Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-03

ture upon the subject of missionary
work in the New Hebrides. in the South
Sea Islands, last evening at the First
Presbyterian Church. The lecture was
rich treat in missionary literature and
was thoroughly appreciated by the large
audience present. In part his remarks
were as follows:
1.-THE New Hebrides consists Of thirty
large islands. 1t is supposed to have a
population of $4,000 at least. The mis-
sion work was begun on the group
nearly fifty years ago, but the first IF
teen or twenty years were spent in
difficult, dangerous, uphill work, and
before the savages began to receive the
gospel they murdered six white mis-
sionaries and Toasted upon the bodies
of two. They also killed many native
teachers. But for the last thirty years
the spiritual work of the mission has
steadily and successfully progressed.
The mission was begun among nude,
cannibal savages who had no written
languages. Now twenty-five of the
languages have been reduced to writ
ten form and the scriptures translated
into these Languages so that by the
teachings of Jesus the mission has
about eighteen thousand converts.
About three thousand church members
and three hundred of them are trained
as native teachers and preachers OF the
gospel The mission has twenty live
white missionaries and six lay helpers
and the blessed work is extending rap
idly among the saVages.
Yet, in beginning work at new sta
ton human life is frequently In dan
ger. An attempt was made by one OF
the natives to take the life of one of the
young missionaries just recently, and a
third effort has been made to murder
DR.. Paton's youngest son in the mis-
sion. Three balls were lately dis
charged from rifles at him, and the
chief of four thousand cannibals, among
whom he was lately placed, and who
was converted about two years ago,
sprang between the missionary and the
rifle. AS the chief stepped in between
them the ball passed through his body
and he died soon afterwards. 1t was in
this manner that the life of the young
missionary was spared.
The chief died urging his people to
love and serve Jesus and to stand by
the missionaries and Gods work, for
he had great desire to meet them all
in Heaven to be forever with the Lord.
DR.. Patton said that he is here to try
to get President Mckinley and his adj
visors to place American traders on the
islands, not yet annexed by any civil
lied nation under the same prohibition
in regard to trading with the natives in
rum, brandy, opium and ammunition.
He further stated that for many years
Britain has had her traders placed IN
der this prohibition on the Islands in
the interest OF humanity. Many
lives among the natives are
being taken by the use of firearms
in the hands OF those who are madden
ed by the influence of rum, which they
term the white mans fire water In
referring to the work of missions in
other foreign lands, the missionary said
that America should retain possession
of the native on the Hawaiian, Philip
pine and other Islands, which God has
placed under her care, until she has
given sound. permanent good govern
ment with liberty to every man to wor-
ship God according to the Scriptures
and the dictates of conscience. The
Bible has been translated into twenty
two different languages among the ma
tives, and by its teachings glorious
work has been accomplished in the New
Helrides.
Continuing the missionary remarked
that the other missionaries on the ISL
ands and himself have been confirmed
in their opinion that from careful study
of the Bible in translation 50 they take
1t on tho authority Of Jehovah and on
the commentator Of Jesus, who said
Search the Scriptures for in them We
think ye have eternal light and they
are they that testify of me-" They
were all inspired to the Lord Jesus and
ought to be. too, every intelligent
Christian who studies to understand
the sacred oracles.
DR.. Patton who is we'll advanced in
years, has labored for forty years in
missionary work on the islands and
has met with marvellous success. AS
a missionary he represents the Pres
byterian sach of Victoria, Australia,
and he has been sent here in the in
terest of the work.
While on his tour he is also engag-
ed in raising funds to defray the ex
penses of the missionary operations.
New Records.
Hundreds of photograph and gram
L. r..