Seven Streets Precinct
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A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses. It can, for example, refer to a division of a police department in a large city (not just the area patrolled, but the police station itself).
The Seven Streets Precinct in Penang is a triangular land space bordering Magazine Road(頭條路), Jalan CY Choy(（崔耀才路）, Jalan Gurdwara(古華拉路)/Jalan Brick Kiln(風車路). This triangular piece of land is anchored by Magazine Circus to the northwest(near Craven Cafe/Gama/Komtar today), the junction of Anson Bridge to the northeast(the bridge over Prangin Canal or Prangin Ditch), and Sungai Pinang Bridge(the bridge over Penang River or Sungai Pinang) to the south. Anson bridge was named after Major General Archibald Edward Harbord Anson,KCMG,was appointed as the last Lieutenant Governor of Penang from 1867 to 1882.
The anchor point of North west at Magazine Circus or local Chinese called Goh-chan-teng(五盏灯, which means 5 gaslamps), where Penang Road(檳榔路), Macalister Road(中路), Magazine Road(頭條路), Brick Kiln Road(風車路) and Dato Kramat Road(柑仔園) met. Actually it was a 6 roads junctions, the old Gladstone Road(火車路) had disappeared and make way for the Komtar project. The state tourism authority should have put up the old gaslamp at the juctions, to let the place have a nostalgic look of old Penang. In San Diego, there is an area called Gaslamp Quarter, which resemble the area, the place can be developed together with KOMTAR as shopping heaven. It was the place the Penang famous Nasi Kandar originated, from the simple dishes of working class,police and prison wardens to one of the most popular food in Penang, and the old Craven Cafe still open today.
The other anchor point is the Anson Bridge over Prangin Canal or prangin Ditch at Beach Street, where the place is close to the Prangin Whosale Market or Sia-buai, now demolished. From Beach Street it is connected to the commercial centre and banking hub. The canal connected it by canal to the seafront where the goods from the vessel are disload from the ships in the habour to the boats in the canal, and all the way to Prangin Market or even to Transfer Road Ditch at Titi Papan... from the Bridge street(now CY Choy Street) it connected to the working class neighborhood, where the pool of human labor was from. It was also the place where vegetable farms provided the fresh vegetables to the city.
The anchor point at the south is the bridge over Penang River or Sungai Pinang, where there was a fishing village,and warehouses are located. It is further connected to Julutong, then the country side, where the farm, orchard, plantation are found; vegetables, fruits, cash crops, timber and firewood can be obtained. Today, Penang River is one of the dirtiest rivers.
There are 7 major streets within the Seven Street Precinct, after Prangin Ditch, within the triangular grid or block bordering Magazine Road, Jalan CY Choy(formerly Bridge Street), Jalan Gurdwara/Jalan Brick kiln. The street are mainly named after people from Strait Settlement days. The block is actually followed Bridge Street from one bridge over Prangin Ditch to bridge over Sungai Pinang(Penang River). These main roads joined the Bridge Street and Brick Kiln Road the other end, parallel to each others. The Seven Streets Precinct, or Chit Tiau Lor in Hokkien, is an area in George Town immediately south of the Prangin Canal. This triangular piece of land is anchored by Magazine Circus to the northwest, the junction of Anson Bridge to the northeast, and Sungai Pinang Bridge to the south. It is a working class neighborhood.
The 7 main streets of Seven Street Precinct are:-
1. Magazine Road or Jalan Magazine(1st street or 頭條路) - named after the government gunpowder depot formerly there. The Chinese called it thau-tiau-lor(1st Road).
2. Noordin Street or Lebuh Noordin(2nd street or 二條路) - named after H. M. Noordin, Indian Muslim Merchant & one of the founders of the Kapitan Kling Mosque. The Chinese called it ji-tiau-lor(2nd street)
3. Presgrave Street or Lebuh Presgrave(3rd street or 三条路) - named after Edward Presgrave, who founded the law firm of Presgrave & Matthews on Beach St in 1898. The Chinese called it sa-tiau-lor(3rd Street). At night Presgrave Street become active as food street.
4. Tye Sin Street or Lebuh Tye Sin（4th street or 四条路) - named after Foo Tye Sin, a commissioner into the causes of the 1867 Penang Riots. The Chinese called si-tiau-lor(4th street)
5. Macalum Street or Lebuh Macalum(5th street or 五條路) - named after Colonel Sir Henry McCallum, Colonial Engineer of the Straits Settlements (1884-1889). The Chinese called it go-tiau-lor(5th street)
6. Katz Street or Lebuh Katz(6th street or 六條路) - named after the importing agents, Katz Brothers Ltd, established in 1864. The Chinese called it lak-tiau-lor(6th Street)
7. Cecil Street or Lebuh Cecil(7th street or 七條路) - named after Sir Cecil Clementi, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1930-1934).The Chinese called it Chhit-tiau-lor(7th street)
Other shorter side roads within the Seven Street Precinct, mainly named after places are:
1. Peking Road or Jalan Peking(北京路) - named after Beijing(北京市)
2. Nanking Road or Jalan Nanking(南京路) - named after Nanjing(南京市), the Chinese still called it 7th street, shared the same name as Cecil Street.
3. Herriot Street or Lebuh Herriot(8th street,八條路) - named after Stuart Herriot, British merchant who wrote the petition of the Capitan China, Chung Keng Kwee, and others in 1872, asking for British intervention in Perak after the Larut Riots. The Chinese called it peh-tiaû-lor(8th street)
4. Sandilands Street or Lebuh Sandilands(9th street,九條路) - named after After G. M. Sandilands, a British trader who co-founded Lorraine, Sandilands & Co. in Penang in 1859. The Chinese called it kau-tiau-lor(9th Street)
McNair Street(過港仔橫街)
The street called McNair Street or Lebuh McNair, have been broken into 2 parts after development of KOMTAR. One part connected Carnarvon Street or Lebuh Carnarvon(沓田仔街), and Jalan Lim Chwee Leong(formerly Prangin Road) to Magazine Road(just opposite Hui Aun Association惠安会馆). The street is then broken by Magazine Road, and no longer a thoroughfare. The other part between Magazine Road and Sandilands Street. It runs vertically from north to south, at the middle of the triangular block of Seven Streets Precinct, cutting the precinct into two halves. McNair Street is named after Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang (1880-1884). The Chinese called it koe-kang-a-hang-ke(過港仔橫街), which literally means side road of Bridge Street(過港仔直街). In the old days, McNair Street start from the Sia-boi(杜尾万山)roundabout straight to Sandilands Street. I still remember at the corner with Maxwell Road(港仔墘) which was from Penang road to Magazine Road, but now shorten to a small part at sia-boi side(“柴埕”), at the corner there was a coffee shop, next to a fruit shop.
This is the place, where used to have the porridge stalls, where you need to sit on the stools over the long bench. This type of porridge stalls have been the norm of the working class residents in Seven Streets Precinct, and this had been their daily routine for many decades until KOMTAR and repel of Rent Control Act. The living heritage is lost like others.....if you still want to try the nostalgic porridge by sitting on the stool over the long bench, there is one stall opposite the Trader Hotel at Magazine Road still have the old tradition.
Jalan CY Choy（崔耀才路）
Jalan CY Choy was formerly Bridge Street(過港仔直街), named after the Anson Bridge over the Prangin Ditch and the bridge over the Pinang River, which it links. New Malay name after C. Y. Choy（崔耀才）, the last Mayor of George Town (1964-1966). The Chinese however divided it into 3 parts, namely
(i) North (Beach St) end - 過港仔 Kòe-káng-á, which literally means Past the Prangin Ditch
(ii)Middle - 枋廊 Pang-lông which literally means sawmill
(iii)South (Jelutong Rd) end - 城隍廟路 Sêng-hông-biō-lor, which literally means City god temple road
Outside the Seven Streets Precinct, after Jalan CY Choy(formerly Bridge Street), toward the seashore are the area with many timber houses on the swampy land. These streets are normally end with the words Ghat or Gat in Malay. Ghat being a Hindi word meaning a broad flight of steps leading down to a riverbank or seashore.
GAT LEBUH NOORDIN 土桥尾
GAT LEBUH PRESGRAVE 三條路網寮
GAT LEBUH MACALLUM 五條路填地
GAT LEBUH CECIL 七條路填地
GAT LEBUH SANDILANDS 八條路網寮
The extract from http://www.penang-traveltips.com/seven-streets-precinct.htm reported the following:
"For much of the 19th century, the area was a collection of Chinese villagers, with Koay Kangnga ("Across the River") being the settlement closest to the Prangin Canal. Beach Street continues south in the form of a country path that meandered along the coast towards the plantations in Gelugor and Batu Lanchang (by the way, "Batu Lanchang" in the 19th century refers to much of what is Green Lane today). Living in the Seven Streets Precinct area (it wasn't called that yet) were Hokkiens who worshipped at temples such as the Seng Ong Beow Temple, at that time surrounded by mangrove, somewhere between land and sea. The kampung houses within that area were not arranged in any particular order - it is similar to the kampungs we see today, with clusters of houses interrupted by vegetable plots. The settlers, mostly farmers, sent their produce to the Prangin Canal, where they are loaded to boats and distributed elsewhere in town. Similarly, fish and imported goods come in through the canal and are sent to godowns and sundry shops".
(source: Seven Streets Precinct, by Timothy Tye)
The houses along the streets within the Seven Streets Precinct today were built in the late 19th century. The spill of effect from the Francis Light Grid and Carnarvon Street/Sia buay area slowly bought development to the precinct. Vegetable farms and wooden houses were replaced with brickhouses, businesses of sawnmill, foundry and some cottage industries were developed. But the area remained as the working class population. It was the no man land where Chinese gang and triad activities were active. Most of the people from the city will avoid the area. The area remained as that until late 70s and early 80s, where some public housing was developed in the area after KOMTAR project.
In the late 80s, due to the industrial development, some of the small foundry in the area, began to developed into supply base for the electronic factories in Bayan Lepas, some small companies become successful and being listed in Bursar Malaysia today. Some of the second generation are doing well and become professional or sucess in business, moved out. The area was also affected badly by the repel of Rent Control Act. Area in Magazine Road is now seeing the negative effect. The last lantern or "teng" maker at Magazine Road has left. However in the Bridge Street or CY Choy Street today, there is still some cultural activities at the area during the Chinese New Year, the 9th day of first month of Chinese lunar calendar. The cultural activities or praying activities are unique, and should considered as living heritage for Penang.
The precinct still have one of the rich source of colonial pre-war shop houses, it is also a golden area where the developers are eyeing for. It is a pity that the area is not included in UNESCO World Heritage Zone.
The State government and MPPP urgently need to listed the area, before it is too late...... do we have the political will to preserve this precinct?......
Related articles
1. Seven Streets Precinct, http://www.penang-traveltips.com/seven-streets-precinct.htm
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Penang Rulers
Penang's Rulers
Title of Head of Penang Government since 1786
* Superintendent 11 August 1786
* Lieutenant governor 1799
* Governor 1805
* Resident councilor 1849
* Japanese governor 1941
* British military governor 1945
* Resident commissioner 1946
* Governor (ceremonial) 31 August 1957
* Chief minister 12 June 1959
11 Aug 1786 British colony (Prince of Wales Island)
1826 part of Straits Settlements
1946 part of Malaya/Malaysia
Superintendents (of the British East India Company)
11 Aug 1786 - 21 Oct 1794 Francis Light (b. 1740 - d. 1794)
1794 - 1795 Philip Mannington
1795 - 1799 Forbes Ross MacDonald (b. ... - d. 1799)
Lieutenant governors
1799 - 1804 Sir George Leith (b. 1766 - d. 1842)
1804 - 1805 Robert Townsend Farquhar (b. 1776 - d. 1830)
Governors
1805 - 1807 Philip Dundas (b. 17... - d. 1807)
1807 - 1810 Norman Macalister
1810 Charles Andrew Bruce (b. 1768 - d. 1810)
1810 - 1812 William Edward Phillips (1st time) (b. 1769 - d. 18...)
1812 - 1816 William Petrie (b. 17... - d. 1816)
1816 - 1817 William Edward Phillips (2nd time) (s.a.)
1817 - 8 Aug 1819 John Alexander Bannerman (b. 1758 - d. 1819)
1819 - 1824 William Edward Phillips (3rd time) (s.a.)
20 Aug 1824 - 1826 Robert Fullerton (b. 1773 - d. 1831)
Resident councillors
1849 - 1855 Edmund Augustus Blundell (b. 1804? - d. 1868)
1855 - 1860 William Thomas Lewis (b. 1791 - d. 1875)
1860 - 1867 Henry Man (b. 1815 - d. 1898)
1867 - 1883 Archibald Edward Harbord Anson (b. 1826 - d. 1925)
1883 - 1887 Charles John Irving (b. 1831 - d. 1917)
1887 - 1897 Allan Maclean Skinner (b. 1846 - d. 1901)
1894 - 1895 Francis James Anderson (acting) (b. 18... - d. 1920)
1897 - 11 Jul 1904 Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley (b. 1849 - d. 1904)
1904 - 1907 James Kortright Birch (b. 1850 - d. 19...)
1907 - 1910 Robert Norman Bland (b. 1859 - d. 1948)
1910 - 1914 William Evans (b. 1860 - d. 1936)
1914 - 1917 Alfred T. Bryant
1917 - 1919 Walter Cecil Michell (b. 1864 - d. 1939)
1919 - 1922 Gilbert A. Hall
1922 - 1925 Arthur Blennerhassett Voules (b. 1870 - d. 1954)
1925 - 1926 William Peel (b. 1875 - d. 1945)
1926 - 1928 Ralph Scott (b. 1874 - d. 19...)
1928 - 1930 Meadows Frost (b. 1875 - d. 1954)
1930 - 1931 Edward Wilmot Francis Gilman (b. 1876 - d. 1955)
May 1931 - 1933 Percy Tothill Allen (b. 1878 - d. 19...)
(acting to Aug 1931)
1933 - 1941 Arthur Mitchell Goodman (b. 1886 - d. 1961)
Japanese governors
Dec 1941 - 1942 Shotaro Katayama
1942 - 1944 Masakichi Itami
1944 S. Ikagawa
1944 - 1945 Seiichiro Shinohara
British military governors
1945 Peter Dicken Cracroft (b. 1907 - d. 2003)
1945 - 1946 Thomas John Norman Hilken (b. 1901 - d. 1969)
Resident commissioners
1946 Norman Grice (b. 1893 - d. ...)
May 1946 - 1948 Sydney Noel King (b. 1897)
1948 George Evan Cameron Wisdom (b. 1899 - d. 1958)
(acting)
1948 - 1951 Arthur Vincent Aston (b. 1896 - d. 1981)
1951 - 1957 Robert Porter Bingham (b. 1903 - d. 1982)
Heads of State (title Yang di-Pertua Negeri)
31 Aug 1957 - 30 Aug 1967 Raja Sir Tun Uda Al-Haj bin Raja
Muhammad (b. 1894 - d. 1976)
31 Aug 1967 - 31 Jan 1969 Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Abdullah
Shahabuddin (b. 1910 - d. 1969)
5 Feb 1969 - 5 Feb 1975 Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Hassan
Barakbah (b. 1906 - d. 1975)
5 Feb 1975 - 1 May 1981 Tan Sri (from Jun 1976, Tun)
Sardon Jubir (b. 1917 - d. 1985)
1 May 1981 - 1 May 1989 Tun Awang Hassan (b. 1910 - d. 1998)
1 May 1989 - 1 May 2001 Tan Sri (from 7 Jun 1989, Tun)
Hamdan Sheikh Tahir (b. 1921 - d. 2005)
1 May 2001 - Dato' Seri (from 9 Jul 2001, Tun)
Abdul Rahman Abbas (b. 1938)
Chief ministers (title Ketua Menteri)
12 Jun 1959 - 12 May 1969 Wong Pow Nee (b. 1911 - d. 2002)
12 May 1969 - 25 Oct 1990 Lim Chong Eu (b. 1919)
25 Oct 1990 - 11 Mar 2008 Koh Tsu Koon (from 3 Jun 1995,
Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon) (b. 1949)
11 Mar 2008 - Lim Guan Eng (b. 1960)
Title of Head of Penang Government since 1786
* Superintendent 11 August 1786
* Lieutenant governor 1799
* Governor 1805
* Resident councilor 1849
* Japanese governor 1941
* British military governor 1945
* Resident commissioner 1946
* Governor (ceremonial) 31 August 1957
* Chief minister 12 June 1959
11 Aug 1786 British colony (Prince of Wales Island)
1826 part of Straits Settlements
1946 part of Malaya/Malaysia
Superintendents (of the British East India Company)
11 Aug 1786 - 21 Oct 1794 Francis Light (b. 1740 - d. 1794)
1794 - 1795 Philip Mannington
1795 - 1799 Forbes Ross MacDonald (b. ... - d. 1799)
Lieutenant governors
1799 - 1804 Sir George Leith (b. 1766 - d. 1842)
1804 - 1805 Robert Townsend Farquhar (b. 1776 - d. 1830)
Governors
1805 - 1807 Philip Dundas (b. 17... - d. 1807)
1807 - 1810 Norman Macalister
1810 Charles Andrew Bruce (b. 1768 - d. 1810)
1810 - 1812 William Edward Phillips (1st time) (b. 1769 - d. 18...)
1812 - 1816 William Petrie (b. 17... - d. 1816)
1816 - 1817 William Edward Phillips (2nd time) (s.a.)
1817 - 8 Aug 1819 John Alexander Bannerman (b. 1758 - d. 1819)
1819 - 1824 William Edward Phillips (3rd time) (s.a.)
20 Aug 1824 - 1826 Robert Fullerton (b. 1773 - d. 1831)
Resident councillors
1849 - 1855 Edmund Augustus Blundell (b. 1804? - d. 1868)
1855 - 1860 William Thomas Lewis (b. 1791 - d. 1875)
1860 - 1867 Henry Man (b. 1815 - d. 1898)
1867 - 1883 Archibald Edward Harbord Anson (b. 1826 - d. 1925)
1883 - 1887 Charles John Irving (b. 1831 - d. 1917)
1887 - 1897 Allan Maclean Skinner (b. 1846 - d. 1901)
1894 - 1895 Francis James Anderson (acting) (b. 18... - d. 1920)
1897 - 11 Jul 1904 Charles Walter Sneyd-Kynnersley (b. 1849 - d. 1904)
1904 - 1907 James Kortright Birch (b. 1850 - d. 19...)
1907 - 1910 Robert Norman Bland (b. 1859 - d. 1948)
1910 - 1914 William Evans (b. 1860 - d. 1936)
1914 - 1917 Alfred T. Bryant
1917 - 1919 Walter Cecil Michell (b. 1864 - d. 1939)
1919 - 1922 Gilbert A. Hall
1922 - 1925 Arthur Blennerhassett Voules (b. 1870 - d. 1954)
1925 - 1926 William Peel (b. 1875 - d. 1945)
1926 - 1928 Ralph Scott (b. 1874 - d. 19...)
1928 - 1930 Meadows Frost (b. 1875 - d. 1954)
1930 - 1931 Edward Wilmot Francis Gilman (b. 1876 - d. 1955)
May 1931 - 1933 Percy Tothill Allen (b. 1878 - d. 19...)
(acting to Aug 1931)
1933 - 1941 Arthur Mitchell Goodman (b. 1886 - d. 1961)
Japanese governors
Dec 1941 - 1942 Shotaro Katayama
1942 - 1944 Masakichi Itami
1944 S. Ikagawa
1944 - 1945 Seiichiro Shinohara
British military governors
1945 Peter Dicken Cracroft (b. 1907 - d. 2003)
1945 - 1946 Thomas John Norman Hilken (b. 1901 - d. 1969)
Resident commissioners
1946 Norman Grice (b. 1893 - d. ...)
May 1946 - 1948 Sydney Noel King (b. 1897)
1948 George Evan Cameron Wisdom (b. 1899 - d. 1958)
(acting)
1948 - 1951 Arthur Vincent Aston (b. 1896 - d. 1981)
1951 - 1957 Robert Porter Bingham (b. 1903 - d. 1982)
Heads of State (title Yang di-Pertua Negeri)
31 Aug 1957 - 30 Aug 1967 Raja Sir Tun Uda Al-Haj bin Raja
Muhammad (b. 1894 - d. 1976)
31 Aug 1967 - 31 Jan 1969 Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Abdullah
Shahabuddin (b. 1910 - d. 1969)
5 Feb 1969 - 5 Feb 1975 Tun Syed Sheh bin Syed Hassan
Barakbah (b. 1906 - d. 1975)
5 Feb 1975 - 1 May 1981 Tan Sri (from Jun 1976, Tun)
Sardon Jubir (b. 1917 - d. 1985)
1 May 1981 - 1 May 1989 Tun Awang Hassan (b. 1910 - d. 1998)
1 May 1989 - 1 May 2001 Tan Sri (from 7 Jun 1989, Tun)
Hamdan Sheikh Tahir (b. 1921 - d. 2005)
1 May 2001 - Dato' Seri (from 9 Jul 2001, Tun)
Abdul Rahman Abbas (b. 1938)
Chief ministers (title Ketua Menteri)
12 Jun 1959 - 12 May 1969 Wong Pow Nee (b. 1911 - d. 2002)
12 May 1969 - 25 Oct 1990 Lim Chong Eu (b. 1919)
25 Oct 1990 - 11 Mar 2008 Koh Tsu Koon (from 3 Jun 1995,
Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon) (b. 1949)
11 Mar 2008 - Lim Guan Eng (b. 1960)
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父) - Father of Heng Ee High School
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父), born in Beigium, live as Penang lang; physically a Beigium, spiritually a Catholic Chinese educationist. Born as Belgium, died as Malaysian. He is the father of Heng Ee schools.....
From 1852 to 1983 he was physically in Penang, from 1983 to 1999 his heart was in Penang. From 1999 to 2004, Father Julien was suffering from Parkinson's Disease, his memory was in Penang.....
Penang lang are proud of him, and remember his legacy, the Heng Ee Schools; and remember him....for his love to Penang.
Heng Ee Primary School(恒毅华小), co-founded in 1957 by Belgian Roman Catholic priest Father Arthur A. Julien, from the Missions étrangères de Paris. The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (French: Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands.
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父)(b1917 d2004)
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父)1917-2004
1917 - Born in a village at Belgium(比利时)on 25-2-1917. Father was a government tax collector.
Father Julien is also remembered as a good scout and a fine harmonica player.
Priesthood Education 1935-1944
1935 - After graduate from High school, Julien attended Notre-Dame de la Strada, Brussels - Archdiocese of Paris? (比利时教会学院) major in Philosophy(攻读哲学系).
After graduation he wanted to be a missionary. He joined the seminary for priesthood education to become a catholic father or priest(毕业后便已决心当神父, 随后进入大修院，先后在Belgium(比利时), Tunisia(突尼西亚)及北非(North Africa)的 Jesuit Seminary耶稣会神学院里进修多年).
(Note: Priesthood education is extensive and lasts at least five or six years in seminary. Seminarians usually graduate with a Master of Divinity or a Master of Theology degree, which is a four-year professional degree (as opposed to a Master of Arts which is an academic degree). At least four years are to be in theological studies at the major seminary. In the end, however, each individual bishop is responsible for the official call to priesthood, and only they may ordain. Any ordinations done before the normally scheduled time (before study completion) must have the explicit approval of the bishop; any such ordinations done more than a year in advance must have the approval of the Holy See).
1838-1945 World War II
Mr Julien graduated from Institut Catholique de Paris??(巴黎神学院)
1944 - Ordain as a catholic father or catholic priest at the age of 27 years old.
1946 - When in France, Father Julien has close encounter with Chinese culture, and had decided for China missionary work. Father Arthur A. Julien, joined Missions étrangères de Paris. The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (French: Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands. He was sent to Guizhou, China(中国贵州), one of China's most demographically diverse provinces. He remained there for 6 years. In 1945, Guizhou was upgraded to Archdiocese of Guiyang.
1949 - On 1 October 1949, after a bitter civil war (1946-1949), Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China, China become communist country, People Republic of China. The Church-run Sacred Heart School, was confiscated in the 1950s. In view of the political situation, and its hostile environment to religion and foreign missionary, Father Julien left China.
1952-1983 Penang
1952 - Arrived Penang from China. Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父) spoke fluent Mandarin, this is an advantage to his missionary work in Penang, especially in the field of education.
1956 - Established the Heng Ee Primary School(恒毅华小), Fr. Arthur Julien was co-founder of the Heng Ee Primary School, together with the late Fr. Francis Chao Chung Sheng(b1927-d2010). Father Julien, alongside Rev. Fr. Chao Chung Sheng, expanded the Heng Ee school on public donations after coming to Penang in 1952. The school was made up to provide basic education for children from poor homes who had exceeded the school-entering age. Heng Ee school stands erect beside the Seven Sorrows church(七苦堂)(Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, established in 1888) along Jalan Macalister in Penang. It's a monument of Father Julien's lifelong contribution to the country though he was never recognized as a Tokoh Guru under our education system.
1957 - Heng Ee High School or SMJK Heng Ee(恒毅中学) was founded in 1957 by Datuk Father Arthur Julien, a Belgian missionary who arrived in Penang from China in 1952. The school is located at Hamilton Road, Georgetown, Penang. He had also established the Heng Ee Primary School and Heng Ee Kindergarten in 1956 and 1969 respectively
1961-1962:Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
1961-1962 - He served as parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (originally Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows),a Catholic church for Chinese-speaking parishioners in Penang, from 1961 to 1962.
1969 - Established Heng Ee Kindergarten(恒毅幼稚园)at Ghat Presgrave(Gat Lebuh Presgrave), which is located at working class neighborhood, with Hockkian majority. There were no kindergarten in the area, as pre-school education was not popular like today(三条路沿海贫民区里创办了恒毅幼稚园，当时的学费每人每月仅收3块钱，清寒儿童甚至 还可以申请免费。30年后的现在，学费也不过12令吉，贫苦家庭也负担得起。从创办到现在，恒毅幼稚园一直 是州内清寒儿童的教育摇篮)。He is fluent in Mandarin and Hokkien(which he picked up in Penang), an advantage to the work in the area.
Father Julian even gave up the RM60,000 that his Belgian family willed to him and channeled the money to the schools' education foundation.
1973 - Father Julien was involved in the relocation of SJK (C) Shang Wu(商务小学), established 1909, from the town to Jalan Sekolah La Salle, Air Itam near the state mosque. He applied to the Catholic Mission(圣芳济修士协会) for a 3 acres land beside SXI Primary school, to built new school for SJK (C) Shang Wu. He even involved with the fund raising campaign for the school, active in Ghost Festival fund raising. The school was completed and celebrated 100 years anniversary on 27-3-2010(1973年向天主教修士教会申请到一块3亩土地予商务小学，并献议商务小学迁校至亚依淡)
1976-1985: Church of the Holy Spirit
1976-1985 - assistant parish priest to the Church of the Holy Spirit (elevated to Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in September 2002) at Green Lane with Father Paul Decroix between 1976 and 1985.
(source: http://holyspiritcathedral.com/english/html/about/history.htm)
1983-1999: St.Francis De Sales,Sitiawan
1977 - The new school of SJK (C) Shang Wu(商务小学)located at Air itam was completed.
1983 - Fr. Arthur Julien was posted to St.Francis De Sales in Sitiawan(实兆远), Perak as parish priest. Despite the appeal by the students and schools, Father Julien was still transfer. Some said it was because of his school fund raising activities during the Ghost Festival at 7th month of Chinese lunar calendar. As a catholic father he should not attend the other religion function and involved in their activities. From 1983 till 1999, he was at Sitiawan the same church
1995 - Rev Julien was bestowed the Datukship by the Penang State Governor in July 1995.
1996 - when the old church building was demolished to build a new and bigger church by Dato Rev.Fr.Arthur Julien.
Church of St. Francis de Sales
521 Jalan Raja Omar, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak
1999 - He became an inmate of Batu Lancang Old Folks Home, Little Sisters of the Poor(巴都兰樟安老院), after his retirement in 1999. It was then discovered that Father Julien was suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
2004 - Passed away in Penang on September 11, 2004. He was 87. Funeral was on September 14. He was buried at the Catholic Cemetry, Jalan Kelawei, Penang. his funeral was held on sept. 14, tuesday at 10.00am at the cathedral of the holy spirit, island park, green lane, penang. the heng ee board of director’s vice president, seow teng heang had said that nearly 2000 students from SM heng ee uniformed societies would reprsent the school at his funeral. and of course heng ee’s school band would be there too.
2004年7月在庆祝晋铎60周年庆典中，获罗马教宗若望保禄二世颁发祝福证书. 2004年12月8日获追颁林连玉精神奖，表扬其对华教之贡献。
(Note: The blog article need some information, especially on early life, and priesthood education(names of seminaries need confirmation), missionary work in China, priesthood in Penang 1963 to 1975).
余廉神父享年87岁 14日举行殡葬弥撒
（槟城11日讯）槟岛伟大的教育家余廉神父是于今日中午12时40分在巴都兰樟安老院病逝，享 年87岁。
晚年患上老年痴呆症的余廉神父不良于行。日前被送进南华医院，证实患上白血病。日前被送回巴都兰樟安老院后 已昏迷不醒，须依赖氧气筒呼吸。
余廉神父是恒毅中小学及幼稚园的创建人。生前除了热心传教，余廉神父将他毕生精力和热忱都投注在华文教育里 ，赢得华社深深敬重。槟城人会永远铭记这名为华文教育鞠躬尽瘁的教育家。
恒毅三校董事部、家协、校友会及华社代表已组成治丧委员会悼念余廉神父。余廉神父遗灵将放置在青草巷圣神堂 供教友及民众瞻仰。
于廉神父遗体将于本月14日（周二）出殡，安葬在加拉歪路天主教坟场。并于当日在青草巷圣神堂举行殡葬弥撒 。
●余廉神父的华教人生
1917年2月25日，余廉神父出生于比利时乡村。父亲是一名税收局公务员，母亲是家庭主妇。他在求学时就 很活跃，是一名童军领袖，吹奏一口旋律悠扬的好口琴。酷爱旅游、探险、曾经想当一名考古学家。
1935年高中毕业后，余廉在比利时教会学院攻读哲学系，毕业后便已决心当神父。随后进入大修院，先后在比 利时、突尼西亚及北非的耶稣会神学院里进修多年。二战时期，余廉神父自巴黎神学院毕业。1944年，年仅2 7岁的他正式成为神父。
1946年，余廉神父在法国传教，接触了蕴含丰富的中国文化，决心到中国传教。后来被派往中国贵州传教6年 。中国赤化后，余廉神父在1952年被派到马来亚槟城传教，从此与东方花园结下不解之缘。
余廉神父在槟岛的中路七苦堂传教后，即于1956年在该教堂旁创办了恒毅华小，一年后创办恒毅私立中学，提 供辍学者、印尼及泰国的华侨学习中文。1966年，在哈密顿律创办恒毅国民型中学，提供州内学生多一所学习 中文的学府。
1969年，余廉神父在三条路沿海贫民区里创办了恒毅幼稚园，当时的学费每人每月仅收3块钱，清寒儿童甚至 还可以申请免费。30年后的现在，学费也不过12令吉，贫苦家庭也负担得起。从创办到现在，恒毅幼稚园一直 是州内清寒儿童的教育摇篮。
兴办教育、推广华教，除了一份理想和执著，还要有庞大的资金才能成事。为了恒毅三校的发展，余廉神父到处奔 波，并且慷慨将家人留给他的6万令吉遗产通通捐作恒毅的教育基金。
为了替恒毅三校及商务学校筹募扩建经费，余廉神父曾经多年配合槟城中元联合会，在每年农历7月间的盂兰胜会 里，冲破宗教的藩篱，走进烟火袅绕的大街小巷，在一尊尊“大士爷”面前，恳请公众资助华文教育 。
余廉神父鞠躬尽瘁为华教的火热精神，引起教会领导层的不同看法。80年代初，余廉神父被调到霹雳州的实兆远 传教。那个时候，恒毅中小学的师生、家教协会及董事部，甚至热爱华教的公众再三向槟区主教请愿，希望挽留余 廉神父继续在槟岛为华教耕耘，可是都不得要领。
就这样，余廉神父被调到老远的实兆远的一所教堂里传教，一呆就整20年。尽管如此，余廉神父仍然经常一个人驾着老爷汽车，一早从遥远的实兆远风尘仆仆赶到槟岛，巡视恒毅三校的进展，同时不遗余力为学校发动筹款。一直忙到夜晚，修院的大门早已深锁，余廉神父就寄宿在民众家里。第二天一早，又形色匆匆回到实兆 远。
1995年7月，余廉神父获槟州元首封赐拿督勋衔，成为大马首个获得拿督级的神父。
1999年，余廉神父退休后，入住巴都兰樟安老院。
Related articles:
1. 怀念余廉神父 永铭伟志功不朽,报道：黄振德（第16届）、江健秋（第15届）恒毅国民型中学, http://www.kwongwah.com.my/supplement/2009/09/30/12.html
2. A Brief History of the Church of St. Francis de Sales, Sitiawan, Perak (since 1898), http://www.angelfire.com/folk/sfds-sitiawan/b_history.htm
3. Fr Francis Chao passes away(2010), http://www.penangdiocese.org/pages/posts/fr-francis-chao-passes-away878.php
4. Archdiocese of Guiyang, http://www.ucanews.com/dps/html/dps-ch_guiyang.php
5. 槟城商务学校, http://www.kwangteng-pg.org/module.php?mod=18#jump
From 1852 to 1983 he was physically in Penang, from 1983 to 1999 his heart was in Penang. From 1999 to 2004, Father Julien was suffering from Parkinson's Disease, his memory was in Penang.....
Penang lang are proud of him, and remember his legacy, the Heng Ee Schools; and remember him....for his love to Penang.
Heng Ee Primary School(恒毅华小), co-founded in 1957 by Belgian Roman Catholic priest Father Arthur A. Julien, from the Missions étrangères de Paris. The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (French: Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands.
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父)(b1917 d2004)
Datuk Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父)1917-2004
1917 - Born in a village at Belgium(比利时)on 25-2-1917. Father was a government tax collector.
Father Julien is also remembered as a good scout and a fine harmonica player.
Priesthood Education 1935-1944
1935 - After graduate from High school, Julien attended Notre-Dame de la Strada, Brussels - Archdiocese of Paris? (比利时教会学院) major in Philosophy(攻读哲学系).
After graduation he wanted to be a missionary. He joined the seminary for priesthood education to become a catholic father or priest(毕业后便已决心当神父, 随后进入大修院，先后在Belgium(比利时), Tunisia(突尼西亚)及北非(North Africa)的 Jesuit Seminary耶稣会神学院里进修多年).
(Note: Priesthood education is extensive and lasts at least five or six years in seminary. Seminarians usually graduate with a Master of Divinity or a Master of Theology degree, which is a four-year professional degree (as opposed to a Master of Arts which is an academic degree). At least four years are to be in theological studies at the major seminary. In the end, however, each individual bishop is responsible for the official call to priesthood, and only they may ordain. Any ordinations done before the normally scheduled time (before study completion) must have the explicit approval of the bishop; any such ordinations done more than a year in advance must have the approval of the Holy See).
1838-1945 World War II
Mr Julien graduated from Institut Catholique de Paris??(巴黎神学院)
1944 - Ordain as a catholic father or catholic priest at the age of 27 years old.
1946 - When in France, Father Julien has close encounter with Chinese culture, and had decided for China missionary work. Father Arthur A. Julien, joined Missions étrangères de Paris. The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris (French: Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris, short M.E.P.) is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands. He was sent to Guizhou, China(中国贵州), one of China's most demographically diverse provinces. He remained there for 6 years. In 1945, Guizhou was upgraded to Archdiocese of Guiyang.
1949 - On 1 October 1949, after a bitter civil war (1946-1949), Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China, China become communist country, People Republic of China. The Church-run Sacred Heart School, was confiscated in the 1950s. In view of the political situation, and its hostile environment to religion and foreign missionary, Father Julien left China.
1952-1983 Penang
1952 - Arrived Penang from China. Father Arthur Julien(余廉神父) spoke fluent Mandarin, this is an advantage to his missionary work in Penang, especially in the field of education.
1956 - Established the Heng Ee Primary School(恒毅华小), Fr. Arthur Julien was co-founder of the Heng Ee Primary School, together with the late Fr. Francis Chao Chung Sheng(b1927-d2010). Father Julien, alongside Rev. Fr. Chao Chung Sheng, expanded the Heng Ee school on public donations after coming to Penang in 1952. The school was made up to provide basic education for children from poor homes who had exceeded the school-entering age. Heng Ee school stands erect beside the Seven Sorrows church(七苦堂)(Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, established in 1888) along Jalan Macalister in Penang. It's a monument of Father Julien's lifelong contribution to the country though he was never recognized as a Tokoh Guru under our education system.
1957 - Heng Ee High School or SMJK Heng Ee(恒毅中学) was founded in 1957 by Datuk Father Arthur Julien, a Belgian missionary who arrived in Penang from China in 1952. The school is located at Hamilton Road, Georgetown, Penang. He had also established the Heng Ee Primary School and Heng Ee Kindergarten in 1956 and 1969 respectively
1961-1962:Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
1961-1962 - He served as parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (originally Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows),a Catholic church for Chinese-speaking parishioners in Penang, from 1961 to 1962.
1969 - Established Heng Ee Kindergarten(恒毅幼稚园)at Ghat Presgrave(Gat Lebuh Presgrave), which is located at working class neighborhood, with Hockkian majority. There were no kindergarten in the area, as pre-school education was not popular like today(三条路沿海贫民区里创办了恒毅幼稚园，当时的学费每人每月仅收3块钱，清寒儿童甚至 还可以申请免费。30年后的现在，学费也不过12令吉，贫苦家庭也负担得起。从创办到现在，恒毅幼稚园一直 是州内清寒儿童的教育摇篮)。He is fluent in Mandarin and Hokkien(which he picked up in Penang), an advantage to the work in the area.
Father Julian even gave up the RM60,000 that his Belgian family willed to him and channeled the money to the schools' education foundation.
1973 - Father Julien was involved in the relocation of SJK (C) Shang Wu(商务小学), established 1909, from the town to Jalan Sekolah La Salle, Air Itam near the state mosque. He applied to the Catholic Mission(圣芳济修士协会) for a 3 acres land beside SXI Primary school, to built new school for SJK (C) Shang Wu. He even involved with the fund raising campaign for the school, active in Ghost Festival fund raising. The school was completed and celebrated 100 years anniversary on 27-3-2010(1973年向天主教修士教会申请到一块3亩土地予商务小学，并献议商务小学迁校至亚依淡)
1976-1985: Church of the Holy Spirit
1976-1985 - assistant parish priest to the Church of the Holy Spirit (elevated to Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in September 2002) at Green Lane with Father Paul Decroix between 1976 and 1985.
(source: http://holyspiritcathedral.com/english/html/about/history.htm)
1983-1999: St.Francis De Sales,Sitiawan
1977 - The new school of SJK (C) Shang Wu(商务小学)located at Air itam was completed.
1983 - Fr. Arthur Julien was posted to St.Francis De Sales in Sitiawan(实兆远), Perak as parish priest. Despite the appeal by the students and schools, Father Julien was still transfer. Some said it was because of his school fund raising activities during the Ghost Festival at 7th month of Chinese lunar calendar. As a catholic father he should not attend the other religion function and involved in their activities. From 1983 till 1999, he was at Sitiawan the same church
1995 - Rev Julien was bestowed the Datukship by the Penang State Governor in July 1995.
1996 - when the old church building was demolished to build a new and bigger church by Dato Rev.Fr.Arthur Julien.
Church of St. Francis de Sales
521 Jalan Raja Omar, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak
1999 - He became an inmate of Batu Lancang Old Folks Home, Little Sisters of the Poor(巴都兰樟安老院), after his retirement in 1999. It was then discovered that Father Julien was suffering from Parkinson's Disease.
2004 - Passed away in Penang on September 11, 2004. He was 87. Funeral was on September 14. He was buried at the Catholic Cemetry, Jalan Kelawei, Penang. his funeral was held on sept. 14, tuesday at 10.00am at the cathedral of the holy spirit, island park, green lane, penang. the heng ee board of director’s vice president, seow teng heang had said that nearly 2000 students from SM heng ee uniformed societies would reprsent the school at his funeral. and of course heng ee’s school band would be there too.
2004年7月在庆祝晋铎60周年庆典中，获罗马教宗若望保禄二世颁发祝福证书. 2004年12月8日获追颁林连玉精神奖，表扬其对华教之贡献。
(Note: The blog article need some information, especially on early life, and priesthood education(names of seminaries need confirmation), missionary work in China, priesthood in Penang 1963 to 1975).
余廉神父享年87岁 14日举行殡葬弥撒
（槟城11日讯）槟岛伟大的教育家余廉神父是于今日中午12时40分在巴都兰樟安老院病逝，享 年87岁。
晚年患上老年痴呆症的余廉神父不良于行。日前被送进南华医院，证实患上白血病。日前被送回巴都兰樟安老院后 已昏迷不醒，须依赖氧气筒呼吸。
余廉神父是恒毅中小学及幼稚园的创建人。生前除了热心传教，余廉神父将他毕生精力和热忱都投注在华文教育里 ，赢得华社深深敬重。槟城人会永远铭记这名为华文教育鞠躬尽瘁的教育家。
恒毅三校董事部、家协、校友会及华社代表已组成治丧委员会悼念余廉神父。余廉神父遗灵将放置在青草巷圣神堂 供教友及民众瞻仰。
于廉神父遗体将于本月14日（周二）出殡，安葬在加拉歪路天主教坟场。并于当日在青草巷圣神堂举行殡葬弥撒 。
●余廉神父的华教人生
1917年2月25日，余廉神父出生于比利时乡村。父亲是一名税收局公务员，母亲是家庭主妇。他在求学时就 很活跃，是一名童军领袖，吹奏一口旋律悠扬的好口琴。酷爱旅游、探险、曾经想当一名考古学家。
1935年高中毕业后，余廉在比利时教会学院攻读哲学系，毕业后便已决心当神父。随后进入大修院，先后在比 利时、突尼西亚及北非的耶稣会神学院里进修多年。二战时期，余廉神父自巴黎神学院毕业。1944年，年仅2 7岁的他正式成为神父。
1946年，余廉神父在法国传教，接触了蕴含丰富的中国文化，决心到中国传教。后来被派往中国贵州传教6年 。中国赤化后，余廉神父在1952年被派到马来亚槟城传教，从此与东方花园结下不解之缘。
余廉神父在槟岛的中路七苦堂传教后，即于1956年在该教堂旁创办了恒毅华小，一年后创办恒毅私立中学，提 供辍学者、印尼及泰国的华侨学习中文。1966年，在哈密顿律创办恒毅国民型中学，提供州内学生多一所学习 中文的学府。
1969年，余廉神父在三条路沿海贫民区里创办了恒毅幼稚园，当时的学费每人每月仅收3块钱，清寒儿童甚至 还可以申请免费。30年后的现在，学费也不过12令吉，贫苦家庭也负担得起。从创办到现在，恒毅幼稚园一直 是州内清寒儿童的教育摇篮。
兴办教育、推广华教，除了一份理想和执著，还要有庞大的资金才能成事。为了恒毅三校的发展，余廉神父到处奔 波，并且慷慨将家人留给他的6万令吉遗产通通捐作恒毅的教育基金。
为了替恒毅三校及商务学校筹募扩建经费，余廉神父曾经多年配合槟城中元联合会，在每年农历7月间的盂兰胜会 里，冲破宗教的藩篱，走进烟火袅绕的大街小巷，在一尊尊“大士爷”面前，恳请公众资助华文教育 。
余廉神父鞠躬尽瘁为华教的火热精神，引起教会领导层的不同看法。80年代初，余廉神父被调到霹雳州的实兆远 传教。那个时候，恒毅中小学的师生、家教协会及董事部，甚至热爱华教的公众再三向槟区主教请愿，希望挽留余 廉神父继续在槟岛为华教耕耘，可是都不得要领。
就这样，余廉神父被调到老远的实兆远的一所教堂里传教，一呆就整20年。尽管如此，余廉神父仍然经常一个人驾着老爷汽车，一早从遥远的实兆远风尘仆仆赶到槟岛，巡视恒毅三校的进展，同时不遗余力为学校发动筹款。一直忙到夜晚，修院的大门早已深锁，余廉神父就寄宿在民众家里。第二天一早，又形色匆匆回到实兆 远。
1995年7月，余廉神父获槟州元首封赐拿督勋衔，成为大马首个获得拿督级的神父。
1999年，余廉神父退休后，入住巴都兰樟安老院。
Related articles:
1. 怀念余廉神父 永铭伟志功不朽,报道：黄振德（第16届）、江健秋（第15届）恒毅国民型中学, http://www.kwongwah.com.my/supplement/2009/09/30/12.html
2. A Brief History of the Church of St. Francis de Sales, Sitiawan, Perak (since 1898), http://www.angelfire.com/folk/sfds-sitiawan/b_history.htm
3. Fr Francis Chao passes away(2010), http://www.penangdiocese.org/pages/posts/fr-francis-chao-passes-away878.php
4. Archdiocese of Guiyang, http://www.ucanews.com/dps/html/dps-ch_guiyang.php
5. 槟城商务学校, http://www.kwangteng-pg.org/module.php?mod=18#jump
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Penang Indian Christians
A Brief History of Indian Christians in Penang
Rev. Marshall Thomson Sundradas
Early Christians
The influence of Christianity in West Malaysia began at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese in Malacca in 1511. As the Portuguese were mainly Roman Catholics many Roman Catholic missionaries were brought into Malacca.
In 1641, however, the Dutch captured Malacca from the hands of the Portuguese. It was the Dutch who brought Protestant missionaries into Malacca.
In 1781 more Roman Catholic Missionaries arrived from France and this time they came into Kedah.
Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company received the island of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah in 1786.
The first church that was built on the island was the 'Cathedral of the Assumption' built by the Roman Catholic Missionaries in 1807.
In 1807 the College General of the East Asia Seminary was established in Penang to train Asian Priests for work in South East Asia.
Early Indian Christians in Penang
Penang was a base for all early Indian Christians who came into Malaya. This migration began with the establishment of the British Settlements in Penang in 1786. The Indians who came into Penang worked as domestic servants and agricultural labourers. The need for labourers increased when Singapore was founded in 1819. Along with Indians of other religious backgrounds came the Christians. The majority of Indian Christians who came into Malaysia were teachers and estate conductors in the early 1900.
Indian Churches
In 1800 the Roman Catholics started to minister among the Indians. The Anglican Church however only started to minister among Indians in 1871. Other denominations like the Methodists and Lutherans began their work with the Indians after 1890.
a) Roman Catholics
Only the Roman Catholics, ministered among Indians for nearly 80 years before the Anglicans started their ministry in 1871. The probable reason for this was that very few Protestants came to Malaya as indentured labourers in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Roman Catholic Church was the only church that had services in Tamil.
In Tamil Nadu India, during the seventeenth century large numbers of untouchables caste Indians became Roman Catholics. And many of these Indian Christians from the Roman Catholic Church came to Malaya as indentured labourers.
The Roman Catholics also established educational and vocational institutions for Indians. This included the first Tamil convent school in Penang which has now been closed and the first bible college in Penang.
b) Anglicans
Although Captain Francis Light landed in Penang in 1786, as mentioned earlier Tamil work only began in 1871 in the Anglican Church. The Anglican Priests who came to Malaya were under the East India Company in India.
An Anglican priest, the Chaplin Julian Moreton employed a cathechist Mr. Royappan Balavendrum from Tamil Nadu to work among the Indians in Penang in 1871. Mr. Balavendrum linked up the Church with education by opening a boy's school in 1873. Later in 1877 Rev. Royappan Balavendrum was ordained as a Priest in India after undergoing theological training and was commissioned to serve at the Tamil Church in Penang.
In 1886 a wooden Chapel and a parsonage was build at the back of St. George's Church at Farquhar Street, for the Tamil Christians to worship in. It was known as the St. George's Tamil Church and presently it is known as 'Church of the Good Shepherd' and has moved to a shop lot in Batu Lancang.
The wooden Chapel served three purposes. Firstly, it was used as a worship place on Sundays. Secondly, it was used as a school on weekdays and thirdly, it was used to give shelter for Indian transit passengers. These passengers rested at the chapel whilst waiting for jobs in the oil palm estates, in Kedah and Perak. The majority of these Indian transit passengers were from Madras and the Tirunelveli district.
The wooden building used as a chapel was also bombed by the Japanese together with St. George's Church in 1941. The wooden building was completely destroyed and the roof of the St. George's church was also damaged. However, the St. George's Tamil Church building was rebuild with bricks in 1955. After this time the first floor was used as a residence for the priest. The ground floor of the building was only used as a place of worship on Sundays and as a school on weekdays. The school however was closed after 1960 as there were no Tamil priests to oversee the running of the school.
The first Tamil Anglican Church was built in Nibong Tebal in 1911, called the 'Holy Trinity Church'.
c) Methodists
In 1894 a Tamil Methodist Society was organized with a membership of 23, which increased to 52 within 12 months. The Tamil Methodist Church has a church building at Jalan Kebun Nyior build in 1935. However, the Tamil Methodist Church Penang is remembered as the oldest Tamil Methodist Church in Malaysia (106 years old).
d) Lutherans
The Tamil Lutherans have also been on the island of Penang for nearly 100 years. In the early days the members of the Lutheran Church in India arrived in Malaya to seek employment. Although they did not have a church building at the time, they used homes of the members to meet regularly. Later they used a chapel on Anson Road, and in 1971 they built a church in Island Glades, Penang known as the 'Victory Lutheran Church'.
The four denominational churches mentioned in this paper were the first to start work among the Indian Christians in Penang. Presently there are more churches working with Indian Christians.
Conclusion
In writing this paper I have discovered the rich history of the Tamil Christians. I believe I have only touched the surface. The island of Penang has served as a footing for all the Tamil churches in Peninsular Malaysia. It was from Penang that many Tamil Christians went on to other destinations where they built up churches. Today the great grandchildren of those who had traveled through Penang have these memories to keep for their own children.
Bibliography
1.Daniel, J Rabindra. Indian Christians in Peninsular Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Tamil Annual Conference, Methodist Church, Malaysia, 1992.
2.Thomas, Chris D. Diaspora Indians: Church Growth Among Indians in West Malaysia. Penang: Malaysian Indian Evangelism Council, Malaysia, 1978.
3.Samuel, Paul G.T. Centenary Souvenir Magazine: A Hundred Years of the Tamil Mission Diocese of West Malaysia (1871-1971). Kuala Lumpur: Board of Tamil and Allied Work, Diocese of West Malaysia, 1971.
4.Souvenir Magazine, St. George's 175th Anniversary: 1819-1994. Penang: St. George's Church, 1994.
Rev. Marshall Thomson Sundradas
Early Christians
The influence of Christianity in West Malaysia began at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese in Malacca in 1511. As the Portuguese were mainly Roman Catholics many Roman Catholic missionaries were brought into Malacca.
In 1641, however, the Dutch captured Malacca from the hands of the Portuguese. It was the Dutch who brought Protestant missionaries into Malacca.
In 1781 more Roman Catholic Missionaries arrived from France and this time they came into Kedah.
Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company received the island of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah in 1786.
The first church that was built on the island was the 'Cathedral of the Assumption' built by the Roman Catholic Missionaries in 1807.
In 1807 the College General of the East Asia Seminary was established in Penang to train Asian Priests for work in South East Asia.
Early Indian Christians in Penang
Penang was a base for all early Indian Christians who came into Malaya. This migration began with the establishment of the British Settlements in Penang in 1786. The Indians who came into Penang worked as domestic servants and agricultural labourers. The need for labourers increased when Singapore was founded in 1819. Along with Indians of other religious backgrounds came the Christians. The majority of Indian Christians who came into Malaysia were teachers and estate conductors in the early 1900.
Indian Churches
In 1800 the Roman Catholics started to minister among the Indians. The Anglican Church however only started to minister among Indians in 1871. Other denominations like the Methodists and Lutherans began their work with the Indians after 1890.
a) Roman Catholics
Only the Roman Catholics, ministered among Indians for nearly 80 years before the Anglicans started their ministry in 1871. The probable reason for this was that very few Protestants came to Malaya as indentured labourers in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Roman Catholic Church was the only church that had services in Tamil.
In Tamil Nadu India, during the seventeenth century large numbers of untouchables caste Indians became Roman Catholics. And many of these Indian Christians from the Roman Catholic Church came to Malaya as indentured labourers.
The Roman Catholics also established educational and vocational institutions for Indians. This included the first Tamil convent school in Penang which has now been closed and the first bible college in Penang.
b) Anglicans
Although Captain Francis Light landed in Penang in 1786, as mentioned earlier Tamil work only began in 1871 in the Anglican Church. The Anglican Priests who came to Malaya were under the East India Company in India.
An Anglican priest, the Chaplin Julian Moreton employed a cathechist Mr. Royappan Balavendrum from Tamil Nadu to work among the Indians in Penang in 1871. Mr. Balavendrum linked up the Church with education by opening a boy's school in 1873. Later in 1877 Rev. Royappan Balavendrum was ordained as a Priest in India after undergoing theological training and was commissioned to serve at the Tamil Church in Penang.
In 1886 a wooden Chapel and a parsonage was build at the back of St. George's Church at Farquhar Street, for the Tamil Christians to worship in. It was known as the St. George's Tamil Church and presently it is known as 'Church of the Good Shepherd' and has moved to a shop lot in Batu Lancang.
The wooden Chapel served three purposes. Firstly, it was used as a worship place on Sundays. Secondly, it was used as a school on weekdays and thirdly, it was used to give shelter for Indian transit passengers. These passengers rested at the chapel whilst waiting for jobs in the oil palm estates, in Kedah and Perak. The majority of these Indian transit passengers were from Madras and the Tirunelveli district.
The wooden building used as a chapel was also bombed by the Japanese together with St. George's Church in 1941. The wooden building was completely destroyed and the roof of the St. George's church was also damaged. However, the St. George's Tamil Church building was rebuild with bricks in 1955. After this time the first floor was used as a residence for the priest. The ground floor of the building was only used as a place of worship on Sundays and as a school on weekdays. The school however was closed after 1960 as there were no Tamil priests to oversee the running of the school.
The first Tamil Anglican Church was built in Nibong Tebal in 1911, called the 'Holy Trinity Church'.
c) Methodists
In 1894 a Tamil Methodist Society was organized with a membership of 23, which increased to 52 within 12 months. The Tamil Methodist Church has a church building at Jalan Kebun Nyior build in 1935. However, the Tamil Methodist Church Penang is remembered as the oldest Tamil Methodist Church in Malaysia (106 years old).
d) Lutherans
The Tamil Lutherans have also been on the island of Penang for nearly 100 years. In the early days the members of the Lutheran Church in India arrived in Malaya to seek employment. Although they did not have a church building at the time, they used homes of the members to meet regularly. Later they used a chapel on Anson Road, and in 1971 they built a church in Island Glades, Penang known as the 'Victory Lutheran Church'.
The four denominational churches mentioned in this paper were the first to start work among the Indian Christians in Penang. Presently there are more churches working with Indian Christians.
Conclusion
In writing this paper I have discovered the rich history of the Tamil Christians. I believe I have only touched the surface. The island of Penang has served as a footing for all the Tamil churches in Peninsular Malaysia. It was from Penang that many Tamil Christians went on to other destinations where they built up churches. Today the great grandchildren of those who had traveled through Penang have these memories to keep for their own children.
Bibliography
1.Daniel, J Rabindra. Indian Christians in Peninsular Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Tamil Annual Conference, Methodist Church, Malaysia, 1992.
2.Thomas, Chris D. Diaspora Indians: Church Growth Among Indians in West Malaysia. Penang: Malaysian Indian Evangelism Council, Malaysia, 1978.
3.Samuel, Paul G.T. Centenary Souvenir Magazine: A Hundred Years of the Tamil Mission Diocese of West Malaysia (1871-1971). Kuala Lumpur: Board of Tamil and Allied Work, Diocese of West Malaysia, 1971.
4.Souvenir Magazine, St. George's 175th Anniversary: 1819-1994. Penang: St. George's Church, 1994.
Penang Malayalees
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Malayalees Of Penang
Thanks to The Star and its feature The Penang Story for the information.
Malayalees are a southern Indian people from the Indian province of Kerala, west of Tamil Nadu.
They are perhaps India’s most multi-religious community, and possess the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Malayalees, and Tamils, have long traded with Malaysia’s kingdoms of Kedah and Johor. Some ancient Malayalee and Tamil traders even married into Kedah and Johor royalty.
Malayalees, together with Tamils and Arabs, were instrumental in bringing Islam to Malaysia. After all, Kerala was India’s first Muslim province.
European colonialists, however, played a key role in boosting Malayalee migration to Malaysia. When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, they were joined by soldiers recruited from Kerala.
Some of Penang’s earliest Muslim teachers or Ulama from the Indian community were undoubtedly Malayalees and they included Fakir Melana whose tomb is in Datuk Keramat, George Town.
Syed Mustapha Idris or Datuk Koya was a respected religious teacher from the Malayalee community. He was also a much-loved humanitarian who helped the poor and sick, regardless of race or faith.
Narayana Pillai was an important Malayalee community leader and businessman in George Town. He migrated to Singapore shortly after the British acquired the island from the Sultan of Johor, and became an important contractor there.
Malayalee and Tamil Muslims frequently intermarried and thus, it is uncommon to find a purely Malayalee Muslim or purely Tamil Muslim in the island, and Malaysia, today.
Abdul Kadir Merican, a respected Indian Muslim leader of Tamil-Malayalee ancestry, established one of George Town’s most beloved mosques, the Kapitan Kling Mosque, named in his memory.
Kadir, who married a Kedah princess, was the patriarch of Malaysia’s illustrious Merican family which included as its members Malaysian Frank Sinatra Datuk Ahmad Daud, his actress and singer daughter Fauziah Ahmad Daud (Malaysia’s Jodie Foster and female Simon Cowell), First Lady of Malaysian Theatre Datuk Faridah Merican, Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican and composer Datuk Ahmad Merican.
Another famous Malayalee contractor was Ibrahim Kaka who built the George Town police headquarters in Penang Road.
He also built houses in Cheeseman Road, Hussain Road and Taylor Road, as well as the Penang UMNO headquarters in Zainal Abidin Road (formerly Jewish Road).
The UMNO headquarters was officiated by Malaysia’s first Prime Minister and ardent Penang fan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.
The Malayalees of Penang were known as daring construction workers. They played a key role in the completion of the Penang Hill railway in George Town, as well as the city’s Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple and Kebun Nyor Methodist Church.
Kaka’s contemporaries in the construction business included V. K. Ismail, T. A. Omar and B. Ismail.
P. K. Nambyar, a Malayalee from George Town, became the first president of the Malaysian Indian Association, formed in Taiping, Perak, in 1906. He was Malaysia’s first Indian lawyer.
He also founded the Penang Indian Association. Nambyar Road in George Town is named after him.
Nambyar’s son Dr N. K. Menon was actively involved in the Indian National Army formed by Subhas Chandra Bose of Bengal, to fight for India’s independence.
Menon also served in the George Town Municipal Council and headed the British Medical Association of Malaysia.
Nambyar’s son-in-law N. Raghavan, who also led the Penang Indian Association, was a prominent lawyer, and a founder of the Central Indian Association of Malaysia (CIAM) headed by Datuk Ernest Emmanuel Clough Thuraisingam.
And contrary to popular belief, pulled tea or teh tarik and roti canai or Tamil unleavened bread are Malayalee dishes, not Tamil ones.
http://malaysiana1.blogspot.com/2007/09/malayalees-of-penang.html
The Malayalees Of Penang
Thanks to The Star and its feature The Penang Story for the information.
Malayalees are a southern Indian people from the Indian province of Kerala, west of Tamil Nadu.
They are perhaps India’s most multi-religious community, and possess the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Malayalees, and Tamils, have long traded with Malaysia’s kingdoms of Kedah and Johor. Some ancient Malayalee and Tamil traders even married into Kedah and Johor royalty.
Malayalees, together with Tamils and Arabs, were instrumental in bringing Islam to Malaysia. After all, Kerala was India’s first Muslim province.
European colonialists, however, played a key role in boosting Malayalee migration to Malaysia. When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511, they were joined by soldiers recruited from Kerala.
Some of Penang’s earliest Muslim teachers or Ulama from the Indian community were undoubtedly Malayalees and they included Fakir Melana whose tomb is in Datuk Keramat, George Town.
Syed Mustapha Idris or Datuk Koya was a respected religious teacher from the Malayalee community. He was also a much-loved humanitarian who helped the poor and sick, regardless of race or faith.
Narayana Pillai was an important Malayalee community leader and businessman in George Town. He migrated to Singapore shortly after the British acquired the island from the Sultan of Johor, and became an important contractor there.
Malayalee and Tamil Muslims frequently intermarried and thus, it is uncommon to find a purely Malayalee Muslim or purely Tamil Muslim in the island, and Malaysia, today.
Abdul Kadir Merican, a respected Indian Muslim leader of Tamil-Malayalee ancestry, established one of George Town’s most beloved mosques, the Kapitan Kling Mosque, named in his memory.
Kadir, who married a Kedah princess, was the patriarch of Malaysia’s illustrious Merican family which included as its members Malaysian Frank Sinatra Datuk Ahmad Daud, his actress and singer daughter Fauziah Ahmad Daud (Malaysia’s Jodie Foster and female Simon Cowell), First Lady of Malaysian Theatre Datuk Faridah Merican, Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican and composer Datuk Ahmad Merican.
Another famous Malayalee contractor was Ibrahim Kaka who built the George Town police headquarters in Penang Road.
He also built houses in Cheeseman Road, Hussain Road and Taylor Road, as well as the Penang UMNO headquarters in Zainal Abidin Road (formerly Jewish Road).
The UMNO headquarters was officiated by Malaysia’s first Prime Minister and ardent Penang fan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.
The Malayalees of Penang were known as daring construction workers. They played a key role in the completion of the Penang Hill railway in George Town, as well as the city’s Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple and Kebun Nyor Methodist Church.
Kaka’s contemporaries in the construction business included V. K. Ismail, T. A. Omar and B. Ismail.
P. K. Nambyar, a Malayalee from George Town, became the first president of the Malaysian Indian Association, formed in Taiping, Perak, in 1906. He was Malaysia’s first Indian lawyer.
He also founded the Penang Indian Association. Nambyar Road in George Town is named after him.
Nambyar’s son Dr N. K. Menon was actively involved in the Indian National Army formed by Subhas Chandra Bose of Bengal, to fight for India’s independence.
Menon also served in the George Town Municipal Council and headed the British Medical Association of Malaysia.
Nambyar’s son-in-law N. Raghavan, who also led the Penang Indian Association, was a prominent lawyer, and a founder of the Central Indian Association of Malaysia (CIAM) headed by Datuk Ernest Emmanuel Clough Thuraisingam.
And contrary to popular belief, pulled tea or teh tarik and roti canai or Tamil unleavened bread are Malayalee dishes, not Tamil ones.
http://malaysiana1.blogspot.com/2007/09/malayalees-of-penang.html
Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West - Founder of Methodist Girls' School
Mrthodist Girls's School Penang
On 1 April 1867 the Straits Settlements were transferred from the control of the Indian Government to that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London. Anglican influence came about through the colonial chaplains who, in each Settlement, had been largely instrumental in starting the schools. The Pykett Methodist School Penang, formerly a section of the Anglo-Chinese School
Penang, was founded in 1891 by the Methodist Mission (Ho 1964). In September 1903, the school was refurnished, at a cost of $6,000, subscribed by several Chinese gentlemen of Penang. There was at the school a well-selected library, given by Mr Foo Choo Choon (Elcum 1908, 274). The Anglo-Chinese Schools both in Singapore and Penang were very largely attended, mostly by Chinese boys (Kynnerley 1902). In fact, from the very beginning most of the boys who attended Methodist schools were Chinese, not because the mission was solely interested in them, but because they were the majority in the large towns and were so alive to the vocational advantages of an English education (Cooke 1966, 384).
Dr and Mrs West were now in Penang. They had spent a year in China studying the language. They had brought Christian servants with them from Amoy. Mrs West, by her sympathetic ways, won the hearts of the poor people. She visited them in their homes, took her children with her. The women, always curious to know the ways of the foreigner, asked Mrs West one day what soap she used to make her children so white. The women were so glad to have someone who could speak to them in their own language. They liked also to come to visit the missionary at "The Priory".
Dr West, with those family at "The Priory" Miss Martin made her first home in Penang, was enthusiastic over every missionary learning Chinese. Miss Martin also with equal fervour took hold of the study. Her Chinese book was with her wherever she went, by day and late into the night … until step by step, the difficult Chinese language was a useable possession of the young missionary.
The Penang Methodist Girls’ School began when Dr B. F. West started the Anglo-Chinese School in 1892 at Northam Road. The increasing demand for female education resulted in the purchase of a large residence on the corner of Logan and Anson Roads (Ho 1964, 757).
(extracted from http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/5804/1/article3.pdf)
1889 The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore
The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was founded by Dr Benjamin Franklin West who first set up his missionary practice at a shophouse at Upper Nanking Street in 1889 to reach out to the immigrant Chinese. There, he held two services each Sunday, beginning in August 1889. Even at that early period, at least 30 people would gather at the shophouse to listen to his sermons which were conveyed in Malay and then translated into Hokkien. Many were opium addicts.
West decided that mastering Hokkien was important enough for him to close the dispensary for the period between late 1890 to April 1892. He left for Amoy and entrusted his work to Dr V. T. Kensett, Lim Hooi Toh and Alexandra Fox. In 1895, West was transferred to Penang with Kensett fully replacing him. Unfortunately by 1907, West had to return to America due to his wife’s poor health but he was replaced by the capable Dr H. L. E. Leuring who was conversant in Hokkien and Foochow.
(extract from http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1377_2009-11-26.html)
The list of ministers(Church Pillars) at The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore:-
Benjamin F. West (1889-1892;1902-1903)
Lim Hoai To (1890-1892)
Alexandra Fox (1890)
H. L. E. Luering (1892-1899)
W.T. Kensett (1895)
Timeline of Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West(1858-1933)
1858- born 22 April 1858, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. Crawfordsville is located in west central Indiana, about an hour west-northwest of Indianapolis, the state's capital and largest city.
1886- The first Methodist Episcopal Church at Coleman Street, dedicated on 15 December 1886, once stood where the National Archives of Singapore is today. Early in 1885, Rev William Fitzjones Oldham (1854-1937) was appointed to head the work of the Methodist Church in Singapore. He arrived with Dr James Thoburn and together they conducted a series of evangelistic rallies. These rallies were held in the Town Hall (later to be the Victoria Memorial Hall). It was here that the first Methodist Church in Singapore was established. The Church met weekly in the Town Hall until December 1886 when it moved to a building in Coleman Street (later to become the Anglo-Chinese Primary School's hall). The Church was then known as The English Church. The church is the mother church of Methodism in the region.
ACS Singapore was found on 1-3-1886 by Bishop William Fitzjames Oldham, as an extension of the Protestant Church. It was located at shophouse NO. 70, Amoy St, Singapore with 13 pupils. The second floor of shop was used as missionary quarter(Earnest Lau,2008).
1888- Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West and wife arrived early 1888 at Singapore (Earnest Lau,2008)as medical attendant on the HMS Orion
1889- As medical attendant on the HMS Orion, he was attracted to Methodist evangelistic work in Singapore and decided to become a missionary. On Friday, March 15, 1889, the front room of his home was opened as a dispensary. In this house, at a rental of $4 (gold), he and his family lived, began the Chinese work. The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was founded. He started all with the help of friends, without financial help form mission or Missionary Society.
(source: http://www.methodistmessage.com/may2008/elaupg.html)
Noted HMS Orion was launched She was commissioned to the Mediterranean Fleet on 24 June 1878. After paying off into the Reserve at Malta in 1883 she was recommissioned in 1885, and served as guardship at Singapore until 1890. Rev Dr must had decided to become a missionary by the time the battleship demoted to the second class reserve at Malta in 1890. He may not wish to leave Singapore as his had started the medical mission work in Singapore.
1890 - Become a missionary as teacher at ACS, Singapore; and doing door-to-door evangelism, then preparing himself with a US medical degree. He also visited Borneo.
1891- Appointed as Superintendent of the Mission ex-officio, and was reappointed in 1892( Earnest Lau, 2008).
Went to Amoy, China on 1-9-1891 to 1892. Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD.was appointed to take charge of the work. At that time Kensett was not a physician & was unable to treat patients as had been done during the previous year
1892- Dr West returned to take charge of his former work until he went on furlough. Chinese mission was then put in charge of the Rev H.L.E. Luering, Ph.D(1892-1899). In 1892 when Dr BF West now Methodist Missionary of Penang visited Sumatra.
1892-1897 Penang?Dr and Mrs B. F. West went to Penang after spending a year in China studying the Chinese language
1894- Rev G.F. Pykett came to Penang, where he and Mrs Young were married in January 1894. Dr and Mrs West were now in Penang
1895 - Returning in 1895. In 1895, West was sent to Penang to bear the responsibilities of Superintendent in that new District, especially in developing the ministry amongst the Chinese. 1895-96 Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD was appointed to takeover the medical work in Singapore.
1896 - In September 1895, subscription lists were started in order to build a new Church for Ipoh Wesley and School buildings for ACS Ipoh. In Febuary 1896, Rev Dr BF West,Rev. G. F. Pykett,Curtis and Bishop James Thoburn arrived on visit to Ipoh. They traveled from Penang to Telok Anson (now Teluk Intan) by a small coasting streamer, the Lady Weld. The train journey from Telok Anson to Ipoh took three-and-a-half hours. In November 1895, sufficient money was subscribed to start the building work which cost $3,000 then. It was completed in May 1896. Rev. Dr. B.F. West (Presiding Elder) of Penang preached at the opening and dedication service on 3rd May 1896.
1897- Miss Clara Martin was in Penang before the end of the year, 1897. Dr West, with those family at "The Priory" Miss Martin made her first home in Penang, was enthusiastic over every missionary learning Chinese. Miss Martin also with equal fervour took hold of the study
1897 - MBS Kuala Lumpur was established by Dr & Mrs W T Kensett in July 1897. With a bid of $700, this plot of land on top of Petaling Hill was secured. The church started with 4 members and 23 preparatory members. The school was founded by Christian missionary Dr. Kensett in July 1897. Note: Dr Kensett told personally that the church and school was found by Rev Dr West.
1898- Rev Dr B.F. West was the minister at Wesley Church, Penang. First Christian Chinese Wedding held and Theological School began with 4 students.
1901- He took a year’s furlough in 1901, returning later that year to fulfill his appointment as Methodist Elder of the Singapore District. While his wife and children remained in America, he brought along his brother Herbert West who served as a teacher at the local Anglo-Chinese School.
1905- West and his wife also helped establish the Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School in 1905 at Mount Sophia. This institution is known today as the Trinity Theological College.
1906- In 1906, the Wests journeyed to Japan, but his wife seemed to have taken ill during this journey.
1907- West then returned to America in 1907 on account of Mrs West's declining health.
1910 -went to Seattle
1933 - passed away on 2 July 1933, at Seattle,King County, Washington, USA
As a medical attendant on the HMS Orion, he was attracted to Methodist evangelistic work in Singapore and decided to become a missionary, first as a teacher at ACS in 1890 and doing door-to-door evangelism, then preparing himself with a US medical degree. Returning in 1895, he served in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (where he built the Methodist Church and headed the Methodist Boys’ School) and Penang, but sadly had to return to the US in 1902 because of his wife’s failing health
The story told by Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD
On Friday, March 15, 1889, the front room of his home was opened as a dispensary. In this house, at a rental of $4 (gold), he and his family lived, began the Chinese work, and saw the nucleus of what is today a flourishing Chinese mission.
The money used in the purchase of drugs and surgical instruments was given by members of the Singapore English Methodist Episcopal Church and by others interested. Even up to the present time all monies received for the purchase of drugs, etc. have been given by friends and no assistance whatever has been received from the funds of the mission or Missionary Society.
Dr West prayed to God to give him one convert by the close of the Conference year, and with this prayer on his lips continually, he did his part and trusted God to do the rest.
Patients would visit him, and while their medicine was being prepared he talked to them about the great love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and His power to save them from sin. It was a new story to them. They had never heard of the Christian’s God.
He did not work and pray in vain, for at the next Conference, Bishop Thoburn baptised 13 converts, 12 men and one woman. The names of these converts are found in the dispensary register, indicating that at some time or other during that year they had received medical advice or medicine. During the first year about 3,000 patients entered the dispensary and received assistance …
One patient was a confirmed opium smoker, mistrusted by his friends, confided in by no one. An opium smoker is the last man a heathen person will trust. But he became a Christian, and because he did so his former companions pounced down upon him, beat him, and made him pay dearly for having changed his heathenism for the worship of the true God. He, however, soon recovered from this attack and lived a Christian life until he was called home.
On his dying bed, he told us that he claimed the promises of God as his very own, and after testifying to his greatness, fell asleep to awake on the resurrection morn. His is not the only case in Singapore where converts have had to suffer for their convictions. Many have been beaten, persecuted, insulted and otherwise ill-treated for having exchanged heathenism for Christianity.
The next year Dr West left for China to learn the language and I was appointed to take charge of the work. Not being then a physician, Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD was unable to treat patients as had been done during the previous year, but I was careful to keep by me some remedies which I knew could do little or no harm, and used them to the best of my ability. During this year some hundreds of patients were treated and at the close I had the pleasure of seeing the membership considerably increased in numbers.
After being away a year Dr West returned to take charge of his former work until he went on furlough … and the Chinese mission was then put in charge of the Rev H.L.E. Luering, Ph.D who did very effective work. Many souls were converted through his instrumentality and joined the Church.
http://www.methodistmessage.com/may2008/elaupg.html
Rev Dr. Benjamin Franklin West
Dr. Benjamin West was a graduate in medicine from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In 1889, he was appointed to pioneer the Chinese missionary work in Malaya and Singapore. In that year, he set up a clinic in Upper Nanking Street where he catered to the medical and spiritial needs of the Chinese community. There, he also conducted Sunday services, which marked the beginning of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. To reach out to the Chinese more directly, Dr. West went to Amoy, China to study Hokkien dialect. Besides taking Malay in his stride, he learnt enough Tamil to read the rituals. He served faithfully for 19 years in the Methodist Mission field.
http://www.tacmc.org.sg/index.cfm?GPID=16
Benjamin Franklin West, Dr.By Tan, Bonny written on 2009-04-28
National Library Board Singapore
Benjamin Franklin West (b. 22 April 1858, Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA - d. 2 July 1933, Seattle, Washington, USA) was an American medical practitioner and Methodist missionary to Penang and Singapore.
Early Life
Born in Indiana, West was educated at Wabash College and thereafter at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati where he received his training in medicine. He set up a medical practice in Iowa after graduating and married Mary Graham in 1881. Unfortunately, Mary died in 1885 leaving behind two children, Nathan and Harold. At a Methodist conference, he was convinced by the preaching of Bishop Thoburn to go East to Malaya. In preparation for his call, West wed his late wife's sister, Letticia Graham in 1886, joined the North-West Iowa Methodist Conference in 1887 and was ordained for missionary work. The couple along with his son and daughter left for Singapore, and arrived here in early 1888.
Medical Missions
West began his missionary work teaching at the Anglo-Chinese School but was clear his calling was in medical missions. On board Orion, a British battleship passing through the region, a young British hospital assistant, William T. Kensett, heard of West’s work and appealed to join him. Through the influence of West, the Methodist Mission paid for Kensett’s discharge from the navy and Kensett soon joined West in 1888 to help him in his work and to take charge of his medical duties whilst West left for Amoy for further language studies.
Chinese Missions
West was appointed to head the local Chinese Missions in August 1889. He began his work at Upper Nanking Street where he set up a clinic. Using the missionary model applied in China, the secular outfit also served as an agency for religious and educational services. The Telok Ayer Methodist Church traces its beginnings to the weekly services conducted by West here. By 1891, the Chinese Church registered 43 members and a weekly attendance of almost 100, mainly from the Hokkien community. A number had been opium addicts, an affliction common amongst the Chinese coolies. Besides being fluent in various Chinese dialects including Hokkien, Hakka and Cantonese, he acquired Malay through the help of Mr Phillips who first called the Methodists to Singapore. He also knew enough Tamil to read the rites and rituals for service.
Amoy, China(1890-1891)
He went against current assumptions that the Chinese could not be understood and advocated closer study of their culture and philosophy. So between April 1890 to February 1891 West moved to Amoy where he refined his understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Meanwhile he recruited a Presbyterian Chinese, Sng Lim Chiau and an Anglican, Lim Hoai Toh (Oh Ai Toh) to assist him in his medical missions.
Appointments and Establishments
Whilst busy in Singapore, West also initiated Methodist work in Borneo in 1889, visiting it twice a year over two years.
Penang(1892-?)
In 1895, West was sent to Penang to bear the responsibilities of Superintendent in that new District, especially in developing the ministry amongst the Chinese. He had already set up the Anglo-Chinese Girls School in Penang in 1892 (today known as the Methodist Girls School in Penang).
By the turn of the 20th century, he had been elected Malayan Conference historian for his knowledge of the ministries in Malaya. He took a year’s furlough in 1901, returning later that year to fulfill his appointment as Methodist Elder of the Singapore District. While his wife and children remained in America, he brought along his brother Herbert West who served as a teacher at the local Anglo-Chinese School.
West and his wife also helped establish the Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School in 1905 at Mount Sophia which provided training to local church workers. He started the work by inviting a few locals who had showed scholarly promise to study with him at his home, tutoring them when he had time. This institution is known today as the Trinity Theological College.
This was not the only educational institution that the Wests established. West and his wife also presided over the Women’s Training School which later was transferred to Malacca. He was also involved with the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Many of his duties were on account of his appointment as Elder of the Methodist work in the Singapore District.
Retirement
In 1906, the Wests journeyed to Japan, but his wife seemed to have taken ill during this journey. West then returned to America in 1907 on account of Mrs West's declining health. After retiring from missionary work and settling in Seattle, West continued working, setting up a drug store which gave him income as he had relinquished his rightful claims to annuities from the Methodist Church. He later set up a practice and voluntarily served at the Children’s Home Finding Society. He also continued his bible teaching and preaching at the University Church and in other Christian societies.
Family
Father: Dr Thomas Jefferson West (b. 1827 - d.1872)
Mother: Mary Louise Lee (b. Indiana - d. Indiana)
Brothers: Frederick West, Herbert West
Wife: First wife, Mary Graham (d. 1885) (m. 12 September 1881). Second wife, Letitia Letty Lee Lincoln Graham (b. 6 April 1865, Crawfordsville - d. 28 November 1948, Seattle, Washington) (m. 15 May 1886).
Children: Daughter, Nathan and son, Harold were born to Mary Graham. Letitia was mother to Ruth, Thomas Nathan (b. July 1889, Singapore - d. October 1889, Singapore), Irene (b. 9 January 1891, Amoy), Mary (b. June 1892, Singapore), Thomas Mark (b. 18 May 1894, Singapore), Mildred H. (b. 13 August 1898, Penang?) and Herbert (b. 12 August 1899, Penang)
Quotes
"…faint-heart and weak faith were put to shame in the presence of his sturdy character" (James M. Hoover, D. D.)
"…because I could never get the consent and approval of my conscience to actually do the thing…" (Benjamin Franklin West referring to his strong desire to give up teaching at the Anglo-Chinese School because of the challenges faced and why he was unable to do so)
Author Bonny Tan
(source: http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1511_2009-11-30.html)
Related books, articles & websites:
1. The Singapore triglot vocabulary. The Chinese renderings by B.F. West(1891), complied by Shellabear, William Girdlestone, 1862-, http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca/hd.htm
2. From mission to church: the evolution of the Methodist Church in Singapore(2008),by Earnest Lau, published by Genesis Book, Singapore. Pg 17(There was a photo of Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West and his wife)
3. Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1377_2009-11-26.html
On 1 April 1867 the Straits Settlements were transferred from the control of the Indian Government to that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London. Anglican influence came about through the colonial chaplains who, in each Settlement, had been largely instrumental in starting the schools. The Pykett Methodist School Penang, formerly a section of the Anglo-Chinese School
Penang, was founded in 1891 by the Methodist Mission (Ho 1964). In September 1903, the school was refurnished, at a cost of $6,000, subscribed by several Chinese gentlemen of Penang. There was at the school a well-selected library, given by Mr Foo Choo Choon (Elcum 1908, 274). The Anglo-Chinese Schools both in Singapore and Penang were very largely attended, mostly by Chinese boys (Kynnerley 1902). In fact, from the very beginning most of the boys who attended Methodist schools were Chinese, not because the mission was solely interested in them, but because they were the majority in the large towns and were so alive to the vocational advantages of an English education (Cooke 1966, 384).
Dr and Mrs West were now in Penang. They had spent a year in China studying the language. They had brought Christian servants with them from Amoy. Mrs West, by her sympathetic ways, won the hearts of the poor people. She visited them in their homes, took her children with her. The women, always curious to know the ways of the foreigner, asked Mrs West one day what soap she used to make her children so white. The women were so glad to have someone who could speak to them in their own language. They liked also to come to visit the missionary at "The Priory".
Dr West, with those family at "The Priory" Miss Martin made her first home in Penang, was enthusiastic over every missionary learning Chinese. Miss Martin also with equal fervour took hold of the study. Her Chinese book was with her wherever she went, by day and late into the night … until step by step, the difficult Chinese language was a useable possession of the young missionary.
The Penang Methodist Girls’ School began when Dr B. F. West started the Anglo-Chinese School in 1892 at Northam Road. The increasing demand for female education resulted in the purchase of a large residence on the corner of Logan and Anson Roads (Ho 1964, 757).
(extracted from http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/5804/1/article3.pdf)
1889 The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore
The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was founded by Dr Benjamin Franklin West who first set up his missionary practice at a shophouse at Upper Nanking Street in 1889 to reach out to the immigrant Chinese. There, he held two services each Sunday, beginning in August 1889. Even at that early period, at least 30 people would gather at the shophouse to listen to his sermons which were conveyed in Malay and then translated into Hokkien. Many were opium addicts.
West decided that mastering Hokkien was important enough for him to close the dispensary for the period between late 1890 to April 1892. He left for Amoy and entrusted his work to Dr V. T. Kensett, Lim Hooi Toh and Alexandra Fox. In 1895, West was transferred to Penang with Kensett fully replacing him. Unfortunately by 1907, West had to return to America due to his wife’s poor health but he was replaced by the capable Dr H. L. E. Leuring who was conversant in Hokkien and Foochow.
(extract from http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1377_2009-11-26.html)
The list of ministers(Church Pillars) at The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Singapore:-
Benjamin F. West (1889-1892;1902-1903)
Lim Hoai To (1890-1892)
Alexandra Fox (1890)
H. L. E. Luering (1892-1899)
W.T. Kensett (1895)
Timeline of Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West(1858-1933)
1858- born 22 April 1858, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana. Crawfordsville is located in west central Indiana, about an hour west-northwest of Indianapolis, the state's capital and largest city.
1886- The first Methodist Episcopal Church at Coleman Street, dedicated on 15 December 1886, once stood where the National Archives of Singapore is today. Early in 1885, Rev William Fitzjones Oldham (1854-1937) was appointed to head the work of the Methodist Church in Singapore. He arrived with Dr James Thoburn and together they conducted a series of evangelistic rallies. These rallies were held in the Town Hall (later to be the Victoria Memorial Hall). It was here that the first Methodist Church in Singapore was established. The Church met weekly in the Town Hall until December 1886 when it moved to a building in Coleman Street (later to become the Anglo-Chinese Primary School's hall). The Church was then known as The English Church. The church is the mother church of Methodism in the region.
ACS Singapore was found on 1-3-1886 by Bishop William Fitzjames Oldham, as an extension of the Protestant Church. It was located at shophouse NO. 70, Amoy St, Singapore with 13 pupils. The second floor of shop was used as missionary quarter(Earnest Lau,2008).
1888- Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West and wife arrived early 1888 at Singapore (Earnest Lau,2008)as medical attendant on the HMS Orion
1889- As medical attendant on the HMS Orion, he was attracted to Methodist evangelistic work in Singapore and decided to become a missionary. On Friday, March 15, 1889, the front room of his home was opened as a dispensary. In this house, at a rental of $4 (gold), he and his family lived, began the Chinese work. The Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church was founded. He started all with the help of friends, without financial help form mission or Missionary Society.
(source: http://www.methodistmessage.com/may2008/elaupg.html)
Noted HMS Orion was launched She was commissioned to the Mediterranean Fleet on 24 June 1878. After paying off into the Reserve at Malta in 1883 she was recommissioned in 1885, and served as guardship at Singapore until 1890. Rev Dr must had decided to become a missionary by the time the battleship demoted to the second class reserve at Malta in 1890. He may not wish to leave Singapore as his had started the medical mission work in Singapore.
1890 - Become a missionary as teacher at ACS, Singapore; and doing door-to-door evangelism, then preparing himself with a US medical degree. He also visited Borneo.
1891- Appointed as Superintendent of the Mission ex-officio, and was reappointed in 1892( Earnest Lau, 2008).
Went to Amoy, China on 1-9-1891 to 1892. Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD.was appointed to take charge of the work. At that time Kensett was not a physician & was unable to treat patients as had been done during the previous year
1892- Dr West returned to take charge of his former work until he went on furlough. Chinese mission was then put in charge of the Rev H.L.E. Luering, Ph.D(1892-1899). In 1892 when Dr BF West now Methodist Missionary of Penang visited Sumatra.
1892-1897 Penang?Dr and Mrs B. F. West went to Penang after spending a year in China studying the Chinese language
1894- Rev G.F. Pykett came to Penang, where he and Mrs Young were married in January 1894. Dr and Mrs West were now in Penang
1895 - Returning in 1895. In 1895, West was sent to Penang to bear the responsibilities of Superintendent in that new District, especially in developing the ministry amongst the Chinese. 1895-96 Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD was appointed to takeover the medical work in Singapore.
1896 - In September 1895, subscription lists were started in order to build a new Church for Ipoh Wesley and School buildings for ACS Ipoh. In Febuary 1896, Rev Dr BF West,Rev. G. F. Pykett,Curtis and Bishop James Thoburn arrived on visit to Ipoh. They traveled from Penang to Telok Anson (now Teluk Intan) by a small coasting streamer, the Lady Weld. The train journey from Telok Anson to Ipoh took three-and-a-half hours. In November 1895, sufficient money was subscribed to start the building work which cost $3,000 then. It was completed in May 1896. Rev. Dr. B.F. West (Presiding Elder) of Penang preached at the opening and dedication service on 3rd May 1896.
1897- Miss Clara Martin was in Penang before the end of the year, 1897. Dr West, with those family at "The Priory" Miss Martin made her first home in Penang, was enthusiastic over every missionary learning Chinese. Miss Martin also with equal fervour took hold of the study
1897 - MBS Kuala Lumpur was established by Dr & Mrs W T Kensett in July 1897. With a bid of $700, this plot of land on top of Petaling Hill was secured. The church started with 4 members and 23 preparatory members. The school was founded by Christian missionary Dr. Kensett in July 1897. Note: Dr Kensett told personally that the church and school was found by Rev Dr West.
1898- Rev Dr B.F. West was the minister at Wesley Church, Penang. First Christian Chinese Wedding held and Theological School began with 4 students.
1901- He took a year’s furlough in 1901, returning later that year to fulfill his appointment as Methodist Elder of the Singapore District. While his wife and children remained in America, he brought along his brother Herbert West who served as a teacher at the local Anglo-Chinese School.
1905- West and his wife also helped establish the Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School in 1905 at Mount Sophia. This institution is known today as the Trinity Theological College.
1906- In 1906, the Wests journeyed to Japan, but his wife seemed to have taken ill during this journey.
1907- West then returned to America in 1907 on account of Mrs West's declining health.
1910 -went to Seattle
1933 - passed away on 2 July 1933, at Seattle,King County, Washington, USA
As a medical attendant on the HMS Orion, he was attracted to Methodist evangelistic work in Singapore and decided to become a missionary, first as a teacher at ACS in 1890 and doing door-to-door evangelism, then preparing himself with a US medical degree. Returning in 1895, he served in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (where he built the Methodist Church and headed the Methodist Boys’ School) and Penang, but sadly had to return to the US in 1902 because of his wife’s failing health
The story told by Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD
On Friday, March 15, 1889, the front room of his home was opened as a dispensary. In this house, at a rental of $4 (gold), he and his family lived, began the Chinese work, and saw the nucleus of what is today a flourishing Chinese mission.
The money used in the purchase of drugs and surgical instruments was given by members of the Singapore English Methodist Episcopal Church and by others interested. Even up to the present time all monies received for the purchase of drugs, etc. have been given by friends and no assistance whatever has been received from the funds of the mission or Missionary Society.
Dr West prayed to God to give him one convert by the close of the Conference year, and with this prayer on his lips continually, he did his part and trusted God to do the rest.
Patients would visit him, and while their medicine was being prepared he talked to them about the great love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and His power to save them from sin. It was a new story to them. They had never heard of the Christian’s God.
He did not work and pray in vain, for at the next Conference, Bishop Thoburn baptised 13 converts, 12 men and one woman. The names of these converts are found in the dispensary register, indicating that at some time or other during that year they had received medical advice or medicine. During the first year about 3,000 patients entered the dispensary and received assistance …
One patient was a confirmed opium smoker, mistrusted by his friends, confided in by no one. An opium smoker is the last man a heathen person will trust. But he became a Christian, and because he did so his former companions pounced down upon him, beat him, and made him pay dearly for having changed his heathenism for the worship of the true God. He, however, soon recovered from this attack and lived a Christian life until he was called home.
On his dying bed, he told us that he claimed the promises of God as his very own, and after testifying to his greatness, fell asleep to awake on the resurrection morn. His is not the only case in Singapore where converts have had to suffer for their convictions. Many have been beaten, persecuted, insulted and otherwise ill-treated for having exchanged heathenism for Christianity.
The next year Dr West left for China to learn the language and I was appointed to take charge of the work. Not being then a physician, Missionary William Thomas Kensett, MD was unable to treat patients as had been done during the previous year, but I was careful to keep by me some remedies which I knew could do little or no harm, and used them to the best of my ability. During this year some hundreds of patients were treated and at the close I had the pleasure of seeing the membership considerably increased in numbers.
After being away a year Dr West returned to take charge of his former work until he went on furlough … and the Chinese mission was then put in charge of the Rev H.L.E. Luering, Ph.D who did very effective work. Many souls were converted through his instrumentality and joined the Church.
http://www.methodistmessage.com/may2008/elaupg.html
Rev Dr. Benjamin Franklin West
Dr. Benjamin West was a graduate in medicine from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In 1889, he was appointed to pioneer the Chinese missionary work in Malaya and Singapore. In that year, he set up a clinic in Upper Nanking Street where he catered to the medical and spiritial needs of the Chinese community. There, he also conducted Sunday services, which marked the beginning of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. To reach out to the Chinese more directly, Dr. West went to Amoy, China to study Hokkien dialect. Besides taking Malay in his stride, he learnt enough Tamil to read the rituals. He served faithfully for 19 years in the Methodist Mission field.
http://www.tacmc.org.sg/index.cfm?GPID=16
Benjamin Franklin West, Dr.By Tan, Bonny written on 2009-04-28
National Library Board Singapore
Benjamin Franklin West (b. 22 April 1858, Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA - d. 2 July 1933, Seattle, Washington, USA) was an American medical practitioner and Methodist missionary to Penang and Singapore.
Early Life
Born in Indiana, West was educated at Wabash College and thereafter at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati where he received his training in medicine. He set up a medical practice in Iowa after graduating and married Mary Graham in 1881. Unfortunately, Mary died in 1885 leaving behind two children, Nathan and Harold. At a Methodist conference, he was convinced by the preaching of Bishop Thoburn to go East to Malaya. In preparation for his call, West wed his late wife's sister, Letticia Graham in 1886, joined the North-West Iowa Methodist Conference in 1887 and was ordained for missionary work. The couple along with his son and daughter left for Singapore, and arrived here in early 1888.
Medical Missions
West began his missionary work teaching at the Anglo-Chinese School but was clear his calling was in medical missions. On board Orion, a British battleship passing through the region, a young British hospital assistant, William T. Kensett, heard of West’s work and appealed to join him. Through the influence of West, the Methodist Mission paid for Kensett’s discharge from the navy and Kensett soon joined West in 1888 to help him in his work and to take charge of his medical duties whilst West left for Amoy for further language studies.
Chinese Missions
West was appointed to head the local Chinese Missions in August 1889. He began his work at Upper Nanking Street where he set up a clinic. Using the missionary model applied in China, the secular outfit also served as an agency for religious and educational services. The Telok Ayer Methodist Church traces its beginnings to the weekly services conducted by West here. By 1891, the Chinese Church registered 43 members and a weekly attendance of almost 100, mainly from the Hokkien community. A number had been opium addicts, an affliction common amongst the Chinese coolies. Besides being fluent in various Chinese dialects including Hokkien, Hakka and Cantonese, he acquired Malay through the help of Mr Phillips who first called the Methodists to Singapore. He also knew enough Tamil to read the rites and rituals for service.
Amoy, China(1890-1891)
He went against current assumptions that the Chinese could not be understood and advocated closer study of their culture and philosophy. So between April 1890 to February 1891 West moved to Amoy where he refined his understanding of the Chinese language and culture. Meanwhile he recruited a Presbyterian Chinese, Sng Lim Chiau and an Anglican, Lim Hoai Toh (Oh Ai Toh) to assist him in his medical missions.
Appointments and Establishments
Whilst busy in Singapore, West also initiated Methodist work in Borneo in 1889, visiting it twice a year over two years.
Penang(1892-?)
In 1895, West was sent to Penang to bear the responsibilities of Superintendent in that new District, especially in developing the ministry amongst the Chinese. He had already set up the Anglo-Chinese Girls School in Penang in 1892 (today known as the Methodist Girls School in Penang).
By the turn of the 20th century, he had been elected Malayan Conference historian for his knowledge of the ministries in Malaya. He took a year’s furlough in 1901, returning later that year to fulfill his appointment as Methodist Elder of the Singapore District. While his wife and children remained in America, he brought along his brother Herbert West who served as a teacher at the local Anglo-Chinese School.
West and his wife also helped establish the Jean Hamilton Memorial Theological School in 1905 at Mount Sophia which provided training to local church workers. He started the work by inviting a few locals who had showed scholarly promise to study with him at his home, tutoring them when he had time. This institution is known today as the Trinity Theological College.
This was not the only educational institution that the Wests established. West and his wife also presided over the Women’s Training School which later was transferred to Malacca. He was also involved with the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Many of his duties were on account of his appointment as Elder of the Methodist work in the Singapore District.
Retirement
In 1906, the Wests journeyed to Japan, but his wife seemed to have taken ill during this journey. West then returned to America in 1907 on account of Mrs West's declining health. After retiring from missionary work and settling in Seattle, West continued working, setting up a drug store which gave him income as he had relinquished his rightful claims to annuities from the Methodist Church. He later set up a practice and voluntarily served at the Children’s Home Finding Society. He also continued his bible teaching and preaching at the University Church and in other Christian societies.
Family
Father: Dr Thomas Jefferson West (b. 1827 - d.1872)
Mother: Mary Louise Lee (b. Indiana - d. Indiana)
Brothers: Frederick West, Herbert West
Wife: First wife, Mary Graham (d. 1885) (m. 12 September 1881). Second wife, Letitia Letty Lee Lincoln Graham (b. 6 April 1865, Crawfordsville - d. 28 November 1948, Seattle, Washington) (m. 15 May 1886).
Children: Daughter, Nathan and son, Harold were born to Mary Graham. Letitia was mother to Ruth, Thomas Nathan (b. July 1889, Singapore - d. October 1889, Singapore), Irene (b. 9 January 1891, Amoy), Mary (b. June 1892, Singapore), Thomas Mark (b. 18 May 1894, Singapore), Mildred H. (b. 13 August 1898, Penang?) and Herbert (b. 12 August 1899, Penang)
Quotes
"…faint-heart and weak faith were put to shame in the presence of his sturdy character" (James M. Hoover, D. D.)
"…because I could never get the consent and approval of my conscience to actually do the thing…" (Benjamin Franklin West referring to his strong desire to give up teaching at the Anglo-Chinese School because of the challenges faced and why he was unable to do so)
Author Bonny Tan
(source: http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1511_2009-11-30.html)
Related books, articles & websites:
1. The Singapore triglot vocabulary. The Chinese renderings by B.F. West(1891), complied by Shellabear, William Girdlestone, 1862-, http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca/hd.htm
2. From mission to church: the evolution of the Methodist Church in Singapore(2008),by Earnest Lau, published by Genesis Book, Singapore. Pg 17(There was a photo of Rev Dr Benjamin Franklin West and his wife)
3. Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1377_2009-11-26.html
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