NETHERLANDS INDIES by R. W. Munson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1900

NETHERLANDS INDIES.

By R. W. Munson

PADANG, WEST COAST.—October 27 my family and I left Battle Creek for Toledo, and after ten-days' visiting our relatives and friends and the brethren of our church there, we started for New York. We keenly felt the separation from our kindred; for we hope to labor here till the Lord comes. And they doubtless felt the farewell more than we did, for reasons that will readily suggest themselves. Aboard ship we endeavored to bear testimony to the truth, but found that out of a company of more than forty passengers we were the only believers, the only vegetarians, the only missionaries. We were given a table by ourselves on the steamship “Amsterdam,” from New York, and had a very good menu, which, supplemented with our health foods, was everything we could desire. The officers were kind and obliging in all their attentions. We tried constantly to so witness for Christ that we should have no fear to meet them in the Judgment. Most of them acted as if they had never met real Christians before in their lives. Many of the men believed in nothing but things sensual. On the voyage from Amsterdam we found the same thing true.

We reached Rotterdam, Thursday evening, November 23, where we remained overnight. The next day we went by rail to Amsterdam. Before leaving Rotterdam I walked about the city near the railway station, and came upon the bronze statue of the learned Erasmus, holding a book in his hand. He was a timid, even a cowardly, soul who opposed Luther, but who still did much to help the cause of the Reformation.

On the steamship “Prins Hendrik,” on which we embarked the night before sailing, through the kindness of the owners, we found large, airy cabins, and a very jovial, good-natured company. We left Amsterdam on the Sabbath at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and the next day entered Southampton, where we remained two days, taking in cargo for Genoa and the Indies. On Sunday evening we went to a Congregational church and listened to an inconsequential and most disappointing sermon, prefaced by numerous announcements of church fairs, suppers, and other money-getting inventions. It was profitable to us in demonstrating the fulfillment of the prophecy, “the love of many shall wax cold.” As we were over a month aboard this ship, we had a better opportunity to bear testimony to the truth; but as we knew no Dutch, and but few of the passengers knew Malay, we could not hold any public services. But we did a good deal of private teaching, and bore a clear testimony to the truth, particularly concerning the Lord's second coming. When we left the ship, we left some Dutch tracts with the most hopeful and interested persons. We had a very pleasant voyage, particularly from Amsterdam as the weather grew milder all the way, gradually modifying from raw November to the balmiest June. On the Atlantic there were flurries of snow. As we neared the equator, summer rains moderated the heat of the tropical sun.

We prayed much on the journey that the Lord would go before us to Padang, secure a house, raise up friends, and open a wide door of opportunity before us. Our prayers have been all answered in a very wonderful way. A fine house in a most healthful part of the city was placed at our disposal at less than half its actual rental. We had hoped that the local agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, whom we knew well in Singapore, would meet us at the wharf on our arrival here; but as he has not yet reached Padang, he was not at Emmishaven when the “Prins Hendrik” came into port. But the Lord sent another good man to meet us, who has taken a very kind interest in us, and has rendered us much service in many ways. His wife speaks English, and is a superior woman, whom we are glad to count among our friends. This gentleman is a hotel proprietor, at whose place we stopped one day after landing.

Our ship sailed from New York on Sabbath; also from Amsterdam on the Sabbath; and we landed here on the Sabbath: a singular series of coincidences.

On Sunday we called on Missionary Dorensoft, of the Rhenish Mission, who kindly assisted us in finding a cheaper boarding place. His wife went with us to the home of a widow, a truly godly woman, who has been here for thirty years or more, and who received us with great kindness of heart,

and gave us a very low rate for the five days we were there.

I called on the assistant resident and found him a very gentlemanly person indeed. He showed me much courtesy and kindness. In short, we have met with nothing but kindness. My object in calling on the resident was to apply for permission to reside in Padang, which was readily granted for six months. Before that period expires I must apply for its renewal, or approach the governor and ask for a life permit.

Besides this I must also apply through the governor of the West Coast, to the governor general at Batavia, Java, for permission to labor among the Chinese. In the meantime I expect to open a school for instruction in English, March 5; and before doing so, I have to obtain from the governor a license. Thus it is seen by how many restrictions the government hedges in missionary work. But after permission is once obtained, no other society will be permitted to enter the same field; that is, to work among the same class or race of people.

There is a lively interest in English education, and from present indications I shall have from twenty-five to fifty boys at the start. There are many who are asking me to open a night school also, in order to accommodate those who must work by day. I shall need help long before I get it I fear. There have been some most joyful tokens also in direct evangelistic work.

We found here a young Chinaman, of twenty-two years, whom I had baptized and received into the church at Singapore, and who was strongly attached to us there. He is a stanch Christian, and is preaching the Word faithfully. He is living with us, and studying the word of God. A week or two ago he went to an old uncle's house near by, and came back with radiant countenance, telling me that his old uncle, who used to be the richest man in the district, had been eagerly listening to the gospel. And this led to a visit first by myself, and then by Mrs. Munson and myself with our Bilhorn organ. The old man is eagerly reading the New Testament, and rises at four o'clock every morning to do so. I explained the Sabbath truth to him, and he said, most simply, “I shall observe all you say, for I want to serve God. I have found out the vanity of all earthly things, and I am resolved to make my peace with God.” He is not a common heathen, for he is a man of extraordinary intelligence in matters of law and public business; and although he has lost his fortune, he still has a competence, and has retired from public life. He used to be known as “Company No. 2,” or “Government Number Two.” He has a family of thirteen children. He both reads and speaks Dutch, and is often consulted by younger men in business matters. This is the man who has for two years been groping in the dark for salvation; and when he heard the gospel sung and preached, he exclaimed over and over again, “How sweet this is to my heart!”

So God is opening hearts to the Word. Only this morning a young man, a half-caste, of fine manners, and speaking English, called, and was present at our morning worship. After prayers I opened up the Sabbath truth. It came about incidentally, and after reading Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11, and Matt. 5:17-19, he said very frankly, “I never heard of such a thing, but I see very clearly that the seventh day is the Sabbath.”

Padang is a very beautiful place and very healthful. I find many Dutchmen who have been here from twenty to thirty-five years, and are now in excellent health. This makes my heart rejoice, for we hope to stay here till the Lord comes. We are all in good health, and some of us in better health than we had in America. This is particularly the case with Mrs. Munson. I am teaching the children myself at home, and they are doing well.

I want the prayers of all the REVIEW readers that God will open hearts to receive the Word and to walk in the light. Prayers have already been heard, and I am strong in faith that we shall see a company raised up here who will enter the kingdom.

I have finished reading 'Empires of the Bible' and 'Great Empires of Prophecy,' with great profit. I am now reveling in D'Aubigne's 'History of the Reformation.' Present truth seems richer and more glorious the more we study it. We never were more joyful or more hopeful than now, and feel singularly happy in being here in this field, white unto the harvest.

For six weeks we have been longingly looking for the friendly and familiar face of the REVIEW AND HERALD, but have so far waited in vain. We hope ere long to receive a copy. Several copies of the Signs of the Times have arrived, and been most keenly relished. The Harvest Number was a special treat. We read it from beginning to ending. It was worth a year's subscription. The Conference Bulletin, containing the readings for the week of prayer, was intensely interesting and was greatly enjoyed.

R. W. MUNSON.

Feb. 18, 1900.