The Story of John G. Paton; Or, Thirty Years Among South Sea CannibalsPaton, John Gibson
Religion
The Story of John G. Paton; Or, Thirty Years Among South Sea Cannibals
Paton, John Gibson
Missions -- Vanuatu; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
ABOUT five o'clock in the evening the vessel hove in sight. Before dark
we were all on board, and were sailing for Aneityum. Though both Mr. and
Mrs. Mathieson had become very weak, they stood the voyage wonderfully.
Next day we were safely landed. We had offered Captain Hastings L20 to
take us to Aneityum, but he declined any fare. However, we divided it
amongst the mate and crew, for they had every one shown great kindness
to us on the voyage.
After arriving on Aneityum, Mrs. Mathieson gradually sank under
consumption, and fell asleep in Jesus on 11th March, 1862, and was
interred there in the full assurance of a glorious resurrection. Mr.
Mathieson, becoming more and more depressed after her death, went over
to Mr. Creagh's Station, on Mare, and there died on 14th June, 1862,
still trusting in Jesus, and assured that he would soon be with Him in
Glory.
After their death I was the only one left alive, in all the New Hebrides
Mission north of Aneityum, to tell the story of those pioneer years,
during which were sown the seeds of what is now fast becoming a glorious
harvest. Twenty-five years ago, all these dear brethren and sisters who
were associated with me in the work of the Mission were called home to
Glory, to cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and enjoy the bliss of
the redeemed; while I am privileged still to toil and pray for the
salvation of the poor Islanders, and plead the cause of the Mission both
in the Colonies and at home, in which work the Lord has graciously given
me undreamt-of success. My constant desire and prayer are that I may be
spared to see at least one Missionary on every island of the group, or
trained Native Teachers under the superintendence of a Missionary, to
unfold the riches of redeeming love and to lead the poor Islanders to
Jesus for salvation.
What could be taken in three boats was saved out of the wreck of Mr.
Mathieson's property; but my earthly all perished, except the Bible and
the translations into Tannese. Along with the goods pertaining to the
Mission, the property which I had to leave behind would be
under-estimated at L600, besides the value of the Mission House, etc.
Often since have I thought that the Lord stripped me thus bare of all
these interests that I might with undistracted mind devote my entire
energy to the special work soon to be carved out for me, and of which at
this moment neither I nor any one had ever dreamed. At any rate, the
loss of my little Earthly All, though doubtless costing me several
pangs, was not an abiding sorrow like that which sprang from the thought
that the Lord's work was now broken up at both Stations, and that the
Gospel was for the time driven from Tanna.
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