behind the gifted preacher Oldham
MARIE OLDHAM:
A great support to
the Rev William Oldham.
-Methodist Church Archives picture.
SHE was a tiny lady, hardly reaching
her husband's shoulder, but full of energy and vivacity, practical
yet sympathetic. Her character is revealed when Dr Thoburn met
them when they arrived from America at the Bombay docks. He told
them that they were being posted to Singapore rather than to a
school in India, as they had been led to expect, and asked, "Will
you go?"
Recounting the incident 45 years later, Oldham said, "I turned
to Mrs Oldham. She drew herself up to her full stature and said,
'Dr Thoburn, if we are appointed to Singapore, to Singapore we
will go.' "And we went", said Oldham, adding in his
characteristic way, "What this lady says, usually goes."
Born in Bangalore, India, Marie Augusta Mulligan, who came from
a fine Christian family, was converted at an evangelistic meeting
convened by the great evangelist, William Taylor - who became
Bishop Taylor of Africa - and her Christian life was nurtured
by her pastor, the Rev D. O. Fox. It was at another special meeting
that her testimony attracted young William Oldham that led to
his conversion and the marriage of the young couple.
In 1876, Oldham was licensed to preach by Poona Quarterly Conference
and Marie devotedly supported her husband in all his plans to
extend God's Kingdom. When Oldham decided to go to America for
educational preparation as a missionary in India, she realised
that she would have to suffer a long separation from her husband.
He recalled: "I remember plainly the quiet evening …
when seated outside our tent I discussed the matter with my young
wife. We had no idea that we could both go. What she faced, therefore,
was a separation for years and a separation which involved her
finding her own support. She faced it calmly. Only a girl, brought
up in a sheltered life, I see more clearly then the fine self-abnegation
which led her to insist quietly but firmly that I should go to
America for the necessary preparation. She would find her own
way, meanwhile, as best she could. As we waited on God together,
the way grew more certain … finally, we announced our determination,
hers no less than mine." (Christian Advocate, Nov 8, 1917,
pg 1167-1168).
With her husband away, Marie kept herself busy with teaching at
a school in Cawnpore, and developed an education philosophy which
she expressed many years later - "A true teacher has a mother
instinct born in her which makes a youngster feel perfectly at
home with her. He, however, in accord with whatever has been his
home environment or lack of parental upbringing, will try her
patience and test her love. But he soon learns how far he may
go without stepping further." (Methodist History, July 1985,
pg 251). In time, she followed Oldham to America and studied at
Mt Holyoke College while waiting for her husband to graduate from
Boston.
The Rev Oldham was appointed to Singapore and arrived in February1885.
Husband and wife threw themselves resolutely into the work which
we have Sophia Blackmore's account of Mrs Oldham's contributions:
"Two years later, when I
arrived, how busy the Oldhams were! I found the Boys' School [ACS]
just re-opening after the mid-year holidays. Many new pupils were
entering, especially in the little boys' class that Mrs Oldham
had charge of … forty undisciplined little fellows speaking
many dialects, learning English through the medium of Malay that
some of them did not know. School began at 10 am and continued
until 3 pm, the hottest hour of the day when a tired teacher dismissed
her small pupils.
"A small boarding school was in the same building and Mrs
Oldham was the housekeeper. At meal-time Mr Oldham was seated
at the head of the table and Mrs Oldham at the other end. Mr Webb,
the teacher, sat beside the head and my place was at Mrs Oldham's
right, and the boys were arranged on either side. Curry and rice
were served each meal for us all.
"Wesley Church was flourishing. After school hours, the Oldhams
visited the homes of the people. I heard a clergyman urging his
workers to emulate Mrs Oldham in reaching the people. The Sunday
School began at 7 am where Mrs Oldham taught a class of girls
... Then came the Church service at 8 am. A service was held at
Tanjong Pagar in the afternoon and again service in the Church
at 5 pm. On Tuesday evening we had a preaching service ... The
Bible Class was on Friday evening. The various addresses by Mr
Oldham were so uplifting though we did not realise the gifted
preacher we had with us.
"After service, when several would come to the house to sit
on the verandah, what a privilege it was to listen to the conversation.
Then would come the cocoa and the biscuits which Mrs Oldham served.
These days, so full without sufficient rest, brought a short term
to an end with broken health ... " - MM, January 1939, page
23.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Oldham's ministry was still
in its infancy, and Mrs Oldham continued to support him in his
long career as pastor in Pittsburg, Bishop in Singapore, Secretary
of the Missions Board in New York and finally, Bishop of Methodist
work in Argentina. She died on October 12, 1938 at the age of
81, a few months after Bishop Oldham.
Earnest Lau, the Associate Editor of Methodist Message, is also the Archivist of The Methodist Church in Singapore.