Schlehlein, Paul
John G. Paton: The Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides (Paton)
Description
The autobiography of John G. Paton contains everything necessary to make it a missionary classic. Born into a Christian family near Dumfries in 1824, Paton’s early years were marked by a struggle against poverty. He was self-educated, and the training ground for his life’s work was the slums of Glasgow where he laboured with success as a city missionary. With ‘the wail of the perishing heathen in the South Seas’ continually sounding in his ears, he prepared himself to serve overseas and was ordained as a missionary to the New Hebrides in 1858. This group of thirty mountainous islands, so named by Captain Cook, with its unhealthy climate, was then inhabited by savages and cannibals.
The first attempt to introduce Christianity to them resulted in John Williams and James Harris being clubbed to death within a few minutes of landing in 1839. The difficulties that confronted Paton were accentuated by the sudden death of his wife and child within months of their arrival. Against the savagery and the superstition, despite the trials and the tragedies, Paton persevered and witnessed the triumph of the gospel in two of these South Sea islands. His life is almost without parallel in missionary annals and his account of it is moving and gripping.
Table of Contents:
PART FIRST | ||
INTRODUCTORY NOTE | 2 | |
CHAPTER I. | ||
THE HOME LIFE | 3-18 | |
CHAPTER II. | ||
SCHOOL AND EARLY COLLEGE DAYS | 19-31 | |
CHAPTER III. | ||
IN GLASGOW CITY MISSION | 32-51 | |
CHAPTER IV. | ||
FOREIGN MISSION CLAIMS | 52-61 | |
CHAPTER V. | ||
THE NEW HEBRIDES | 62-69 | |
CHAPTER VI. | ||
LIFE AND DEATH ON TANNA | 70-85 | |
CHAPTER VII. | ||
MISSION LEAVES FROM TANNA | 86-108 | |
CHAPTER VIII. | ||
MORE MISSION LEAVES FROM TANNA | 109-148 | |
CHAPTER IX. | ||
DEEPENING SHADOWS | 149-185 | |
CHAPTER X. | ||
FAREWELL SCENES | 186-224 | |
CONCLUDING NOTE | 225 | |
PART SECOND | ||
PRELIMINARY NOTE | 228 | |
CHAPTER I. | ||
THE FLOATING OF THE “DAYSPRING” | 229-258 | |
CHAPTER II. | ||
THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES | 259-275 | |
CHAPTER III. | ||
TO SCOTLAND AND BACK | 276-293 | |
CHAPTER IV. | ||
CONCERNING FRIENDS AND FOES | 294-308 | |
CHAPTER V. | ||
SETTLEMENT ON ANIWA | 309-325 | |
CHAPTER VI. | ||
FACE TO FACE WITH HEATHENISM | 326-359 | |
CHAPTER VII. | ||
THE LIGHT THAT SHINETH MORE AND MORE | 360-387 | |
CHAPTER VIII. | ||
PEN PORTRAITS OF ANIWANS | 388-416 | |
CHAPTER IX. | ||
SECOND VISIT TO BRITAIN | 417-442 | |
CLOSING TESTIMONY | 443-444 | |
PART THIRD | ||
PRELIMINARY NOTE | 446 | |
CHAPTER I. | ||
ROUND THE WORLD FOR JESUS | 447-471 | |
CHAPTER II. | ||
THE HOME-LANDS AND THE ISLANDS | 472-496 | |
FAREWELL TO THE READER | 497 | |
APPENDICES | ||
A. A WHITE-SOULED PEASANT | 501-503 | |
B. NOTES ON THE NEW HEBRIDES | 503-506 | |
C. THE PRAYER OF THE TANNESE | 506-508 |
Endorsement
"What sustained John Paton in his missionary zeal? No doubt he had a love for the people. He was certainly burdened for them and had compassion on their souls, knowing that without Christ they were certain to go to hell. As important as compassion is for those who do not know God, I suggest this will not sustain a missionary zeal, whether it be for missionaries serving on the field or for Christians in western churches who pray and support various missionaries. Something more is needed…Only a zeal for the true and living God to receive his due, to receive the glory and commitment in a local church." — ALLEN M. BAKER