Song Hoot Kiam

Song Hoot Kiam (b. 1830, Malacca d. 7 October 1900, Singapore) is reputedly the forefather of the oldest Straits Chinese Christian family in Singapore. Influenced by sinologist and missionary James Legge, Song travelled to England to pursue his Christian education between 1846 and 1848. During this time, he was baptised and presented to Queen Victoria. He is best known for his Christian contributions to the Straits Chinese Church at Prinsep Street.

Early Education

The middle son of Song Eng Chong, Song was influenced by the Christian teachings of James Legge, then principal of the Anglo-Chinese College in Malacca where Song was a boarder. In 1843, the school, along with Legge, was transferred to Hong Kong while the Song family relocated to Singapore. The young boy overcame initial parental objections, and under Legge's expense, travelled with his fellow Malaccan schoolmates, Lee Kim Leen and Ng Mun Sow, to Hong Kong to continue their studies with Legge. The boys began their first few months at the Anglo-Chinese College in Hong Kong, studying Cantonese. In 1845, Song, only 15 then, and the two other Straits Chinese young men accompanied Legge to England when he was on furlough. Their journey on the Duke of Portland took six months.

They began their theological studies at the Duchess of Gordon's School in Scotland, remaining there until 1848. During this time they were baptised at the Congregational Church which the famed William Milne, the first Principal of the Anglo-Chinese College, came from. Their conversion was widely reported. After a tour of England, and with crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of Legge's successful work amongst the Chinese, the boys were duly presented to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria on 5 February 1848. Legge would continue to gain great fame as a missionary and sinologist, serving as the first Professor of Chinese at Oxford  (1876 - 1897). The relationship between Legge and these Chinese boys have been immortalised in an oft-circulated lithograph of Legge surrounded by three young Chinese men with long queues.

Family and Career

On his return to Singapore in 1849, Song's new-found faith led him to reject his parents' choice of a non-Christian girl. Instead he married Yeo Choon Neo, a well-educated Straits Chinese girl, a union which is regarded as the start of the oldest Straits Chinese Christian family in Singapore. Influenced by his wife's mentor, the headmistress of the Singapore Chinese Girls' School, Miss Grant, Song took on a position as a teacher at the Singapore Free School. He later found work at the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company in 1853 as a cashier. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1895.

Christian Work
Although Song did not turn to full-time Christian work as Legge had hoped, he remained highly regarded for his Christian work, serving alongside Benjamin Keasberry at the Straits Chinese Church at Prinsep Street. As a voluntary preacher, he gave sermons in Malay and English, leading many young Straits Chinese men to the faith. His singing voice saw him leading as precentor during chapel services whilst his mathematical ability led him to take on the role of treasurer at the chapel.

Death

After his first wife's death, he married Phan Fung Lean from a Penang Christian family in 1870. Their eldest child was Song Ong Siang, a noteworthy lawyer and famed author of the book, One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore. He was to marry a third time leaving behind five sons and nine daughters upon his death in October 1900.

Family
Father: Song Eng Chong (b. 1799, Malacca - d. 1875, Singapore)
Siblings: Two brothers



Author
Bonny Tan



References

Lim, B. K. (1900, March). Obituary Song Hoot Kiam [Microfilm: NL 268]. The Straits Chinese Magazine, 4(13), p. 186

(Call no.: RRARE 959.5 STR)

Song, O. S. (1984). One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore (pp. 82 - 83). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SON)

Sng, B. E.K. (2003). In His good time : the story of the church in Singapore, 1819-2002 (pp. 112 114, 118, 120, 160). Singapore: Bible Society of Singapore: Graduates' Christian Fellowship.

(Call no. RSING 280.4095957 SNG)

Smith, C. (1986). A sense of history (Part I). Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 26, pp. 144 - 264. Retrieved February 2, 2008, from http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4401597.pdf



The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.