The Work in Singapore by G. F. Jones

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 25, 1906

The Work in Singapore

By G. F. Jones

G. F. JONES

‘Less than one mile from the most southern point of Asia is the island of Singapore, as a British sentinel protecting the rights of the several nations of the Malay Peninsula. In his merciful provision for these last days, God has made this place, under the British government, a liberty post, giving freedom of conscience to all men.

Penang and Dindings have a population of four hundred thousand; Malacca, one hundred and twenty thousand; Perak, four hundred thousand; Selangor, two hundred thousand; Negri Sembilan, one hundred thousand; Rahan, one hundred thousand; Johore, three hundred and fifty thousand; Siam, six million. Here are ten nations without any one to tell them that before every person now over seventy-three, possibly eighty years old, will pass away, the end will come. As it was revealed to Simeon that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, so its parallel is now a fact in the lives of some of the very aged here. They will see the Lord himself coming in the clouds of heaven. This fact ought to hasten the steps of many to these nations, for the time can not be very far off.

And these islands are not unpleasant to enter. They offer inducements to men of the soil. Markets are good. And for those who have the one object—the glory of God—there is the added blessing for the “faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

In 1900 there were sold all through the peninsula nearly six hundred of our large books—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Man the Masterpiece,” and “Ladies’ Guide.” Since Singapore was entered over a year and a half ago, hundreds more of our books have been sold, to the value of about $1,310, and hundreds of yearly subscriptions for Good Health have been taken. All these will bear good fruit. Again this year “Daniel and the Revelation” has been canvassed for, with already three hundred orders taken in Singapore alone. Tracts, Signs of the Times, and other of our papers, so kindly sent by our friends in Australia and America, have also been distributed. These silent messengers are doing their work and preparing the field for living witnesses to come and live among the people, and declare, with a loud voice, that the hour of his judgment is come.

The first quarter we reported four Sabbath-keepers; the last, twenty-five. The Sabbath-school had three enrolled; it now numbers forty-seven. The tithe in the first quarter was about eleven dollars, but has now mounted up to three hundred and twenty-five dollars. The Sabbath-school offerings have risen from two dollars and a quarter to twenty dollars. The retail value of books sold has increased from one hundred and fifty dollars to eleven hundred and sixty-five dollars. This steady growth has been in the face of the meanest opposition. It is the Lord’s doing.

Our needs are pressing. The time has come to buy land on which to put up a church building and school. A sanitarium also would be much appreciated in Singapore. We hope a good, faithful doctor will soon come and make Singapore his place of labor. We have started a health food store, which is gradually increasing its business.

Besides the nations I have already mentioned, there lie to the south, east, and west of Singapore some of the largest islands in the world. Borneo and Celebes as yet have had nothing done for them except that I have a few names, to whom occasionally I send our papers. Java and Sumatra are waiting for workers, and a thousand islands are still unentered by us. Singapore is the one grand central depot for all these countries, and they, with us, stretch their hands for help. Matthew, in the midst of his business, heard the call of Jesus, “Follow me,” and he arose, and followed him.

From Singapore Java has received her first Sabbath-keepers, a devout family of Eurasians. Mother, daughter, and son were the first baptized in Singapore. Sourabaya, the city in which they now live, has a population of four hundred thousand. They would be glad of help, as Java has nearly thirty million people.

Here we come in contact with people who belong to these different lands, and, hearing the truth through us, they convey it to their own people. A few weeks ago I instructed a native of Amboyna, but after reading with him several days, I lost sight of him, and have not seen him since. Possibly he has returned, as he told me he had no particular object in coming to Singapore. He will take the news of the Sabbath and of Christ’s soon coming with him. He was quite intelligent in the Scriptures, and his father is a Christian minister.

Another young man comes from Borneo, and is now studying with us. He is a good and promising young man, and speaks the Dyak language. We pray that he will accept the truth, and become a missionary in his own land. These languages are not picked up at will; so what we want is means to start a training-school, where earnest young people who already possess these tongues may be prepared to carry the third angel’s message to their own people in these far-away lands. There are some other very interesting cases showing that the Lord is at work among the heathen.

To-morrow I sail for Java and Sumatra, to visit those who are already there without a shepherd, and to get acquainted with those fields, after which I will write further.

Villa Hatsu, 12 Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore, S. S.