SONG Hoot Kiam, 宋佛儉

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ID: I245 Name: Hoot Kiam SONG Sex: M Birth: 1830 in Malacca 1 Death: 7 OCT 1900

Song Hoot Kiam was born in Malacca in 1830. He was the second of three sons of Song Eng Chong, who was also born in Malacca, in 1799, and who died at the age of 76 years (in 1875) in Singapore. At the age of II, Hoot Kiam was placed as a boarder in the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca, which had then the Rev. James Legge (afterwards Professor of Chinese, Oxford University) as Principal, and remained there two years until Mr. Legge left for Hong Kong. The family then came to this Settlement where Hoot Kiam was brought in contact with the Rev. A. Stronach, who had known Mr. Legge intimately, and who, after having ascertained that both Kim Lin and Hoot Kiam were anxious to continue their studies under Mr. Legge, arranged for the lads to proceed to Hong Kong at Mr. Legge's expense. For the next few months after their arrival there, they were placed in the Anglo-Chinese College situated in the Chung-wan district to learn the Cantonese dialect. A few months after his return to Singapore, Mr. Hoot Kiam married his first wife, Yeo Choon Neo, one of the pupils of Miss Grant, the representative of the Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, who had come out in 1843 to take charge of the Girls' School which had been begun by Mrs. Dyer of the London Missionary Society. This young couple founded the oldest family of Straits Chinese Christians in Singapore. In 1853 Mr. Hoot Kiam joined the service of the P. & O. Company which had in 1845 established a branch office here, and held the post of cashier until his retirement in 1895. He associated himself with the work of the Rev. B. P. Keasberry, by whom the Malay chapel in Prinsep Street had been built and opened in 1843. Mr. Hoot Kiam was the possessor of a fine voice, and in the days before there was such a thing as an organ in that chapel he was the "precentor" and led the singing at the chapel services. From the Straits Directory of 1864, we find that he was at that time the treasurer of Mr. Keasberry's chapel. Under his influence, a number of young men joined this church, among them being Tan Kong Wee, Tan Boon Chin and Foo Teng Quee. Mr. Hoot Kiam was thrice married. After the death of his first wife, he married in 1870 Phan Fung Lean, belonging to a Christian family from Penang, and the eldest child of this union is Song Ong Siang. Although Mr. Hoot Kiam never again met his old master-who had attained a world-wide reputation as a Chinese scholar-he had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Legge's second son in 1890 when the latter visited Singapore. Says the biographer: "Song Hoot Kiam spoke English perfectly, and was only too delighted to see and entertain his old friend, Dr. Legge's son." About the same time Dr. Legge, " the most charming of old men "- then about 76 years old, but up at four o'clock in the morning working away at a translation of some Chinese classics-had the young fellow, Ong Siang, to spend a few days with him at his house in Keble Road, Oxford. Mr. Hoot Kiam died on 7th October 1900 at the age of 70, nine daughters and five sons surviving him. "Song Hoot Kiam," says the Straits Chinese Magazine " was neither rich nor great, but he \vas a specimen of the best type of Chinese character. Sober, persevering and conservative, he was a mighty rock to his large family. Early associations and the friend- ship of the late Dr. James Legge made him a Christian, and his sojourn in England from 1846 to 1848, during which he was presented to the Queen, completed his training for the faith, which he had adopted. ...He toiled on quietly, and in hope and faith, raised up sons and daughters to worship God, and to work for the kingdom of heaven. ...He laboured well, though few heard of his arduous toil. ...As a servant, as a friend and as a father, he stands pre-eminent as an example for the Straits Chinese. Honest, punctual, sober, industrious and conscientious, he discharged his duties to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company for a period of forty-two years. His masters did not overlook his merits, which, on his retirement, were recognised by a gratuity. Half a century of honest, steady and successful work for others is a sufficient commentary on the man's character. As a friend Mr. Hoot Kiam is loved wherever he is known, but he is known only to a small circle. Being of ashy and retiring disposition, he spent most of his time among his family, and those of us who can realise the happiness of this simple domesticity may well envy the coolness, the contentment and the goodness of our friend who has just departed."

Song Hoot Kiam was born in Malacca in 1830. At the age of 11, he was placed as a boarder in the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca, where Rev Dr James Legge was then the Principal. He was in the College for two years until Dr Legge left for Hongkong. The family then came to Singapore where Song Hoot Kiam met Rev A Stronach, who was a very close friend of Dr Legge. When Rev Stronach learned that Dong Hoot Kiam and one other lad were anxious to continue their studies under Dr Legge, he arranged for them to proceed to Hongkong at Dr Legge's expense. For the next few months after their arrival in Hongkong, they were placed in the Anglo-Chinese College situated in the Ching-Wan district to learn the Cantonese dialect.

In 1845 when Dr Legge returned to Scotland, he brought along Song Hoot Kiam who was sent to the Duchess of Gordon's School. There he remained till the spring of 1848, attending the services at the Rev Thomas Hill's Congregational Church, where the Legge family worshipped, and where in Nov 1847 Song Hoot Kiam received baptism in the presence of Dr Legge.

A few months after his return to Singapore Song Hoot Kiam married his first wife, Yeo Choon Neo. She was one of the pupils of Miss Grant, the representative for Promoting Female Education in the East, who had come out in 1843 to take charge of the Girls School that was started by Mrs Dyer of the London Missionary Society. This young couple founded the oldest family of Straits Chinese Christians in Singapore..

He associated himself with the work of Rev B P Keasberry, by whom the Malay Chapel in Prinsep Street had been built and opened in 1843. He was the treasurer of Mr Keasberry's chapel. Under his influence, a number of young men joined this church, among them were Tan Kong Wee, Tan Boon Chin and Foo Teng Quee. Song Hoot Kiam not only brought them to Christ he was so blessed to be the father-in-law to Tan Kong wee and Tan Boon Chin. Tan Boon Chin was also the Elder of the church and had held the office of Session Clerk for almost 40 yrs. He was the grandfather to Elder Girlie Tan and Elder Arnold Tan who are both still serving faithfully in Prinsep.

In 1870, after the death of his first wife, he married Phan Fung Lean who was also a Christian from Penang. Through the union of the second marriage another great servant of the Lord in Prinsep, Sir Song Ong Siang was born.

Song Hoot Kiam was the driving force behind the church history of Prinsep Road Presbyterian Church. Apart from the voluntary preaching, he had to work closely with the missionaries in attending to the many details of running the church as the full time foreign pastors had to preach in other churches as well.

Father: Eng Chong SONG b: 1799 in Malacca

Marriage 1 Choon Neo YEO Married: Y

Marriage 2 FEMALE2 Married: Y

Marriage 3 Fung Lean PHAN Married: 1870 Children

Ong Siang SONG b: 14 JUN 1871 in Singapore

Ong Boo SONG

Ong Joo SONG b: 1 MAY 1877

Male5 SONG

Male6 SONG

Female6 SONG

Female7 SONG

Female8 SONG

Female9 SONG

Female10 SONG

Female11 SONG

Female12 SONG

Female13 SONG

Female14 SONG

Sources: Title: ZZ Place Record: Malacca Author: Place Rec Id [P61] Note: Source Type: Place Details

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