Adventist History in Indonesia: From Sumatra to Australia

Australasian Union Record, October 1, 1905, page 2

WHEN it was decided that we should leave Padang in time to attend the Union Conference Coun cil, it appeared .to me desirable that I should visit the Metawfe Islands oft the west -coast of Sumatra, and the Kisam country in the highlands of south Sumatra, in order to spy out this land with a view to mission work. Our youngest son, Paul, had typhoid fever in April, and the Dutch doctor advised us to bring him to a colder climate. So after visiting the regions indicated above, we began our preparations to leave.

At our last service and at the wharf there was more or less weeping and many sad countenances, for we loved those dear people, and they undoubtedly reciprocated our affection. Some that had been out of the way had returned, and during the celebration of the ordinances on the Sabbath, the day before our departure, they manifested a real spirit of humility and true repentance.

They promised me that they would meet and worship regularly at the home of Sister Anna every Sabbath day, and I in turn promised that we would write to them, pray for them, and do our utmost to persuade the committee to send some one back to take our place.

Accordingly we left Padang, July 23, by the Royal Steam Packet Company's ship, and reached Batavia on the 26th, where we were most kindly and hospitably entertained by the American Consul, Mr. B. S. Rairden, and his wife for ten days in their beautiful home.

While waiting here we received cheering letters from all the brethren in Singapore. These made our hearts glad, for they informed us of old friends (Chinese) who were coming into the truth and keeping the Sabbath.

On August 6 we left Batavia, aboard the 5. S. Gutkrit, which was so filled that we had to be content with one cabin (three berths) and two berths at the rear end of the saloon. When it was known who and what we were, we were subjected to some unpleasant treatment by some of the passengers, but we bore it quietly. At Thursday Island we took on more passengers who had reserved cabins, and among them was a gentleman and his wife who were in sympathy with missionary effort. From there on our journey was more pleasant. There was so much hostility manifested that we could do little or nothing in the way of distributing literature.

One gentleman who got on at Thursday Island knew Brother Gates very well, having .travelled with him on a .voyage to Fiji or Tahiti as cabin passenger. He was a very intelligent, fair-minded man. He reads Good -Health, and some times patronises our cafe in Sydney. He criticised some of the missionaries he had known because of their extravagant manner of life and their indolence in their work, but so far as I could determine, he seemed in sympathy with our manner of work.

Most of the way we had fair weather, but between Port Dar win—which we reached one week after leaving Batavia—and Thurs day Island, it was a bit rough, and three days out of Brisbane we had a very bad time of it. The ship pitched about so that I myself was very sick and could eat nothing scarcely. Fortunately the rest of the family were not sick.

At Brisbane Brother and Sister Quinn and Brother Mills came down to welcome us to Australia, and we were right glad to see them. It cheered our hearts to look into their faces, and we were most grateful to them for their kindness and consideration in coming so far (for we were lying far down the river) to see us after dark.

I had planned, should we arrive there by daylight, to go up town and look them up. Being night (we got in just at dusk) I knew that it would be difficult to find them, and in the event of their coming down, I should miss them. The result proved the wisdom of my course.

From these brethren we learned when and where the Australasian Union Conference Council would meet. Mrs. G—, who got on at Thursday Island and who is a Christian, joined me in praying that God would give us fair weather for the rest of the journey (we were both very sick), and so were not surprised to have our desires realised. But it is just like the Lord to give double measure; we had not only fair weather but also favoring winds' and tides. The first full day's run, showed sixteen knots more distance covered than the record in the engine room.

Thus favored, we made the run from Brisbane to Watson's Bay, Sydney, in forty-three hours. On Sunday morning at half past eight the doctor came aboard and passed us, and by nine we were making fast to Circular Quay.

Brother Ward and Sister Graham met us, and the former escorted us to the Wahroonga Sanitarium where we were cordially- welcomed by our old friends the Doctors Kress, and by Brother and Sister Starr and Sister Walker.

On Tuesday we went on to Avon- dale, where our two eldest children have been at school the past year. It was a happy reunion, and our hearts were made glad to see the improvement made by them during the past twelve months. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to all concerned for their kindness to us and our children, particularly to those in charge of the School.

Our highest ideals are realised in the Avondale School, and we can heartily recommend the institution to all our people. We desire the prayers of all God's dear children that our stay in Australia may be profit able to us and to the cause. Pray also for the Chinese brethren and sisters at Padang, whom we were obliged to leave without any pastoral oversight. We hope ere long to see some one on his way there to take up the work.

R. W. MUNSON