June 1827
2nd June - Rode to Town & held the band meeting - found it good to be there.
3rd June/27. Sabbath - officiated in Town and then had a large & serious company of communicants. Visited the Sunday school which was not so full as ordinarily. Preached again at night & the Lord gave us his blessing in an emminent degree.
7th Heavy rain interrupted the usual employment for this evening.
10th Lord's-day - After breakfast, I went to Mountyoung and found the congregation ready about the proper time. Several planters were present; may the word be made useful even to them also, as well as to the slaves they manage, many of whom are in a good state of mind & bid fair for the Kingdom where they shall be for ever free! Recd three candidates, and apparently reconciled a contending couple, who need grace to enable them to bear with each others [sic] infirmities. Such are the depraved habits of the Negroes that it required strict discipline to maintain purity and order among them as members of a christian Church. Our leaders are active & so far as I know, faithful. When we are not with them in the chapels they hold prayer and class meetings on their several estates and, through grace, the good work is carried on with more effect than is generally either known or believed.
14th Heavy rain prevented me being out this evening, but a substitute was in the very house, at which I was expected to attend & one who could well perform the duty.
18th Yesterday, being the Sabbath, I went to Union Chapel - congregation not collected owing to rain. They soon came and I had liberty in preaching, and used great plainness of speech. Baptised a child, renewed tickets - expelled some disorderly members - and then administered the Lord's supper to a serious little company, and was particularly from on high. This afternoon, I rode to the Escape Estate in order to arrange for catechising & preaching on a week evening.
19th June/27. Went to Mt St Patrick and had a congregation in the Hall. The Proprietor was present, and as many of the Slaves as could attend.
20th Last night being dark & stormy I lodged where I had preached & this morning early returned to Biabou.
22nd Waited on James Symon Esq, proprietor of New Prospect Estate, to make arrangements for preaching etc among his Slaves. He received me kindly gave full permission to attend and instantly ordered the children up to make a commencment.
24th Sabbath - This morning very wet & squally - went to Mount Young - had a late, though a pretty large congregation a good time in preaching & at the love-feast. Read the Rules & excluded nine offenders. Baptised two children & did not reach home till past 7 in the evening. There is a good work of grace in this Society. O may it continue & increase.
27th June/27 - Commenced evening preaching at Biabou; which being erected in a central situation for general convenience & not where there are other inhabitants than the mission family, is unattended except on Sundays during the crop season. The bustle of that time being now past on this side of the island, there seemed to be a prospect of collecting a congregation from the nearest estates distant ½ or ¾ of a mile. I wish & am determined to sow the good seed of Gospel truth, more plentifully in this quarter, & hope to receive the Divine blessing.
28th Attended at P. Vale & was gratified with the progress of the Catechumens.
29th Rode to Calliaqua to meet a few friends and principally Mr. Mortier, missionary from Grenada, here on a visit for the benefit of his health. Mr. M. preached and I then returned home both wet and weary, and unavoidably at a late hour. This week I have made out the Quarterly account, and find that we are improved in financials, while there has been a decrease of members, not a few having been excluded for immorality, the only thing I could do to benefit either themselves or the Societies. May they be renewed to repentance & a better mind.