After nearly five and one-half years' absence, I visited Padang, in November. I was glad of this privilege of meeting again the friends of other years.
AND THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM
The attendance at the Sabbath afternoon service had improved much just prior to my coming, and it increased during my stay until the meeting-room was filled, and every chair and bench was occupied by attentive listeners. A good many of both men and women were Singke-Chinese (born in China), and so not very well acquainted with the Malay. I enjoyed great freedom in presenting the vital, spiritual truths of the gospel, and a good interest was shown by those who were able to follow me. A deep impression seems to have been made, which we trust will result in creating a greater hungering and thirsting after righteousness. We have good reason to believe that this was the case with at least two Baba-Chinese, a young man of about thirty and his wife. The husband used to attend our services while we were in Padang about six years ago. He has attended Brother Bernard Judge's services and studied the truth with him for a long time, and he did not miss a meeting during my visit, when he could possibly get there. Whenever I spoke, I was much cheered by the bright, intelligent expression of this man's face. He seemed to drink in every word eagerly. The truth found its mark, and the Holy Spirit sent it home to his heart, as we knew when, after two private interviews, he decided to step out and confess Christ in baptism. Sister Tena Judge had labored faithfully with the wife, who, while timid and fearful at first, finally found courage to take her stand with her husband, and decided to be baptized with him.
So it came about that on the afternoon of my last Sabbath there, December 10, a little company took carriages, and following up the left bank of the10river, went two miles into the country. Crossing the river on the big iron railway bridge, which has a good foot-path on one side, we were in the midst of a beautiful tropical scene. I there baptized these two precious souls.
The railway from Padang to Emma-haven, the seaport, passes near by. Just as we were beginning our service on the river-bank, a passenger-train passed by, and as there was a halting-place at the other end of the bridge, it provided, for a few minutes, a curious audience of interested spectators, who had probably never before seen a Christian baptism. It seemed a pity that the train could not delay for a time, and witness the conclusion of what was to us a joyful and happy scene. God grant that many such scenes may be witnessed in Sumatra before the Lord comes.
