p. 16 | G. F. JONES by G. F. JONES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

G. F. JONES

By G. F. JONES

Singapore

G. F. JONES

Less than three years ago three laborers, man and wife and a canvasser, landed in Singapore to begin sounding the message of Revelation 14. Situated in the center of Malaysia, Singapore is a fitting place to sound forth the truth for this time to the fifty million or more surrounding it. The message can not be preached to this people in one language, but must be given in many languages. How this is to be accomplished with the few workers who are yet unacquainted with the languages and the customs of this cosmopolitan field, is a problem to be grasped through faith.

Let us now follow briefly and see what God has wrought. The solitary canvasser started his canvassing in the city; and by his genial and diligent manner succeeded in selling his books by the hundreds, and making genuine friends by the scores; doors were thus opened for the remaining two to enter with the Signs of the Times and the Australasian Good Health, followed by some nursing of the sick; thus again paving the way for a more thorough seeking after the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Bible studies soon came in, and some had the courage and faith to walk in the light. At this point the missionaries of the various denominations established here, discovered “a small and energetic sect,” as they termed it, settled among them that must be crushed or driven out. This crushing and driving has only served the more firmly to plant and settle our work in the field.

The one canvasser pushing forward entered the surrounding nations of Johore, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, and Siam, placing many hundreds of dollars’ worth of books in the homes of the people—Europeans, Eurasians, Indians, Malays, and all who had acquired the ability to read English.

Did God intend this work to be a failure?—Never! For many years he so prepared the field through the interference of British influence and by commerce and the educational system that it has been the aim of the people to acquire the English language. As God girded Cyrus for a great and final work when he did not know it, so these far Eastern nations are also prepared for the final purpose of God, and they do not know it. When the canvasser comes, the people fall readily under his God-given influence. These are notable facts in the “far East.” This same solitary canvasser pushed his way with his book into the Philippines, the cities of Japan, and the cities of China. The Lord alone can rightly estimate the work accomplished by this one worker.

Since the beginning of the time of the end, God has been preparing the whole world for this closing feature of his work—the entrance of the canvasser—by causing an educational wave to cover the earth so that the people could read our books containing his last warning and saving message to them. Above all other methods of carrying the third angel’s message to the world, the work of the canvasser has come first; our cause is built up by him and greatly sustained by his work and profits. It is the missionary life of every school among us.

As this brother canvasser traveled farther east and farther north, another canvasser came to rework the ground with “Daniel and the Revelation,” and, lo, much to our delight, this book also enters the home as readily as the other. This brother is now up the peninsula selling “Daniel and the Revelation” with marvelous success.

As many could not read the English books, we had “Christ Our Saviour” translated into the Malay language, and started Brother Timothy Tay, a native convert of the Malay tongue, over the same territory in Singapore, with equally good success. Already hundreds of these books have been sold, and this brother will again follow in the wake of the others. There are prospects that he will sell thousands of this simple but powerful story of Jesus to the heathen. God is in this work we know, and by this righteous work “he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”

The most numerous of the population are the Chinese; and to meet the needs of these we are selling here in Singapore at the present time about five thousand tracts. We trust soon to have a larger work to sell among the Chinese in the Straits Settlements that will give greater satisfaction to them as well as to the canvasser.

We are planning for other books to meet the needs of the various tongues of Malaysia. As we sow, so shall we reap; and we believe a rich harvest awaits this work before we are much older.

Let us again retrospect. Less than three years ago three strangers landed in Singapore from a German steamer

from Sydney, Australia, to give the present truth to the motley multitude. Now there are scattered through Malaysia three canvassers, two tract sellers, three ministers and their wives, one ministerial and literary worker, and one educational worker, one lady worker, and three Chinese lady helpers. Besides these, we understand that six or seven are already on the sea to land here in about two weeks from Australia, as a material addition to the work in the Malaysian field. All this is splendid evidence to us that the Lord means to accomplish his work in the appointed time.

For the purpose of training native converts we have this month opened a training-school into which we shall invite suitable young people from all parts of Malaysia. This school is about four miles from the heart of the city, and is situated upon a hill overlooking the city, the harbor, and the country around—a good location, which most of the time receives the refreshing sea-breezes.

We have decided to get out a small monthly paper in the Malay language as soon as we have the workers trained to canvass for subscriptions. Presses, type, etc., are all in readiness. Our greatest need is several faithful and tried canvassers who are apt to learn languages; and our brethren in Australia are doing their best to find these and send them. Our avowed object is to scatter the printed pages of truth over Malaysia as the wind scatters the leaves of autumn.

Wherever our missionaries have located, the work is onward. “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Now evidently is the time for all to connect somehow and somewhere with this mighty movement.

Singapore.