This morning after conducting our usual Sunday morning Adult Bible Class at William Booth Corps, I made my way to the basement to join in worship and preach at the Eratchippu Corps. The Corps Officers (pastors) are away in India for furlough.
I arrived at 10.45 a.m., took off my shoes before entering the hall as is the custom with the Indians entering a place of worship. There was only one person in the Hall getting the place ready. I need not have rushed for the 11.00 a.m worship. Folk started to arrive at 11.25 a.m. and we began our worship at 11.30 a.m. half an hour late. We call it rubber time - stretchable!
Brother Manikam led the meeting all done in Tamil and I gave the message in English and he interpreted into Tamil.
In our multi racial society, our services are conducted in different languages. This is the only Tamil congregation in Singapore run by The Salvation Army.
Tamil work started before the war at Race Course Road and Major and Mrs. Abraham from India were the pioneers. They had a hard time in those days and were persecuted by fellow Indians in the area. However, they persevered and established the first Tamil Corps. Mrs. Abraham was promoted to Glory and her husband returned to India. War came and the Corps (church) closed down.
In i953 I was assisting Lieutenant Douglas Kiff as a Candidate Helper. He was the Corps Officer (pastor) at that time. I recall both of us went to visit Brother Sevanathan at Kolam Ayer. He was at that time attending Central Corps despite the fact he understood very little English.
The result was the commencement of an Outpost Sunday School at his home, a one room labourer's quarters. So every time we held a meeting, they had to move all the furniture - a couple of chairs and small table outside. The room would be packed. Meeting over they would move their furniture back into the one room unit. It was so simple yet we sensed the moving of the Spirit in both Adult and children's meetings.
Later on The Army changed venue and moved to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel until the area was demolished to make way for a new estate and highway. This was in the mid 1970's when I was then the General Secretary. I recall visiting the National Council of Social Services at Penang Lane and the Housing Board and arranged for the rental of a shop house at Kallang Bahru at special rate because we used it for community social services. This arrangement is still effective today.
Lieut. Colonel James Sloan a Canadian was the Officer Commanding. We discussed the matter and changed the name to Kallang Bahru Corps and Community Centre. This allowed us to attract people of other races. So we began English meetings at the same time retained the Tamil worship as well.
The Army attracted many young people and children besides catering for the Tamil folk formerly of Kolam Ayer. The location was good as it was in heartlands and there were and still are many people in need of The Army's services. The estate is old and there are many elderly folk living there now.
Since we retired in 1997 we have seen further changes. The Tamil congregation moved to Little India at Cuff Road and when that closed because of high rent, it moved to Balestier Corps. Somehow it did not work out and it moved to Bishan till finally it came to Praisehaven at Upper Bukit Timah Road. It uses the basement.
The English congregation amalgamated with Changi Corps. As retirees we were not involved in the planning or decision. The leadership had their own reasons for not having the Corps at Kallang Bahru, but our social services continue with the renting of an additional centre for youth.
At long last we have a Corps Officer of Balestier, Captain Hary who has the vision and drive to restart programmes that meet the spiritual needs of the people at the shophouse as well as the youth Centre nearby. He has visited the people in the area and are connecting them with the Balestier Corps. Children and youth from Kallang are attending Balestier Corps.
The original Tamil Corps is now called Eratchippu Corps. We have a young couple, Lieutenants Dolly and Alwin from India appointed as Corps Officers. Interestingly the great grandson of Abraham is working in Singapore and he attends the meeting at Eratchippu.
I thank God for the privilege of ministering at Eratchippu.
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