A Visit to Madura by E. H. Gates

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 5, 1908

A Visit to Madura

By E. H. Gates

ONE day we visited the island of Madura. This is a populous island, separated from Java by a narrow strait. I was greatly surprised to find such a pretty island. There was a good tramline, by which we crossed the island to Bangkalan. The people are almost wholly Mohammedans, and the population numbers about two million.

We were probably the first representatives of the present truth who ever stepped on the soil of Madura.

At Bangkalan the sisters, who are able to speak Malay and Dutch, quickly sold the two copies of “Ministry of Healing” they carried, and twenty-five tracts. The purchasers of the books were Dutch teachers who could read English. One of them gave a present of a Dutch guilder to the sisters to assist in their work. The tracts were Dutch and Malay.

On one of the Sundays of my stay in Sourabaya, we all went, by invitation, several miles into the country, and attended a Javanese church service. The young Javanese Christians referred to above accompanied us, and rendered us every service in their power. This church was organized about fifty years ago, and the converts were from the ranks of Mohammedanism. We were received with great respect by the pastor and his flock. The church was a fairly neat bamboo structure, with a schoolhouse and parsonage in the same yard. The floor of the church was of earth, though well swept, and the seats were simply planks without backs. We were given chairs near the pulpit. The singing was fairly good, but we could not judge of the value of the sermon, which was preached in the Javanese tongue.

At the close of the service I had a conversation with the pastor through our interpreter, and learned many interesting facts. There are about fifty who take communion, though twice as many often attend. I noticed, as I have among other Javanese Christians, that the people are very orderly and quiet during service. If a baby begins to cry, it is at once removed. In this way no one is obliged to lose what the minister says. Mohammedans are almost unimpressible by gospel influences; but some will be reached when they see the beauty of truth.

At another Sunday night meeting in the mission house, there was a company of intelligent people, many of them heathen. Excellent order was observed, and close attention given to every word spoken. Those who had Bibles looked up all the texts.

When the commandment forbidding the making of idols was read, two of the Chinese listeners began to whisper together very earnestly, apparently giving their assent to the words read. I felt greatly encouraged at the result of the work of these earnest, hard-working sisters. They should be generously supported, and everything possible should be done which will tend to preserve them in health. Sourabaya is a terrible place as far as the preservation of health is concerned, and these sisters must not be allowed to reside there continuously.

Our Chinese sister, Gee Nio, has decided to give considerable time to selling Malay and Chinese tracts from house to house. The first two hours she spent at it were a success. She sold thirty-five tracts and commandment charts, and received a donation of two and a half guilders (4s. 6d.) from a Dutch doctor who became interested in our work. This is virgin soil, and there are great possibilities before our tract work.

A day or two after, this young lady sold tracts to the value of two guilders, seventy cents (4s. 7d.). This is better than giving them away entirely; for people appreciate what they pay for, and besides, there is a small profit on the tracts. This is an economical way of doing missionary work.

During my stay in the city, I held Bible studies each Friday night with Brother Fox's Chinese students. I was very glad to see that three at least of the oldest of these seemed much interested in Bible truths. They were clean, bright, well-dressed youth.

E. H. GATES.