98 
TRINIDAD, 
“ ]\Iassa Jesus ; ” nor did she cease her efforts until 
she could intelligently read and understand a chapter 
in tlie New Testament. This Idessed hook has been 
her constant companion and greatest source of com- 
fort and instruction from that time till the present. 
Upon her removal to Port of Spain, she became a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, then under the 
pastoral care of the Kev. Mr. Kennedy. . In some way 
she became known to Mr. Cowen, and in accordance 
with her inquisitive nature wished to know “ ' Iwut his 
religion.” Mr. Cowen told her, that as she could read 
her New Testament, she Avoidd find there all about his 
religion ; still she persisted in her questionings, and 
wanted to know " about his baptism, why it was no like 
she baptism.” She was again referred to the Ne\v 
Testament for an answer. Maria’s mind was disturbed,, 
nor would she rest until she had sifted the matter 
thoroughly. In order to do this, slie determined to speak 
to lier minister, and the result was, that after a good 
deal of reading of the passages in tlie Testament re- 
lating to the subject of believer’s baptism, and after 
much prayer to her Heavenly Father for light and 
guidance, she resolved to be baptized same fashion as 
“Massa Je.sus.” She had been a consistent member of 
a Christian church for some time, and, as there was 
no doubt about her piety, J\lr. Cowen could not refuse 
to baptise her. She was accordingly baptized by j\Ir. 
Cowen in the watei’S of the Gulf of Paria, at Corbeau 
Town, and became his first convert, and the first mem- 
ber of the church made by addition in Trinidad. From 
that time down to the presenf, she has continued a 
worthy member of the Baptist Church in I’ort of Spain, 
She is now very old, has great-grand-children, but still 
she is able to read a large type Testament, and can 
manage to get to church on the first Sabbath of the 
month, to join in the observance of the sacred feast. 
Mr. Cowen purchased some land, and built a small 
chapel on the other side of the town at a place called Dry- 
