Malaysia

by John Russell Denyes, Uwe Fischer

A century ago, the American Methodist missionary John Russell Denyes had been working in Malaysia. Upon his return to the USA in 1919, he published a little book simply entitled “Malaysia”. His account describes the country, its inhabitants, culture and life, and, most importantly, the missionary work that had been done so far. In 1919, Malaysia for most Western people was a blank sheet. Thus, it is no wonder that Mr Denyes started his report with presenting some basic facts about Malaysia. It is noteworthy, that the term “Malaysia” back then denoted a much broader “It includes the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Timor, The Moluccas, New Guinea, and a thousand smaller islands.” The author also illustrates the trade relations by giving an account of every day products Western people might consume, all coming from “When you washed your face this morning, the soap was probably made from cocoanut oil from Malaysia. Malaysia probably furnished the rattan for the cane-bottomed chair in which you sat and the tinware in the kitchen where your breakfast was cooked. You put Java sugar in your Java coffee, or your Java tea, or your Java cocoa. You put Borneo pepper on your eggs. Your coffee cake was seasoned with Malaysia spices, and your pudding was made of Malaysia tapioca and seasoned with Malaysia nutmeg. Your peanut butter was made of Malaysia peanuts. Your laundryman uses Malaysia bluing, and the tires on your car are from Malaysia rubber. You wear a Java straw hat in your garden, and your neighbor smokes a Sumatra cigar. Your dentist uses Malaysia cocaine, and your doctor gives you Malaysia quinine for your malaria and Malaysia capsicum for your indigestion.” Insights like these make the book a pleasure to read, not only because of the vivid language but also by revealing how much the country has changed since then. It was at the beginning of the 20th century, when Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society that today characterises the country, took “Just as a few years ago the people of the Eastern States poured out over the Western territories of America in search of wealth, moving here and there as the hope of greater profits beckoned them on, so the people of China and India are pouring into Malaysia in search of gain.” After having set the framework by describing the country, its peoples, religions and customs, the second and major part of the book concentrates on the missionary work. Not only adults were educated by the preachers but also children. In Singapore, Penang, Taipeng, Ipoh, and Kuala Lumpur the Methodists built large Anglo-Chinese schools for boys and for girls, with branches in many smaller towns. On top, there were home bible women going from home to home, stopping for an hour or so at each place, teaching the girls and mothers to read and sing. No obstacles or throwbacks could prevent the Methodists to continue with their work. At the close of 1917 there were in the Methodist Church of Malaysia 2 Bible Training Schools for men and 2 for women; 12 Epworth Leagues with 769 members; 74 Sunday Schools with 375 teachers and 5188 scholars; 15 boarding schools enrolling 449 boarders, and 75 day schools with 392 teachers, 1511 girls and 6839 boys. The Methodist Church of Malaysia has some 100,000 organised members. The language of the book is clear and simple, so the short textis easy to read. Although John Russell Denyes signs as the author, many passages are quotations and more often than not he does not clearly state the sources. Other passages are not even marked as quotations but we can assume that Denyes did not write them personally, as he himself is being described in third person.

70 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2017