Books: Life of John Coleridge Patteson

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

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'They used to throng our morning and evening prayer, perhaps 130
being present, for about that number attend our daily school; but
they could not understand one sentence in ten of the Common Prayer-
book. And it is bad for people to accustom themselves to a "formal"
service. So I have stopped that. We baptized people have our
regular service and at the end of my school, held in the dark, 7-8.30
P.M., in the verandah, we kneel down, and I pray extempore, touching
the points which have formed the lesson.

'I don't like teaching these adults who can't read a form of private
prayer. I try to make them understand that to wish earnestly is to
pray; that they must put what they wish for clearly before their own
minds, and then pray to God for it, through Christ. But I must try
to supply progressive lessons for the Catechumens and others, with
short prayers to be read by the teacher at the end (and beginning,
too, perhaps) of the lesson. Much must depend on the individual
teacher's unction and force.

'Well, I hope and trust to be able to tell you two months hence of
some of these people being baptized. Only three adults have been
baptized here on the island, and all three were dying.

'It is very comforting to think that all of us have been engaged in
this Mota work, Dudley, and Mr. Pritt, and Mr. Kerr, too, and all our
present staff have had much to do with it. Especially I think now of
three young men, all married, who came to me lately, saying, "All
these years (an interval of six or seven years) we have been thinking
now and then about what we heard years ago, when we were with you in
New Zealand for a few months." They are now thoroughly in earnest,
as far as I can judge, and their wives, as I hope, move along with
them. How one old set must have influenced them a long time ago.
Bice, who speaks Mota very well, was very energetic during his
fortnight here. He is now gone on with Mr. Brooke and Mr. Atkin that
he may see the work in the Solomon Isles. I meant to go; but there
seemed to be a special reason why I should stay here just now,
vessels seeking labourers for Fiji and Queensland are very frequently
calling at these islands.

'Mr. Thurston, late Acting Consul at Fiji, was with me the day before
yesterday. He has taken a very proper view of this labour question;
and he assures me that the great majority of the Fiji planters are
very anxious that there should be no kidnapping, no unfair treatment
of the islanders. I have engaged to go to Fiji (D.V.) at the end of
my island work, i.e., on my return to Norfolk Island, probably about
the end of September. I shall go there in the "Southern Cross," send
her on to her summer quarters in New Zealand, and get from Fiji to
New Zealand, after six or eight weeks in Fiji, in some vessel or
other. There are about 4,000 or 5,000 white people in Fiji, mostly
Church of England people, but (as I suppose) not very clearly
understanding what is really meant by that designation. It is
assumed that I am to act as their Bishop; and I ought to have been
there before. But really a competent man might work these islands
into a Bishopric before long.

'We must try to follow these islanders into Fiji or Queensland. But
how to do it? On a plantation of, say, one hundred labourers, you
may find natives of eight or ten islands. How can we supply teachers
at the rate of one for every fifteen or twenty people? And there are
some 6,000 or 7,000 islanders already on the Fiji plantations, and I
suppose as many in Queensland.

'Some one knowing several languages, and continually itinerating from
one plantation to another, might do something; but I don't think a
native clergyman could do that. He must move about among white
people continually in the boats, &c. I ought to do it; but I think
my day has gone by for that kind of thing.

'I hope to judge of all this by-and-by. It might end in my dividing
my year into Melanesian work as of old, and Melanesian work in Fiji,
combined with the attempt to organise the white Church of England
community, and only a month or two's work in Norfolk Island. To do
this I must be in pretty good health. I may soon find out the limit
of my powers of work, and then confine myself to whatever I find I
can do with some degree of usefulness. We ought to make no attempt
to proselytise among the Fiji natives, who have been evangelised by
the Wesleyans. But there is work among our Western Pacific imported
islanders and the white people.

'Norfolk Island could be quite well managed without me. Mr.
Codrington could take that entirely into his own hands. I might
spend a month or two there, and confirm Melanesians and Norfolk
Islanders, and quietly fall into a less responsible position and be a
moveable clergyman in Fiji or anywhere else, as long as my strength
lasts.

'Norfolk Island certainly was rather my resting-place. But I think I
am becoming more and more indifferent to that kind of thing. A
tropical climate suits me, and Fiji is healthy--no ague. Dysentery
is the chief trouble there. These are notions, flying thoughts, most
likely never to be fully realised. Indeed, who can say what may
befall me?'

Never to be fully realised! No. He, who in broken health so freely
and simply sacrificed in will his cherished nook of rest on earth for
a life so trying and distasteful, was very near the 'Rest that
remaineth for the people of God.'

On June 26, the first public baptism in Mota took place, of one man,
the Bishop and Sarawia in surplices in front of their verandah, the
people standing round; but unfortunately it was a very wet day, and
the rush of rain drowned the voices, as the Bishop made his convert
Wilgan renounce individually and by name individual evil fashions of
heathenism, just as St. Boniface made the Germans forsake Thor and
Odin by name.
There were twenty-five more nearly ready, and a coral-lime building
was finished, 'like a cob wall, only white plaster instead of red
mud,' says the Devonshire man. It was the first Church of Mota,
again reminding us of the many 'white churches' of our ancestors; and
on the 25th of June at 7 A.M., the first Holy Eucharist was
celebrated there. It is also the place of private prayer for the
Christians and Catechumens of Kohimarama.

The weather was exceedingly bad, drenching rain continually, yet the
Bishop continued unusually well. His heart might well be cheered,
when, on that Sunday evening in the dark, he was thus accosted:--

'I have for days been watching for a chance of speaking to you alone!
Always so many people about you. My heart is so full, so hot every
word goes into it, deep deep. The old life seems a dream.
Everything seems to be new. When a month ago I followed you out of
the Said Goro, you said that if I wanted to know the meaning and
power of this teaching, I must pray! And I tried to pray, and it
becomes easier as every day I pray as I go about, and in the morning
and evening; and I don't know how to pray as I ought, but my heart is
light, and I know it's all true, and my mind is made up, and I have
been wanting to tell you, and so is Sogoivnowut, and we four talk
together, and all want to be baptized.'

This man had spent one season at St. John's, seven years before; but
on his return home had gone back to the ordinary island life, until
at last the good seed was beginning to take root.

The next Sunday, the 2nd of July, ninety-seven children were
baptized, at four villages, chosen as centres to which the adjacent
ones could bring their children. It was again a wet day, but the
rain held up at the first two places. The people stood or sat in a
great half-circle, from which the eldest children, four or five years
old, walked out in a most orderly manner, the lesser ones were
carried up by their parents, and out of the whole ninety-seven only
four cried! The people all behaved admirably, and made not a sound.
At the last two places there was a deluge of rain; but as sickness
prevailed in them, it was not thought well to defer the Baptism.

'It was a day full of thankful and anxious feelings. I was too
tired, and too much concerned with details of arrangements, new
names, &c., to feel the more contemplative devotional part of the
whole day's services till the evening. Then, for I could not sleep
for some hours, it came on me; and I thought of the old times too,
the dear Bishop's early visits, my own fourteen years' acquaintance
with this place, the care taken by many friends, past and present
members of the Mission. The Sunday Collects as we call them, St.
Michael's, All Saints', Saint Simon and St. Jude's calmed me, and my
Sunday prayer, (that beautiful prayer in the Ordination of Priests,
'Almighty God and Heavenly Father,' slightly altered) was very full
of meaning. So, thank God, one great step has been taken, a great
responsibility indeed, but I trust not rashly undertaken.'

On July 4 the 'Southern Cross' returned, and the cruise among the New
Hebrides was commenced. Mr. Bice was left to make a fortnight's
visit at Leper's Island; and the Bishop, going on to Mai, found only
three men on the beach, where there used to be hundreds, and was
advised not to go to Tariko, as there had been fighting.

At Ambrym there was a schooner with Mr. Thurston on board, and fifty-
five natives for Fiji. On the north coast was the 'Isabella,' with
twenty-five for Queensland. The master gave Captain Jacob his
credentials to show to the Bishop, and said the Bishop might come on
board and talk to the people, so as to be convinced they came
willingly, but weighed anchor immediately after, and gave no
opportunity; and one man who stood on the rail calling out 'Pishopa,
Pishopa,' was dragged back.

Mr. Bice was picked up again on the 17th, having been unmolested
during his visit; but two of the 'Lepers,' who had been at Espiritu
Santo, had brought back a fearful story that a small two-masted
vessel had there been mastered by the natives, and the crew killed
and eaten in revenge for the slaughter of some men of their own by
another ship's company some time back.

On the voyage he wrote to the Bishop of Lichfield:--

'Off Tariko. Sloop: July 8, 1871.

'My dear Bishop,--Towards the end of April I left Norfolk Island, and
after a six days' passage reached Mota. I called at Ambrym (dropping
three boys) at three places; at Whitsuntide; at Leper's Island,
dropping seven boys; Aurora, two places; Santa Maria, where I left
B----, and so to Mota on the day before Ascension Day, and sent the
vessel back at once to Norfolk Island for the Solomon Island
scholars. All our Aroa and Matlavo party wished to spend Ascension
Day with us; and after Holy Communion they went across with Commodore
William Pasvorang in a good whale boat, which I brought down on the
deck of the schooner, and which Willy looks after at Aroa. We want
it for keeping up a visitation of the group.

'Bice, ordained Priest last Christmas, was with me. We found George
and all well, George very steady and much respected. Charles Woleg,
Benjamin Vassil and James Neropa, all going on well. The wives have
done less than I hoped; true, they all had children to look after,
yet they might have done more with the women. [Then as before about
the movement.]

'After a week I went off in the boat, leaving Bice at Kohimarama, the
Mota station. I went to B---- first at the north-east part of the
island; back to Tarasagi (north-east point); sailed round to Lakona,
our old Cock Sparrow Point, where B---- and I selected one or two
boys to stay with him at Tarasagi. Thence we sailed to Avreas Bay,
the great bay of Vanua Lava, B---- going back to Tarasagi by land.
Heavy sea and rain; reached land in the dark 8 P.M., thankful to be
safe on shore.

'On to Aroa, where I spent two days; Willie and Edwin doing what they
can. Twenty children at school; but the island is almost
depopulated, some seven hundred gone to Brisbane and Fiji. I did not
go to Uvaparapara; the weather was bad, I was not well, and I
expected the "Southern Cross" from Norfolk Island. Next day, after
just a week's trip in the boat, I got to Mota; and the next day the
"Southern Cross" arrived with Joe Atkin and Brooke and some twenty-
four Solomon Islanders, many of them pressing to stay at Norfolk
Island, where about eighty scholars in all are under the charge of
Codrington, Palmer, and Jackson.

'I sent Bice on in the "Southern Cross," as he ought to see something
of his brethren's work in the north and west. I had just a month at
Mota, very interesting.

'I hope to spend three weeks more at Mota, if this New Hebrides trip
is safely accomplished, and to baptize the rest of the children, and
probably some ten or fifteen adults. All seem thoroughly in earnest.
Some of the first scholars, who for years have seemed indifferent,
are now among my class of thirty-three adults. It would be too long
a story to tell you of their frequent private conversations, their
stories, their private prayers, their expressions of earnest
thankfulness that they are being led into the light.

'Some of the women, wives of the men, are hopeful. George's old
mother said to me, "My boys are gone; George, Woleg, Wogale--Lehna
died a Christian; Wowetaraka (the first-born) is going. I must
follow. I listen to it all, and believe it all. When you think fit,
I must join you," i.e. be baptized.

'It is very comforting that all the old party from the beginning are
directly (of course indirectly also) connected with this movement.
Some of those most in earnest now came under the influence of the
early workers, Dudley, Mr. Pritt, &c.

'We need this comfort.

'From Mota some thirty or more have gone or been taken away, but the
other islands are almost depopulated. Mr. Thurston, late Acting
Consul in Fiji, was at Mota the other day seeking labourers. He says
that about 3,000 natives from Tanna and Uvaparapara are now in Fiji,
and Queensland has almost as many.

'He admits that much kidnapping goes on. He, with all his advantages
of personal acquaintance with the people and with native interpreters
on board, could only get about thirty. Another, Captain Weston, a
respectable man who would not kidnap, cruised for some weeks, and
left for Fiji without a single native on board. How then do others
obtain seventy or one hundred more?

'But the majority of the Fiji settlers, I am assured, do not like
these kidnapping practices, and would prefer some honest way of
obtaining men. Indeed, many natives go voluntarily.

'In the Solomon Isles a steamer has been at Savo and other places,
trying to get men.

'Three or four of these vessels called at Mota while I was there. On
one day three were in sight. They told me they were shot at at
Whitsuntide, Sta. Maria, Vanua Lava, &c. And, indeed, I am obliged
to be very careful, more so than at any time; and here, in the North
Hebrides, I never know what may happen, though of course in many
places they know me.

'We are now at our maximum point of dispersion: Brooke at Anudha, J.
Atkin at or near San Cristoval, Gr. Sarawia at Mota, B---- at Santa
Maria, Bice at Leper's Island, Codrington at Norfolk Island, I on
board "Southern Cross."

'Leper's Island is very pleasant; I longed to stay there. All the
people wanting to come with us, and already discriminating between us
and the other white visitors, who seem to have had little or no
success there.

'July 21st.--At anchor, Lakona, west side of Santa Maria. Pleasant
to be quietly at anchor on our old "shooting ground." We anchored for
a day and a night at Ambrym, near the east point, very safe and
comfortable place. Nine lads from five villages are on board. I
bought about three and a half tons of yams there. Anchored again at
the end of Whitsuntide, where I am thankful to say we have at last
received two lads, one a very pleasant-looking fellow. That sad year
of the dysentery, 1862, when Tanau died and Tarivai was so ill, two
out of only three scholars from the island, made them always
unwilling to give up lads.

'Next day at Leper's Island. Anchored a night off Wehurigi, the east
end of the high land, the centre part of the island.

'Bice was quite feted by the people. We brought away three old and
twelve new scholars, refusing the unpromising old scholars. There
is, I hope, a sufficient opening now at Ambrym and Leper's Island to
justify my assigning these islands to Jackson and Bice respectively.

'Our plan now is to take very few people indeed from the Banks
Islands to Norfolk Island, as they have a permanent school and
resident clergyman at Mota. The lads who may turn out clever and
competent teachers are taken to Norfolk Island, none others.

'We must take our large parties from islands where there is as yet no
permanent teacher: Ambrym, Leper's Island, the Solomon Islands.

'Meanwhile the traders are infesting these islands, as Captain Jacobs
says, "like mosquitoes." Three vessels anchored at Mai during the
day I was there. Three different vessels were at Ambrym. To-day I
saw four, three anchored together near the north-east side of Santa
Maria. B---- saw six yesterday.

'The people now refuse to go in them, they are much exasperated at
their people being kept away so long. Sad scenes are occurring.
Several white men have been killed, boats' crews cut off, vessels
wrecked,

'We shall hear more of such doings; and really I can't blame the
islanders. They are perfectly friendly to friends; though there is
much suspicion shown even towards us, where we are not well known.

'As far as I can speak of my own plans, I hope to stay at Mota for a
time, till the "Southern Cross" returns from Norfolk Island; then go
to the Solomon Islands; return by way of Santa Cruz and probably
Tikopia, to Mota; thence to Norfolk Island; thence probably to New
Zealand, to take the steamer for Fiji. We have no chart on board of
Fiji; and I don't think it right to run the risk of getting somehow
to Levuka with only the general chart of the South Pacific, so I must
go, as I think, to New Zealand, and either take the steamer or
procure charts, and perhaps take Mr. Tilly as pilot. I don't like
it; it will be very cold; but then I shall (D.V.) see our dear
Taurarua friends, the good Bishop and others, and get advice about my
Fiji movements. The Church of England folk there regard me as their
Bishop, I understand; and the Bishops of Sydney and Melbourne assume
this to be the fitting course. A really able energetic man might do
much there, and, in five years, would be Bishop of Levuka.

'This is all of Melanesia and myself; but you will like to have this
scrawl read to you.

'How I think of you as I cruise about the old familiar places, and
think that you would like to have another trip, and see the old
scenes with here and there, thank God, some little changes for the
better. Best love, my dear dear Bishop, to Mrs. Selwyn, William and
John.

'Your very affectionate

'J. C. PATTESON.'

About forty, old scholars and new, had been collected and brought
back to Mota; where, after landing the Bishop, Captain Jacobs sailed
back to Norfolk Island, carrying with him the last letters that were
to be received and read as from a living man. All that follow only
came in after the telegram which announced that the hand that had
written them was resting beneath the Pacific waters. But this was
not until it had been granted to him to gather in his harvest in
Mota, as will be seen:--

'Mota: July 31, 1871.

'My dearest Sisters,--You will be glad to know that on my return
hither after three weeks' absence, I found no diminution of strong
earnest feeling among the people. George Sarawia had, indeed, been
unable to do very much in the way of teaching 60 or 90 men and women,
but he had done his best, and the 100 younger people were going on
with their schooling regularly. I at once told the people that those
who wished to be baptized must let me know; and out of some 30 or 40
who are all, I think, in earnest, 15, and some few women are to be
baptized next Sunday. These will be the first grown-up people, save
John Wilgan, baptized in Mota, except a few when in an almost dying
state. They think and speak much of the fact that so many of their
children have been baptized, they wish to belong to the same set.
But I believe them all to be fairly well instructed in the great
elementary truths. They can't read; all the teaching is oral, no
objection in my eyes. It may be dangerous to admit it, but I am
convinced that all that we can do is to elevate some few of the most
intelligent islanders well, so that they can teach others, and be
content with careful oral teaching for the rest. How few persons
even among ourselves know how to use a book! And these poor fellows,
for I can only except a percentage of our scholars, have not so
completely mastered the mechanical difficulty of reading as to leave
their minds free for examination of the meaning and sense of what
they read. I don't undervalue a good education, as you know. But I
feel that but few of these islanders can ever be book-learned; and I
would sooner see them content to be taught plain truths by qualified
persons than puzzling themselves to no purpose by the doubtful use of
their little learning. You know that I don't want to act the Romish
Priest amongst them. I don't want to domineer at all. And I do
teach reading and writing to all who come into our regular school,
and I make them read passages to verify my teaching. At the same
time, I feel that the Protestant complaint of "shutting up the Bible
from the laity," is the complaint of educated persons, able to read,
think, and reflect.

'The main difficulty is, of course, to secure a supply of really
competent teachers. George, Edward, Henry, Robert, and some three or
four others are trustworthy. I comfort myself by thinking that a
great many of the mediaeval Clergy certainly did not know as much nor
teach as well.

'Yesterday I baptized 41 more children and infants on again an
unpropitious day. I was obliged to leave 42 to be baptized at some
future time. The rain poured down. The people will bring them over
to-morrow. The whole number of infants and children will amount to
230 or more, of adults to perhaps 25 or 30. You will pray earnestly
for them that they may lead the rest of their lives "according to
this beginning."

'There is much talk, something more than talk, I think, about putting
up a large church-house here, on this side of the island (north-west
side) and of a school-house, for church also, on the south-east side.

'We have all heavy coughs and colds; and I have had two or three very
disturbed nights, owing to the illness of one of the many babies.
The little thing howls all night.

'All our means of housing people are exhausted. People flock here
for the sake of being taught. Four new houses have been built, three
are being built. We shall have a large Christian village here soon,
I hope and trust. At present every place is crammed, and 25 or 30
sleep on the verandah. The little cooking house holds somehow or
other about 24 boys; they pack close, not being burdened with clothes
and four-posters. I sleep on a table, people under and around it. I
am very well, barring this heavy cold and almost total loss of voice
for a few hours in the morning and evening.

'August 1st.--Very tired 7 A.M., Prayers 7.20-8.20, school 8.20-10;
baptized 55 infants and young children. Now it is past 1; a
boisterous day, though as yet no rain. I had a cup of cocoa at 6.30,
and at 10.30 a plate of rice and a couple of eggs, nice clean fare.
The weather is against me, so cold, wet, and so boisterous. I got a
good night though, for I sent Mrs. Rhoda and her squalling baby to
another house, and so slept quietly.

'I am sorry that teaching is so irksome to me. I am, in a sense, at
it all day. But there is so much to be done, and the people, worthy
souls, have no idea that one can ever be tired. After I was laid
down on my table, with my air-pillow under my head and my plaid over
me, I woke up from a doze to find the worthy Tanoagnene sitting with
his face towards me, waiting for a talk about the rather
comprehensive subject of Baptism.

'And at all odd times I ought to be teaching George and others how to
teach, the hardest work of all. I think what a life a real pedagogue
must have of it. There is so much variety with me, so much change
and holiday, and so much that has its special interest.

'The "Southern Cross" has been gone a week. I hope they have not
this kind of weather. If they have, they are getting a good knocking
about, and they number about 55 on board.

'August 6th.--To-day there is no rain, for the first time for weeks.
It blew a heavy gale all night, and had done so with heavy rain for
some days before.

'At 8 A.M. to-day I baptized 14 grown men, one an old bald man, and
another with a son of sixteen or so, five women and six lads, taught
entirely in George's school. Afterwards, at a different service, 7
infants and little children were baptized. 238 + 5 who have died
have now been baptized since the beginning of July. To-day's service
was very comforting. I pray and trust that these grown-up men and
women may be kept steadfast to their profession. It is a great
blessing that I could think it right to take this step. You will, I
know, pray for them; their position is necessarily a difficult one.