John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides
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SK BV 3680 .N6 P37 v.l Paton, John Gibson, 1824- 1907. John G. Paton, missionary tc the New Hebrides JOHN G. PATON. JOHN G. PATON, MISSIONARY TO THE NEW HEBRIDES. An Autobiography. i2mo. $1.50. OPINIONS OF THE BRITISH PRESS. ' Christian. — A more fascinating and thrilling bit of missionary history has seldom been given to the public. Christian Leader. — Intensely interesting; indeed, often quite fascinating. Baptist Magazine. — Let the people who tell us that the romance of missions is passed, read this manly and thrilling narrative. No fiction can exercise a stronger sj^ell than the story of this brave Cameronian missionary's life. British \A^eekly. — This is a book far beyond our praise. It will take its place with the classics of missions.— with the Lives of Brainerd and Martyn, and the other records which will endure as long as Christ is preached. Great as has been the missionary work accomplished by the author, we believe it will be found in the end that his greatest work has been the writing of this volume. It is a book which cannot be read without indescribable emotion. ... It must surely, now and in days to come, kindle in many souls something of the writer's own lofty and fervent love. Moie than any argument it will silence the faithless clamor a'^ainst missions ; and no one. Chris- tian or sceptic, will peruse it without feeling that there is amongst us still at least one truly Apostolic man. Scotsman. — The story of Mr. Paton's years of residence among the Tannese, amid many perils and great discouragements, is quite as fascinating in some parts as many a romance. The author, indeed, seems to have passed through dangers and diffi- culties which it would be hard to believe, wa-e the veracity of the writer not beyond question. ... An autobiography recording the life and work of a missionary in some respects not unlike his great prototype — David Livingstone. Dundee Advertiser. — Amongst the records of missionary life recently pub- lished there are few more interesting than the autobiography of John G. Paton. The scenes of bloodshed and rapine which he witnessed, and tlie hairbreadth escapes from imminent dangers which he made, read like pages from a romance, but are detailed with a precision of circumstance which proves their reality. Scottish Leader. — He has a story to tell that is well worth hearing, and that at not a few stages will compare handsomely with most books of adventure. Presbyterian Churchman. — One of the best books we have ever read. A story of adventure thrilling as any penned by Rider Haggard, much more elevating, and improving and true. Regions Beyond. — Mr. Paton has told his story with such simplicity — letting out both heart and mind in the telling — that sympathy is as much drawn out in read- ing his pages as in listening to the tones of his attractive voice. It is hard to lay the book down before turning its last leaf. Bible Christian Magazine. — A more fascinating, inspiring story we have never read. Methodist Times. — We recommend it to all our missionary societies as a most convincing testimony to the value of Gospel work among the heathen. Leeds Mercury. — Simplicity and godly sincerity are stamped on every page. EOBEET CAETEE & BEOTHEES. JOHN G. PAT MISSIONARY TO THE NEW HEBRIDES ^n ^utobiograpl)^. EDITED BY HIS BROTHER. NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 Broadway. : SSnfbcrsftj ^^tess John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. — INTRODUCTORY NOTE. BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D. T OVE is omnipotent. Wherever true passion for -* * souls burns, there we may find a new Mount of Transfiguration where the earthly takes on the com- plexion of the heavenly. This book presents an example of the power of such love and holy enthusiasm, alike in one of the great cities of Scotland and in the isles of the sea. Even among the riches of missionary biography few such volumes as this are to be found, and the most apathetic reader will find himself fascinated by this charming romance of real life. It has been well said that he who is not ready to preach the gospel everywhere and anywhere is fit to preach it nowhere. Should every candidate for the office of the ministry be first tried in some such field as the wynds of Glasgow, it would prove a training in its way more profitable than any discipline in the class-room ; and it might so shake the " napkin " at the four corners as to disclose whether or not there were in it even one " talent " for winning souls. We calmly affirm, after careful perusal, that this biography is not surpassed, for stimulating, inspiring, INTRODUCTORY NOTE. and helpful narrative, by any existing story of mis- sionary heroism. Its peculiar value is twofold: it shows how the most neglected and degraded masses of our cities may be reached by Christian effort, and it illustrates the spirit of missions on the wider field of south-sea cannibalism. Our only regret is that this story of missionary labor is not carried on to its successful issue. This volume leaves us eagerly ex- pectant of what is promised as the sequel. He who doubts whether there is a supernatural factor in missions, should carefully read this narra- tive. What but the power of God could turn the demon of drink into a ministering angel, or the blas- phemer into a praying saint, or out of the mouth of hell withdraw the half-devoured wretch who was des- perately bent on suicide .-• Let those who sit quietly at home in their easy- chairs, or who make rousing addresses or write stirring articles on city evangelization and the es- trangement of the masses from the church, follow this heroic city missionary as he dives into the depths of all this depravity and degradation, and demon- strates what the love of souls and the gospel of life can do to rescue those who are drowning in the abyss of perdition. PREFACE. THE Manuscript of this Volume, put together in a rough draft amid cease- less and exacting toils, was placed in my hands and left absolutely to my disposal by my beloved brother, the Missionary. It has been to me a labour of perfect love to re -write and revise the same, pruning here and expanding there, and preparing the whole for the press. In the incidents of personal experi- ence, constituting the larger part of the book, the reader peruses in an almost unaltered form the graphic and simple narrative as it came from my brother's pen. But, as many sec- tions have been re-cast and largely modified, especially in those Chapters of whose events I was myself an eye-witness, or regarding which I had informat'on at first hand from the parties concerned therein, —and as circum- vi PREFACE. stances make it impossible to submit these in their present shape to my brother before pubhcation, — I must request the PubHc to lay upon me, and not on him, all responsibility for the final shape in which the Autobiography appears. I publish it, because Something tells me there is a blessing in it. Jamiary, 1889. James Paton. NOTE TO SECOND EDITION. The Editor desires very gratefully to acknow- ledge his joy in receiving, not only through Press Notices, but from Correspondents in every rank, most ample confirmation of the assurance expressed by him in the last sentence of the Original Preface—" There is a blessing m It. He has been urging his Brother to complete, as soon as he possibly can, Part Second of the call Autobiography ; and he hopes that the for this Second Edition of Part First at so early a date will successfully enforce his appeal. February y 1889. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. EARLIER DAYS. PAGE Introductory Note «...••• 3 Kirkmahoe 4 Torthorwald Village 5 Our Villagers 6 Nithsdale Scenes 7 Our Cottage Home 9 Our Forebears 12 An Idyll of the Heart t6 A Consecrated Father 19 Accepted Vows 21 Happy Sabbath Days 22 Golden Autumn of Life 26 CHAPTER II. AT SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. A Typical Scottish School 31 An Unacknowledged Prize , , , . 32 A Wayward Master ....... 33 Learning a Trade 33 My Father's Prayers 34 "Jehovah Jireh" 34 With Sappers and Miners 36 The Harvest Field 38 CONTENTS. PAGE On the Road to Glasgow 39 A Memorable Parting • . .4° Before the Examiners • . * . .42 Killing Work 43 Deep Waters . • • 44 Maryhill School 45 Rough School Scenes 46 "Aut Ca?sar Aut Nullus" 48 My Wages 49 CHAPTER III. JN GLASGOW CITY MISSION, "He Leadeth Me" S3 A Degraded District . #55 The Gospel in a Hay-Loft 56 New Mission Premises 5^ At Work for Jesus 59 At War with Hell 62 Sowing Gospel Seed ....... 64 Publicans on the War Path ..... 65 Marched to the Police Office 67 Papists and Infidels 69 An Infidel Saved 70 An Infidel in Despair 71 A Brand from the Burning 72 A Saintly Child 75 Papists in Arms TJ Elder and Student 81 CHAPTER IV. FOREIGN MISSION CLAIMS. The Wail of the Heathen 85 A Missionary Wanted • • • . .85 Two Souls on the Altar 87 Lions in the Path 89 CONTENTS. PAGE The Old Folks at Home 92 Successors in Green Street Mission .... 95 Old Green Street Hands 97 A Father in God . .97 CHAPTER V. THE NEW HEBRIDES. License and Ordination ,,.•.. loi At Sea 102 From Melbourne to Aneityum . ,102 Settlement on Tanna io5 Our Mission Stations 106 lo? Diplomatic Chiefs * . Painful First Impressions ,.,..•• 108 Bloody Scenes io9 The Widow's Doom . m CHAPTER VI. LIFE AND DEATH ON TANNA.