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
Driven thus to the wall, I advertised for a meeting of Ministers and
other friends, next morning at eleven o'clock, to receive my report and
to consult _re_ the _Dayspring_. I related my journeyings since leaving
them and the results, and then asked for advice about the ship.
"Sell her," said some, "and have done with it."--"What," said others,
"have the Sabbath Schools given you the _Dayspring_ and can you not
support her yourselves?"
I pointed out to them that the salary of each Missionary was then only
L120 per annum, that they gave their lives for the Heathen, and that
surely the Colonial Christians would undertake the up-keep of the ship,
which was necessary to the very existence of the Mission. I appealed to
them that, as my own Church in Scotland had now one Missionary abroad
for every six Ministers at home, and the small Presbyterian Church of
Nova Scotia had actually three Missionaries now on our Islands, it would
be a blessed privilege for the Australian Churches and Sabbath Schools
to keep the _Dayspring_ afloat, without whose services the Missionaries
could not live nor the Islanders be evangelized.
Being Saturday, the morning Services for Sabbath were all arranged for,
or advertised; but Dr. M'Gibbon offered me a meeting for the evening,
and Dr. Steel an afternoon Service at three o'clock, combined with his
Sabbath School. Rev. Mr. Patterson of Piermont, offered me a Morning
Service; but, as his was only a Mission Church, he could not give me a
collection. These openings I accepted, as from the Lord, however much
they fell short of what I desired.
At the Morning Service I informed the congregation how we were situated,
and expressed the hope that under God and their devoted pastor they
would greatly prosper, and would yet be able to help in supporting our
Mission to their South Sea neighbors. Returning to the vestry, a lady
and gentleman waited to be introduced to me. They were from Launceston,
Tasmania.
"I am," said he, "Captain and owner of that vessel lying at anchor
opposite the _Dayspring_. My wife and I, being too late to get on shore
to attend any Church in the city, heard this little Chapel bell ringing,
and followed, when we saw you going up the hill. We have so enjoyed the
Service. We do heartily sympathize with you. This check for L50 will be
a beginning to help you out of your difficulties."
The reader knows how warmly I would thank them; and how in my own heart
I knew _Who_ it was that made them arrive too late for _their_ plans,
but not for _His_, and led them up that hill, and opened their hearts.
Jehovah-Jireh?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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