PELITA - The Methodist Church Newsletter
Listed below are articles abstracted from past issues of PELITA
September 2009 - In Tribute to Rev James M. Hoover
If ever there was a town in Malaysia that can claim to be founded by Christians and contributed greatly to its early development that town is Sibu in Sarawak.
The Star Saturday Metro of 16 August 2009 ran a feature on the part played especially by American Methodist missionary Rev James Hoover in the early development of Sibu town. He came to Sibu in 1903 to teach and lead the group of mostly Christian Foochow migrants who had settled there the previous two years under the leadership of Rev Wong Nai Siong.
Rev Hoover’s ability and dedication to teach, organize and lead the community impressed Sir Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, and was appointed the head of all Sarawak Foochows making him their official representative to the government. He was affectionately called “Tuan Hoover of Borneo.”
Besides spiritual guidance to the migrant settlers Rev and Mrs Mary Hoover also provided education for their children. They established boarding schools for boys and girls who were also taught singing, knitting, nursing and cooking.
Rev Hoover also introduced new ideas and technology to the town. He brought in new crops like pepper and rubber. When rice harvests became abundant he set up a rice mill with a two-ton, 10-horsepower ricehuller. He set up the first agricultural school near Sibu to provide new and modern training for the farmers. He also introduced other machines like the circular saw, steam boat, ice-maker, wireless telegraph, electric generator and the bicycle.
When Tuan Hoover died in 1935 at the age of 63 flags were flown at half-mast in Sarawak in his honour and all schools were closed on the day of his funeral.
But even in the present day the Methodist churches and the town have not forgotten his place in Sibu’s history. In 2007 the Rev James Matthew Hoover Memorial Garden was opened, funded by the Methodist church but built on state land designated as a public park and maintained by the Sibu Municipal Council. It is the only joint project by a local council and the Methodist Church in Malaysia, according to Mr Daniel Ngieng, deputy chairman of the Council.
In addition to this, Masland Methodist Church, Sibu, in direct line to the original church Hoover built in 1905, has completed its renovation with an open square that can accommodate 1000 people named after him. These are worthy memorials to the man who dedicated his life to the people of Sibu.
(Based on the feature article by Philip Hii in the Star Saturday Metro, 15 August 2009)