Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-14
AGED MINISTER HERE
DIR. JOHN G.. PATTON, MISSIONARY TO
NEW HEBRIDEs, ARRIVES.
TRUE TALES OF HORRO
He Tells Of His Work I'm the south
Sen Islsnds-Camc Near being Eat
en- Several Times-severnI Mission
aries Eaten.

Tho Rev. John G. Patton, ID. D., the
aged and honored missionary of the Pres
byterian Church to the New Hebrides, is
now in Richmond.
He came yesterday morning. and is the
guest of the Rev. J. p. Smith ID. d., edi-
tor of the Central Presbyterian.
DIR. Patton has been more than forty
years laboring for the conversion of the
South Sea islands to Christianity, and has
lived TO see many who were cannibals
changed 10 earnest Christians, laboring
for the conversion Of other islands. DR..
Patton made his first effort on the Island
of Tanna, but was driven away by the
savages. barely escaping with his life
After visiting Australia and his native
land, Great Britain, he returned with
other missionaries. BY his efforts they
secured a mission schooner, and gained a
permanent footing on another island. Now
his gifted and accomplished son has gone
to the Island of Tanna, and is working
there with success. on the Island of
Aniwa, to which DR.. Patton returned all
became protesting Christians in eight
years.
ADDRESS TO THE LADIES.
DR.. Patton made his first address in
Richmond before the Womans Mission
airy Society OF the Grace-Street church
yesterday at noon.
The meeting was well attended. The
audience was made up of ladies Of all the
Presbyterian churches of the city.
DIR. Paton's talk was a most interesting
one. He showed the striking contrast be-
tween the canibals of thirty-fve years
ago and the clothed and educated people
| Of to-day, who are orderly. Industrious.
and earnest. BY the sale Of arrowroot
they earn the money with which TO buy
| the Bible and have built neat and COM
Portable churches. There are 5000 Chris
tians and 800 native workers and teachers
among the remaining savages of these
| Islands.
| II is very different now in parts of the
islands from what it used to be. The Lon
don Missionary Society first tried to in
troduce the Gospel among them in the
year 1899. by the famous John Williams
and Mr. Harris, who, in landing on En-
/ rumanga, We're murdered, cooked, and
eaten by the natives.
Then the population of this group was
estimated az 10000, all cannibals, without
| clothing, and without written language.
On Aneityum every widow was strangled
| TO death the moment her husband died,
infanticide was common, and children &C.
stroyed by their parents when long SICK
or aged. Neighboring tribes were often
at war with each other, and all they
killed were Toasted on by the conquerors'
which was also the fate or all SNIP
wrecked sailors and strangers who fell
into their hands, while crimes of the most
revolving character were delighted in, but
within fifteen years the whole population
OF Aneityum, then over $500, had been led
TO embrace Christianity.
OBJECT OF HIS VISIT.
DIR. Paton's visit TO this country is to
gain the cooperation of this government
with England in forbidding the sale or
rum and firearms to the natives OF these
Islands by the traders. These have proved
The cause Of much crime and menace
to the lives of those who go there on mis-
sions Of mercy.
Tho distinguished missionary VIII ad-
nress q mass-meeting at the First Pres
bvterian church tomorrow evening at
Doubtless. he will be heard by very
largo audience.