The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-15

needed to print and publish the Bibl,
In their language. Printed in tn
cheapest style, it cost eight shilling
per leaf. LET those who lightly es
TEEN their Bibles, think Of these things
Eight shillings for leaf, or the pro
ceeds for fifteen years, for the Bible
entire did not appear to those poor con
verted savages too much to pay for thu
word OF God, which has opened theil
eyes TO the wonders and glories of re
deeming love-"
In three months after landing, Mrs
Patton and child were taken from him
His own hands, despite breaking heart
prepared the grave. built round will
coral blocks. ION that spot" will
ceaseless prayers and tears. l claimed
that land for God, in which ! hac
buried my dead with faith and hope
But for Jesus, and the fellowship III
vouchfafed me there, must have gone
and died beside that lonely grave. Soor
after, during brief visit Of Bishop
Selwyn, Patton stood by the grave weep
ing. and Patteson, afterwards the mar
tyr Bishop, sobbiDg silently. whilst the
godly Selwyn invoked heavens richest
consolation and blessings on the stricken
missionary. In her dying moments
Mis-. Patton longed for her mother, but
seeing Mr.. Copeland by her side, said
You must not think that regret com
ing here, and leaving my mother. II
had the same thing TO do over again,
would do it with far more pleasure
yes. with all my heart" In moment
unexpectedly, she fell asleep, saying she
thought ChristianS could make any sac
rifce for Jesus.
On the island, it was common to
beat, kill and eat women; desire Tor
human flesh is so horrible that the men
dislnter and devour those recently
buried. Sickness, drought, war. or
disaster of any kind was at once ct
tributed to the Jehovah worship OF TIE
missionaries. whose steps were watched
their house attacked, and outrages con
stantly occurred. Besides, drunken
traders and sailors often visited the
place. and for the purposes OF gain, and
To debase the savages the MORE
stirred them up against the mhsion-
aries. At one time, one third tbs en-
tire population Of these islands was
swept away by measles; drinking
traders thrusting native into the hold
of a vessel in which were men suffer
ing from this disease. They openly de-
clared their intention of dsstoying The
natives, and securing the islands for
white men. 1t was natural, when mad
dened by suffering and loss Of friends,
for the ignorant sayages to make no
distinction between the missionaries
and the traders. Were they net OF the
same nation Z
The shrieks of women being sacri-
feed, cooked, and eaten were heard
with horror, yet MI. Patton dared not
then leave his house. Fourteen violent
attacks of fever laid him low. That
noble soul, Abraham, a converted can
nibal, stood by him "as an angel OF
Cod in sickness and danger, helped
willingly to his last inch of strength,
and it was perfectly manifest that he
was doing all this not from mere hui
man love, but for the sake of Jesus.
ANY trust could be absolutely reposed
in him, and in trial or danger l was
often refreshed by that old teacher =
prayers.
When have read or heard the shall
low objections of irreligious scribblers
or takers, limiting that there was no
reality in conversions, and that mission
effort was but waste, o how my heart
has yearned to plant them Just one
week on Tanna, with the natural man
all around in the person OF caDnloal
and heather. and only the ole spiritual
man in the person of the converted
Abraham, nursing them, feeding them
saving them for the love of Jesus. that
/ might learn how many hours 1t took
TO convince them that Christ IN man
WAS reality after all ! 'Missi, said
another noble TanDese, when urged to
stay in a place of comparative safety,
when l see them thirsting for my
blood. | lust see myself when the
missionary first came to my island.
{ desired to murder him, as they
now wish to murder me. Had
he stayed away for such danger, l
would have remained heather but he
came, and continued coming, 10 teach
us. till by the grace Of God was
changed. The same God that changed
me can change these poor Tannese 10
love and serve Him. | cannot stay
away from them will sleep at the
mission house and do all | can by day
to bring them to Jesus The sasages
killed this faithful Namuri; his dying
prayer was 20 Lord Jesus, forgive
them, for they know not what they are
doing. o take not away all Thy ser
wants ION Tanna! Take not away Thy
worship from this dark island ! o God.
bring all the Tannese 10 love and follow
Jesus' KNEW" said the missionary,
THAT a great man had fallen there in
the service of Curisi, and that he would
take rank IN tue glorious army OF
martyrs"
In Tanna as we'll as in Glasgow e
was opposed by rum and its Influence
He found it worse even than savage
superstition. 10 the hope of selling
more 10 the natives, dissipated traders