Adventist History in Indonesia: 1900, Arrival at Padang

Australasian Union Record, December 1, 1900, page 4

Mission Studies.

Our Study this Month is upon that Portion of the Island Mission Field
toward which our Sabbath School Contributions are being Directed.

Malaysia.

THAT portion of the great Pacific which goes by the name Malaysia
comprises many large and populous islands.

The 400 islands of the Philippines with their 10,000,000" inhabitants,
and the numerous islands and groups of islands of the Dutch East Indies
are each a part of Malaysia. It is estimated that there are in the Dutch
possessions of the East Indies no less than 30,000,000 natives, 500,000
Chinese, 50,000 Arabs, and 60,000 Europeans. The principal islands
of the Dutch East Indies, which lie within Malaysia, are Sumatra, Java,
Madura, part of Borneo, the Celebes, and Molucca Islands. The climate
is generally healthful and the field badly in need of missionary work.
The" following report of Brother Munson shows that the door for
workers is open and the opportunities for doing good are numerous. Con
siderable territory within Malaysia is controlled by the British.

Since the occupancy of the Philippines by the United States of America,
the opportunities for missionary work in that extensive group have greatly
improved. These poor heathen are certainly in crying need of the gospel
as they are loaded with heathen superstitions and know not God.

The population of Malaysia far exceeds that of the mission fields of
Eastern Polynesia, and the demands for funds with which to work will, no
doubt, be correspondingly greater.

E. C. CHAPMAN.

The Island of Sumatra.

WE landed from the steamship Prins Hendrik, at Emmahaven, the
seaport of Padang, one of the most charming spots in all these mid-
tropical regions. It is a town of about 25,000 inhabitants, chiefly
Malays, with a liberal sprinkling of Chinese.

Padang is embowered in tropical vegetation of the most luxuriant order.
Cocoanut, sago, and areca palms abound, with a large intermixture of
other trees, resembling somewhat those of the Occident, but more
abundant in foliage of the most velvety and glossy green of every con
ceivable shade.

The roads are smooth and hard and much frequented by the natives.
The town lies on the coast, ten miles north of the harbour, which is con
nected with the town by an excellent railroad, which proceeds on to the
northward about one hundred miles from Padang, up into the mountains,
attaining an elevation of 3,500 feet. The road was constructed by the
colonial government, to connect the coal mines and the coast, and
was built by European experts at a cost of some 1,000,000 pounds.

The mountains lie back from ten to twenty miles from the sea, and
some of the peaks tower 12,000 feet heavenward. A few of them are
more or less active volcanoes of a mild order. One of them has at long
intervals burst forth in great fury, but has for many years been inactive
except for smoke and sulphurous vapors.

With such a background, such a foreground, and such a setting,
Padang is beautiful indeed. After nearly ten years at Singapore, the
capital of the Straits Settlements (which lies 250 miles east and a little
north of here), we find Padang like home. Our hearts are enjoying great
peace in being here among a people who sorely need salvation, and who-
are more willing listeners than the public in Europe or America that
correspond to the class we hope to reach.

From the time of our landing to the present we have had naught but
the kindest and most generous treat ment by the Dutch people, and friend
ships have sprung up which have strengthened with the passing days,
although so few in number. We have found the Dutch people here
generous and kind to a fault. Our esteem for the people of the Nether
lands has been greatly enhanced since we left New York, November
eleven of last year.

The Chinese, amongst whom we came especially to labour, demand an
English school, and, as the hand of God seems to have opened the door,
affording us not only a readier access to their homes with the Gospel, but
also to some means of self-support, I have determined to comply with their
request.

One of the providential tokens I have received in connection with the
school is that a friend (who does not wish to disclose his identity) volun
tarily offered to furnish the school with all necessary furniture, at an
expense of nearly f2OO (florins), or about eighteen pounds. A large
house, finely adapted to the purpose, was placed at my disposal at a rental
of only two pounds. The same house formerly rented for four times as
much. The government officials have been very kind, and have facili
tated my efforts in getting a license to open the school, and so everything
seems to favour the venture — I should say, rather, undertaking—
for whatever the Lord blesses is no longer a venture but an assured suc
cess. I feel great peace of mind, also, whenever I think of or plan for the
school, and this I regard as another sign of God's favour.

The school will, of course, be a mission school pure and simple, in
which Christ in the Third Angel's Message will be presented.

One thing that struck us very forcibly on our first arrival here was
the name in Malay for Saturday. I give the names for the seven days of
the week in English and Arabic ; for the Malays, being Mohammedans,
have adopted Arabic customs :—


Sunday ...... Minggo
Monday ...... Isnain
Tuesday ..... Selasa
Wednesday ....Rebaa
Thursday......Kamis
Friday .......J’mmaat
SATURDAY......SABTU

So you see everybody designates the Sabbath by its true name, thanks
to Mohammed.

While in Singapore in 1893 I opened an " orphanage," or home for
orphans and poor boys, in which I taught the Word of God ; and a deep
impression was made on the boys. In 1896, when I left Singapore,
I had twenty-four boys in this home. One of them was Tay
Hong Siang, one of the first three boys to be admitted. He had given
the most satisfactory evidence of regeneration, and was a fearless witness
for Christ. He was sixteen when we were compelled to say farewell to
him. He was like a son to us, and we loved him much. You can im
agine our joy on reaching Padang to find that he was here in this very
district, only a few hours' distant by rail.

I sent for him, and he came with his young wife and baby boy. He is
now living with us and studying present truth. He is filled with the
Spirit, and preaches the Word in the demonstration of the Spirit and with
power. Through his efforts a China man, now past sixty, and a man of
considerable influence, has cast his idols to the moles and the bats, and is
worshiping God only. He has a large family, and if he is once filled
with the Spirit he will be a power among his people. He is keeping
the Sabbath conscientiously and in the fear of God. When I told him
about the Sabbath, he said, " I want to know all about it, for I mean to
obey all that God commands." Pray for him.

R. W. MUNSON.
Padang, Sumatra.