Page 47 - Malaysia by John Russel Denyes

remained there the greater part of that year, but
before the next annual meeting of circumstances
compelled him to return to Singapore, and the
mission to Borneo was abandoned.
The records of the same year begin the story of
another mission that has proved more successful.
At the Annual Meeting it was decided to open
work in Penang, on the west coast of the Penin-
sula. Penang is the second city in the Straits
Settlements, and has a population of about one
hundred and twenty-five thousand people, most
of them being Chinese or Tamils. The island of
Penang was acquired by the English Government
by cession from a native prince in 1785 for the
small annual payment of $6,000.

Extension It is two miles from the mainland,
to Penang and is twelve miles long and nine
wide. Later a small strip was taken
possession of on the opposite coast to arrest the
Malay piracy of that part of the high seas. This
strip is known as Province Wellesley, and was
purchased for an annuity of $2,000.
In the spring of 1891 the Rev. Daniel D. Moore
and the Rev. Benjamin H. Balderston were chosen
to begin this new mission. In
Rapid Growth July Mr. Balderston opened a
school on the plan of the Anglo-
Chinese school at Singapore, and a few weeks
later he was joined by Mr. Moore, who began
English preaching services. Rev. G. F. Pykett
succeeded Mr. Balderson and under his principal-
ship during twenty years the enrollment has
reached 1500 boys. The Penang Mission grew
until, in 1895, it was made a separate district, with
Dr. West as presiding elder. Under his able and
energetic management Penang became the center
of a large and flourishing group of out-stations.
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