對歷史多情......

　　阿舸伯今天提及因為咱們對歷史多情，所以有負擔，要興建歷史走廊，要讓後輩的人從中曉得先賢在這塊土地所酒下的心血！
　　好一個歷史多情論，全馬唯一的以宣教士命名的公園今早終於開幕了！
　　阿舸指的是砂州第二財長兼旅遊部長拿督斯里黃順舸，他與砂衛理公會會長蘇慈安聯合主持開幕，以下是這個公園的說明，早上剛出爐的簡介單張的內文：

新珠山河口明珠
富雅各紀念公園述說詩巫文明史
（距離詩巫市區約5公里）

　　這個公園是為記念砂拉越衛理公會第一位宣教士－富雅各牧師(1872-1935)而建的。這是一個由詩巫市議會與砂拉越衛理公會所聯營的項目，佔地約二依甲，全部耗資120萬元，並於2007年7月27日由砂州第二財長暨旅遊部長拿督斯里黃順舸及砂拉越衛理公會華人年議會會長蘇慈安牧師聯合主持開幕。
　　1901年港主黃乃裳帶領福州人南來詩巫，開始新福州墾場及美以美教會（現稱衛理公會）於新珠山河畔。三年後黃氏返回中國，來自美國的富雅各教士(James Matthew Hoover)繼承為墾場的領袖。富雅各在拉讓江流域生活了約32年，離世前在拉讓江流域協助完成的衛理禮拜堂41間，學校40間。他一生把自己的生命為拉讓江流域的福州人擺上，為詩巫注入現代化，也全然奉獻给上帝，恩澤每一個墾荒的前辈。
　　富雅各逝世時，砂拉越第三代拉者威納布律克特別豎立一塊銅碑，碑文如下：
　　“富雅各牧師於1903年3月莅巫，曾負開墾拉讓江流域福州人墾場的責任。1904年，砂拉越第二任國王查安東尼布律克爵士敕封富公為砂拉越福州人之首領，為福州人向政府表達下情之代表。自1903年至1935年2月11日歸天為止，富雅各鞠躬盡瘁，弗隕厥職。
　　此碑乃砂拉越第三國王查理威納布律克爵士特為紀念富公對砂拉越國家至死忠誠的服務而竪立，同時作為一份致給朋友的獻禮。“
　　富先生曾為詩巫及拉讓江流域創下許多第一：
　　他購進第一批橡膠籽；
　　他帶來第一艘汽船；
　　他設置第一個米較機；
　　他創辦第一間女校；
　　他裝設第一架發電機；
　　他設立第一間農業學校；
　　他引進第一架製冰機；
　　他使用第一架鋸木圓鋸；
　　他採用第一架無線電報報機。
　　他為詩巫邁向文明，奠定了基礎！
　　此紀念園的設計的概念和特色如下：
　　1.這公園處在新珠山河口，政府把這條河流接納為歷史文化河。富雅各公園之地點很有可能就是富雅各當年落脚新珠山之附近。
　　2.這公園豎立在馬蘭諾同胞基督教墓園旁邊。從平面來看整個公園看不到十字架，但是從天上俯視，整個公園卻是按一個巨大的十字架來規劃。十字架就是公園中的主干道。
　　3.承受恩雨的大漏斗。在十字架干道的縱橫交接處有一個圓形白色的大漏斗，象徵藉着富公雅各，上帝恩典沛降這新福州大地。在漏斗形的中央有一個大水滴塑像。塑像是以紅黑色的花崗石製造，有水自上流下及不斷自底下湧出成漪漣狀。在晚間，漏斗的上方有隱藏式的红燈光直照在這水滴把一切都染红，成了一滴血。这塑像的底座四方鑲有一詩以中英巫文呈现。詩詞如下：
　　一滴水　陣陣漣漪　潺潺鵝江
　　一滴血　他的生命　全然擺上，恩澤墾場
　　他　富先生　雅各教士
　　4.黑色的塑墙。與那潔白的漏斗形成强烈的對比的黑色大塑墙，長達近一百尺。這道呈孤形，從18英寸逐漸升高到9英尺。牆面從矮的60度傾斜到幾乎垂直的中央將以曲线的方式来引人到其中央的最高点。牆上的黑色花崗石以中英巫雕上富公雅各的生命篇。兩邊是1,118顆星星象最初三批抵步詩巫福州先賢人數。這道牆的最高點有一條十二寸寛的縫，象徵主耶穌所说的“窄門”（馬太福音七章13-14節）。這窄門的後方有白色的曲牆圍著，晚間再以强烈的燈光來說明窄門後的天堂。在這黑色塑牆的前方有花崗石凳供人安静默想。
　　5.寡婦的油。在東面的一道牆上有幾個甕，不斷有流水湧出，這是意味著舊約以利沙與寡婦的故事(列王紀下四章1-7節)，只要有信心的話，把甕等器皿拿出來給上帝祝福，福份就湧流不息！正如富雅各獻上自己造福墾場一樣，也提醒福州人甚至詩巫人應該成為一條流通的管子，領受了恩典也讓眾人得福。
　　6.河畔燈柱。在這河畔築上八尺高的小山丘。山丘邊缘有九支豎立型的燈光柱。这些造型仿彿兩支翅膀在其上，被形容是讚美的燈柱，晚上開燈很是亮麗。每一支光柱都以中英巫文各雕一字。字為仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、温柔、節制。這聖靈所结的果子很明顯的在富公雅各生命中彰顯出来。
　　以上是富雅各紀念公園的第一期工程。第二期工程需配合河流局的河堤工程方能進行。第二期的工程包括豎立在岸邊的燈塔和一個羅馬型的露天劇場以便朝陽會或詩歌演唱會能在這歷史走廊舉行。
　　這公園述說一位宣教士的故事，也是詩巫發展的里程碑，洋溢著新生命的喜樂：在懷念先賢所作的一切之際，公園的使用者都能滿懷感恩的心，献上頌讚。

英文版是由剛自阿美利堅畢業回來的邱和平牧師翻譯：
The Pearl of Sungai Merah
Rev James M Hoover Memorial Garden
(About five kilometers from Sibu Town)

This memorial park was erected to commemorate the Rev. James Hoover (1872 – 1935), the first missionary serving the Methodist Church in Sarawak. This project is a joint effort of the Sibu Municipal Council and the Methodist Church in Sarawak. It occupies a two-acre land and the project cost RM1.2 million. The memorial park was officially dedicated on 27th July, 2007 by YB Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, the Finance Minister(ll) and Minister of Urban Development And Tourism Sarawak and Rev. Dr. Su Chii Ann, the President of the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, the Methodist Church in Malaysia.

In 1901, Wong Nai Siong led a group of Foochow Chinese leaving China for Sibu to open up the swampland. These immigrants set up the MEM Church (Methodist Episcopal Mission , now the Methodist Church) near the river bank of Sungai Merah. After three years, Wong Nai Siong left Sibu for China and the American missionary Rev. James Matthew Hoover took over the leadership. Rev. Hoover lived some thirty-two years along the Rejang River. In his life time, he helped build 41 churches and 40 schools, all along the Rejang River. Rev. Hoover dedicated his whole life for the Foochow pioneers settling in Rejang River basin. He set the pace for the modernisation of Sibu. His wholehearted dedication to God has blessed especially the pioneers of this land.

When the Rev. James Hoover was called to be with the Lord, the third Rajah of Sarawak Vyner Brooke erected a copper tablet (monument) in remembrance of him:

“The Rev J.M.Hoover arrived at Sibu in March, 1903 and was responsible for settling the first Foochow colony in the Rejang River. In 1904, His Highness Sir Charles Anthony Brooke G.C.M.G. Second Rajah of Sarawak, officially appointed him the head of all the Sarawak Foochows, entrusted him with their welfare and made him their official represantative in all their dealings with Government. From then until the day of his death on 11 Feb 1935 Mr Hoover loyally fulfilled this trust.”

Through his services among the Foochow, the Rev. James Hoover has become a pioneer in many fields:
He brought to Sibu the first batch of rubber seeds;
He imported the first steamboat;
He set up the first rice mill
He organized the first girl school;
He installed the first electricity generator;
He set up the first agricultural school;
He imported the first ice maker;
He was the first to use the chain-saw;
He introduced the use of wireless telegraph machine;
He has established a firm foundation for the modernisation of Sibu!

Here are some of the distinctive features of the memorial park:
1. This park is located at the estuary of Sungai Merah. The local government has named this river the historical and cultural river. The locality of this park is likely to be the place where Rev. Hoover set his feet when he first arrived Sungai Merah, Sibu.
2. This park is also located at the side of the Melanau Christian Cementary. The arial view suggested that the memorial park is built in accordance to the shape of a huge cross. The Cross has formed the main path of this park.
3. The Funnel. A huge white cone shape funnel was built at the centre of the cross-like main path of this park, signifying God has bestowed his grace to Sibu, the “new Foochow,” through Rev. James Hoover. The artist has crafted a stainless steel sift at the bottom of this funnel. Below this funnel is the sculpture of a merune marble vase standing in the middle of a pool. The water flowing through the sift of the funnel produce a continous waves of ripples. In the night, red sport light colors this pool and funnel, and the water droplets from the funnel looks like droplets of blood. There is a trilingual poem engraved on the pillars support this funnel. It reads:
A drop of water A ripple
ruffling the Rejang basin
A drop of blood
His life selflessly
given for the people of Sibu
He James Mathew Hoover
The Missionary


4. A black marble wall. In contrast with the white funnel, this memorial park has a hundred-foot long arc-like sculptured wall. This wall stretches from 18 inches to 9 feet high. The wall is also graudally tilting from its lower portion, at a 60 degree angle, to an almost perpendicular centre. This black marble wall recorded Rev. James Matthew Hoover’s life history in Chinese, English and Bahasa Malaysia. 1,118 stars symbol the first 3 batch of Foochow pioneer arrived Sibu hundred years ago. At the highest point of this wall, the artist has crafted a twelve-inche wide crack, signifying what Jesus called “narrow gate” (cf. Matthew 7:13 – 14). There is white wall behind this narrow gate where strong bright light is shone at night to indicate the heaven behind the narrow gate. Marble stools are available for the
public to rest and to contemplate.

5. Widow’s Oil. There are few urns at the eastern side of the black marble wall oozing with ceaseless flow of water. This is an image of the story of the Prophet Elijah and the widow, taken from the Old Testament (1 Kings 4: 1 – 7). It speaks about the God’s unreserved blessings to those who are willing to offer to God what they have. It serves as a reminder that Rev. James Hoover has dedicated his life to bless the people of this reclaim wasteland; in the like manner, the residents of Sibu can become channels of blessings. Freely receive, freely give.

6. The Pillars of Lamp. This memorial park has a hilly area besides the river bank. Along this hilly area, there are nine pillars of lamp. These lamps are arranged like a pair of soaring wings. Many describe these lamps as the lamps of praise. The area is especially scenic when lited in the night. Each pillars is engraved with a different words. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the biblical descriptions of characters of life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and they are certainly evident in Hoover’s life and ministry.

These are the first phase of The James Hoover Memorial Park project. The second phase of the project will involve the building of dike by the local irrigation department. It will also includes the building a light tower and an open-air theatre for concerts and meetings.

This memorial park speaks of the life of a missionary and it also marks a milestone in the development of Sibu, full of new life and joy. As you enjoy this park and remembering the sacrifice of our forebears and pioneers, may you offer your praise and thanksgiving.