Burma

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 10, 1906

The voyage from Calcutta to Burma was very pleasant, and I had many opportunities to present the truth to the passengers and officers. When we reached Rangoon, two physicians came on board to examine the passengers. With great interest we watched to see if any had smallpox, plague, or cholera. A native man was moved aside for a more thorough examination. I asked the chief officer what was the matter, and he replied that they feared the man had smallpox, and if so, we must all remain on the ship twenty-one days. Of course this made some of us very uneasy, as our plans were all laid, and we were anxious to go ashore. I felt impressed to pray that a further investigation might prove their suspicions groundless, and was glad to learn that the man was not afflicted with that disease.

Brother L. F. Hansen met me at the boat, and took me to Insein, where Elder Votaw and Brother Hansen are living. I found them all well and of good courage. Sabbath-school was held in the hall where they hold their meetings in Rangoon, and all seemed deeply interested. Elder Votaw, Brother Hansen, and I visited some of the Sabbath-keepers. One old lady, when asked how she first heard the truth, said that when Sister Smith was canvassing there, she invited her to attend a meeting. She accepted the invitation, became interested, and although her friends in another church did all they could to keep her away, she saw the truth and decided to obey, let come what would.

In reply to the same question a gentleman said, “I wrote to the Oriental Watchman and inquired about the binding obligation of the law; but instead of receiving a direct answer, the ‘Appeal to Clergy’ appeared in the next number of the Watchman. I took that as an answer to my question, and decided to keep the Sabbath. I was sending my children to a Baptist school, and when I told their teacher that I could not send them any more on Saturday as I had decided to observe that day, he was very kind, and closed his school on the Sabbath.”

Sunday night we held a meeting in the hall, and every seat was taken. The congregation was made up of Europeans, Eurasians, and Burmese. All gave good attention. One man said that he had thought no one could understand the book of Revelation, but now he had changed his mind. Tuesday evening we had another good audience, and felt that the Lord was influencing the people to listen to the truth.

Elder Votaw accompanied me to Moulmein, where we were met by Mg. Maung and some of his friends. We visited the lumber yards to see the elephants at work. This is a sight which I think would interest any one. The elephants would carry large logs on their tusks and drop them in the river. Sometimes they would slide them along on the ground with their feet, but every move they made was very graceful.

We were taken first to the home of Maung Chit Hla, where we were to be entertained, and then took supper with his sister. Here we met Mah May, who was the first Sabbath-keeper in Burma. Five years ago she saw the Sabbath from reading her Bible. She also understood that the kingdom of God is still in the future. She loves the truth of the coming of Christ, and says, “I have no other ambition in this life than to talk of my Lord and prepare for his coming.” Her godly life and her great knowledge of the Bible make her a constant inspiration to all around her. She is now caring for her aged mother, who is one of the four remaining converts baptized by Dr. Judson.

Maung Maung is Mah May’s brother. He has kept the Sabbath three years. His sister showed him that Saturday is the true Sabbath, but he was unable to account for the change until Brother Meyers taught him that Rome was responsible for it. He then accepted the Sabbath at once, gave up a good position, and pioneered the truth among his people for two years at his own expense. He has written and translated three tracts in Burmese, practically bearing the cost himself with what help his people gave. For one edition, however, Brother Chapman, of Nashville, Tenn., took up a collection, and sent sixteen dollars, which paid for five thousand. Mg. Maung’s wife has also united with our people, and is aiding her husband in his labors.

Maung Chit Hla was a Baptist, and, when Mah May and Mg. Maung left that church, he came over to Rangoon from Moulmein to restore them, but, instead, after some days of study he went back convinced of the truth. He did not fully obey until a few months ago, when he took a decided stand. On his trip back to Moulmein he read a tract on tobacco, which Brother Meyers had given him. We will give the result in his own words: “As soon as I saw that it was bad, I threw it in the deep blue sea, and have never touched it since.” He has learned the great secret not to take man’s word for truth in spiritual matters; he always asks for the text.

About the time he took his stand for the truth, he was joined by his sister Ma Thane Nu, who was formerly a Baptist also. She is a true “servant of the saints,” and accompanies Maung Chit Hla on his missionary visits. It was at her home that we were having supper.

We also met Sayat (teacher) David Hpo Hla, a brother of these two. He studied the truth for about three years, and finally yielded to his convictions, and left his position as catechist and teacher in the Church of England. He is a talented man and a splendid interpreter. If he keeps humble, we shall expect to see God use him mightily in reaching his countrymen. His wife and five promising children seem to be in accord with his stand for the truth.

Another sister of these, who all her life had adhered to Buddhism, has very recently taken her stand for the Lord, and has asked for baptism. She is nearly fifty years of age, and though the Baptists labored diligently with her, it seems that God reserved her for a kind of first-fruit from Buddhism. Her experience has been very marked indeed.

We also met Mah May, a niece of these people, who is much interested, and Miss Rena Shawloo, Maung Maung’s niece, whose father makes it hard for her to obey her convictions, as he bitterly opposes the truth. He studied medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Ko Miya Thum, a brother to Maung Maung, has been a great help to us, especially in reading proof on our new tracts. He has two daughters ready for baptism. Maung Kim, our first candidate for baptism in Burma, was educated a priest. He saw the truth through the efforts of Mg. Maung and his brother.

After supper we had a Bible study and considered Eph. 1:9, 10—The Mystery of God’s Will. We tried to close the study several times, thinking we had said enough for one evening, but they replied, “If you were to remain longer, we would not intrude, but now we must obtain all the light we can.” Mah May said that she had read her Bible through eight times, and had found that nothing in this world could give her the comfort she found in reading her Bible.

Since my return to Calcutta, Brother Hansen has written that Elder Votaw had the pleasure of leading seven of these dear souls into the water for baptism. We all feel much encouraged over the outlook in Burma, and hope to see some of these new converts enter the work and assist in carrying the truth to their people.