A FAMOUS MISSIONARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 24, 28 January 1911, Page 13

A FAMOUS MISSIONARY.

'Numerous readers of the autobiography of John G. Paton, the Tenowned missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the New Hebrides, will be glad ; to have the sequel just published by Hodder and Stoughton in "John O. Paton -. Later Years and Farewell," by his •friend, A. K. Langridge, and his son, Frank H. L. Paton, with an introduction by Tx>rd The book nar-

rates the last years of the subject's life, from 1807 to his death at Melbourne three; years ago. There are a dozen family portraite »nd illustrations. John Cγ. Paton was a great ecclesiastical personality; and .the echoes of hie personality, -with' its .Australian' significance, the narrative readable <sven by people' who Sure not directly , concerned with the motive of the missionary's unresting labour. In relation to the great ' Presbyterian controversy over the building of a fourth "Day-spring," the authors say somewhat naively:

"Now, the missionaries of the New l Hebrides are all men with the Godlike , ] faculty of -will strong within them—were ' it otherwise they would 'be failures in such a field! Here, however, was a caee where that high virtue proved a real stumbling-block—--the minority refused to acquiesce.". : . j

'Asked what was the secret of his success in mission- work, we find with, interest that Mr Paton expressed the opinion that the two principal human means that secured success for him in dealing with the natives were:

1. That ihe never forgot a native's name; and ■ -

2. That he could 1 always associate a native's face with, his name.

' We Kke Mr. Paton's habit of eayingj "Thank -you, sir," to cabmen wien he got out -of the caibs.

"At Eusston, as the missionary stepped out, he moved to the ca/liby, and raising •hie "hat to him, said in tones of regard, "Thank you", sir, thank you; good morning." The look on cabby's face wae worth a fortune to any artist, f uzzled, astonished, and silent, he watched the (bowed form,,and forgetting to criticise the fare offered to him, said eagerly, "Who is that gentleman, sir?" _ Mark the words, "forgetting to' criti- j rise the faTe"; here's a tip to cave ft "tip!— The variety of missionary life is suggested iby this little anecdote:

"The native boy who sees, to the goats oh Aniwa was given a holiday, and my father gave the goat a holiday, also, so that she was missing at milking time. A' little later there was the missionary's white hair and beard moving in and out of the dense,scrub, while he gave.a

plaintive 'Ma-a-a,' in the hope that the goat might mistake ■it for the cry of- a long-lost relative."

Altogether the book leaves ua-with a feeling of great regard and respect for the memory of John G. Patom-'