Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
No doubt these words were founded on those heartfelt assurances which
stirred his very soul within him that his own father had never for
a moment regretted or mourned over the gift unto the Lord, which had
indeed been costly, but had been returned, 'good measure, pressed
together, and flowing over,' in blessing! can I grieve and sorrow about
my dear dear Father's blessed end?' are the words in a letter to myself
written on the 19th. It further contained thanks for a photograph of
Hursley Church spire and Vicarage, which had been taken one summer
afternoon, at the desire of Dr. Moberly (the present Bishop of
Salisbury), and of which I had begged a copy for him. 'I shall like the
photograph of Hursley Vicarage and Church, the lawn and group upon
it. But most shall I like to think that Mr. Keble, and I dare say Dr.
Moberly too, pray for me and this Mission. I need the prayers of
all good people indeed.' I quote this sentence because it led to a
correspondence with both Mr. Keble and Dr. Moberly, which was equally
prized by the holy and humble men of heart who wrote and received the
letters:--
'St. Andrew's, Kohimarama: November 20, 1861.
'Thank you, my dearest Sophy, for your loving letters, and all your love
and devotion to him.
'I fear I do not write to those two dear sisters of mine as they and you
all expect and wish. I long to pour it all out; I get great relief in
talking, as at Taurarua I can talk to the dear Judge and Lady Martin.
She met me with a warm loving kiss that was intended to be as home-like
as possible, and for a minute I could not speak, and then said
falteringly, "It has been all one great mercy to the end. I have heard
at Norfolk Island." But I feel it still pent up to a great extent, and
yet I have a great sense of relief. I fancy I almost hear sometimes
the laboured breathing, the sudden stop--the "thanks be to God, he has
entered into his rest."
'What his letters are, I cannot even fully say to another, perhaps never
fully realise myself.
'As I write, the tears come, for it needs but a little to bring them
now, though I suppose the world without thinks that I "bear up," and go
on bravely.
'But when any little word or thought touches the feelings, the sensitive
rather than the intellectual part of me, then I break down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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