Malaysia by F. A. DETAMORE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 25, 1915

Malaysia

By F. A. DETAMORE

(Continued)

F. A. DETAMORE

BROTHER YATES accompanied me to lisher Battakland, and we left Padang on Sunday morning, August 23, going by rail to Ft. De Kock, where we remained that night. The next morning we started early on our long journey by carriage overland through the mountains of Sumatra. It took us till Friday to reach Si Pirok, where our native brother is working as best he can. It was a splendid trip for us, and we were compelled to practice our Malay, for we met but one or two during the journey who could speak English. We had a beautiful view of the country, and saw the Malay in his native state, as we climbed mountains and again descended into the valleys, passing village after village of naught but native huts, and stopping nights in government houses kept only by natives, all of whom were Mohammedans.

Feeling that we might never pass that way again, we resolved to do something to leave a testimony of truth behind us, so we took a large package of papers in the Malay language. At first we planned to give these out, but later decided to sell what we could, and give only when we thought best; we began on the train, and succeeded in selling many papers all along the way, and left a goodly number as presents to those who could read. At one place we found a Malay who could speak English; and as the people crowded around, we used him as an interpreter, telling them what we could about Jesus and his soon coming. The interpreter told them that what we said was true, though he himself was Mohammedan.

Only a few years ago this was the land of the head-hunters, and it is claimed that there are still wild tribes back in the hills who have not been conquered. We were not afraid, for we felt the constant presence of our Lord and Master, and we prayed much for the poor people who know him not.

On Friday, August 28, we arrived in Si Pirok, and found Brother Immanuel Siregar well and of good courage. He made request over a year ago for permission of the government to teach the Bible here, but he recently received a negative answer. He is permitted to teach English, however, so he has started a school. We did not know that he had started the school till we arrived, though it was opened last March. Some things were not as they should be, and we found some difficulty in adjusting them, but I am glad to say that after much prayer and several days of counsel, we feel that the Lord has helped us to come to an understanding.

There is a great interest in the truth, and men are coming almost constantly to learn about it. Persons who heard of our coming walked from thirty to fifty miles to see us. One man and his daughter walked about fifty miles. He has been a minister for years, but has given up his position, and has decided to obey the Lord and keep the Sabbath. He has been a teacher in the training school for Battaks, and has a splendid reputation, being well respected by his fellow workers of the past. He is not yet fully established in all points of the truth, but shows a very teachable disposition, and I hope that the time will come when we can baptize him, and that he will help us give the message to the Battak people. This must be done largely by the native worker, but must be supervised by a foreigner.

TOEROETONG, SUMATRA, SEPTEMBER 5. — This letter was begun several days ago, but I had to leave it to go and visit Brother Immanuel Siregar's school, and have not had time to write more since.

This has been the Sabbath, and I have stopped here for the day. It is two days from Si Pirok. The first day I traveled on horseback, and carried my luggage on a pack horse. The roads are too steep, rough, and stony for a carriage. The boats are so far apart that I could travel this way and get to Penang by way of Medan sooner than to wait for a boat; and it is cheaper, too. It will also afford me a better chance to study the people and become acquainted with the field. Brother Yates left me at Si Pirok, and returned by way of Siboga, so I am quite alone. Today, I have called on some in this place who are interested in the truth from visiting with Brother Immanuel, but I could talk so little Bible in Malay that I could not do much. Some have learned that I am here, and have come to see me. I have given out some

papers in Malay, and pray that some seed may fall upon fruitful ground. My heart goes out in pity to these poor souls. How quickly they respond to love and tender treatment! Many of them are Christians, but the majority are Mohammedans. They all seem very willing to listen to the truth, and the Mohammedans seem surprised to know that I do not eat babi (pig). As they do not eat it, they are glad to meet a Christian who is in sympathy with them on this point.

Tomorrow morning I shall resume my journey, going as far as Baligi by carriage, and thence by boat across Toba Lake, and again by carriage to Medan, where I plan to take the train to the sea, and from there go by ship to Penang, and on to Kwala Lumpur by train. It has been a very profitable trip, all things considered.

Though hard in many ways, still the view of the country, the sight of the masses of people in their native state, the opportunity to leave a few papers in their language, and the hope to be able to do more at some not-far-distant time for their eternal salvation,—all this has more than overbalanced the lack of food and comforts. I have scarcely tasted water since I left Padang, for fear of disease, but have been able to get green coconuts, and these have been a splendid substitute. I have lived principally upon rice and eggs.

Our crying need is for consecrated men who have tact and wisdom, to patiently teach this people the way of salvation in a simple way. My own heart has been melted as I have seen how they grasp the lessons of divine truth. Two men came to see me at Si Pirok, and when I asked how they were getting on they replied that the way was clear, but that they lacked power to obey. I gave them a Bible study on the principles of obedience, showing that the power is not in man nor in his promises, but in God and the promises of the new covenant; that it is ours to choose to obey when the temptation comes, and it is God's to give what we choose, and that is sure victory. I wish you could have seen their faces light up with joy, and they declared that they would try more intelligently to trust God's power. I beg of you to remember these perishing souls in your prayers.

BROTHER C. L. BUTTERFIELD, of Korea, writes:—

“This has been by far our best year in Korea. There has been a good increase in church membership, Sabbath school attendance, and a gain of over fifty per cent in tithes and offerings over last year.”

“For all this we thank God and take courage. I have just returned from a country trip, during which I found several new believers rejoicing in the truth. So it is in many places; as the printed page is being scattered throughout the length and breadth of the land, many are accepting the truth with joy.”