Meditation - to end the year 2017

 

Another year is coming to an end. The older we get the faster appears the flight of time. I hear again the lament, “Where has all the time gone?” It has been well said,

When as a child I slept and wept, Time crept.

When as a youth I laughed and talked, Time walked.

When I became a full grown man,Time ran.

And older as I daily grew,Time flew.

Soon I shall find in travelling on,Time gone.

Scientists are capable of making great discoveries, but no one has come up with a gadget to reverse time. They all emphasize its brevity. It is a warning for us to make the best use of time we have on earth. I remember an old song which says, “Time is passing by sinner, time is passing by.” If I remember correctly it was in a Salvation Army publication called “Revival Songs” I used to sing it myself.

 love Psalm 90 and repeat it often. When I cannot sleep, I don’t count sheep, I recite psalms that I have committed to memory. Psalm 90 gives us several pictures of life on earth all emphasizing its brevity. None of my family lived beyond 80, and here am I in my mid-eighties! Is it true that saying “The good die young.” And thank God I still have my marbles even if the power of recall is not as good.  We are to make use of time wisely.

Our mortal bodies are like dust. “You turn men back to dust, saying ‘Return to dust, O sons of men’” Yes, we cannot deny the fact that our physical body is of dust and to dust we will return at death. We are like grass. They are like the new grass of the morning – though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered’ (vv 5-6) However long we may live on earth, it comes to an end and we go to meet our Maker. Let us face this reality and make preparations for that day. Paul counsels us, “Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil..” Ephesians 5: 15-16

The New Year lies before us with the pages clean and unspoiled. Opportunities will come our way. Let us seize them.

Pioneering in Kuala Lumpur

I walked into the Officer Commanding’s office one morning in 1966 wondering why Colonel George Engel had sent for me. I was not trembling, for the Colonel was a very gracious, godly and approachable person, and made everyone feel at east in his presence. That can be said of Mrs Colonel Florence Engel as well. They never stood on ceremony. In fact it was not uncommon to see the Colonel fixing the plumbing or putting on curtain rods or doing minor repairs in officers’ quarters, particularly for the single women officers! Mrs Engel offered, and was responsible for the flowers every Sunday when we were Corps Officers of Central Corps. Once she even babysat Poh Chin for us. They were a very humble couple.

After the usual exchange of courtesies he went straight to the point. “Captain, I have specially handpicked you and your wife to start the work of the Army in Kuala Lumpur.” That was a bit of a shock for me as I thought of the awesome responsibility. He went on to reveal his concern that the Army did not have a presence in the capital city of Malaya. I was told to make my own arrangements to visit Kuala Lumpur, scout around for a suitable place to start a corps. Then he added, “Keep us informed. We will be praying for you.”

In actual fact the Salvation Army did have a presence in Kuala Lumpur way back in 1941 when Adjutant and Mrs. Harold King were sent to be the Army’s representatives there. He worked as the Court Probation Officer.  Captain George Tan Koon Hoe was sent to assist him in establishing a Boys Home at Cheras Road, Kuala Lumpur. The Kings later resigned from officership and worked for the Government. The Army never got off the ground. War came and Captain George Tan returned to Singapore.

In early 1965 an English Salvationist couple, Mr and Mrs Don Morrish transferred from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. They met another Salvationist, Neoh Ah How, also from Penang, working at the Kuala Lumpur YMCA Jalan Brickfields. They held children’s and adult meetings using the YMCA premises. With the return of the Morrishes to England and the demolition of the old YMCA building, the work of the Army was discontinued.

My wife and I were in charge of the Penang Boys Home and Primary School at that time when I was asked to scout around Kuala Lumpur, a city I knew very little about. It was a most challenging task. I had to travel everywhere by bus or walk. Thank God I had a good pair of strong legs and was quite used to walking. My only problem was my poor sense of direction, which meant adding more miles to the distances travelled.

I had visited Kuala Lumpur once before, and that was during our honeymoon in June 1958. On that occasion, I was too preoccupied with my newly wed to notice street names, buildings and landmarks! Had I known then, that eight years later I would be assigned the task of restarting the Army, I would have paid more attention to the surroundings, taken down notes and made a special effort to identify places! Just as well I did not or that would have spoilt our honeymoon, once in a lifetime!

I made my visits alone as my wife had to run the Home and the School in my absence and at the same time look after our two small children, ages five and three. We were blessed with good fellow officers at the Penang Corps where we soldiered – the late Brigadier Ivy Wilson and Lieutenant Esther Rengasamy,( now living in retirement with her husband Stephen in Banting) They were good friends and gave tremendous support to us, especially during my absence visiting Kuala Lumpur.

I trekked for miles and miles in the hot humid climate of Kuala Lumpur. Every evening I went back to the small Chinese hotel at Campbell Street absolutely flat out. It was cheap and cost only six ringgit per night! Chau Chin Lye, another Salvationist from Penang would take me on his scooter when he could find the time to do so. This was much appreciated.

Eventually I found what I felt was the right place and claimed it for the Lord!   It was a new housing estate called Taman Lee Yan Lian or United Garden. There was this row of terraced two-storey shophouses, and we had the end one. Downstairs (the shop part) could be used as the corps, and upstairs for quarters. A report was made to Colonel Engel.

On my next visit, Lieut-Colonel Thelma Watson, the General Secretary, met me in Kuala Lumpur. Together we went to see the place and owner, then after some bargaining we leased the property for $380 (Malayan ringgit) per month.

I returned to Penang to finalise matters and was farewelled from our appointment and the Penang Corps where my wife and I were also local officers. She was the Home League Secretary and I was responsible for the band and songsters. On 16 August 1966 we took a taxi and the whole family moved to our new home to plant the new corps. Everything was new, we had no records, no predecessors to blame when things were not right, nothing save the assurance of the presence of God Almighty who had chosen us for this new challenge.

Suddenly a telegram arrived from Colonel Engel. (Sorry no telephone, let alone mobile phone) He and Mrs. Colonel Engel would come the next weekend to officially open the Corps! I was not prepared for this, as I thought we should be there for at least six months or a year to sort things out and get some people first. No, the Officer Commanding wanted to open the hall and to quote him “get this over and done with” so that you can get on with the job.

We rallied the soldiers, Neoh Ah How and Chau Chin Lye (both from Penang) and Jimmy Lim (from Balestier Corps). The trio plus our family of four and Colonel and Mrs Engel, met outside the hall that Saturday afternoon and our leaders cut the ribbon!
  
The next day we had our first meeting of nine people in the congregation. We wasted no time in going out door to door visitation. I accompanied the congregation on my concertina the only instrument available!   In October we welcomed the newly commissioned Cadet Lieutenant Tan Thean Seng. (that was the rank he possessed at that time)  Together we worked extremely hard, struggled with our Cantonese (people in Kuala Lumpur speak Cantonese), contacted the people in the neighbourhood. Yes, every house in the area was visited. We tramped for miles, visiting the people, telling them about The Salvation Army, and the gospel of Christ.

Before Sunday School, I would stand by the hall door and played my concertina. This attracted many children for the Y.P. meetings. That was not difficult at all.

My wife was engaged in ‘market evangelism.’. Every morning, she would be in the market in her uniform talking to the ladies and many accepted the invitation to attend the Home League. By the end of the first year, Kuala Lumpur Corps was awarded the Command Home League Banner of Progress! We had a good league whose members, not only attended meetings, but also engaged in community service, like visiting the Sisters of the Poor Home for the Elderly. ( I wonder what has happened to that Banner, it must be in the Archives)

The work was hard, but we did get some response from the people in the community and many attended the meetings. In fact, our hall was packed full to capacity, and we had to borrow chairs from a nearby coffee shop to seat the people who came to the corps’ first anniversary! Among them were Dr. David Muttu and his wife of Reddy Clinic! They were Methodists.

My next task was to look for a permanent building to house the Corps. After much prayer, I chose Overseas Union Garden. At that time the whole area was vacant. Advertisements were up indicating that there would be a new housing estate on this land. I contacted the developers and the present for the Corps building was identified. Before we left the appointment on 4th July 1969, we had everything sealed and signed.

The building was not ready till in 1972 when Captain and Mrs Lim Teck Fung became the corps officers. They had the privilege of seeing to the official opening. Since then the Army has acquired the next door building as well. The work goes on and the Army continues to meet the needs of the community.

Batang Melaka (2)– My weekly trips to village

 

I am writing about the Emergency days 1948-1960 that provided the backbone of the anti-Japanese resistance. The communists retreated into the jungles and began a guerrilla insurgency to defeat the British colonial government, sparking a 12-year period of unrest known as the Malayan Emergency. It was originally the colonial government's term for the conflict.  

Despite the communists' surrender in 1960, communist leader Chin Peng renewed the insurgency against the Malaysian government in 1967.  This second phase of the insurgency lasted until 1989. He fled to exile in Thailand, where he lived until his death on 16 September 2013. My visits to Batang Melaka were during the time when I was the pastor of Malacca Corps (1954-1957)

I had a busy programme at my Corps in Malacca with daily tuition programme and other week night activities. Being single I had to do everything myself as the Corps was small. The teenager Ng Kim Loh was my best supporter. Joy Goh a school girl, living with her aunt whom I visited started coming to the meeting. She became a great supporter of the Corps until she moved to Singapore.

Every Thursday evening the Corps had a Holiness meeting. I could only leave Malacca early Friday morning by bus and travelled the 27 miles through terrorist infested areas. There would be police checks on the road – no food like rice, bread, salt sugar biscuits etc. The purpose was to starve the communists hiding in the jungle and villages. One day the police checked my bottle of water to see if it was salt water. Good thing it was tap water or I would be arrested.

Rice was rationed in all the villages in these areas covered by the emergency laws. No way could I take rice or bread for our officers at Batang Melaka! 

I would conduct a children’s meeting at Batang Melaka and give whatever help I could to the two English officers. I would stay the night with them and slept anywhere I could find a space even in the kitchen. Later when they were given the store on the Negri Sembilan side, I would sleep there in total darkness. One night a rat visited my ‘hostel’ to keep me company. One night it even bit my toes!

The Malay driver from Command Headquarters brought a lady officer to Batang. The lady officer slept with the Lieutenants Holden and Staples - three in a room on camp beds. The driver slept in the ‘hostel’ with me. The visiting rat, plus other insects in the middle of the night came to keep him company. He was scared, returned to Singapore and resigned from his job shortly afterwards.

I always left Batang Melaka Saturday morning for Malacca as I had an English meeting in the evening at the Corps. Also I had to prepare for Sunday’s meetings – Holiness meeting in the morning and Salvation meeting at night, plus Sunday School and open air meeting.

CHQ provided the clinic with an old Ford, really ancient. Often we had to crank the engine  to start it.  The two officers could not drive, neither could I.  One of Malacca Corps soldiers was the Branch Manager of AIA (American International Assurance) Whenever he could find time would drive to Batang to give Lieut. Irene Holden driving lessons. He was a busy man and could not visit Batang every week.

Lieutenant Holden would drive the car with an L plate and Lieutenant Staples sitting beside her as though she was the instructor! The village Police knew about this, but turned a blind eye for they were aware our officers were doing important work of healing the sick and delivering babies. The Salvation Army ministered to the people of different races and religion.  Eventually Lieutenant Irene got her driving license from Malacca! All things put right.

 

BATANG MELAKA CORPS – What lovely memories!

 

Time flies!  Age is catching up with me. Physical health is not that good, but mentally fairly alert. I have so much to write about the past and it is unlikely I’ll have the time to complete sharing my recollections. Lots of things I want to say will be left unsaid when the Lord calls me home. Never mind when we get to heaven we have eternity to share our experiences on earth.

Let me recall the days when I  spent in Malacca (that’s the spelling then. Later it was changed to Melaka)  Singapore, Malacca and Penang formed the Straits Settlements, each under the rule of a British Governor. The rest were British Protected States ruled by Sultans.   

After commissioning in 1954 as a Probationary Lieutenant at the age of 22, I was appointed to succeed Lieutenant Douglas Kiff as the pastor who after his marriage to Lieutenant Doris (Jean) Milton were appointed to Penang Corps. In 1952 I had served as a Candidate Helper to Lieutenant Kiff.          

The emergency was on!   Malaya with the help of British forces was fighting the communists.   Many innocent people were killed including British soldiers. The communists would come out from their jungle hide-outs, killed and maimed those whom they suspected to be pro Government.  Failure to cooperate with the communists would mean death.   The villagers were cowed and compelled to supply food and medicine to these terrorists.

Sir Henry Gurney, the British High Commissioner, was ambushed and killed by the communists in 1951.   Sir Gerald Templer was then appointed as his successor.  He was tough and was determined to eradicate the communists. He introduced some harsh measures.  One strategy Sir Gerald used, was to move whole villages near communist infested jungle hideouts into new areas.   These “New Villages” as they were called, were surrounded by barbed wire and security was tight.   In this way he succeeded in cutting off the supply lines of food, medicine and other essentials to the terrorists.

It was at this time, when churches and charitable organizations were encouraged to open clinics and provide relief to the new villagers. Missionaries from organizations like the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (formerly China Inland Mission) went into the new villages, learned the dialect of the particular area and began their ministry of meeting the social and spiritual needs of the people.

The Salvation Army was offered two places to commence clinics – one in the north near Butterworth, the other in the State of Malacca. 

On one of my visits to Singapore, (six hours by bus and crossing two ferries) the Officer Commanding, Lieut-Colonel Frederick Harvey, called me into his office and unveiled his plan to open a clinic and corps in one of the New Villages near Melaka.   I was to scout around for a place for a clinic in the State of Malacca.

Back in Malacca, I contacted the pastor of the Chinese Methodist church, Rev. Lim Kiam Sam.   (I used to attend his services to improve my Hokkien. My own dialect is Teochew)  As the new villagers were mainly Chinese educated, work had to be in Chinese.   Rev. Lim gave some very good advice and suggestions regarding place and type of ministry.   I told him the Army would try not to duplicate what other churches were doing.

The day came when Lieut-Colonel Harvey drove up to Melaka and together with Rev. Lim Kiam Sam, we toured the state of Malacca and identified a few villages.   Representations were then made to the Government for assistance.   The Resident of Melaka, Mr Bennett, was very helpful, and referred us to District Officer at Jasin.    We also contacted the Chief Medical Officer of Melaka, Dr. McMahon who gave assurance of free medical supplies from the Government.

The Army wanted to start a clinic at Machap Baru, but we were told the need at Batang Melaka on the Malaca/Negri Sembilan border was greater although this was not a new village.   It was quite multi-racial, as there were Indians and Malays who needed help.   The District Officer made arrangements for a wooden kampong Malay house on the main road to accommodate the officers.   We started the clinic in a Chinese school inside the kampong (village).

In 1955 Lieutenant Irene Holden, a nurse cum midwife, and Lieutenant Norina Staples were appointed to pioneer the work.  Straight from England they could not speak Malay, Chinese or Tamil.  The date of their arrival was given me, so one day Ng Kim Loh, one of my young people from Malacca Corps, and I went to Batang, a journey of twenty-seven miles.  Just the two of us, scrubbed, cleaned and painted the quarters.   At the instruction of Headquarters, two folding camp beds were purchased, the rest of the furnishings would be provided from the Jumble Store in Singapore!   Lieut-Colonel Grey, the Social Secretary, felt it was not necessary to buy new furniture or utensils.  (In Singapore she herself did not have a kitchen.   She had a kerosene stove under the eaves near the back door of Command Headquarters.   No cooking was done when it rained!)

The two ladies shared one room.  In the day time, the camp beds were folded up to provide space for a living room.  Near the kitchen, we got the local carpenter to put up a screen for a bathroom.   It was too costly to put a door and to quote Lieut-Colonel Bertha Grey, “Why do they need a door, when both of them are ladies?   Anyway, if they did not like the ‘bathroom’ they could always wear sarongs and go to the village well to have their bath!” And that’s how Lieut Colonel Grey spoke! I must add she was a very kind and gracious lady.   The toilet – well, it was up the slope of a hill and a bucket was all they had!    There was no electricity so they had to make do with a kerosene lamp.

I used to go there once a week to translate or conduct children’s meetings.   At other times, the two ladies just had to depend on whoever they could get.   Later, a girl from the Home in Singapore, Evelyn Tan, was appointed to assist the two Lieutenants with the interpreting.   The corps and clinic were in what was termed a “black area”.   This meant curfew was imposed from 7:00 pm till the next morning.   However, the nurse was given exemption to go out as babies defied emergency regulations and often arrived during curfew time, in the middle of the night!

The work grew in spite of  limitations.   Later, when the room next door became vacant, the District Officer assigned that to the Army.   The Army was able to use this facility as a clinic till a store on the Negri Sembilan side of the border became available.   The authorities and the villagers were very kind and gave good support to the Army and more and more space was made available.

The government leased land for us to have a purpose-built clinic, church and quarters.    The emergency was over in 1960, but the Army continued with our medical work till recent years when facilities had improved considerably.   It was also easy for the people to travel to Malacca town to get medical help.

Just in passing let me recall a memorable visit to Batang Melaka. I was the General Secretary in the 1970’s.  My wife and in one of our visits to Batang Melaka were met with a big surprise. Captains Betty Barnum (now retired in Canada) and Lieutenant Cherry Parker (now Mrs. John Umasanthiram living in retirement in Cirencester UK) prepared a lovely lunch and  Cake to celebrate our wedding anniversary! What a pleasant surprise!! How did they know it was our wedding anniversary? Memories O how they linger..!

 

 

 

Kuching, Sarawak

On 1st May 1962, my wife and I, with our two children – daughter nearly two and an eight week old son arrived at Kuching from Penang after a two week long journey by train and cargo Boat Bentong. We were the only passengers! We were to spend the next three years in Kuching before returning to Penang to take charge of the Boys’ Home and Primary School for overaged students!

The Salvation Army, appointed a single lady officer to pioneer the work in Kuching in 1950. She was one of the pioneers of the work in Singapore in 1935. The British Governor of Sarawak, Sir Anthony Abell had requested the Army commence operations in Sarawak.

The then Captain Elsie Willis was appointed begin the work of The Army in Kuching. The Army was provided with a building at Jalan Haji Taha to be used as a Home. Within a short space of time this home was full to capacity and the work of The Salvation Army continued to expand

Lieut. Colonel Fred Harvey the Officer Commanding had made it plain to the Governor, Sir Anthony Abell the mission of the Army. Sir Anthony was aware of this and gave the promise that he would allocate land to the Army to build a Corps (church) The rent is ‘one pepper corn per year!’ It’s just a legal term and I cannot recall taking the one pepper corn to the land office to make payment!

On 17 May 1953 the Corps started their worship service,
meeting in a small rented room above a mechanic’s workshop in Pandungan. Captain Agnes Morgan a New Zealander who had spent a number of years in China and was fluent in Mandarin, took charge on 17 September 1953 as the first Commanding Officer (pastor) of Kuching Corps. Hence it started as a Chinese speaking Corps. A Scout troop, Sunday School and other activities were also formed.

In 1958, Kuching Corps with quarters for officers moved to its current location at Jalan Sekama where larger facilities encouraged new initiatives and programmes.

In the same year (1958) The Salvation Army was requested to take over the running of a Boys Club and Hotel at Song Kheng Hai. The name was changed and The Salvation Army Boys Home moved to its current location at Jalan Ban Hock, where the building and grounds allowed room for rapid growth.

Captain and Mrs. Robert Webb were appointed to take charge of the Home. In 1961 he started a carpentry workshop which had a two-fold purpose – training the boys and thereby giving them a set of practical skills as well as generating income for the home. The sixties was a time of exciting new developments within The Salvation Army.

The superintendent and family lived in the same building with the boys. In 1965 the Government built the quarters with a void deck in the same compound. Later the Army filled the void deck and turned it into an office.
The Webb family moved in only for a short while before they went for homeland furlough in Australia. We were told to take on additional responsibility for the Home in absence of the Webbs. They were supposed to return to Kuching after homeland furlough. However at the last moment the Officer Commanding decided to appoint them to Singapore Children’s Home instead.

We then received word from the Officer Commanding Lieut. Colonel George Spencer that we were to relinquish Kuching Corps and take over the Boys’ Home. We were staying at Home at that time but visited the Corps to do meetings and other activities, in other words holding dual responsibility.

Major K. Vataja was appointed to succeed us the Corps Officer of Kuching Corps. Her assistant was another Finn called Captain Karhar.

My wife and I were appointed Superintendent and Matron respectively to the Kuching Boys’ Home. We started to unpack and when we had completed doing so, we received a telegram – Farewell Orders and appointed to take charge of the Penang Boys’ Home and Primary School.
Meanwhile the Kuching Girls Home had grown beyond all expectations. The Salvation Army was now caring for orphans, children and girls, and elderly women without family support.

In 1959, the home was moved to its present location at Jalan Uplands. One section was for babies, the next for girls and right at the other end for elderly ladies. The Army was catering for people from the “cradle to the grave.” It was the biggest Home in the Command. It catered for about 100 people. We used to conduct meetings at the Home. I conducted the most funerals while stationed in Kuching!

Attached to the Kuching Corps was a Kindergarten. Opening in 1960 the aim was to provide quality education at a price middle and lower income families could afford. The Kindergarten proved to be very popular and there was no shortage of students. It brought in profit to support the Corps.
By the 1970s hundreds of children had passed through the care of The Salvation Army and moved on to be productive and caring members of the community.
 
In 1974 the Girls Home was renamed the Children’s Home in recognition of the wider variety of work that was now being done. During this time The Salvation Army had in its Home a number of children with special needs. These mostly deaf or blind children were integrated into the normal home routines and were encouraged to live as normally as possible overcoming many obstacles and challenges.

We were serving in Kuching during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, or Konfrontasi, days which lasted from 1963 to 1966. The conflict was an intermittent war waged by Indonesia to oppose the formation and existence of the Federation of Malaysia. It was marked by a breakdown in political, economic and social relations that eventually led to armed incursions, bomb attacks, and acts of subversion.

At one stage it was so bad, our leaders were considering evacuating the reinforcement officers and our family to Singapore. I was to remain alone to manage the three centres. This did not happen thank God. We did live through some dark days when neighbouring countries were not at peace with each other. Let us pray for peace among the nations. Today Singapore and Indonesia enjoy very good relations.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

The Lieutenand became a rickshaw puller

Christmas is always a cause for celebration!   It is a time of bell ringing and carol singing, a time for shopping, decorating and exchanging present.  People are in a happy mood in celebration of the coming of Christ into the world over two thousand years ago.

However, the Christmas of 1941 struck a sombre note.   The peace and tranquillity of Singapore were threatened.    Enemy troops were advancing towards Malaya and on 8 December 1941 the invasion of Malaya began.   Instead of the ringing of bells, there was the raining of bombs;   peace on earth was replaced with pain for humanity;  no carols but crying, no “Silent Night”, but screaming sirens!

The Salvation Army hall in Penang was open every day serving refreshments to the people.   Many who lost loved ones and property came to the Army hall to receive temporary shelter, counsel and comfort from the officers and Salvationists.   When the fall of Penang seemed imminent, Mrs Major Mabel Harvey and her son Arthur were evacuated to Singapore for a final destination of Australia, remaining there for the duration of the war.

People were leaving the island for the mainland in droves, using a ferry because in those days there was no bridge.   They were full of fear, fleeing to the countryside for safety or to Singapore, the so-called “impregnable fortress.”   The Japanese eventually overran the countryside with the fall of Singapore to follow on Chinese New Year 15 February 1942.  Meanwhile in Penang, Major Harvey gave his young Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang permission to leave with the others, but the response from Lieutenant Foo was clear:   “No, you stay and I’ll stay!”   And he did stay to share in the baptism of fire!

Bombs began falling in the crowded streets of Georgetown destroying buildings, leaving half the city in flames and hundreds killed and injured.   Penang fell to the Japanese on 15-16 December 1941.   It was doomsday for the Pearl of the Orient!

Major Frederick Harvey and Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang remained in Penang.   There was much relief work to be done and they had no time to think of themselves, forgetting about their own safety in selfless abandon.   They used their car to pick up the wounded in the streets to transport them to hospital.

One day while doing their rescue operations a bomb fell near their car.   They jumped out and lay on the side of the road.   Though the car was hit the two officers escaped unharmed.   Divine protection was granted them because there was still much work to be done continuing with their ministry of saving people.

The enterprising Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang commandeered a rickshaw and pulled this vehicle himself!    He was in the full uniform of those days:   white drill tunic with long sleeves, high stand-up collar and long trousers.    Officers wore such uniforms every day.   He pulled this rickshaw all over the city of Georgetown to pick up the wounded and convey them to hospital, working day and night, stopping to eat and having a short rest only when ordered by Major Harvey to do so.    When he saw crying children who had been separated from parents who were either killed or missing, he put them in his rickshaw and ferried them to safer places.   He nursed the wounded in the streets and then took them to hospital.    He comforted the dying and buried the dead.    It was a strange Christmas with no reindeer to pull Santa, But Lieutenant Foo pulling his rickshaw as an ambulance vehicle to save lives.

Hundreds of refugees had flocked to the Paya Terubong evacuation camp under the supervision of Major Harvey.   When Foo Kia Pang went back to the camp he found the cooks had deserted and fled.   Without worrying about the loss of the cooks, he went round and got other people to cook at this camp ensuring that the hungry were fed.   The Major and Lieutenant worked tirelessly throughout the period of bombing till the British surrendered.   After that the Japanese took Major Harvey prisoner.

Yes, we celebrate Christmas in peace.   Although there are no bombs raining on us our world is far from peaceful.   The disaster of 11 September in America is fresh in our minds.   It is a stark reminder that satanic forces are still at work wreaking havoc all over the world causing untold suffering to humanity.   Our nations are vulnerable and we must prepare for any eventuality.   But just like the Christmas of 1941, the hope of Christmas remains as found in the old Christmas carol:

 But with the woes of sin and strife

  The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
  Two thousand years of wrong.
And man at war with man, hears not
 The love song which they bring
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
 And hear the angels sing.

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”   (Luke 2:14).    May we look to God and pray this prayer,  “Let there be peace on earth.”

 

 

Our appointments in Penang.

My wife and I arrived in Penang on 13^th November 1959 to take charge of Penang Corps. We had no children although she was pregnant at that time.  And on 8th May Mother’s Day our first child, Gladys was born at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital Burma Road. The doctor waived the delivery fees of $50.00, a lot of money in those days.

Major and Mrs. Edward Roy Page were in charge of the Boy’s Home and Primary School. They also ran a very big chicken farm in the same compound. The Home supplied eggs to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. Major and Mrs Page were very supportive as soldiers of the Penang Corps. Mrs. Page was the Songster Leader.

We ran two outposts one at Bayan Lepas near the airport in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Michael. Their daughter Jasinta  and her husband Lim Kim Ann are active soldiers of Penang Corps today. Every other Saturday, I would cycle from Perak Road to Bayan Lepas to do the meeting. In those days Corps did not have motor vehicles, except two bicycles! The children from the neighbourhood attended the meetings. Among them was Jack who is now soldiering at Kuala Lumpur Corps. When we were Corps officers of Singapore Central Corps (1970- 1974) Jack was working in Johore and used to attend Central once a month.

We had another outpost at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews at Glugor. Their daughter Lucy used to attend the Corps.

On Saturday afternoons, my wife would see to the Girl Guides (we called them Guards in the Army) and Brownies. Among the girls who joined the Guides was a girl named Pat Loo, now retired Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Tan Thean Seng. Corps Cadet Tan Thean Seng was one of our soldiers who used to go with my wife to sell War Crys at Penang Road  once a month on a Saturday night in the restaurants. I would go what we called “pub booming” on my own another Saturday night. One of us had to be home to look after our child Gladys.

Once a week I would cycle to Sungei Pinang to conduct chapel service at the Army’s Primary School where Mrs Major Page was the headmistress.

In 1962 our second child, Stephen, was born. Six weeks after his birth we farewelled and travelled all the way from Penang to Kuching to take over Kuching Corps. The journey took one whole week. We first travelled by train to Kuala Lumpur, then to Singapore. From them we had to wait for the weekend boat which left on Friday and arrived on Monday in Kuching on 1^st of May 1962. Officers were not allowed to go my plane. Even the Officer Commanding when visiting Kuching had to take the weekend boat from outside Clifford Pier. We took the launch from the Pier to connect with the cargo boat to take us to Kuching.

We spent three years in Penang Corps and for the last six months had an additional appointment of the Kuching Boys’ Home when Major and Mrs. Robert Webb returned to Australia for homeland furlough.

 

PENANG CORPS (part 2) Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs

 

After three and half gloomy years of ordeal and suffering under the Japanese Occupation, freedom finally came.  In mid-1945 the Allied Forces landed at Penang.   The Japanese surrendered and there was much rejoicing in welcoming a new era in Malaya.

When Captain George Tan heard the news of the surrender of the Japanese, he got in touch with Captain Tan Eng Soon, who had been working for the Japanese at a Cattle Farm at Sungei Dua.  Eng Soon was one of the earliest converts in Penang, becoming a Salvation Army officer in 1939.   Both of them were eager to recommence the work of the Army even though there were no instructions from Headquarters.   They found an empty house at 102 Burmah Road, which the Japanese had used as a geisha house.   Putting on their uniforms, they went to the Police Headquarters to see the Head of the Administration, expressing their desire to begin Army operations in this empty house.

“Who is the owner?” asked Major Drake-Brockman, the officer-in-charge.

“We don’t know,” replied Captain George Tan, “but we feel that this is the place we need to start a Red Shield Club.”

The British major remained silent for a few minutes, then instructed his assistant to prepare a requisition order for the building to be made available to The Salvation Army!  So the Lord provided the building!

The enterprising captains had no money.  The Japanese currency was as good as useless.    However, that did not deter them going round asking for donations of furniture, equipment, utensils and foodstuff.   Then they rounded up Yeo Kok Chin and others to clean up the place and repainting it with donated paint.

They prayed for a vehicle.  One morning, the two captains went to a motor repair shop hoping to find a used vehicle.   They saw a car driven by a Japanese.   The captains stopped him and spoke to him in Japanese, but the poor fellow who was trying to escape to the mainland just handed the keys to the captain and fled for his life into the jungle!   So now they had a vehicle!   They made a licence plate out of a piece of hardboard and wrote “SA 1”.

Along the way they saw a group of young men pulling a handcart with two 44-gallon drums of petrol.   They mistook our captains for the military police and fled for their lives, leaving behind the stolen petrol.  The captains retuned the petrol to the owners who were so grateful that they gave our captains a large quantity as a reward!   Later someone gave the Army a second car which they named “SA 2”.

There is always music in The Salvation army.    Captain Tan Eng Soon suggested that they rent a piano, even though they had no money.  One day, the captains were driving along Pulau Tikus, when suddenly, Eng Soon noticed some people wheeling a Grand piano along the road.   He alerted George, and they both got out of the car.   Turning to the people with the piano, he asked, “Where are you taking the piano?”   Without stopping to answer, they fled in different directions, leaving the piano with the
captains!  Well, it was only about half a mile from the Red Shield Club, so with some help and a handcart, the piano was brought to the Club!

During the Japanese Occupation, Tan Eng Soon had, at great risk to his own life, hidden the navy blue serge uniform belonging to Major Fred Harvey, and also the Army flag.   He took that flag and placed it on the building!   Triumphantly it waved in the breeze!

Lieut-Colonel Thomas Ward and Major and Mrs Jewkes en route from Rangoon to Singapore had to stop at Penang with little hope of seeing the Army started by Major and Mrs Harvey seven years earlier, functioning.    Some servicemen told them about the Red Shield Club about to be opened.   Surprised, they were taken to 102 Burmah Road where, to their amazement and delight, they saw the two enterprising Chinese captains in uniform, busy serving the people.

Major Frederick Harvey, freed from Changi Prison, was sent to re-establish the work in Penang.   What a pleasant surprise for him to see the Army already functioning under the leadership of the two captains.   The Governor of Penang was elated to welcome Major Harvey and greeted him with the words, “You’re just the man we want.”   They gave the Major an office at Police Headquarters, plus a member of the staff from the Assessment Department to assist him in relief operations.   People were soon queuing up for food parcels outside the Army centre.

The Red Shield Club house was used on Sundays for worship.   Salvationists were delighted to be able to worship again openly even if it was at the Club House!

Adjutant and Mrs Frank Bainbridge were appointed to take charge of the Penang Corps.  He did prison work sponsored by the Rotary Club, helping many prisoners to re-establish themselves back in society.   YPSM Reuben Michael rented the premises of the Lutheran English School at Dato Kramat Road.   Here, the Army held Sunday school and conducted worship services.    There was a thriving youth ministry under the leadership of YPSM Reuben Michael.   His daughter still attends the Corps to this day!

The Army remained here till a new hall was built at 53 Perak Road.   We thank God for the officers and comrades who, despite trials and tribulations, have kept the Army flag flying triumphantly in Penang.

Today a young and enthusiastic couple, Captains Andrew and Fiona Lo are responsible for the Corps (church) and Children’s Home.

 

 

 

Penang – Pearl of the Orient

 

Penang is a beautiful island.   My wife and I were privileged to serve in two appointments, at different times, on this “Pearl of the Orient.”   Our two older children were born there during our term as the pastors November 1959 to May 1962 and later from 1965-1966 in charge of the Boys’ Home with a chicken farm where I learned to perform my fowl deeds!   Charles King in his biography of Frederick Harvey wrote

“Adjutant and Mrs Harvey were appointed to commence the Army’s work on the island of Penang in 1938On their departure from Singapore the Adjutant was presented with an Army flag on an eight-foot pole, made in one piece, to take with him!   Evidently it was not intended that he should arrive incognito.  For a month the Harveys distributed handbills printed in Chinese, Malay and Tamil, and visited door-to-door, talking to the inhabitants in the Malay language.   Then open-air meetings began – just the two of them, aided by six year old Arthur, who handed out invitations to the meetings.

For a hall and quarters Adjutant Harvey acquired a former YWCA building.  The ground floor housed the hall, with quarters upstairs.  Opening day arrived, the doors were flung wide open and one old European gentleman walked in.   The Harveys had their first congregation!   They gave him a drink and prayed with him, then waited to see what the evening meeting would bring.  That night 12 came – the Army’s first corps (church) in Penang was established.

Many children in Penang were unable to attend school, so the Harveys commenced their own.   Within a few days there were 150 pupils, and the school was recognised by the education authorities.   Soon there were two corps, the second being opened at Jelutong, in an old rubber factory.   This had been turned into flats, occupied by Chinese folk.   But then one of the residents hanged himself there and the building acquired the reputation of being haunted.   Adjutant Harvey, undaunted by the tale, rented the entire building for just one dollar a year.”  (Taken from “Frederick Harvey” by Charles King.)

Lim Seong Cheng was one of the early day converts.  He came from a strong Buddhist family;   in fact his father was the chairman of the Buddhist Association, Penang.  Seong Cheng felt emptiness within him and searched in vain for peace from different religions.   One day someone gave him a copy of St. John’s gospel.   He read it avidly and found the Lord and later became a Salvationist, much to the opposition and anger of his father.

When war broke out in 1942 Corps Sergeant Major Lim fled to the hills for safety.   Major Harvey, as he was by then, heard that Lim was seriously ill.   The Major rushed there and found him, but it was too late.  Lim had gone to meet the Lord.

After the war, at the opening of a new hall (the one that was replaced by the present building) Frederick Harvey discovered that sitting in the gathering was Lim Seong Cheng’s father.   Still a Buddhist, he had come to present the platform chairs in memory of his son.

Years later, when my wife and I were in charge of Penang Corps, a couple came to the meeting – the husband a Scot and the wife a local Chinese.   The next Sunday they came again and both knelt at the Mercy Seat and were converted.   Later they expressed their desire to be soldiers.

 The day came when both were invited to the platform to be ‘sworn in’ as soldiers.   Standing there, she noticed one of the chairs on the platform had a plaque on it indicating that it was given in memory of Lim Seong Cheng.   She turned to me and said, “That’s my father.”   What a pleasant surprise!

During the war thousands of people in Penang were killed or made homeless by the bombing raids.   Two thousand refugees were housed in a camp and Major Harvey was placed in charge.

Suddenly an order was issued for all overseas women to leave the island.   Mrs. Harvey, accompanied by her ten-year-old son Arthur, left for Singapore.   From there they were evacuated to Australia where they remained throughout the occupation of this land.   Major Harvey could have fled the island, but chose to remain in Penang.  He was arrested by the Japanese invaders and sent to Penang Prison where he endured severe ill treatment for 13 months prior to his transfer to Changi Prison in Singapore.

After the occupation, Fred Harvey returned to Penang where he found two national officers – Captains Tan Eng Soon and George Tan Koon Hoe.   They had collected the necessary furniture, equipment and food to commence a Red Shield Club, catering to the needs of the troops.   There was much relief work to be done.   It was five months after the liberation before the Harveys were reunited and able to take homeland furlough in England.

Penang now has a beautiful building which we can be proud of.   However, the Army needs people to love and serve the Lord and His people, whatever the cost.   It is our prayer that our comrades in Penang will remain true and faithful to Him, so that many people will find Jesus Christ to be “the Pearl of Greatest Price”.

 

 

Look at the birds

"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" Matthew 6: 26 NLT

My wife and I occupy one of the four units above The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home. I consider it a “penthouse” with a beautiful garden. The cleaner Mr. Ma a very quiet and humble man does a good job in keeping the place clean and spotless.

Next door to us we have the Corps Officer (our pastor) Major Pascoe and Janet Ong. The latter loves gardening and has added her contribution to the beauty of the garden.

We have many birds visiting the garden searching for food. We can hear these birds chirping. Birds can sing at any time of day, but during the dawn their songs are often louder, livelier, and more frequent. I understand the male birds are calling out to the females, “come and enjoy ourselves.” And the females respond "Sure we come." News spreads fast among the bird population.

I first went to The Salvation Army at Balestier Corps with my elder brother and sister when I was five years old. So I’ve been in the Army for 80 years except the three and half years when Singapore was occupied by the Japanese when the Army was proscribed. Those horrible years, I'd rather forget.

Here’s one of the choruses we used to sing and I still sing it in my second childhood. Quite nostalgic.

"The birds upon the tree tops sing their song;
The angels chant their chorus all day long;
The flowers in the garden blend their hue,
So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you praise Him too?"
I’m singing as I am typing this message and praising the Lord. I wonder how many of you readers remember this chorus.

Sowing in tears

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 126.5-6, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Jesus came to seek and to save sinners. One day as He approached Jerusalem He could foresee the future of the city and it’s inhabitants Luke 19.41, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.” Yes, He wept for Jerusalem.

It's been a long time since I sang this beautiful song. I am singing it again to remind myself of the mission of Christ my Lord.

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by, the harvest and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Tho’, the loss sustained, our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Knowles Shaw

Higher Ground hymn lyrics

Trapped in a lift.

Eleven of us were waiting for the lift. It arrived and ten of us walked in. One lady decided to wait for the next lift. The lift door closed but then no movement. The group was silent. The someone cried out, “O dear, the lift is not working.” A few nurses were going to Bedok for a party. They all looked at their watches.

A few minutes passed in uncomfortable silence. Everyone was deep in panicked thoughts. Finally, someone said, "How?”. “ Let's just pry it open." “No, just press the alarm”  “Call Madam Low now, quick” She will fix it!

Claustrophobia kicked in. All eyes turned to me the oldest among the lot. They must have either expected me to faint, collapsed on the floor or even passed out. Or rise up and provide the answer to the plight. I don’t know!

After an uncomfortable fifteen minutes, we heard voices outside. “The engineers are coming, they should be here soon. Just keep still and wait.”

One of the nurses said, “O dear we’ll miss the party at Bedok! How?”
Someone else talked on her handphone "I'm trapped in a lift and it could be a while. I'll call you if I can when it's over."

Finally, we heard voices on the other side of the door. Then a voice yelled, "The lift people are here and they are going to get you out now — stand back!" Stand back?! How could we? Yet, people pushed backwards, I felt crushed. The doors smoothly opened. We were released from bondage!

This was the first time I ever got trapped in a lift.

Chorus came to my mind

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

 

 

 

KIWIS responded to the Macedonian Cry

Our Territory has been blessed by many Kiwis. I don’t mean the birds but the wingless and featherless two legged human beings from New Zealand! We thank God for them and their dedicated service in this part of the world.
With the impending departure of Colonels Lyndon and Bronwyn
Buckingham to the United Kingdom it looks like these human Kiwis are also an endangered species here in Singapore! So let us look after our one and only Kiwi – Major Ruth Pascoe who is still active despite living past retirement age. Reinforcement officers come and go, but Major Ruth Pascoe goes on forever!

Immediately after the war in 1945, our reinforcement officers who had just been released from prison were in need of a rest in their own homeland. Three and a half years of suffering in prison had taken its toll on their health. But they could not be spared immediately to go for homeland furlough. There was much work to be done in the aftermath of the war.
Everywhere were broken buildings and broken lives and these men and women of faith “counted not their own lives dear,” staying on to serve our people despite their own desperate need for rest.

One day one of these officers, Major Frederick Harvey, received a letter from the International Secretary in London, which said, “Delighted to hear of the good work you are doing – you are writing a new chapter to the Acts of the Apostles.” It was intended as a note of encouragement.

Major Harvey responded in his inimitable way, “Thank you. I’d rather be writing a new chapter to Exodus. When can you send someone to relieve me so I can rejoin my loved ones?”

Replacements did arrive to relieve these heroes and heroines of the faith. New Zealand was quick to answer the Macedonian call and five Kiwis were soon on their way. The War Cry of October 1946 had this report under the caption “The New Zealand party” -

“It was a coincidence that Commissioner J. Evan Smith, Territorial Commander for New Zealand called in at Singapore on his way home from the High Council meetings. The Commissioner was travelling by air and landed at Sydney on the final stage of the journey to find the five New Zealand officers who were bound for the then Malaya waiting in Sydney. They travelled by SS Marella from Sydney and were welcomed on arrival at Singapore by Lieut. Colonel and Mrs John Wainwright. (This command was then known as the Malaya Command.) This little ‘red dot’ was one of the three British Straits Settlements in Malaya.

“Their coming was timely and they were referred to by the Officer Commanding in the welcome meeting as the New Zealand party for their healthy Salvationism and ready-for-anything spirit which indeed brought new life and inspiration to us.

“Within a few hours of the arrival the officers joined with local comrades and Salvationist servicemen for a visit to the Singapore Leper Settlement. It was symbolical perhaps that the inmates of this hospital should be amongst the first to extend a welcome to the New Zealand officers. Their outstretched arms, some without fingers or hands, seemed to echo the Macedonian cry for help from a far country.”

One of the five was Captain Agnes Morgan who prior to her arrival with the team to Singapore had received her appointment to China. After a short term of service in Singapore, she proceeded to China and served during the last days of the Kuomingtang. She became very fluent in Mandarin.
When the communists took over China, she returned to Singapore and served many years in different capacities till she was Promoted to Glory following a car accident at Batang Kali, Malaysia. She and two cadets were on their way to visit us in Kuala Lumpur where we were the Corps Officers (pastors.) Upon receipt of the news from the police, I rushed to the hospital and saw her just before she breathed her last breath. I was the last person to see her alive.

This command has never ceased to welcome people from abroad. The Macedonian cry goes out loud and clear “Come over and help us.” The Salvation Army is an international Army and as such knows no boundaries. The word “missionary” used in the past has been changed to “reinforcement” and all our overseas officers are reinforcement officers. As such they work alongside our national officers for glory of God.

“The fields are white unto harvest, but the labourers are few.” No matter what your race or nationality is, God needs you. Respond with “Here am I, my Lord, send me.”

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My life in God's hands

The moment I am awake, I give thanks to God for giving us yet another day. Every evening before we sleep, my wife and I have our prayer time together.

We pray for our family - children, grandchildren and spouses and great grand children.

We mention names of our friends and commend them to God. We bring before the Lord those living alone. We think of a number of our friends with their spouses suffering from dementia and now living in Nursing Homes. Separation of happily married couples in their golden years must be painful. The list goes on.

We then commit ourselves to the Lord as we switch off the lights and go to sleep.

Gone are the days when I used to read a book before sleep. My eyesight is not as good so sleep is welcome. Last night in the darkness the song by Anna Waring came to mind. It is. It expresses her humility, and a willingness to fill a small and unheralded place of service, in the will of God.

1) Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me,
And changes that are sure to come
I do not fear to see;
I ask Thee for a present mind
Intent on pleasing Thee.

2) I ask Thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And wipe the weeping eyes;
A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize.”

3) I would not have the restless will
That hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do
Or secret thing to know;
I would be treated as a child,
And guided where I go.

4) I ask Thee for the daily strength,
To none who ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side
Content to fill a little place
If Thou be glorified.

In God's hands

My wife is now in Hospital and tomorrow will have the procedure done to her liver. We believe she is in the capable hands of the specialists and certainly in the hands of the Almighty God who is present everywhere.
Paul wrote: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Certainly we can pray for healing, and ask others to do so as well on our behalf. We know God hears our requests and answers our prayers according to his merciful will and purpose in our lives.

Serendipity

God gives us pleasant surprises to bless us. Both of us were home and my wife was talking about her forthcoming visit to hospital for some procedure. concerning liver – not a very pleasant subject.

In fact on that same week I shall be at another hospital to undergo further extensive tests concerning my eyes. I shall have my cataract surgery soon after.

We do have very good medical facilities and doctors in Singapore. People from other countries come to Singapore to seek medical treatment.

Suddenly we received a phone call. Four friends of ours were in the vicinity and decided to visit us. One couple – the husband was my classmate and his wife was my wife’s classmate in Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls’ School respectively in the early ‘fifties.

Another couple the wife was my wife’s classmate. What a lovely time we had as we recalled the good old days. They are all evangelical Christians and before we parted sang “Great is Thy faithfulness” followed by a time of prayer.

We also had another visitor, a retired nurse and former salvationist. What a wonderful time we had spending time together reminiscing the good old days when we were in our teens and now all in eighties eighties! Truly I can only describe the afternoon in one word – serendipity. I believe God has arranged this fellowship to cheer us up.

What a work the Lord has done
By his saving grace;
Let us praise him, every one,
In his holy place.
He has saved us gloriously,
Led us onward faithfully,
Yet he promised we should see
Even greater things.

Chorus
Greater things! Greater things!
Give us faith, O Lord, we pray,
Faith for greater things.
2.
Sanctify thy name, O Lord,
By thy people here,
For the altar or the sword!
Save us from our fear
When the battle rages fast;
Help us in the fiery blast,
Let us not be overcast,
Prove thy greater things.
3.
Every comrade, Lord, we pray,
Thou wilt richly bless;
Lead us forth into the fray,
One in holiness,
One in faith and harmony,
One in perfect charity;
Then we know that we shall see
Even greater things.
Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)

If crosses come (I'll not turn back

My life must be Christ's broken bread

My life must be Christ’s broken bread,
My love His outpoured wine,
A cup o’erfilled, a table spread
Beneath His name and sign.
That other souls, refreshed and fed, ...
May share His life through mine.

My all is in the Master’s hands
For Him to bless and break;
Beyond the brook His winepress stands
And thence my way I take,
Resolved the whole of love’s demands
To give, for His dear sake.

Lord, let me share that grace of Thine
Wherewith Thou didst sustain
The burden of the fruitful vine,
The gift of buried grain.
Who dies with Thee, O Word divine,
Shall rise and live again.

In 1947, Albert Orsborn was in Berlin on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (3,4 April) and then in Holland for Easter Day and Easter Monday (6,7 April). He later wrote:

"During my first visit to Berlin, when I met our dear officers in council in the war-damaged temple, I was burdened with a sense of my own inadequacy to match the occasion… I cried to God to help me, in my own spirit, and to let His Spirit work within us all, to bring us together, to bridge what seemed to be, in all reason, an impossible gulf between our respective conditions of living… God revealed to me that not only that day, but always, we have no hope of being a blessing to other souls unless our lives become a part of the Saviour´s sacramental consecration… Before I left Berlin, this song had begun to form itself in my mind. As I travelled toward Holland, along the straight but monotonous Autobahn, line by line the song was given to me, the last verse coming in the early morning following my return home."
The verses were published in The War Cry, 3 May 1947, with the title, ´Christ´s Broken Bread´.(Companion to the Song Book, page 118)

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,” This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19”

Malacca Corps - my first appointment 1954-1959

The congregation waited in suspense for the Officer Commanding Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey to announce and present the letters of appointments to the four cadets of the Shepherds’ Session.  When my name was called, I stepped forward, saluted the Colonel, and waited with bated breath for a few tense moments!   “Probationary Lieutenant Lim Ah Ang (that was the rank given to all newly commissioned officers), I appoint you as Commanding officer of Malacca Corps.”   There was loud applause, followed by shouts of Hallelujahs. That was 25 October 1954.

The weekend’s meetings over, we all had to wait till the Thursday to move to our appointments.   Three days of waiting seemed like eternity for me because I had wanted to get to my first appointment straightaway!    The commissioning was the climax for the weekend’s events, and we were all on fire for the Lord!! (In recent years I notice, newly commissioned Lieutenants go for a retreat at a hotel. Times have changed!)

Thursday came, and the Public Relations Secretary Major Stanley Gordon, fetched me to the Sing Liang Malacca/Singapore Express Bus terminal at Beach Road to begin a six hour journey by bus to Malacca.   It had to cross two ferries, at Batu Pahat and Muar.   There were no expressways then!

On arrival, I was met by my predecessor, Lieutenant Douglas Kiff.   He and his newly married wife, Jean, had delayed their departure for Penang Corps in order to conduct my welcome meeting.  We sat in one trishaw, while all my worldly possessions, comprising a suitcase and a small carton of books. Both of us  went into another trishaw.   We did not have far to go from the bus station to 69-A Wolferstan Road.   Malacca Corps occupied the upstairs of a two-storey shophouse.

On the front of the building was the signboard with the words THE SALVATION ARMY in English, Malay and Chinese.   Directly below it was another signboard – CHOP SI SOON, WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS.   What a strange juxtaposition!    We ascended a narrow staircase and entered the corps premises.    The main floor area was the corps hall, with 30 chairs.   A small corner at the back was partitioned off for quarters – a cubicle, which served as a bed-sitting room cum office for the Corps Officer.   It was most convenient for the officer to get out of bed and there was the office desk for me to work!   At the back was a small kitchen and bathroom, but toilet facilities were downstairs.   To get there meant descending the spiral staircase, walking past the living area of the people living downstairs, past a fierce German Shepherd, tied up during the day and freed at night to roam the backyard! No going to toilet at night.

There was plenty to occupy me – Sunday Holiness meeting in the morning, and Salvation meeting at night, the Sunday School in the afternoon and an open-air meeting prior to the night salvation meeting.   During the week there was a tuition programme, Joy Hour and Thursday night Holiness Saturday night English meeting.

Malacca Corps has an interesting history.   Early in 1940 Adjutant and Mrs Harold Matthews were appointed to pioneer the work.   Soon after their arrival they befriended a Mr Tan Kok Liat who gave them considerable assistance.  The upstairs of the shophouse mentioned above was rented to hold meetings.   At the end of that year twelve senior and a number of junior soldiers were enrolled.

 From the first session of cadets before the war, Lieutenant Edward Touruan was appointed as an assistant.   He was of Indonesian origin and spoke the language widely used by the Peranakans in Malacca.  Sadly he resigned after less than a year and Lieutenant Mollie Yeo Phaik Lean (later became Mrs Captain George Tan) was appointed to replace him.

When Malacca was invaded by the Japanese, Adjutant Matthews was arrested and put into an internment camp in Malacca.    Amongst the prisoners was one of Adjutant Matthews’ converts.   He had been engaged in raising funds to help China fight the Japanese.    Now he and his friends were in prison awaiting execution.   Adjutant Matthews was able to comfort and pray with him.   Another man, Mr Ong Teck Ee a confucianist, accepted the Lord and prior to being executed said, “I don’t mind death now that I have found Jesus as my Saviour.”

After the war, in 1946 Adjutant and Mrs Stanley Gordon were appointed to reopen the Malacca Boys’ Jubilee Club (A Boys’ Home)  This was sponsored by the Silver Jubilee Fund of Singapore set up in honour of King George V.   (Malacca was one of the states which made up the British Straits settlements.)     Adjutant Gordon was designated as the superintendent of this centre, which had twenty-one boys in need of care and protection living there.  

In the meantime Adjutant and Mrs Gordon worked hard to re-establish our Corps work.   The downstairs tenants – the Wine Shop, now occupied the whole property at 69 Wolferstan Road, including the upstairs part rented by the Army before the war.   Adjutant Gordon managed to persuade the owner to agree to lease it to the Army again, but there was some difficulty in getting the new tenants to move out!    After some hard negotiations the Army managed to regain occupancy. At the end of 1947 the Club ceased to operate and Adjutant and Mrs Gordon were transferred to Ipoh.

In March 1948, Captain and Mrs George Tan were appointed as Corps Officers.   The Tan family with three children used the hall as part of the quarters.   On Sunday and weeknights the place was a worship hall again.   Everything had to be moved into the cubicle at the back.   The pre-war soldiers who had been worshipping at the Chinese Methodist Church returned to the Army.   They brought their friends along as well to the Army meetings held above the wine shop.   Captain George Tan soon found himself busy with social work in the community.  He was a member of the Prisoners’ Aid Society, Association for the prevention of Tuberculosis and other welfare groups.   For his services to the community the British Government awarded the captain with the British Defence Medal and the 1939-45 Service Star.

In 1953, Lieutenant Douglas Kiff was appointed to command the Corps.  Malacca was a Hokkien speaking corps and he had to depend on interpreters amongst whom was Mr C Y Chang, a Methodist lay preacher.   The Lieutenant started tuition classes for the young people and the corps continued to grow.   I followed the Kiffs in October 1954.

 During the time of Captain Joan Bavin in 1967 the Army bought its first property, a two storey shophouse at Jalan Ong Kim Wee.   It was officially opened by the Officer Commanding, Lieut. Colonel George Engel, who received the funding from the U.S.A.   The corps functioned at this shophouse, till, with the increase in traffic and business in the area, the place was not congenial for worship.   The facilities became inadequate for our Army activities.

In 1978, during the time of Lieutenant and Mrs Alan Hickman, the corps moved to its present location, 321 Jalan Parameswara.   The sale of the shophouse was adequate to purchase and renovate this compound house.   It was previously used as a Doctor’s Surgery.   Lieutenant Hickman started the centre for the handicapped, using the corps hall during the week.   Since then the Army has added new facilities and even acquired the land adjacent to the corps property. The Army marches on in this historical town of Melaka!