Books: Life of John Coleridge Patteson

C >> Charlotte M. Yonge >> Life of John Coleridge Patteson

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'A great break in the first year was caused by the visitation of
typhus fever in the earlier part of 1868. This disease, brought as I
always believed by infection from a vessel that touched here, first
attacked a Norfolk Islander who did not live in the town. He was ill
in the middle of February, others of the Pitcairn people soon after.
The Bishop began at once to visit the sick very diligently, and
continued to visit them throughout, though after a time our own
hospital was full. Our first case was on the llth of March, and our
last convalescents did not go out until near the end of June. For
some time there was hard work to be done with nursing the sick. The
Bishop had the anxiety and the charge of medically treating the sick.
Mr. Nobbs, as always, was most kind in giving the benefit of his
experience, but he was too fully occupied with the care of his own
flock to be able to help us much. It was agreed, as soon as we saw
the disease was among us, that the three elder members of the Mission
should alone come into communication with the sick. We kept watch in
turns, but the Bishop insisted on taking a double share, i.e., he
allowed us only to take regular watches in the night, undertaking the
whole of the day's work, except during the afternoon when he was away
with the Pitcairn people. He seemed quite at home in the hospital,
almost always cheerful, always very tender, and generally very
decided as to what was to be done. He was fond of doctoring, read a
good deal of medical books, and knew a good deal of medical practice;
but the weight of such a responsibility as belonged to the charge of
many patients in a fever of this kind was certainly heavy upon him.
The daily visit to the Pitcairn people on foot or on horseback was no
doubt a relief, though hard work in itself. Of the four lads we
lost, two, twins, had been some time christened, one was baptized
before his death, the first who died had not been long with the
Mission. It is characteristic of Bishop Patteson that I never heard
him say a word that I remember of religion to one of the sick. On
such things he would not, unless he was obliged, speak except with
the patient alone.

'Before the sickness was quite over, the "Southern Cross" arrived for
the winter voyage. The danger of carrying infection to the islands
could not be incurred, and the vessel was sent back to Auckland for a
time.'

The letters she carried back refer again to the growing anxiety about
the 'labour traffic.'

'May 6th.--I am corresponding with a Wesleyan Missionary in Ovalau
(Fiji) on a matter that you may see mentioned some day in the papers,
a very questionable practice of importing from the Southern New
Hebrides (principally Tanna) natives to work on the cotton
plantations of white settlers in Fiji. It is all, as I am assured,
under the regulation of the Consul at Ovalau, and "managed" properly.
But I feel almost sure that there is, or will be, injuries done to
the natives, who (I am sure) are taken away under false pretences.
The traders don't know the Tannese language, and have no means of
making the people understand any terms, and to talk of any contract
is absurd. Yet, a large number of Tanna men, living on really well-
conducted plantations, owned by good men, might lead to a nucleus of
Christian Tannese. So says Mr. M. True, say I, if (!) you can find
the good planters and well-conducted plantations. Mr. M. assures me
that they (the Wesleyan Missionaries) are watching the whole thing
carefully. He writes well and sensibly on the whole, and kindly asks
me to visit his place, and judge for myself.

'Tanna is in the hands of the Nova Scotia Presbyterians--Mr. Greddie,
Inglis, and others; but the adjacent islands we have always visited
and considered ours, and of course a plague of this kind soon
spreads. My letter to Mr. Attwood on the matter was read by Sir John
Young and Commodore Lambert, and they expressed a warm interest in
the matter. Mr. M. says that they think it would be well to accept
some rule of conduct in the matter from the Commodore, which is, I
think, likely to do good.'

By the 15th of June the glad intelligence was received that the
hospital had been empty for a fortnight; and the house that was to
have been carried to Mota was put up for the married couples, for
whom it afforded separate sleeping rooms, though the large room was
in common. Two weddings were preparing, and B---- and his wife had
become reconciled.

'We may hope that this time it is not a case of two children, then
unbaptized, living together, heathen fashion, obeying mere passion,
ignorant of true love, but a sober, somewhat sad reunion of two
clever and fairly-educated grown-up people, knowing much of life and
its sad experience, understanding what they are about, and trying to
begin again with prayer to God and purposes of a good life.'

This time of convalescence was a time of great progress. A deep
impression had been made on many, and there was a strong spirit of
enquiry among them. The Bishop then began a custom of preaching to
his black scholars alone after the midday service, dismissing his
five or six white companions after prayers, because he felt he could
speak more freely and go more straight to the hearts of his converts
and catechumens if he had no other audience.

The other inhabitants of the island suffered long after the St.
Barnabas scholars were free, and deaths continued. It was impossible
to enforce on such an undisciplined race the needful attention to
cleanliness, or even care of the sick; the healthy were not kept
apart, nor was the food properly prepared for the sick. It was
impossible to stir or convince the easy-going tropical nature, and
there was no authority to enforce sanitary measures, so the fever
smouldered on, taking first one, then another victim, and causing
entire separation from St. Barnabas, except as far as the Bishop was
concerned.

Meantime, a house was being put up to receive Mr. Palmer's intended
wife, the daughter of that Mr. Ashwell who had shared in the
disastrous voyage when the 'Southern Cross' had been wrecked. She
had been brought up to Mission work, and was likely to be valuable
among the young girls. After this announcement, the Bishop
continues:--

'My mind is now made up to take the great step of ordaining dear
George Sarawia, for nine years my pupil, and for the last three or
four my friend and helper. Codrington is only surprised that he is
not ordained already. Humanly speaking, there can be no doubt of his
steadfastness. He is, indeed, a thoroughly good conscientious man,
humble without servility, friendly and at his ease without any
forwardness, and he has a large share of good sense and clear
judgment. Moreover, he has long held a recognised position with all
here and in New Zealand, and for the last two years the Mota people
and the neighbouring islanders have quite regarded him as one whom
they recognise as their leader and teacher, one of our own race, yet
not like us--different; he knows and does what we can't do and don't
know."

'They quite look upon him as free from all the difficulties which
attend a man's position as inheriting feuds, animosities, &c. He
goes anywhere; when the island may be in a disturbed state, no one
would hurt him; he is no partisan in their eyes, a man of other
habits and thoughts and character, a teacher of all.

'I think, oh! with such feelings of thankfulness and hope too, of the
first Melanesian clergyman! I should almost like to take him to
Auckland, that the Bishop might ordain him; but he ought to be
ordained here, in the presence of the Melanesians; and in the hasty
confusion of the few weeks in New Zealand, George would be at a sad
loss what to do, and the month of October is cold and raw. But you
may get this just in time to think of his Ordination, and how you
will pray for him! His wife Sara is a weakly body, but good, and she
and I are, and always have been, great friends. She has plenty of
good sense. Their one child, Simon, born in Norfolk Island some
fourteen months ago, is a very nice-looking child, and healthy
enough.

Meantime the spirit of enquiry and faith was making-marked progress.
Mr. Codrington says: 'The stir in the hearts and minds of those
already christened might be called a revival, and the enquiring and
earnest spirit of many more seemed to be working towards conversions.
During this time, there might be seen on the cliff or under the trees
in the afternoon, or on Sundays, little groups gathered round some of
the elder Christians, enquiring and getting help. It was the work
that George evidently was enabled to do in this way that convinced
everyone that the time had quite come for his Ordination. It is
worth mentioning that the boys from one island, and one individual in
particular, were much influenced by the last conversations of the
first Christian who died here (Walter Hotaswol), who had told his
friends to be "sure that all the Bishop had told them was true."'

This quickening and its results are further described in the ensuing
letter, wherein is mention of the Bauro man Taroniara, the most
remarkable of the present conversions, and destined three years after
to die with the Bishop and Mr. Atkin.

'June 20, 9 P.M., 1868.

'My dear Sisters,--You know how I am thinking of him to-day. Seven
years ago! I think that he seems more and more present to my mind
than ever. How grateful it is to me to find the dear Bishop ever
recurring to him in his sermons, &c.; but indeed we all have the
great blessing and responsibility of being his children. The thought
of meeting him again, if God be so merciful, comes over me sometimes
in an almost overpowering way: I quite seem to see and feel as if
kneeling by his side before the Great Glory, and even then thinking
almost most of him. And then, so many others too--Mamma, Uncle
James, Frank, &c., and you, dear Joan, think of your dear Mother. It
seems almost too much. And then the mind goes on to think of the
Saints of God in every generation, from one of the last gathered in
(dear Mr. Keble) to the very first; and as we realise the fact that
we may, by God's wonderful mercy, be companions, though far beneath
the feet, of Patriarchs, and Apostles, and Martyrs, and even see Him
as He is--it is too great for thought! and yet, thank God, it is
truth.

'My heart is full too of other blessed thoughts. There seems to be a
stirring of heart among our present set of scholars, the younger ones
I mean; they come into my room after evening Chapel and school, one
or two at a time, but very shy, sit silent, and at last say very
softly, "Bishop, I wish to stop here for good."

'"Why?"

'"I do wish to be good, to learn, to be like George and Henry and the
rest."

'This morning I baptized Charlotte and Joanna. Charlotte will be
married to Fisher on Wednesday, when Benjamin and Marion will also be
married. Oh, what blessings are these! I spoke earnestly of the
service in my preachment.

'Taroniara, from San Cristoval, said to me the other night, "Bishop,
why is it that now I think as I never thought before? I can't tell
quite what I think. You know I used to be willing to learn, but I
was easily led away on my own island; but I think that I shall never
wish again to listen to anything but the Word of God. I know I may
be wrong, but I think I shall never be inclined to listen to anything
said to me by my people to keep me from you and from this teaching.
I feel quite different: I like and wish for things I never really
used to care for; I don't care for what I used to like and live for.
What is it?"

'"What do you think it is?"

'"I think--but it is so (mava) great--I think it is the Spirit of God
in my heart."

'As for the Mota and Matlavo fellows, and the girls too, they have
now good examples before them, and one and all wish to stop here as
long as I please. And that being so, the return to their homes not
being a return to purely heathen islands, I trust that they may soon
be baptized. So my heart is full of thankfulness and wonder and awe.

'All this time I write with a full sense of the uncertainty of this
and every human work. I know the Bishop is preaching on failures,
and I try to think he is preaching to me.

'July 2nd, 8 A.M.--My dear Sisters, what a day we had yesterday! so
full of happiness and thankfulness. It was the wedding-day of Fisher
and Charlotte, Benjamin and Marion.

'The chapel was so prettily dressed up by Mr. Codrington and Mr.
Bice, under whose instructions some of the lads made evergreen
ornaments, &c., large white arums and red flowers also.

'At 7 A.M. Morning- Prayers, as usual. At 9.30 the wedding. All the
Melanesians in their places in Chapel; and as we came into the Chapel
from my room, the 100th Psalm was chanted capitally. Mr. Codrington
said he never was present at so thoroughly devotional a wedding. It
was a really solemn religious service.

'Then I gave good presents to everyone in the school, even the
smallest boys came in for a knife, beads, &c. Then cricket, for the
day was beautifully fine, though it is midwinter. And all sorts of
fun we had. Then a capital dinner, puddings, &c. Then cricket,
running races, running in sacks (all for prizes), then a great tea, 7
P.M. Chapel, then native dances by a great bonfire. Then at 10 P.M.
hot coffee and biscuits, then my little speech, presenting all our
good wishes to the married couples, and such cheering, I hope it may
be well remembered. The deeper feeling of it all is bearing fruit.
Already lads and young men from the Solomon Islands say, "We begin to
see what is meant by a man and woman living together." The solemnity
of the service struck them much.

'The bridegrooms wore their Sunday dresses, nice tidy trousers of
dark tweed, Crimean shirt, collar and tie, and blue serge coat. The
brides, white jackets trimmed with a bit of red, white collar and
blue skirts. All the answers quietly and reverently made; the whole
congregation answering "Amen" to the word of blessing in an
unmistakeable way. The 67th Psalm was chanted, of course.

'My plan is to have Psalms, with reading and singing to suit each
day, regarded as commemorative of the great facts and doctrines, so
that every week we read in chapel about forty Psalms, and sing about
twelve hymns. These are pretty well known by heart, and form already
a very considerable stock of Scriptural reference. The Resurrection
and the Gift of the Spirit, the Nativity, Manifestation, Betrayal,
Ascension, Crucifixion, Burial, with the doctrines connected with
them, come in this way every week before their minds. I translated
Psalms chosen with reference to this plan, and wrote hymns, &c. in
the same way.

'I wish you could have been with us yesterday. It was really a
strikingly solemn service. Then our fortnightly 7 A.M. Communions,
our daily 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. Services, our Baptisms, yes and our
burials too, all are so quiet, and there is so much reverence. You
see that they have never learnt bad habits. A Melanesian scholar
wouldn't understand how one could pray in any other posture than
kneeling.

'The evening Catechumen classes, so happy. And then the dear fellows
at their private prayers. The Chapel is always open, you know, and
in the early morning and late evening little knots of three and four,
or eight and ten, are kneeling about, quietly saying their prayers.
The sick lads--dear Clement and Richard who died--as long as they
could move, knelt up in hospital to say their prayers, and all but
quite the new comers did the same. It was touching to see them, weak
and in much pain, yet I did not of course tell them that they might
as well pray as they lay on their rugs. Better for them even if it
did a little exhaust them. It is no mere formal observance of a
rule, for there never has been any rule about it. I have given them
short simple prayers, and they first learn to kneel down with me here
in my room, or with Codrington in his room, &c. But I merely said
(long ago at Kohimarama), "You know you can always go into the Chapel
whenever you like."

'Sometimes I do wish you could see them; but then unless you could
talk with them, and indeed unless you knew the Melanesian mind and
nature, you couldn't estimate these things rightly.

'But never did I feel so hopeful, though my old text is ever in my
mind, Isaiah lx. 5: "Thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged."
That's exactly it.

'July 18th.--To-morrow I baptize Taroniara, of San Cristoval, a young
man full of promise. He has a wife and little girl of about four
years old. He may become, by God's blessing, the teacher of the
people of his island.'

(From a letter of the same date to myself, I add the further
particulars about one who was to teach by his death instead of his
life, and for whom the name of the first martyr was chosen):--

'He has been with me for some years, always good and amiable; but too
good-natured, too weak, so that he did not take a distinct line with
his people. He is a person of some consequence in his neighbourhood.
Now he gives all the proofs that can well be given of real sincerity.
He wonders himself, as he contrasts his present with his former
thoughts. I feel, humanly speaking, quite convinced that he is
thoroughly in earnest. His wife and little child are in the islands.
"How foolish of me not to have listened to you, and brought them here
at once. Then we could stop here for good." But he will return with
them, all being well, or without them, if anything has happened to
them, and I see in him, as I hope and pray, the pioneer for San
Cristoval at last.

'(Resuming the home letter.) The language of Mota now is beginning
to be a very fair channel for communicating accurate theological
teaching. We have, of course, to a large extent made it so by
assigning deeper meanings to existing words (we have introduced very
few words). This is the case in every language. On Sunday night, if
you had been here, and been able to understand my teaching on St.
John vi. to the Communicants, you would have been surprised, I think.
Something of Hooker's fifth book was being readily taken in by
several of those present. An Old Testament history they don't learn
merely as certain events. They quickly take up the meaning, the real
connection. I use the "Sunday Teaching," or work them at all events
on that plan. Well, you mustn't say too much of the bright side of
the picture. It is so easy to misunderstand.

'The time has been bad for our "lambing." We have thirty-five lambs,
looking well, and have lost, I think, nine. Yesterday a great event
occurred. One of the cart-mares foaled; great was the satisfaction
of the Melanesians at the little filly. Calves are becoming too
common, as we have now fourteen or fifteen cows, and five more are
owing to us for goods which the people take in exchange--not money,
which would not suit them as well. We have fenced in plenty of
grass, and I don't wan't to pay any more for keep. Of course, we use
a good deal of salt beef on shore here, as well as seek to supply the
"Southern Cross" on her voyages.

'It is pleasant to walk about and see the farm and gardens thriving.
All being well, we shall have some 300 bananas next year, lots of
sugar-canes; many fruit trees are being planted, pine-apples, coffee,
&c. Guavas grow here like weeds. I don't care for these things; but
the others do, and of course the scholars rejoice in them.

'I think of the islands, and see them in my waking dreams, and it
seems as if nothing was done. But I think again of what it was only
a very short time ago, and oh! I do feel thankful indeed, and amazed,
and almost fearful. I should like much, if I am alive and well, to
see my way to spending more of my time on the islands. But the
careful training of picked scholars for future missionaries is, I am
sure, the most important part of our work (though it must be combined
as much as possible with residence in the islands). If I could feel
that the school was well able to get on without me, I would be off to
the islands for a good spell. On the other hand, I feel most
strongly that my chief business is to make such provision as I may
for the multiplication of native missionaries, and the future
permanent development and extension of the Mission; and to do this,
our best scholars must be carefully trained, and then we may hope to
secure a competent staff of native clergymen for the islands.

'Mind, I am not disposed to act in a hasty way. Only I don't mean to
let conventional notions about an English clergyman hinder my
providing Melanesian islands with a Melanesian ministry. These
scholars of ours know very much more, and I imagine possess
qualifications of all kinds for their work in Melanesia, greater than
the majority of the missionaries in the old missionary times.

'How many men did good work who could hardly read, only repeat a few
portions of the Service-book, &c.!

'I need not say that we wish to educate them up to the maximum point
of usefulness for their practical work. But, given earnestness and
steadfastness of character, a fair amount of teaching power, and a
sound knowledge of fundamental truths, of the Church Services, and
the meaning and spirit of the Prayer-book, and we may surely trust
that, by God's grace, they may execute the office of the Ministry to
the glory of God, and the edification of the Church.

'They have now in Mota, in print, St. Luke, the Acts; soon will have
St. John, which is all ready; the Prayer-book, save some of the
Psalms, and a few other small portions. And in MS. they have a kind
of manual of the Catechism, abstract of the Books of the Old
Testament, papers on Prophecy, &c., &c. All this work, once done in
Mota, is, without very much labour, to be transferred into Bauro,
Mahaga, Mara, &c., &c. as I hope; but that is in the future.'

In the birthday letter to his sister Fanny, his chilly nature
confesses that August cold was making itself felt; and it was
becoming time for him to make a journey to the settled world, both on
account of a small tumour under his eyelid, and of the state of his
teeth. Moreover, no letters from home had reached him since the 2nd
of March. But he writes on the 7th of September to his brother:--

'This does not a bit distress me. I like the freedom from all
external excitement. It gives me uninterrupted time from my own
work; and the world does not suffer from my ignorance of its
proceedings. How you exist with all the abominations of daily
papers, I can't imagine. Your life in England seems to be one whirl
and bustle, with no real time for quiet thought and patient
meditation, &c. And yet men do think and do great things, and it
doesn't wear them out soon either. Witness Bishops and Judges, &c.,
living to eighty and even ninety in our own days.

'I like quiet and rest, and no railroads and no daily posts; and,
above all, no visitors, mere consumers of time, mere idlers and
producers of idleness. So, without any post, and nothing but a cart
on wheels, save a wheelbarrow, and no visitors, and no shops, I get
on very happily and contentedly. The life here is to me, I must
confess, luxurious, because I have what I like, great punctuality,
early hours, regular school work, regular reading, very simple
living; the three daily meals in hall take about seventy minutes all
put together, and so little time is lost; and then the climate is
delightful. Too cold now, but then I ought to be in the islands.
The thermometer has been as low as 56° in my room; and I am standing
in my room and writing now with my great coat on, the thermometer
being 67°.

'You know that I am not cut out for society, never was at my ease in
it, and am glad to be out of it. I am seldom at my ease except among
Melanesians: they and my books are my best companions. I never feel
the very slightest desire for the old life. You know how I should
like to see you dear ones, and...[others by name] but I couldn't
stand more than a week in England, if I could transplant myself there
in five minutes! I don't think this augurs any want of affection;
but I have grown into this life; I couldn't change it without a most
unpleasant wrench.'

The letter was at this point, when the 'Southern Cross' arrived, on
September 10, to carry off the Bishop and Mr. Palmer: the one to the
General Synod, and to take leave of his most loved and venerated
friend; the other, to fetch his bride.

He arrived on the 18th of the month, looking ill, and much worn and
even depressed, more so than Lady Martin had ever seen him, for the
coming parting pressed heavily upon him. The eye and teeth were
operated upon without loss of time, and successfully; but this, with
the cold of the voyage, made him, in his own word, 'shaky,' and it
was well that he was a guest at Taurarua, with Lady Martin to take
care of him, feed him on food not solid, and prevent him on the
ensuing Sunday from taking more than one of the three services which
had been at once proffered to him.