HEATHEN NATIVES OF AMBRIM.
Heads and faces of women are covered with lime as sign of mourning.
MEMORIALS OF THE DEAD, AMBRIM.
Stone Altar in front is one on which pigs are killed.
The time had come that I must say farewell to Canada and the States. It was the first time I had ever seen these new and marvellous Lands. My soul was not unaware of their beauties, nor unresponsive to their grandeur of scenery. But my whole time and strength were otherwise required; and I turned not aside from the call of my Lord. He knows that my heart rejoices in all the wonders of His Power, not the less that I spend myself in proclaiming the greater wonders of His Grace. All my recollections of intercourse with the Ministers and the People of the New World are abidingly sweet, and move me to bless the Lord for the God-fearing, Bible-loving, and Sabbath-keeping Nations that have sprung from our British Race. From the highest to the humblest they received me with royal welcome, and heard me with loyal sympathy. Their help was generous, and was gladly given. Their interest in the work of God was genuine, and was frankly displayed. And their delight in listening to the story of the salvation of the South Sea Cannibals, made me firm in the assurance that they themselves already know within their own souls the unspeakable worth of Jesus!
CHAPTER II.
THE HOME-LANDS AND THE ISLANDS.
A.D. 1894–1897. ÆT. 70–73.
Arrival in Great Britain.—Requisitions.—Professors and Students.—Dayspring Scheme.—Ten Years’ Delay.—Gideon’s Fleece Experiment.—Two Memorable Checks.—The “John G. Paton Mission Fund.”—The Dayspring Disaster.—Mission Work on all the Islands.
I embarked from New York for Liverpool, per the new and magnificent s. s. Campania. The vibrations of that vessel were more fearful than anything I had ever experienced in all my travels. There was some defect, which I hear has since been remedied. I was scarcely conscious of ever sleeping at all, and the ship seemed to be constantly on the eve of shaking herself into fragments! On the voyage I made the acquaintance of very dear friends, bearing my own name; whose Home at Liverpool by-and-bye received me lovingly; and where also I met the learned and honored Principal Paton of Nottingham.
My arrival in Britain revealed to me, immediately and amazingly, how times had changed since my previous visit, only ten years before. Then I had many difficulties to face in arranging for public meetings, especially in England, as set forth in a previous Chapter. Many a weary day’s tramping I had, even in Scotland where something was known about the Mission to the New Hebrides, passing from Minister to Minister, and pleading, frequently all in vain, for the use of their Pulpits and for access to their Congregations. But since then, by my brother’s insistence, the story of my life had gone through the Land in my Autobiography. I was no longer treated as a stranger, but as the dearly beloved friend of every one who had read my book. Blessed be God, who used it for His glory, and gave our Mission appeal everywhere an open door, such as never in my most hopeful hours had my faith even dreamed!
Now, hundreds of invitations poured in on my British Committee, all Honorary Helpers who grudged no amount of labor and pains. I found a Series of Meetings already arranged for me, covering the principal towns and cities of the United Kingdom,—Mr. Watson of Belfast taking charge in Ireland, Mr. Langridge in England, and my brother James, with his Honorary Secretary, arranging for Scotland, and acting as General Director of the Mission. When those had been fairly overtaken, the additional applications had risen to several hundreds more than could possibly be faced, unless I prolonged my stay for years. My Committee at one time found themselves dealing with a mass of 500 invitations! A selection had to be made of the more important and populous centres for the Services on the Lord’s Day, and one or two Meetings each day during the week in the smaller surrounding towns; but even then the disappointments were many and grievous; and not more so to them than to me; for I did passionately desire to tell every human being the story of the Gospel on the New Hebrides, that other and still other souls might be won thereby for Jesus my Lord.