John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
In a Farewell Meeting at Mildmay the Lord’s servants assembled in great
numbers from all quarters of London, dedicated me and my work very
solemnly to God, amid songs of praise and many prayers and touching
“last” words. And when at length Mr. Mathieson, intimating that I must
go, as another company of Christian workers were elsewhere waiting also
to say Goodbye, suggested that the whole audience should stand up, and,
instead of hand shaking, quietly breathe their benedictory Farewell as
I passed from the platform down through their great Hall, a perfect
flood of emotion overwhelmed me. I never felt a humbler man, nor
more anxious to hide my head in the dust, than when all these noble,
gifted, and beloved followers of Jesus Christ and consecrated workers
in His service, stood up and with one heart said, “God speed” and “God
bless you,” as I passed on through the Hall. To one who had striven
and suffered less, or who less appreciated how little we can do for
others compared with what Jesus had done for us, this scene might have
ministered to spiritual pride; but long ere I reached the door of that
Hall, my soul was already prostrated at the feet of my Lord in sorrow
and in shame that I had done so little for Him, and I bowed my head and
could have gladly bowed my knees to cry, “Not unto us, Lord, not unto
us!”
On the 28th October, 1885, I sailed for Melbourne, and in due course
safely arrived there by the goodness of God. The Church and people
of my own beloved Victoria gave me a right joyful welcome, and in
public assembly presented me with a testimonial, which I shrank from
receiving, but which all the same was the highly-prized expression of
their confidence and esteem.
In my absence at the Islands, they thereafter elected me Moderator of
their Supreme Court, and called me back to fill that highest Chair of
honour in the Presbyterian Church. God is my witness how very little
any or all of these things in themselves ever have been coveted by me;
but how, when they have come in my way, I have embraced them with a
single desire thereby to promote the Church’s interest in that Cause
to which my whole life and all my opportunities are consecrated,—the
Conversion of the Heathen World.
My Mission to Britain was to raise £6,000, in order to enable the
Australian Churches to provide a Steam Auxiliary Mission Ship, for the
enlarged and constantly enlarging requirements of the New Hebrides.
I spent exactly eighteen months at home; and when I returned, I was
enabled to hand over to the Church that had commissioned and authorized
me no less a sum than £9,000. And all this had been forwarded to me,
as the free-will offerings of the Lord’s stewards, in the manner
illustrated by the preceding pages. “Behold! what God hath wrought!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account