REPORT FROM MACASSAR

Through the courtesy of Brother C. L. Randall, who is now in the 2/6 Fld. Amb.,
Macassar, and who was a church member of Nuriootpa, South Australia, I am writing
you a few lines so that you may have an idea of our church here at Macassar. Through-
out the war we have been completely disconnected from any conference. Even up to
the present we have had no word from our union conference at Bandoeng (Java) or the
division conference at Singapore. It seems clear that the war has worked such havoc in
those areas that both our division and union were completely disorganized. So as soon
as I met Brother Randall, I got your address from him.
Like many other cities in the world, Macassar was also subjected to terrific bomb-
ing. Countless casualties and material damages were inflicted upon it. The whole
population had to move to the country. From the beginning of the year 1945 this
became worse. While important positions such as Morotai and Balikpapan fell into
the hands of the Americans and Australians, the bombing on Macassar itself was inten-
sified as never before. The city of Macassar was abandoned even by the Japanese,
and a state of anarchy resulted. Robbers and rioters rushed into the city, throwing
open all houses and ransacking almost everything. Both the Japanese and the robbers
tore down undamaged houses and took away with them the materials, such as beams
and iron bars.
But thank God, though the conditions were so chaotic, when peace was announced
and we found our way back again to the city, we found the church of God intact. Half
the city lay in ruins, but our church was in perfect condition. Churches belonging to
other Protestant denominations, and to the Catholics, had been hit by bombs;
but our church remains untouched. Three bombs fell within one hundred yards of our
church, but none of them did any damage to the divinely protected building. Now our
people are worshiping God in the church with gratitude and thankfulness. The at-
tendance at our church every Sabbath is very good. We are carrying on God's work
much the same as before the war.
Four years ago, when war was imminent, our American pastor, Elder Roger Holley,
was ordered by the division to quit Macassar immediately, leaving the work here in the
hands of two evangelists, Brethren Saerang and Tuasuun. Brother Saerang is still with
us to this day; but Brother Tuasuun died of dysentery some time after he was imprisoned
by the Japanese for having preached the Word and having mentioned the United
States in prophecy. We hope that the time will not be far distant before a pastor can
be stationed here to lead the work and baptize new believers. We should be very
glad, too; if one or two Australian ministers could be sent here to visit us.
We shall also appreciate it if you can send us some literature such as the Sabbath
school lessons, Signs of the Times, and the Record. Please send us also necessary infor-
mation which might concern our work here. Sending you our Christian greetings and
praying that God will continue to lead us in the unfinished task, and hoping to have
the privilege of hearing from you very soon, I am, sir,
Yours sincerely, a lay member of the S.D.A. Church,
Macassar, Celebes, Dec. 23, 1945. LIM CHOON LOCK.

VOLUME THIRTY-TWO FEBRUARY, 1946 NUMBER TWO

2 FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK February, 1946

In the Midst of Ruin The Army has recently vacated the school build-
ings at Philippine Union College with the exception
BY V. T. ARMSTRONG of one dwelling house. Part of the land, however, is
The morning of December 26 we watched from the still occupied. The school is in operation, but the
deck of the Marine Jumper for the first lights at the teaching staff is overloaded. Much repair is needed
entrance of Manila Bay. As the first rays of the sun to make the school what it was prior to the war. All
lighted the eastern sky, we discerned the island of the buildings which escaped destruction during the
Corregidor and across the channel the territory of war are badly in need of repairs. Housing accom-
Bataan, where many chapters of history were written modations for the teaching staff must be provided
in suffering and death during the war. A little later before the next term opens on July 2. This will
the sky line of Manila came in sight. Anchor was mean the repair or erection of at least twelve resi-
dropped outside the breakwater, and we waited until dences. The publishing house, together with houses
our ship could be allotted a place to dock. As we for the staff of the plant, must be provided. The
counted many sunken ships in the harbor our minds union workers and the sanitarium staff also will need
went to that word written years before which fore- homes as early as possible. It is hoped that places
told the time when • "navies will go down." may be rented for some of these workers, although
We have been in the Philippines now a month. few places are available and rents are very high.
Each day it has seemed that we have accomplished so We have just purchased from war surpluses, sev-
little. Transportation is a serious problem. We eral quonset huts, which will temporarily meet some
have become adept at "thumbing" rides, and have of these needs. The work of taking these huts down
been accommodated in jeeps, weapon carriers, Red and moving them to the place where we will use them
Cross ambulances, and once on an Army garbage will start immediately. Two of the units may possi-
truck. Business is not "as usual" in Manila, and bly be taken to Artacho and used as temporary dor-
while it takes hours to reach your desired destina- mitories and classrooms at Northern Luzon Academy.
tion, it generally takes much waiting before you see Recently L. C. Wilcox and I went by plane to
the person you desire to see. Our first lesson in Iloilo to plan with that field for the opening of the
waiting was before docking. We waited three days West Visayan Academy. A building has been rented
in the harbor before our boat docked and we were and will be used for the girls' dormitory and class-
permitted to go ashore with our baggage. rooms. A nepa building will be erected for the boys'
Manila has suffered severely from the bombings, dormitory and additional classrooms. The East
shellings, and fires. Pictures which you may have Visayan Academy is planning to use some temporary
seen cannot adequately show the awful destruction. buildings for the coming school year.
In and near the walled city all buildings are utterly The brethren who remained in Manila following
demolished or burned out. Many other sections of the release from internment have labored beyond their
the city are almost as totally destroyed. The debris strength in an endeavor to care for the pressing needs
has been pushed from the streets into adjoining of the work. They will be leaving soon for the home-
blocks; and great piles of destroyed automobiles, land for their furloughs. F. A. Mote is due to ar-
streetcars, household equipment, galvanized iron roof- rive in Manila, January 26; A. M. Ragsdale and
ing, cement and brick, steel girders, and useless war family, G. A. Campbell, and Elizabeth Rogers are
material emphasize the waste of war. due early in February. We are glad for the help
Army supplies are piled high in various sections these workers will give. Others will no doubt be
of the city. Tents, quonset huts, and temporary leaving America soon. There is much to be done.
sheds for housing the Army and Navy personnel are Yesterday we purchased a new truck and today
scattered throughout the city and suburbs. Build- P. L. Williams received word that his car, which
ings which escaped the destruction are temporarily was shipped from the States, had arrived. These
repaired and used for officers' quarters, business cars, together with the small union mission car, will
offices, and storerooms. Day by day more debris is greatly assist us in our travel.
being cleared away and temporary buildings are Little by little the work of reconstruction will go
started. Each day new articles appear in the shops on, and we pray that amid the ruins will appear
as the merchants receive shipments of goods ordered a growing and expanding work. The opportunities
perhaps months ago. Gum, candy bars, cigarettes, for public evangelism, for medical missionary work,
and Army field rations are sold on the streets at high for distribution of gospel literature, and for Chris-
prices, and the stock seems inexhaustible. The main tian education abound. Workers, buildings, and
thoroughfares are crowded with jeeps, trucks, and equipment are needed. The measure of future growth
pedestrians; while M P's patrol the streets in jeeps will be determined largely by the extent to which these
in an effort to control the traffic. Nevertheless, the needs can be supplied. The workers who come must
death toll caused by street accidents has been exceed- be prepared to face hard work and inconveniences.
ingly high since the close of the war. Today we look upon a field "white already to harvest."
The Philippine Union offices are in a rented build- "Come over . . . and help us," is the cry of the
ing on Luna Street, some distance farther out of the Orient today.
city than the former location. The Army is renting
most of the mission property in Pasay, including We are living in the most solemn period of this
what is serviceable of the sanitarium building. The world's history. The destiny of earth's teeming mul-
side room of the church at Pasay is a busy clinic, and titudes is about to be decided. Our own future well-
the sign over the door reads, "Clinic No. 1—Manila being, and also the salvation of other souls, depend
Sanitarium Hospital." The church was not seriously upon the course which we now pursue. We need to
damaged in the war. The Sabbath school and other be guided by the Spirit of truth. Every follower
services are conducted each week in the Pasay English should earnestly inquire, "Lord; what wilt Thou have
church and in the Central church in Manila. me to do ?"—The Great Controversy,. p. 601.
February, 1946 FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK
With A. N. Nelson and F. R. Millard
in Japan
(Continued from January issue)
We shall now fill in a few more details in regard to
the history of the work here during the war years:
Owing to the increased pressure of the military on
our church, it became more and more difficult to carry
on our work. We have before us some of the last
issues of our magazines. They have shrunk in size
and cheapened as far as paper is concerned, and one
of them bears on the back page the sad legend, "This
is our last issue." That magazine is the children's
paper, Kodomo no Gakuin, dated April, 1943. This
paper enjoyed a nine-year period of existence and
was popular with both Adventist and non-Adventist
children. The other magazine is Kenko to Jinsei
(Life and Health), which seems to have continued
publication a few months longer. All our publishing
house books, as well as all those belonging to workers
and believers, were confiscated. Yesterday, Brother
Millard succeeded in finding a roomful of confiscated
publishing house books in the Nakano police station.
The police were quite co-operative and promised to
deliver the books back to our headquarters in good
order if we would kindly give them a little time.
You will gather from the above statements that
our organized work has been at an absolute standstill
since the arrest of our leaders, and therefore statistics
and most of the financial statements and yearbook
information are unavailable. Thus far we have heard
of only one casualty among all our believers, and that
was the infant in the Nakauchi family. We are par-
ticularly happy that there were evidently no casual-
ties in Hiroshima. Fortunately, our church there had
been torn down as a fire hazard, since it was so close
to a military establishment, and our members were
all scattered out into the country.
Now for some brief notes about individuals whom
we have not yet mentioned : Mrs. Sumitoma, Mrs.
Ishibashi (Kurume), and Mrs. Yamagata (Kurume)
are all well and firm in the truth. We are particu-
larly happy to learn that frail Mrs. Ishibashi is in
better health than ever. Brother Tabuchi, of Moji,
and Brother Asai, of Nagoya, are well and on the
union committee. Sister Araki (a blind worker) has
done notable work in keeping the Kagoshima com-
pany together during the war. They have held their
meetings in secret. Brother Watanabe, son-in-law of
Elder Okohira, is well and is working for the group
that is running our sanitarium. He has carried heavy
responsibility as leading member of the liquidation
committee and has promised to turn over the prop-
erty to whatever body we designate.
The Kobe church and clinic were destroyed, as were
the Tokyo and Yokohama buildings. We made a trip
to Naraha in an Army truck and found the buildings
there in a very poor state of repair and completely
stripped of all equipment.
Money alone is not what is needed; what is seriously
needed is a large supply of foodstuffs and clothing.
We earnestly request that such supplies be immedi-
ately gathered by our churches so that you can ship
them to us as soon as shipping is available to Japan.
Socks, underwear, shirts, shoes, and suits are all
urgently needed. Food is so scarce that practically
none of our people know what it is to have a full
3
meal. All have to carry their own supplies of rice
as they travel. While each one receives a ration of
food, it is not always available in the market. Black
market prices are terrific.
We wish we had time to tell you of the many provi-
dences concerning God's protection of our people
during the air raids, but the hour is late, and we
cannot write much longer. We shall try to send an
article similar to this to the Review in a few days.
In closing I wish to state that I believe with all my
heart that the brightest days for the Japan Union
Mission lie ahead. It is true that they have been
through a shaking time and our working force has
been cut down, but those that remain are stanch.
Furthermore, we are now stepping into an era of
religious liberty and freedom to think, speak, and
write that actually reminds us of the good old U.S.A.
Let us also remember that the Japanese people have
gone through an experience that has made them anx-
ious and ready and willing to listen to truth.
A. N. NELsoN.
The angel who unites in the proclamation of the
third angel's message, is to lighten the whole earth
with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and
unwonted power is here foretold. The Advent Move-
ment of 1840-44 was a glorious manifestation of the
power of God; the first angel's message was carried
to every missionary station in the world, and in some
countries there was the greatest religious interest
which has been witnessed in any land since the Refor-
mation of the sixteenth century; but these are to be
exceeded by the mighty movement under the last
warning of the third angel.—The Great Controversy,
p. 611.
The church at mission headquarters, Seoul, Korea.
Corporal Allan Hillier, who sent the picture, is on the
extreme right. Corporal Hillier says : "Tomorrow I have
to try to raise 500 yen to pay for two tons of coal that
I managed to persuade the major our church needed.
Our hospital still has no coal. Military government con-
trols all the coal. Now that I have made the contact,
I am going to try to get approval from the major for
some for the hospital. How I wish Elder Watts were
here! A lowly corporal can't do very much. Lieutenant
, who controls the trucking company, has promised
me a truck whenever we need one for hauling fuel for
the church or hospital. The charge is 800 yen a day, so
it is really quite a favor he is doing us. God is good to
His people in preparing the hearts of others to help
them." (It seems to us that Corporal Hillier in his
modest way has been able to do a great deal for the Seoul
church.—EDITOR.
4 FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK February, 1946

VoL. 32 FEBRUARY, 1946 No. 2 terials are so expensive, and we are
Published monthly as the official organ nurses' training school we need also
of the FAR EASTERN DIVISION of nursing journals; for really one
The General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists.
6840 Eastern Ave., N.W.
Washington 12, D.C.
YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION PRICE 50 CENTS world is doing. P.S. I've just re-
W. P. Bradley Editor Portland; he is going to send me
News Items
Our front page carries the first
direct news to come to the General
Conference out of Celebes in the
Netherlands East Indies. It was
directed to Australia through the
hands of a Seventh-day Adventist
soldier stationed there, and for-
warded to the General Conference
by Elder W. G. Turner. Brother
Randall reports from Macassar
that there are about one hundred
members in attendance at the
church, and that a number of new
converts are awaiting baptism.
Dr. A. T. Babienco, of San Diego,
has recently written of his plan to
furnish a piece of equipment for
the Manila Sanitarium and Hos-
pital. He has ordered from a St.
Louis supply house an obstetrical
operating table and delivery bed of
the finest type, which will be ready
for shipment to Manila in March.
Many thanks to Dr. Babieneo for
this gift, and also to Miss Ruby
Barnett, who is under appointment
for nursing service in Manila, whose
interest in the medical work there
had a part in the planning of the
gift.
Mrs. E. Ling, who has been di-
recting the nursing service of the
Penang medical work, writes to
Elder M. E. Kern under date of
December 30:
"We were very glad to know that
our former workers will be coming
back to Malaya soon. We are
anxiously awaiting the day when we
can see them face to face. Our
greatest need today is in our medi-
cal work, that is, for a Seventh-day
Adventist doctor. . . . Our sani-
tarium was returned to us two
months ago ; we had to hire men
to do a lot of repairing in the build-
ing. Even the doorknobs had been
taken out; . . . practically all the
hospital's furnishings had been
looted. We have nothing good left
—no bed linen, blankets, etc. We
have to tell the patients to bring
their own when they come. Ma-
not able to buy them. . . . As a
fees so out of date having been
shut away for four years with no
knowledge of what the outside
ceived a letter from Dr. Holden, of
the nursing journals."
More of the missionaries under
appointment will be leaving soon
for the Orient. A recent letter
from Dr. Waddell speaks of plans
for three families to travel together
'to Siam—the Waddells, Ritzes, and
Smiths. Professor Carl Jones, of
Washington Missionary College, has
accepted the call to join the staff
of Philippine Union College as
chemistry teacher, and he will go
forward at the close of the present
school year.
Elder Armstrong writes that the
brethren in Manila have purchased
a number of quonset huts, which
will be used to house workers and
offices until permanent buildings
can be erected. A Chevrolet, truck
has also been purchased, which will
be used to move the huts to the
various locations, where they will
be set up. The 250-bed field hos-
pital which was bought complete
from the Army has been moved to
the college campus for storage until
a place can be found where the hos-
pital can be opened again. It is
indeed encouraging to learn of these
steps in the rehabilitation of the
work in Manila.
Brother R. S. Lee writes from
Korea concerning problems there :
"We have problems in Korea. One
is the 38th parallel separation,
which hinders us in getting funds
from the northern churches. It also
makes it necessary to spend very
much money for traveling expenses.
. . . I put in a request to the U.S.
military government for the use of
formerly owned Japanese buildings
to be used by our believers for
church services. As a result we ob-
tained permission to use such build-
ings in the following places: Iai
Jun, Jung Eup, Koon San, Kwang
Joo, and Wang Sip Ri. These
places are in southwest Korea, and
now I am working to get meeting
places in southeast Korea."
Dictionary of Standard
Malay
We are pleased to announce the
completion of Dr. V. E. Hender-
shot's new Dictionary of Standard
Malay, which is now ready for
distribution. The name of W.
G. Shellabear, well-known Malay
scholar, appears along with that of
Dr. Hendershot, inasmuch as Dr.
Shellabear collaborated in the work
and made his own materials on the
language available. This is the first
appearance in the United States of
an adequate dictionary of the Malay
language, and is a companion vol-
ume to the First Year of Standard
Malay by the same author. It will
be indispensable to the worker who
labors or travels frequently in Brit-
ish Malaya or Indonesia; and will
be a requisite for all who have a
deep interest in the Orient, or who
are likely to travel there in any
government or civilian capacity.
The dictionary is adequate to cover
all needs.
The Malay language has grown
considerably during recent years by
the formation of new phrases and
idioms to cope with the historical
developments of our times. All
former dictionaries and vocabularies
are therefore somewhat out of date
at present. This new work con,
tains within its 5,000 words all the
new expressions needed for today.
The words are in the British Gov-
ernment Romanized form; but a
simple key is supplied to make the
change to the Dutch spelling so that
the student can familiarize himself
with either style. Under each word
the common derivatives and appro-
priate phrases are given, so that the
student can quickly acquire a nat-
ural, idiomatic use of the language.
There are eight valuable appendixes
which supply classified word lists
for ready reference; also a generous
sample of Malay literature on which
the reader can perfect his skill in
the language.
We believe that this 235-page
reference book, attractively printed
and bound in the factory of the
Pacific Press Publishing Associa-
tion, will have a wide distribution,
and will serve a most useful place
in the developing of those skills
which are needed by the successful
missionary. Price, $3, postpaid, tax
additional. W. P. BRADLEY.