John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 3 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 3 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
It is believed amongst us that few Missions in the World show more
interesting fruits of Evangelistic enterprise than Nguna and its Islets,
under the fostering pastorate of Mr. Milne and his most devoted and
gifted wife. There are 750 Communicants on the Church’s Roll, 1,700
regularly attending the Worship of God, and at least 2,000 in all who
have turned from Heathenism and adopted the habits of Christian
Civilization. There are thirty Native Teachers, for whose support the
Native Church raised £155, 8s. 11d. in 1895, besides giving Arrowroot
for Mission purposes valued at £120. They had thirty-seven Christian
Marriages during the year, and 100 Candidates for Membership in the
Communicants’ Class. Nay, most marvellous of all, the Church of Nguna
has thirty-eight of its married couples who have gone forth as Native
Teachers and Mission Helpers to other Islands—a Missionary Church called
out of Heathenism, thus joyfully and instinctively sending forth from
its own bosom Missionaries into the Heathenism beyond. Surely I am
warranted in saying, to the praise of Jesus and of His servants, that
this is a glorious record for five and twenty years!
On Epi, Mr. Fraser, having labored fourteen years, had 137 Members on
his Communion Roll, and 128 Candidates in his Communicants’ Class; 27
Native Teachers, with 1,000 at the Day Schools, and 1,250 at the Sabbath
Schools; and his people collected amongst themselves £34 for Mission
purposes. Since then, and every day, the tide of prosperity is rising on
the side of Christianity, and all these figures are steadily increasing.
Mr. Smail is on the other side of the same Island, and has, as the
result of six years’ devotion to his work, 36 Communicants in his
Church, 13 Candidates for Membership, 14 Native Teachers, and 500 daily
attending their Schools. They gave £7 for the work of the Mission.
Erromanga, where five Missionaries were murdered, and two of them
devoured by the Cannibals, is now a Christian Island. There are 300
Communicants, 12 Elders, 40 Native Teachers, and 1,750 attending the
Schools—practically the whole population. Mr. Robertson and his devoted
wife have been honored of God, in completing this grand work, during the
last four and twenty years.
And so on all round the Group, Island after Island being brought by
patient, devoted, and rational expenditure of time, and affection, and
all Gospel influences, to the knowledge of the Christian life, and
thereby to Civilization. There are still four or five great Centres of
Heathenism untouched. When God sends us Missionaries for these, it will
then only be a question of time coupled with pains and prayer, till all
the New Hebrides in all their Babel tongues, shall be heard singing the
praises of Redeeming Love. May my blessed Saviour spare me to see the
full Dawn, if not the perfect Noon, of that happy Day!
[Illustration:
A HEATHEN CHIEF OF FUTUNA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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