SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MESSENGER ISSN 0026-0371 March - April, 1988 M.C.CP) No. 61/ 2 / 88 Centennial focuo\ ...••••..Tfie.•fflan page 2 «pe oermon page 6 o ts' page 8 2 THE MESSENGER March - April 1988 NEWSBREAK 1888 - 1988 ti c an Ztbram la Rue Star Gazer to Torch Bearer Farming was hard work for small 11 year old Abram La Rue. The necessary chores always left him weary and He loved it. The vast expanse of sea made him feel sore. His older brothers' tan skins bulged and rippled over tall. The power surging underneath brought him strength. strong muscles when they plowed the fields, but not his. Calm days spoke peace to his restless heart, while He often wondered if he would ever be strong enough tempetuous days filled him with vigor and determination. to do the work his father required. It was the star-studded heavens that filled him with Whenever he would ask his father's permission to go the deepest joy and security, however. It seemed to him to school, the answer was always the same. "No, son. that myriads of stars crept right down to the sea itself. A boy must learn to work. After all, that's where your He felt like he was in the very center of a celestial display bread and butter come from. You can't eat just studyin' staged just for his benefit. "What could ever be better," a book all day." thought Abram. "This is truly the best life." But Abram was unconvinced. He loved to read. When Abram's hard work advanced him from deck boy to he could, he would slip away to his favorite quiet spot the status of an officer. Now he had the option to choose in the attic and read from the family Bible or other books. on which ship he wished to serve. He always chose to Gradually his concepts of the world and life broadened. sail to the Far East so he could do business with the By his mid teens he knew there was far more to life than Chinese merchants and thus increase his savings. just farming. He also was sure he would never make a In the mid 1800's Abram decided to switch and try good farmer. "I'm just not built for it," he reasoned. 'I'm his hand at gold mining. Again success daunted his steps. sure God never intended that I be a farmer." Soon he was investing in California property and other One day the thought struck him, "why not follow the money-making activities. Sometime later he left his profits stars and go to the sea?" He finally mustered up courage in the hand of a trusted friend and returned to sea and to approach his father. To his amazement his dad agreed. the Far East. From time to time his mail indicated he With joy and bounding enthusiasm Abram La Rue set off would one day retire a wealthy man. for a new life. March - April 1988 THE MESSENGER 3 Disaster Strikes Interlude Among The Sheep Then one day in Hong Kong, two large envelopes from From San Francisco, he made his way to a lonely California brought news of disaster. One contain mountainous area in Northern California known as newspaper clippings telling of a terrible San Franci Anderson Valley. Here he laid claim to some property and fire that had burned his assets to the ground. The o ed into a deserted cabin. The quiet serenity he envelope reported his other investments were i r enced among his sheep was vastly different from After thirty-five years of hard work everyth' stle of ship life. God seemed so close. He longed vanished. Abram, stunned and broken-hearte e his joy with someone. to end it all by stepping off the edge of the pie ne •ay, he met Pastor Studebaker who invited him Just before his last step, however, force of abit caused to join is Dunkard church and come to their him to look up once more at the stars. e caught a campmeet g a few weeks later. Sometime later while glimpse of a brilliant star and then it w s gone! Only visiting at th Studebaker home, Mrs. Studebaker handed blackness filled the space. What did it m an? Confused Abram a Sig s of the Times magazine that her husband and too depressed to sleep, he spent the ni ht wandering had demanded she throw away. Abram accepted the along the streets of Hong Kong. magazine and studied it very carefully. Morning dawned and with it a slight ho e. He The deyektPar the Dunkard campmeeting, he gathered decided to sail to Honolulu. But to his enittisielongings and started walking down the Honolulu was no better. Then one nigh e ad not gone far when he heard the sound aimlessly he heard some singing. The wor s floated out of hooves a creaky wagon wheels behind him. The on the night air and he stopped to listen. driver, Mr. R uel Stickney, invited him to ride and visit. "Are you weary, are you heavy hearted, t I it to Jesus. To Abram's surprise, he learned that Mr. Stickney tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over jo s departed, distributed e Signs of the Times for a business. As the tell it to Jesus alone." men visite Abram became convinced that what Mr. He turned toward the sound and saw a ten ith a sign, Stickney w4s saying was right. He changed his plans and "Come unto Me all ye who are heavy lade I will give attended pie Seventh-day Adventist campmeeting you rest." On an impulse he followed anoth man into instead. the tent. The invitation to "rest" sounded goo Suddenly he looked up every text presented and later his reverie was disturbed with the preacher'= piercing studied ach one. On the last Sabbath of campmeeting question. "Have you seen His star?" when altar call was given La Rue jumped to his feet and e aimed, "Baptize me right away. I've got a big job t do, and not many years left to do it in." Had He Seen His Star? ohndnour Had he? He knew a lot about stars. After all, th aptize me riyh.t guided him across the trackless sea many times. He new , and trusted them. They had never led him astray. B that one bright star that had stopped him from plungin into 9of a Aiy a watery grave, what about that one? Perhaps Go• was trying to tell him something. He could hardly slee that night. oh to b, and not many The next morning he hurried to a bookstore and b. ght his first Bible. Finding a quiet place he read the entire ook 77 of Mark and surrendered his life to God. Suddenly h felt impressed to go down to the harbor and offer his se ces am to do it in. as a seaman. No one needed him except a captain s. ling for California. Abram was not anxious to return to the place that now held so many painful memories, bu ter campmeeting La Rue became caretaker of Mr. decided to trust that God knew best. U (Igt kney's sheep ranch and sold Signs of the Times for Along the way he diligently read his Bible. He noti t years to the people in the area. Several families were that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses had spent m ntually baptized including William Grainger who later of their lives herding sheep. Why did these great m ecame the first president of the present Pacific Union do this? Could it be that they wanted to spend time wit College in California. God? He decided to do the same. 4 THE MESSENGER March - April 1988 59 And Just Beginning Plea For More Bearers. At 59 years of age, La Rue went back to school for Abram wrote home urging that missionaries be sent one year so that he could apply for mission service. To to Japan and China. William and Lizzie Grainger went his keen disappointment, however, he was turned down to Japan and Elder and Mrs. J. N. Anderson and Mrs. on grounds that he was too old and not well educated. Anderson's sister, Miss Ida Thompson went to China. Not knowing what else to do, Abram turned to God. He Upon arrival in Hong Kong, Elder Anderson baptized Mok felt impressed to work for seamen at the great seaports. and eight other believers on March 1, 1902. They became In 1884, La Rue went to Hawaii as a self-supporting the first fruits of China. missionary. There he visited every ship in the Honolulu Abram La Rue was thrilled to witness this joyous harbor. Interest grew and upon request Elder and Mrs. occasion in the sunset years of his life. He was glad he William Healey and their little girl, Betty, were sent to carry had followed The Star which had brought him happiness on the work. beyond compare. Later La Rue met Captain Martin with whom he had He spent his last days passing out tracts and caring earlier sailed to Hong Kong. As they talked over old times, for the little health food store he had started in Hong the captain offered to take Abram to Hong Kong again. Kong. Just before his death he willed the greater portion Abram accepted and boarded the Velocity on March 21, of his small income to the China mission, the object of 1888 loaded with books and tracks to share.