : 
 
 PRINTED BY G. NORMAN AND SON, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT GARDEN, 
 
 POR THE brethren’s SOCIETY FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL, 
 AND SOLD AT THE MORAVIAN CHURCH AND MISSION AGENCY. 
 
 1877. 
 
 Price Threepence. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introduction . , . . . . 1 
 
 I. — Commencement op the Mission under Be. Gottwalt, 
 
 1777-78 2 
 
 II. — Extension op the Mission under Br. Schneller’s 
 
 direction, 1787-97 . . . . .16 
 
 III. — From the tear 1798 to the commencement op a second 
 
 Station at Bethesda, in the tear 1821 . . 21 
 
 IV. — From the tear 1821 to the commencement of a third 
 
 Station, Bethel, in the tear 1832 . . .27 
 
 Y. — From the tear 1833 to the commencement of a fourth 
 
 Station, Estridge, in the tear 1845 . . 30 
 
 VI. — The last thirtt tears from 1847 to 1877 . . 37 
 
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 6 t/orana/i J/zssion •Sta/ions . 
 
 6 OatsiaOjons and ’Sc/iooLft 
 Jn Basse/erre.^BadiJbrum a7id, £nsfoL SrAool 
 S fTuirch o/'jSr^land. 
 d Uesle^an •Sla/ians 
 
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 l . Atl s l . V. L e o'p ol d IFcr a at s ul B erlia. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historyofmissionOOunse 
 
Retrosi'Ect of the Histort of the Missiox of the Brethren’s CHUitcn 
 in St. Kitts for the past hundred tears. 
 
 From the Missions-Elatt. 
 
 St. Kitts, or St. Christopher’s, is oue of the group of islands in 
 the West Indies known as the lesser Antilles, and is a Colony of 
 Great Britain. The name was given to it in honour of its discoverer, 
 Christoforo Colombo (Columbus), who first landed on the island in 
 1492. At that time it was thickly covered with forests, and peopled 
 by Caribs, the original inhabitants of the West India islands. The 
 first settler is said to have been an English adventurer of the name 
 of Thomas Warner, the leader of a crew of seamen. They were 
 soon followed by some French sailors, who also settled upon the 
 beautiful island, and commenced cultivating the soil. The Caribs 
 now began to oppose the further extension of these foreign settlers, 
 but, after several bloody conflicts, they were totally defeated with 
 great loss, the remnant being obliged to flee to other islands. In 
 later years the possession of) the island was frequently disputed by 
 England and France, until by the peace of Utrecht in the year 
 1712 it was finally recognized as belonging to the British Crown. 
 From this time the French settlers gradually began to emigrate, 
 seeking dwelling-places elsewhere, chiefly on the island of St. 
 Domingo. The cultivation of St. Kitts now made rapid progress, 
 but the good results were almost totally effaced by a terrible hurri- 
 cane in the year 1722. Persevering exertions on the part of the 
 settlers, however, assisted by the importation of negro-slaves as 
 field-labourers, overcame all difficulties. 
 
 St. Kitts is at the present time a flourishing, well-peopled colony, 
 carrying on a considerable trade with other colonies, as well as with 
 England. As regards the fertility of the soil and the picturesque 
 beauty of the landscapes, this island may certainly be reckoned 
 amongst the most distinguished of the West Indian group. The 
 plantations are chiefly situated along the coast, and reach as far as 
 the range of mountains which runs from end to end of the island. 
 The fields of sugar-cane and other tropical products, the houses of 
 the proprietors and gentry, the dwellings of the negroes, the wind- 
 mills scattered here and there, — all tliese combined give a wonder- 
 ful charm to the scene which is presented to the eye of the observer. 
 Basseterre is the chief town : it is situated on the South Coast, 
 and is neat and attractive in appearance. There are also some 
 smaller towns on the same coast. Old Road Town and Sandy 
 Point Town, and one, Dieppe, on the northern coast. Kot far 
 from Sandy Point, perched on the summit of a precipitous hill are 
 the ruins of a former fort. Brimstone Hill, which in times of 
 war afforded an important means of defence for the island. The 
 soil is not only admirably adapted for the cultivation of the sugar- 
 cane, but also supplies rich crops of many other West Indian pro- 
 ducts. The broad leafed banana, with its abundant fruit, affords 
 the negroes an article of food both nutritious and pleasant to the 
 
 1 
 
2 
 
 EETROSPECT OF THE HISTORT 
 
 taste ; oranges and pineapples grow plentifully, as well as the lofty 
 yet slender cocoanut, with its fruit as large as the human head, 
 hanging in clusters, often 200 in number, under the beautiful crown 
 of large feathery leaves, which rustle with every passing breeze. 
 The island covers an area of about 68 square miles and is 70 miles 
 in circumference. The principal peak of the mountain-range is 
 3900 feet high. Rising like a huge cone from the middle of the 
 range is Mount klisery, an extinct Volcano, whose crater lies 
 deep down between the rocks, and offers to the naturalist a booty 
 of the richest kind. Clouds of smoke still frequently surround the 
 lofty summit. This volcano, though apparently extinct, may 
 possibly be the cause why St. Kitts is more frequently visited by 
 earthquakes than other islands in the West Indies, a fact to which 
 our own Mission history wull bear frequent and at times terrible 
 testimony. Hurricanes also occur. Compared with the climate of 
 other islands, that of St. Kitts may be considered healthy, although 
 outbreaks of yellow fever occasionally take place. Formerly, 
 when the land was less cultivated, much damage was not unfre- 
 quently caused by hea\"y rains ; now, the lack of a sufficient supply 
 of water is more commonly experienced. 
 
 The number of the inhabitants is about 23,000, of whom from 16,000 
 to 17,000 are negroes. St. Kitts is separated from the smaller 
 mountainous island of Nevis only by a narrow channel. Antigua 
 lies about 70 miles distant. The island is divided into 9 parishes 
 or districts. Besides the Anglican Church, which so early as the 
 time when our first missionaries landed on the island, had a clergy- 
 man for the benefit of the white inhabitants in the chief town, 
 there are 8 stations belono-ino: to the Methodists. Our own mission 
 has 4 stations, one in Basseterre, a second in Bethesda in the 
 negro village of Cayonne; a thh’d at Estridge in the parish of 
 Nicola Town, and the fourth at Bethel on the plantation Profit. — 
 (See the Moravian Atlas'). 
 
 Before the arrival of our first missionaries, the black population 
 lived in total ignorance, addicted to all the fearful crimes of 
 heathenism. Slavery added new horrors to their condition. The 
 negroes were driven to their work with the whip, and were regarded 
 by the whites as no better than the beasts. At that time they knew 
 nothing of the power and consolation of the Gospel. How these 
 blessings were brought to them, and how the light of the same by 
 the mercy of God, gradually overcame the power of darkness, is 
 now to be brought before our readers in the following narrative. 
 
 I . — Commencement of the Mission under Br. Gottwalt, 1777-1778. 
 The Brethren’s mission in Antigua had been begun in the year 
 1756, under peculiar difficulties, owing chiefly to the opposition of 
 the planters and other white inhabitants of the island. Br. Samuel 
 Isles, the pioneer in this mission, had died in 1762, after having 
 baptized 39 negroes during the 9 years of his service. The work 
 continued by his successor, Br. Peter Braun, made at first but slow 
 progress, until the year 1772, when an awakening took place among 
 the negroes, which spread in a remarkable manner, and became the 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 3 
 
 cause of a rapid and striking extension of the mission. In 1774, a 
 second station could be commenced at Bailey Hill. The number 
 of converts increased by thousands, and the results of the 
 preacliing of the Gospel plainly proved, that the poor blacks had 
 been capable of understanding the teachings of the Christian 
 religion, so that their hearts and lives had been decidedly influenced 
 thereby, and that the converted negroes not only entertained no 
 hostile feelings against the whites, but were really better and more 
 faithful slaves than their heathen companions. News of all 
 this reached the neighbouring island of St. Kitts, where amongst 
 the planters were found several kindly di.sposed and intelligent 
 gentlemen, who were willing to give some support to this beneficial 
 result of missionary labour. Amongst these was a truly Christian 
 gentleman of the name of Gardiner, who held a legal appointment 
 on the island, and was also the owner of a plantation. Whilst on 
 a visit in England this gentleman had an opportunity of express- 
 ing his wish to the agents of our missions in London, Br. Benjamin 
 La Trobe and Br. Wollin, that missionaries might also be sent to 
 St. Kitts as they had been to Antigua, at the same time promising 
 to render them every assistance in his power, and to give them at 
 once free access to his own plantation. Palmetto Point. His request 
 was forwarded to the Directing Board of the Unity, by whom 
 Bishop Martin Mack of St. Croix (well known in the history of our 
 West Indian Mission as having presided over the Brethren’s work in 
 the three Danish islands between 1702 and 1782, the year of his 
 decease at Friedensthal) was commissioned to call at St. Kitts, 
 when on an official visitation to Antigua. Br. Mack did so, and after 
 personal consultation with Mr. Gardiner, and an interview with the 
 Governor of the island, sent a favourable report to the Directing 
 Board. Upon this, in the year 1777, two brethren were appointed 
 to commence the mission in St. Kitts, Br. John Daniel Gottwalt, a 
 German, who had already been engaged for some years in the ser- 
 vice of our Church in Ireland, and was therefore well acquainted 
 with the English language, and Br. James Birkby, an Englishman. 
 Br. Gottwalt, being the elder of the two, was entrusted with the 
 superintendence of the new mission. They set sail from Portsmouth 
 in company with a fleet of about 50 or 60 vessels under the pro- 
 tection of several ships of war, a precaution rendered necessary on 
 account of the war between England and America, and reached 
 Antigua on the 18th of April. Here they remained six weeks for 
 the purpose of making themselves acquainted with the working of 
 this mission, and then proceeded to St. Kitts in company with Br. 
 Braun. They reached Basseterre on June 14th, and Br. Braun, 
 landing the same evening in spite of a high sea, which at times en- 
 dangered the safety of the boat amongst the breakers near the 
 shore, immediately informed Mr. Gardiner of the arrival of tlie 
 missionaries. The next morning this gentleman sent his boat 
 to convey them ashore, when he met them himself with a hearty 
 welcome at the landing-place. The text for the day was from Joel 
 iii. 1, “After those days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,” &c. 
 
 The first impression made upon the missionaries on reaching the 
 
 1 * 
 
4 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 town was vatlier sad. It was Sunday, but tbe shops were all open, 
 all kinds of traffic were carried on just as on other days, and the 
 loud noise proceeding from the negro-market was something ter- 
 rible to listen to. Mr. Gardiner took the missionaries to his own 
 residence at the distance of about an hour’s ride from the town. 
 His wife gave the strangers a most friendly reception, and hospitably 
 entertained them for some time. In the course of the evening of 
 the day of their arrival Mr. Gardiner gathered together all his negroes 
 into a large room in his house, where Br. Braun addressed them 
 in a warm-hearted and impressive manner. A few days later Mr. 
 Gardiner introduced them to the Commander-in-chief of the Lee- 
 ward Islands, who had just returned from a visit to one of the 
 neighbouring islands. This gentleman also received them in a 
 most friendly manner, and expressed the pleasure their arrival on 
 the island afforded him. Their first care now was to find a house in 
 Basseterre, as they particularly wished to reside in or near the 
 town. This was a difficult matter on account of a fire which had 
 shortly before destroyed a part of the town. At length they suc- 
 ceeded in procuring a suitable house, the propi’ietor of which was 
 willing to admit them as yearly tenants, Mr. Gardiner making 
 himself responsible for the payment of the rent. The house w'as at 
 the end of College-street, close to the town, though at some little 
 distance from the chief business parts. The two missionary couples 
 were able to enter their new abode on the 14th of July, and 
 Br. Braun immediately returned to Antigua. 
 
 The Instructions given to these missionary Brethren by the vener- 
 able Bisho}) Spangenberg, then seventy-four yeai’s of age, in the name 
 of the Directing Board, were the following : — “Fiyst of all we would 
 enti’eat you, for Christ’s sake, to watch over yourselves, that you may 
 not suiter loss in your own souls. You know that your adversary goes 
 about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, whom we 
 must resist steadfast in the faith. There is, therefore, very urgent 
 cause why we should be on our guard, and keep strict watch over 
 ourselves. We must guard against the smallest unfaithfulness, or 
 we may even be punished with our sins. In the second place, we 
 especially recommend you to seek to maintain the most cordial and 
 confiding fellowship with our Saviour. Give heed to the voice of 
 His Spirit. Cast yourselves like little children on your lovdng 
 Father in heaven, and whilst being anxiously concerned for nothing, 
 let your requests be made known to Him in everything by prayer 
 and supplication with thanksgiving. If you abide steadfast in faith 
 and childlike in confidence, you will be able to continue your course 
 in joy and gladness. In the third place, endeavour to keep the 
 unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If each esteem other 
 better than himself, this will not be difficult. Be open-hearted 
 in your dealings one with another, and forgive one another, even 
 as Christ forgives you daily and abundantly. Eemember the words 
 of the Saviour, ‘ thereby shall all men know that ye are my dis- 
 ciples, if ye have love one to another.’ In ihe fourth place, let the 
 word of Christ dwell among you richly in all wisdom. When 
 dwelling together in St. Christopher’s as a small congregation, edify 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 5 
 
 one another frequently, by reading the Scriptures, and singing 
 hymns together, &c. The Brethren in Cairo do this, and find it 
 good. In the fifth place, let me remind you that your household 
 affairs cannot be separated. You form together oue house ; there- 
 fore, let each do what he can for the common good. If one or 
 the other can earn anything, let him do so heartily, but let him 
 not keep it for his own exclusive benefit. Divide your work in such 
 a way that to each one may be allotted that for which he has the 
 required gifts and ability. What each one needs for his personal 
 wants will be furnished from the common fund. You all know 
 that we should soon be compelled to suspend our mission-work, if 
 we were obliged to send money from Europe for each one’s main- 
 tenance. For this reason the Brethren and Sisters among the 
 heathen, do what they can to assist the funds of the Mission. 
 
 “ As regards the mission- work itself among the heathen, remember 
 the words ; ‘they that sow in tears shall I’eap in joy.’ Do not 
 become weary in going after the poor negroes, and speaking to them 
 concerning the salvation of their souls. Speak to them in such 
 a way that they will be able to understand you. Let not your 
 addresses be above their capacities. Private intercourse of the 
 Brethren with the negroes, and of the Sisters with the negro women 
 is essential, in order that you may learn to know what kind of 
 people you have to do with. May our Saviour give you to feel 
 some sparks of his own love in your heai’ts, and when they bmm 
 with love to the poor people, and are filled with hunger for their 
 soul’s salvation, the Holy Gliost will teach you what you shall 
 speak. White people are often unable to believe that our method 
 of preaching the atonement by the blood-shedding and death of 
 our Saviour, is able to change even negroes to new creatures ; do 
 not enter into discussions on this subject, but continue to preach 
 Christ crucified ; and our Saviour will Himself own your efibrts, 
 and that wall be the best proof we could possibly give both for 
 ourselves and for the Gospel we preach. The fact that the Lord 
 has already inclined the heart not only of Mr. Gardiner, but also of 
 the Governor toward our Mission in St. Christopher’s is in itself 
 encouraging, and will considerably facilitate our work. That 
 same God and Lord be your only trust and stay. Be cautious and 
 prudent in availing yourselves of the favour of men. When the late 
 Count Zinzendorf was on a visit to St. Thomas, he found only one 
 gentleman kindly disposed toward our mission there, a Mr. Car- 
 stens. This gentleman ordered his slaves, of whom he possessed a 
 great number, to attend the meetings of our Brethren. They did 
 this, but still remained unconverted. On the other hand the 
 negroes, both men and women, who were beaten by their masters 
 or mistresses for attending the meetings, were converted, and 
 became the first-fruits of the negro congregation in St. Thomas. 
 It is the Saviour Himself who possesses the key of David ; when 
 He opens, none can shut, and when He closes, none is able to open. 
 You are going to a climate to which you are not accustomed ; but, 
 when yon feel the heat oppressive, think of the bloody sweat of 
 Jesus, and resist all temptation to irritability of temper. Be 
 
G 
 
 RETROSPECT OP THE HISTORY 
 
 moderate in all things, and be careful of yourselves on account of 
 the souls entrusted to your care, then remember the verse : 
 
 “ Of our lives we will be careful, 
 
 While reserved for His use ; 
 
 But when He demands, unfearful, 
 
 Wealth and life for Jesus lose.” 
 
 Those words of Jesus were doubtless spoken with special reference 
 to such circumstances as your own, ‘ Whosoever will save his life 
 shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the 
 Gospel’s, the same shall save it.’ Go therefore in the name of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, remembering His words : ‘ Lo ! I am with you 
 always, even unto the end of the world.’ ” 
 
 The Brethren now commenced their labours by keeping meetings 
 on Sundays and week-days, alternately in their own house and at 
 Palmetto Point. This was a new thing that had never been heard 
 of before, and it excited the opposition of both whites and blacks ; 
 but ]\Ir. Gardiner knew well how to deal vdth such opposition in an 
 energetic and decisive manner. He also did his best to introduce 
 the Brethren to the planters, who for the most part were not 
 favourably disposed to the Mission. This rendered great prudence 
 necessary on the par1j of the Missionaries, lest they should be 
 brought into perplexity by light-minded company. The Anglican 
 clergyman, who appeared to be quite at home in such circles, 
 boasted to the Brethren that at the request of a landed proprietor, 
 then resident in England, he had baptized some negroes, and by so 
 doing had earned not a little money. But this tone of derision was 
 soon laid aside for more friendly conduct, when it became known 
 that the Governor himself was favourably disposed towards the 
 mission-work of the Brethren. 
 
 The numbers attendino- the meeting’s continued to increase, not 
 only on Mr. Gardiner’s plantation, but also in town. By degrees 
 the negroes began to perceive that the effoits of the Brethren were 
 really intended for their good, and the Missionaries’ words also 
 made a marked impression. By occasion of Br. Gottwalt’s illness, 
 the negroes manifested not a little alfection and gratitude ; numbers 
 of them came to see Llassa, and to enquire how he was, and many 
 even wejit when they saw him lying on his sick bed, and heard the 
 affectionate words he addressed to them. 
 
 Towards the close of the year some of the negroes could be 
 formed into a candidates’ class for baptism. One old negro woman, 
 when visiting the missionaries in their house, to whom they were 
 endeavouring to make it clear that the Saviour of sinners, of whom 
 she had heard them speak in the meetings, had become man and 
 died for her sake, and had loved her and wished that she should 
 be saved, fell upon her knees, lifted up her hands and exclaimed, 
 “ O massa, that is so sweet, such good news I have never heard in 
 all my life !” 
 
 In December the Brethren commenced the so-called “ speaking” 
 with those who had been most faithful in their attendance at the 
 meetings. When asked whether they had listened with attention 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 7 
 
 to tlie sermons they had recently heard, and whether they under- 
 stood what had been said, many gave very satisfactory answers. 
 One negro woman could not cease speaking of the impression a 
 sermon on the parable of the ten virgins had left on her mind. “ It 
 is just so,” she said, “ our hearts are the lamps, but they are very 
 empty and dark and dead, therefore I pray our Saviour that He 
 would pour much of the oil of faith into my poor heart, and not let 
 me go to sleep again.” 
 
 The Brethren had been much concerned, and indeed afraid, when 
 looking forward to the approaching Christmas week, at which time 
 many heathenish revelries usually took place both in the country 
 and in town. It was the custom, at this season, to allow the negroes 
 their liberty for several days, and the planters were rather glad to 
 see their negroes spend this merrymaking time in as wild and unre- 
 strained a manner as possible, regarding it as a kind of compensation 
 to make amends for all the illtreatment and oppression they had 
 suffered during the year, and as likely to restore the goodwill of the 
 blacks towards their masters. Day and night there was almost 
 incessant drumming, dancing and uproar ; rum and spirits were freely 
 indulged in, followed as was to be expected by all kinds of 
 heathenish debaucheries, a description of which would be utterly 
 impossible. For the purpose of preventing riots during this time of 
 revelries, the white inhabitants of the island formed themselves into 
 armed bands and patrolled the island. Our brethren were now 
 very anxious to see whether the meetings would be vdsited, and 
 were much pleased to find that many negroes did come. 
 
 On December 24111 Br. Gottwalt kept the Chi-istmas-eve meeting, 
 in which he read the history of the birth of Jesus, after which he 
 delivered an address and offered fervent prayer to our Saidour on 
 behalf of all the inhabitants of the island. On their return home 
 some of the negroes encountered one of the patrols. “ Where do 
 you come from so late ?” was the question. “ From College Street,” 
 was the ready answer. “ What have you been doing ?” “ We have 
 also been keeping watch in our own way,” they replied ; “ Massa 
 has been praying for us and for everybody on the island.” “ Very 
 well,” said the captain of the patrol-guard, and permitted the terri- 
 fied negroes to pass on. 
 
 Early in the morning of Christmas-day repeated cannon-shots 
 gave the signal from the fort of the town ; soon the gun-shots of the 
 negroes were heard here and there, and a fearful drumming and 
 noise commenced. But in spite of all this, several again came to 
 the service in the forenoon, and even some children to the children’s 
 meeting. As was naturally to be expected, these were very 
 ignorant and could give no answer when asked why Christmas was 
 celebrated ; but they listened with great attention to what was told 
 them. In the afternoon Br. Gottwalt again preached, and was 
 listened to by still larger numbers. After this service he conducted 
 a singing-meeting, at which he accompanied the singing with his 
 flute. Not far from the place of meeting a wild dance was going 
 on, but the noise ceased as soon as the preaching commenced, and 
 was not again begun until after the conclusion of the last service. 
 
8 
 
 KETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 Even the pati'ol-guai’ds endeavoured to pass by the mission- 
 house with as little noise as possible. On the last day of the year 
 Er. Gottwalt kept the concluding meeting, speaking on the words of 
 the daily text : “ God calleth those things which be not, as though 
 they were” (Homans iv. 17), applying the words to the new mission; 
 then he thanked the Lord for all He had done in the course of the 
 year, and commended them all to His continued grace. “ Our dear 
 negroes,” Br. Gottwalt writes in his report, “ were quite affected by 
 this novel and unusual celebration of New Year’s Eve, and during 
 the prayer many were moved to tears. At the close of the service 
 they shook hands with us, wishing us God’s blessing for the new 
 year, and then returned home with thankful and happy hearts. 
 The Lord has done much for us, and we have coniidence in Him 
 that He will continue to abide with us, and bless the work of our 
 hands.” 
 
 During the course of the following year, 1778, the Brethren were 
 I'cjoiced to see the attendance at the meetings gradually increase. 
 A candidate for baptism, a negro Avoman of the name of Catto, when 
 on her way to the service, Avas so scA’erely beaten by her master on 
 the public road, that blood floAved from her Avounds ; still she bore 
 the treatment patiently, and Avas not deterred from attending the 
 meeting. 
 
 In order to become better acquainted Avith the negroes on the 
 plantations in the country, Br. GottAvalt undertook a journey on 
 foot in the month of February, during which he visited 12 planta- 
 tions between the toAvn and Sandy Point. That part of the island 
 had lieen described to him as thickly peopled, and the Governor had 
 expressed the Avish that the Brethren would establish a station 
 there. At all the places visited Br. GottAvalt had ample oppor- 
 tunity of addressing the negroes. IMany of the planters invited 
 him to their table, entertained him for the night, and proA'ided him 
 Avith a horse to ride to the next plantation. “ Oh ! that I had only 
 more feet for Avalking, and more tongues for speaking,” he wrote 
 Avhen referring to this journey. In this locality Avas situated the 
 plantation of a lady of rank, Avho resided in England. She Avas 
 ac([nainted Avith the Brethren’s Church, and forwarded a letter to 
 her agent, in Avhich she not only desired him to gir^e the missionaries 
 free access to her plantation, but to do a\ hat he could to encourage 
 their visits, and procure instruction for her negroes in the Christian 
 religion. This Avas certainly A'cry encouraging, but the distance 
 from town rendered frerprent A’isits in this neighboui’hood all but 
 impossible, at least for the present. On Church festivals, never- 
 theless, negroes came from that quarter in continually inci’easing 
 numbers to attend the meetings in toAvn. 
 
 That the Brethren also obtained access to some of the Avhite 
 ])eople is jiroved from the fact that Br. Gottwalt was sent for to 
 A'isit a sick planter. He frequently called upon him, and his 
 pastoral attention Avas cordially and gratefully accepted. The sick 
 person died in a feAv Aveeks in firm faith in his Saviour. 
 
 The Easter festival in 1778 was a season of rich blessing 
 for many hearts, and the celebration was quiet and undisturbed. 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 9 
 
 allliougli much uneasiness was felt at that time. A rumour 
 had obtained pretty wide circulation that a rebellion had broken 
 out amongst the negroes in the middle portion of the island, 
 whereupon the whites immediately formed their patrol-bands, 
 and the militia was ordered to the locality named. The report 
 proved to be false, bnt some negroes, accused of one or another 
 crime, w^ere nevertheless brought back and punished, as a warning 
 to the rest. In addition to this the war between England and 
 America, with which country France was now in alliance, was the 
 cause of much anxiety and fear. A numerous Engli.sh fleet was 
 seen constantly cruising between the English and French islands, in 
 order to prevent an attack by the French. This naturally kept the 
 minds of the inhabitants in an unpleasant state of suspense. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Gardiner decided to return to England, but, being detained 
 for some time by friends on the neighbouring island of Nevis, they 
 ultimately returned to St. Kitts. 
 
 During these times of trial and anxiety the gratitude and affection 
 of the negroes towards the missionaries were variously displayed. 
 To name but one indication of this, they spontaneously made a 
 collection in money, which they handed over to Br. Gottwalt, who 
 wdth the sum thus provided purchased a table covered with green 
 cloth for the room where their meetings were held. The joy of the 
 poor negroes w’as great when they saw the result of their contribu- 
 tions. Time after time they exclaimed, “ Now w’e poor black people 
 have just as nice a pulpit in oui’ Church as the white people in 
 town !” 
 
 In June, 1778, Br. and Sr. Birkby received a call to St. Croix, 
 as the two mission-families did not work together in perfect 
 harmony. The vacancy thus caused was filled in July by the 
 arrival of Br. Antonio Weigel, w'ho had once laboured in Barbados, 
 and latterly spent some time in Germany. By degrees several 
 children were induced to attend the meetings held for their special 
 benefit, and often as many as fifty were gathered together, chiefly 
 from the town. The first baptism w'as still delayed, as some of the 
 candidates, who had been receiving preparatory instruction, had 
 been removed to plantations at a considerable distance, or even to 
 other islands. 
 
 On January 29, 1779, Bishop Mack and his wife came quite 
 unexpectedly on a visit to the island, which much cheered the 
 spirits of the missionaries. Br. Mack made himself thoroughly 
 acquainted with the circumstances of the mission, and counselled the 
 Brethren as to its further prosecution. He also visited the Governor, 
 by whom he was received in a very gracious manner. In the course 
 of a few weeks they again returned to Antigua, which island they 
 reached in safety, although pursued by pirates and overtaken by 
 severe storms. 
 
 In April of this year the rumours of a threatened French invasion 
 were received, and five French ships of w'ar actually made their 
 appearance. But these soon retired on being opposed by six Eng- 
 lish ships, though they were often in sight during the following 
 days. The militia was consequently kept under arms, and at 
 
10 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 intervals the roar of cannon was heard from the fort. The excite- 
 ment rose high in the town and provisions became very dear. In 
 addition to this a large English frigate lying at anchor in the 
 harbonr suddenly took tire one night, endangering the safety of not 
 only a number of vessels, of which there were 300, including 30 
 ships of war, at anchor, but also the town itself ; yet all harm was 
 mercifully averted. 
 
 Sunday, the 14th of November, 1779, was the happy festive 
 day on which the first-fruits of the mission were baptized. These 
 were the above-mentioned Catto, and a widow called Present. 
 They received the names Catherine and Mary. The report thus 
 refers to this circumstance : “ Br. Gottwalt preached on the words, 
 ‘ God is faithful by whom ye were called to the fellowship of His 
 Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’ The baptism thus took place under 
 the feeling of the Lord’s presence. The negroes looked on with 
 amazement and great reverence. Even some sailors, chietiy men of 
 the roughest sort, who were at the time in town, and had come 
 from mere curiosity to witness the proceeding, were visibly affected, 
 and remained in respectful silence and attention to the close. Let 
 us therefore praise the Lord and exalt Him. l^Iay He now, the 
 heavenly gardener, who has Himself planted these plants, preserve 
 them from all evil and cause them to grow and ffourish !” 
 
 In a letter of March 30, 1780, we again read : “ Since the first 
 baptism a new season of grace has begun amongst our dear black 
 people. Many are now desirous of being themselves partakers of 
 this blessing. But we desire to act very prudently in this matter. 
 The meetings continue to be well attended. The Christmas season 
 has been a time of much blessing, and we have again concluded a 
 year with our negroes at the feet of Jesus, and anew consecrated 
 ourselves to His service. At the celebration of the “ Heathen fes- 
 tival” (Epiphany) which here took place on Sunday January 9, the 
 Lord was again very gracious to us, permitting us to baptize 
 two more candidates, who had been previously instructed. The 
 Passion- week and Easter festivals were also much blessed to us 
 all, when many hearts were refreshed and strengthened by the 
 meditation on the sufferings, death, and resurrection of our Saviour. 
 Our house was not large enough to contain the numbers who flocked 
 to the meetings. On Great- Sabbath we had a happy and blessed 
 celebration of the Communion, and on Easter Sunday a Baptism. 
 The candidate was the negro Joe, now called Joseph. It strikes us 
 very much that the men appear to be more backward in enquming 
 after the salvation of their souls, and .are more careless in their 
 conduct than the women. The men certainly come to the meetings 
 in considerable numbers, but they also more readily remain away 
 and are lacking in steadfastness.” 
 
 In July 1781, one of the baptized negro-women, who had given 
 the brethren much joy by her Christian walk, was seized with a 
 mental disorder, which may well have been caused by the fact of 
 her having a mistress who was extremely severe and merciless in 
 her treatment of her negroes. In an attack of madness she wi-shed 
 to escape from her own house and take refuge in the mission-house. 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 11 
 
 Thereupon she was bound with cords and heavy chains, and whipped 
 without mercy. The mistress and her friends now laid the blame of 
 all this upon the mission, and seemed to vie with each other in their 
 insulting speeches and threats against the missionaries. Br. Gott- 
 walt, having heard that the poor woman had again been flogged, 
 went to visit her. She was overjoyed to see him, raised herself in 
 bed, though suffering severe pain, and spoke quite collectedly 
 with him. The mistress just then entering the room, in a fit of 
 anger accused Br. Gottwalt of having given over the woman to the 
 power of Satan, and ordered him immediately to expel the devil 
 from her. On attempting to say a few words by way of reply, she 
 threatened to dismiss him from the house and set the dogs at him. 
 Regardless of these threats the missionary continued to visit the sick 
 woman from time to time. Every kind of torture was resorted 
 to for the alleged purpose of bringing her to her senses, and at last 
 a sorcerer was fetched in, but she persistently refused to take his 
 medicines. Strange to say the sick woman survived all this treat- 
 ment, and afterwards recovered. But hatred and anger against the 
 mission still continued, and this had the result, that many negroes, 
 who had before attended church regularly, now' gave up coming, 
 perhaps from fear of the threats, or deterred by the ironical 
 speeches of the whites. “ Nevertheless,” writes Br. Gottwalt, 
 “ we have been much gladdened by the faithful and steady conduct 
 of the other negroes, and may say with truth that our little con- 
 gregation of ten baptized and received members is a light in the 
 midst of the terrible spiritual darkness of this island. It has 
 been an encouraging feature in our labours, that marines and 
 sailors occasionally come to the services in our church, especially 
 some who had formerly been connected Avith the Methodists in 
 England.” Br. Gottwalt Avas also frequently sent for to visit sick 
 sailors in the hospital. 
 
 In a letter to the Unity’s Elders’ Conference of Feb. 4, 1782, we 
 And the folloAving : “To the praise and honour of our Lord and 
 Saviour Ave are able to say that Ave have been preserved in health 
 and strength, and that no harm has come nigh us. The same may 
 also be said of our Christian negroes, although w'e have all passed 
 through considerable dangers. Many of the wdiites as Avell as of 
 the negroes haA'e for weeks been hiding in the mountains, and have 
 only just now' returned to their homes. On Jan. II, namely, the 
 English ships of war stationed here Avere surrounded by the 
 French fleet, and Brimstone Hill, the fortress of the island, was 
 besieged. A fearful cannonading was heard from that quarter. On 
 the 25th, the English fleet obtained reinforcement, and a severe 
 conflict took place between the two fleets off Basseterre, Avhich 
 was twice renew'ed dm’iiig the folloAving day. At length the 
 English fleet maintained the position. On the 28th an engagement 
 took place on shore betAveen some English and French troops avIio 
 had landed, and numbers of wounded soldiers were carried past our 
 house, a sight fearful to behold ! On the .30th, another fight took 
 place betAveen the English and French fleets. These times of alarm 
 continued until Feb. IJth, on which day we received the intelligence 
 
12 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 tliat Fort Brimstone Hill had surrendered to the French. The 
 French fleet now surrounded the English vessels lying at anchor in 
 the harbour, but under cover of night the latter succeeded in evading 
 the enemy and escaped. 
 
 “ Our fears have now been realized, and we are actually under 
 French government, and have at present no idea how we may fare, 
 and whether we shall still be permitted, in undisturbed liberty of 
 conscience, to continue our mission-work. A French officer of high 
 rank, who, though a Roman Catholic, knows something of Herrn- 
 hut and the Brethren, has called upon us and given us the assui’- 
 ance that we shall not be molested. He has even taken letters for 
 us, Avhich he has promised to forward to you by way of France. God 
 bless him for this ! You liaA’e given us permission, in case Ave are 
 driven to extremities, to flee to St. Thomas. My Avife and Br. 
 Weigel Avere at first inclined to do so. But then, Avhat would 
 become of our Christian negroes ? Shall we foi'sake these tv^enty 
 and more people, eleven of whom are communicants ? They haA^e 
 entreated us with tears not to leave them, and we have determined 
 to remain here. We hope also that Ave shall not suffer lack of 
 provisions, as English merchant A’essels Avill be permitted for the 
 next six months to bring goods and provdsions to the island. Shortly 
 before this misfortnne a new English Governor- General had arrived 
 here, and we had immediately forwarded to him an address which 
 was afterAvards published in the newspaper Avith a friendly and 
 faAmurable ansAver. This had also beneficially influenced the 
 feelings of the people here toAvai’ds us. Instead of hatred and 
 ridicule, theynoAV showed us courtesy and friendliness. During the 
 time of terror many of the whites took refuge in our house, as it 
 appeared to them a safer place than the interior of the tOAvn in case 
 of a bombardment. During the course of last year only tAvo adults 
 Avere baptized. The festival and Communion days Avere seasons of 
 rich refreshment both for ourselA"es and the negro congregation. 
 OAving to the bombardment, Avhich continued more or less for 
 Aveeks, my hearing, and my Avhole body and nervous system have 
 sufiered severely; I must therefore write A^ery briefly.’ 
 
 June 6 , 1782. “ Thus far we have been able to continue our 
 
 work undisturbed, although Ave are uoaa' under French Government. 
 On one occasion Ave Avere in great danger OAving to a sugar-cane 
 field having been set on fire. The negroes in our neighbourhood, 
 exclaimed in great alarm, ‘ Our minister’s house is lost ! and Ave 
 shall be ruined too !’ We immediately collected the best of our 
 things to take them to a place of safety, and hurried into the 
 garden, AAdiei’e with uplifted hands we cried to the Lord for help 
 and protection. The Avind soon veered round to the opposite 
 quarter. We were very thankful indeed to find that the negro 
 Joseph, Avhom I haAm named before, and who we feared had 
 wandered aAvay from the narroAv path, Avas the first to come to our 
 help.” 
 
 Sepb 14, 1782. “You Avill be glad to hear that our friend Mr. 
 Gardiner has been appointed Attorney-General b}^ the French 
 Government. On the 10th inst. he sent a messenger to invite Br. 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 13 
 
 Weigel and myself to come to him, as he wished to introduce us to 
 the French Governor, Count Dillon. This Count Dillon is an 
 Irishman by birth, and although only 30 years of age, is already a 
 Brigadier- General to the King of France, a knight of the Order of 
 St. Louis, &c. His lady is a French countess, sister of one of the 
 chief cardinals in France. Mr. Gardiner took us with him to the 
 audience chamber, where he introduced us to His Excellency. We 
 were invited to be seated, Avhereupon a conversation took place, 
 which is here briefly repeated. The Count addressed us in English, 
 and sitting down near me, enquired in a friendly manner where I 
 was born. I replied, ‘ near Sti’asburg in Alsace,’ wdiereupon he said, 
 
 ‘ that is charming, we can then speak French together.’ I excused 
 myself, stating that, as I had spent the greatest part of my life in 
 Germany, Holland and England, I now scarcely felt able to converse 
 in French. ‘ You belong to the peojde connected with Count Zin- 
 zendorf,’ the governor remarked. ‘ We are members of the same 
 Church to which Count Zinzendorf belonged,’ I replied. ‘ But, 
 was he not the founder and the head of your Church ?’ was the next 
 question. ‘ He was the instrument in God’s hand of renewing the 
 ancient Bohemian and Moravian Church of the Brethren, and for 
 that reason he is much beloved and highly esteemed among us.’ 
 ‘ Have you not Moravian monasteries and nunneries in your settle- 
 ments ?’ the Count inquired. ‘Pardon me your Excellency^,’ I 
 replied, ‘ w'e have separate choir-houses for each sex, in rvhich men 
 and women reside, who are unmarried and are not members of 
 families living in the settlements, but these ai’e not monks and 
 nuns ; they carry on their ordinary work, and earn their living by 
 the labour of their own hands.’ ‘ I have heard,’ said the Count, ‘that 
 polygamy is customaiy among them.’ ‘ In that your Excellency is 
 greatly mistaken,’ I answered, ‘ of such things we know nothing.’ 
 To the further question, ‘ what is the name of ymur Church ?’ I replied, 
 
 ‘ the name given in the British Act of Parliament is. The Church of 
 the United Brethren, or the Unitas Fi-atrum.’ Having brought 
 a printed copy of this Act with me, I handed it to the Governor, 
 who was now frequently^ interrupted by the entrance of officers and 
 the handing in of reports. He only glanced over it, and said, ‘ I 
 see you have the same privileges as the Quakers.’ ‘ Yes,’ I said,’ 
 
 ‘ as regards taking oaths and military service.’ ‘ Your chief settle- 
 ments are in England, are they not, where Count Zinzendorf lived ?’ 
 
 ‘ He only resided in England from time to time,’ I replied, ‘ our 
 chief settlement is at Herrnhut, in Saxony.’ ‘ Ah ! yes, Herrnhut,’ 
 said the Count, ‘ I was once there — but,’ he continued, ‘ have you no 
 settlements in French territory?’ ‘No,’ I answered, ‘such have 
 never been attempted, because we did not know whether wo should 
 be tolerated.’ ‘Then you are Protestants?’ ‘Yes, your Excel- 
 lency,’ I replied, ‘ and for that reason we were exceedingly con- 
 cerned, when the island was conquered by your troops, but Baron 
 von Wallroben, the officer of the regiment of Picardy, told us, that 
 we should be neither disturbed nor hindered in our work.’ ‘No,’ 
 exclaimed the Count, ‘ no one will place any obstacles in your 
 way, of that you may be assured.’ After a short intei'ruption. 
 
14 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 during wliich tlie Count had left his seat to issue some orders, he 
 again addressed mo, ‘Your object in coming here is to make the 
 negroes Christians by baptizing them ?’ I answered, ‘ Yes, but 
 baptism alone will not make them Christians ; ho that believeth and 
 is bajjtized shall be saved, therefore we first preach to the negroes 
 Jesus Christ, the Saviour crucified and risen, and after this Gospel 
 has touched their heai’ts and found entrance there, then we baptize 
 them.’ ‘ How are you supported here?’ the Count further enquired. 
 
 ‘ By the voluntary contributions of friends of Christian missions,’ 
 I answered. I now handed to the Count a copy of our address to 
 the former English Governor, together wdth the original of his 
 reply, with his own autograph attached. He looked at it very care- 
 fully, and on our rising to retire, wished us much success in our 
 mission. 
 
 “ At this moment a clergyman of the Church of England came 
 forward, saluted ns in a very cordial manner, and, whilst shaking 
 hands with us, said, loud enough for the Count to hear, ‘ I am glad 
 to see you here ; you and 1 should certainly be the first to show 
 respect and obedience to the new Government.’ ” 
 
 Count Dillon kept his word ; and, as Admiral von Wallroben 
 had assured the missionaries would be the case, the Mission 
 did not in any way sutler by the change of government. 
 “ Generally speaking,” as Br. Gottwalt wrote, “ law and justice, 
 order and discipline, prevail in the island under the new French 
 Government more than under the former English rule. The 
 English laws are certainly very good, but the manner in which 
 they were carried out was very defective, and, in fact, it was a 
 genuine Creole business.” By this he meant, no doubt, that each 
 planter considered himself a little Sovereign, and was in the habit 
 of doing or leaving undone just what suited him, without any regard 
 to the Government — nay, often even in direct opposition to it. 
 
 In March, 1784, Br. and Sr. Gottwalt visited Antigua for the 
 purpose of seeing the well-known Bishop John de Watteville, who, 
 with his wife, Benigna de Watteville, a daughter of Count Zinzen- 
 dorf, whilst on their return from a visitation in America, had 
 suffered shipwreck near the island of Barbuda, but having pro- 
 videntially succeeded in reaching the island in a boat, had gone from 
 thence to Antigua, where they remained a few weeks. On their 
 return to St. Kitts, Br. and Sr. Gottwalt were rejoiced to welcome 
 Bishop Schaukirch and his wife, who, after the departure of Bishop 
 ]\Iack, to whom reference has already been made in this narrative, 
 had accepted a call from North America to the Danish West Indies, 
 and had now come to qiay a visit to St. Kitts. Br. Gottwalt 
 writes : — “ He has kept several meetings for our black congrega- 
 tion, which were the means of much blessing to many hearts, during 
 his stay of a fortnight amongst us. On leaHng, he assured us that 
 he had received a very favourable impression of our negroes.” 
 
 In 1785 the brethren and sisters were able to give up their 
 hired house for another, which had been bought for the Mission. 
 It was close to the one they had hitherto been occupying at the 
 end of College Street, and, although not large, having only two 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 15 
 
 rooms, in addition to tlie so-called Hall, it was for the present 
 large enough for the missionaries. They had soon afterwards 
 to pass through a period of rather trying experiences. A severe 
 hurricane took place in the night between August 24 and 25, 
 which did much damage in the island, although the mission- 
 house did not suffer in the least ; and then, in consequence 
 of exposure and a severe cold taken during the night of the 
 hurricane, Br. Gottwalt was attacked by a serious illness, which 
 necessitated his k, eping his bed for some months. About this time 
 one of the two first-fruits of the Mission, the old negro woman, 
 Mary, formerly known by the name of Present, departed this life. 
 Suddenly falling down whilst out walking in the field, she was 
 heard to utter a brief prayer to her Saviour, and immediately after- 
 wards departed. She had been a faithful member of our congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 Then followed times of renewed blessing. During the Christmas 
 season the preaching of the Gospel concerning the coming of the 
 Saviour of poor sinners into the world, made a deep impression 
 upon the hearers. Free mulatoes and white people also came to the 
 services. On January 6th, — the festival of Epiphany, — six persons 
 and a child of one of our Communicant sisters were baptized, which 
 addition to our little congregation caused great rejoicing not only 
 to Br. and Sr. Gottwalt, but also to the people themselves. “ It 
 was a day of grace,” writes Br. Gottwalt, “ for which we thanked 
 our Saviour on our knees.” 
 
 About this time a planter resident in St. Kitts bought 50 negroes 
 in Antigua, and informed Br. Gottwalt of his having done so. The 
 most of these negroes were baptized people, who in Antigua had 
 been under the care of our Brethren. Great was the joy of these 
 poor negi’oes when Br. Gottwalt visited there. On account of the 
 distance of the plantation, which was about the middle of the 
 island, Bi\ Gottwalt could not devote so much attention to them as 
 he would otherwise have been inclined to do. 
 
 The same year two Methodist Missionaries, Mr. Baxter from New- 
 foundland, and Mr. William Hammett, arrived at St. Kitts. They 
 at once called upon Br. Gottwalt and informed him that Mr. 
 Hammett intended to remain as missionary on the island. On 
 being asked whether he had any objections, Br. Gottwalt replied, 
 “ Certainly not, provided you preach nothing else but Jesus Christ, 
 the crucified and risen Saviour.” “The arrival of these men,” 
 writes Br. Gottwalt, “ attracts considerable attention ; blacks and 
 whites alike flock to their meetings, both to see and to hear them. 
 As they soon began to be acquainted with our negroes, the report 
 rapidly spread that the Brethren’s cause would now speedily die out, 
 as these Wesleyans were not so strict in the matter of Baptism and 
 admission to Church privileges, etc. This has, however, not been 
 the case ; our meetings are as much frequented as before, and our 
 little congregation continues to increase, and now numbers 82 
 baptized negroes and communicants.” 
 
 We have now reached the close of the first ten years of the mis- 
 sion in this island, during which period the first station had been 
 
16 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 established, and a congregation, though only small, numbei’ing 
 scai’cely a luxndred souls, yet composed of really awakened and 
 converted negroes, as far as man may judge, had been gathered 
 together. The new mission had progressed but slowly, still diffi- 
 culties, connected with severe trials both from within and from 
 without, had been overcome, which had tested and established 
 the reality and solidity of the work. The fidelity and self-denial, 
 the steadfastness and simple trust in God, of the instrument 
 employed by the Lord in effecting this work, Br. Gottwalt, had 
 been crowned with blessing and success. He had borne the heat 
 and burden of the day, for the most part without the help of 
 assistants. But having now jiassed the age of sixty years and 
 fearing that his strength was no longer sufficient for the demands 
 made upon it by the mission, he applied to the Directing 
 Board for permission to retire from the service. This was 
 granted in the year 1788, and this faithful labourer returned to 
 Germany. 
 
 Br. and Sr. Schneller were now called from Antigua, where they 
 had laboured successfully for several years, to continue the mission 
 in St. Kitts, and reached Basseterre on January 23rd, 1788, with 
 their two little children. Br. Gottwalt exerted himself to the 
 utmost of his strength to make his successor acquainted with his 
 new work, both in town and countiy ; and, having accomjxlished 
 this, he left the island on March 20th. 
 
 As the boat, which was to convey them to the vessel, left the 
 island, the whole congregation were gathered together on the 
 shore, accompanying the departing missionaries with their best 
 wishes and prayers, the heartfelt expressions of gratitude and 
 affection. 
 
 Br. Gottwalt had laid a good and firm foundation, upon which 
 his successor could now continue the building ; and we shall see in 
 the next portion of this narrative how the work progi’essed under 
 his direction, making such rapid progress that in a short time the 
 Church- members might be reckoned by thousands. 
 
 The spirit of our Church in those times is strikingly manifest in 
 the work and labours of both these missionary brethren, Gottwalt 
 and Schneller, and may be briefly expressed in the language of one 
 of our hymns thus : 
 
 “ As thy chosen blooj-boiight property, 
 
 We'll know nothing, slaughtered Lamb, but Thee ; 
 
 Thou shalt be our Lord and God ; 
 f)f redemption in Thy blood 
 To all nations we will testify.” 
 
 IT. — 'Extension of the Mission binder Br. SchneUer's direction, 1787- 
 1797. — Br. and Sr. Schneller came to St. Kitts at a time when 
 much sickness prevailed there, and they also lay ill of a fever for 
 some weeks. On the 13th of April, an old communicant— baptized 
 in 1792 by Br. Gottwalt — departed this life, and her body was the 
 first laid in the new burial-ground. In the following years the 
 remains of a child of SchneUer’s were also borne to the same 
 resting-place. 
 
RETROSPECT OF TUE MISSION IN ST. KlTTS. 
 
 17 
 
 The long projected plan of Br. Got t wait to protect the Mission 
 premises by a wall, which should act as a break to the torrents that 
 heavy rains sent rushing down from the hills, was now carried out, 
 and this work and the fencing-in of the Mission- station occupied much 
 time and attention. The continued disturbances resulting from tho 
 war, and the insufficient harvest produced a grievous scarcity in tho 
 island. Business was quite prostrated, and it was only in consider- 
 able companies and under the protection of naval convoys that 
 merchant-ships could proceed to sea. 
 
 These circumstances brought very near to the poor negroes tlie 
 temptation to steal, as their masters could not give them even the 
 bare necessaries of life. The spiritual work, however, continued, 
 and was accompanied by a rich blessing. Br. Schneller, although 
 according to his own words he was not so gifted a speaker as 
 Mr. Hammet, the Wesleyan minister, yet found his place of 
 worship filled every Sunday ; indeed, the attendance increased from 
 week to week ; the simple discourses of this man of faith, which 
 were grounded on his own heart’s experience, appealed powerfully 
 to the hearers, and there was frequently a realisation of the promised 
 presence of the Master in their midst, while the lives of many 
 showed abundant fruits of the Gospel. 
 
 Many of the sugar-estates which Br. Gottwalt had visited had 
 been placed under the spiritual charge of the Wesleyans, whoso 
 activity found ever widening scope. But new openings were pre- 
 sented to the Brethren, and invitations to “ come over and help ” 
 were given from many quarters. Br. Schneller devoted himself 
 with great energy to his work, and his congregation, towards the 
 close of the year 1788, already numbered 200 souls. But it became 
 increasingly evident that both an assistant for the work and a larger 
 meeting-place were absolutely requisite. 
 
 The sanction of the Mission Board for the erection of the church 
 was soon obtained, and Br. John Frederick Reichel was called to 
 St. Kitts. Until his arrival, Br. Schneckenburger, wdio on his way 
 from Antigua to America was detained at St. Kitts by want of a suit- 
 able ship, gave his help. On the 13th of May of the following 
 year, 1789, the new fellow-labourer of Br. Schneller arrived, 
 accompanied by Br. Braun, an old friend and colleague of his. 
 Br. Braun had been commissioned by the Mission Board to advise 
 concerning the pi’ojected church, and brought with him the plans 
 of that of St. John’s, Antigua. During his visit, the Governor 
 with some members of his suite called, and found the accommoda- 
 tion of the mission-family so limited, that no room w’as large enough 
 to contain the visitors. While he conversed in a very kind manner 
 with the Brethren concerning their work, the members of his suite 
 occupied the benches in the chapel. 
 
 On Ascension Day the foundation-stone was laid, Br. Braun, the 
 venerable servant of the Lord, who had for many years laboured 
 in the West Indian vineyard, taking the lead at the customary 
 ceremonies. The text for the day was, “ I will see you again, 
 aud your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” 
 
18 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORT 
 
 (Jolin xvi. 22.) Shortly after this event Br. Braun returned to 
 Antigua.- On the 11th of October the edifice was completed and 
 consecrated. There were seventeen new members received into 
 Church-fellowship on this day. 
 
 Towards the end of the year 1789 the new church was thronged 
 with hearers, and there was already a large increase of membership. 
 So:ne twenty estates were regularly visited by the missionaries, a 
 work which was attended with much inconvenience, as no horse 
 could be procured except at a very high price. Br. Schneller 
 wrote of his work ; “We are favoured with the full approbation of 
 the civil authorities of the island, and are in full harmony with our 
 sister Churches, to whom the conduct of our Moravian negroes is often 
 held up as an example worthy of imitation. God is very gracious to 
 us.” 
 
 In the year 1790, the sugar-harvest being a failure, the external 
 position of the people became very embarrassing. “The Loi’d,” 
 wrote Br. Schneller, “ w’as the Joseph who helped us through the 
 time of dearth, and our negroes were cheerfully resigned.” The 
 native helpers were of veiy great assistance in tending the flock, 
 which now numbered 421 members. Thomas Gordon, and others 
 of them, are frequently mentioned in the reports. Their addresses 
 W'ere often very good, and truly acceptable to the people. Sr. 
 Schneller, beyond her multifarious household occupations, was 
 anxious to find time for direct mission- work with the female portion 
 of the congregation, visiting the sick in town and country, and 
 was both useful and acceptable. The arrival of Sr. Reichel from 
 America as the bride of Br. J. B. Reichel was, therefore, very 
 timely. The report of the year 1791 tells much that is pleasing of 
 the progress of the work. It states that the negroes on their return 
 home from the meetings often remained long together speaking of 
 what they had heard, and with much emotion expressing their joy 
 at being freed from heathen ignorance and the serMce of sin. These 
 poor people often came to converse about their souls, and their 
 evident longing for a Saviour, the report says, “ rendered easy all 
 the trials of our calling and much hard labour ! ” The Passion 
 w’eek and Easter services were seasons of great blessing, and the 
 church could not contain the numerous hearers. On Easter Monday 
 more than a thousand assembled for worship. At the love-feast on 
 Christmas Eve about 300 children were present. The interest and 
 good feeling of the negroes was manifested in the purchase of a 
 riding-horse for the missionaries’ use, for which they subscribed the 
 needful sum. 
 
 On April 7th, 1792, a fearful storm broke over the island, and 
 such torrents poured down from the hills that many houses were 
 carried away, while cries for help were heard from all sides. The 
 English clergyman’s residence and the Methodist chapel received 
 severe injury ; but the premises of the Brethren suffered no loss, 
 their property being protected by the wall before referred to, and 
 only two Church members were among the large number of persons 
 who perished. In the month of August a terrible hurricane swept 
 
OF THE MISSION IX ST. KITTS. 
 
 19 
 
 tlie islaml, and most of the ships lying at anchor were driTOn 
 ashore and broken up — in one case with the loss of twenty-two lives. 
 Again a season of scarcity ensued. Provisions became very dear, 
 and even the white people were reduced to great poverty. Yet the 
 Brethi’en suffered no serious want, for the negroes, and sometimes 
 the planters, provided for their necessities by voluntary contribu- 
 tions in money or in kind. 
 
 In the year 1793 Br. John Miller, from Ireland, arrived to take 
 part in the Mission work, while Avorking at his trade as Watchmaker 
 for the benefit of the Mission, in the same way as in the Danish 
 islands brethren, following the double calling, were enabled to 
 provide entirely for the support of the Mission there.* 
 
 In the same year, after some years had passed Avithout such 
 a sad event taking place, a slave-ship again discharged her cargo of 
 600 negroes, who were soon sold to the planters. The lot of these 
 Africans was sometimes very hard, and the Brethren accordingly 
 did what they could to act as mediatora between them and their 
 masters; the latter sometimes made use of their good offices to 
 correct and admonish negroes who had erred through ignorance. 
 Sometimes runaway slaves were induced by the missionaries to return 
 to their masters, and pardon, or a mitigation of the dreaded punish- 
 ment, was obtained for them. The Brethren themselves w'ere 
 obliged to have recourse to negro help for the care of their horse and 
 premises, and so had opportunity, by Christian treatment of their 
 servants and patience Avdth their very provoking failings, to set a 
 good example to the Avorld. 
 
 In this year and those immediately following it great apprehen- 
 sions were entertained lest the horrors of the French Revolution, 
 Avhich had been repeated in some French colonies, should be enacted 
 here. War-perils, too, helped to keep the minds of all in constant 
 anxious suspense. In 1792 refugees from Guadaloupe to tho 
 number of about 100 persons, both black and white, came to St. 
 Kitts. The neighbouring English islands, St. Vincent, Grenade, 
 and Tortola, were seized by the French and devastated. It Avas 
 feared that a similar lot might befall St. Kitts ; and an attack V 
 these robber-bands of so-called Republicans was far more to bo 
 dreaded than the former capture of the island by Count Dillon. 
 Sea-fights betAveen English and French ships at no great distauc e 
 from the island Avere common occurrences, but the much-feared in- 
 vasiou of the island was Avarded off by the English being always the 
 victors. 
 
 In the midst of trials and Aucissitudes occasioned by these cir- 
 cumstances, the missionary Avork was continued with much blessing. 
 
 * In the We.st Indian ^Mission trades have been abandoned, as they proved in 
 the long run incompatible with mis.sionaiy work, however useful they may at first 
 have been, and quite in accordance with the example of the Apostle Paul as 
 mentioned in Acts xx. 35. For some time back the congregations have been making 
 strenuous and fairly succe.ssful efforls towards self-support. In other missions 
 trades are .still maintained, and the example of the missionaries working diligently 
 with their hands is found very beneficial to the people among whom they labour. 
 
 2 * 
 
20 
 
 EETllOSPECT OF TUE HISTORY 
 
 and was accompanied by a general religious awakening with many 
 conversions. The church at Basseterre was not large enough to 
 contain the numbers who resorted to it. In 1791! there were nearly 
 2000 Church members, and the spiritual progress of the converts 
 was no less marked than their numerical increase. Special festival 
 days were appointed for the different classes of the community, 
 aiTanged according to sex and age, in hopes of producing a higher 
 standard of family life, and the large attendance upon them proved 
 that they were appreciated. The sugar-estates which were visited 
 by the Brethren were now 50 in number, and of these a few were 
 so near town that weekly meetings could be arranged at them. On 
 the Spooner’s estate the negroes voluntarily built a chapel, ■where 
 several hundred negroes met together for services. Another place 
 of worship was built on the estate of the late General Burt, near 
 Sandy Point, and there appeared to be a suitable opening for 
 a new settlement on the river Cayon. In 1798, the Brethren were 
 greatly rejoiced at the delight shown by the 600 negro children, 
 who came to the Christmas festival, many of whom recited texts 
 and verses which they had committed to memory. Indications of 
 spiritual life among the young people were rightly hailed by the 
 Brethren as very hopeful signs for the stability and future progress 
 of their work. 
 
 Br. and Sr. Reichel, having been called to Antignia, were in 
 1795 replaced by Br. and Sr. J. C. Hodgson, while Br. Miller went 
 to help out at Barbados ; Br. and Sr. Towle, who had given valuable 
 aid while waiting here for a slup to take them on to Jamaica, were 
 finally obliged to avail themselves of an opportunity to proceed to 
 New York in hopes of reaching their destination from that port, 
 taking the son of Br. and Sr. Schneller with them to place him in 
 a school at Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. It was a perilous under- 
 taking, as the sea swarmed with privateers and pirates, but after 
 prayerfully seeking the guidance of the Lord through the lot, the 
 journey was commenced in simple trust. The vessel Avas stopped by 
 a pirate ship, but beyond the plundering of cargo no harm Avas 
 done. 
 
 In 1797 the island was visited by an unusually prolonged series 
 of earthquakes. Prom the fourth of February until the eleventh of 
 May no day passed without their recurrence with more or less 
 violence. At times the earth seemed for some seconds to rock like 
 a cradle, eA^ery house trembled, and moveable articles were thrown 
 to and fro. “We knoAV not,” says the report for this year, “ AA’hat 
 the Lord intends by this trying experience ; but whatever He does, 
 is the best thing for us, for we are His children through Christ our 
 Saviour.” A general fast-day Avas appointed by the Governor, 
 on which more than 2000 persons assembled in church to hear 
 an excellent sermon from Br. Hodgson. In the autumn Br. John 
 Renatus Verbeek, from the Unity’s Elders’ Conference, visited 
 this mission, to the great comfort and refreshment of the 
 missionaries ; he remained until the 5th of November, con- 
 ducting meetings, conversing with the native helpers, and making 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 21 
 
 himself thoroughly acquainted with all the circumstances of the 
 mission. One of the most important subjects which occupied 
 his attention rvas the question of the commencement of a second 
 station, for which two s^iots, each about eight or ten miles from 
 Basseterre, at Sandy Point, and on the Cayon river, were deemed 
 favourable. The latter was ^u’eferable, as about 500 negro converts 
 already resided there, and it was considered a salubrious locality. 
 He was received in a very gi’acious manner by the Governor- 
 General of the island, and many assurances of his Excellency’s 
 good-will to the mission were given him. His impression of the 
 state of the work was veiy favourable, and he found the negroes 
 here more friendly and amiable in disposition than those of the 
 Danish isles. Of Br. Schneller he vuote : “ he is a man of energetic 
 character, always thinking little of himself and making much of 
 others ; never complaining of his fellow-labourers, but rather apt to 
 expect to find in them the same mental and bodily powers which he 
 happily possessed.” Br. Hainan, who had rendered valuable tem- 
 porary aid, accompanied Br. V erbeek on his departure ; and Br. and 
 Sr. Hodgson were called to Barbados. The latter were taken by a 
 French man-of-war, and kept for a time as prisoners in the island of 
 Dominique.* They were replaced by Br. and Sr. Nicholas Ganson. 
 Towards the close of 1797 the congregation in Basseterre numbered 
 2085 members. 
 
 A glance at the mission shows a wonderful change wrought 
 in the island. A people, who had been living in the gross dark- 
 ness of heathenism, was now living in the light of the Gospel, 
 which had penetrated to its remotest corners. This result was due 
 by no means only, or chiefly, to the labours of our Moravian mis- 
 sionaries, for the Wesleyans, having more means at their disposal, had 
 spread over the island in all directions. Many white people had 
 derived much blessing from the missionary work of these faithful 
 messengers of the Churches. 
 
 III. — From the year 1798 to the commeneemejit of a second Station 
 at Bethesda, in the year 1821. To accomplish the founding of a 
 second mission-station proved more difficult than had been anti- 
 cipated, on account of the excessively high piuce of building 
 materials, and the burden devolffing on the Cliurch in Germany 
 in consequence of the Continental war. Mr. Matthews, the 
 proprietor of the estate on which it was proposed to locate the 
 mission, a Christian gentleman nearly related to Mr. Hamilton of 
 Tobago, was wishful in every way to assist in carrying out the pro- 
 posed plan for extending the mission, but the outlay was too great 
 for the disposable pecuniary resources. In the meanwhile, Br. 
 
 * Br. and Sr. Hodgson never an-ived at their destination, nothing having ever 
 been heard of the vessel in which they sailed. In the hundred years’ history of the 
 St. Kitts Mission, this is the only instance of the kind which has occurred. During 
 the 145 years of our mission history, only twenty-two persons have perished at sea : 
 truly the Lord has, in regard to our own Church, heard the comprehensive prayer 
 in our Church Litany : “ Watch over Thy messengers both by land and sea !” 
 
22 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 Sclmcllei’’s Tvork progressed in a very gratifying manner ; annually 
 lie baptized more than a hundred adult persons : the attendance at 
 the public services was generally 2000 persons, at the Holy Com- 
 munion about 250. 
 
 In 1798, Br. and Sr. Ganson were transferred to Antigua, and 
 were succeeded by Br. and Sr. B. A. Nientz. The native helpers, 
 both male and female, continue to render valuable service under the 
 presiding missionaries. Anna Brown and Samuel Lancaster are 
 especially mentioned. The former was for twenty years active as a 
 Christian worker, and enjoyed universal affection and esteem : the 
 latter who was a free mulatto, and had a business of his own in 
 Basseterre, had a remarkable gift for addressing children, which he 
 turned to useful account. 
 
 As English men-of-Avar almost always lay anchored in the waters 
 near St. Kitts, and at times also, under the protection of the 
 squadron, hundreds of trading vessels on their way to other islands of 
 the West Indies, the brethren had sometimes the pleasure of seeing 
 sailors and passing strangers in their churches at the .seiwices. A 
 good many residents from the French islands, too, continued to take 
 refuge in St. Kitts, some of whom swelled the auditory in the 
 ^Moravian Chapel in town. The governor of the island, Mr. Thomp- 
 son, continued friendly to the mission, and by his considerate 
 treatment of the negroes on his plantation set a good example to the 
 proprietors. His successor. Lord Lavington, acted in a like manner. 
 With respect to the system of slavery generally on the island, it may 
 be said that, while occasionally acts of brutality were perpetrated on 
 the sugar estates, yet, on the whole, the influence of the Gospel had 
 told strongly on both master and slave, the former being constrained 
 to adopt a more humane treatment, the latter responding by increased 
 industry and fidelity. The old days of boundless luxury and 
 extravagance on the part of the masters, which often led to poA'erty 
 and misery, and of indescribable wretchedness on the part of the 
 slaves, had without any violent commotion passed away. The latter 
 were regarded as human beings, noAV that they had been taught that 
 they might become Christians, and it had been jiroved that Christian 
 slaA^es (as Paul wrote of Onesimus to Philemon) Avere more useful 
 and valuable than heathen ones. Progress in civilization under 
 Greeks and Romans had left the state of the slaA'e unimproved, 
 only Christianity had wrought a change, confirming the Apostle’s 
 word, that “ in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond 
 nor free, neither male nor female,” &c. (Gal. iv. 26.) 
 
 That the negroes through idleness and want of faithfulness in the 
 discharge of their duty often gave much trouble and annoyance to 
 their masters, even to those who were Christians, is too true ; but 
 the treatment of them, even under the altered state of public opinion, 
 was sometimes terribly unjust and inhuman. A baptized negro 
 woman, being in weak health, was scarcely able to drag herself to 
 the field-work : but the overseer, declaring her illness to be pre- 
 tended, kicked and cuffed her in such a brutal manner, that she in 
 despair tried to run away. Of course she was speedily captured, 
 
OF THE SIISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 23 
 
 and thrown into a vile hole, whieh served as pri.son. Here she soon 
 died, and some of the negroes returning from their work in tho 
 evening, were ordered to dig a hole, and burj the body in its 
 rags like a dog. A baptized slave, whose conduct had long 
 been a source of gratification to the missionaries, and had never 
 been spoken of by his master in other than approving terms, was 
 sent into town with another negro to call for some barrels of sugar 
 and other goods. On their return to the estate with their cartload, 
 one of the barrels was found to be injured. The master suspecting 
 it had been tampered with, and that the negroes had tried to steal 
 from it, had them both fearfully whipped in spite of their protesta- 
 tions of complete innocence. The Christian slave was then put in 
 irons and thrown into a lock-up. This barbarous treatment brought 
 on continuous vomiting which ended in the man’s death. Painful 
 as it was to the poor fellow to have been unjustly suspected and' 
 unmercifully flogged, he died in peace, rejoicing in Jesus as his 
 Saviour. Instances like these could be multiplied from the records 
 of the mission in these years, and it can well be imagined that they 
 were a source of great concern to the missionarues. Sometimes a 
 brother was able successfully to interfere, or to act as mediator, but 
 not always, for bad planters ill-treated Christian slaves, simply 
 because they were Christians, exacting from them work which they 
 could not possibly perform. The slave-trade was at that tune in 
 full swing, many ships bringing hundreds of slaves from West 
 Africa for sale. 
 
 In March, 1801, Br. and Sr. Hofmann came to St. Kitts, Br. and 
 Sr. Niemtz having returned to Europe. Br. Hofmann having already 
 a good acquaintance with the Eng’lish language, and considerable ex- 
 perience in ministerial work, was at once able to take a full share of 
 the work. In December, 1802, the mission-station was once more in 
 danger from the flood, which came down from the hills like rolling 
 waves of the ocean. The wall, which had been lately repaired, 
 remained firm until the catastrophe was nearly over, when a part of 
 it gave way. This was repaired by the negro Christians, who, 
 when they came to church, brought materials for filling up the- 
 breach, some of which had been provided by the planters. Very 
 edifying was the death about this time of two members of the 
 Church. An old black woman, for many years a leper, covered from 
 head to foot with boils and ofiensive sores, when the hour of her 
 death at length came, was so full of joy and gi’atitude to the Saviour 
 for all his love, that all present were deeply moved. A lame old 
 man who, in spite of his infirmity, had been appointed on the estate 
 of his master to the hard labour of water-carrier to the sxrgar- 
 boiling house, was never known to say a word of complaint for his 
 hard lot, but was ever found with lips overflowing Avith love and 
 thanksgiving. His end was marked by triumphant joy in the Lord, 
 His Redeemer. 
 
 Humanly speaking, Br. Hofmann Avas just the man wanted for 
 the commencement of the neAV station, and the negroes were 
 rejoicing at the prospect of his undertaking it. But God’s 
 will Avas otherwise, for in July 1803 he fell ill of a fever, which in a 
 
24 
 
 KETROSPECT OP THE UISTORT 
 
 few days terminated fatally, in spite of all the attentions and cai’e- 
 tul nursing of an experienced medical man, his wife, and Br. and 
 Sr. Schneller. His last moments were so calm and peaceful, and 
 the Lord’s presence so sensibly felt in the chamber of death, that 
 the doctor was moved to tears. “ Our brother is gone,” writes Br. 
 Schneller ; “ with what a warm heart he proclaimed our Saviour’s 
 death and merits to the negroes ! Now his remains have found 
 their resting place in our burial-ground : he is the first missionary 
 who has died in this field. At his funeral negroes and whites dis- 
 played much respectful attachment. The clergyman of the Church 
 of England addressed the large assembly of mourners in a warm- 
 hearted and moving manner, standing at the head of the coffin, 
 which was borne by six helpers. Br. Schneller read the usual 
 litany at the grave.” 
 
 Br. Hofmann’s widow remained in the island to help in the work, 
 and was subsequently married to Br. J. S. Griinder, missionary in 
 Barbados. Some months after this Br. and Sr. John Gottlob 
 Procop arrived at St. Kitts to commence a service of many years, 
 which was much blessed. Their ship struck on a reef near Antigua, 
 and they had to escape ashore in boats ; then they were pursued 
 and shot at by a French privateer, from which, however, they 
 succeeded in escaj^ing during the night. Br. Procop before coming 
 here, had been engaged in diaspora work in the neighbourhood of 
 Neusalz in Prussia. 
 
 In the year 1805, there was again a French invasion of the island. 
 On the 5th of March a fleet of fourteen French ships appeared in the 
 harbour of Basseterre, at a time when few vessels were anchor- 
 ing there. The inhabitants in great terror fled with what they 
 could most easily transport, and some brought their valuables to 
 the missionaries to be cared for. The French general in command, 
 lauding with 500 soldiers, exacted payment of a war-levy of 
 £45,000. As the sum was raised, the soldiers were forbidden to 
 plunder, and one of their captains came into the mission-house, to 
 assure the Brethren that no harm should be done to them, and 
 even placed a sentinel at the door to protect the station. After the 
 English ships in the hai’bour had been burnt, the fleet put out to sea. 
 
 The missionaries had received much comfort on this day of dread 
 and anxiety from the text allotted for the day : “ The angel of the 
 Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth 
 them.” (Ps. xxxiv. 5.) 
 
 A peaceful Passion-week and Easter followed this time of alarm, 
 and large congregations assembled, especially at the early service in 
 the burial-ground, of which an aged sister said : “ I never was so 
 happy in my life ; it was as if our blessed Saviour, risen from the 
 dead, had stood in our midst.” At the close of the year 1805 the con- 
 gregation comprised 2892 persons, of whom 830 were communicants. 
 
 In November of the following year Br. Eusebius Williams arrived 
 at Basseterre from England, but in the month of December was 
 prostrated by a fever, which carried him off at the early age of 
 twenty-six. 
 
 An important event for the mission in the year 1810, was the 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 25 
 
 arrival of Br. and Sr. Joliannson from Cliristiansfeld. This help in 
 the work was all the more desirable as Br. Schneller began to feel 
 that, with his seventy years, — an age very rarely by Europeans 
 attained in the West Indies — the charge of a congregation of more 
 than 3,000 souls with several out-stations wms too much for him. 
 
 In 1812 there was a terrible hurricane accompanied by destructive 
 floods, soon followed by an earthquake on the occasion of a volcano 
 breaking out on the island of St. Vincent. The shower of ashes 
 extended as • far as Barbados. The mission this year received 
 several proofs of favour and good-will from the Governor- General, 
 Lord Elliot, who was a friend of Br. P. Latrobe, Secretary of the 
 klission in England, and well acquainted with the family of Count 
 Einsiedel, w'ho belonged to the congregation at Herrnhut. Lord 
 Elliot was subsequently appointed to a Governorship in the East 
 Indies. 
 
 In 1813 Br. and Sr. Schneller retired to Europe. After a few 
 years of previous activity in Antigua, they had been for twenty -five 
 years in the service of the mission at St. Kitts, and had seen the 
 number of the members of the Church founded by Br. Gottwalt, 
 rapitUy growing from 100 to about 3000. The work had been 
 hard, and there had been many trials, but God had given an 
 abundant blessing. It was a season of much hunger for God’s 
 Word, accompanied with real awakening of spiritual life, and pleas- 
 ing manifestation of first love. On the 25th of April Br. Schneller 
 preached his farewell sermon, and Br. Procop commended him and 
 his partner to the protection of the Lord on their journey and to 
 His continued blessing. The sound of weeping almost drowned the 
 speaker’s voice, so universal was the deep emotion of the numerous 
 assembly. The veteran missionary retired to a congregation in 
 England, and Br. Procop now undertook the superintendence of the 
 mission. In the same year Br. and Sr. Berg w'ere called from 
 Antigua to St. Kitts, to undertake the workof establishing the second 
 mission- station there. But his health was already failing, and false 
 information which represented the property of Mr. Matthews as so 
 deeply mortgaged as to be quite out of his control, led to the tem- 
 porary abandonment of the plan, in consequence of which they 
 returned to England, without having accomplished the purpose of 
 their journey. 
 
 In 1813 the inhabitants of the island were again alarmed by an 
 earthquake. At Whitsuntide when a large assembly was in the 
 church, just as Br. Procop pronounced the words, “ to-day, if ye 
 will hear His voice, harden not your hearts,” there was a violent 
 oscillation of the building for the space of more than sixty seconds. All 
 fell on their knees, but no one sought to leave the meeting, and Br. 
 Procop, after a few words of earnest exhortation besought the Lord to 
 grant protection to us and to the whole island. Deeply moved, the 
 congregation proceeded to their homes. The earthquake was, as 
 usual, followed by storms and inundations. On the morning of 
 the 24th of July, fourteen ships were stranded on the coast : and 
 on the night of August 21st, more than a score of houses were 
 thrown down, and partially carried away by the waters. This time 
 
RETROSPECT OF TOE HISTORY 
 
 the mission-wall was not sufficiently strong. It was swept away, 
 and the premises were dreadfully devastated. In the burial-ground 
 fifteen corpses were washed out of the graves. These trying ex- 
 periences were beyond all precedent in the memory of the oldest 
 inhabitant, but they were regarded in the right light by many, and 
 much prayer was offered that this chastisement of the Lord might 
 produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness. The next years were 
 marked by abundant harvests, which enabled not a few to make up 
 for the losses which they had sustained. 
 
 In 1816 Mr. Matthews again came from England with his wife 
 to visit his estate, and maintained very friendly relations with the 
 Brethren. He proposed to lease to them at a small yearly pay- 
 ment for the ensuing ninety-nine years the plot of ground chosen 
 for the mission-station. His family in England and the Directing 
 Board at home approving this plan, a piece of land bordering on the 
 Cayon estate was surveyed for the contemplated purpose. The 
 new agent, Mr. Cardin, entered very warmly into the plan, and 
 proved a valuable friend to the missionaries.* The delay in carry- 
 ing out this work of extension could not but be matter of sincere 
 regret to the missionaries and natives. Br. Procop assured the 
 Directing Board that eight or ten years earlier there might have 
 been two very flourishing churches established. 
 
 On April 28th, 1819, the foundation-stone of the missionary’s 
 residence at the new station was laid, and on the 17th of Jidy, Br. 
 and Sr. Kaltofen arrived from Barbados. It was regarded as a 
 special protection of God, on the occasion of another fearful hurri- 
 cane visiting St. Kitts, that the buildings of the new station, though 
 open and unfinished, remained unimpaired. On the 27th of Decem- 
 ber of the same year (1819) a portion of the premises was so far 
 completed that it could be used for services, and from this time 
 divine worship was held there every Sunday. The station was 
 named “ Bethesda.” In October 1820 Br. and Sr. Kaltofen moved 
 from Basseterre to Bethesda ; and on the 25th of Feb. 1821, the 
 church of the new station was consecrated, the foundation-stone 
 having been laid on the 1st of March in the previous year. The text 
 for the day of opening was very suitable, namely Isa. lii. 7, “ How beau- 
 tiful upon the mountains,” etc. In the absence of the Governor from 
 the island, Mr. Wilson, his seci’etary, was present as his representa- 
 tive. Br. Procop preached a sermon on the text, “ Let us go up into 
 the House of the Lord” (Ps. exxii.), and in prayer recommended the 
 sanctuary to the Lord’s continued blessing. Then Br. Richter, at 
 that time director of the Antigua mission, delivered an address, 
 which was followed by the baptism of several persons, at which Br. 
 Kaltofen officiated. Subscilptions towards the expenses came in 
 
 * Lord Gambier, the well known British Admiral, a relative of Mr. Matthews> 
 and who was deeply interested in our missionary work, did all that lay in his 
 power to further this undertaking. It is related that when previous to the 
 bombardment of Copenhagen, he sent ashore the despatch demanding the answer 
 of the Danish fleet with the alternative of bombardment, he kindly made use of 
 the opportunity to .send some “ weekly leaves” to the Moravian minister at that tune 
 residing in the Danish capital. 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 27 
 
 from all sides; the negroes collected £10., the Governor gave £10., 
 his Secretary £5., and Mr. Matthews and Lord Gambier sent from 
 England £100. ; still there remained a considerable sum to be 
 covered by the General Mission Fund. 
 
 The new congregation at the close of the first year already 
 numbered 874 members belonging to twenty different estates ; but 
 in the same year there was a great decrease in the number of 
 members of the church at Basseterre, as many attached themselves 
 to the new station or to Wesleyan congregations, whose chapels 
 w’ere nearer their place of residence. 
 
 IV. From the year 1821 to the commencement of a third Station, 
 Bethel, in the year 1832. — From the chronicle of missionary events 
 in this period, we have first to notice the depai’ture of Br. Kaltofen, 
 after a brief service of only two years in charge of this new station 
 at Bethesda. A slight ailment very unexpectedly led to his sudden 
 departure on the 18th of September, 1822. His remains were 
 interred in the Basseterre cemetery in presence of a large assembly 
 of members and friends, to whom, as also to many beyond the 
 narrow circle of the St. Kitts Mission, his departure was felt to bo 
 a very great loss. “We can testify,” says the report for the year, 
 “ that our brother was a faithful and humble labourer in our Saviour’s 
 service, who devoted himself to his calling with all his physical and 
 mental powers. He W'on the w'arm esteem and affection of all his 
 fellow-labourers, and we had hoped that the people would have been 
 privileged to enjoy his valuable ministrations for many years still. 
 But our loss is his great gain.” He was only forty -four yeare of 
 age : of these, after his joining our Church from his native place, 
 Arnsdorf in Saxony, he spent seven in the paedagogium at Barby 
 and Kiesky, and eight in the service of the mission in Barbados, 
 whence he was transferred in the year 1829 to St. Kitts. To fill 
 the vacancy Br. and Sr. Samuel Wright were called from England. 
 
 Another important change took place in the following year, 1823, 
 when Br. and Sr. Procop, after twenty years’ service in this island, 
 were called to Antigua. During the half of this period he had 
 superintended the St. Kitts mission, and was undoubtedly, after the 
 brethren Gottwalt and Schneller, the most prominent person con- 
 nected with this mission in its early stage. He possessed eminent 
 talents in various departments, was very conscientious, and iu- 
 defatigably active, patient and cheerful amid privations and tr^dng 
 experiences, and in his unassuming gentle modesty a model to his 
 fellow-missionaries. For several days before they left for their new 
 post, the house and yard were thronged with negroes, who washed 
 to bid their dear teachers farewell. 
 
 In their stead Br. and Sr. F. Sautter came from Antigua, where 
 they had been engaged for twenty years. Arriving on the 16th of 
 October, 1823, they at once took charge of the Basseterre congrega- 
 tion, in which service they were joined in the following year by Br. 
 and Sr. John Scholefield from England. Bethesda was supplied by 
 the brethren and sisters Johannson and Wright. Both congrega- 
 tions were in a flourishing condition, A very encouraging out- 
 station was on the Lavington estate, where the proprietor, Mr. 
 
28 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 Charles Woodley, had opened rooms in his house for religious 
 services, which were well attended. 
 
 A very pleasing token of progress was the commencement of Sunday- 
 schools, which took place in 1824 at both stations. Hitherto, 
 slavery had prevented anytliing of the kind ; altered views with 
 regard to the enslaved population and their rightful position now 
 rendered these institutions possible, and the schools soon numbered 
 hundreds of regular attendants. 
 
 In July, 1825, Br. Sautter reports an overflowing attendance at 
 his church by people of all classes in the town, among whom Mr. 
 Matthews, who had given the land for Bethesda, with his lady, was 
 almost always present. Soon afterwards Br. Sautter was taken 
 seriously ill, and although he enjoyed the skilful attentions of 
 Governor Maxwell’s o'svn physician, sent by him as soon as he was 
 informed of the missionary’s state, his weakness increased, and he 
 departed this life on July 22nd. His colleagues record of him : 
 “ At last he suffered so much that we united in praying for his 
 release. Perfectly conscious during the whole illness, he was a 
 source of much edification to all who were near him, frequently 
 testifying to those about him how thankful he was to be able to rest 
 by faith on our Saviour’s merits, and thus enjoy a good hope of 
 eternal salvation. He desired to depart and to be with Christ. 
 The funeral took place in the evening of the day of his death, and 
 was attended by large numbers of white and coloured people, whose 
 loving respect he had won.” He was fifty years of age, and had 
 learnt in early years to know the Lord. After joining the Moravian 
 Church, he was for some time employed in the school at Nisky, 
 before receiving his appointment to the West Indies. 
 
 Br. Johannson now became superintendent, and took charge 
 of the Basseterre station. The staff of missionaries was replenished 
 in 1826 by the Brn. and Srs. J. Schick, A. Staude, and S. Hoch, 
 of whom the last mentioned had previously done good service in 
 Jamaica and Antigua. The Wrights and Scholefields were 
 removed to Antigua and Jamaica respectively, and the Staudes, on 
 account of Br. S.’s failing health, to the Danish Islands. In the 
 following year Br. and Sr. J. G. Klose came from Germany. 
 
 In Pebruaiy, 1826, a sad event occurred, which called forth 
 hearty and very general sympathy with onr brethren of the 
 Wesleyan klission. The missionaries from several islands, who had 
 been attending a conference at St. Kitts, sailed from thence for 
 Antigua on their return to the number of fifteen persons, including 
 women and children. About five miles from their destination, 
 the vessel struck so violently against a rock that the crew and 
 passengers were all thrown into the sea except the captain and one 
 of the missionaries (Jones) with his wife, who managed to obtain a 
 firm hold of the rigging of the Avreck. None could escape by 
 SAvimming, and the captain and Mr. Jones became exhausted, and 
 perished before help could reach them, Mrs. Jones thus remained 
 sole survivor. 
 
 On May 30th, 1827, Bishop G. Hiiffel held a hasty visitation of 
 this mission, on his way from America, to take his seat as a member 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 29 
 
 of tbe Unity’s Elders’ Couferenco in Germany. His short stay was 
 well utilized for conferences, and much business was accomplished. 
 He was unable to join in the celebration of ihe jubilee of the mission, 
 which was ai’ranged to be held on the 14th of June, as the day on 
 which the first missionaries landed on the island, but had to be 
 postponed to the 16th, on account of the ceaseless pouring rain 
 which marked the memorial day. In the space of half a century 
 5088 adults had become members, of whom 2351 were communi- 
 cants. At the time of the jubilee the two congregations comprised 
 5000 souls. Of the missionaries who had laboured here, four had 
 been called to their rest above, the Brn. Hofmann, Williams, Kalto- 
 fen and Sautter. 
 
 The condition of the congregations at this period left much room 
 for improvement, according to the testimony of the Brn. Johannson 
 and Hoch. With the cessation of war, and a succession of fruitful 
 seasons, the outward position of the negroes had greatly improved ; 
 but external prosperity did not produce an increased longing 
 for God’s word and the means of grace, while it certainly had the 
 effect of engrossing their attention with worldly concerns and 
 making them more arrogant. Greater severity on the part of 
 the masters only increased the craving for more liberty. In our 
 congregations there was a perceptible decrease in the fresh and 
 vigorous life of faith, which had marked the earlier history of the 
 mission. It was not possible to prevent some from joining the 
 Church, who were Christians merely in name, and intended to 
 remain in this position. The planters were no longer openly 
 opposed to the missionary work, but the friendship of men who in 
 reality “’cared for none of these things,” and boldly served the 
 world and their own lusts, was calculated to be a source of danger 
 rather than an advantage. There were, however, many who were 
 faithful servants of God, whose walk was worthy of their profession : 
 the word of God was abundantly scattered abroad, and was bringing 
 forth fruit, so that there was abundant cause for celebrating the 
 festival with rejoicing before the Lord. 
 
 On August i7th, 1827, the island was again visited by a hurri- 
 cane of unusual violence, which at one time seemed to threaten 
 total destruction to the whole premises at Basseterre. The damage 
 done was very sei'ious, but the mis.sionaries were heartily thankful 
 when the Lord graciously heard their cry and caused the storm to 
 cease, before the dreaded culmination was reached. 
 
 In the year 1829 several personal changes were again made. Br. 
 and Sr. Johannson were called to Antigua, where death had made 
 various gaps in the ranks of the missionaries. For nineteen years a 
 valuable missionary in St. Kitts, his departure to another sphere of 
 usefulness was greatly regi’etted. In Antigua Br. Johannson in a 
 short time departed this life. The Kloses went to Barbados, and 
 their place was taken by Br. and Sr. J. D. Seitz. 
 
 Br. Bobbins, writing from Basseterre in this year, mentions 
 large and attentive congregations, and numerous attendance at tlio 
 schools, which were held on Sunday, and some evenings during the 
 week ; in the latter twenty-two teachers were employed, of whom 
 
30 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE niSTORT 
 
 one received £5 per annum remuneration, the others nothing.' The 
 whole expense for the several schools, including hooks, &c., 
 amounted to £20 per annum. 
 
 In 1828 it had been in contemplation to establish a station at the 
 foot of Mount Misery on the property of Lady Lavington, about 
 eight miles north of Bethesda : her agent in the island showed every 
 desire to assist in carr^dng out the wish of the Brethren by selling a 
 suitable plot of ground, and contributing towards the erection of a 
 new place of worship in place of the original small meeting-house. But 
 the negotiations led to no result. A site was, however, soon found 
 in the same locality, on the Profit estate belonging to Messrs. 
 Manning and Anderdon, London merchants, who readily conveyed to 
 the Brethren, free of charge, two acres of land, which had hitherto 
 been uncultivated. It was half an hour’s walk from the shore, and 
 about the same distance from Mount Misery, and some fifteen miles 
 from Bethesda. The ground made over to the Brethren was high 
 and salubrious, and separated from the rest of the estate by some 
 deep ravines or gullies. 
 
 Br. Schick commenced the work of building, for this purpose taking 
 up his residence under the hospitable roof of a Mr. Edmead, at the 
 adjacent Deep (Dieppe) Bay; both planters and negroes testified their 
 gratification at this step. The 4th of October, 1831, witnessed the 
 laying of the foundation-stone of the mission-house, the place re- 
 ceiving the name Bethel. On the removal of Br. and Sr. Schick to 
 Antigua, Br. Seitz continued the work of building. In February, 
 1832, the prepared timbers for a house, which had been brought by 
 sea to a spot about half an hour’s distance, were conveyed with the 
 help of the teams and labourers of many of the planters residing in 
 the vicinity to the station, and soon put together, and by the 24th 
 of March a temporary chapel in the house could be opened for 
 service, and proved a welcome substitute for the manager’s room on 
 the estate, which had hitherto very kindly been placed at the dis- 
 posal of the missionary. Br. Bigler, who had come from America 
 in June, 1831, to join the mission, preached an appropriate sermon 
 on the occasion before a large gathering of negroes and white 
 people. Governor Maxwell, before proceeding to England, gave 
 orders to a mason to give 200 days’ work for the Brethren 
 at his expense. For the contemplated erection of a projDer place of 
 worship the negroes were spontaneously busily employed in gradu- 
 ally accumulating the needful stones. By the end of December the 
 new congregation comprised 200 persons. In this year Br. and Sr. 
 C. F. Kochte, formerly in Antigua, came to serve this mission, and 
 were appointed to Bethesda. 
 
 V. From the year 1833 to the commencement of a fourth Station, 
 Fdriclge, in the year 1845. — The year 1833 was again a time of 
 earthquakes, moi-e frequent and violent than during any former 
 period of the mission. “ On February 8th,” the diary states, “ the 
 evening meeting Avas being held as usual, when immediately after 
 the close of the address a deep rolling sound was heard, folloAved by 
 a vibration, which made CA’-erything quiver. After a few moments 
 of awe-iusjjiriug stillness, there avus a crash like a peal of thunder, 
 
OF THE MISSION' IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 31 
 
 or tlie explosion of a gunpowder magazine, accompanied by another 
 Tibration of the ground under our feet, while the whole place rocked 
 to and fro so violently, that empty benches slipped about from side 
 to side. Now every one expected to see the north side of the church 
 fall to the ground ; some rushed to doors and windows, while othei’S 
 fell on their knees and cried to God for mercy. During this confusion 
 Br. Robbins hastily ran into the dwelling rooms, but on finding all well 
 there, returned to the meeting, and at once began to sing a verse 
 with a loud voice. Then Br. Bigler closed the meeting with prayer. 
 Between 10 p.m. and dawn the shocks were repeated almost every 
 quarter of an hour, and with such violence as to make the roof creak 
 and' crack over their heads.” The following day the vibrations con- 
 tinued, and many residents in BasseteiTe took refuge on the ships in 
 the harbour. Many came together in companies for prayer, and our 
 church was every evening quite full of hearers. This went on for 
 several weeks, and many indications testified to the deep and salu- 
 tary impression which this experience had produced on the minds 
 of the people. A general fast-day was held, on which the church 
 was so densely crowded, that the missionary could with difficulty 
 make his way to the pulpit. With feelings thus solemnized, the 
 congregation at Bethesda is reported to have enjoyed an unusually 
 blessed celebration of the Easter festival. The early service in the 
 burial-ground, with the reading of our beautiful Litany for Easter 
 Sunday, while the sun rose bright and glorious after those days of 
 trembling and anxiety, was most touching and impressive ; the 
 stillness of the large assembly was such that at every pause of the 
 minister’s voice, the sound of the rivulet, flowing at some distance, 
 was distinctly audible. 
 
 In March, 1833, Br. and Sr. Robbins returned to England on a 
 visit, and proceeded thence to labour in Jamaica, and Br. and Sr. 
 Simon came from Germany to take their place. The season was too 
 unfavourable to admit of any further steps being taken towards the 
 erection of the church at Bethel. In July a visit was paid by the 
 Rev. Mr. Thompson, on behalf of the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society, whose addresses were highly appreciated, and productive of 
 much good by stirring up the people to an increased interest in the 
 study of the Scriptures. 
 
 On the 21st of October, 1833, a proclamation of the Governor was 
 issued, stating that the Government of His Majesty, King George 
 IV., had resolved to bestow freedom on the negro slaves in the West 
 Indies, but that this change would not be made in St. Kitts, until 
 a period of apprenticeship had elapsed, during which those who had 
 hitherto been slaves would be attached to the estates to which they 
 had belonged, and would perform legally prescribed work under the 
 protection of the civil authorities. At first this announcement was 
 received with great rejoicing. When, however, the tidings reached 
 the island that the Antigua negroes, in consideration of their more 
 advanced position in Christian civilization, had obtained their full 
 liberty at once, great dissatisfaction was created. Agitators came 
 forward and persuaded the ignorant people that the preference 
 shown to the natives of the neighbouring island was not in accor- 
 
32 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 dance with the Royal wish, but merely the seheme of tlie local 
 government, which was said to be inimical to emancipation, and 
 that they ought not to bear such treatment, &c. 
 
 The missionaries did all they could to calm the people, and open 
 the eyes of the negroes to the real state of the case. Ror was their 
 labour fruitless with regard to the negroes connected with our 
 Church, in spite of powerful influence brought to bear on them from the 
 other direction. On August 1st, 1834, the commencement of emanci- 
 pation on the terms mentioned was joyously celebrated, and services 
 were held in the churches and chapels. The missionaries spoke 
 plainly and faithfully on that real liberty, which nothing short of the 
 forgiveness of sin can bestow. A large number of negroes refrained 
 from participation in this religious celebration, and rumours of 
 refusals to work, secret meetings, &c., began to be very common. 
 The white people had long been fearing such a state of things, and 
 urged the Government to the adoption of severe measures. Mili- 
 tary and militia were called out, and four men- of- war at that time 
 off the coast sent their marines on shore, while the Governor pro- 
 claimed martial law throughout the island. Of the negroes 
 belonging to our three stations a few were led astray, but the 
 majority behaved admirably. Some were compelled by the rebels 
 on pain of death to abstain from work, and when they ran to the 
 woods for protection against the rebels, they were often taken 
 prisoners by the soldiers. Before the close of the month of August 
 the disturbances had ceased, and martial law no longer reigned. 
 While it was still in force cruel deeds took place, for which there 
 was often little or no excuse. On many estates all the property of 
 the negroes was destroyed, although the latter had nowhei’e laid 
 hands on their masters’ goods, but only refused to work, except for 
 immediate payment of wages. Flogging was the most common 
 punishment, and not a few persons, whose sole crime consisted in 
 becoming fugitives, on the approach of rebels or soldiers, or both, 
 received as many as 200 stripes, and either died under the lash, 
 or were disabled for life. No one was shot, however. 
 
 From this time onwards until the full emancipation took place in 
 the year 1838, no more disturbances occurred, and the negroes 
 gratefully recognized by degrees that their position under legal 
 protection was a very great improvement. Religious life again 
 revived. Many of the negroes receiving their week’s wages on 
 Saturday, ceased to attend the Sunday mai’ket, nor was there any 
 need for them to work on Sundays, as had formerly been the case, 
 when they had scarcely any time at their disposal during the week. 
 On the part of the Government every effort was put forth to raise 
 the negroes morally and socially, especially by pecuniary grants for 
 schools, &c. Christian instruction and training had been found to 
 be the best means for preparing them for the right enjoyment of 
 their liberty : Christian Societies in England, such as the British 
 and Foreign Bible Society, and the Religious Tract Society, worked 
 in the same direetion as the Government. It was a season of much 
 life and progress, showing truly thankworthy results. Hunger after 
 God’s Word was anew perceptible. Country schools were opened 
 
OP THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 33 
 
 ill out-of-the-way regions, and much valued. The attendance at 
 church again increased. Thus the time of complete emancipation 
 was awaited witli full confidence that all would pass over without 
 any difficulty or disturbance. 
 
 Before that day arrived, however, there was a period of weary 
 trial for the mission. In the year 1836 the yellow fever pre- 
 vailed in Antigua, whence it proceeded to St. Kitts ; here several 
 white persons soon fell victims. Br. Theodore Romer, who had but 
 recently arrived, to help to fill the vacancies caused by Br. and Sr. 
 Hoch’s retirement, and Br. and Sr. Bigler’s removal to St. Kitts, 
 was the first of the members of the mission-family to be attacked 
 by the terrible disease. The brethi’en Simon and Seitz wore not 
 spared more or less severe touches of the fever. Then Br. Abraham 
 Scholefield, brother of J. Scholefield, who had come from England 
 in the previous year, with his young wife, was laid low on the 16th 
 of March, and died on the 22nd, in spite of all the remedies, which 
 could be applied. In him the mission lost a valuable young 
 missionary, full of zeal and energj'’. Early in June Br. and Sr. 
 Schick were seized, and both died within five days of each other, 
 after brief but severe sufferings. Of the funeral service Br. Seitz 
 wrote : “ I shall never forget the scene. As the coffin was brought 
 into the church, the people burst out into such a wail of sorrow, as 
 I never heard before in my life, and for some time refused to be 
 comforted. The struggle with my own feelings was almost more 
 than I could bear ; it was as if my heart would break. After fer- 
 vent prayer for God’s help, I was enabled to speak on Rev. vii. 
 14-17 : ‘ These are they which came out of great tribulation, and 
 have washed their robes,’ &c.” Sr. Seitz died in October, though 
 not of the fever. Not a single adult member of the mission 
 families escaped an illness during this period. It is not to be 
 wondered at, that under these circumstances the missionary work 
 could only be very imperfectly prosecuted. The warm-hearted 
 sympathy manifested on all sides was pleasing and refreshing, but 
 real comfort and support flowed to the survivoi’s alone from Him, 
 whose hand had wounded them. 
 
 Bishop Ellis was sent from Barbados to render immediate assist- 
 ance, taking with him Br. and Sr. Lorenz Oerter, who were soon 
 afterwards joined by Br. and Sr. Miinzer, while Br. and Sr. Simon 
 and the widower Br. Seitz returned home. In Hovember Br. and 
 Sr. W. Senft arrived from Germany, and soon after the return of 
 Br. Ellis to Barbados in January of the following year (1838), 
 Br. Peter Ricksecker came fi’om Jamaica to take the superin- 
 tendence of the mission, bringing with him his nephew Benjamin 
 Ricksecker from America for educational work. In the course 
 of the year Br. Humberstone came out from England to aid in the 
 work. 
 
 During this year (1837) the Brcthi-en were refreshed by visits from 
 Br. Charles Joseph La Trobe, subsequently Lieutenant-Governor of 
 Victoria in Austi’alia, who was travelling through the West India 
 Islands as Commissioner of the British Government to report on 
 the condition of the schools which wei'c in receipt of Government 
 
34 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTOPvT 
 
 support. The other visitor was General von Scholten, Governor of 
 the Danish Islands, and a warm sup]5orter of our work there ; his 
 object was to obtain information which might prove useful in view 
 of the emancipation about to be carried out in the islands under his 
 conti’ol. 
 
 With August 1st, 1838, the long expected ^^mancipation Day 
 ari’ived. In all the churches joyous celebrations of the happy event 
 were held. Among our people there was a very pleasing spirit of 
 sober joy and hearty gratitude to the Lord, and the chapels were 
 filled to overflowing. It was touching to see many old people with 
 folded hands and streaming eyes thanking God that they had been 
 pei’mitted to live to this day of untold hliss. Governor MacLeod 
 found his residence besieged for some days afterwards by 
 negroes who were anxious to thank their beloved “father,” and 
 mention a number of wishes, which they desired to impress 
 upon him. He expressed to the missionaries the great pleasure 
 with which he had examined the reports from every part of the 
 island as to the behaviour of the people on this day of excitement. 
 There was no case of riotous conduct, nor of drunkenness, and, 
 with the exception of some trifling disagreements between pro- 
 prietors and their workmen, in which both sides were generally in 
 fault, the new system worked well from the moment of its introduc- 
 tion. Such evident results of the missionary efforts in Church and 
 school were naturally cheering and encouraging to all who were 
 engaged in the work : at the same time it cannot be denied, that 
 afterwards the love of the world and sinful pursuits showed itself 
 in a painful degree, especially when the Christmas season brought 
 with it the usual holiday festivities. 
 
 As an instance of the good spirit prevailing at that time in our 
 congregation, we may cite the following exti’act from one of the 
 diaries : “ On one of the estates we found an old communicant 
 sister sitting at the door of her hut. She is quite blind, and the 
 helper sister who accompanied us (Brn. Ricksecker and Miinzer) 
 told her, that we had come to visit her. “ Massa,” she said, “is it 
 my dear massa from the church?” “ Yes,” was the reply, “ two 
 massas from the church.” Then followed a touching outburst 
 of gratitude and joy. “ Come near,” she said, stretching out 
 her hands towards us, “ that I may feel you, as Isaac felt his 
 sons, for I am blind and cannot see you.” After a little conversation 
 with her, we began to sing some verses, commending her to our 
 Saviour’s grace and favour, when she called to those near her to 
 raise her to her feet, that she might receive the blessing standing. 
 It was very touching to see how the dear old woman, supported by 
 kindly arms, stood before us, drinking in with avidity every word 
 that was sung or said. “Ah,” she said at last, “who would have 
 believed it in my youth, if we had been told that one day we poor 
 blacks in this buckra country, would be so cared for ; yes, that the 
 Word of God would be brought to me in my hut, when I could not 
 go to church for it. Thanks to my heavenly Father for sending us 
 teachers, and thanks to the teachers that they deem me, poor old 
 black woman, worthy of such loving care !” 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 35 
 
 On tlie 16tli of October, 1838, a new school-house in Basseterre 
 was opened, and in the following year (June 11th) a similar one at 
 Bethesda. The latter being built on to the church, was used as an 
 enlargement of the same for the increasing auditories which 
 assembled at the seinuces. In 1839, a building on Estridge estate, 
 the property of a Christian gentleman, Mr. Parson, which had been 
 used as a kind of hospital, was fitted up as a place of worship, and a 
 school was soon in operation. There was so much work to be done 
 among ignorant and neglected negroes on many estates round this 
 place, which could not often be yisited from Bethesda on account of 
 the distance, that the proposal to establish a station here at once 
 commended itself to Mr. Parson and other friends. The meetings 
 were immediately attended by about 400 negroes. 
 
 In 1839 (March ’JSth) a new burial-ground was opened for the 
 congregation at Bassetere, as the original one was quite full, and in 
 1841 (July 16th) the foundation stone of a new and enlarged church 
 in town was laid by the Governor, Mr. Cunningham, the successor 
 of klr. MacLeod. In the following year (April 30th) the church 
 was solemnly dedicated to the purposes of Divine worship. At 
 Bethel a church-school-house Avas opened in the same year. This 
 congregation was reduced in numbers by the migration of many 
 negToes after the emancipation to Deep Bay, and other places on the 
 coast. The schools in town had a daily attendance of 350 to 400 
 scholars, and the number of persons in charge of the brethren in 
 the year 1842 was 4762, of whom 1267 were communicants. 
 
 In May, 1839, the continued illness of Br. and Sr. Senft obliged 
 them to leave the mission, and they proceeded to America. After 
 the death of his wife in the following year fl840), Br. Rbmer’s 
 failing health compelled him to return to Europe : on the voyage 
 one of his two children, Elisabeth, died, and was buried at sea. As 
 new labourers in this mission, Br. and Sr. Lichtenthaeler arrived 
 the same year from Lititz in North America. 
 
 On the 5th of June, 1841, Bishop Breutel, accompanied by his 
 wife, after a visitation at the mission-stations in the Danish islands, 
 landed at St. Kitts to inspect the Avork there on behalf of the 
 IMission-Board. He left again on the 22nd of the same month. 
 
 In February 1843 a violent earthquake did considerable damage 
 both in St. Kitts and Antigua. In November 1844, Br. Ricksecker 
 wrote that on the 4th of October forty-five persons were confirmed 
 by him and admitted to the Lord’s table for the first time in his 
 church on the folloAving Sunday. On this occasion, more than 600 
 brethren and sisters were present at the Holy Communion. He 
 also Avrote of the wish of his congregation that Estridge should 
 be supplied Avith a dwelling-house for a missionary, and established 
 as another independent station. The contributions of the negroes 
 towards this object Avere very liberal, the men giving as much as 
 5 dollars or £1., the women 2 to 3 dollars each. 
 
 In the year 1845 this wish of the negroes Avas realized, a house 
 being built at Estridge for the accommodation of Br. and Sr. Nedwill, 
 who Avere called from Antigua to take charge of this ncAv sphere of 
 missionary labour. 
 
3G 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 Br. P. Ricksecker, being advanced in years and somewbat infirm, 
 ■with drew from the burden of the superintendence of the St. Kitts 
 mission and returned to Jamaica. He was succeeded by Br. George 
 Wall Westerby who disembarked at St. Kitt’s from Antigua, on 
 January the 7th, 1845, and took up his residence at Basseterre, 
 being supported in the work by Br. and Sr. Mader from Germany. 
 At this time Br. Benjamin Ricksecker conducted the work at Bethel : 
 Br. and Sr. Klose that at Bethesda : and Br. and Sr. Nedwill,as has 
 been stated, that of Estridge. The Brn. and Srs. Miinzer and 
 Humberstone were transfeiTed to other islands. On Br. Kedwill’s 
 retirement from the mission-service after a few years’ service, he was 
 replaced by Br. and Sr. Vogler. 
 
 A letter of Br. Westerby, dated May 12, 1846, states : “ the yearly 
 missionary meetings have been held at all our mission-stations 
 here : in Basseterre the amount collected is £40. The schools of 
 St. Kitts have profited very much by the teaching of masters from 
 the Mico-training school, an institution which is a blessing for the 
 whole of the West Indies. The Sunday-school at Basseterre is 
 flourishing, there being 400 scholars and 40 teachers.” 
 
 This period of our history had brought great changes in the 
 position of the negroes, and neces.sitated corresponding alterations in 
 the Avork of the missionaries. The former being now free men, it 
 became the missionaries’ duty to Avarn them against abuse of their 
 liberty, and against idleness, and presumption, to encourage the 
 parents to take an interest in their children’s education, and to train 
 all to habits of economy and thrift. Their efforts in the last 
 particular were assisted by the “ Fi-ieudly Societies,” founded by the 
 missionaries for the succour of poor and sick members of the church, 
 and by “ the Missionary Associations” whose collections Avere to be 
 regarded as a fund for the maintenance of the mission, and a basis 
 for a system of self-suppoil. Of course, to attain progress in all 
 these directions, groAvth in Christian life was a necessary condition, 
 and great patience on the part of the missionaries Avas needed to 
 persevere and look for good results of their eflbrts, in the face of 
 the stolid stupidity which Avas the result of slavery, and the 
 natural depravity of the humair heart. 
 
 The missioiraries Avere continually encouraged in all their under- 
 takings by the Governor and gOA’ernment officials, who assisted by 
 contributions and the manifestation of personal interest by attending 
 school examinations, &c. The increase of educational work here as 
 elsewhere in the West Indies induced the missionaries to endeavour 
 to obtain help for this duty, as also for the higher spiritual work of 
 the missionary, from the natives ; for this purpose the training in- 
 stitution at Cedarhall in Antigua, which received promising young 
 men from other islands, did admirable service. The temporal con- 
 dition of the negroes Avas satisfactory, although, as field -labourers, 
 their earnings often depended on the Aveather. If the seasons were 
 faA'ourable, they had a sufficiency of all things, as their OAvn garden 
 plots in addition to their Avages, provided them with means of sub- 
 sistence ; but in unfavourable seasons many' suflered from the want 
 of the bare necessaries of life. Some negroes became artisans or 
 
OF THK MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 37 
 
 stop-keepers, and after a few years there were many of them to 
 be found possessing a flourishing business, or working plantations on 
 their own account. 
 
 VI. The last thh-tij years from 1847 to 1877. — In the year 1847, a 
 visitation of the mission Avas held by the Brn. Hermann, member 
 of the Unity’s Elders’ Conference, and William Mallalieu, Agent 
 of our Missions in London. On the 28th of April, 1847, they came 
 to St. Kitts from Antigua, and in a stay of a fortnight thoroughly 
 inspected the work at the different stations on the island. Their 
 report was most favourable. “ This mission,” they wrote, “is one 
 of the most flourishing in the West Indies. The condition of the 
 schools at Basseterre under Br. Westerby’s direction especially 
 pleased us. The day-schools conducted by an eiilcient master and 
 two mistresses, number 200 scholars, the Sunday-school 400 to 500. 
 The church at Basseterre is a fine spacious building. Estridge has 
 been wdthout a resident missionary since the Avithdrawal of Br. and 
 Sr. Kedwill, but the services there are held regularly by the other 
 missionaries. The congvegation at Bethel is small, and there 
 appears to be no probability of its increasing, as the population 
 of the district is scanty. At all the stations the members of the 
 Church show great attachment to it. The finances of the mission 
 are most flourishing ; it is almost entirely supported by the con- 
 tributions of members.” Br. Westerby was, on this occasion, 
 ordaiued presbyter by Bishop Hermann. The year following (1848) 
 he was called to Antigua, as superintendent of that mission in the 
 place of Br. Bennet Haiwey, v^ho had returned to Europe, after 
 many years’ service, in which he and Sr. HarA^ey had Avon universal 
 loA'e and esteem. Br. Humberstone came from Antigua to take 
 charge of the mission, but on account of his Avife’s declining health 
 did not remain long. Br. William Hauser, Avho had been superin- 
 tendent of the mission on the Danish islands, Avas then called to 
 St. Kitts. 
 
 In 1848 a hurricane again devastated St. Kitts, on the 21st and 
 22nd of August. The mission-station suffered considerably, and the 
 negroes having experienced great losses Avere unable to contribute 
 as usual for the support of the Church. 
 
 Br. Hiiuser Avrote after his arrival at Basseterre : “ Nearly all the 
 negroes, at least of the younger generation, can read, and many 
 know by heart large portions of the Scriptures. We saw more 
 communicants at the Lord’s table here, than Ave had eA^er seen 
 elseAvhere in the W est Indies ; and both in the morning and evening 
 there AAmre more than a thousand hearers at the public services. 
 The good singing, and the teacher’s tasteful playing of the organ, 
 made a Amry favourable impression on us. The schools are in 
 excellent order.” Br. and Sr. Mumford joined Br. Hauser in charge 
 of the Basseterre stations. 
 
 Soon afterwards Br. Benjamin Ricksecker Avas called to Tobago, 
 and in 1851 Br. Klose to the Danish West Indies, wdiile the Brn. 
 and Srs. Clemens, Daiber, and for a short time the unmarried Br. 
 Martin, were added to the missionary staff of this island. 
 
 The population at St. Kitts being noAV Christianized, baptisms of 
 
38 
 
 RETROSPECT OP THE HISTORY 
 
 adult converts rarely took place. One interesting instance occurred 
 in 1852, wlien seven negroes were baptized in Basseterre, wbo bad 
 been rescued from a Portuguese slave-ship on the West Coast of 
 Africa and conveyed to Sierra Leone by their English deliverers ; 
 they had voluntarily emigrated to the West Indies, where they had 
 come under the influence of the missionaries. 
 
 A special blessing attended the celebration of the Passion-week 
 and Easter festival at Basseterre in 1853. The confirmation of 
 fifteen persons by Br. Clemens was a solemn service which made 
 a deep impression ; the throng of visitors at the meetings was so 
 great that the available space could scarcely contain them. The 
 attention of the assembly was remarkable, and the singing strik- 
 ingly beautiful and impressive. The brethren wrote, “ We felt that 
 the Lord was with us.” After this season, Br. and Sr. Mader 
 who left for Antigua, and Br. and Sr. Munzer who had been formerly 
 engaged in the work in St. Kitts, and had been temporarily trans- 
 ferred to another sphere of labour, returned to take charge of their 
 people at Bethel, to the great delight of the negroes, who met 
 together in great numbers on the shore where they landed on the 
 13th of April. 
 
 The year 1854 again brought much distress by sickness. After 
 the yellow fever and cholera had raged dreadfully on the Danish 
 Islands and elsewhere, carrying off in some islands a fifth part of the 
 coloured population, and a great number of the whites, these 
 epidemics next broke out in St. Kitts, and all the means taken to 
 ward them off proved ineffectual. Whole families died, and houses 
 stood empty. Generally the illness showed itself in the evening, 
 and proved fatal after a few hours, the interment taking place 
 the next morning. It was with difficulty that all the corpses 
 could be removed. In the districts of Bethesda and Estridge 
 scarcely a house remained unvisited by death. 
 
 On the 27th of November, Sr. Daiber {m. n. Jaeschke) died at 
 Estridge of the yellow fever, aged 30 years. On the day of her 
 illness she had spoken with her husband, (who was much occupied 
 with church duties, and could only occasionally come in haste to 
 her bedside), in a very edifying manner of her probable departure 
 home. During this time of need, the Christian negroes gave one 
 another all the help in their power, undeterred by the consideration 
 that many of those who had given assistance were themselves rapidly 
 carried off. Of such whose lives were spared, few were exempted 
 from attacks of illness. One congregation in town lost several 
 valuable native helpers and a great number of useful chapel-servants, 
 hlany places in the church, which had been occupied for some years 
 by the same persons, were now empty, — a sad sight for the mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 Br. Clemens wrote of this epoch. “We live in a period of the 
 most dreadful need, but experience wonderful assistance. The 
 waves of trouble threatened to oveinyhelm us, but the Lord 
 strengthened us so that we were able to fulfil our spiritual duties, 
 and at the same time to afford some medical help to the sufferers, 
 as far as our knowledge and means permitted. Although con- 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. KITTS. 
 
 39 
 
 tiniially exposed to the contagion on our way from house to 
 house during the prevalence of the pestilence, yet we were spared. 
 That we are still able to be at work, after all the exertions and 
 emotions in the last five weeks is a real wonder of God’s mercy. 
 Towards the end of 1854 the pestilence ceased, and the mission- 
 aries were rejoiced to find that an impression had been made 
 upon some who had formerly been indifferent as to their spiritual 
 state, but they were greatly embarrassed in filling up the gaps 
 made in the various ranks of the office-bearers of the congregation. 
 The number of communicants in town had been reduced from 
 600 to 400. 
 
 The widowed Br. Daiber was now called away to Barbados, and 
 Br. and Sr. C. Rontgen came to St. Kitts instead. On the 12th 
 of May 1855, Br. Hauser died at Basseterre. He had long been 
 indisposed, and had purposed visiting home with his family, for 
 his health’s sake, when he was suddenly seized with new symptoms, 
 which speedily reduced his remaining strength : soon afterwards 
 he breathed his last. For a considerable time he had been pre- 
 pared for his departure, and was looking forward to his last hour 
 with a sense of peace and of our Saviour’s nearness. His widow 
 returned to Europe with the ship which was to have taken them 
 together. 
 
 In the year 1859 Br. Levin Theodore Reichel, member of the 
 Directing Board, visited St. Kitts : the undermentioned brethren 
 were, after many changes among the missionaries, at that time in 
 active service in the island ; the Brn. and Srs. Mader and C. A. 
 Reichstein, at Basseterre ; Br. and Sr. ilumford at Bethesda ; Br. 
 and Sr. Zippel at Estridge ; Br. and Sr. F. W. George, at Bethel. 
 At the last mentioned station Br. J. G. Miinzer died in 1857, aged 
 61 years. 
 
 The following is an extract from Br. Levin Reichel’s report of 
 what he saw at St. Kitts :* “ Here everything looks certainly very 
 different from what it does in the Danish Islands. There is more 
 life and free activity, especially in school-matters, and efforts are 
 continually made for the still further extension of edrrcation. On 
 the 22nd I visited the station-schools which contain 150 children, 
 and in the afternoon drove to Bethesda, to see Br. and Sr. Mumford. 
 In the evening there was a meeting of Sunday-school teachers, at 
 which forty of both sexes were present, to whom I delivered an 
 address. On the 23rd I visited the schools at Mardenborough and 
 Douglas, each containing about fifty pupils. In the evening, I was 
 invited by the helpers to tea in the school-house, where we were 
 engaged from 7 till half -past 10 o’clock. After singing some verses, 
 we drank tea at tables ornamented with flowers. I had then to 
 make a speech, and was followed by nine of the helpers who deli- 
 vered longer or shorter addresses, some of which were very good, 
 and manifesting a great deal of oratorical talent, which is not at all 
 developed in the Danish islands. 
 
 “ On the 25th I rode rvith the Brn. Mumford and Rontgen to 
 
 * See Periodical Accounts, Vol. XXIII. p. 260 . 
 
40 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 Spoonei'’s Level in tlie mountains. There I had a sight of tropical 
 vegetation, such as I had never before witnessed. There were ferns 
 as tall as trees, and such a confused mass of climbing plants with 
 enormous leaves that I accprired quite new ideas regarding sylvan 
 shapes. On our way back we visited the infant-school at Corn- 
 phipps, where I found little girls scarcely eight years old able to 
 read very well in the New Testament. 
 
 “ On the southern part of the island there are 133 sugar estates 
 in good cultivation. The labourers do not live on the estates, as in 
 St. Croix, but in villages which are principally in ravines, concealed 
 among bananas and bread-fruit trees. The island is divided into 
 nine parishes under the charge of an archdeacon and seven clergy- 
 men of the Church of England. The C 9 ,thedral is a stately edifice, 
 the other churches are small and were evidently intended for the 
 use of the planters alone. The negro population belongs mainly 
 to the Moravian Church, the mulattoes to the Wesleyans, who have 
 eight stations, four ministers, and several local preachers. 
 
 “ Our stations are four in number and all on the north-eastern 
 coast of the island, except Basseterre. The Brethren are not 
 behind the other Christian bodies in educational efforts, having 
 nine schools with 541 children. These receive aid from the Govern- 
 ment through the Board of Education, at the head of which 
 is Mr. Robinson, the Governor. The grants in 1858 were as 
 follows : to the 15 schools of the Church of England, with 708 
 pupils, £314 ; to the iloravian schools, with 541 pupils, £244. ; to 
 the 9 Wesleyan schools, with 374 pupils, £176. Of the nine 
 schools belonging to our mission five are infant-schools. These are 
 numerously attended, and have met a pressing want in a very suit- 
 able manner, as they perform an important work with but slender 
 means.” 
 
 In the j’ear 1863 another visitation of St. Kitts with the other 
 West Indian islands on w'hich yre have missions, w’as carried out by 
 the brethren G. A. Cunow, bishop and member of the Mission 
 Department of the Unity’s Elders’ Conference, and T. L. Badham, 
 formerly missionary in the West Indies, now a member of the 
 British Provincial Elders’ Conference. The special objects in view 
 were, the self-support of the mission-Avork by those who were 
 benefited by it, and Avho Avere noAV, since emancipation, in a 
 position to do more than preA-iously in the direction, and the 
 increase of the native ministry. Br. G. Heath at that time presided 
 over this mission ; Br. and Sr. Mader had returned to Germany in 
 1859, and Br. klumford had been called to Antigua, after the death 
 of his Avife at Basseterre. The report of the deputation Avas A'eiy 
 favourable, as regards the Avork in this island. Br. Badham w’rites 
 as folloAvs : — “ One peculiarity marking our intercourse with the 
 congregations in this island has been pi-esented by the social ser- 
 vices, in which aa'c liaA'e met all the office-bearers, from the blower 
 of the organ-belloAvs up to the chief-helper. At Basseterre, these 
 functionaries composed what Avould haA^e been considered in Europe 
 not a very small congregation. On these occasions, addi’esses were 
 delivered by those present, interspersed AA'ith singing by the 
 
OP THE MISSION IN ST. KITT’S. 
 
 41 
 
 members of the choir. As regards the majority of the addresses, 
 ■we were not only pleased with the correct and sound sentiments 
 expressed, but surprised at the propriety of the language used, and 
 the suitableness of the illustrations employed. This was parti- 
 cularly to be remarked at Basseterre and Estridge. The musical 
 feeling and taste were still more striking. In towm, the con- 
 gregation-music and singing are very creditable to the almost 
 entirely self-taught organists and singers. At Bethesda, the choir 
 gave us a pleasing surpidse, late one evening, by coming on the 
 galleiy of the house, and singing a number of pieces with great 
 precision and spirit. There were some excellent voices in all the 
 parts. It was touching, when we afterwards took the hands of 
 those who had sung so beautifully, to notice how hardened they 
 were, in most cases, by daily toil. 
 
 “ At Bethesda, we heard some really good addresses from several 
 of the office-bearers of the congregation especially from a respected 
 helper-brother. On the whole, there is much that is encouraging, 
 though trying circumstances are by no means wanting. Br. and 
 Sr. Reichstein are greatly respected and evidently labouring with 
 blessing. 
 
 “ At Estridge the people adopted the plan of welcoming us with 
 written addresses, which were read, and then handed to us. This 
 had the advantage, that we retained a correct record of the senti- 
 ments uttered and the language employed, while of the spoken 
 extempore addresses we could only take brief notes, or trust to 
 memories already overloaded. These documents are exceedingly 
 interesting, and very creditable. On the whole, we traced much 
 intelligence and life in this congregation, and felt convinced that 
 those who are here employed do not labour in Amin. 
 
 “ At Bethel, the congregation is small and not likely to increase, 
 as the population in the neighbourhood has diminished. 
 
 “ Our sojourn in St. Kitts has been rendered a season of refresh- 
 ment to soul and body, by the affection of our esteemed fellow- 
 labourers, and the evident tokens of spiritual prosperity in the 
 congregations which we have been privileged to witness. Though 
 not by any means devoid of imperfections, the Avork in this island 
 is such as to call for praise and thanksgiving. Even after favoured 
 Jamaica, we must think and speak highly of what we have seen in 
 St. Kitts. Very encouraging features are the evident beneficial 
 influence exercised by the Mission, and the esteem generally mani- 
 fested for ministers and congregations. I ought not to omit 
 mentioning the intelligent manner in which the congregations 
 in this island took up the particular subjects which we had to 
 bring before them. Their remarks and subsequent conduct haA’e 
 shown how fully they entered into the merits of the case. WeAvere 
 much pleased with the schools, all of which we visited and 
 examined.” 
 
 The proposed introduction of regular contributions for the support 
 of the mission on the islands, was, however, for the time, prevented 
 by unforeseen obstacles. Successive seasons of drought, resulted 
 in unremunerative harvests, and these again led to the cessation 
 of work on the islands ; means of earning money were no longer 
 
 4 
 
42 
 
 RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY 
 
 to be bad, and tbe labouring classes Tvere reduced to poverty. 
 Altbougb the distress here was not so great as on tlie other West 
 Indian islands, yet it was bad enough, and many could only just 
 keep themselves from starvation. That under these circumstances 
 the readiness to support the mission remained, is all the more to be 
 commended. Touching examples of it are recorded. At a mission- 
 ary meeting an old member of a congregation, brought a collector’s 
 box, and handed it in with a paper on which w'as w'ritten, “ When 
 Jesus went to the lake of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew 
 throwing in their nets and said to them, ‘follow me.’ We, the 
 undersigned, have earnestly taken to heart these words of Mark, 
 and being of the fisherman’s calling we would also follow Jesus, 
 lilay this little collection serve for the furtherance of the mission 
 work. We shall, as far as it lies in our power, continue to put 
 together our mite.” The box contained a few dollars in coppers. 
 
 On the other hand, Br. Heath has to report in a less favourable 
 strain : “ Vice and ungodliness are prevalent amongst the blacks, 
 and are not without effect ujDon members of Christian congregations. 
 Intei’course wdth the 'worldly-minded, draws many away to the 
 unfruitful works of darkness. Lying, swearing, drunkenness and 
 immorality are amongst the sins w’hich grieve the missionary, and 
 urge him 'svith unwearied zeal and prayerful earnestness to throw 
 out the Gospel-net and to watch over the welfare of his flock.” 
 
 In addition to the distress from povei'ty and dearth, another 
 misfortune befel the island in 1867, w'hen a clreadful conflagration 
 broke out in Basseterre, which destroyed a great part of the town. 
 The houses being built of -^-ood, as is usual in the West Indies, it 
 ■was not possible to prevent the fire from spreading. Even the 
 English cathedral which stood alone, and had recently been erected 
 at considerable cost, was burnt down. Our mission-jDremises were 
 spared, but some 200 members of the Church lost their all. The 
 Government did much to assist the sufferers, and Br. Heath and 
 others were commissioned to distribute help to the necessitous. 
 Br. Reichstein writing of this event says : “ The Lord has power- 
 fully spoken to us by fire, as by the storm and earthquake which 
 preceded the fire, but whether there will be a general turning to 
 repentance, it is hard to say. Many neither recognize the hand of God 
 in these experiences, nor regard sin as the cause of these visitations. 
 Externally the condition of the negroes gi’ows worse, the planters’ 
 principle of conduct towards them being to fix the rate of payment 
 as low as possible, only to employ the young, strong and hearty, 
 and to let the old and weak shift for themselves. Every inch of 
 ground is used for the cultivation of sugar, and thus the negroes 
 lose the opportunity of raising their own provisions. The working 
 class is growing poorer. In spite of all these disadvantages, there 
 is a great readiness on the part of our people to do all they can 
 towards maintaining the mission. We are thankful that we have 
 here at Bethesda a teacher, Joseph Williams, who exercises a very 
 beneficial influence on the 3 mung people.” 
 
 In 1868, Br. and Sr. Heath, after many years of faithful and 
 successful service returned to England, and the duties of superin 
 
OF THE MISSION IN ST. EITTS. 
 
 43 
 
 tendent devolved upon Br. Mumford, wlio returned to the island. 
 This post he held until 1872, when he retired from the mission, 
 after 23 years’ service in the West Indies, and returned wdth his 
 wife to England. 
 
 In the following year, their place was taken by Br. and Sr. 
 Lichtenthaeler from Jamaica, who again were succeeded by Br. and 
 Sr. E. Zippel, of Antigua. 
 
 The mission lost a valuable labourer of gi’eat faithfulness and 
 self-sacrifice in Br. Adolph Reichstein, w'ho was obliged by illness 
 to return home to Heumunster near Zurich, w'here, after protracted 
 sufferings, he departed this life, in March 1871. In addition to his 
 many gifts as missionary, this modest, unassuming man had con- 
 siderable talent as painter and draughtsman. 
 
 On the 21st of August, 1871, a hurricane, after visiting other 
 islands, especially St. Thomas and Antigua, also swept over St. 
 Kitts, aud did much damage. The loss in houses and property in 
 town and country was very gi’eat; but our stations were most 
 mercifully and wonderfully preserved from harm, with the excep- 
 tion of some slight damages to the buildings. In the churches and 
 schools of the brethren, many homeless persons found a welcome 
 refuge. For the generous aid sent by Christian friends in Europe 
 for sufferers, both the missionaries and their people were very 
 grateful. 
 
 On the 1st of November, 1874, the new church in Bethel was 
 solemnly consecrated. In the months of April and May of the 
 present year, 1877, the one-hundredth anniversary of the mission of 
 the brethren was celebrated at all stations in the island with praise 
 and thanksgiving. 
 
 Herewith we close our narrative, in which wn have brought forward 
 the principal events of the history of St. Kitts Mission, the secret 
 workings of which, however, are knowm alone to Him who seeth in 
 secret, ’who is the Omnipotent searcher of all hearts. Praise he to 
 Him for His mercy, w’hich has done great things for the mission- 
 w’ork in St. Kitts, and graciously sustained it during a whole 
 century. We may be certain that in the midst of the innumerable 
 company from every people and tongue, w’hich shall meet before the 
 throne of God, there wall be many blessed ones who wall have been 
 saved from heathenism and sin by the faithful preaching of the 
 Gospel in this mission-field ; and we may rejoice that He Himself 
 will be the great and eternally precious reward of all who, as faithful 
 servants, have borne, fought and striven for Him, and in His name. 
 May He continue to grant His blessing on this work, and accompany 
 His word with the testimony of the Spirit. May the inhabit- 
 ants of the island which formerly, w’hile enshrouded in heathen 
 darkness, was the scene of intense misery, never forget what they 
 owe to the spread of the Gospel. And may we, by this retrospective 
 glance at the history of the St. Kitt’s mission, he anew encouraged 
 to take an active part in the great work of evangelizing the 
 heathen world, according to the opportunities and means which God 
 places at our disposal. 
 
4 
 
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