RV. indues, 
 
 /3 31 
 
 V, 
 
 
 
 THE FIEST JUBILEE 
 
 OF 
 
 The Baptist Mission 
 
 IX THE 
 
 T IRKS A X D CAICOS SSL A X S> S. 
 
 BEING 
 
 
 r' 
 
 ^3lKT illDIDnB 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE BAPTIST CHAPEL IX THE 
 TOWX OE GRAXD TURK, 
 
 On SABBATH Afternoon , September 19 , ] 886 . 
 
 BY 
 
 THE RE?. J. HENRY POSEY. 
 
 JM 
 
 a 
 
 Grand Turk: Printed at the “Standard” Office. 
 
THE FIRST JUBILEE 
 
 OF 
 
 The Baptist Mission 
 
 IN THE 
 
 TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. 
 
 BEING 
 
 AN ADDRESS 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE BAPTIST CHAPEL IN THE 
 TOWN OF GRAND TURK, 
 
 On SABBATH Afternoon , September 19, 1886. 
 
 BY 
 
 THE mi J. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/firstjubileeofbaOOpuse 
 
NOTICES. 
 
 The First Jubilee of the Baptist Mission in Turks Islands 
 was celebrated at the Baptist Chapel in the town of Grand 
 Turk on Sabbath afternoon (Sept. 19, 1886.) and the two 
 following days. 
 
 The First Service was composed chiefly of an address by 
 the pastor, the Rev. J. Henry Pusey to the church, embra¬ 
 cing a brief account of the labours of Baptist Missionaries in the 
 Turks and Caicos Islands during the past 50 years. At this 
 meeting the existing members of the Church gathered into one 
 body in the centre of the chapel, a large company of friends oc¬ 
 cupying other parts of the spacious building. At the close of the 
 address the well known hymn commencing:— 
 
 “ Blow ye the trumpet, blow,” was sung, con spirito , by all 
 present. This was a season of rejoicing. 
 
 The Second Service was designated a “jubilee festival” at 
 which all the members of the Church again gathered into their 
 respective classes and regaled themselves with buns, cakes and 
 tea, provided by each class of members. A season long to be 
 remembered by those who were present, for the pleasures and 
 pastimes of it. At this Festival, N. K. Sawyer, Esqr., U. S. 
 Consul, Mr. R. G. Wint, (Government Schoolmaster,) and 
 the Pastor, delivered appropriate addresses, in which the Deacons 
 of the Church took part. 
 
 The Third Service was held on the Sabbath evening follow¬ 
 ing (consequent upon the inclement weather) when the Pastor 
 preached an appropriate sermon founded on 1 Sam. vii. 12. 
 “ Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and 
 Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath 
 the Lord helped us.” The congregation was large and all felt 
 it good to be there. The backsliding members of the Church 
 were cordially invited to attend this series of the Jubilee services, 
 with the prayerful hope that renewed faith in Christ would be 
 the result. God grant it. 
 
THE ADDRESS. 
 
 My Dear Brethren and Sisters:— 
 
 It seems to me necessary that I should celebrate with you, 
 your Jubilee in connection with the Baptist Mission in the Turks 
 and Caicos Islands, but especially the organization and work of 
 the Baptist Church of this town from 1836 to 1886. In laying 
 before you a brief account of this Jubilee, an important end may 
 be gained. Serious thoughts of God’s forbearance and faithful¬ 
 ness may be awakened amongst you as a church, which I hope 
 may lead to great spiritual results. I may be excused for my 
 inaccuracies either as to dates or facts, as I have not lived so long 
 as fifty years in the world and less than seven years amongst 
 you. Considering also the scantiness of written materials to 
 supply me with the necessary information of the past of this 
 church, caused by the loss of Church Books at sea and in hurri¬ 
 canes—and the long intervals that have existed between the with¬ 
 drawal of one and the arrival of another of your missionaries— 
 might well account for this deficiency. 
 
 In this position, I have had to glean facts where I could in 
 order to shape for you a brief address of this remarkable period 
 of your church’s history. And I must confess that some of our 
 aged brethren and sisters have been valuable helps to me by their 
 retentive memories. 
 
 In celebrating this Jubilee it might be interesting to glance 
 briefly at the other festivals with which it was connected 
 under the Jewish system. These festivals were held by 
 the Jews at certain periods : The weekly and the monthly 
 festivals—the Passover—the Feast of Pentecost—the Feast 
 of Tabernacles. The Great Day of Atonement (the cele¬ 
 bration of which was to make expiation for the sins of the peo¬ 
 ple) Lev. xvi. 11-19. Other feasts too, were instituted in 
 later times connected with the siege of Jerusalem—the capture 
 of the city, the burning of the temple—and the death of Gedaliah. 
 
There were also two other feasts mentioned in Jewish history : 
 the Feast of Purim commemorating the defeat of Hainan’s plot 
 for the destruction of the Jews, and the Feast of Dedication set 
 forth to celebrate the re-establishment of Divine worship in 
 Jerusalem after Antiochus Epiphanes had been subdued and the 
 temple purified, (B. C. 164.)—The Sabbatic year whose institu¬ 
 tion was intended to secure rest for the soil, and to teach the 
 people economy and a provident care of futurity. The last and 
 most lengthy period was the year after seven sabbatic years—or 
 the fiftieth year—the Jubilee. 
 
 Let us also take a glance at the common benefits that the Jews 
 received at their Jubilee :— 
 
 In Leviticus Chap. xxv. 9. we read “ Then shalt thou cause 
 the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the 
 seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the 
 trumpet sound throughout all your land.” 
 
 All the servants or slaves then of Hebrew origin obtained 
 their freedom. All the land throughout the country and the 
 houses in the cities of the Levites that w T ere sold during the past 
 fifty years, returned without payment to their former possessors, 
 except such as had been consecrated to God and not redeemed. 
 (Lev. xxv. 10.) All sold or mortgaged goods such as houses, 
 lands, &c., returned to their former owners, so that every man 
 had his inheritance. 
 
 The fields had their rest. At the Jubilee, their was neither 
 sowing nor reaping—and what grew spontaneously became the 
 common property of the poor, the freed people, and the cattle 
 (Lev. xxv.) By these changes we find that general benefits 
 were bestowed upon all classes of the people. Social relations 
 were preserved ; a barrier set to both the accumulation of pro¬ 
 perty on the one hand, and pauperism on the other. Permanent 
 slavery became impossible and great distinctions of classes were 
 avoided. Hone were so rich as to be tempted to idleness, or to 
 the distressing of his poorer fellow-men. None were so poor 
 
that they need yield to despair. At the approach of the jubilee 
 (by the blowing of trumpets) the whole Jewish state was re¬ 
 born, when the rich were relieved of their superfluous wealth and 
 the poor had another chance of acquiring support. Such were 
 the common benefits of the Jubilee. 
 
 The Jubilee therefore is an ancient institution. It was in¬ 
 stituted by God some 1490 years before the birth of Christ. 
 We do not now exist under the Jewish system, and we are not 
 bound either by law or by any express Scriptural command to 
 celebrate it. Still, we consider it wise and proper to do so. And 
 as a Church you will all agree that it is a season that enforces 
 hearty thanksgiving to God for His tender mercies to us through 
 a period of fifty years. It becomes every one of you to look 
 back and heartily recognise the unfailing kindness of our 
 Heavenly Father over the way he has graciously led you—to 
 halt, pause and erect our thankful memorial to Zion’s King, and 
 write upon it: 
 
 “ Here we raise our Ebenezer, 
 
 Hither by Thy help we’re come ; 
 
 And we hope by Thy good pleasure, 
 
 Safely to arrive at home.” 
 
 And striking our harps afresh, we lift up our gospel banner and 
 with renewed faith in the Saviour’s promise, (“Lolam. with 
 you alway”)—march on to victory. 
 
 Now, in looking back upon the earliest labours of mission¬ 
 aries in connection with this Mission, I have been informed of the 
 names of the Revds. Sharper Morris, Kilner Pearson and — Bond. 
 Men who first visited the field from 1833 to 1835, and laboured 
 amid hot persecutions in the dark days of slavery. Yes Brethren, 
 that monster slavery ! It swayed so dreadful an influence over 
 these Missionaries of the cross, that those who dared to preach 
 the gospel of Christ, did so at the peril of their lives ! Class- 
 houses and shed-rooms were erected in the suburban parts of 
 this town, and every available chance to catch the leisure hour 
 of the slaves lor the purpose of offering praise to the God of 
 
heaven, was hailed with joy and gladness. Mr. Morris and Mr. 
 Bond no doubt, soon quitted the field, but Mr. Pearson died here 
 and was buried at the northern point of this island. 
 
 Thus, you see, the fiery persecution in the days of slavery 
 drove even the relics of one faithful and dear to this mission far 
 away over the £t island hills.” A few days ago as I was walk¬ 
 ing through this chapel yard thinking of your address, I picked 
 up the broken pieces of a tomb-stone, and on refitting them 1 
 found engraved thereon the following :— 
 
 “ The Rev. Kilner Pearson a faithful and devoted Baptist 
 Missionary—Born Nov. 10, 1804, Died Dec. 7, 1834. Aged 
 30 years.” 
 
 Thus in the bloom and vigour of his youth and in the hottest 
 part of the Church’s persecution, died this Missionary soldier ! 
 I was told by a sister now present that the Rev. W. K. Rycroft, 
 hereinafter mentioned, had promised to remove Mr. Pearson’s 
 bones to the grave-yard, but he also died before the accomplish¬ 
 ment of his purpose. 
 
 But there had been no formation of a church up to the close 
 of 1835. These missionaries had only been visitors, who pioneer¬ 
 ed the field, preached the everlasting gospel, and baptized 
 a few slaves. 
 
 It was not until 1836 on the arrival of the First settled Bap¬ 
 tist Missionary the Rev. E. F. Quant, that this Church was 
 actually formed with seventeen members—the names of March 
 Prince and George Armstrong being at the head of the list. I 
 have had the pleasure of sitting with the latter at our Com¬ 
 munion Table, but the former had passed into glory before my 
 arrival amongst you. I know the names of these two brethren 
 are very dear to some of you to-day. And I rejoice to see the 
 wife of the latter amongst us. May the devoted lives of these 
 sainted brethren inspire you to more Christian activity, 11 walk¬ 
 ing in all the commandments of the Lord blameless.” 
 
 It would appear that in connection with Mr. Quant, there lived 
 for a short time the Rev. Mr. Bond. 
 
A dear sister of the Church informed me that Mr. Bond was 
 the Originator of the Sabbath School, she being an eye-witness. 
 She was so certain of the fact that she quoted to me the passage 
 ■of Scripture that was read on the occasion in 1836 : “In the 
 beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the 
 Word was God.” John i. 1. So our Jubilee to-day comprises 
 both Church and Sabbath School ! Let both departments in¬ 
 creasingly give praise and glory to our God. 
 
 But Mr. Quant was not only instrumental in the formation of 
 the Church; he also commenced the building of the Chapel. 
 About the month of October 1836 he selected the chapel site— 
 secured legal papers—gathered stones, and side by side with the 
 oldest members of this church (a few of whom are here to-day) 
 commenced the building of this Chapel. The story has often 
 been told me with inspired soul of how our aged brethren and 
 sisters with their missionary leader, on moon-light nights, car¬ 
 ried stones on their heads in order to erect the chapel for the 
 church. You did not labour in vain, or spend your strength for 
 naught. The Chapel stands to-day with renewed appearance 
 a lasting monument of your zeal for the Lord’s cause. And 
 though many a faithful one is sleeping in the grave-yard, speaks 
 loudly by their works at this Jubilee to-day. 
 
 Surely you who are spared to see this season, and younger 
 ones who have been called to join the ranks by the spirit of God, 
 should look back with mingled feelings of joy and thankfulness 
 that you have, under God, commenced, and for many years car¬ 
 ried on so noble a work. 
 
 But in the building of the Chapel Mr. Quant met with diffi¬ 
 culties. In the following year (1837) there arose a great hurri¬ 
 cane which rendered so many of the people homeless and 
 poverty-stricken—stripped of their clothing and driven to ex¬ 
 treme want! Thus large numbers had to take shelter in this 
 chapel which was then in course of erection. Here they lived 
 for some time, wandering . about for food and clothing by day ! 
 So crowded was the unfinished building with the people, that 
 
Divine'worship had to be suspended and Chapel building stop¬ 
 ped. In 1888 Mr. Quant recommenced the work, finished the 
 building and dedicated it to the service of God. After a period 
 of six years, Mr. Quant relinquished his work in 1842. 
 
 The Second Missionary was the Rev. William Littlewood 
 who immediately succeeded in the work of the Stations and la¬ 
 boured with zeal from 1842 to 1847. Mr. Littlewood then with¬ 
 drew from this, for the Station at Puerto Plata (San Domingo) 
 while the Rev. W. K. Rycroft the Third Missionary, succeed¬ 
 ed him here, and laboured with success from 1847 to 1852. 
 
 It seemed, upon mutual agreement, that the two veteran Mis¬ 
 sionaries again changed places. For Mr. Rycroft took charge of 
 the Station at Puerto Plata and Mr. Littlewood resumed his 
 charge here in 1852. 
 
 In 1856 Mr. Littlewood was called to labour at Inagua, after 
 a successful Missionary career of 11 years. This necessitated 
 the return of Mr. Rycroft to these Islands in the same year 
 (1856.) The latter re-sumed his charge with much vigour, but 
 was soon called to sustain a heavy blow. 
 
 After a period of nine years, during his second charge of these 
 Stations, (1865) his beloved wife, Mrs. Deborah Rycroft was 
 suddenly snatched from his hand to join the spirits of the glori¬ 
 fied in Heaven. Mr. Rycroft could not overcome the touch of a 
 Wise and Unerring Hand. He broke right down, and predicted 
 the Church’s loss, by his death also. He told you (many of 
 you remembering it to-day) that in six weeks after the burial 
 of his wife would he be buried. So it happened ! After the 
 short space of six weeks he was himself summoned to join the 
 spirit of his wife in heaven ! That shock was terrible to you. 
 Here lay softly at rest in the Chapel jard, under a single tomb, 
 the relics of these devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! 
 Truly, they “were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in 
 their death they were not divided.” (2 Sam. 1. 23.)—they 
 went up higher, leaving you a bereaved church to mourn your 
 
irreparable loss. Mr. Rycroft’s charge of these stations and of 
 those in Santo Domingo extended over a period of fifteen years. 
 
 The Rev. D. L. D. Ker was the Fourth Missionary. Mr. 
 Ker had been an assistant to his predecessor and so was at hand 
 to take up the mantle of Elijah, while his brother the Rev. S. 
 Ker the Fifth Missionary, contemporaneously laboured at the 
 Caicos Churches. With untiring zeal did the Missionary- 
 brothers carry on the churches of God’s grace for a period scarce¬ 
 ly over two years, when, (amid troubles oft) both quitted the 
 field in the year 1867. 
 
 It was during the Ker-brothers ministry that the hurricane 
 of 1866 visited your little sea-girt-isle, and so gravely distressed 
 the people, involving them in serious losses of life and property 
 and destruction of limb—large numbers having been rendered 
 homeless, poverty stricken, and driven to exteme want! 
 
 You have often told me with feelings of terror of this disaster, 
 and of the shrieks and lamentations that pervaded your land ! 
 The chapel, in which we now assemble, became, as in 1837, once 
 more the house of refuge and comfort for many a suffering one— 
 large numbers having wandered for food and clothing by day, 
 and taken shelter here at night. Thus the Lord’s house afforded 
 the godly and the ungodly a refuge from impending danger ! 
 
 “ This is the Lord’s doing, it i3 marvellous in our eyes.” 
 
 Oh my friends, let this Jubilee be instrumental in bringing 
 you out of nature’s darkness into the light of Revelation. 
 Will you seriously consider the mercies of God in Christ and 
 “ flee” to His house “ from the wrath to come.” 
 
 About two years after the withdrawal of the two last Missi¬ 
 onaries, and in answer to an urgent appeal from you, the Baptist 
 Missionary Society sent out your Sixth Missionary, the Rev. 
 Isaac Pegg. 
 
 Mr. Pegg arrived here in 1869. During his charge of these 
 stations, he laboured at Puerto Plata for a short time and then 
 made a flying visit to England. He scarcely remained amongst 
 
you over two years when he relinquished work. His was a short 
 Missionary career in this land. 
 
 Mr. Pegg’s removal caused another vacancy in the ministerial 
 agency here. Again you were left without cne to feed the flock 
 of God and w T in souls for Christ. Still you kept together in 
 the service of Christ Jesus under the zealous leadership of our 
 esteemed Deacon—brother Francis Storr. Hand in hand with 
 Brethren Benjamin Williams and Peter Been, Mr. Storr has 
 rendered this Church faithful service. You will not forget them 
 in connection with your first Jubilee. They are here to-day 
 with our two younger brethren, Messrs. Jupiter Lightbourn and 
 Simeon W. Gardiner, to strike our harps afresh for another fifty 
 years of faith and love. Let us hope for these deacons, and for 
 ourselves, strength in proportion to our day to serve zealously 
 in the Kingdom of our Blessed Lord. 
 
 The Seventh Missionary was the Rev. R. E. Gammon, who 
 arrived here from England in 1875. After having efficiently 
 discharged the duties of his office in connection with these sta¬ 
 tions, for nearly two years, Mr. Gammon assumed Mission work 
 at Puerto Plata, (San Domingo) where he continues to labour 
 with energy and zeal. 
 
 I wish I was in a position to say more of the labours of these 
 Brethren who have preceded me in this vast mission field. 
 With no written account before us of their indefatigable labours, 
 we must be content. They have not toiled in vain. Their 
 offorts to carry you on as a church, have been owned and blessed 
 of God ; and I am sure you remember them to-day with min¬ 
 gled feelings of joy and thankfulness. 
 
 The Eighth Missionary is your present Pastor, who arriv¬ 
 ed amongst you on the 13th of May 1880. Since then we have 
 been co-workers in the service of our adorable Lord. 
 
 I have nothing to say to-day of my own work which has been 
 humbly laid before you. It has fallen to my lot to lead you to 
 the close, and to celebrate with you, this memorable period— 
 
jour first Jubilee ! 1 consider it a great privilege and an honour 
 conferred on me. 
 
 If He whom I heartily desire to serve, and whose name I pledge 
 to exalt, condescends to use me as a medium of good to you, my 
 earnest wish will be realized. To Him has been my prayer, 
 “ Hold Thou me up and I shall be safe.” You cannot forget 
 the He vs. E. F. Quant—W. Littlewood—W. K. Ry croft—D. 
 Ker—S. Ker—Isaac Pegg—R. E. Gammon—and J. Henry 
 Pusey. These names formed the Missionary staff of the first 
 Jubilee of the Baptist Mission in the Turks and Caicos Islands. 
 
 Where are they 7 Two are in heaven : they rest from their 
 labours and their works do follow them. One has retired in the 
 Bahamas from active toil being under the weight of years. One 
 is at Inagua. One in Scotland. One at Puerto Plata (our mis¬ 
 sionary neighbour) and one is present with you. 
 
 Brethren, we cannot hang our harps upon the willows and 
 cease to sing the Lord’s song of mercy. We start afresh in 
 our Great Redeemer’s Name. How long we shall so continue, 
 is known only to Him who ordereth all things well. 
 
 Let us wish these Brethren well, wherever now they are 
 actively employed in the same work, and pray for their success, 
 in the gospel. 
 
 I am sure their self-denying labours to carry on these churches 
 over the gloomy hills of conflict and toil, and through the dark 
 valley of sin and shame, have been owned by Him who saith “ I 
 know thy works.” The spiritual results of their unremitting 
 toil will be told in that day. Need we be reminded of the in¬ 
 flexible hand that guides us in this kingdom ? Though the arm 
 of flesh may fail, He is our strength who “ is mighty to save.” 
 The Saviour of the world absolutely reigns in the kingdom of 
 his providence whose object is to ensure the gradual progress and 
 ultimate universal diffusion of the gospel we profess and preach 
 throughout the world. The church need not fear. The govern¬ 
 ment of the world is laid upon the shoulders of our Blessed 
 
Redeemer. Bearing in his omnipotent hand the sceptre of uni¬ 
 versal dominion, He can raise those nations which are disposed 
 to aid in the spread of his gospel, to high political power and 
 eminence ; while those who madly resolve to employ their puny 
 arm of rebellion in retarding its progress, he can “ dash in pieces 
 like a potter’s vessel.” He can render the most inveterate enemy 
 the unconscious instrument of accomplishing his will. Yes 
 Brethren, Our “God reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the 
 Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded him¬ 
 self.” It becomes me at this period of the church’s history to 
 remind you of these things. 
 
 The church is still in the wildernesss. 
 
 “No slacker grows the fight, 
 
 No feebler is the foe. 
 
 ’Twas tribulation ages since 
 ’Tis tribulation still.” 
 
 Her warfare is not yet accomplished. She only halts on the 
 journey in order to erect her thankful memorial to Almighty God. 
 
 “ Thus onward still we press 
 Through evil and through good,., 
 
 ... Still faithful to our God 
 And to our Captain true 
 We follow where He leads the way 
 The kingdom in our view.” 
 
 But while the Jubilee is a season of gladsome thanksgiving to 
 our Heavenly Father, and commemorative of His never failing 
 kindness and gracious regard to the church, we are also called 
 upon to remember with deep indebtedness, those who have been 
 made God’s blessed instruments on the church’s behalf. 
 
 There are those who have incessantly aided the church through 
 the remarkable period we now celebrate. The Jubilee calls for 
 this. I refer to the Baptist Missionary Society. 
 
 The eight Missionaries in succession from Mr. Quant could 
 only have been kept in the field by the support of our Committee. 
 
Our chapels too, which have stood the test of time and storm 
 have been chiefly built and sustained by their votes. 
 
 Small local helps we do not forget. But what could have 
 been done by them for the effectual carrying on of these Churches 
 to this time. 
 
 The depressed state of trade is uniform ; the annual cries of 
 poverty by the people to the Government of Turk’s Island, are 
 unceasing : the prospects of absolute local independence among 
 you as a church are dim and distant. Still you need not des¬ 
 pair. By steady work and unabated interest in our Lord’s 
 cause, the time may soon come when a growth of local indepen¬ 
 dence will be matured to relieve the Baptist Missionary Society 
 of their much-loved work—their unabated interest in this part 
 of their vast Mission Field. 
 
 Until then, let our Committee take courage in holding out to 
 us the helping hand for the effectual working of the churches of 
 Gods grace, in this poverty-stricken land. 
 
 . i ‘ “With love and patience , 
 
 With faith and liope” 
 
 Let them hold, hold the ropes. 
 
 You are often reminded of the deepening and widening interest 
 in the work of the Society, sustaining large numbers of Mis¬ 
 sionaries, churches, colleges, and schools &c., in India, Ceylon, 
 China, Japan, the West Indies, West and Central Africa, and 
 Europe.. 
 
 Pray ye that God would largely increase the staff of labourers 
 and cause the supporters of our dear Mission throughout the 
 world to feel the force of the ScriptureGod loveth a cheerful 
 giver. (2 Cor. ix. 7.) 
 
 The Jubilee, under God, deeply acknowledges the unfailing 
 comfort and help in many a dark and struggling year, rendered 
 to the churches, by tbe Committee of the Baptist Missionary 
 Society. 
 
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