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
My introduction, however, to the Conference at Mildmay did far more for
me than even this; it opened up a series of drawing-room meetings in and
around London, where I told the story of our Mission and preached, the
Gospel to many in the higher walks of life, and received most liberal
support for the Mission Ship. It also brought me invitations from many
quarters of England, to Churches, to Halls, and to County Houses and
Mansions.
Lord Radstock got up a special meeting, inviting by private card a large
number of his most influential friends; and there I met for the first
time one whom I have since learned to regard as a very precious personal
friend. Rev. Sholto D. C. Douglas, clergyman, of the Church of England,
who then, and afterwards at Douglas-Support in Scotland, not only most
liberally supported our fund, but took me by the hand as a brother, and
promoted my work by every means in his power.
The Earl and Countess of Tankerville also invited me to Chillingham
Castle, and gave me an opportunity of addressing a great assembly there,
then gathered together from all parts of the County. The British and
Foreign Bible Society received me in a special meeting of the Directors;
and I was able to tell them how all we, the Missionaries of these
Islands whose language had never before been reduced to writing, looked
to them, and leant upon them, and prayed for them and their
work--without whom our Native Bibles never could have been published.
After the meeting the Chairman gave me L5, and one of the Directors a
check for L25 for our Mission Ship.
I was also invited to Leicester, and made the acquaintanceship of a
godly and gifted servant of the Lord Jesus, the Rev. F. B. Meyer, B. A.
(now of London), whose books and booklets on the higher aspects of the
Christian Life are read by tens of thousands, and have been fruitful of
blessing. There I addressed great meetings of devoted workers in the
Lord's vineyard; and the dear friend who was my host on that occasion, a
Christian merchant, has since contributed L10 per annum for the support
of a Native Teacher on the New Hebrides.
It was my privilege also to visit and address the Mueller Orphanages at
Bristol, and to see that saintly man of faith and prayer moving about as
a wise and loving father amongst the hundreds, even thousands, that look
to him for their daily bread and for the bread of Life Eternal. At the
close of my address, the venerable founder thanked me warmly and said,
"Here are L50, which God has sent to me for your Mission." I replied
saying, "Dear friend, how can I take it? I would rather give you L500
for your Orphans if I could, for I am sure you need it all!"
He replied, with sweetness and great dignity, "God provides for His own
Orphans. This money cannot be used for them. I must send it after you by
letter. It is the Lord's gift."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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