Your ShelfYour Projects

The “Malaysia Conference”

6%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 5.

Read the full edition

The “Malaysia Conference”

By R. W. Munson

R. W. MUNSON
The Malaysia Conference belongs to the Australasian Union Conference, and is, perhaps, as yet unfamiliar to the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD. But although yet unorganized, it really exists in the plan of God for the extension of the work of the message to all the world.
If our readers could have been present at the late union conference, when the committee on the distribution of labor made its report, they, too, would have been bold enough to say, as was said by at least one delegate, “By faith I can see the Malaysia Conference already in sight.”
More than six years ago, when we had been but a short time in Padang, Sumatra, such a burden for the extension of the work in the East Indies rested upon me that I was groaning in spirit for weeks, and praying that the Lord would send forth laborers into that great and needy field. The burden became so heavy that I felt it would crush me if I could not get relief from it.
We had asked for workers, but none were forthcoming from the United States; and finally, when one did come,broken health took that one from us, and left us all alone. Help was to come from Australia, just as the Lord had spoken in the Testimonies. When we heard through the brethren in Australia that definite action had been taken connecting the East Indies with this conference, we rejoiced, for we saw light in it, and hoped that now help would come. Brother Gates visited us in the latter part of 1901 and the early part of 1902. Our hopes for the work rose, and we thought we should see a definite beginning made. But God’s ways and man’s are not the same, and again, for, to us, inscrutable reasons, our hopes were doomed to meet with disappointment.
The anguish of spirit which we felt over these repeated disappointments, and the temptation to discouragement, were very great, indeed. Those were the darkest days of all our Christian experience, and many bitter tears were shed. But God was working behind the screen of the (to us) unknown, and in the fulness of time his purposes were revealed. I feel constrained to quote the words of Cowper’s beautiful hymn:—
“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.
“His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
“Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.”
The second stanza seems singularly appropriate to the experience through which we were called to pass. Some of those dark and trying experiences seemed to us utterly inexplicable, and not only unnecessary, but harmful to the cause. But soon we began to see a wonderful design and great wisdom in all of them. Doubtless we shall see more and more in it all as time passes. This will be particularly true when we have reached the kingdom. We ourselves needed the discipline and chastening which only such trials could bring, and we have already begun to reap “the peaceable fruits of righteousness” which such chastening, we are told by the Word, always brings “unto them which are exercised thereby,” and for which we are devoutly thankful.
Two years ago Brother and Sister G. F. Jones and Brother Robert Caldwell reached Singapore. About two months later Brother G. A. Irwin, then president of the Australasian Union Conference, on his way to the General Conference visited Singapore, and held there a little council meeting, composed of himself, Brother and Sister Jones, Brother Caldwell, and the writer.
A few months later Brother and Sister Davey arrived, and opened the medical work. Then Brother Caldwell was transferred to the Philippines, and Brother Fred Parkin went to Singapore. A little more than six months ago Brother and Sister McElhaney went to Manila. All these reinforcements put great courage into our hearts, and made us rejoice.
At last, greatly to our sorrow, we were obliged to leave Sumatra and come to Australia, in order to save the life of our youngest son. The native (Chinese) brethren and sisters were left all alone, and it caused us much distress that no one could be found to go and take up that important work. But we kept on praying, and engaging the interest of as many as possible to pray that the Lord would raise up some one to enter that field. We wrote to the brethren there, also, to cry to God for help.
All these prayers were answered at the union conference. One day during the session a letter from Brother Jones, written from Java, came, which stirred the conference profoundly. The result of it was that action was taken before the close of the conference, appointing three laborers to Sourabaya, in eastern Java, to begin work. Immediately after the letter was read, a sister arose, and said, “I will give twenty pounds to send some one there to work for the women.” Soon after the close of that session, Sister Skadsheim offered herself for that field. It was finally decided that Brother and Sister Teasdale were also to be sent to Java, and Brother and Sister Wantzlick to Sumatra. Brother Joseph Mills, a teacher in the Avondale school, and Brother Fletcher, a young minister of the Victoria Conference, were sent to strengthen the work in Singapore.
Money was subscribed at this conference, also, to bring Bella Fox, the daughter of Sister Fox, of Sourabaya, to Australia, to attend school. I had expected that help would be sent to Singapore, but I was prepared to see Sumatra and Java wait another year or two before a start should be made, and my joy was unbounded when the committee on the distribution of labor read its report. I felt that I had no words with which to praise God sufficiently for thus early and fully answering my prayers. I have not yet ceased praising him, and I expect to continue doing so while life lasts.
Cooranbong, Australia.