Filipino Adventist Network: Paul H. Eldridge: July 11, 1914

by Don A. Roth

Paul H. Eldridge, former president, Far Eastern Division, Gen Conf of SDA
(July 11, 1914 - February 12, 2009)

Pastor Paul Herbert Eldridge, 94, a long-time member of the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church and former resident of Calimesa's Plantation on the Lake, has died. During World War II he and his family were interned by the Japanese in a camp located in the Philippines.

After a long illness, Paul Eldridge died on Thursday morning, February 12, at the board and care home where he and his wife Evelyn lived. in Loma Linda. Memorial services will be held on Saturday afternoon, March 21, 3:00 p.m., at the Calimesa SDA Church. A former Japan co-worker, Pastor Lou Venden, will give the homily.

Pastor Eldridge was a pastor, teacher, and administrator during his 40 years of service with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. After retirement in 1975, he served on a voluntary basis as an associate pastor, lecturer, and church administrator. He has lived in the Inland Empire for the past 17 years.

After serving as a pastor in New York state, the church's mission board asked the Eldridge family to go to Japan to serve as a teacher and a pastor. For many years he was the director of the "Voice of Prophecy" radio program. Then events of the year 1941 led to the start of the Pacific War when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese Air Force.

When relations between the USA and Japan became strained during the waning months of 1941, church officials recommended that the missionary families in Japan be evacuated to the Philippines where they expected to be safe until arrangements could be made to send them to the USA. The family was taken into Japanese custody when he was just 27 years of age while he was living in the Philippines after spending four-and-one-half years in Japan as a missionary. His wife Retha and two young children also suffered through three years of incarceration, the last portion of which was in the Los Banos Internment Camp south of Manila. Although they tried to live a normal life, conditions were harsh.

After the war was over, the administrative authorities at the church's international headquarters near Washington, D.C. asked Pastor Eldridge to return to Japan to help re-establish work. Pastor Eldridge and his wife Retha spent a total of 20 years as missionaries in Japan. One of his assigned tasks was to prepare radio programs for his church. His Japanese language skills were so good that most Japanese thought that it was a Japanese who was doing the speaking. After several years of work in Japan after the war, Pastor Eldridge was asked to go to Singapore to become the Ministerial Director of the Far Eastern Division of the church, a post that took him to all of the Pacific Rim countries.

In 1966 Eldridge was elected president of the Far Eastern Division of the church headquartered in Singapore. In this post he was the spiritual leader of Adventists living in all of the Pacific Rim nations as well as Guam/Micronesia. At the same time he was a vice-president of the General Conference of his denomination.

His retirement years included part-time work as a pastor in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and then full retirement in Florida. His wife of 57 years died in 1990.

Eighteen years ago Pastor Eldridge married Evelyn Davies, a long-time family friend, in a ceremony at the home of her daughter. Dorothy Marais, in Oak Glen, California and then made their home in this area 14 years ago. For many years during the summers they traveled back east to the state of Maine where they enjoyed cooler weather and family in a cottage by a lake near Portland.

Even in retirement Pastor Eldridge stayed busy. For a period of time he served as chaplain of the senior retirement center in Loma Linda, the Linda Valley Villa. Later they made a decision to relocate to the Villa where the daily burdens were considerably lighter. It was there that he had a bad fall and it became necessary to go to a board and care home on Lawton Street where he remained until his death on February 12.

Survivors that include both families are his wife Evelyn, of Loma Linda; a son, Larry, of Chicago, Illinois; a nephew, David Wilkins, of Yucaipa; five children, 19 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, and a host of friends around the world.

COME FOLLOW ME!
by Paul H. Eldridge

"Come follow Me!"
I heard the Master's voice and turned to see
For whom this invitation had been given;
"Whose heart is pure," I thought, "whose life so fine
To merit thus the Master's gracious call?"
No one was there. I turned again, and saw
That it was I to whom the Master spoke;
"Thy sins I will forgive, thy doubts dispel,
Thy weakness strenghthen, and thy faith reward.
Come thou, and follow Me!"

"Come follow Me!"
The Master stands and beckons as He calls.
I see ahead the path where duty lies;
The way is rough, the task demands more skill.
More wisdom, more great courage than I know.
"Not this road, Lord," I pray, "and not this task!"
The Master answers, "Fear thou not to come -
My feet shall try the trail; thy burden's weight
Is measured by the strength I will bestow.
Come thou, and follow Me!"

"Come follow Me!"
The voice is sweet, yet like an organ's tone
It sweeps across the shining, crystal sea
Where stand in solemn joy the saints of God
Before the glory gates of Paradise.
The Master calls each name, and every cross
Becomes a a victor's golden crown. Then as
His nail-pierced hand lays hold on heaven's gate
And swings it open wide; the Master says,
Come thou, and follow Me!"
* * *
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, Vol. 27 Singapore, Straits Settlements, September, 1938 No. 11
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME TWENTY-NINE JANUARY, 1940 NUMBER ONE
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME TWENTY-NINE DECEMBER, 1940 NUMBER TWELVE

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY JANUARY, 1941 NUMBER ONE

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY APRIL, 1941 NUMBER FOUR

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY JULY, 1941 NUMBER SEVEN

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VOLUME THIRTY OCTOBER, 1941 NUMBER TEN

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* * *

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-ONE APRIL, 1945 NUMBER TWO

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Camp Eldridge Internment Camp
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 122, NO. 20 TAKOMA PARK, WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. MAY 17, 1945
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-ONE JUNE, 1945 NUMBER FOUR

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 122, NO. 23 TAKOMA PARK, WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. JUNE 7, 1945

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-TWO MARCH, 1946 NUMBER THREE
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Review and Herald, 1946

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 123, NO. 41 AUGUST 22. 1946
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 124, NO. 4 JANUARY 23, 1947

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 124, NO. 28 - JULY 10, 1947

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 124, NO. 29 ' JULY 17, 1947

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-THREE AUGUST, 1947 NUMBER FOUR
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 124, NO. 44 OCTOBER 30, 1947
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 125, NO. 5 JANUARY 29, 1948
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NUMBER TWO FEBRUARY, 1948 VOLUME TH1RTY-FOUR

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VOLUME THIRTY-FOUR MAY, 1948 NUMBER FIVE

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VOLUME THIRTY-FOUR JUNE, 1948 NUMBER SIX

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 125, NO. 31 JULY 29, 1948
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FOUR AUGUST, 1948 NUMBER EIGHT

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,VOL. 125, NO. 40 SEPTEMBER 30, 1948
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FOUR OCTOBER, 1948 NUMBER TEN

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FOUR DECEMBER, 1948 NUMBER TWELVE

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald,VOL. 126, NO. 1 JANUARY 6, 1949
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FIVE FEBRUARY, 1949 NUMBER TWO

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 126, NO. 7 FEBRUARY 17, 1949
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 126, NO. 13 MARCH 31, 1949
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 126, NO. 14 APRIL 7, 1949
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FIVE JULY, 1949 NUMBER SEVEN

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-FIVE NOVEMBER, 1949 NUMBER ELEVEN

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 127, NO. 8 FEBRUARY 23, 1950

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-SIX AUGUST, 1950 NUMBER EIGHT

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 127, NO 41 AUGUST 17, 1950
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 127, NO. 44 SEPTEMBER 7, 1950
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 128, NO. 1 JANUARY 4, 1951
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 128, NO. 6 FEBRUARY 8, 1951
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 128, NO. 25 JUNE 21, 1951

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOL. 37, JULY, 1951 No. 7

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOL. 37, SEPTEMBER, 1951 No 9
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 128, No. 47 November 22, 1951
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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-EIGHT FEBRUARY, 1952 NUMBER TWO

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-EIGHT APRIL, 1952 NUMBER FOUR
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 129, No. 16 April 17, 1952

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME THIRTY-EIGHT MAY, 1952 NUMBER FIVE

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 129, No. 26 June 26, 1952

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 129, No. 29 July 17, 1952

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 129, No. 33 August 14, 1952

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, Vol. 39 FEBRUARY, 1953 No. 2
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 130, No. 12 March 19, 1953
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 130, No. 25 June 18, 1953

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Far Eastern Division Outlook, VOLUME FORTY JULY, 1954 NUMBER SEVEN
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 130, No. 31 July 30, 1953

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 131, No. 35 July 1, 1954

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FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK, VOLUME FORTY NOVEMBER, 1954 NUMBER ELEVEN
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 131, No. 58 December 9, 1954
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FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK, VOLUME FORTY-ONE JANUARY, 1955 NUMBER ONE
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 132, No. 7 Feb. 17, 1955

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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 132, NO. 11 MARCH 17, 1955
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 132, No. 34 August 25, '1955
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FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK, VOLUME FORTY-ONE SEPTEMBER, 1955 NUMBER NINE
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 134, No. 31 August 1, 1957
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 135, No. 15 April 10, 1958
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FAR EASTERN DIVISION OUTLOOK, VOLUME FORTY-FOUR MAY, 1958 NUMBER FIVE
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 136, No. 4 January 22, 1959
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The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, VOL. 136, NO. 16 APRIL 16, 1959
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