Straits Settlements by GEO. TEASDALE.

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

Straits Settlements

By GEO. TEASDALE.

SINGAPORE.—A letter was received at the mission yesterday from Sister Chan Teck Sung, the first Chinese woman to engage in the work of canvassing in Malaysia. Perhaps you will remember the interesting little story in connection with her acceptance of the truth, and how she bravely started out canvassing from house to house, in opposition to all the customs and traditions of her race. It has ever been considered a shame for a Chinese unmarried girl to appear much in public, or to be seen by men other than friends or relatives. Mrs. Parkin accompanied her while she worked in Singapore, where she sold four hundred copies of “Christ Our Saviour,” both in English and in Malay, although the place had been canvassed a few months before, and four hundred copies of the same book had been delivered. Now she is farther up the peninsula, and is having good success. Her father and mother are with her, canvassing. They speak only Chinese; she speaks Chinese, Malay, and English. She says:—

“I am very glad to tell you that I have obtained twenty-seven orders to-day. This morning I went to the offices, and got fifteen orders, and in the evening I went to the Indian houses, and got twelve more.”

I believe that Sister Chan is one of many such workers whom the Lord will raise up to help spread the truth among the millions in the East. She reaches the women, whom neither a Chinese nor a European man can approach; and her knowledge of the languages is an advantage which it will take laborers of other nationalities many years to attain.

I arrived here a few days ago, after a rather uncomfortable journey from Europe. The work is progressing nicely, but the workers are not well. The climate is very enervating.

GEO. TEASDALE.