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History Of The Elim Gospel Hall, Ipoh (1913 - 2003) - Part 07 - Elim During The Japanese Occupation (1941 - 1945)
The Second World War started in Europe in September 1939. The Japanese occupation which started on 7th December 1941 ended missionary work in Ipoh and throughout Malaya. It was a time of chaos and great fear and suffering. Foreigners, especially whites, were hurriedly evacuated to Singapore. The Wilsons and their daughter Phyllis were evacuated to Singapore in late December 1941. Mr. Wilson who had been quite ill while in Ipoh died on 6th January 1942 aged sixty in Singapore and was buried there. Mrs. Wilson and Phyllis were evacuated to India and then on to United Kingdom where they arrived in March 1942. Other missionaries also evacuated to India, Australia and New Zealand.
The Japanese forces immediately seized Elim’s buildings and land. Initially the Mission House became a transit centre for European detainees with Japanese wives. Six months later the mission house was converted into an officers' club. The nearby Girls’ Home was turned into a ‘comfort house’ for immoral purposes while Japanese intelligence agents occupied the Boy’s Home. Thankfully the Gospel Hall was spared and used as a military store inspite of all such undesirable activities going on. Prior to the Japanese occupation when the fall of Ipoh seemed imminent, the Boys and Girls’ Homes were disbanded and the children were sent home to their relatives and friends who would take them in.
With the absence of the foreign missionaries, worship duty and plans were left to the local leaders and faithful senior members of the church. Among these leaders were Mr. Yin Choo Soon, Mr. A. E. Pereira, Mr. Cunard, Mr. Leach, Dr. Jumeaux and Mr. Choo Thean Yong. Another devoted worker was Dr. James J. Samuel who faithfully came to Ipoh from Kampar every first week of each month to preach the gospel.
It was reported in Elim records that throughout the Occupation period, both Chinese and English speaking assemblies did not miss a single worship meeting or Sunday School. Right from the start of the Occupation, the Japanese authorities allowed the Christians to worship. From the early period of the Occupation when Elim Gospel Hall was in Japanese hands, both assemblies held combined meetings, initially in Mr. Yin Choo Soon’s house in Dulcieville Lane (present site of Ipoh Parade) for about ten months; then later moved to a dilapidated wooden hut in the Yuk Choy Chinese Primary School along Hugh Low Street for six months or more. Later four elders approached the Japanese authorities for the reuse of Elim Gospel Hall. The elders were asked to state the assembly policies and they quoted Romans Chapter Thirteen. They got back the use of Elim Gospel Hall but were driven out twice. Eventually when the Hall was demilitarised, both the assemblies began to use it again.
The Lord continued to bless the ministry even during the Occupation period and some forty believers were added into His kingdom. Usually they were baptised in the Kinta River (near where YMCA is situated). On one occasion, brother Yin Choo Soon arranged for a bus to take the believers to Kampar Gospel Hall for baptism. On two other occasions the believers were baptised in Kampar River just before the town.
From left to right the photos show:
To go to Part 08, click here.
To see a picture of the Kinta River as it used to be, click here.