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diff --git a/4952-h/4952-h.htm b/4952-h/4952-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2ba262 --- /dev/null +++ b/4952-h/4952-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,30790 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Life of John Coleridge Patteson: by Charlotte Mary Yonge + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Life of John Coleridge Patteson, by Charlotte M. Yonge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Life of John Coleridge Patteson + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4952] +Last Updated: April 21, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON *** + + + + +Text files produced by Sandra Laythorpe and Others + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + LIFE OF JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON: + </h1> + <h2> + MISSIONARY BISHOP OF THE MELANESIAN ISLANDS <br /> <br /> By Charlotte Mary + Yonge + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Transcriber's note: This Etext of the Life of John Coleridge Patteson: + Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands, by Charlotte Mary Yonge was + prepared by Sandra Laythorpe and others. More information about the + history of the Anglican Church may be found at Project Canterbury A web + page for Charlotte M Yonge may be found at www.menorot.com/cmyonge.htm. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. CHILDHOOD AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, + 1827-1838. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD AT ETON. 1838—1845. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. UNDERGRADUATE LIFE AT BALLIOL AND + JOURNEYS ON THE CONTINENT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. FELLOWSHIP OF MERTON. 1852—1854. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. THE CURACY AT ALFINGTON. 1853-1855. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. THE VOYAGE AND FIRST YEAR. 1855-1856. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. THE MELANESIAN ISLES. 1856-1857. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE AND LIFU. + 1857-1859. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. MOTA AND ST. ANDREW'S COLLEGE, + KOHIMARAMA. 1859-1862. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. THE EPISCOPATE AT KOHIMARAMA. 1866. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. ST. BARNABAS COLLEGE, NORFOLK ISLAND. + 1867—1869. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS. 1870-1871. + </a> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + There are of course peculiar advantages as well as disadvantages in + endeavouring to write the life of one recently departed. On the one hand, + the remembrances connected with him are far fresher; his contemporaries + can he consulted, and much can be made matter of certainty, for which a + few years would have made it necessary to trust to hearsay or probable + conjecture. On the other, there is necessarily much more reserve; nor are + the results of the actions, nor even their comparative importance, so + clearly discernible as when there has been time to ripen the fruit. + </p> + <p> + These latter drawbacks are doubled when the subject of the biography has + passed away in comparatively early life: when the persons with whom his + life is chiefly interwoven are still in full activity; and when he has + only lived to sow his seed in many waters, and has barely gathered any + portion of his harvest. + </p> + <p> + Thus what I have written of Bishop Patteson, far more what I have copied + of his letters, is necessarily only partial, although his nearest + relations and closest friends have most kindly permitted the full use of + all that could build up a complete idea of the man as he was. Many letters + relate to home and family matters, such as it would be useless and + impertinent to divulge; and yet it is necessary to mention that these + exist, because without them we might not know how deep was the lonely + man's interest and sympathy in all that concerned his kindred and friends. + Other letters only repeat the narrative or the reflections given + elsewhere; and of these, it has seemed best only to print that which + appeared to have the fullest or the clearest expression. In general, the + story is best told in letters to the home party; while thoughts are + generally best expressed in the correspondence with Sir John Taylor + Coleridge, to whom the Nephew seems to have written with a kind of + unconscious carefulness of diction. There is as voluminous a + correspondence with the Brother, and letters to many Cousins; but as these + either repeat the same adventures or else are purely domestic, they have + been little brought forward, except where any gap occurred in the + correspondence which has formed the staple material. + </p> + <p> + Letters upon the unhappy Maori war have been purposely omitted; and, as + far as possible, such criticisms on living personages as it seemed fair + towards the writer to omit. Criticisms upon their publications are of + course a different thing. My desire has been to give enough expression of + Bishop Patteson's opinions upon Church and State affairs, to represent his + manner of thinking, without transcribing every detail of remarks, which + were often made upon an imperfect report, and were, in fact, only written + down, instead of spoken and forgotten, because correspondence served him + instead of conversation. + </p> + <p> + I think I have represented fairly, for I have done my best faithfully to + select passages giving his mind even where it does not coincide completely + with my own opinions; being quite convinced that not only should a + biographer never attempt either to twist or conceal the sentiments of the + subject, but that either to apologise for, or as it were to argue with + them, is vain in both senses of the word. + </p> + <p> + The real disadvantage of the work is my own very slight personal + acquaintance with the externals of the man, and my ignorance of the scenes + in which the chief part of his life was passed. There are those who would + have been far more qualified in these respects than myself, and, above + all, in that full and sympathetic masculine grasp of a man's powerful + mind, which is necessarily denied to me. But these fittest of all being + withheld by causes which are too well known to need mention, I could only + endeavour to fulfil the work as best I might; trusting that these + unavoidable deficiencies may be supplied, partly by Coleridge Patteson's + own habit of writing unreservedly, so that he speaks for himself, and + partly by the very full notes and records with which his friends have + kindly supplied me, portraying him from their point of view; so that I + could really trust that little more was needed than ordinary judgment in + connecting and selecting. Nor until the work is less fresh from my hand + will it be possible to judge whether I have in any way been allowed to + succeed in my earnest hope and endeavour to bring the statue out of the + block, and as it were to carve the figure of the Saint for his niche among + those who have given themselves soul and body to God's Work. + </p> + <p> + It has been an almost solemn work of anxiety, as well as one of love. May + I only have succeeded in causing these letters and descriptions to leave a + true and definite impression of the man and of his example! + </p> + <p> + Let me here record my obligations for materials—I need hardly say to + the immediate family and relations—for, in truth, I act chiefly as + their amanuensis; but likewise to the Bishop of Lichfield, Bishop Abraham. + </p> + <p> + Lady Martin, the Rev. B. T. Dudley, the Rev. E. Codrington, and Captain + Tilly, for their valuable aid—the two first mentioned by correction + and revision, the others by contributions such as could only be supplied + by eye-witnesses and fellow-workers. Many others I must thank for kindly + supplying me with letters. + </p> + <p> + CHARLOTTE MARY YONGE. ELDERFIELD, September 19, 1873. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. CHILDHOOD AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, 1827-1838. + </h2> + <p> + So much of a man's cast of character depends upon his home and parentage, + that no biography can be complete which does not look back at least as far + as the lives of the father and mother, from whom the disposition is sure + to be in part inherited, and by whom it must often be formed. Indeed, the + happiest natures are generally those which have enjoyed the full benefit + of parental training without dictation, and have been led, but not forced, + into the way in which they should go. + </p> + <p> + Therefore it will not be irrelevant to dwell on the career of the father + whose name, though still of great weight in his own profession, may not be + equally known to the younger generation who have grown up since the words + 'Mr. Justice Patteson' were of frequent occurrence in law reports. + </p> + <p> + John Patteson, father of the subject of the present memoir, was son to a + clergyman of a Norfolk family, and was born at Coney Weston, on February + 11, 1790. He was educated at Eton, and there formed more than one + friendship, which not only lasted throughout his life, but extended beyond + his own generation. Sport and study flourished alike among such lads as + these; and while they were taught by Dr. Groodall to delight in the + peculiarly elegant and accurate scholarship which was the characteristic + of the highest education of their day, their boyhood and youth were full + of the unstained mirth that gives such radiance to recollections of the + past, and often causes the loyalty of affectionate association to be + handed on to succeeding generations. The thorough Etonian impress, with + all that it involved, was of no small account in his life, as well as in + that of his son. + </p> + <p> + The elder John Patteson was a colleger, and passed on to King's College, + Cambridge, whence, in 1813, he came to London to study law. In 1816 he + opened his chambers as a special pleader, and on February 23, 1818, was + married to his cousin, Elizabeth Lee, after a long engagement. The next + year, 1819, he was called to the Bar, and began to go the Northern + circuit. On April 3, 1820, Mrs. Patteson died, leaving one daughter, + Joanna Elizabeth. Four years later, on April 22, 1824, Mr. Patteson + married Frances Duke Coleridge, sister of his friend and fellow-barrister, + John Taylor Coleridge. This lady, whose name to all who remember her calls + up a fair and sweet memory of all that was good, bright, and beloved, was + the daughter of James Coleridge, of Heath's Court, Ottery St. Mary, Devon, + Colonel of the South Devon Volunteers. He was the eldest of the numerous + family of the Rev. John Coleridge, Master of Ottery St. Mary School, and + the poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, was the youngest. + </p> + <p> + The strong family affection that existed between all Colonel Coleridge's + children, and concentrated itself upon the only sister among them, made + marriage with her an adoption into a group that could not fail to exercise + a strong influence on all connected with it, and the ties of kindred will + be found throughout this memoir to have had peculiar force. + </p> + <p> + John Coleridge Patteson, his mother's second child and eldest son, was + born at No. 9, Grower Street, Bedford Square, on the 1st of April, 1827, + and baptized on the 8th. Besides the elder half-sister already mentioned, + another sister, Frances Sophia Coleridge, a year older than, and one + brother, James Henry, nearly two years younger than Coleridge, made up the + family. + </p> + <p> + Three years later, in 1830, Mr. Patteson was raised to the Bench, at the + unusually early age of forty. + </p> + <p> + It is probable that there never was a period when the Judicial Bench could + reckon a larger number of men distinguished not only for legal ability but + for the highest culture and for the substantial qualities that command + confidence and respect. The middle of the nineteenth century was a time + when England might well be proud of her Judges. + </p> + <p> + There was much in the habits of the Bench and Bar to lead to close and + friendly intimacy, especially on the circuits. When legal etiquette + forbade the use of any public conveyance, and junior barristers shared + post-chaises, while the leaders travelled in their own carriages, all + spent a good deal of time together, and it was not unusual for ladies to + go a great part of the circuit with their husbands, especially when it lay + in the direction of their own neighbourhood. The Judges' families often + accompanied them, especially at the summer assize, and thus there grew up + close associations between their children, which made their intimacy + almost like that of relationship. Almost all, too, lived in near + neighbourhood in those parts of London that now are comparatively + deserted, but which were then the especial abodes of lawyers, namely, + those adjacent to Bedford Square, where the gardens were the daily resort + of their children, all playing together and knowing one another with that + familiarity that childhood only gives. + </p> + <p> + 'Sir John Patteson's contemporaries have nearly all, one by one, passed + away,' writes one of them, Sir John Taylor Coleridge. 'He has left few, if + any, literary monuments to record what his intellectual powers were; and + even in our common profession the ordinary course and practice are so + changed, that I doubt whether many lawyers are now familiar with his + masterly judgments; but I feel that I speak the truth when I describe him + as a man of singularly strong common sense, of great acuteness, + truthfulness, and integrity of judgment. These were great judicial + qualities, and to these he added much simplicity and geniality of temper + and manners; and all these were crowned by a firm, unhesitating, devout + belief in the doctrines of our faith, which issued in strictness to + himself and the warmest, gentlest charity to his fellow-creatures. The + result was what you might expect. Altogether it would be hard to say + whether you would characterise him as a man unusually popular or unusually + respected.' + </p> + <p> + Such was the character of Mr. Justice Patteson, a character built upon the + deep, solid groundwork of religion, such as would now be called that of a + sound Churchman of the old school, thoroughly devout and scrupulous in + observance, ruling his family and household on a principle felt + throughout, making a conscience of all his and their ways, though + promoting to the utmost all innocent enjoyment of pleasure, mirth, or + gaiety. Indeed, all who can look back on him or on his home remember an + unusual amount of kindly genial cheerfulness, fun, merriment, and freedom, + i.e. that obedient freedom which is the most perfect kind of liberty. + </p> + <p> + Though this was in great part the effect of having such a head of the + family, the details of management could not but chiefly depend upon the + mother, and Lady Patteson was equally loved for her tenderness and + respected for her firmness. 'She was, indeed,' writes her brother, 'a + sweet and pious person, of the most affectionate, loving disposition, + without a grain of selfishness, and of the stoutest adherence to principle + and duty. Her tendency was to deal with her children fondly, but this + never interfered with good training and discipline. What she felt right, + she insisted on, at whatever pain to herself.' + </p> + <p> + She had to deal with strong characters. Coleridge, or Coley, to give him + the abbreviation by which he was known not only through childhood but + through life, was a fair little fellow, with bright deep-blue eyes, + inheriting much of his nature from her and her family, but not by any + means a model boy. He was, indeed, deeply and warmly affectionate, but + troublesome through outbreaks of will and temper, showing all the ordinary + instinct of trying how far the authorities for the time being will endure + resistance; sufficiently indolent of mind to use his excellent abilities + to save exertion of intellect; passionate to kicking and screaming pitch, + and at times showing the doggedness which is such a trial of patience to + the parent. To this Lady Patteson 'never yielded; the thing was to be + done, the point given up, the temper subdued, the mother to be obeyed, and + all this upon a principle sooner understood than parents suppose.' + </p> + <p> + There were countless instances of the little boy's sharp, stormy gusts of + passion, and his mother's steady refusal to listen to his 'I will be good' + until she saw that he was really sorry for the scratch or pinch which he + had given, or the angry word he had spoken; and she never waited in vain, + for the sorrow was very real, and generally ended in 'Do you think God can + forgive me?' When Fanny's love of teasing had exasperated Coley into + stabbing her arm with a pencil, their mother had resolution enough to + decree that no provocation could excuse 'such unmanliness' in a boy, and + inflicted a whipping which cost the girl more tears than her brother, who + was full of the utmost grief a child could feel for the offence. No fault + was lightly passed over; not that punishment was inflicted for every + misdemeanour, but it was always noticed, and the children were shown with + grave gentleness where they were wrong; or when there was a squabble among + them, the mother's question, 'Who will give up?' generally produced a + chorus of 'I! I! I!' Withal 'mamma' was the very life of all the fun, and + play, and jokes, enjoying all with spirits and merriment like the little + ones' own, and delighting in the exchange of caresses and tender epithets. + Thus affection and generosity grew up almost spontaneously towards one + another and all the world. + </p> + <p> + On this disposition was grafted that which was the one leading + characteristic of Coley's life, namely, a reverent and religious spirit, + which seems from the first to have been at work, slowly and surely + subduing inherent defects, and raising him, step by step, from grace to + grace. + </p> + <p> + Five years old is in many cases an age of a good deal of thought. The + intelligence is free from the misapprehensions and misty perceptions of + infancy; the first course of physical experiments is over, freedom of + speech and motion have been attained, and yet there has not set in that + burst of animal growth and spirits that often seems to swamp the deeper + nature throughout boyhood. By this age Coley was able to read, and on his + birthday he received from his father the Bible which was used at his + consecration as Bishop twenty-seven years later. + </p> + <p> + He had an earnest wish to be a clergyman, because he thought saying the + Absolution to people must make them so happy, 'a belief he must have + gleaned from his Prayer-book for himself, since the doctrine was not in + those days made prominent.' The purpose was fostered by his mother. 'She + delighted in it, and encouraged it in him. No thought of a family being to + be made, and of Coley being the eldest son, ever interfered for a moment. + That he should be a good servant at God's altar was to her above all + price.' + </p> + <p> + Of course, however, this was without pressing the thought on him. He grew + on, with the purpose accepted but not discussed, except from time to time + a half-playful, half-grave reference to himself as a future clergyman. + </p> + <p> + Reverence was strongly implanted in him. His old nurse (still his sister's + valued servant) remembers the little seven years old boy, after saying his + own prayers at her knee, standing opposite to his little brother, + admonishing him to attention with 'Think, Jemmy; think.' In fact, + devoutness seems to have been natural to him. It appears to have been the + first strongly traceable feature in him, and to have gradually subdued his + faults one by one. + </p> + <p> + Who can tell how far this was fostered by those old-fashioned habits of + strictness which it is the present habit to view as repellent? Every + morning, immediately after breakfast, Lady Patteson read the Psalms and + Lessons for the day with the four children, and after these a portion of + some book of religious instruction, such as 'Horne on the Psalms' or + 'Daubeny on the Catechism.' The ensuing studies were in charge of Miss + Neill, the governess, and the life-long friend of her pupils; but the + mother made the religious instruction her individual care, and thus upheld + its pre-eminence. Sunday was likewise kept distinct in reading, teaching, + employment, and whole tone of conversation, and the effect was assuredly + not that weariness which such observance is often supposed to produce, but + rather lasting benefit and happy associations. Coley really enjoyed + Bible-reading, and entered into explanations, and even then often picked + up a passage in the sermons he heard at St. Giles's-in-the-Fields from the + Rev. J. Endell Tyler, and would give his home-oracles no peace till they + had made it as clear to his comprehension as was possible. + </p> + <p> + The love of his home may be gathered from the fact that his letters have + been preserved in an unbroken series, beginning from a country visit in + 1834, after a slight attack of scarlet fever, written in the round-hand of + a boy of seven years old, and finished off with the big Roman capitals + FINIS, AMEN, and ending with the uncompleted sheets, bearing as their last + date September 19, 1871. + </p> + <p> + The boy's first school was at Ottery St. Mary, in Devonshire, of which his + great-grandfather and great-uncle had both been head-masters. + </p> + <p> + There was much to make Ottery homelike to Coley, for his grandparents + lived at Heath's Court, close to the church, and in the manor-house near + at hand their third son, Francis George Coleridge, a solicitor, whose + three boys were near contemporaries of Coley, and two of them already in + the school. + </p> + <p> + From first to last his letters to his parents show no symptom of + carelessness; they are full of ease and confidence, outpourings of + whatever interested him, whether small or great, but always respectful as + well as affectionate, and written with care and pains, being evidently his + very best; nor does the good old formula, 'Your affectionate and dutiful + son,' ever fail or ever produce stiffness. + </p> + <p> + The shrinking from rough companions, and the desire to be with the + homelike relatives around, proved a temptation, and the little boy was + guilty of making false excuses to obtain leave of absence. We cannot + refrain from giving his letter of penitence, chiefly for the sake of the + good sense and kindness of his uncle's treatment:— + </p> + <p> + 'April 26, 1836. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Papa,—I am very sorry for having told so many falsehoods, + which Uncle Frank has told mamma of. I am very sorry for having done so + many bad things, I mean falsehoods, and I heartily beg your pardon; and + Uncle Frank says that he thinks, if I stay, in a month's time Mr. Cornish + will begin to trust me again. Uncle Frank to-day had me into his house and + told me to reflect upon what I had done. He also lectured me in the Bible, + and asked me different questions about it. He told me that if I ever told + another falsehood he should that instant march into the school and ask Mr. + Cornish to strip and birch me; and if I followed the same course I did now + and did not amend it, if the birching did not do, he should not let me go + home for the holidays; but I will not catch the birching... + </p> + <p> + 'So believe me your dear Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + On the flap of the letter 'Uncle Frank' writes to the mother:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Fanny,—I had Coley in my room to-day, and talked to him + seriously about his misdeeds, and I hope good has been done. But I could + scarcely keep my countenance grave when he began to reduce by calculation + the exact number of fibs he had told. He did not think it was more than + two or three at the utmost: and when I brought him to book, I had much to + do to prevent the feeling that the sin consisted in telling many lies. + However the dear boy's confession was as free as could be expected, and I + have impressed on his mind the meanness, cowardice, and wickedness of the + habit, and what it will end in here and hereafter. He has promised that he + will never offend in future in like manner, and I really believe that his + desire to be away from the school and at ease among his friends induced + him to trump up the invitations, &c., to Mr. Cornish, in which + consisted his first fibs. I shall watch him closely, as I would my own + child; and Cornish has done wisely, I think, by giving the proper + punishment of confining him to the school-court, &c., and not letting + him go to his friends for some time. The dear boy is so affectionate, and + has so much to work on, that there is no fear of him; only these things + must be looked after promptly, and he must learn practically (before his + reason and religion operate) that he gains nothing by a lie... He is very + well, and wins one's heart in a moment... + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your affectionate Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'F. G. C.' + </h5> + <p> + The management was effectual, and the penitence real, for this fault never + recurred, nor is the boy's conduct ever again censured, though the + half-yearly reports often lament his want of zeal and exertion. Coley was + sufficiently forward to begin Greek on his first arrival at Ottery, and + always held a fair place for his years, but throughout his school career + his character was not that of an idle but of an uninterested boy, who + preferred play to work, needed all his conscience to make him industrious, + and then was easily satisfied with his performances; naturally comparing + them with those of other boys, instead of doing his own utmost, and giving + himself full credit for the diligence he thought he had used. For it must + be remembered that it was a real, not an ideal nature; not a perfect + character, but one full of the elements of growth. + </p> + <p> + A childish, childlike boy, he was now, and for many years longer, + intensely fond of all kinds of games and sports, in which his light active + form, great agility, and high spirit made him excel. Cricket, riding, + running-races, all the school amusements were his delight; fireworks for + the 5th of November sparkle with ecstasy through his letters, and he was a + capital dancer in the Christmas parties at his London home. He had + likewise the courage and patience sure to be needed by an active lad. + While at Ottery he silently bore the pain of a broken collar-bone for + three weeks, and when the accident was brought to light by his mother's + embrace, he only said that 'he did not like to make a fuss.' + </p> + <p> + Consideration for others, kindness, and sweetness of nature were always + his leading characteristics, making him much beloved by all his + companions, and an excellent guardian and example to his little brother, + who soon joined him at Ottery. Indeed, the love between these two brothers + was so deep, quiet, and fervid, that it is hard to dwell on it while 'one + is taken and the other left.' It was at this time a rough buffeting, + boyish affection, but it was also a love that made separation pain and + grief, and on the part of the elder, it showed itself in careful + protection from all harm or bullying, and there was a strong underlying + current of tenderness, most endearing to all concerned with the boys, + whether masters, relations, friends, or servants. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD AT ETON. 1838—1845. + </h2> + <p> + After the Christmas holidays of 1837-8, when Coley Patteson was nearly + eleven years old, he was sent to Eton, that most beautifully situated of + public schools, whose delightful playing fields, noble trees, broad river, + and exquisite view of Windsor Castle give it a peculiar charm, joining the + venerable grandeur of age to the freshness and life of youth, so as to + rivet the affections in no common degree. + </p> + <p> + It was during the head-mastership of Dr. Hawtrey that Patteson became, in + schoolboy phrase, an Eton fellow, being boarded in the house of his uncle, + the Rev. Edward Coleridge, one of the most popular and successful Eton + masters. Several of his cousins were also in this house, with other boys + who became friends of his whole life, and he was thoroughly happy there, + although in these early days he still felt each departure from home + severely, and seldom failed to write a mournful letter after the holidays. + There is one, quite pathetic in its simplicity, telling his mother how he + could not say his prayers nor fall asleep on his first night till he had + resolutely put away the handkerchief that seemed for some reason a special + link with home. It illustrates what all who remember him say, how + thoroughly a childlike being he still was, though a well-grown, manly, + high-spirited boy, quite able to take care of himself, keep his place, and + hold his own. + </p> + <p> + He was placed in the lower remove of the fourth form, which was then 'up + to' the Rev. Charles Old Goodford, i.e. that was he who taught the + division so called in school. + </p> + <p> + The boy was evidently well prepared, for he was often captain of his + division, and his letters frequently tell of successes of this kind, while + they anticipate 'Montem.' + </p> + <p> + That of 1838 was a brilliant one, for Queen Victoria, then only nineteen, + and her first year of sovereignty not yet accomplished, came from the + Castle to be driven in an open carriage to Salt Hill and bestow her Royal + contribution. + </p> + <p> + In the throng little Patteson was pressed up so close to the Royal + carriage that he became entangled in the wheel, and was on the point of + being dragged under it, when the Queen, with ready presence of mind, held + out her hand: he grasped it, and was able to regain his feet in safety, + but did not recover his perceptions enough to make any sign of gratitude + before the carriage passed on. He had all a boy's shyness about the + adventure; but perhaps it served to quicken the personal loyalty which is + an unfailing characteristic of 'Eton fellows.' + </p> + <p> + The Royal custom of the Sunday afternoon parade on the terrace of Windsor + Castle for the benefit of the gazing public afforded a fine opportunity + for cultivating this sentiment, and Coley sends an amusingly minute + description of her Majesty's dress, evidently studied for his mother's + benefit, even to the pink tips of her four long ostrich feathers, and + calling to mind Chalon's water-colours of the Queen in her early youth. He + finishes the description with a quaint little bit of moralising. 'It + certainly is very beautiful with two bands playing on a calm, blessed + Sunday evening, with the Queen of England and all her retinue walking + about. It gives you an idea of the Majesty of God, who could in one short + second turn it all into confusion. There is nothing to me more beautiful + than the raising one's eyes to Heaven, and thinking with adoration who + made this scene, and who could unmake it again.' + </p> + <p> + A few days later the record is of a very different scene, namely, Windsor + Fair, when the Eton boys used to imagine they had a prescriptive right to + make a riot and revel in the charms of misrule. + </p> + <p> + 'On the second day the Eton fellows always make an immense row. So at the + signal, when a thing was acting, the boys rushed in and pulled down the + curtain, and commenced the row. I am happy to say I was not there. There + were a great many soldiers there, and they all took our part. The alarm + was given, and the police came. Then there was such a rush at the police. + Some of them tumbled over, and the rest were half-knocked down. At last + they took in custody three of our boys, upon which every boy that was + there (amounting to about 450) was summoned. They burst open the door, + knocked down the police, and rescued our boys. Meantime the boys kept on + shying rotten eggs and crackers, and there was nothing but righting and + rushing.' + </p> + <p> + A startling description! But this was nothing to the wild pranks that + lived in the traditions of the elder generation; and in a few years more + the boys were debarred from the mischievous licence of the fair. + </p> + <p> + Coley had now been nearly a year at Eton, and had proceeded through the + lower and middle removes of the fourth form, when, on November 23, he + achieved the success of which he thus writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Rejoice! I was sent up for good yesterday at eleven o'clock school. I do + not know what copy of verses for yet, but directly I do, I will send you a + copy.... Goodford, when I took my ticket to be signed (for I was obliged + to get Goodford, Abraham, and my tutor to sign it), said, "I will sign it + most willingly," and then kept on stroking my hand, and said, "I + congratulate you most heartily, and am very glad of it." I am the only one + who is sent up; which is a good thing for me, as it will give me forty or + fifty good marks in trials. I am so splitting with joy you cannot think, + because now I have given you some proof that I have been lately sapping + and doing pretty well. Do not, think that I am praising myself, for I am + pretty nearly beside myself, you may suppose.' + </p> + <p> + One of his cousins adds, on the same sheet: 'I must tell you it is very + difficult to be sent up in the upper fourth form, and still more so in the + middle remove.' + </p> + <p> + The subject of the Latin verses which obtained this distinction was a + wreath or garland, and there must have been something remarkable in them, + for Mr. Abraham preserved a copy of them for many years. There was + something in the sweetness and docility of the boy, and in the expression + of his calm, gentle face, that always greatly interested the masters and + made them rejoice in his success; and among his comrades he was a + universal favourite. His brother joined him at Eton during the ensuing + year, when the Queen's wedding afforded the boys another glimpse of Royal + festivity. Their tumultuous loyalty and audacity appear in Coley's letter:— + </p> + <p> + 'In college, stretching from Hexter's to Mother Spier's was a magnificent + representation of the Parthenon: there were three pillars, and a great + thing like this (a not over-successful sketch of a pediment), with the + Eton and Royal arms in the middle, and "Gratulatur Etona Victoria et + Alberto" It cost £150, and there were 5,000 lamps hung on it. Throughout + the whole day we all of us wore large white bridal favours and white + gloves. Towards evening the clods got on Long Walk Wall; and as gentle + means would not do, we were under the necessity of knocking some over, + when the rest soon jumped off. However, F—— and myself + declared we would go right into the quadrangle of the Castle, so we went + into the middle of the road and formed a line. Soon a rocket (the signal + that the Queen was at Slough) was let off, and then some Life Guards came + galloping along, and one of them ran almost over me, and actually trod on + F—-'s toe, which put him into dreadful pain for some time. Then came + the Queen's carriage, and I thought college would have tumbled down with + the row. The cheering was really tremendous. The whole 550 fellows all at + once roared away. The Queen and Consort nodding and bowing, smiling, &c. + Then F—— and I made a rush to get up behind the Queen's + carriage, but a dragoon with his horse almost knocked us over. So we ran + by the side as well as we could, but the crowd was so immensely thick, we + could not get on as quick as the Queen. We rushed along, knocking clean + over all the clods we could, and rushing against the rest, and finally F—— + and myself were the only Eton fellows that got into the quadrangle. As we + got there, the Queen's carriage was going away. You may fancy that we were + rather hot, running the whole way up to the Castle, besides the exertion + of knocking over the clods and knocking at doors as we passed; but I was + so happy.' + </p> + <p> + Such is bliss at twelve years old! + </p> + <p> + The first half-year of 1839 had brought Patteson into the Remove, that + large division of the school intermediate between the fourth and fifth + forms. The work was harder, and his diligence somewhat relaxed. In fact, + the Coley of this period and of a good while later had more heart for play + than work. Cricket, bathing, and boating were his delight; and though his + school-work was conscientiously accomplished, it did not interest him; and + when he imagined himself to have been working hard and well, it was a + thunderbolt to him to find, at the end of the half-year, that a great deal + more had been expected of him by his tutor. It shows how candid and sweet + his nature was, that, just as when he was a little fellow at Ottery, his + penitent letter should contain the rebuke he had received, without + resentment against anyone but himself:— + </p> + <p> + 'Aunt has just called me down into the drawing-room and shown me my + character. I am stupefied at it; it is so shocking just when I most wanted + a good one on account of mamma's health. I am ashamed to say that I can + offer not the slightest excuse; my conduct on this occasion has been very + bad. I expect a severe reproof from you, and pray do not send me any + money, nor grant me the slightest [favour?]. Whilst ....., who has very + little ability (uncle says), is, by plodding on, getting credit, I, who + (my tutor says) have abilities, am wickedly neglecting and offending both + my heavenly and earthly Father by my bad use of them. Aunt called me into + the drawing-room, and very kindly showed me the excessive foolishness of + my conduct; but from this very moment I am determined that I will not lose + a moment, and we will see what the next three weeks will produce.' + </p> + <p> + Poor little fellow! his language is so strong that it is almost a surprise + to find that he was reproaching himself for no more heinous fault than not + having worked up to the full extent of his powers! He kept his promise of + diligence, and never again incurred reproof, but was sent up for good + again in November. His career through the school was above the average, + though not attaining to what was expected from his capabilities; but the + development of his nature was slow, and therefore perhaps ultimately the + more complete, and as yet study for its own sake did not interest him; + indeed, his mind was singularly devoid of pleasure in classical subjects, + though so alert in other directions. + </p> + <p> + He was growing into the regular tastes of the refined, fastidious Eton + boy; wrote of the cut of his first tail-coat that 'this is really an + important thing;' and had grown choice in the adorning of his room and the + binding of his books, though he never let these tastes bring him into debt + or extravagance. His turn for art and music began to show itself, and the + anthems at St. George's Chapel on the Sunday afternoons gave him great + delight; and in Eton Chapel, a contemporary says, 'I well remember how he + used to sing the Psalms with the little turns at the end of the verses, + which I envied his being able to do.' Nor was this mere love of music, but + devotion. Coley had daily regular readings of the Bible in his room with + his brother, cousins, and a friend or two; but the boys were so shy about + it that they kept an open Shakespeare on the table, with an open drawer + below, in which the Bible was placed, and which was shut at the sound of a + hand on the door. + </p> + <p> + Hitherto No. 33 Bedford Square had been the only home of the Patteson + family. The long vacations were spent sometimes with the Judge's relations + in the Eastern counties, sometimes with Lady Patteson's in the West. + Landwith Rectory, in Cornwall, was the home of her eldest brother, Dr. + James Coleridge, whose daughter Sophia was always like an elder sister to + her children, and the Vicarage of St. Mary Church, then a wild, beautiful + seaside village, though now almost a suburb of Torquay, was held by her + cousin, George May Coleridge; and here the brothers and sisters climbed + the rocks, boated, fished, and ran exquisitely wild in the summer + holidays. Christmas was spent with the Judge's mother at Ipswich, amongst + numerous cousins, with great merriment and enjoyment such as were never + forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Coleridge had died in 1836, his widow in her daughter's house in + 1838, and Heath's Court had become the property of Mr. Justice Coleridge, + who always came thither with his family as soon as the circuit was over. + In 1841, Feniton Court, about two miles and a half from thence, was + purchased by Judge Patteson, much to the delight of his children. It was a + roomy, cheerful, pleasantly-situated house, with a piece of water in the + grounds, the right of shooting over a couple of farms, and all that could + render boy life happy. + </p> + <p> + Feniton was a thorough home, and already Coley's vision was, 'When I am + vicar of Feniton, which I look forward to, but with a very distant hope, I + should of all things like Fanny to keep house for me till I am married;' + and again, when relating some joke with his cousins about the law-papers, + of the Squire of Feniton, he adds: 'But the Squire of Feniton will be a + clergyman.' + </p> + <p> + Whether this were jest or earnest, this year, 1841, brought the dawn of + his future life. It was in that year that the Rev. George Augustus Selwyn + was appointed to the diocese of New Zealand. Mrs. Selwyn's parents had + always been intimate with the Patteson family, and the curacy which Mr. + Selwyn had held up to this time was at Windsor, so that the old Etonian + tie of brotherhood was drawn closer by daily intercourse. Indeed, it was + from the first understood that Eton, with the wealth that her children + enjoyed in such large measure, should furnish 'nerves and sinews' to the + war which her son was about to wage with the darkness of heathenism, thus + turning the minds of the boys to something beyond either their studies or + their sports. + </p> + <p> + On October 31, the Rev. Samuel Wilberforce, then Archdeacon of Surrey, and + since Bishop of Oxford and of Winchester, preached in the morning at New + Windsor parish church, and the newly-made Bishop of New Zealand in the + afternoon. Coley was far more affected than he then had power to express. + He says: 'I heard Archdeacon Wilberforce in the morning, and the Bishop in + the evening, though I was forced to stand all the time. It was beautiful + when he talked of his going out to found a church, and then to die + neglected and forgotten. All the people burst out crying, he was so very + much beloved by his parishioners. He spoke of his perils, and putting his + trust in God; and then, when, he had finished, I think I never heard + anything like the sensation, a kind of feeling that if it had not been on + so sacred a spot, all would have exclaimed "God bless him!"' + </p> + <p> + The text of this memorable sermon was, 'Thine heart shall be enlarged, + because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces + also of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.' (Is. lx. 5.) Many years later + we shall find a reference to this, the watchword of the young hearer's + life. + </p> + <p> + The Archdeacon's sermon was from John xvii. 20, 21: 'Neither pray I for + these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their + word; that they all may be One, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, + that they also may be One in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast + sent Me.' And here again we find one of the watchwords of Coley's life, + for nothing so dwelt with him and so sustained him as the sense of unity, + whether with these at home in England, or with those in the inner home of + the Saints. When the sermon concluded with the words, 'As we are giving of + our best, as our Church is giving of her best, in sending forth from her + own bosom these cherished and chosen sons, so let there go forth from + every one of us a consenting offering; let us give this day largely, in a + spirit of self-sacrifice, as Christian men, to Christ our Lord, and He + will graciously accept and bless the offerings that we make'—the + preacher could little guess that among the lads who stood in the aisle was + one in whom was forming the purpose of offering his very self also. + </p> + <p> + For at that time Coleridge Patteson was receiving impressions that became + the seed of his future purpose, and the eyes of his spirit were seeing + greater things than the Vicarage of Feniton. Indeed, the subject was not + entirely new to him, for Edward Coleridge was always deeply interested in + missions, and had done his best to spread the like feeling, often + employing the willing services of his pupils in copying letters from + Australia, Newfoundland, &c. + </p> + <p> + When the Bishop of New Zealand came to take leave, he said, half in + earnest, half in playfulness, 'Lady Patteson, will you give me Coley?' She + started, but did not say no; and when, independently of this, her son told + her that it was his greatest wish to go with the Bishop, she replied that + if he kept that wish when he grew up he should have her blessing and + consent. + </p> + <p> + But there was no further mention of the subject. The sisters knew what had + passed, but it was not spoken of to his father till long after, when the + wish had become purpose. Meantime the boy's natural development put these + visions into the background. He was going on with ordinary work and play, + enjoying the pageantry of the christening of the Prince of Wales, and + cheering himself hoarse and half-frantic when the King of Prussia came to + see the school; then on his father's birthday writing with a 'hand quite + trembling with delight' to announce what he knew would be the most welcome + of birthday presents, namely, the news that he had been 'sent up' for a + very good copy of seventy-nine verses, 'all longs, on Napoleon e Seylhia + profugus, passage of Beresina, and so forth.' His Latin verses were his + strong point, and from this time forward he was frequently sent up, in all + twenty-five times, an almost unprecedented number. + </p> + <p> + In fact he was entering on a fresh stage of life, from the little boy to + the lad, and the period was marked by his Confirmation on May 26, 1842. + Here is his account both of it and of his first Communion. The soberness + and old-fashioned simplicity of expression are worth remarking as tokens + of the quietly dutiful tone of mind, full of reverence and sincere desire + to do right, and resting in the consciousness of that desire, while + steadily advancing towards higher things than he then understood. It was a + life and character where advancement with each fresh imparting of + spiritual grace can be traced more easily than usual. + </p> + <p> + It is observable too that the boy's own earnestness and seriousness of + mind seem to have to him supplied the apparent lack of external aids to + devotional feeling, though the Confirmation was conducted in the brief, + formal, wholesale manner which some in after-life have confessed to have + been a disappointment and a drawback after their preparation and + anticipation:— + </p> + <p> + 'You will know that I have been confirmed to-day, and I dare say you all + thought of me. The ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Lincoln, and I + hope that I have truly considered the great duty and responsibility I have + taken upon myself, and have prayed for strength to support me in the + execution of all those duties. I shall of course receive the Sacrament the + first time I have an opportunity, and I trust worthily. I think there must + have been 200 confirmed. The Bishop gave us a very good charge afterwards, + recommending us all to take pattern by the self-denial and true devotion + of the Bishop of New Zealand, on whom he spoke for a long-while. The whole + ceremony was performed with the greatest decorum, and in the retiring and + coming up of the different sets there was very little noise, and not the + slightest confusion. I went up with the first set, and the Bishop came + round and put his hands on the heads of the whole set (about forty), and + then going into the middle pronounced the prayer. The responses were all + made very audibly, and everyone seemed to be impressed with a proper + feeling of the holiness and seriousness of the ceremony. After all the + boys had been confirmed about seven other people were confirmed, of whom + two were quite as much as thirty, I should think.' + </p> + <p> + 'June 5. + </p> + <p> + 'I have just returned from receiving the Holy Sacrament in Chapel. I + received it from Hawtrey and Okes, but there were three other ministers + besides. There was a large attendance, seventy or eighty or more Eton boys + alone. I used the little book that mamma sent me, and found the little + directions and observations very useful. I do truly hope and believe that + I received it worthily... It struck me more than ever (although I had + often read it before) as being such a particularly impressive and + beautiful service. I never saw anything conducted with greater decorum. + Not a single fellow spoke except at the responses, which were well and + audibly made, and really every fellow seemed to be really impressed with + the awfulness of the ceremony, and the great wickedness of not piously + receiving it, I do not know whether there will be another Sacrament here + before the holidays, or whether I shall receive it with you at Feniton + next time.' + </p> + <p> + No doubt the whole family (except the yet unconfirmed younger brother) did + so receive it in the summer holidays, the last that were to be spent in + the full joy of an unbroken household circle, and, as has been already + said, one of unusual warmth and kindliness, binding closely into it all + who were connected therewith. Each governess became a dear friend; the + servants were deeply attached, and for the most part fixtures; and one, + the nurse already mentioned, says she never recollects a time when Master + Coley had to leave Feniton for London without his offering the servants to + take charge of their messages or parcels. All dependents and poor people, + in fact whatever came under Judge Patteson's genial, broad-hearted + influence, were treated with the like kindness, and everything alive about + the place seemed full of happiness and affection. + </p> + <p> + The centre of this bright home had always been the mother, fervently loved + by all who came in contact with her, fragile in health, and only going + through her duties and exertions so cheerily by the quiet fortitude of a + brave woman. In the course of this year, 1842, some severe spasmodic + attacks made her family anxious; and as the railway communication was + still incomplete, so that the journey to London was a great fatigue to an + invalid, her desire to spend Christmas in Devonshire led to her remaining + there with her daughters, when her husband returned to London on the + commencement of term. + </p> + <p> + He had been gone little more than a fortnight when, on November 17, a more + severe attack came on; and though she was soon relieved from it, she never + entirely rallied, and was firmly convinced that this was 'the beginning of + the end.' Her husband was summoned home, Judge Coleridge taking a double + portion of his work to set him at liberty, and the truth began to dawn on + the poor boys at Eton. 'Do you really mean that there is anything so very, + very dreadful to fear?' is Coley's cry in his note one day, and the next, + 'Oh, Papa, you cannot mean that we may never, unless we come down to + Feniton, see mamma again. I cannot bear the thought of it. I trust most + earnestly that it is not the case. Do not hide anything from me, it would + make me more wretched afterwards. If it shall (which I trust in His + infinite mercy it will not) please Almighty God to take our dearest mamma + unto Himself, may He give us grace to bear with fortitude and resolution + the dreadful loss, and may we learn to live with such holiness here that + we may hereafter be united for ever in Heaven.' This letter is marked + twice over 'Only for Papa,' but the precaution was needless, for Lady + Patteson was accustoming all those about her to speak freely and naturally + of what she felt to be approaching. Her eldest brother, Dr. Coleridge, was + greatly comforting her by his ministrations, and her sons were sent for; + but as she did not ask for them, it was thought best that they should + remain at their Uncle Frank's, at Ottery, until, on the evening of Sunday, + the 27th, a great change took place, making it evident that the end was + drawing near. + </p> + <p> + The sufferer was told that the boys were come, and was asked if she would + see them. She was delighted, and they came in, restraining their grief + while she kissed and blessed them, and then, throwing her arms round their + father, thanked him for having brought her darling boys for her to see + once more. It was not long before she became unconscious; and though all + the family were watching and praying round her, she showed no further sign + of recognition, as she gradually and tranquilly fell asleep in the course + of the night. + </p> + <p> + To his cousin, Mrs. Martyn, Coley wrote the following letter just after + the funeral:— + </p> + <p> + 'We only came down from our rooms to go to church, and directly the + beautiful service was over we went upstairs again. I need not tell you + what we then felt, and now do feel. It is a very dreadful loss to us all; + but we have been taught by that dear mother, who has been now taken from + us, that it is not fit to grieve for those who die in the Lord, "for they + rest from their labours." She is now, we may safely trust, a blessed saint + in Heaven, far removed from all cares and anxieties; and, instead of + spending our time in useless tears and wicked repinings, we should rather + learn to imitate her example and virtues, that, when we die, we may sleep + in Him as our hope is this our sister doth, and may be finally united with + her in Heaven. Yesterday was a day of great trial to us all: I felt when I + was standing by the grave as if I must have burst. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear Papa bears up beautifully, and is a pattern of submission to us all. + We are much more happy than you could suppose, for, thank God, we are + certain she is happy, far happier than she could be on earth. She said + once, "I wonder I wish to leave my dearest John and the children, and this + sweet place, but yet I do wish it" so lively was her faith and trust in + the merits of her Saviour.' + </p> + <p> + A deep and permanent impression was left upon the boy's mind, as will be + seen by his frequent references to what he had then witnessed; but for the + present he was thought to be less depressed than the others, and recovered + his natural tone of spirits sooner than his brother and sisters. The whole + family spent their mournful Christmas at Thorverton Rectory, with Dr. and + Mrs. Coleridge and their daughter Fanny, their chief comforters and + fellow-sufferers; and then returned to London. The Judge's eldest + daughter, Joanna, who had always been entirely one with the rest, had to + take her place at the head of the household. In her own words, 'It was + trying for a lad of fifteen and a half, but he was very good, and allowed + me to take the command in a way that few boys would nave done.' + </p> + <p> + 'It has struck me as remarkable that friends and relations have again and + again spoken of different incidents as 'turning-points' in Coley's life. + If he had literally turned at them all, his would have been a most + revolving career; but I believe the fact to have been that he never turned + at all, for his face was always set the right way, but that each of these + was a point of impulse setting him more vigorously on his way, and + stirring up his faithful will. Such moments were those of admission to + religious ordinances, to him no dead letters but true receptions of grace; + and he likewise found incitements in sorrows, in failures, in reproofs. + Everything sank deeply, and his mind was already assuming the + introspective character that it had throughout the period of growth and + formation. One of his Eton companions, four years younger, has since + spoken of the remarkable impression of inwardness Patteson made on him + even at this time, saying that whenever he was taken by surprise he seemed + to be only ruminating till he spoke or was spoken to, and then there was + an instant return to the outer world and ready attention to whatever was + in hand. + </p> + <p> + The spring found him of course in the full tide of Eton interests. The + sixth and upper fifth forms, to the latter of which he had by this time + attained, may contend in the public examination for the Newcastle + scholarship, just before the Easter holidays, and it is a great testimony + to a boy's ability and industry if his name appears among the nine select + for their excellence. This time, 1843, Coley, who was scarcely sixteen, + had of course but little chance, but he had the pleasure of announcing + that his great friend, Edmund Bastard, a young Devonshire squire, was + among the 'select,' and he says of himself: 'You will, as I said before, + feel satisfied that I did my best, but it was an unlucky examination for + me. It has done me a great deal of good in one way. It has enabled me to + see where I am particularly deficient, viz. general knowledge of history, + and a thorough acquaintance with Greek and Roman customs, law courts and + expressions, and Greek and Roman writers. I do not find myself wanting in + making out a stiff bit of Greek or Latin if I have time, but I must read + History chiefly this year, and then I hope to be selected next time. My + tutor is not at all disappointed in me.' + </p> + <p> + This spring, 1843, Patteson became one of the Eleven, a perilously + engrossing position for one who, though never slurring nor neglecting his + studies, did not enjoy anything so much as the cricket-field. However, + there the weight of his character, backed by his popularity and + proficiency in all games and exercises, began to be a telling influence. + </p> + <p> + On November 2, 1843, when the anniversary of his mother's death was coming + round, he writes to his eldest sister:— + </p> + <p> + 'I had not indeed forgotten this time twelvemonth, and especially that + awful Sunday night when we stood round dear mamma's bed in such misery. I + never supposed at that time that we could ever be happy and merry again, + but yet it has been so with me; and though very often the recollection of + that night has come upon me, and the whole scene in its misery has passed + before me, I hope I have never forgotten, that though a loss to us, it was + a gain to her, and we ought rather to be thankful than sorrowful.... By + the bye, I do not really want a book-case much, and you gave me the "Irish + Stories," and I have not yet been sent up. I would rather not have a + present, unless the Doctor means to give me an exercise. Do not lay this + down to pride; but you know I was not sent up last half, and if this + passes, a blank again, I do not deserve any fresh presents.' + </p> + <p> + This piece of self-discipline was crowned by joyous notices of being 'sent + up for good' and 'for play' in the next half; when also occurs a letter + showing a spirit of submission to a restriction not fully understood:— + </p> + <p> + 'Tuesday evening. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—Hearing that "Israel in Egypt" was to be + performed at Exeter Hall on Friday night, I went and asked my tutor + whether he had any objection to my running up that night to hear it, and + coming back the next morning, quite early at six. My tutor said that, + without any absurd feelings on the matter, he should not think himself of + going to such a thing in Lent. "It was not," he said, "certainly like + going to the play, or any of those sort of places," but he did not like + the idea of going at all. Do you think that there was any harm in the + wish? + </p> + <p> + 'I do not ask because I wish you to write and say I may go, but because I + wish to learn whether my asking at all was wrong. Even if you have no + objection, I certainly shall not go, because for such a trifling thing to + act in opposition to my tutor, even with your consent, would be very + foolish. + </p> + <p> + '...Good-bye, my dearest Father. God bless you, says your affectionate and + dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + This year, 1844, the name of Patteson appeared among the 'select.' 'I + shall expect a jolly holiday for my reward,' he merrily says, when + announcing it to his sisters. He had begun to join the Debating Society at + Eton, and for a while was the president. One of the other members says, + 'His speeches were singularly free from the bombast and incongruous matter + with which Eton orators from fifteen to eighteen are apt to interlard + their declamations. He spoke concisely, always to the point, and with + great fluency and readiness. A reputation for good sense and judgment made + his authority of great weight in the school, and his independent spirit + led him to choose, amongst his most intimate friends and associates, two + collegers, who ultimately became Newcastle scholars and medallists. + </p> + <p> + 'That the most popular oppidan of his day should have utterly ignored the + supposed inferiority of the less wealthy section of the school, and looked + on worth and high character as none the worse for being clothed in a + coarse serge gown, is a fact seemingly trivial to ordinary readers, but + very noticeable to Eton men. As a rank and file collegian myself, and well + remembering the Jew and Samaritan state that prevailed between oppidans + and collegers, I remember with pride that Patteson did so much to level + the distinctions that worked so mischievously to the school. His + cheerfulness and goodness were the surest guarantee for good order amongst + his schoolfellows. There was no Puritanism in him, he was up to any fun, + sung his song at a cricket or foot-ball dinner as joyfully as the youngest + of the party; but if mirth sank into coarseness and ribaldry, that instant + Patteson's conduct was fearless and uncompromising....' + </p> + <p> + Here follows an account of an incident which occurred at the dinner + annually given by the eleven of cricket and the eight of the boats at the + hotel at Slough. + </p> + <p> + A custom had arisen among some of the boys of singing offensive songs on + these occasions, and Coley, who, as second of the eleven, stood in the + position of one of the entertainers, gave notice beforehand that he was + not going to tolerate anything of the sort. One of the boys, however, + began to sing something objectionable. Coley called out, 'If that does not + stop, I shall leave the room;' and as no notice was taken, he actually + went away with a few other brave lads. He afterwards found that, as he + said, 'fellows who could not understand such feelings thought him + affected;' and he felt himself obliged to send word to the captain, that + unless an apology was made, he should leave the eleven—no small + sacrifice, considering what cricket was to him; but the gentlemanlike and + proper feeling of the better style of boys prevailed, and the eleven knew + their own interests too well to part with him, so the apology was made, + and he retained his position. The affair came to the knowledge of two of + the masters, Mr. Dupuis and Mr. Abraham, and they gratified their warm + sense of approbation by giving Patteson a bat, though he never knew the + reason why, as we shall see in one of his last letters to one of the + donors. + </p> + <p> + His prowess at cricket must be described in the words of his cousin, + Arthur Duke Coleridge, who was at this time in college: 'He was by common + consent one of the best, if not the best, of the cricketers of the school. + The second year of his appearance at Lord's Cricket Ground was the most + memorable, as far as his actual services were concerned, of all the + matches he played against Harrow and Winchester. He was sent in first in + the Harrow match; the bowling was steady and straight, but Patteson's + defence was admirable. He scored fifty runs, in which there was but one + four, and by steady play completely broke the neck of the bowling. Eton + won the match easily, Patteson making a brilliant catch at point, when the + last Harrow man retired. Full of confidence, Eton began the Winchester + match. Victory for a long time seemed a certainty for Eton; but Kidding, + the Winchester captain, played an uphill game so fiercely that the bowling + had to be repeatedly changed. Our eleven were disorganised, and the + captain had so plainly lost heart, that Patteson resolved on urging him to + discontinue his change of bowling, and begin afresh with the regular + bowlers. The captain allowed Patteson to have his way, and the game, + though closely contested, was saved. His powers of defence were indeed + remarkable. I saw the famous professional cricketer Lillywhite play once + at Eton in his time, and becoming almost irritated at the stubbornness and + tenacity with which Coley held his wicket. After scoring twenty and odd + times in the first, and forty in the second innings, (not out), Lillywhite + said, 'Mr. Patteson, I should like to bowl to you on Lord's Ground, and it + would be different.' 'Oh, of course,' modestly answered Coley; 'I know you + would have me out directly there.' + </p> + <p> + The next cricket season this champion was disabled by a severe sprain of + the wrist, needing leeches, splints, and London advice. It was when fixing + a day for coming up to town on this account that he mentioned the + occurrence of the previous year in a letter to his father:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have a great object in shirking the oppidan dinner. I not only hate the + idea of paying a sovereign for a dinner, but last year, at the cricket + dinner, I had a great row, which I might possibly incur another time, and + I wish very much to avoid.' + </p> + <p> + Then, after briefly stating what had passed, he adds: 'At this dinner, + where the captain of the boats manages it, I should be his guest, and + therefore any similar act of mine would make matters worse. You can + therefore see why I wish Tuesday to be the day for my coming up.' + </p> + <p> + The sprain prevented his playing in the matches at Lord's that summer, + though he was well enough to be reckoned on as a substitute in case any of + the actual players had been disabled. Possibly his accident was good for + his studies, for this was a year of much progress and success; and though + only seventeen, he had two offers of tutorship for the holidays, from Mr. + Dugdale and the Marchioness of Bath. The question where his university + life was to be spent began to come forward. Studentships at Christchurch + were then in the gift of the Canons, and a nomination would have been + given him by Dr. Pusey if he had not been too young to begin to reside, so + that it was thought better that he should wait and go up for the Balliol + scholarship in the autumn. + </p> + <p> + In the October of 1844 he describes to his eldest sister the reception of + King Louis Philippe at Eton, accompanied by the Queen, Prince Albert, and + the Duke of Wellington: + </p> + <p> + 'The King wore a white great coat, and looked a regular jolly old fellow. + He has white frizzle hair and large white whiskers. The former, I suspect, + is a wig. The cheering was tremendous, but behind the royal carriage the + cheers were always redoubled where the old Duke, the especial favourite + hero, rode. When they got off their horses in the schoolyard, the Duke + being by some mistake behindhand, was regularly hustled in the crowd, with + no attendant near him. + </p> + <p> + 'I was the first to perceive him, and springing forward, pushed back the + fellows on each side, who did not know whom they were tumbling against, + and, taking off my hat, cheered with might and main. The crowd hearing the + cheer, turned round, and then there was the most glorious sight I ever + saw. The whole school encircled the Duke, who stood entirely alone in the + middle for a minute or two, and I rather think we did cheer him. At last, + giving about one touch to his hat, he began to move on, saying, "Get on, + boys, get on." I never saw such enthusiasm here; the masters rushed into + the crowd round him, waving their caps, and shouting like any of us. As + for myself, I was half-mad and roared myself hoarse in about five minutes. + The King and Prince kept their hats off the whole time, incessantly + bowing, and the King speaking. He walked arm-in-arm with the Queen, who + looked well and very much pleased. The Duke walked with that Grand Duchess + whose name you may see in the papers, for I can't spell it.' + </p> + <p> + Very characteristic this both of Eton's enthusiasm for the hero, and of + the hero's undemonstrative way of receiving it, which must have somewhat + surprised his foreign companions. + </p> + <p> + A week or two later, in November 1844, came the competition for the + Balliol scholarship, but Coley was not successful. On the Saturday he + writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'The scholarship was decided last night; Smith, a Rugby man, got the + first, and Grant, a Harrow man, the second.... I saw the Master + afterwards; he said, "I cannot congratulate you on success, Mr. Patteson, + but you have done yourself great credit, and passed a very respectable + examination. I shall be happy to allow you to enter without a future + examination, as we are all quite satisfied of your competency." He said + that I had better come up to matriculate next term, but should not have + another examination. We were in about nine hours a day, three hours in the + evening; I thought the papers very hard; we had no Latin elegiacs or + lyrics, which was rather a bore for the Eton lot. I am very glad I have + been up now, but I confess it was the longest week I ever recollect. I + feel quite seedy after a whole week without exercise.... The very first + paper, the Latin Essay (for which we were in six hours), was the worst of + all my papers, and must have given the examiners an unfavourable + impression to start with. The rest of my papers, with the exception of the + Greek prose and the critical paper, I did very fairly, I think.' + </p> + <p> + A greater disappointment than this was, however, in store for Coley. He + failed in attaining a place among the 'select,' at his last examination + for the Newcastle, in the spring of 1845. Before the list was given out he + had written to his father that the Divinity papers were far too easy, with + no opportunity for a pretty good scholar to show his knowledge, 'the + ridicule of every one of the masters,' but the other papers very + difficult. + </p> + <p> + 'Altogether,' he adds, 'the scholarship has been to me unsatisfactory. I + had worked hard at Greek prose, had translated and re-translated a good + deal of Xenophon, Plato, and some Demosthenes, yet to my disappointment we + had no paper of Greek prose, a thing that I believe never occurred before, + and which is generally believed to test a boy's knowledge well. My Iambics + were good, I expect, though not without two bad faults. In fact, I cannot + look back upon a single paper, except my Latin prose, without a multitude + of oversights and faults presenting themselves to me... I almost dread the + giving out of the select. Think if my name was not there. It is some + consolation that Hawtrey, yesterday, in giving me an exercise for good, + asked how I liked the examination. Upon my saying, "It was not such a one + as I expected, and that I had done badly," he said "That is not at all + what I hear," but this cannot go for much... I want exercise very badly, + and my head is very thick and stupid, as I fear this last paper must show + the examiners.' + </p> + <p> + The omission of Patteson's name from among the select was a great + mortification, not only to himself but his father, though the Judge kindly + wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'Do not distress yourself about this unfortunate failure as to the + Newcastle. We cannot always command our best exertions when we want to do + so, and you were not able on this occasion to bring forward all you knew. + It was not from idleness or want of attention to school business. Work on + regularly, and you will do well at Oxford. I have a line from your tutor, + who seems to think that it was in Juvenal, Cicero and Livy, and in + Iambics, that the faults principally were. I cannot say that I am not + disappointed; but I know so well the uncertainty of examinations and how + much depends on the sort of papers put, and on the spirits and feeling one + is in, that I am never surprised at such results, and I do not blame you + at all.' Those who knew Coley best agree in thinking that this reverse + took great effect in rousing his energies. This failure evidently made him + take himself to task, for in the summer he writes to his father:— + </p> + <p> + There are things which have occurred during my stay at Eton which cannot + but make me blame myself. I mean principally a want of continuous + industry. I have perhaps for one half or two (for instance, last Easter + half) worked hard, but I have not been continuously improving, and adding + knowledge to knowledge, half by half. I feel it now, because I am sure + that I know very little more than I did at Easter. One thing I am improved + in, which is writing themes; and you will be pleased to know that Hawtrey + has again given me the School Theme prize, worth 5L., which counts for + another sent up exercise.' + </p> + <p> + In reply, the Judge, on July 22, wrote in the midst of the circuit, from + Stafford, a letter that might well do a son's heart good:— + </p> + <p> + 'I rejoice in your finale, and shall be glad to see the exercise. You have + gone through Eton with great credit and reputation as a scholar, and what + is of more consequence, with perfect character as to truth and conduct in + every way. This can only be accounted for by the assistance of the good + Spirit of God first stirred up in you by the instructions of your clear + mother, than whom a more excellent human being never existed. I pray God + that this assistance may continue through life, and keep you always in the + same good course.' + </p> + <p> + A few days more and the boy's departure from the enthusiastically loved + school had taken place, together with his final exploits as captain in the + cricket-field, where too he formed an acquaintance with Mr. C. S. + Roundell, the captain of the Harrow eleven, which ripened into a lifelong + friendship. + </p> + <p> + 'You may suppose,' writes Coley, 'that I was really very miserable at + leaving Eton. I did not, I assure you, without thanking God for the many + advantages I have there enjoyed and praying for His forgiveness for my sin + in neglecting so many. We began our match with Harrow yesterday, by going + in first; we got 261 runs by tremendous hitting, Harrow 32, and followed + up and got 55: Eton thus winning in one innings by 176 runs, the most + decided beating ever known at cricket.' + </p> + <p> + So ended Coleridge Patteson's school life, not reaching to all he saw that + it might have been; but unstained, noble, happy, honourable, and full of + excellent training for the future man. No sting was left to poison the + fail-memory of youth; but many a friendship had been formed on foundations + of esteem, sympathy, and kindness which endured through life, standing all + tests of separation and difference. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. UNDERGRADUATE LIFE AT BALLIOL AND JOURNEYS ON THE CONTINENT. + </h2> + <h5> + 1845—1852. + </h5> + <p> + University life is apt to exert a strong influence upon a man's career. It + comes at the age at which there is probably the most susceptibility to new + impressions. The physical growth is over, and the almost exclusive craving + for exercise and sport is lessening; there is more voluntary inclination + to intellectual application, and the mind begins to get fair play. There + is also a certain liberty of choice as to the course to be taken and the + persons who shall become guides, and this renders the pupilage a more + willing and congenial connection than that of the schoolboy: nor is there + so wide a distance in age and habits between tutor and pupil as between + master and scholar. + </p> + <p> + Thus it is that there are few more influential persons in the country than + leading University men, for the impress they leave is on the flower of + English youth, at the very time of life when thought has come, but action + is not yet required. At the same time the whole genius loti, the venerable + buildings with their traditions, the eminence secured by intellect and + industry, the pride that is taken in the past and its great men, first as + belonging to the University, and next to the individual college, all give + the members thereof a sense of a dignity to keep up and of honour to + maintain, and a certainty of appreciation and fellow-feeling from the + society with which they are connected. + </p> + <p> + The Oxford of Patteson's day was yet untouched by the hand of reformation. + The Colleges were following or eluding the statutes of their founders, + according to the use that had sprung up, but there had been a great + quickening into activity of intellect, and the religious influences were + almost at their strongest. It was true that the master mind had been lost + to the Church of England, but the men whom he and his companions had + helped to form were the leaders among the tutors, and the youths who were + growing up under them were forming plans of life, which many have nobly + carried out, of unselfish duty and devotion in their several stations. + </p> + <p> + Balliol had, under the mastership of Dr. Jenkyns, attained preeminence for + success in the schools, and for the high standard required of its members, + who formed 'the most delightful society, the very focus of the most + stimulating life of the University,' within those unpretending walls, not + yet revivified and enlarged. + </p> + <p> + Here Coleridge Patteson came to reside in the Michaelmas term of 1845; + beginning with another attempt for the scholarship, in which he was again + unsuccessful, being bracketed immediately after the fourth with another + Etonian, namely, Mr. Hornby, the future head-master, His friend, Edmund + Bastard, several of his relations, and numerous friends had preceded him; + and he wrote to his sister Fanny:— + </p> + <p> + 'You cannot think what a nice set of acquaintance I am gradually slipping + into. Palmer and myself take regular familiar walks; and Riddell, another + fellow who is the pet of the College, came up the other evening and sat + with me, and I breakfast with them, and dine, &c. The only + inconvenience attaching itself to such a number of men is, that I have to + give several parties, and as I meant to get them over before Lent, I have + been coming out rather strong in that line lately, as the pastry-cook's + bill for desserts will show in good time. + </p> + <p> + 'I have been asked to play cricket in the University eleven, and have + declined, though not without a little struggle, but cricket here, + especially to play in such matches as against Cambridge, &c., entails + almost necessarily idleness and expense.' + </p> + <p> + The struggle was hardly a little one to a youth whose fame in the cricket + field stood so high, and who was never happy or healthy without strong + bodily exercise. Nor had he outgrown his taste for this particular sport. + Professor Edwin Palmer (alluded to above) describes him as at this time 'a + thorough public schoolboy, with a full capacity for enjoying undergraduate + society and undergraduate amusements, though with so fond a recollection + of Eton that to some of us he hardly seemed to appreciate Oxford + sufficiently.' + </p> + <p> + Again, Mr. Roundell (his late adversary at Lord's) says: 'He was a + reluctant and half-interested sojourner was ever looking back to the + playing-fields of Eton, or forward to the more congenial sphere of a + country parish.' So it was his prime pleasure and glory that he thus + denied himself, though not with total abstinence, for he played + occasionally. I remember hearing of a match at Ottery, where he was one of + an eleven of Coleridge kith and kin against the rest of Devon. His + reputation in the field was such that, many years later, when he chanced + to be at Melbourne at the same time with the champion English eleven, one + of the most noted professional cricketers, meeting him in the street, + addressed him confidentially, 'I know, sir, the Bishop of Melbourne does + not approve of cricket for clergymen in public, but if you would meet me + in private at five o'clock to-morrow morning, and let me give you a few + balls, it would be a great satisfaction!' + </p> + <p> + Some resolution thus was required to prevent cricket from becoming a + tyrant, as so often befalls those whose skill renders them valuable. + Tennis became Coley's chief recreation, enabling him to work off his + superfluous energy at the expense of far less time than cricket matches + require, and in this, as in everything active, he soon excelled. + </p> + <p> + As to the desserts upon which the young men in turn were spending a good + deal out of mere custom, harmlessly enough, but unnecessarily; as soon as + the distress of the potato famine in Ireland became known, Patteson said, + 'I am not at all for giving up these pleasant meetings, but why not give + up the dessert?' So the agreement was made that the cost should for the + present be made over to the 'Irish fund.' + </p> + <p> + Another friend of this period, now well known as Principal Shairp of St. + Andrews', was then in the last year of a five years' residence. He has + been kind enough to favour me with the following effective sketch of Coley + as an undergraduate:— + </p> + <p> + 'Patteson as he was at Oxford, comes back to me, as the representative of + the very best kind of Etonian, with much good that he had got from Eton, + with something better, not to be got at Eton or any other school. He had + those pleasant manners and that perfect ease in dealing with men and with + the world which are the inheritance of Eton, without the least tincture of + worldliness. I remember well the look he then had, his countenance massive + for one so young, with good sense and good feeling, in fact, full of + character. For it was character more than special ability which marked him + out from others, and made him, wherever he was, whether in cricket in + which he excelled, or in graver things, a centre round which others + gathered. The impression he left on me was of quiet, gentle strength and + entire purity, a heart that loved all things true and honest and pure, and + that would always be found on the side of these. We did not know, probably + he did not know himself, the fire of devotion that lay within him, but + that was soon to kindle and make him what he afterwards became.' + </p> + <p> + In truth he was taking deep interest in the religious movement, though in + the quiet unexcited way of those to whom such doctrines were only the + filling out of the teachings of their childhood. He was present at that + sermon on the 'Entire Absolution of the Penitent,' with which, on the + Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, 1846, Dr. Pusey broke his enforced silence + of three years. + </p> + <p> + The same evening Coley wrote to his sister Fanny:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have just returned from University sermon, where I have been listening + with great delight to Pusey's sermon on the Keys for nearly two hours. His + immense benevolence beams through the extreme power of his arguments, and + the great research of his inquiry into all the primitive writings is a + most extraordinary matter, and as for the humility and prayerful spirit in + which it was composed, you fancied he must have been on his knees the + whole time he was writing it. I went early to Christ Church, where it was + preached, and, after pushing through such a crowd as usually blocks up the + entrance into Exeter Hall, I found on getting into the Cathedral that + every seat was occupied. However, standing to hear such a man was no great + exertion, and I never was so interested before. It will probably be + printed, so that you will have no occasion for any remarks of mine. It is + sufficient that he preached the doctrine to my mind in an invincible + manner.' The letter has a postscript—'Easter vacation will be from + three weeks to a month. Hurrah! say I; now a precious deal more glad am I + to leave Oxford for the holidays than Eton, though Feniton is better than + either.' + </p> + <p> + Even in the last undergraduate year, the preference for Eton remained as + strong as ever. Coley intended to remain at Oxford to read for honours + through great part of the Long vacation; and after refreshing himself with + a run to Eton, he wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'Now for a very disagreeable contrast, but still I shall find great + interest in my work as I go on, and reading books for the second or third + time is light work compared to the first stodge at them. I am, however, + behindhand with my work, in spite of not having wasted much time here.... + I really don't see my way through the mass of work before me, and half + repent having to go up for class. + </p> + <p> + '...I went to the opera on Tuesday, but was too much taken up by Eton to + rave about it, though Grisi's singing and acting were out and out; but, in + sober earnest, I think if one was to look out simply for one's own selfish + pleasure in this world, staying at Eton in the summer is paradise. I + certainly have not been more happy, if so happy, for years, and they need + no convincing there of my doting attachment to the place. I go down to + Eton on Election Saturday and Sunday for my last enjoyment of it this + year; but if I am well and nourishing in the summer of 1849, and all goes + right with me, it is one of the jolliest prospects of my emancipation from + the schools to think of a month at Eton. Oh! it's hard work reading for + it, I can tell you.' + </p> + <p> + Thus Coley Patteson's work throughout his undergraduate three years was, + so to speak, against the grain, though it was more diligent and determined + than it had been at Eton. He viewed this as the least satisfactory period + of his life, and probably it was that in which he was doing the most + violence to his likings. It struck those who had known him at Eton that he + had 'shaken off the easy-going, comfortable, half-sluggish habit of mind' + attributed to him there, and to be earnestly preparing for the future work + of life. His continued interest in Missions was shown by his assisting to + collect subscriptions for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. + In fact, his charm of manner, and his way of taking for granted that + people meant to do what they ought, made him a good collector, and he had + had a good deal of practice at Eton in keeping up the boys to the + subscription for the stained glass of the east window of the Chapel which + they had undertaken to give. + </p> + <p> + That Long vacation of study was a great effort, and he felt it tedious and + irksome, all the more from a weakness that affected his eyelids, and, + though it did not injure his sight, often rendered reading and writing + painful. Slight ailments concurred with other troubles and vexations to + depress his spirits; and besides these outward matters, he seems to have + had a sense of not coming up to his ideal. His standard was pitched higher + than that of most men: his nature was prone to introspection, and his + constitutional inertness rendered it so difficult for him to live up to + his own views, that he was continually dissatisfied with himself; and + this, in spite of his sweet unselfish temper, gave his manner at home an + irritability, and among strangers a reserve—the very reverse of the + joyous merry nature which used to delight in balls, parties, and gaieties. + </p> + <p> + Though an ardent friend, he became disinclined to enter into general + society; nor was the distaste ever entirely overcome, though he never + failed to please by the charm alike of natural manner and of Christian + courtesy; the same spirit of gentleness and kindness very soon prevailed + in subduing, even in family life, any manifestation of the tender points + of a growing character. + </p> + <p> + In the autumn of 1849, he obtained a second class in the school of Literae + humaniores, a place that fairly represented his abilities as compared with + those of others. When the compulsory period of study was at an end, his + affection for Oxford and enjoyment of all that it afforded increased + considerably, though he never seems to have loved the University quite as + well as Eton. + </p> + <p> + As he intended to take Holy Orders, he did not give up his residence + there; but his first use of his leisure was to take a journey on the + Continent with his brother and Mr. Hornby. It was then that, as he + afterwards wrote, his real education began, partly from the opening of his + mind by the wonders of nature and art, and partly from the development of + his genius for philology. Aptitude for language had already shown itself + when his sister Fanny had given him some German lessons; and even on his + first halt at Cologne, he received the compliment, 'Sie sprechen Deutsch + wohl' and he found himself talking to a German on one side and a Frenchman + on the other. + </p> + <p> + His letters throughout his foreign travels are more copious than ever, but + are chiefly minute descriptions of what he saw, such as would weary the + reader who does not want a guide-book even full of individuality. Yet they + cannot be passed by without noticing how he fulfilled the duty of study + and endeavour at appreciation which everyone owes to great works of art, + instead of turning aside with shallow conceit if he do not enter into them + at first sight. + </p> + <p> + After the wonders of Vienna and the mines of Salzburg, the mountain + scenery of the Tyrol was an unspeakable pleasure, which tries to express + itself in many closely written pages. Crossing into Italy by the Stelvio + Pass, a sharp but passing fit of illness detained Coley at Como for a day, + and caused him to call in an Italian doctor, who treated him on the + starvation system, administered no medicines, and would take no fee. The + next day Coley was in condition to go on to Milan, where his first + impression of the Cathedral was, as so often happens, almost of + bewilderment. He did not at first like the Lombardo-Gothic style, but he + studied it carefully, and filled his letter with measurements and numbers, + though confessing that no part pleased him so much as the pinnacles + terminating in statues, 'each one a very beautiful martyr's memorial.' Two + more visits of several hours, however, brought the untutored eye to a + sense of the harmony of proportion, and the surpassing beauty of the + carvings and sculpture. + </p> + <p> + It did not need so much study to enjoy Lionardo da Vinci's great fresco, + of which he wrote long and elaborately, and, altogether, Milan afforded + him very great delight and was a new world to him. It was the farthest + limit of his travels on this occasion. The party returned by way of + Geneva; and Coley, alone with four guides, attempted the Col du Geant. + Then following is his account of the danger in which he found himself:— + </p> + <p> + 'On Monday at 4.15 A.M. we started from the Montanvert, with our + alpenstocks, plenty of ropes, and a hatchet to cut steps in the ice. We + walked quickly over the Mer de Glace, and in about three hours came to the + difficult part. I had no conception of what it would be. We had to ascend + perpendicular walls of ice, 30, 40, 50 feet high, by little holes which we + cut with the hatchet, and to climb over places not a foot broad, with + enormous crevasses on each side. I was determined not to give in, and said + not a word, but I thought that no one had a right to expose himself to + such danger if known beforehand. After about three hours spent in this + way, (during which I made but one slip, when I slid about twelve feet down + a crevasse, but providentially did not lose my head, and saved myself by + catching at a broken ridge of ice, rising up in the crevasse, round which + I threw my leg and worked my way up it astride), got to the region of + snow, and here the danger was of falling into hidden crevasses. We all + five fastened ourselves to one another with ropes. I went in the middle, + Couttet in front, then Payot. Most unluckily the weather began to cloud + over, and soon a sharp hailstorm began, with every indication of a fog. We + went very cautiously over the snow for about three hours, sinking every + now and then up to our middles, but only once in a crevasse, when Couttet + suddenly fell, singing out "Tirez! tirez!" but he was pulled out + instantly. We had now reached the top, but the fog was so dense that I + could scarcely see 30 feet before me, and the crevasses and mountains of + snow looming close round us looked awful. At this moment the guides asked + me if I must make the passage. I said instantly that I wanted to do so, + but that I would sooner return at once than endanger the lives of any of + them. They told me there was certainly great danger, they had lost their + way, but were unwilling to give up. For an hour and a half we beat about + in the fog, among the crevasses, trying every way to find the pass, which + is very narrow, wet to the skin, and in constant peril; but we knew that + the descent on the Chamouni side is far more difficult than that on the + Courmayeur side. At last all the guides agreed that it was impossible to + find the way, said the storm was increasing, and that our only chance was + to return at once. So we did, but the fearful difficulties of the descent + I shall never forget. Even in the finest weather they reckon it very + difficult, but yesterday we could not see the way, we were numbed with + intense cold, and dispirited from being forced to return. + </p> + <p> + In many places the hail and sleet had washed out the traces we trusted as + guides. After about four hours, we had passed the most dangerous part, and + in another hour we were safely upon the Mer de Glace, which we hailed with + delight: Couttet, who reached the point of safety first, jumping on the + firm ice and shouting to me "Il n'y a plus de danger, Monsieur." Here we + took off the ropes, and drank some more brandy, and then went as hard as + we could, jumping across crevasses, which two days before I should have + thought awkward, as if they were cart ruts. We reached Chamouni at 8.30 + P.M., having been sixteen and a quarter hours without resting. I was not + at all tired; the guides thanked me for having given so little trouble, + and declared I had gone as well as themselves. Indeed I was providentially + unusually clear-headed and cool, and it was not till the danger was over + that I felt my nerves give way. There was a good deal of anxiety about us + at Chamouni, as it was one of the worst days ever seen here. Hornby had + taken all my clothes to Geneva, so I put on a suit of the landlord's, and + had some tea, and at 11 P.M. went to bed, not forgetting, you may be sure, + to thank God most fervently for this merciful protection, as on the ice I + did many times with all my heart. + </p> + <p> + 'On reviewing coolly, to-day, the places over which we passed, and which I + shall never forget, I remember seven such as I trust never again to see a + man attempt to climb. The state of the ice and crevasses is always + shifting, so that the next person who makes the ascent may find a + comparatively easy path. We had other dangers too, such as this: twice the + guides said to me, "Ne parlez pas ici, Monsieur, et allez vite," the fear + being of an ice avalanche falling on us, and we heard the rocks and ice + which are detached by the wet falling all about. The view from the top, if + the day is fine, is about the most magnificent in the Alps; and as in that + case I should have descended easily on the other side, the excursion would + not have been so difficult. I hope you will not think I have been very + foolish; I did not at all think it would be so dangerous, nor was it + possible to foresee the bad weather. My curiosity to see some of the + difficulties of an excursion in the Alps is fully satisfied.' + </p> + <p> + After this adventure, the party broke up, James Patteson returning home + with Mr. Hornby, while Coley, who hoped to obtain a Fellowship at Merton, + and wished in the meantime to learn German thoroughly in order to study + Hebrew by the light of German scholarship, repaired to Dresden for the + purpose; revelling, by the way, on the pictures and glass at Munich, + descriptions of which fill three or four letters. He remained a month at + Dresden, reading for an hour a day with a German master, and spending many + hours besides in study, recreating himself with German newspapers at the + cafe where he dined, and going to the play in the evening to hear + colloquialisms. The picture galleries were his daily enjoyment, and he + declared the Madonna di San Sisto fully equal to his anticipations. There + is that about the head of the Virgin which I believe one sees in no other + picture, a dignity and beauty with a mixture of timidity quite + indescribable.' + </p> + <p> + Returning home for Christmas, Coley started again in January 1851, in + charge of a pupil, the son of Lord John Thynne, with whom he was to go + through Italy. The journey was made by sea from Marseilles to Naples, + where the old regime was still in force. Shakespeare and Humboldt were + seized; and after several hours' detention on the score of the suspicious + nature of his literature, Mr. Patteson was asked for a bribe. + </p> + <p> + The climate was in itself a great charm to one always painfully + susceptible to cold; and, after duly dwelling on the marvels of Vesuvius + and Pompeii, the travellers went on to Rome. There the sculptures were + Coley's first delight, and he had the advantage of hints from Gibson on + the theory of his admiration, such as suited his love of analysis. He + poured forth descriptions of statues and pictures in his letters: + sometimes apologising.—'You must put up with a very stupid and + unintelligible sermon on art. The genius loci would move the very stones + to preach on such a theme. Again: The worst is, that I ought to have + months instead of days to see Rome in. I economise my time pretty well; + but yet I find every night that I can only do a little of what I propose + in the morning; and as for my Italian, an hour and a half a day is on an + average more than I give to it. I suffer a good deal from weakness in the + eyes; it prevents my working at night with comfort. I have a master every + other day. I tried to draw, but it hurt me so much after looking about all + day that I despair of doing anything, though I don't abandon the idea + altogether.' + </p> + <p> + There are many letters on the religious state of Rome. The apparently + direct supplications to the Saints, the stories told in sermons of + desperate sinners—saved through some lingering observance paid to + the Blessed Virgin, and the alleged abuse of the Confessional, shocked + Patteson greatly, and therewith he connected the flagrant evils of the + political condition of Rome at that time, and arrived at conclusions + strongly adverse to Roman Catholicism as such, though he retained + uninjured the Catholic tone of his mind. + </p> + <p> + It was art which was the special attraction to Coley of all the many + spells of old Rome. He spent much time in the galleries, and studied + 'modern painters' with an earnestness that makes Ruskinism pervade his + letters. + </p> + <p> + At Florence, Coley wrote as usual at much length of the galleries, where + the Madonna del Cardellino seems to have been what delighted him most. He + did not greatly enter into Michel Angelo's works, and perhaps hardly did + their religious spirit full justice under the somewhat exclusive influence + of Fra Angelico and Francia, with the Euskinese interpretation. The + delight was indescribable. He says:— 'But I have written again and + again on this favourite theme, and I forget that it is difficult for you + to understand what I write, or the great change that has taken place in + me, without seeing the original works. No one can see them and be + unchanged. I never had such enjoyment.' His birthday presents were spent + on a copy of the beloved Madonna del Cardellino, of which he says:—'though + it does not reach anything like the intensity of feeling of the original, + is still a very excellent painting, and will always help to excite in my + imagination, and I hope to convey to you, some faint image of the + exceeding beauty of this most beautiful of all paintings.' + </p> + <p> + Readers chiefly interested in the subsequent career of the missionary + would feel interrupted by the overflowing notes on painting, sculpture and + architecture which fill the correspondence, yet without them, it is + scarcely possible to realise the young man's intense enthusiasm for the + Beautiful, especially for spiritual beauty, and thus how great was the + sacrifice of going to regions where all these delights were unknown and + unattainable. He went on to Venice, where he met a letter which gave a new + course to his thoughts, for it informed him that the deafness, which had + long been growing on his father had now become an obstacle to the + performance of his duties as a Judge, and announcing his intention of + retiring. + </p> + <p> + In the fulness of his heart he wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'Venice, Hotel de la Villa: May 2, 1851. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—I have not been in Venice an hour yet, but + little did I expect to find such news waiting for me as is contained in + Jem's letter, and I can lose no time in answering it. It is indeed a heavy + trial for you, that, in addition to many years of constant annoyance from + your deafness, you should be obliged now, in the full vigour of your mind, + and with the advantage of your experience, to give up a profession you so + thoroughly delight in. I don't deny that I have often contemplated the + possibility of such a thing; and I had some conversation with Uncle John + last winter in consequence of my fancying your deafness was on the + increase, though the girls did not perceive it; I hope with all my heart I + was wrong. I told him what I know you feel, that, painful as it will be to + you to retire from the Bench, if any dissatisfaction was expressed at your + not hearing sufficiently what passed, you would choose rather to give up + your seat than to go on under such circumstances. His answer, I remember, + was that it was most difficult to know what to do, because it was no use + concealing the fact that your infirmity did interfere with the working of + the Court more or less, on Circuit especially, and at other times when + witnesses were examined, but that your knowledge of law was so invaluable + that it was difficult to see how this latter advantage could fail to + outweigh the former defect; and everybody knew that they can't find a + lawyer to fill your place, though another man might do the ordinary + circuit work with greater comfort to the Bar; though therefore nobody is + so painstaking and so little liable to make mistakes, yet to people in + general and in the whole, another man would seem to do the work nearly as + well, and would do his work, as far as his knowledge and conscientiousness + went, with more ease;—this was something like the substance of what + passed then, and you may suppose that since that time I have thought more + about the possibility of your retirement; but as I know how very much you + will feel giving up an occupation in which you take a regular pride, I do + feel very sorry, and wish I was at home to do anything that could be done + now. I know well enough that you are the last man in the world to make a + display of your feelings, and that you look upon this as a trial, and bear + it as one, just as you have with such great patience and submission (and + dear Joan too,) always quietly borne your deafness; but I am sure you + must, and do feel this very much, and, added to Granny's illness, you must + be a sad party at home. I feel as if it were very selfish to be in this + beautiful city, and to have been spending so much money at Florence. + Neither did Joan, in her last letter, nor has Jem now, mentioned whether + you received two letters from Florence, the first of which gave some + description of my vetturino journey from Rome to Florence. I little + thought when I was enjoying myself so very much there, that all this was + passing at home.... Your influence in the Privy Council (where I conclude + they will offer you a seat) might be so good on very important questions, + and it would be an occupation for you; and I have always hoped that, if it + should please God you should retire while still in the prime of life for + work, you would publish some great legal book, which should for ever be a + record of your knowledge on these subjects. However it may be, the + retrospect of upwards of twenty years spent on the Bench with the complete + respect and admiration of all your friends, is no slight thing to fall + back upon: and I trust that this fresh trial will turn to your good, and + even happiness here, as we may trust with safety it will hereafter. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your very affectionate and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + In this winter of 1852, Mr. Justice Patteson's final decision to retire + was made and acted upon. The Judge delighted in no occupation so much as + the pursuit of law, and therefore distrusted his own opinion as to the + moment when his infirmity should absolutely unfit him for sitting in + Court. He had begged a friend to tell him the moment that the impediment + became serious; and this, with some hesitation, was done. The intimation + was thankfully received, and, after due consideration, carried out. + </p> + <p> + On January 29, 1852, after twenty-two years on the Bench, and at the age + of sixty-two, Mr. Justice Patteson wrote his letter of resignation to Lord + Truro, then Lord Chancellor, petitioning for the usual pension. It was + replied to in terms of warm and sincere regret; and on the 2nd of + February, Sir John Patteson was nominated to the Privy Council, as a + member of the Judicial Committee; where the business was chiefly conducted + in writing, and he could act with comparatively little obstacle from his + deafness. + </p> + <p> + On February 10, 1852, he took his leave of the Bar. The Court of Queen's + Bench was crowded with barristers, who rose while the Attorney-General, + Sir Alexander Cockburn, made an address expressive of the universal + heartfelt feeling of respect and admiration with which the retiring Judge + was regarded. + </p> + <p> + John Patteson's reply, read with a voice broken by emotion, is so touching + in its manly simplicity and humility that a paragraph or two may well be + quoted:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mine,' he said, 'is one of the many instances which I know that a public + man without pre-eminent abilities, if he will but exert such as it has + pleased God to bestow on him honestly and industriously, and without + ostentation, is sure to receive public approbation fully commensurate + with, and generally much beyond, his real merits; and I thank God if I + shall be found not to have fallen entirely short in the use of those + talents which He has entrusted to me.' Then, after some words on the + misfortune that necessitated his withdrawal, he continued, 'I am aware + that on some, and I fear too many, occasions I have given way to + complaints and impatient expressions towards the Bar and the witnesses in + Court, as if they were to blame when, in truth, it was my own deficiency; + and heartily sorry have I been and am for such want of control over + myself. I have striven against its recurrence earnestly, though not always + successfully. My brethren on the Bench, and you, and the public, have been + very kind and indulgent to me; the recollection of which will remain with, + and be a great solace to me for the rest of my life. + </p> + <p> + 'And now, gentlemen, I bid you farewell most affectionately. I wish you + many years of health and happiness, of success and honour in your liberal + profession; the duties of which have been and are and I trust ever will be + performed, not only with the greatest zeal, learning, and ability, but + with the highest honour and integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility + to God and to man, and which being so performed, are, in my humble + judgment, eminently conducive, under the blessing of God, to maintain the + just prerogative of the Crown, and the true right, liberties, and + happiness of the people.' + </p> + <p> + He then rose from the Judges' seat, and bowed his farewell to the + assembly, who stood respectful and silent, except for some suppressed + tokens of emotion, for in truth to many the parting was from an old + familiar and much trusted friend. + </p> + <p> + Private letters poured in, expressive of deep regret, esteem, and + affection, and not only were gratefully read at the time, but became to + the family valuable memorials of the heartfelt appreciation gained by a + high-minded and upright course of life, and evidences that their father + had done that which is perhaps the best thing that it is permitted to man + to do here below, namely, 'served God in his generation.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. FELLOWSHIP OF MERTON. 1852—1854. + </h2> + <p> + In the summer of 1852 Coleridge Patteson stood for a fellowship of Merton, + obtained it, and moved into rooms there. Every college has a distinctive + character; and Merton, if not actually the eldest, is at least one of the + oldest foundations at Oxford, and is one of the most unchanged in outward + aspect. There is a peculiar charm in the beauty and seclusion of the + quadrangle, in the library, still mediaeval even to the fittings; and the + church is above all impressive in the extraordinary loveliness of the + early decorated architecture, and the space and loftiness of the choir. + The whole, pre-eminently among the colleges, gives the sense of having + been unaltered for five hundred years, yet still full of life and vigour. + </p> + <p> + Coley attached himself to Merton, though he never looked to permanent + residence there. The Curacy in the immediate neighbourhood of his home was + awaiting him, as soon as he should be ordained; but though his purpose was + unchanged and he was of full age for Holy Orders, he wished for another + year of preparation, so as to be able to study both Hebrew and theology + more thoroughly than would be possible when pastoral labour should have + begun. What he had already seen of Dresden convinced him that he could + there learn Hebrew more thoroughly and more cheaply than at home, and to + this he intended to devote the Long Vacation of 1852, without returning to + Feniton. There the family were settling themselves, having given up the + house in Bedford Square, since James Patteson had chambers in King's Bench + Walk, where the ex-Judge could be with him when needed in London. There + had some notion of the whole family profiting by Sir John's emancipation + to take a journey on the Continent, and the failure of the scheme elicited + the following letter:— + </p> + <p> + 'Merton: June 18. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—I can, to a certain extent, sympathise with you + thoroughly upon this occasion; the mere disappointment at not seeing so + many interesting places and things is a sharp one, but in your instance + this is much increased by the real benefit you hoped to derive from a + warmer climate; and no wonder that the disappearance of your hopes coupled + with bodily illness makes you low and uncomfortable. The weather too is + trying to mind and body, and though you try as usual to shake off the + sense of depression which affects you, your letter is certainly sad, and + written like the letter of one in weak health. Well, we shall see each + other, please GOD, at Christmas now. That is better than passing nearly or + quite a year away from each other; and some other time I hope you will be + able to go to Italy, and enjoy all the wonders there, though a tour for + health's sake cannot be too soon. It is never too soon to get rid of an + ailment.... + </p> + <p> + 'I find that I am getting to know the undergraduates here, which is what I + wanted to do; it is my only chance of being of any use. True, that I have + to do it at the expense of two half-days' cricketing, which I have quite + ceased to care about, but I know that when I went up to Balliol, I was + glad when a Fellow played with us. It was a guarantee for orderly conduct, + and as I say, it gives me an opportunity of knowing men. I hope to leave + London for Dresden on Monday week; Arthur is gone thither, as I find out + from Jem, and I hope the scheme will answer. If I find I can't work, from + my eyes, or anything else, preventing me, I shall come home, but I have no + reason to expect any such thing. My best love to Joan and all friends. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The 'Arthur' here mentioned was the youngest son of Mr. Frank Coleridge, + and became Coley's companion at Dresden, where he was studying German. He + writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Patteson spoke German fluently, and wrote German correctly. He had + studied the language assiduously for about two years previously, and so + successfully that whilst we were at Dresden, he was enabled to dispense + with a teacher and make his assistance little more than nominal. + Occasionally he wrote a German exercise, but rather as an amusement than a + discipline, and merely with the view of enlarging his German vocabulary. I + remember his writing an elaborate description of Feniton Court, and + imagining the place to be surrounded with trees belonging to all sorts of + climates. The result was very amusing to ourselves, and added to the + writer's stock of words on particular subjects. When our master Schier + appeared, the conversation was led by a palpable ambuscade to the topic + which had been made the subject of Patteson's exercise, and conversation + helped to strengthen memory. After looking over a few of Patteson's German + exercises, Mr. Schier found so little to correct, in the way of + grammatical errors, that these studies were almost relinquished, and gave + way to Arabic and Hebrew. Before we left Dresden, Patteson had read large + portions of the Koran; and, with the aid of Hurwitz's Grammar and + Bernhard's Guide to Hebrew Students, books familiar to Cambridge men, he + was soon able to read the Psalms in the original. I remember the + admiration and despair I felt in witnessing Patteson's progress, and the + wonder expressed by his teacher in his pupil's gift of rapid acquirement. + We had some excellent introductions; amongst others, to Dr. ——, + a famous theologian, with whom Patteson was fond of discussing the system + and organisation of the Church in Saxony. Up to the time of his leaving + England he was constantly using Olshausen's Commentary on the New + Testament, a book he was as thoroughly versed in as Archbishop Trench + himself. I think that he consulted no other books in his study of the + Gospels, but Olshausen and Bengel's Gnomon. + </p> + <p> + 'In our pleasures at Dresden there was a mixture of the utile with the + dulce. Our constant visits to the theatre were strong incentives to a + preparatory study of the plays of Goethe, Schiller, and Lessing. What + noble acting we saw in that Dresden theatre! + </p> + <p> + 'With regard to the opera, I have never seen Weber or Meyerbeer's works + given so perfectly and conscientiously as at Dresden. Patteson's chief + delight was the Midsummer Night's Dream, with Mendelssohn's music. He had + a tuneful baritone voice and a correct ear for music. We hired a piano for + our sitting-room; and, though I failed to induce him to cultivate his + voice, and join me in taking lessons, he sang some of Mendelssohn's Lieder + very pleasingly, and knew most of the bass music from the Messiah by + heart. He began to play a few scales on the piano, and hoped to surprise + his sisters on his return to England by playing chants, but the Arabic and + Hebrew studies proved too absorbing; he grudged the time, and thought the + result disproportioned to the sacrifice. + </p> + <p> + 'In our daily walks we talked constantly of Church matters. Some sharp and + sad experiences in the loss of more than one of his Eton and Oxford + friends, who had abandoned the Church of England, failed to shake his + confidence in the Church he was to serve so faithfully and to die for so + gloriously. His faith and daily practice seem to me a protest and warning + against the folly, if not the falsehood, of extremes. Moderation, quiet + consistency of life, and unswerving loyalty to a faith which had been the + joy and comfort of his dear mother, whose loveable nature he inherited and + reflected, a blameless life and unfailing charity enabled him when the + time came to live a life of incessant toil, and face a martyr's death. I + remember the present Bishop of Carlisle inciting Cambridge undergraduates + to become, by virtue of earnestness, gentleness, and toleration, "guides + not judges, lights not firebrands." He drew a perfect description of + Patteson, who came more completely up to that ideal than anyone I ever + knew. Here was a man capable of the purest and most tender friendship, + with an exquisite appreciation of all that is noblest in life, and he was + ready to give up all, and content to lead the forlorn hope of + Christianity, and perish in the front ranks of the noble army. "And having + been a little tried he shall be greatly rewarded, for God proved him, and + found him worthy for Himself."' + </p> + <p> + I have given this letter almost entire, because it shows the impression + Coley made on one, little his junior, in the intimate associations of + cousin, neighbour, and schoolfellow, as well as travelling companion. + </p> + <p> + This year seems to have been a marked stage of development. He was now + twenty-five, and the boyish distaste for mental exertion which had so long + rendered study an effort of duty had passed into full scholarly enjoyment. + The individuality and originality of his mind had begun to awaken, and + influenced probably by the German atmosphere of thought in which he was + working, were giving him that strong metaphysical bent which characterised + his tone through life, and became apparent in his sermons when he + addressed an educated audience. + </p> + <p> + Here is a letter to his eldest sister: 'The weather has been better suited + for work, and I feel pretty well satisfied with my Hebrew. What makes it + so difficult is principally this, that as it is an Oriental language, it + is entirely different in structure, and in its inflections, &c., from + any language I ever came across. I can't fall back upon anything already + learnt to help me; but I see my way pretty clear now, and shall soon have + little more than a knowledge of the meaning of the words to learn, which + is only a matter of patience, and can be learnt with a good dictionary and + practice. A real complete knowledge of the grammar is of course the great + thing. + </p> + <p> + 'The great Dresden fair, called the Vogelschiesser, is going on; it began + last Sunday and ends next Sunday. About half a mile from the town there is + a very large meadow by the river, where a small town of booths, tents, + &c., is erected, and where shooting at targets with wooden darts, sham + railway-trains and riding-horses, confectionery of every kind, beer of + every name, strength, and colour, pipes, cigars, toys, gambling, + organ-grinding, fiddling, dancing, &c., goes on incessantly. The great + attraction, however, is the shooting at the bird, which occupies the + attention of every Saxon, and is looked upon as the consummation of human + invention and physical science. A great pole, nearly 80 feet high, is + erected with a wooden bird, about the size of a turkey, at the top; to hit + this with a crossbow from a regular stand, about 50 feet from the foot of + the pole, is the highest ambition of this great people. The accompaniments + are rich in the extreme: cannon firing, drums rolling, for a successful + shot, the shooting society, who exist only for the sole honour and glory + of hacking this bird to pieces, the presence of the King, I think to-day, + and the intense interest taken in the amusement by the whole population; + certainly the Germans are satisfied with less than any people I ever saw + (barring two things, smoke and beer, in which they are insatiable). I went + out to see it all, but it rather bored me after an hour or so. Tom F—— + and I threw some dice for a pair of braces for Arthur, which we presented + in due form; and we had some shots at the targets—mine were + eminently unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night we had a great treat. Emil Devrient, who has been acting in + London, you know, came back, and acted Marquis Posa in "Don Carlos." The + play acts very much better than it reads. Schiller certainly has great + dramatic genius; only I agree with Goethe that there is always a longing + for exhibiting cruelty in its most monstrous form, and refinement of + cruelty and depravity overstepping almost the natural conditions of + humanity. I always thought Iago about the most awful character in + Shakspeare; but Schiller's Philip II. is something beyond even this, + without perhaps so much necessity for the exhibition of this absolute + delight in evil. It is long since I have been so excited in a theatre. I + was three rows from the stage, heard and understood everything, and was so + completely carried away by the grandeur and intense feeling of Devrient + (who was well supported by the Don Carlos), that I had some difficulty to + keep quiet, and feel to-day rather odd, shaken, as it were, from such a + strain upon the feelings.' + </p> + <p> + Here is a letter, enclosed within one to his sister Fanny on September 9, + written on a scrap of paper. The apologetic tone of confession is amusing:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—I have not before told you that I have been at + work for just three weeks upon a new subject; reading, however, Hebrew + every day almost for three hours as well. Schier is not a great Hebraist; + and I found the language in one sense easier than I expected, so that with + good grammar and dictionary I can quite get on by myself, reading an easy + part of the Bible (historical books, e.g.) at the rate of about + twenty-five verses an hour. Well, I began to think that I ought to use the + opportunities that Dresden affords. I know that Hebrew is not a rich + language; that many words occur only once, and consequently have an + arbitrary meaning attached to them, unless they can be illustrated from + cognate languages. Now I have a taste for these things, and have in three + weeks progressed so far in my new study as to feel sure I shall make it + useful; and so I tell you without fear I am working at Arabic. I hope you + won't think it silly. It is very hard, and for ten days was as hard work + as I ever had in my life. I think I have learnt enough to see my way now, + and this morning read the first chapter of Genesis in three-quarters of an + hour. It is rich, beyond all comparison, in inflexions; and the difficulty + arises from the extreme multiplicity of all its forms: e.g. each verb + having not only active, middle, and passive voices, but the primitive + active having not less than thirty-five derivative forms and the passive + thirteen. The "noun of action,"—infinitive with article (to akonein) + of the Greek—is again different for each voice or form; and the + primitive can take any of twenty-two forms, which are not compounded + according to any rule. Again, there are twenty-eight sets of irregular + plurals, which are quite arbitrary. No grammarian has ever given any + explanation about them. All mere matters of memory. The very alphabet + shows the richness of the language. There are twenty-nine letters, besides + vowel points; and each letter is written in four different ways, so that + it is different when isolated, when in the beginning, middle, or end of a + word. It took me some hours to learn them. In very many respects, it is + closely allied to the Hebrew, so that everybody who writes Hebrew grammars + and lexicons necessarily has much to do with Arabic; and a knowledge of it + may be of great use in clearing up difficulties in the Bible. My year in + Oxford will enable me to go on with it, for in three weeks more I hope to + be able to go on alone. To-morrow I begin the Koran. My lessons will not + in all exceed 31; and I really should have gone on, perhaps, not much + faster with Hebrew if I had worked it exclusively; and it is hard to read + so many hours at one thing: and I may say, now without doubt, that I have + laid the foundation for a study of Oriental languages, if I have time and + opportunity that may be fairly given to them. Think what one hour a day + is, and the pleasure to me is very great, and I feel that I have a knack + rather (if I may say so) of laying hold of these things. Don't mention it + to anyone.' + </p> + <p> + There the fragment breaks off; and in a letter of August 29 there occurs + this reply to a message from his eldest sister:— + </p> + <p> + 'Thank dear Joan for her caution: I know I need it sadly, especially now + when I am at work upon somewhat out-of-the-way subjects, and feel the + danger of forgetting that if I mistake the means for the end, and feel + gratified with the mere intellectual amusement, I am doing very wrong, + even when I am working very hard at very difficult matters. I like these + things, I must confess, and the time is so well adapted to work here, and + now that the weather is cool I can secure every day a good long time to + myself.' In the enclosed letter he announces that he shall leave Dresden + in another three weeks. He says:— + </p> + <p> + 'We have had a steady working time of it here; and as I know some members + of the family rather discourage these Continental flights, I just sum up + the advantages thereof. Being naturally endowed with a love of music, the + probability is, that when you, Clara, and Miss Horsley are together in the + house, as soon as a Lied or Sonata began, away would go my books, or at + all events my thoughts. You know well that the piano goes at all hours, + and always in the morning at home. Then riding, walking with Father, long + sitting after dinner, &c. do not improve the chances for reading. In + fact, you know that what with visitors from without, friends within, + parties, &c., I should have had very little reading in the vacation, + and that not through my own fault—not a Stilbehen in the house could + protect me from music. Here I make my own time, and last week my eyes were + troublesome. I walked twice every day, exactly at the hour when I most + wanted it; and without nonsense, I may say that I have in two months done + really a great deal more than I could have done at home even with masters. + This all applies to Arthur just as much. He has read German exclusively + most of the time, and knows as well as I do that it is not possible to + work at home. If I could go on just as well as with Mendelssohn ringing in + my ears, it would be different, but I can't. You remember how pleasant, + but how very idle, last vacation was, and especially the last six weeks of + it!' + </p> + <p> + Then, after much about family matters, commissions, and little gifts which + he was collecting for all at home— + </p> + <p> + I should like to get something for everybody, but that is not possible. + Luckily, my lessons are less expensive than I expected, and, considering + the work, wonderfully cheap. I make good progress, I can say; but the + difficulty is great enough to discourage any but a real "grinder" at such + work. I have written a scrap for Father, and you will see that I am + working away pretty well. I have finished my introductory book, consisting + of forty-one fables; and though difficulties present themselves always to + really good scholars from time to time, the Bible is not one of the + hardest books, not so hard, e.g. as the Koran. Now I can at any future + time, if the opportunity comes, go on with these things, and I hope find + them really useful. I know you like to hear what I am doing; but be sure + to keep it all quiet, let no one know but Father and Joan. You might + carelessly tell it to anyone in fun, and I don't wish it to be known. + Especially don't let any of the family know. Time enough if I live out my + Oxford year, and have really mastered the matter pretty well. Remember + this is taken up with a view to elucidate and explain what is so very hard + in Hebrew. Hebrew is to be the Hauptsache, this the Hulfsmittel, or some + day I hope one of several such helps. It is very important to accustom + one's mind to the Denk and Anschauungswerk of the Orientals, which is so + different from that of Europeans or their language. How hard are the + metaphors of the Bible for this reason!' + </p> + <p> + There is something in all these long apologies and strenuous desire for + secrecy about these Arabic studies that reminds one that the character was + a self-conscious introspective one, always striving for humility, and + dreading to be thought presumptuous. A simpler nature, if devoid of + craving for home sympathy, would never have mentioned the new study at + all; or if equally open-hearted, would have let the mention of it among + home friends take its chance, without troubling himself as to their + possible comments. Indeed, it is curious to observe how elaborate he was + at this period about all his concerns, meditating over the cause of + whatever affected him. It was a form of growth; and dropped off when the + time of action arrived, and his character had shaped itself. It must be + remembered, too, that his habit of pouring out all his reflections and + feelings to his sisters, and their preservation of his letters, have left + much more on record of these personal speculations than is common. + </p> + <p> + His father made a much simpler matter of the Arabic matter, in the + following characteristic letter:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton Court: September 14, 1852, + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Coley,—So far from thinking you wrong in learning + Arabic, I feel sure that you are quite right. However, we shall keep your + secret, and not say anything about it. I am heartily glad that you should + acquire languages, modern as well as ancient. You know I have often + pressed the former on your and Jem's notice, from myself feeling my + deficiency and regret at it. I can well understand that Arabic, and I + should suppose Syriac also, must be of the greatest use towards a true + understanding of much of the Old Testament: a great deal of which is + doubtless not understood by those who understand only our translation, or + even the Septuagint, which I suspect to have many passages far from a + faithful vehicle of the meaning of the original. I was greatly delighted + with your theological letter, so to speak, as well as with the first, and + look to have some jolly conversations with you on such subjects. + </p> + <p> + 'We have many more partridges than our neighbours, and Jem shoots + uncommonly well. Three double shots yesterday. I shoot worse than usual; + and cannot walk without much fatigue and frequent pain, so that I shall + not be able to work enough to get much sport. I got through the Mary + Church affair very well—that is, not making a fool of myself—and + if I did not do much good, I think I did no harm. The Bishop of Exeter + [Phillpotts] is mightily pleased, and wrote me a letter to that effect. Of + course I cannot tell you what I said, it would be too long, nor are you + likely to see it. It was fully inserted in "Woolmer," and from him copied + into the "Guardian." + </p> + <p> + 'I live in hopes to see you well and hearty at Oxford on the 14th of + October, till when, adieu, God bless you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Father, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The interview with the Bishop of Sydney never took place, for the + excellent Bishop Broughton arrived with health shattered by his attendance + on the sufferers from fever in the ship which brought him from St. Thomas, + and he did not long survive his landing. + </p> + <p> + The 'Mary Church affair' here referred to was the laying the + foundation-stone of the Church, built or restored, it is hard to say + which, on the lines of the former one, and preserving the old tower, at + St. Mary Church, near Torquay. Though the death of the Rev. Gr. M. + Coleridge had broken one tie with the place, it continued to be much + beloved by the Patteson family, and Sir John had taken so much share in + the church-building work as to be asked to be the layer of the + corner-stone. The speech he made at the ensuing luncheon excited much + attention and the sisters took care that their brother should not miss + reading it. The stay at Dresden was drawing to an end; and he was + preparing to return through Berlin, intending to go direct to Oxford and + reside there till the summer, when he meant to seek ordination and enter + on the Curacy at Alfington. He says to his sister Joanna:— + </p> + <p> + 'It is a long time to pass without seeing you, but I hope, if it please + God that we all live on together, that it will be long before such another + interval occurs. I have not grown out of an occasional fit of home + sickness yet; and on these occasions Arthur and I talk incessantly about + domestic matters, and indulge our fancies in conjecturing what you are all + doing, and so forth. I followed Joan and Clara's trip, step by step, from + the Den at Teignmouth to St. Mary Church, Oddiscombe, Rabbicombe, Anstey's + Cave, Meadfoot, &c. How I remember every inch of the dear old places! + Better than the mud banks at Felixstowe, are they not, Clara? I shall keep + always the scrap from the "Guardian" with Father's speech. I don't think I + remember any speech on a similar occasion so thoroughly good, and so + likely to do good. Plain, sensible, and manly, no question of words and + unimportant differences of opinion; no cant, high or low, just like + himself. I pray I may have but a tenth part of his honesty and freedom + from prejudice and party spirit. It may come, under God's blessing, if a + man's mind is earnestly set on the truth; but the danger is of setting up + your own exclusive standard of truth, moral and intellectual. Father + certainly is more free from it than any man we ever knew. He tells me in + his letter that the Bishop of Sydney is coming home to consult people in + England about Synodical Action, &c., and that he is going to meet him + and explain to him certain difficulties and mistakes into which he has + fallen with regard to administering the Oath of Abjuration and the like + matters. How few people, comparatively, know the influence Father + exercises in this way behind the scenes, as it were. His intimacy with so + many of the Bishops, too, makes his position really of very great + importance. I don't want to magnify, but the more I think of him, and know + how very few men they are that command such general respect, and bear such + a character with all men for uprightness and singleness of purpose, it is + very difficult to know how his place could be supplied when we throw his + legal knowledge over and above into the scale. I hope he will write: I am + quite certain that his opinion will exercise a great influence on very + many people. Such a speech as this at Mary Church embodies exactly the + sense of a considerable number of the most prudent and most able men of + the country, and his position and character give it extra weight, and that + would be so equally with his book as with his speech. How delightful it + will be to have him at Oxford. He means to come in time for dinner on the + 14th, and go away on the 16th; but if he likes it, he will, I daresay, + stop now and then on his way to town and back. Jem will not be back in + town when he goes up for the Judicial Committee work, so he will be rather + solitary there, won't he. I am not, however, sure about the number of + weeks Jem must reside to keep his term....' + </p> + <p> + The enjoyment of the last few days at Dresden 'was much marred by a heavy + cold, caught by going to see an admirable representation of 'Egmont,' the + last of these theatrical treats so highly appreciated. The journey to + Berlin, before the cold was shaken off, resulted in an attack of illness; + and he was so heavy and uncomfortable as to be unable to avail himself of + his opportunities of interesting introductions. + </p> + <p> + He returned to his rooms at Merton direct from Germany. Like many men who + have come back to Oxford at a riper age than that of undergraduate life, + he now entered into the higher privileges and enjoyments of the + University, the studies, friendships, and influences, as early youth + sometimes fails to do. He was felt by his Oxford friends to have greatly + developed since his Balliol terms had been over and the Eton boy left + behind. Study was no longer a toil and conscientious effort. It had become + a prime pleasure; and men wondered to find the plodding, accurate, but + unenthusiastic student of three years back, a linguist and philologist of + no common power and attainment. Mr. Roundell says, 'He had become quite + another person. Self-cultivation had done much for him. Literature and art + had opened his mind and enlarged his interests and sympathies. The moral + and spiritual forces of the man were now vivified, refined, and + strengthened by the awakening of his intellectual and esthetic nature.' + </p> + <p> + Ever reaching forward, however, he was on his guard against, as he said, + making the means the end. Languages were his pleasure, but a pleasure held + in check as only subservient to his preparation for the ministry. He did + not mean to use them to the acquirement of academical honour nor + promotion, nor did he even rest in the intellectual delight of + investigation; he intended them only as keys to the better appreciation of + the Scriptures and of the doctrines of the Church, unaware as yet that the + gift he was cultivating would be of inestimable value in far distant + regions. + </p> + <p> + In February, while Sir John Patteson was in London, his son James was the + cause of much alarm, owing to a mistake by which he swallowed an + embrocation containing a large amount of laudanum. Prompt measures, + however, prevented any ill effects; and all danger was over before the + letter was sent off which informed Coley of what had happened; but the + bare idea of the peril was a great shock to one of such warm affections, + and so deeply attached to his only brother. He wrote the two following + letters to his father and sisters on the first impulse on the receipt of + the intelligence:— + </p> + <p> + 'Shrove Tuesday. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—I believe I speak truly when I say that I never + in my life felt so thoroughly thankful and grateful to God for His great + mercy as I did this morning, on reading of dear Jem's danger and safety. + He is less accustomed to talk about his feelings than I am, in which I see + his superiority, but partly because our tastes are in several respects + different, chiefly because of his exceeding amiability and unselfishness. + I am sure we love each other very dearly. Ever since his illness at + Geneva, I have from time to time contemplated the utter blank, the real + feeling of loss, which anything happening to him would bring with it, and + the having it brought home close to me in this way quite upset me, as it + well might. I pray God that no ill effects may follow, and from what you + say I apprehend none. I have often thought that it is much better when two + brothers propose to themselves different objects in life, and pursue them + with tastes dissimilar on unimportant matters. They act better upon one + another; just as I look to Jem, as I have more than once told him, to give + me a hint when he sees a want of common sense in anything I take up, + because I know I act a good deal from impulse, and take an interest in + many things which are perhaps not worth the time I spend on them. It is a + mercy that I hope I shall never forget, never cease to be thankful for. + Many and many a time, if it please God, I shall look to him in + difficulties, and remember how nearly once he was lost to me. I can get + away with the greatest ease for a few days on Thursday if desirable, and + perhaps old Jem will feel low after this, when you have left him. I think + this very likely, from what I know of him, and if you think it too, + without asking him if he would like it, I will come up for some other + reason. You will not go, I know, unless he is perfectly well; but he + might, and I think would, like to have some one with him just at first. + Let me know what you think. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, my dearest father. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your affectionate and dutiful son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'Merton, Shrove Tuesday. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Joan and Fan,—How we must all have united this morning + in pouring out our thanks to God for His great mercy! You will not suspect + me of being wanting in love to you, if I say that the contemplation of + what might have happened presented such a scene of desolation, such a + void, that it would have required all the strength I possess to turn to + God in resignation and submission to His will. I have often, very often, + thought of that illness at Geneva, but this brought it home to me, perhaps + closer still; and I hope I shall never cease to be mindful of, and + thankful for, this special providence. Father seems pretty confident that + all mischief is prevented; and Jem wrote six hours after he took the + laudanum, and had then felt no drowsiness to speak of, and Dr. Watson said + there was no fear of anything happening after two hours had elapsed. + </p> + <p> + 'I should like to join with you in showing our gratitude by some deed of + charity, or whatever you think right. Something that without any show + might be a thank-offering to God for His signal act of mercy. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON. + </h5> + <p> + '5.30. I wrote this quite early this morning. I can hardly think yet what + it all means. Now, I feel only a sense of some very heavy affliction + removed. Poor dear Father, and all of us! what should we have been without + him!' + </p> + <p> + A letter to the brother himself was written under the same impulse, even + more tenderly affectionate, but so deep and intimate, that it would almost + be treason to give it to the world. The next letter was written soon after + the alarm had passed, but is undated:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Fan,—Yesterday I was unluckily too seedy with headache to + go on the ice, and this morning I have been skating for half an hour, but + the ice is spoilt. Very jolly it is to be twisting and turning about once + more. I thought of writing to old Jem to come down for it, as I should + think the frost is not severe enough to freeze any but the shallow water + of the floods, but it was not good enough to reward him for the trouble of + coming so far. + </p> + <p> + 'The constant sense of his preservation from that great danger really + prevents my feeling so acutely perhaps as I ought to do the distress of + others. I really think I ought to be less cheerful and happy than I feel + myself to be. I had a pleasant little talk with Dr. Pusey on Monday: he + was recommending me two or three books for Hebrew reading, but they would + be of no use to me yet; the language is difficult to advance far into, and + you know my shallow way of catching a thing at first rather quickly + perhaps, but only superficially. I find my interest increasing greatly in + philological studies. One language helps another very much; and the + beautiful way in which the words, ideas, and the whole structure indeed, + of language pervades whole families, and even the different families, + (e.g., the Indo-Germanic and Semitic races,) is not only interesting, but + very useful. I wish I had made myself a better Greek and Latin scholar, + but unfortunately I used to hate classics. What desperate uphill work it + was to read them, a regular exercise of self-denial every morning! Now I + like it beyond any study, except Divinity proper, and I try to make up for + lost time. There are admirable books in my possession which facilitate the + acquisition of critical scholarship very much, and I work at these, + principally applying it to New Test. Greek, LXX, &c. But my real + education began, I think, with my first foreign trip. It seems as if there + was not time for all this, for I have Hebrew, Arabic, &c., to go on + with (though this is a slow process), Pearson, Hooker, Blunt on the + Reformation (a mere sketch which I read in a day or two at odd times), + Commentaries, Trench's Books on Parables and Miracles, which are in my + room at home, and would in parts interest you; he is a writer of good + common sense, and a well-read man. But I of course want to be reading + history as well, and that involves a good deal; physical geography, + geology, &c., yet one things helps another very much. I don't work + quite as methodically as I ought; and I much want some one to discuss + matters with relating to what I read. I don't say all this, I am sure you + know, as if I wanted to make out that I am working at grand subjects. I + know exceeding little of any one of them, so little history, e.g., that a + school girl could expose my ignorance directly, but I like to know what we + are doing among ourselves, and we all get to know each other better + thereby. I felt so much of late with regard to Jem, that a natural reserve + prevents so often members even of the same family from communicating + freely to each other their opinions, business, habits of life, experiences + of sympathy, approval, disapproval, and the like; and when one member is + gone, then it is felt how much more closely such a habit of dealing with + each other would have taught us to know him.... Nothing tests one's + knowledge so well as questions and answers upon what we have read, stating + difficulties, arguments which we can't understand, &c., to each other. + Ladies who have no profession to prepare for, in spite of a very large + correspondence and numerous household duties, may (in addition to their + parochial work as curates!) take up a real course of reading and go into + it thoroughly; and this gives girls not only employment for the time, but + gives the mind power to seize every other subject presented to it. If you + are quite alone, your reading is apt to become desultory. I find it useful + to take once or twice a week a walk with Riddell of Balliol, and go + through a certain period of Old Testament history; it makes me get it up, + and then between us we hammer out so many more explanations of difficult + passages than, at all events, I should do by myself. He is, moreover, + about the best Greek scholar here, which is a great help to me. You have + no idea of the light that such accurate scholarship as his throws upon + many disputed passages in the Bible, e.g., "Wisdom is justified of her + children," where the Greek preposition probably gives the key to the whole + meaning, and many such. So you see, dear old Fan, that the want of some + one to pour out this to, for it sounds fearfully pedantic, I confess, has + drawn upon you this grievous infliction. + </p> + <p> + 'My kindest love to Father and dear Joan, + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your loving + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + Fanny Patteson answered with arguments on the other duties which hindered + her from entering on the course of deep study which he had been + recommending. He replies:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feb. 25, 1853. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—I must answer your very sensible well-written + letter at once, because on our system of mutual explanation, there are two + or three things I wish to notice in it. First, I never meant that anything + should supersede duties which I am well aware you practise with real use + to yourself and those about you, e.g., the kindness and sympathy shown to + friends, and generally due observance of all social relations. Second, I + quite believe that the practical application of what is already known, + teaching, going about among the poor, is of far more consequence than the + acquisition of knowledge, which, of course, for its own sake is worth + nothing. Third, I think you perfectly right in keeping up music, singing, + all the common amusements of a country life; of course I do, for indeed + what I said did not apply to Joan or you, except so far as this, that we + all know probably a great deal of which each one is separately ignorant, + and the free communication of this to one another is desirable, I think. + </p> + <p> + 'My own temptation consists perhaps chiefly in the love of reading for its + own sake. I do honestly think that for a considerable time past I have + read, I believe, nothing which I do not expect to be of real use, for I + have no taste naturally for novels, &c. (without, however, wishing to + deny that there may be novels which teach a real insight into character). + Barring "I Promessi Sposi" which I take up very seldom when tired, I have + not read one for ages: I must except "Old Mortality," read last Vacation + at Feniton; but I can't deny that I like the study of languages for its + own sake, though I apply my little experience in it wholly to the + interpretation of the Bible. I like improving my scholarship, it is true, + but I can say honestly that it is used to read the Greek Testament with + greater accuracy: so of the Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic. I feel, I confess, + sometimes that it is nice, &c., to know several languages, but I try + to drive away any such thoughts, and it is quite astonishing how, after a + few weeks, a study which would suggest ideas of an unusual course of + reading becomes so familiar that I never think of myself when pursuing it, + e.g., I don't think that after two hours' grind at Arabic the stupid wrong + feeling of its being an out-of-the-way study comes upon me now, it is + getting quite natural. It comes out though when I talk or write perhaps + with another, but I must try and get over it. + </p> + <p> + 'I believe it to be a good thing to break off any work once or twice a day + in the middle of any reading, for meditating a little while and for + prayer. This is more easily done at College than elsewhere; and is, I + hope, a preventive against such thoughts. Then, as I jog on I see how very + little I know, what an immense deal I have to learn to become ordinarily + well acquainted with these things. I am in that state of mind, perhaps, + when Ecclesiastes (which I am now reading) puts my own case exactly before + me. I think, What's the good of it all? And the answer comes, it may be + very good properly used, or very mischievous if abused. I do indeed look + forward to active parochial work: I think I shall be very happy so + employed, and I often try to anticipate the time in thought, and feel with + perfect sincerity that nothing is so useful or so full of comfort as the + consciousness of trying to fulfil the daily duties of my situation. Here + of course I need do nothing; I mean there is nothing to prevent my sitting + all day in an arm-chair and reading "Pickwick.".... One word about the way + languages help me, that you may not think what I am doing harder than it + really is. These three bear the same kind of relation to each other (or + rather say these five, Arabic, Syriac, Hebrew, Chaldee, Ethiopia; but of + the last I know nothing whatever, and of Chaldee only so much as that it + is a dialect of Hebrew in the same character, and consequently anyone who + knows Hebrew knows something about it), as German to English, e.g., Bahlom + (Arab.), Beel (Syr.), Baal (Heb.), are the same word, as you can see, only + written in different characters, and all mean "a lord," so Baal, + Beelzebub, or Baalzebeb. Baal Peor, which means, literally, "the Lord of + the ravine," viz., the idol worshipped at the Pass in the wilderness. + Consequently, in reading any one of these languages, the same word keeps + on occurring in all; and the chief use is of course that often a word + which occurs only once or twice in Hebrew perhaps is in common use in the + others, and so its meaning is fixed. Add to all this, that the Syriac + version of the New Testament was made (as all agree) early in the second + century, if not at the end of the first, and thus is the very best + exponent of the New Testament where the Greek is doubtful; and the + additional fact, that though a mixture of Chaldee and Syriac was the + language of Palestine in our Lord's time, yet He certainly sometimes spoke + what is now our Syriac (e.g., Talitha cumi, &c.), and the importance + of it is apparent. Surely to read the language that our Blessed Lord + himself used is no small profit as well as delight. + </p> + <p> + 'So I think we may each go on in our several pursuits, each helping each, + and each trying to do so without a foolish affectation of learning. + </p> + <p> + 'My best love to dear Father and Joan, + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your affectionate Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + Fenelon has said that in a certain stage of piety there is much of self, + and Coley was evidently in that stage. His own figure was the primary + object before his eyes, neither indulged, nor admired, but criticised, + repressed, and by his very best efforts thrust aside, whenever he was + conscious that his self-contemplation was self-complacency. Still it was + in his nature to behold it, and discuss it, and thus to conquer and + outgrow the study in time, while leaving many observations upon + self-culture and self-training, that will no doubt become deeply valued as + the result of the practical experience of one who so truly mastered that + obtrusive self. + </p> + <p> + Patteson was one of the most decided workers for the admission of + improvements and reduction of abuses within his own college, with which + each Oxford foundation was endeavouring to forestall compulsory + reformation by a University Commission. Mr. Roundell says:— + </p> + <p> + 'His early years as Fellow of Merton coincided with the period of active + reform at Oxford which followed upon the Report of the Commission in 1852. + What part did the future Missionary Bishop take in that great movement? + One who worked with him at that time—a time when University reform + was as unfashionable as it is now fashionable—well remembers. He + threw himself into the work with hearty zeal; he supported every liberal + proposal. To his loyal fidelity and solid common sense is largely due the + success with which the reform of Merton was carried out. And yet in those + first days of college reform the only sure and constant nucleus of the + floating-Liberal majority consisted of Patteson and one other. Whatever + others did, those two were always on the same side. And so, somehow, owing + no doubt to the general enlightenment which distinguished the senior + Fellows of Merton under the old regime—an enlightenment + unquestionably due to the predominance in that College of the lay + non-resident element—the new reforming spirit found itself in the + ascendency. It is to the honour of Patteson, and equally to the honour of + the older Fellows of the College at that time, that so great an inroad + upon old traditions should have been made with such an entire absence of + provocation on the one side, or of irritation on the other. But Patteson, + with all his reforming zeal, was also a high-bred gentleman. He remembered + what was due to others as well as to himself. His bearing was one of + respect for authority, of deference towards those who were his superiors + in age. He knew how to differ. He showed towards others the considerate + courtesy which others in return so abundantly showed towards him. And this + generous forbearance of the seniors had its reward. It entailed upon the + juniors a reciprocity of respect. It was felt by them at the time to be an + additional incentive to moderation, to sobriety, to desistance from + extreme views. The result was that the work got done, and what was done + left no heartburnings behind. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet it would be delusive to pretend to claim Bishop Patteson as a Liberal + in the political sense of the word. He was no such thing. If anything, his + instincts, especially in Church matters, drew him the other way. But those + who knew the man, like those who have seen the Ammergau Play, would as + soon think of fastening upon that a sectarian character, as of fixing him + with party names. His was a catholic mind. What distinguished him was his + open-mindedness, his essential goodness, his singleness and simplicity of + aim. He was a just man, and singularly free from perturbations of self, of + temper, or of nerves. You did not care to ask what he would call himself. + You felt what he was, that you were in the presence of a man too pure for + party, of one in whose presence ordinary party distinctions almost ceased + to have a meaning. Such a man could scarcely be on the wrong side. Both + the purity of his nature and the rectitude of his judgment would have kept + him straight.' + </p> + <p> + Coley remained at Merton until the Long Vacation of 1853; when his Oxford + life terminated, though not his connection with the University, for he + retained his Fellowship until his death, and the friendships he had formed + both at Balliol and Merton remained unbroken. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. THE CURACY AT ALFINGTON. 1853-1855. + </h2> + <p> + Preparation for ordination had become Patteson's immediate object. As has + been already said, his work was marked out. There was a hamlet of the + parish of Ottery St. Mary, at a considerable distance from the church and + town, and named Alfington. + </p> + <p> + Some time previously, the family of Sir John Kennaway had provided the + place with a school, which afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. Justice + Coleridge, who, in 1849, there built the small church of St. James, with + parsonage, school, and house, on a rising ground overlooking the valley of + Honiton, almost immediately opposite to Feniton; and, at the same time, + took on himself the expenses of the curacy and school, for the vicar of + the parish, the Rev. Dr. Cornish, formerly master of Ottery School. + </p> + <p> + The first curate of Alfington was Judge Coleridge's son Henry, the + well-known author of the beautiful Life of St. Francis Xavier. On his + leaving our communion, it was his father's wish that Coleridge Patteson + should take the cure; and, until his ordination, it was committed + temporarily to other hands, in especial to the Rev. Henry Gardiner, who + was much beloved there. In the spring of 1853, he had a long and dangerous + illness, when Coley came to nurse him, and became so much attached to him, + that his influence and unconscious training became of great importance. + The church was served by such clerical friends as could give their + assistance on Sunday, and the pastoral care, attention to the school, + cottage visiting, &c., became the employment of the candidate for Holy + Orders, who thus began his work under the direction of his disabled + friend. + </p> + <p> + A letter to his sister shows how he plunged into the drudgery of the + parish, doing that which always cost him most, namely, administering + rebukes; so that it was no wonder that he wrote with a sort of elation at + having lashed himself up to the point of giving a thorough warning:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton: July 19, 1853. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—I am going to Thorverton to-day to stay till + Thursday. Gardiner came downstairs on Sunday, and again yesterday, and is + making very rapid strides towards perfect recovery. He even went out + yesterday for a few minutes. So I don't mind leaving him in the least; and + indeed he is going to Sidmouth himself, probably at the end of the week. I + have seen him every day without one exception, and have learnt a very + great deal from him. He has studied very closely school work, condition of + the labourer, boys' homes, best method of dispensing charity, &c., and + on all these points his advice has been really invaluable. I feel now that + I am quite to all intents working the district. People ask me about their + children coming to school. I know almost all the people in the village, + and a good many out of it, and begin to understand, in a very small way, + what a clergyman's life is. A mixture of sorrow and pleasure indeed! There + are many very sad cases of hypocrisy, filthiness, and wickedness (as I + suppose there are in every district); and yesterday I had a very + hard-working and in one case most painful day. + </p> + <p> + 'Some people had asked me to take their boy, three years and a half old, + to school—a wretched pair, with a little savage for a son. I said I + would speak to Miss Wilkins, and put plainly before her the character of + parents and child. However, she wished to have him, and I knew it was so + far well to get the boy away from home. But such a scene ensued! The boy + was really like a little savage; kicked, dashed his head against the wall, + and at length, with his nose bleeding violently, exhausted with his + violence, fell asleep. Next day, he is so bad, he is sent home; when the + mother drives him back to school, cursing and swearing, telling Miss + Wilkins she may kill him if she pleases! Unluckily, I was not in school. + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday he was in school and more quiet, but did not kneel down at + prayers, and seemed like a little beast beginning to be tamed. So, after + school, I called him to me, and putting him before my knees asked him some + questions very kindly: "Did he know who God was? Had he never been taught + to kneel down and say his prayers? Of course he had not, but it gave me + the proper opportunity of speaking to his parents. So having now + considered the matter for two or three days previously, having ascertained + all the facts about the people, after an hour among some others in the + village, I went right into their cottage, and luckily found father and + mother and grandmother at home, besides one or two more (who are lodgers) + in a room adjoining, with the door open. 'I am come to talk to you about + William,' I began, whereupon I saw the woman turn quite red. However, I + spoke for about ten minutes slowly and very quietly, without any + appearance (as I believe) of anger or passion at all, but yet speaking my + mind quite plainly. "I had no idea any child could be so neglected. Did + they suppose the school was a place where any parent might send a child + merely to get it out of the way (of course they do, you know, most of + them)? Was it possible that a child could be made good as if by magic + there, when it learns nothing but wicked words at home? Do you think you + can or ought to get rid of the duties you owe your child? Do you suppose + that God will not require from you an account of the way you have behaved + towards him, you who have never taught him to know who God is, what God + is, what is prayer, what is the church, who have taught that little mouth, + which God created for praise and blessings, to curse and blaspheme? I know + that many children do and say wicked things, but it is in most cases owing + to the neglect of their parents, who do not speak kindly to their + children, and do what they can to keep them out of temptation, but this is + a different case. Your boy is not fit to come into the company of little + Christians! Awful as it is to think of, he is already, at his early age, + the very dread of the parents who live near you." + </p> + <p> + 'They had not a word to say, not a syllable beyond the objection which I + had already met, that other children were bad too. I did not say what I + might have said with truth, because it is only from Gardiner's report, not + from my own knowledge—viz., that neither father nor mother ever come + to church, and that their house is the centre of evil to the young people + of the village. + </p> + <p> + '"Now," I said, in conclusion, "I fully meant to send back your boy, and + tell you I would examine him six months hence, to see if he was fit to be + brought into the school, but as I do trust he may behave better, and that + this may be the means of recovering him from this sad state, I shall take + him still, unless he behaves again very badly. But remember this—this + is the turning point in the boy's life, and all, humanly speaking, depends + on the example you set him. What an awful thing it would be, if it pleased + God to take him away from you now, and a fit of measles, scarlatina, or + any such illness, may do it any day! Remember that you are responsible to + a very great extent for your child; that unless it sees you watchful over + your thoughts, words, and actions; unless it sees you regular and devout + in prayer at home (I don't believe they ever think of such a thing—God + forgive me, if I am wrong); unless it sees you habitually in your place in + God's house, you are not doing your duty to yourselves or your child, you + are not laying up any hope or comfort whatever for the day of your + sickness and death. Now I hope you clearly understand me. I have spoken + plainly—exactly what I think, and what I mean to act upon. You know + now the sort of person you have to deal with. Good morning,"—and + thereupon I marched out, amazed at my own pluck, and heartily glad that I + had said what I wished, and felt I ought to say. + </p> + <p> + 'But I need hardly tell you that this left me in a state of no slight + excitement, and that I should be much comforted by hearing what you and + Father and Joan think of my behaviour. + </p> + <p> + 'Meanwhile, there are some very nice people; I dearly love some of the + boys and girls; and I do pray that this plan of a boys' home may save some + from contamination. I, seated with Sanders last night, found him and his + wife very hearty about it. I have only mentioned it to three people, but I + rather wish it to be talked about a little now, that they may be curious, + &c., to know exactly what I mean to do. The two cottages, with plenty + of room for the Fley's family and eight boys, with half an acre of garden + at £11. 5s. the year. I shall of course begin with only one or two boys—the + thing may not answer at all; but everyone, Gardiner, several farmers, and + two or three others, quite poor, in different places, all say it must work + well, with God's blessing. I do not really wish to be scheming away, + working a favourite hobby, &c., but I do believe this to be absolutely + essential. The profligacy and impurity of the poor is beyond all belief. + Every mother of a family answers (I mean every honest respectable mother + of a family): "Oh sir, God will bless such a work, and it is for want of + this that so much misery and wretchedness abound." I believe that for a + year or so it will exhaust most of my money, but then it is one of the + best uses to which I can apply it; for my theory is, that help and + assistance is wanted in this way, and I would wish to make most of these + things self-supporting. Half an acre more of garden, thoroughly well + worked, will yield an astonishing return, and I look to Mary as a person + of really economical habits. It is a great relief to have poured all this + out. It is no easy task that I am preparing for myself. I know that I + fully expect to be very much disappointed, but I am determined to try it. + I am determined to try and make the people see that I am not going to give + way to everybody that asks; but that I am going to set on foot and help on + all useful industrial schemes of every kind, for people of every age. I am + hard at work, studying spade husbandry, inspectors' reports of industrial + schools, &c. I am glad you are all so happy. I am so busy. Best love + to all. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + Coley was thus already serving a vigorous apprenticeship in pastoral work, + while preparing himself for receiving deacon's orders. It was a trying + time both to his family and himself, for, as before said, his standard was + very high, and his own strong habit of self-contemplation made his + dissatisfaction with himself manifest in his manner to those nearest to + him. He was always gentle and unselfish; not showing temper, but + unhappiness. + </p> + <p> + Here are letters showing a good deal of his state of mind: the first only + dated 'Saturday evening,' but evidently written about this time, in reply + to the cautions with which his sister had replied to the above letter of + eager plans of improvement. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—Your letter has just reached me from Honiton, and I + have read it with very great interest. I liked it better on a second + perusal of it, which showed in itself that I wanted it, for it is quite + true that I require to be reminded of the only true principle upon which + one ought to work; and I allow quite willingly that I trace interested + motives—e.g., love of self-approval or applause in actions where + such feelings ought least of all to enter. I certainly did feel pleased + with myself for speaking plainly to those people, and I often find myself + indulging the notion that I am going to be a very hard-working clergyman, + with a remedy for all the evils of the age, &c. If I was to hunt about + for an excuse, I might perhaps find one, by saying that I am in that state + of mind which attends always, I suppose, the anticipation of any great + crisis in a person's life; sometimes hard work and hard thought, sometimes + (though alas! very seldom) a real sense of the very awful responsibility + of ministering in the Church, sometimes a less natural urging of the mind + to contemplate and realise this responsibility. I was for some time + reading Wilberforce's new book, and this involved an examination of the + question in other writers; but lately I have laid all controversial works + aside almost entirely, and have been reading Pearson, Bull, and the + Apostolical Fathers, Clement and Ignatius. I shall probably read Justin + Martyr's Apologies, and some treatises of Tertullian before next month is + over. I have read some part already. There is such a very strong practical + element in these very early writings that they ought to soothe and calm + the mind; but I cannot honestly conceal the fact that the theological + interest for the most part outweighs the practical teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'My light reading is of a new and very amusing and interesting character—viz., + books on school economy, management of school farms, allotments, the + modern dairy, spade husbandry, agricultural chemistry. K, W, F, C, and G, + and I have great talks; and as they all agree with me, I think them + capital judges. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't think at all that my present state of mind is quite natural. You + quite repeat my own words when you say it is transitory. A calm + undisturbed spirit of prayer and peace and contentment is a great gift of + God, and to be waited for with patience. The motto of "The Christian Year" + is very beautiful. I sent the roses on Tuesday. My best love to dear + Father and Joan. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + These words 'love of self-approval' perfectly analysed that snare of + Coley's early life, against which he so endeavoured to guard—not + self-conceit, but love of self-approval. + </p> + <p> + So the Easter week drew on, and during it he writes to his cousin:— + </p> + <p> + 'Friday, Wallis Lodgings, Exeter: September, 1853. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Sophy,—We have had a good examination, I think; perhaps + rather harder than I expected. Woolecombe and Chancellor Harrington spoke + to me this morning, thanking me for my papers, and telling me to read the + Gospel at the Ordination. + </p> + <p> + 'I did feel very nervous last Sunday and Monday, and the Ember Prayer in + the morning (when I was at Ottery) fairly upset me, but I don't think + anybody saw it; now, I am thankful to say, I am very well, and feel + thoroughly happy. I shall be nervous, no doubt, on Sunday, and especially + at reading the Gospel, but not I think so nervous as to break down or do + anything foolish; so when you know I am reading—for you won't hear + me, if you are in the stalls, don't distress yourself about me. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't tell what it was that upset me so on Sunday and Monday—thinking + of dear Mamma and how she had wished for this, the overwhelming kindness + of everybody about me, dear Father's simple words of very affectionate + comfort and advice. + </p> + <p> + 'But I walked into Exeter, and on the way got quite calm, and so I have + been ever since. It is not strange that the realising the near approach of + what I have for years wished for, and looked forward to, should at times + come upon me with such force that I seem scarcely master of myself; but it + is only excitement of feeling, and ought, I know, to be repressed, not for + a moment to be entertained as a test of one's religious state, being by no + means a desirable thing. I am very glad the examination is over. I did not + worry myself about it, but it was rather hard work, and now I have my time + to myself for quiet thought and meditation. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever, dear Sophy, your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The next evening he writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Saturday, 5.45 P.M. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—I must write my last letter as a layman to you. + I can't tell you the hundredth part of the thoughts that have been passing + through my mind this week. There has been no return of the excitement that + I experienced last Sunday and Monday, and I have been very happy and well. + </p> + <p> + 'To-day my eyes are not comfortable, from I know not what cause, but as + all the work for them is over, it does not matter so much. I am glad to + have had a quiet time for reflection. Indeed, I do not enough realise my + great unworthiness and sinfulness, and the awful nature of the work I am + undertaking. I pray God very earnestly for the great grace of humility, + which I so sadly need: and for a spirit of earnest prayer, that I may be + preserved from putting trust in myself, and may know and forget myself in + my office and work. I never could be fit for such work, I know that, and + yet I am very thankful that the time for it has come. I do not feel + excited, yet I am somewhat nervous because it requires an effort to + meditate steadily. I have thought so much of my early life, of dearest + Mamma. What a snare it seems, so full of transitory earthly plans and + pursuits; such a want of earnestness of purpose and steady performance of + duty! God grant my life as a clergyman may be more innocent to myself, and + more useful to others! Tell dear Joan the gown came this morning. My kind + love to her, Fan, and Jem. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever, my dearest Father, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + On the ensuing day, Sunday, September 14, 1853, John Coleridge Patteson + received the Diaconate at the hands of the venerable Bishop Phillpotts, in + Exeter Cathedral. His being selected to read the Gospel was the proof of + his superiority in the examination—no wonder, considering the two + additional years that he had spent in preparation, and the deep study and + searchings of heart of the last few months. + </p> + <p> + He was established in a small house at Alfington—the usual + habitation of the Curate. And of his first sermon there, his uncle, Sir + John Coleridge, gives the following touching description from his diary:— + </p> + <p> + 'October 23, 1853.—Yesterday morning Arthur and I went to Alfington + Church, to be present at Coley's first sermon. I don't know when I have + been so much delighted and affected. His manner of saying the prayers was + exceedingly good: his voice very sweet and musical; without seeming loud, + it was fully audible, and gave assurance of more power if needed: his + manner quite unaffected, but sweet and devout. His sermon was a very sound + and good one, beautifully delivered; perhaps in the early parts, from the + very sweetness of his voice, and the very rapid delivery of his words, a + little more variety of intonation would have helped in conveying his + meaning more distinctly to those who formed the bulk of his congregation. + But when he came to personal parts this was not needed. He made a kind + allusion to me, very affecting to me; and when I was in this mood, and he + came to the personal parts, touching himself and his new congregation, + what he knew he ought to be to them and to do for them, what they should + do for themselves, and earnestly besought their prayers, I was completely + overcome, and weeping profusely. + </p> + <p> + Fanny Patteson and Arthur Coleridge were sitting with the Judge, and were + equally overcome. When the service was over, and the congregation + dispersed, Coley joined these three in the porch, holding out his hands, + taking theirs and shedding tears, and they with him—tears of warm + emotion too deep for words. He was evidently surprised at the effect + produced. In fact, on looking at the sermon, it does not seem to have been + in itself remarkable, but as his cousin Arthur says: 'I suppose the deep + spirituality of the man, and the love we bore him for years, touched the + emotional part of us.' The text was significant: 'We preach not ourselves, + but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake' (2 + Cor. iv. 5). + </p> + <p> + The services that the newly-ordained Deacon undertook were the ordinary + Sunday ones, and Wednesday and Friday Matins and Litany, Saints'-day + prayers and lecture, and an Advent and Lent Evensong and lecture on + Wednesdays and Fridays. These last had that great popularity which attends + late services. Dr. Cornish used to come on one Sunday in the month to + celebrate the Holy Communion (which is given weekly in the mother Church); + and when Mr. Grardiner was able to be at Sidmouth, recovering from his + illness, he used to come over on the second Sunday in the month for the + same purpose; and the next Lent, the Matins were daily, and followed by a + lecture. + </p> + <p> + At this time Patteson's constitutional shrinking from general society was + in full force, and he also had that dislike to 'speaking to' people in the + way of censure, which so often goes with tender and refined natures, + however strong; so that if his housekeeper needed a reproof, he would make + his sister administer it, and creep out of reach himself; but this was one + of the deficiencies with which he was struggling all his life, and + fortunately it is a fact that the most effective lectures usually come + from those to whom they cost the most. + </p> + <p> + This was the hardest part of his ministry. Where kindness and attention + were needed, nothing could be more spontaneous, sweet, or winning than his + ways. One of his parishioners, a farmer's daughter, writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Our personal knowledge of him began some months before his Ordination, + owing, I suppose, to Mr. Gardiner's severe illness; and as he was very + much respected, Mr. Patteson's attentions won from the first our + admiration and gratitude, which went on and on until it deepened into that + love which I do not think could have been surpassed by the Galatians for + their beloved St. Paul, which he records in his Epistle to them (chap. iv. + 15). All were waiting for him at his Ordination, and a happy delusion + seemed to have come over the minds of most, if not all, that he was as + completely ours as if he had been ordained expressly for us.' + </p> + <p> + It was not his own feeling, for he knew that when his apprenticeship + should be past, the place was too small, and the work too easy, for a man + in full force and vigour, though for the sake of his father he was glad to + accept it for the present, to train himself in the work, and to have full + time for study; but he at that time looked to remaining in England during + his father's lifetime, and perhaps transferring himself to Manchester, + Liverpool, London, or some large city, where there was need of mission + work among the neglected. + </p> + <p> + His father was on the City of London Charter Commission, and was in London + from November to February, the daughters joining him there, but there was + no lack of friends around Alfington. Indeed it was in the midst of an + absolute clan of Coleridges, and in Buckerell parish, at Deerpark, that + great old soldier, Lord Seaton, was spending the few years that passed + between his Commissioner-ship in the Ionian Isles and his Commandership in + Ireland. + </p> + <p> + He was connected with the Coleridges through the Yonge family, and the + young people were all on familiar cousinly terms. Coley was much liked by + him; and often joined in the rides through the lanes and to the hills with + him and his daughters, when there were many conversations of much + interest, as there could not fail to be with a man who had never held a + government without doing his utmost to promote God's work in the Church + and for education; who had, moreover, strong opinions derived from + experience of the Red Indians in Upper Canada—namely, that to + reclaim the young, and educate them was the only hope of making + Christianity take root in any fresh nation. + </p> + <p> + It was at Deerpark, at a dinner in the late autumn of this year 1853, that + I saw Coley Patteson for the second and last time. I had seen him before + in a visit of three days that I made at Feniton with my parents in the + September of 1844, when he was an Eton boy, full of high spirits and + merriment. I remember then, on the Sunday, that he and I accompanied our + two fathers on a walk to the afternoon service at Ottery, and that on the + way he began to show something of his inner self, and talked of his mother + and her pleasure in Feniton; but it began to rain, and I stayed for the + night at Heaths Court, so that our acquaintance ceased for that time. It + was not a formal party at Deerpark, and the evening was chiefly spent in + playing at games, thread paper verses and the like, in which Coley took + his part with spirit. If I had guessed what he was to be, I should have + observed him more; but though, in after years, our intercourse in letters + makes us feel intimate with one another, these two brief meetings comprise + the whole of my personal acquaintance with one in whom I then only saw a + young clergyman with his heart in his work. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps this is the best place to mention his personal appearance, as the + portrait at the beginning of this volume was taken not more than a year + later. + </p> + <p> + He was tall and of a large powerful frame, broad in the chest and + shoulders, and with small neat hands and feet, with more of sheer muscular + strength and power of endurance than of healthiness, so that though seldom + breaking down and capable of undergoing a great deal of fatigue and + exertion, he was often slightly ailing, and was very sensitive to cold. + His complexion was very dark, and there was a strongly marked line between + the cheeks and mouth, the corners of which drooped when at rest, so that + it was a countenance peculiarly difficult to photograph successfully. The + most striking feature was his eyes, which were of a very dark clear blue, + full of an unusually deep earnest, and so to speak, inward, yet far away + expression. His smile was remarkably bright, sweet and affectionate, like + a gleam of sunshine, and was one element of his great attractiveness. So + was his voice, which had the rich full sweetness inherited from his + mother's family, and which always excited a winning influence over the + hearers. Thus, though not a handsome man, he was more than commonly + engaging, exciting the warmest affection in all who were concerned with + him, and giving in return an immense amount of interest and sympathy, + which only became intensified to old friends while it expanded towards new + ones. Here is a letter to his father, undated, but written not long after + his settling down at Alfington. After expressing his regret that his voice + had been inaudible to his sister Joanna at a Friday evening service, he + proceeds:— + </p> + <p> + 'I did not speak very loud, because I don't think I could do so and at the + same time keep my mind at work and thoughts collected. Anything which is + so unnatural and unusual as to make me conscious of myself in a peculiar + manner would prevent, I fear, my getting on with my oration at all. + </p> + <p> + 'I am glad you think I could not have acted otherwise with E—-. I + quite expect ere long to find something going on which may call for my + interference, and I specially guarded myself on this point. It is + distinctly understood that I shall speak to him quite plainly whenever and + wherever I think it necessary to do so. I do not suppose it very likely + that he can go on long without my being forced to take some step; but I + really feel so very unequal to expressing a decided opinion upon the great + question of Bible readers, that I am certainly glad I have not taken up a + hostile position hastily. As a matter of fact, he reads in very few + cottages in my district; tracts he distributes almost everywhere. + </p> + <p> + 'Now I see of course the distinction between a man making it his business + to read the Bible and neighbours dropping in occasionally to read a + chapter to one who is unable to read, but where you are distinctly told + that the wish is most decidedly to support the clergyman, and answers not + unsatisfactory are given upon main points, what difference remains between + the two cases I have put that can furnish matter for fair argument, with a + man from education, &c., disposed to take a different view of the + whole question? Add to this, that I cannot appeal to the universal + practice of the clergy. "Why," might it be said, "do you, as a clergyman + find a difficulty where Mr. H. finds none? You are, after all, acting on + your own private opinion, though you lay claim to authority for it." I + cannot successfully appeal to the distinctive teaching of our Church, + clear and manifest as it is, for the very words I think conclusive contain + no such evidence for him, and so on ad infinitum. Besides, to speak quite + what I feel at present, though only so perhaps because my view is + necessarily unformed, the natural order of things in such a district as + this seems to be: gain the affections of the people by gentleness and + showing real interest in their welfare, spiritual and temporal; show them + in the Bible such teaching as the Church considers necessary (but not as + yet upon the authority of the Church, or at least not so expressed to + them); lead them gradually to the acknowledgment of such truths as these: + that Christ did found a society called the Church, and appoint to certain + persons whom he sent the Ministry of reconciliation; that if we have no + guide but mere opinion, there will be thousands of conflicting opinions in + the world even among good men, whereas Truth can be but one, and that + practically this is found to be so; that it is no argument to say, that + the Spirit so operated as to enlighten the reason of each individual to + this extent, viz., that it may compose a Creed for him or herself; that + the Spirit acts now in the ordinary, though not less real and heavenly + manner; and that the infinite divisions among sectaries proves the fact to + be as I state it. + </p> + <p> + 'Thus I imagine the want of that external and visible Church will be felt + as necessary to fix the Creeds pasa katadike. + </p> + <p> + 'But to reverse this process, to cram positive teaching down their throats + upon the authority of the Church before they know what the Church is, or + feel the need of any power outside (so to speak) their own minds to guide + them, does seem to me in a place like this (humanly speaking) suicidal. I + cannot, of course, tell how much preparatory teaching they have received, + but I must judge from what I see and hear, and deal accordingly in each + cottage. Some few there are to whom I can speak, as to Church people in + the real sense of the word, but these are as two or three in a hundred. + </p> + <p> + 'One line to say whether you think me right or wrong, would be a great + comfort to me. I feel no tendency to latitudinarianism, but only to see + much good in systems unrecognised by your very highflyers. I believe that + the Church teaching is represented in an unfavourable, often offensive, + light to many of our poor, because they hear words and see things which + find no response in their hearts; because they are told, ordered almost, + to believe things the propriety of believing which they do not recognise; + because the existence of wants is implied when they have never been felt, + and a system for supplying them introduced which finds no room in the + understanding or affections of the patient. + </p> + <p> + 'But you know, dear Father, what I mean, without more dusky attempts at + explaining myself. + </p> + <p> + 'Do not many High Churchmen want a little more "experimental religion" in + Bishop Jebb's sense of the terms: not a religion of the feelings, but a + religion brought home to the heart, and truly felt so as to prohibit any + systematic criticism of the feelings? + </p> + <p> + 'I am late this week with my sermons, I have not begun either of them, and + may have one to-morrow evening if my voice will do its part. I write very + long washy concerns, and find it difficult to do otherwise, for it is a + good pull upon me week after week, and latterly I have not been able to + read very much. I shall look out two or three that I think fair specimens, + and ask you by-and-by to run your eye over them, that you may point out + the defects. + </p> + <p> + 'My ignorance of the Bible astonishes me, though not so much as it ought + to do. I purpose, D.V., to commence a thorough study of the original + texts. I must try to become something of a scholar, at all events, to make + any progress in the work. I sometimes hope that, in spite of my many + backslidings and broken resolutions, some move is taking place within, + where most it is wanted; but I live here so quietly, that I have little + (comparatively) food for some special faults. Good-bye, my dear Father, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + 'Some move taking place within!' It is impossible not to pause and observe + how as Confirmation and Communion had almost palpably strengthened the + boy's struggles with his inherent faults, so the grace conferred with the + Deacon's orders is now felt to be lifting him higher, and enabling him to + see further than he has yet seen. + </p> + <p> + Sermons were, however, never Patteson's forte. Though his pen flowed so + freely in letters, and he could pour out his heart extemporaneously with + great depth, fervour and simplicity, his sermons were laboured and + metaphysical, as if he had taken too much pains with them as it were, and + he could not speak to the abstract, as he could to the individual, or when + he saw the effect of his words. It was perhaps owing to the defective + system which threw two sermons a week upon a young deacon at a time when + his mind was working through such an experimental course of study and + thought. Yet his people, who had learnt to believe in little but + preaching, would not have come to prayers alone; and the extemporary + addresses, in which he would probably have been much more successful, + would have seemed to him at his age and at that period—twenty years + back—too presumptuous to be attempted, at any rate till he had + better learnt his ground. How his system would have succeeded, we cannot + tell. The nature of the peasantry of the county he had to deal with is, to + be quick-witted, argumentative, and ready of retort; open to religious + impressions, but with much of self-opinion and conceit, and not much + reverence, and often less conscientious in matters of honesty and morality + than denser rustics of less apparent piety. The Church had for a + long-period been at a peculiarly low ebb in the county, and there is not a + neighbourhood which has not traditions of incredibly ignorant, careless + and underbred—if not dissipated—clergy; and though there were + grand exceptions, they were only respected as men; faith in the whole + system, as a system, was destroyed. Bishop Phillpotts, coming down on such + elements as these, was, in spite of his soundness of faith and grand + trenchant force of character, better as a warrior than as a shepherd, and + the controversial and political sides of his character, though invaluable + to the Church, did not recommend him to the affections of the people of + his diocese, who could not understand the points of the debate, and wanted + the direct evidence of spirituality which they could appreciate. + </p> + <p> + The cholera of 1832 had been especially terrible in the unwholesome + precincts of the Devonshire seaports, and the effect was a great craving + for religion. The Church was in no condition to avail herself of it; in + fact, she would have viewed it with distrust as excitement. Primitive + Methodism and Plymouth Brethrenism supplied the void, gave opportunities + of prayer, and gratified the quickened longing for devotion; and therewith + arose that association of the Church with deadness and of Dissent with + life, which infected even the most carefully tended villages, and with + which Patteson was doing his best to contend at Alfington. The stage of + gaining the people's affection and confidence, and of quickening their + religious life, he had attained; and the further work of teaching them + that the Church alone gives security of saving union with Christ, was yet + to come when his inward call led him elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + On the 12th of December he says:— + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday was a very happy day; Gardiner came to help me and he + administered the Holy Communion to twenty-seven or twenty-eight of my own + people. This is nearly double the average before I came, and two regular + attendants are prevented by sickness from being at Church. I trust I have + not urged the necessity of communicating unwisely upon them. I preach on + it once a month, as you know, and in almost every sermon allude to it, and + where occasion offers, speak about it to individuals at home; but I try to + put before them the great awfulness of it as well as the danger of + neglecting it, and I warn them against coming without feeling really + satisfied from what I read to them, and they read in the Bible concerning + it. Six came yesterday for the first time.... Old William (seventy-five + years of age), who has never been a communicant, volunteered on Thursday + to come, if I thought it right. He is, and always has been (I am told), a + thoroughly respectable, sober, industrious man, regular at Church once a + day; and I went to his cottage with a ticket in my pocket to urge him to + consider the danger of going on as if content with what he did and without + striving to press onwards, &c. But, after a long conversation on other + matters, he said; "I should like, Sir, to come to the Sacrament, if you + have no objection;" and very happy and thankful I felt, for I had prayed + very earnestly that this old man might be led thither by God's grace, and + now it was done without any urging on my part, beyond what he heard in + Church and what I had said to his daughter about him.' + </p> + <p> + The next of his letters is occupied with the pecuniary affairs of his + lodging house for farm boys, and the obtaining of ground where they might + grow vegetables for their own use. + </p> + <p> + In February his family returned home, and his sister Fanny thus speaks of + him to a friend:— + </p> + <p> + 'He does not look well; and at first we were quite uneasy, for his eyes + were heavy and puffed, but he is much better, and confesses that dinners + and evenings here do him good, though he quite denies the starving, and + Mrs. Knowles also. She says he gets over anxious in mind, and was + completely chilled the week he sat in the hall. No doubt his house is + still both cold and damp, and the Church the same, and therefore the + labour of reading and preaching is very great. We are by degrees + interesting him in our winter life, having heard all his performances and + plans; and he is very glad to have us back, though much too busy to have + missed us when we were away. Now he has daily morning service, with a + lecture; and if it lasts, the impression he has made is really + extraordinary. We may well pray that he should not be vain of his works. + There are men whose whole lives seem changed, if I am to believe what I + hear.' + </p> + <p> + Such was the young Deacon's early success. With an affectionate brother + close at hand, and friends within easy reach, his Fellowship preserving + his connection with Oxford, his father's and brother's profession with + London, in fact, all England could offer; and he would easily have it in + his power to take fresh holidays on the Continent and enjoy those delights + of scenery, architecture, art and music, which he loved with an + appreciation and enthusiasm that could easily have become an absorbing + passion. Who could have a smoother, easier, pleasanter career open to him + than the Rev. John Coleridge Patteson at six and twenty? + </p> + <p> + Yet even then, the wish breathed to his mother, at fourteen, that he might + devote himself to the cause of the heathen, lay deep in his heart; + although for the present, he was, as it were, waiting to see what God + would have him do, whether his duty to his father required him to remain + at hand, or whether he might be called to minister in some great English + manufacturing town. + </p> + <p> + Early in 1854, it became known that the Bishop of New Zealand and Mrs. + Selwyn were about to spend a year in England. Coley's aspirations to + mission work were renewed. The thoughts excited by the sermons he had + heard at Eton twelve years previously grew in force. He remembered his + mother's promise of her blessing, and seriously considered of offering + himself to assist in the work in the Southern Hemisphere. He discussed the + matter seriously with his friend, Mr. Gardiner, who was strongly of + opinion that the scheme ought not to be entertained during his father's + lifetime. He acquiesced; but if his heart and mind were convinced, his + soul and spirit were not, and the yearnings for the forefront of the + battle were not quenched, though there was no slackening of zeal over the + present little flock, to make them suspect that he had a thought beyond. + </p> + <p> + Old ties of friendship already mentioned made the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn + promise to spend a few days at Feniton; and on the 19th of August the New + Zealand guests arrived at Feniton. After joining in the family welcome, + Coley went apart, and gave way to a great burst of tears, due, perhaps, + not so mueh to disappointed ardour, as to the fervent emotion excited by + the actual presence of a hero of the Church Militant, who had so long been + the object of deep silent enthusiasm. The next morning, Coley walked from + Alfington to breakfast at home, and afterwards went into the garden with + the Bishop, who led him to talk freely of his present work in all its + details. By-and-by the question arose, Did it satisfy him? + </p> + <p> + Yes, the being near his father satisfied him that it was right for the + present, but at some future time, he hoped to do more, go perhaps to some + great manufacturing town, or, as he could not help going on to say, what + he should like would be to go out as a missionary, only the thought of his + father withheld him. + </p> + <p> + 'But,' replied the Bishop, 'if you think about doing a thing of that sort, + it should not be put off till you are getting on in life. It should be + done with your full strength and vigour.' + </p> + <p> + Then followed an endeavour on both sides to ascertain whether the + inclination was a real earnest desire, or only fancy for the romance of + mission work. The test might be whether he were willing to go wherever he + might be sent, or only where he was most interested. Coley replied, that + he was willing to work anywhere, adding that his sister Fanny could + testify whether his desire were a real one of long standing or the mere + outcome of a fit of enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + Therewith they separated, and Coley, going straight to Fanny, told her + what had passed: 'I could not help it,' he said:—'I told the Bishop + of my wish.' + </p> + <p> + 'You ought to put it to my father, that he may decide it,' she answered; + 'he is so great a man that he ought not to be deprived of the crown of the + sacrifice if he be willing to make it.' + </p> + <p> + So Coley repaired to his father, and confessed his long cherished wish, + and how it had come forth to the Bishop. Sir John was manifestly startled; + but at once said: 'You have done quite right to speak to me, and not to + wait. It is my first impulse to say No, but that would be very selfish.' + </p> + <p> + Coley explained that he was 'driven to speak;' he declared himself not + dissatisfied with his present position, nor he hoped, impatient. If his + staying at home were decided upon, he would cheerfully work on there + without disappointment or imagining his wishes thwarted. He would leave + the decision entirely in the hands of his father and the Bishop. + </p> + <p> + Luncheon brought the whole family together; and Sir John, making room for + his younger daughter beside him, said, 'Fan, did you know this about + Coley?' + </p> + <p> + She answered that she had some idea, but no more could pass till the meal + was ended; when her father went into another room, and she followed him. + The great grief broke out in the exclamation: 'I can't let him go;' but + even as the words were uttered, they were caught back, as it were, with—'God + forbid I should stop him.' + </p> + <p> + The subject could not be pursued, for the Bishop was public property among + the friends and neighbours, and the rest of the day was bestowed upon + them. He preached on the Sunday at Alfington, where the people thronged to + hear him, little thinking of the consequences of his visit. + </p> + <p> + Not till afterwards were the Bishop and the father alone together, when + Sir John brought the subject forward. The Bishop has since said that what + struck him most was the calm balancing of arguments, like a true Christian + Judge. Sir John spoke of the great comfort he had in this son, cut off as + he was by his infirmity from so much of society, and enjoying the young + man's coming in to talk about his work. He dwelt on all with entire + absence of excitement, and added: 'But there, what right have I to stand + in his way? How do I know that I may live another year?' + </p> + <p> + And as the conversation ended, 'Mind!' he said; 'I give him wholly, not + with any thought of seeing him again. I will not have him thinking he must + come home again to see me.' + </p> + <p> + That resolution was the cause of much peace of mind to both father and + son. After family prayers that Sunday night, when all the rest had gone + upstairs, the Bishop detained the young man, and told him the result of + the conversation, then added: 'Now, my dear Coley, having ascertained your + own state of mind and having spoken at length to your father and your + family, I can no longer hesitate, as far as you recognise any power to + call on my part, to invite you most distinctly to the work.' + </p> + <p> + The reply was full acceptance. + </p> + <p> + Then taking his hand, the Bishop said, 'God bless you, my dear Coley! It + is a great comfort to me to have you for a friend and companion.' + </p> + <p> + Such was the outward and such the inward vocation to the Deacon now within + a month of the Priesthood. Was it not an evident call from Him by whom the + whole Church is governed and sanctified? And surely the noble old man, who + forced himself not to withhold 'his son, his firstborn son,' received his + crown from Him who said: 'With blessing I will bless thee.' + </p> + <p> + And he wrote to his brother:— + </p> + <p> + 'August 21. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear old Jem,—I have news for you of an unexpected and startling + kind; about myself: and I am afraid that it will cause you some pain to + hear what I am to tell you. You must know that for years I have felt a + strong leaning toward missionary work, and though my proceedings at + Alfington and even the fact of going thither might seem to militate + against such a notion, yet the feeling has been continually present to me, + and constantly exercising an increasing influence over me. I trust I have + not taken an enthusiastic or romantic view of things; my own firm hope and + trust is that I have decided upon calm deliberate conviction, and it is + some proof of this, that Fanny and Joan have already guessed my state of + mind, and months ago anticipated what has now taken place.... And so, dear + Jem, you must help them all to bear what will of course be a great trial. + This is my trial also; for it is hard to bear the thought that I may be + giving unnecessary pain and causing distress without really having + considered sufficiently the whole matter. But then I think God does not + call now by an open vision; this thought has been for years working in my + mind: it was His providence that brought me into contact with the Bishop + in times past, and has led me to speak now. I cannot doubt this. I feel + sure that if I was alone in the world I should go; the only question that + remains is, "am I bound to stay for my dear Father's sake, or for the sake + of you all?" and this has been answered for me by Father and the Bishop. + And now, my dear Jem, think well over my character, sift it thoroughly, + and try to see what there is which may have induced me to act wrongly in a + matter of so much consequence. This is the kindest thing you can do; for + we ought to take every precaution not to make a mistake before it is too + late. Speak out quite plainly; do tell me distinctly as far as you can see + them my prevailing faults, what they were in boyhood at Eton, and at + College. It may help me to contemplate more clearly and truly the prospect + before me. We shall have many opportunities, I trust, of discussing all + this by-and-by. I shall tell Uncle John, because some arrangements must be + made about Alfington as soon as may be. My tutor knows something about it + already; it will soon be known to more. But do not suppose that I imagine + myself better qualified for this work than hundreds of others more + earnest, and infinitely more unselfish, and practically good; but I have + received an invitation to a peculiar work, which is not offered to many + others. We must all look onwards: we must try to think of this world as + but a short moment in our existence; our real life and home is beyond the + grave. On September 24th I hope to be ordained Priest; think of me and + pray for me, my dear old fellow, that God will give me more of your own + unselfishness and care and interest for others, and teach me to act not + according to my own will and pleasure, but solely with a view to His + honour and glory. God bless you, my dear old Jem, my dear, dear brother. + </p> + <p> + 'Your most loving brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P. + </h5> + <p> + From that moment the matter was treated as fixed; and only three days + later, the intention was announced to the relations at Thorverton. + </p> + <p> + This is the letter to the little fatherless cousin, Paulina Martyn, who + had always been devoted to Coley, and whom he loved with a triple portion + of the affection children always gained from him. She was only eight years + old, but had the precocity of solitary children much attended to by their + elders:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton: August 24, 1854. + </p> + <p> + 'My darling Pena,—I am going to tell you a secret, and I am afraid + it is one which will make you feel very sorry for a little while. Do you + remember my talking to you one day after breakfast rather gravely, and + telling you afterwards it was my first sermon to you? Well, my darling, I + was trying to hint to you that you must not expect to go on very long in + this world without troubles and trials, and that the use of them is to + make us think more about God and about Heaven, and to remember that our + real and unchangeable happiness is not to be found in this world, but in + the next. It was rather strange for me to say all this to a bright happy + good child like you, and I told you that you ought to be bright and happy, + and to thank God for making you so. It is never right for us to try to + make ourselves sad and grieve. Good people and good children are cheerful + and happy, although they may have plenty of trials and troubles. You see + how quietly and patiently Mamma and Grandpapa and Grandmamma take all + their trouble about dear Aunty; that is a good lesson for us all. And now, + my darling, I will tell you my secret. I am going to sail at Christmas, if + I live so long, a great way from England, right to the other end of the + world, with the good Bishop of New Zealand. I dare say you know where to + find it on the globe. Clergymen are wanted out there to make known the + Word of God to the poor ignorant people, and for many reasons it is + thought right that I should go. So after Christmas you will not see me + again for a very long time, perhaps never in this world; but I shall write + to you very often, and send you ferns and seeds, and tell you about the + Norfolk Island pines, and you must write to me, and tell me all about + yourself, and always think of me, and pray for me, as one who loves you + dearly with all his heart, and will never cease to pray God that the + purity and innocence of your childhood may accompany you all through your + life and make you a blessing (as you are now, my darling) to your dear + mother and all who know you. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your most affectionate, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + To the child's mother the words are:— + </p> + <p> + 'I pray God that I may have chosen aright, and that if I have acted from + sudden impulse too much, from love of display, or from desire to raise + some interest about myself, or from any other selfish and unholy motive, + it may be mercifully forgiven. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, at all events, I must pray that with a single honest desire for + God's glory, I may look straight onwards towards the mark. I must forget + what is behind, I must not lose time in analysing my state of mind to see + how, during years past, this wish has worked itself out. I trust the wish + is from God, and now I must forget myself, and think only of the work + whereunto I am called. But it is hard to flesh and blood to think of the + pain I am causing my dear dear Father, and the pain I am causing to others + outside my own circle here. But they are all satisfied that I am doing + what is right, and it would surprise you, although you know them so well, + to hear the calmness with which we talk about outfits.' + </p> + <p> + A heavy grief was even now on the family. The beloved, 'Uncle Frank,' so + often affectionately mentioned, had been failing for some time. He had + taken a journey abroad, with one of his daughters, in hopes of refreshment + and invigoration, but the fatigue and excitement were more than he could + bear; he returned home, and took to his bed. He suffered no pain, and was + in a heavenly state of mind indeed, a most blessed death-bed, most + suggestive of comfort and peace to all who survive as a most evident proof + of what the close of life may be, if only 'that life is spent faithfully + in doing our duty to God'—as Patteson wrote to his old friend, Miss + Neill. + </p> + <p> + 'And now one word about myself, which at such a time I should not obtrude + upon you, but that the visit of the Bishop of New Zealand made it + necessary for me to speak. + </p> + <p> + 'I am going with him to work, if all is well, at the Antipodes, believing + that the growing desire for missionary work, which for years has been + striving within me, ought no longer to be resisted, and trusting that I am + not mistaken in supposing that this is the line of duty that God has + marked out for me. + </p> + <p> + 'You may be sure that all this is done with the full consent and + approbation of my dear Father. He and the Bishop had a great deal of + conversation about it, and I left it entirely for them to determine. That + it will be a great trial to us all at Christmas when we sail, I cannot + conceal from myself; it is so great a separation that I cannot expect ever + to see my dear Father, perhaps not any of those I love best, again in this + world. But if you all know that I am doing, or trying to do, what is + right, you will all be happy about me; and what has just been taking place + at the Manor House teaches us to look, on a little to a blessed meeting in + a better place soon. It is from no dissatisfaction at my present position, + that I am induced to take this step. I have been very happy at Alfington; + and I hope to be ordained Priest, on the 24th of September, with a calm + mind. I trust I am not following any sudden hasty impulse, but obeying a + real call to a real work, and (in the midst of much self-seeking and other + alloy) not wholly without a sincere desire to labour for the honour and + glory of God.' + </p> + <p> + With this purpose full in view, Coleridge Patteson received Ordination as + a Priest in the ensuing Ember Week, again at the hands of Bishop + Phillpotts, in Exeter Cathedral; where a beautiful marble pulpit is to + commemorate the fact. + </p> + <p> + The wrench from home and friends could not but be terrible. The sisters, + indeed, were so far prepared that they had been aware from the first of + his wish and his mother's reception of it, and when they told their + Father, he was pleased and comforted; for truly he was upheld by the + strength of willing sacrifice. Those were likewise sustained who felt the + spirit of missionary enterprise and sympathy, which was at that time so + strongly infused into the Church; but the shock was severe to many, and + especially to the brother who had been devoted to Coley from their + earliest infancy, and among his relations the grief was great. + </p> + <p> + As to the district of Alfington, the distress was extreme. The people had + viewed Mr. Patteson as their exclusive property, and could not forgive the + Bishop of New Zealand for, as they imagined, tempting him away. 'Ah! Sir,' + was the schoolmistress's answer to some warm words from Mr. Justice + Coleridge in praise of Bishop Selwyn, 'he may be—no doubt he is—a + very good man. I only wish he had kept his hands off Alfington.' 'It would + not be easy,' says the parishioner from whom I have already quoted, 'to + describe the intense sorrow in view of separation. Mr. Patteson did all he + could to assure us that it was his own will and act, consequent upon the + conviction that it was God's will that he should go, and to exonerate the + Bishop, but for some time he was regarded as the immediate cause of our + loss; and he never knew half the hard things said of him by the same + people who, when they heard he was coming, and would preach on the Sunday, + did their utmost to make themselves and their children look their very + best.' + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the affectionate writer seems to have shared the poor people's + feeling that they had thus festally received a sort of traitor with + designs upon their pastor. She goes on to tell of his ministrations to her + mother, whose death-bed was the first he attended as a Priest. + </p> + <p> + It would be impossible for me to say all he was to her. Not long before + her death, when he had just left the room, she said, 'I have not felt any + pain or weakness whilst Mr. Patteson has been here.' I was not always + present during his visits to her, and I think their closer communings were + only known to Him above, but their effects were discernible in that deep + confidence in him on her part, and that lasting impression on him, for you + will remember, in his letter last April, he goes back in memory to that + time, and calls it—'a solemn scene in my early ministry.' Solemn, + indeed, it was to us all that last night of her life upon earth. He was + with her from about the middle of the day on Monday until about four + o'clock on Tuesday morning; when, after commending her soul to God, he + closed her eyes with his own hands, and taking out his watch, told us the + hour and moment of her departure. He then went home and apprised Miss + Wilkins of her death in these words: 'My soul fleeth unto the LORD before + the morning watch, I say before the morning watch,' and at the earliest + dawn of day, the villagers were made aware that she had passed away by the + tolling bell, and tolled by him. This was not the only death during his + ministry among us; but it was the first occasion where he gave the + Communion of the Sick, also when he read the Burial Service. Cases of + rejoicing with those that rejoiced as well as of weeping with those that + wept, the child and the aged seemed alike to appreciate his goodness. In + him were combined those qualities which could inspire with deep reverence + and entire confidence. Many, many are or will be the stars in the crown of + his rejoicing, and some owe to him under God, their deeper work of grace + in the heart and their quickening in the divine life.' + </p> + <p> + A remarkable testimony is this to the impression remaining after the lapse + of sixteen years from a ministry extending over no more than seventeen + months. 'Our Mr. Patteson' the people called him to the last. + </p> + <p> + Yet, in the face of all this grief, the parting till death, the work + broken off, the life cut short midway, the profusion of needs at home for + able ministers, is it to be regretted that Coleridge Patteson devoted + himself to the more remote fields abroad? I think we shall find that his + judgment was right. Alfington might love him dearly, but the numbers were + too small to afford full scope for his powers, and he would have + experienced the trials of cramped and unemployed energies had he remained + there beyond his apprenticeship. Nor were his gifts, so far as can be + judged, exactly those most requisite for work in large towns. He could + deal with individuals better than with masses, and his metaphysical mind, + coupled with the curious difficulty he had in writing to an unrealised + public, either in sermons or reports, might have rendered him less + effective than men of less ability. He avoided, moreover, the temptations, + pain, and sting of the intellectual warfare within the bosom of the + Church, and served her cause more effectually on her borders than he could + in her home turmoils. His great and peculiar gifts of languages, seconded + by his capacity for navigation, enabled him to be the builder up of the + Melanesian Church in so remarkable a manner that one can hardly suppose + but that he was marked out for it, and these endowments would have found + no scope in an ordinary career. Above all, no man can safely refuse the + call to obey the higher leadings of grace. If he deny them, he will + probably fall below that which he was before, and lose 'even that which he + seemeth to have.' + </p> + <p> + A few days later, he wrote to his cousin Arthur Coleridge an expression of + his feelings regarding the step he had taken in the midst of the pain it + was costing to others:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton: November 11, 9 A.M. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Arthur,—Your letter was very acceptable because I am, I + confess, in that state of mind occasionally when the assurance of my being + right, coming from another, tends to strengthen my own conviction. + </p> + <p> + 'I do not really doubt as I believe; and yet, knowing my want of + consideration for others, and many other thoughts which naturally prevent + my exercising a clear sound judgment on a matter affecting myself, I + sometimes (when I have had a conversation, it throws me back upon + analysing my own conduct) feel inclined to go over the whole process + again, and that is somewhat trying. + </p> + <p> + 'On the other hand, I am almost strangely free from excitement. I live on + exactly as I did before: and even when alone with Father, talk just as I + used to talk, have nothing more to tell him, not knowing how to make a + better use of these last quiet evenings. + </p> + <p> + 'By-and-by I shall wish I had done otherwise, perhaps, but I do not know + now, that I have anything specially requiring our consideration: we talk + about family matters, the movements in the theological and political + world, &c., very little about ourselves. + </p> + <p> + 'One of all others I delight to think of for the music's sake, and far + more for the glorious thought that it conveys. "Then shall the righteous," + not indeed that I dare apply it to myself (as you know), but it helps one + on, teaches what we may be, what our two dear parents are, and somehow the + intervening, space becomes smaller as the eye is fixed steadily on the + glory beyond. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you, my dear fellow. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + The Mission party intended to sail immediately after Christmas in the + 'Southern Cross,' the schooner which was being built at Blackwall for + voyages among the Melanesian isles. In expectation of this, Patteson went + up to London in the beginning of December, when the admirable crayon + likeness was taken by Mr. Richmond, an engraving from which is here given. + He then took his last leave of his uncle, and of the cousins who had been + so dear to him ever since the old days of daily meeting in childhood; and + Miss Neill, then a permanent invalid, notes down: 'On December 13, I had + the happiness of receiving the Holy Communion from dear Coley Patteson, + and the following morning I parted from him, as I fear, for ever. God + bless and prosper him, and guard him in all the dangers he will + encounter!' He wrote thus soon after his return:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton: December 22, 1854. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Neill,—I began a note to you a day or two ago, but I + could not go on with it, for I have had so very much to do in church and + out of it, parochializing, writing sermons, &c. It makes some little + difference in point of time whether I am living here or at Alfington, and + so the walking about from one house to another is not so convenient for + writing letters as for thinking over sermons. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not tell you what a real happiness and comfort it is to me to have + been with you again and to have talked so long with you, and most of all + to have received the Communion with you. It is a blessed thought that no + interval of space or time can interrupt that Communion of the Spirit, and + that we are one in Him, though working in different corners of the Lord's + field. + </p> + <p> + 'I want to look you out a little book or two; and Fanny has told you that + if ever my picture is photographed, I have particularly desired them to + send you a copy with my love. Your cross I have now round my neck, and I + shall always wear it; it will hang there with a locket containing locks of + hair of my dear Father and Mother, the girls, and Jem. + </p> + <p> + 'You will be glad to hear that they all seem cheerful and hearty. Fan is + not well, but I do not see that she is depressed or unhappy. In fact, the + terrible events of the war prove a lesson to all, and they feel, I + suppose, that it might be far worse, and that so long as I am doing my + duty, there is no cause for sorrow. + </p> + <p> + 'Still there will be seasons of loneliness and sadness, and it seems to me + as if it always was so in the case of all the people of whom we read in + the Bible. Our Lord distinctly taught His disciples to expect it to be so, + and even experienced this sorrow of heart Himself, filling up the full + measure of His cup of bitterness. So I don't learn that I ought exactly to + wish it to be otherwise, so much is said in the Bible about being made + partaker of His, sufferings, only I pray that it may please God to bear me + up in the midst of it. I must repeat that your example is constantly + before me, as a witness to the power that God gives of enduring pain and + sickness. It is indeed, and great comfort it gives me. He is not indeed + keeping you still in the world without giving you a work to do, and + enabling you from your bed of sickness to influence strongly a circle of + friends. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you for all your kindness to me, and watchfulness over me as a + child, for your daily thought of me and prayers for me, and may He grant + that I may wear your precious gift not only on but in my heart. + </p> + <p> + 'Always your very affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON. + </h5> + <p> + 'P.S.—I do not expect to sail for three weeks; this morning I had a + line about the ship, and they say that she cannot be ready for a + fortnight.' + </p> + <p> + On Christmas-day, he was presented with a Bible subscribed for by the + whole Alfington population. Here is a sentence from his letter of + acknowledgment:— + </p> + <p> + 'If these poor needy souls can, from love to a fellow creature whom they + have known but a few months, deny themselves their very crumb of bread to + show their affection, what should be our conduct to Him from whom we have + received all things, and to whom we owe our life, strength, and all that + we possess?' + </p> + <p> + The farewell service was said by one of these poor old people to be like a + great funeral. Sexagesima Sunday was Sir John's sixty-sixth birthday, and + it was spent in expectation that it would be the last of the whole party + at home, for on the Monday Sir John was obliged to go to London for a + meeting of the Judicial Committee. The two notes his son wrote during his + absence are, perhaps to prove good spirits, full of the delights of + skating, which were afforded by the exceptionally severe frost of February + 1855, which came opportunely to regale with this favourite pastime one who + would never tread on solid ice again. He wrote with zest of the large + merry party of cousins skating together, of the dismay of the old + housekeeper when he skimmed her in a chair over the ice, sighing out, in + her terror, 'My dear man, don't ye go so fast,' with all manner of + endearing expressions—of the little boys to whom he threw nuts to be + scrambled for, and of his own plunge through the thinner ice, when, + regardless of drenched garments, he went on with the sport to the last, + and came home with clothes frozen as stiff as a board. + </p> + <p> + He was not gone when his father and brother came home on the twenty-sixth, + prepared to go with him to Southampton. + </p> + <p> + The note to his cousin Arthur written at this time thus ends: 'We worked + together once at Dresden. Whatever we have acquired in the way of + accomplishments, languages, love of art and music, everything brings us + into contact with somebody, and gives us the power of influencing them for + good, and all to the glory of God.' + </p> + <p> + Many were touched when, on the first Sunday in Lent, as Sir John Patteson + was wont to assist in Church by reading the Lessons, it fell to him to + pronounce the blessing of God upon the patriarch for his willing surrender + of his son. + </p> + <p> + After all, the 'Southern Cross' was detected in leaking again, and as she + was so small that the Mission party would have been most inconveniently + crowded for so long a voyage, the Bishop was at length persuaded to + relinquish his intention of sailing in her, and passages were taken for + himself, Mrs. Selwyn, Mr. Patteson, and another clergyman, in the 'Duke of + Portland,' which did not sail till the end of March, when Patteson was to + meet her at Gravesend. + </p> + <p> + Thus he did not depart till the 25th. 'I leave home this morning I may + say, for it has struck midnight,' he wrote to Miss Neill. 'I bear with me + to the world's end your cross, and the memory of one who is bearing with + great and long-tried patience the cross that God has laid upon her.' + </p> + <p> + He chose to walk to the coach that would take him to join the railway at + Cullompton. The last kisses were exchanged at the door, and the sisters + watched him out of sight, then saw that their father was not standing with + them. They consulted for a moment, and then one of them silently looked + into his sitting room, and saw him with his little Bible, and their hearts + were comforted concerning him. After that family prayers were never read + without a clause for Missionaries, 'especially the absent member of this + family.' + </p> + <p> + He went up to his brother's chambers in London, whence a note was sent + home the next day to his father:— + </p> + <p> + 'I write one line to-night to tell you that I am, thank God, calm and even + cheerful. I stayed a few minutes in the churchyard after I left you, + picked a few primrose buds from dear mamma's grave, and then walked on. + </p> + <p> + 'At intervals I felt a return of strong violent emotion, but I soon became + calm; I read most of the way up, and felt surprised that I could master my + own feelings so much. + </p> + <p> + 'How much I owe to the cheerful calm composure which you all showed this + morning! I know it must have cost you all a great effort. It spared me a + great one.' + </p> + <p> + On the 27th the brothers went on board the 'Duke of Portland,' and + surveyed the cabins, looking in at the wild scene of confusion sure to be + presented by an emigrant ship on the last day in harbour. A long letter, + with a minute description of the ship and the arrangements ends with: 'I + have every blessing and comfort. Not one is wanting. I am not in any + excitement, I think, certainly I do not believe myself to be in such a + state as to involve a reaction of feeling. Of course if I am seedy at sea + for a few days I shall feel low-spirited also most likely, and miss you + all more in consequence. But that does not go below the surface. Beneath + is calm tranquil peace of mind.' + </p> + <p> + On the 28th the two brothers joined the large number of friends who went + down with the Mission party, among them Mr. Edward Coleridge. + </p> + <p> + Parting notes were written from on board to all the most beloved; to + little Paulina, of bright hopes, to Miss Neill of her cross; to Arthur the + German greeting, 'Lebe wohl, doch nicht auf Ewigkeit,'—to Mr. + Justice Coleridge:— + </p> + <p> + 'March 28, 1855. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—One line more to thank you for all your love and to + pray for the blessing of God upon you and yours now and for ever. + </p> + <p> + 'We sail to-day. Such letters from home, full of calm, patient, cheerful + resignation to his will. Wonderfully has God supported us through this + trial. My kind love to Arthur. Always, my dear Uncle, Your affectionate, + grateful Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'JOHN COLERIDGE PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Perhaps the frame of mind in which Coley left England can best be gathered + from the following extract from a letter to his father from his uncle + Edward:— + </p> + <p> + 'While on board I had a good deal of quiet talk with him, and was fully + confirmed by his manner and words, of that which I did not doubt before, + that the surrender of self, which he has made, has been put into his heart + by God's Holy Spirit, and that all his impulses for good are based on the + firm foundation of trust in God, and a due appreciation of his mortal, as + well as professional condition. I never saw a hand set on the plough stead + with more firmness, yet entire modesty, or with an eye and heart less + turned backwards on the world behind. I know you do not in any way repine + at what you have allowed him to do; and I feel sure that ere long you will + see cause to bless God not only for having given you such a son, but also + for having put it into his heart so to devote himself to that particular + work in the Great Vineyard.' + </p> + <p> + About 5 P.M. the 'Duke of Portland' swung round with the tide, strangers + were ordered on shore, Coleridge and James Patteson said their last + farewells, and while the younger brother went home by the night-train to + carry the final greetings to his father and sisters, the ship weighed + anchor and the voyage was begun. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. THE VOYAGE AND FIRST YEAR. 1855-1856. + </h2> + <p> + When the See of New Zealand was first formed, Archbishop Howley committed + to the care of the first Bishop the multitudinous islands scattered in the + South Pacific. The technical bounds of the diocese were not defined; but + matters were to a certain degree simplified by Bishop Selwyn's resolution + only to deal with totally heathen isles, and whatever superiority the + authorised chief pastor might rightfully claim, not to confuse the minds + of the heathen by the sight of variations among Christians, and thus never + to preach in any place already occupied by Missions, a resolution from + which he only once departed, in the case of a group apparently + relinquished by its first teachers. This cut off all the properly called + Polynesian isles, whose inhabitants are of the Malay type, and had been + the objects of care to the London Mission, ever since the time of John + Williams; also the Fiji Islands; and a few which had been taken in hand by + a Scottish Presbyterian Mission; but the groups which seem to form the + third fringe round the north-eastern curve of Australia, the New Hebrides, + Banks Islands, and Solomon Isles, were almost entirely open ground, with + their population called Melanesian or Black Islanders, from their having + much of the Negro in their composition and complexion. These were regarded + as less quick but more steady than the Polynesian race, with somewhat the + same difference of character as there is between the Teuton and the Kelt. + The reputation of cannibalism hung about many of the islands, and there + was no doubt of boats' crews having been lost among them, but in most + cases there had been outrage to provoke reprisals. + </p> + <p> + These islands had as yet been little visited, except by Captain Cook, + their first discoverer, and isolated Spanish exploring expeditions; but of + late whalers and sandal wood traders, both English and American, had been + finding their way among them, and too often acting as irresponsible + adventurous men of a low class are apt to do towards those whom they + regard as an inferior race. + </p> + <p> + Mission work had hardly reached this region. It was in attempting it that + John Williams had met his death at Erromango, one of the New Hebrides; but + one of his best institutions had been a school in one of the Samoan or + Navigators' Islands, in which were educated young men of the native races + to be sent to the isles to prepare the way for white men. Very nobly had + these Samoan pupils carried out his intentions, braving dislike, disease + and death in the islands to which they were appointed, and having the more + to endure because they came without the prestige of a white man. Moreover, + the language was no easier to them than to him, as their native speech is + entirely different from the Melanesian; which is besides broken into such + an extraordinary number of different dialects, varying from one village to + another in an island not twenty miles long, that a missionary declared + that the people must have come straight from the Tower of Babel, and gone + on dividing their speech ever since. Just at the time of the formation of + the See of New Zealand, the excitement caused at home by Williams's death + had subsided, and the London Mission's funds were at so low an ebb that, + so far from extending their work, they had been obliged to let some of it + fall into abeyance. + </p> + <p> + All this came to the knowledge of the Bishop of New Zealand while he was + occupied with the cares of his first seven years in his more immediate + diocese, and in 1848, he made a voyage of inspection in H.M.S. 'Dido.' He + then perceived that to attempt the conversion of this host of isles of + tropical climate through a resident English clergyman in each, would be + impossible, besides which he knew that no Church takes root without native + clergy, and he therefore intended bringing boys to New Zealand, and there + educating them to become teachers to their countrymen. He had lately + established, near Auckland, for the sons of the colonists, St. John's + College, which in 1850 was placed under the Reverend Charles John Abraham, + the former Eton master, who had joined the Bishop to act as Archdeacon and + assist in the scheme of education; and here it was planned that the young + Melanesians should be trained. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop possessed a little schooner of twenty-two tons, the 'Undine,' + in which he was accustomed to make his expeditions along the coast; and in + August 1849, he set forth in her, with a crew of four, without a weapon of + any sort, to 'launch out into the deep, and let down his nets for a + draught.' Captain Erskine of H.M.S. 'Havannah' readily undertook to afford + him any assistance practicable, and they were to cruise in company, the + 'Undine' serving as a pilot boat or tender on coasts where the only guide + was 'a few rough sketches collected from small trading vessels.' + </p> + <p> + They met near Tanna, but not before the Bishop had been in Dillon's Bay, + on the island of Erromango, the scene of Williams's murder, and had + allowed some of the natives to come on board his vessel as a first step + towards friendly intercourse. The plan agreed on by the Bishop and the + Captain was to go as far north as Vate, and return by way of the Loyalty + Isles, which fringe the east coast of New Caledonia, to touch at that + large island, and then visit the Island of Pines, at its extreme south + point, and there enquire into a massacre said to have taken place. This + was effected, and in each place the natives showed themselves friendly. + From New Caledonia the Bishop brought away a pupil named Dallup, and at + two of the Loyalty Islands, Nengone or Mare, and Lifu, where Samoan + teachers had excited a great desire for farther instruction, boys eagerly + begged to go with him, and two were taken from each, in especial Siapo, a + young Nengone chief eighteen or nineteen years old, of very pleasing + aspect, and with those dignified princely manners which rank is almost + sure to give. The first thing done with such lads when they came on board + was to make clothes for them, and when they saw the needle employed in + their service, they were almost sure to beg to be taught the art, and most + of them soon became wonderfully dexterous in it. + </p> + <p> + On the Island of Pines, so called from the tower-like masses of the + Norfolk pine on the shores, was at that time the French Bishop of New + Caledonia, the Oul, as the natives called him and his countrymen, for whom + they had little love. After an interview between the two bishops, the + 'Undine' returned to New Zealand, where the native boys were brought to + St. John's College. The system of education there combined agricultural + labour and printing with study, and the authorities and the boys shared + according to their strength in both, for there was nothing more prominent + in the Bishop's plan than that the coloured man was not to be treated as a + mere hewer of wood and drawer of water, but, as a Maori once expressed the + idea: 'Gentleman—gentleman thought nothing that ought to be done at + all too mean for him; pig-gentleman never worked.' The whole community, + including the ladies and their guests, dined together in hall. + </p> + <p> + The five boys behaved well, Siapo being a leader in all that was good, and + made advances in Christian knowledge; but it was one of the Bishop's + principles that none of them should be baptized till he had proved whether + his faith were strong enough to resist the trial of a return to his native + home and heathen friends. The climate of New Zealand is far too chilly for + these inhabitants of tropical regions, and it was absolutely necessary to + return them to their homes during the winter quarter from June to August. + The scheme therefore was to touch at their islands, drop them there, + proceed then further on the voyage, and then, returning the same way, + resume them, if they were willing to come under instruction for baptism + and return to the college. In the lack of a common language, Bishop Selwyn + hoped to make them all learn English, and only communicate with one + another in that. + </p> + <p> + The 'Undine,' not being large enough for the purpose, was exchanged for + the 'Border Maid;' and in the course of the next three years an annual + voyage was made, and boys to the number of from twelve to fourteen brought + home. Siapo of Nengone was by far the most promising scholar. He was a + strong influence, when at home, on behalf of the Samoan teachers, and + assisted in the building of a round chapel, smoothly floored, and + plastered with coral lime. In 1852 he was baptized, together with three of + his friends, in this chapel, in his own island, by the Bishop, in the + presence of a thousand persons, and received the name of George. When the + 'Border Maid' returned, though he was convalescent from a severe illness, + he not only begged that he might come back, but that the young girl to + whom he was betrothed might be taken to New Zealand to be trained in + Christian ways. Ready consent was given, and the little Wabisane, and her + companion Wasitutru (Little Chattering Bird), were brought on board, and + arrayed in petticoats fashioned by the Bishop's own hands, from his own + counterpane, with white skirts above, embellished with a bow of scarlet + ribbon, the only piece of finery to be found in the 'Border Maid.' The + Rev. William Nihill had spent the period of this trip at Nengone, and had + become deeply interested in the people. The island was then thought likely + to become a centre whence to work on adjacent places; but to the grief and + disappointment of all, George Siapo did not live through the summer at St. + John's. He had never recovered his illness at home, and rapidly declined; + but his faith burnt brighter as his frame became weaker, and his heart was + set on the conversion of his native country. He warmly begged Mr. Nihill + to return thither, and recommended him to the protection of his friends, + and he wished his own brother to become scholar at St. John's. His whole + demeanour was that of a devoted Christian, and when he died, in the + January of the year 1853, he might be regarded as the firstfruits of the + Melanesian Church. Since Mr. Nihill was about to return to Nengone, and + there was a certain leaven of Christianity in the place, the girls were + not subjected to the probation of a return before baptism, but were + christened Caroline and Sarah, after Mrs. Abraham and Mrs. Selwyn. + </p> + <p> + Another very satisfactory pupil was little Umao. An English sailor in a + dreadful state of disease had been left behind by a whaler at Erromango, + where the little Umao, a mere boy, had attached himself to him, and waited + on him with the utmost care and patience, though meeting with no return + but blows and rough words. The man moved to Tanna, where there are mineral + springs highly esteemed by the natives, and when the 'Border Maid' touched + there, in 1851, he was found in a terrible condition, but with the little + fellow faithfully attending him. The Englishman was carried to Sydney, and + left in the hospital there; but Umao begged not to be sent home, for he + said his parents cruelly ill-used him and his brothers, and set them to + watch the fire all night to keep off evil spirits; so, when New Zealand + became too cold for him, he was sent to winter at the London Society's + station in Anaiteum. His sweet friendly nature expanded under Christian + training, but his health failed, and in the course of the voyage of 1853 + he became so ill that his baptism was hastened, and he shortly after died + in the Bishop's arms. + </p> + <p> + Two more boys, cousins, from Lifu, also died. There never was any + suspicion or displeasure shown among the relatives of these youths. Their + own habits were frightfully unhealthy; they were not a long-lived people, + and there was often great mortality among them, and though they were + grieved at the loss of their sons, they never seemed distrustful or + ungrateful. But it was evident that, even in the summer months, the + climate of New Zealand was trying to these tropical constitutions, and as + it was just then determined that Norfolk Island should no longer be the + penal abode of the doubly convicted felons of Botany Bay, but should + instead become the home of the descendants of the mutineers of the + 'Bounty' who had outgrown Pitcairn's Island, the Bishop cast his eyes upon + it as the place most likely to agree alike with English and Melanesian + constitutions, and therefore eminently fitted for the place of + instruction. + </p> + <p> + The expenses of the voyages in the 'Border Maid' had been met partly by + the Eton Association, and partly by another association at Sydney, where a + warm interest in these attempts had been excited and maintained by the + yearly visits of Bishop Selwyn, who usually visited Australia while the + lads were wintering at their homes. But the 'Border Maid' was + superannuated, nor had she ever been perfectly fitted for the purpose; and + when, in 1853, the Bishop was obliged to come to England to take measures + for dividing his diocese, he also hoped to obtain permission to establish + a Melanesian school on Norfolk Island, and to obtain the means of building + a schooner yacht, small enough to be navigated in the narrow, shallow + creeks separating the clustered islets, and yet capacious enough for the + numerous passengers. In the meantime Mr. Nihill went to Nengone with his + wife and child. His lungs were much affected, but he hoped that the + climate would prolong his power of working among the Christian community, + who heartily loved and trusted him. + </p> + <p> + Other fellow-labourers the Bishop hoped to obtain at home, though it was + his principle never to solicit men to come with him, only to take those + who offered themselves; but all the particulars of the above narration had + been known to Coley Patteson through the Bishop's correspondence with Mr. + Edward Coleridge, as well as by the yearly report put forth by the Eton + Association, and this no doubt served to keep up in his heart the flame + that had burnt unseen for so many years, and to determine its direction, + though he put himself unreservedly at the Bishop's disposal, to work + wherever he might be sent. + </p> + <p> + The means for the mission ship 'Southern Cross' were raised. She was built + at Blackwall by Messrs. Wigram, and, after all the delays, sailed on the + very same day as the 'Duke of Portland.' + </p> + <p> + Meantime here are a few extracts from Patteson's journal-letter during the + voyage. Sea-sickness was very slightly disabling with him; he was up and + about in a short time, and on the 8th of April was writing:— + </p> + <p> + 'What a day this has been to me, the twenty-eighth anniversary of my + baptism to begin with, and then Easter Day spent at sea! + </p> + <p> + 'April 20th, lat, 4° N., long. 25° W.—Rather hot. It is very fine to + see all the stars of the heavens almost rise and pass overhead and set—Great + Bear and Southern Cross shining as in rivalry of each other, and both + hemispheres showing forth all their glory. Only the Polar Star, that + shines straight above you, is gone below our horizon; and One alone knows + how much toil, and perhaps sorrow, there may be in store for me before I + see it again. But there is and will be much happiness and comfort also, + for indeed I have great peace of mind, and a firm conviction that I am + doing what is right; a feeling that God is directing and ordering the + course of my life, and whenever I take the only true view of the business + of life, I am happy and cheerful. + </p> + <p> + 'May 10.—It is, I find, quite settled, and was indeed always, that I + am to go always with the Bishop, roving about the Melanesian department, + so that for some years, if I live, I shall be generally six months at sea. + And not little to my delight, I find that the six winter months (i.e. your + summer months) are the ones that we shall spend in sailing about the + islands within or near the tropics, so that I shall have little more + shivering limbs or blue hands, though I may feel in the long run the + effect of a migratory swallow-like life. But the sea itself is a perpetual + tonic, and when I am thoroughly accustomed to a sea life, I think I shall + be better almost on board ship.' + </p> + <p> + This seems the place for Bishop Selwyn's impression, as written to a + friend at this very time. 'Coley Patteson is a treasure which I humbly set + down as a Divine recompense for our own boys*. He is a good fellow, and + the tone of his mind is one which I can thoroughly enjoy, content with the + 'to aei' present, yet always aiming at a brighter and better future.' + </p> + <p> + *(Footnote: Left at home for education.) + </p> + <p> + 'June 18.—You must think of us at 8 P.M. on Sundays—just at + 8.20 A.M. before you come down to prayers. The Bishop has a service in the + College chapel; then, after all the "runners" (clergy who have district + chapels) have returned, chanting Psalms, and reading collects, which bear + especially on the subject of unity, introducing the special Communion + thanksgiving for Whitsunday, and the Sanctus, and the Prayer for Unity in + the Accession Service. I feel that it must be an impressive and very happy + way of ending the Sunday, and you will be at Sunday prayers at the other + end of the world praying with us. + </p> + <p> + 'July 3.—Still at sea. As soon as we rounded the North Cape on + Friday, June 29, a contrary wind sprang up, and we have been beating + about, tacking between North Cape and Cape Brett ever since. Fine sunny + weather and light winds, but always from the south. To me it is a matter + of entire indifference; I am quite ready to go ashore, but do not mind a + few more days at sea. The climate is delightful, thermometer on deck 55° + to 60°, and such glorious sunsets! There is really something peculiar in + the delicacy of the colours here—faint pink and blue, and such an + idea of distance is given by the great transparency of the air. It is full + moon too now, and I walk the deck from eleven to twelve every night with + no great-coat, thinking about you all and my future work. Last night the + Bishop was with me, and told me definitely about my occupation for the + time to come. All day we have been slowly, very slowly, passing along from + the north headland of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett, and along the land + south of it. A fine coast it is, full of fine harbours and creeks, the bay + itself like a large Torbay, only bolder. Due south of us is the Bream + headland, then the Barrier Islands. We are only about a mile from the + shore, and refreshing it is to look at it; but as yet we have seen no + beach; the rock runs right into the sea. Such bustle and excitement on + board! emigrants getting their things ready, carpenters making the old + "Duke" look smart, sailors scrubbing, but no painting going on, to our + extreme delight. It is so calm, quite as smooth as a small lake; indeed + there is less perceptible motion than I have felt on the Lake of Como. No + backs, no bones aching, though here I speak for others more than for + myself, for the Bishop began his talk last night by saying, "One great + point is decided, that you are a good sailor. So far you are qualified for + Melanesia."' + </p> + <p> + To this may be added that Patteson had been farther preparing for this + work by a diligent study of the Maori language, and likewise of + navigation; and what an instructor he had in the knowledge of the coasts + may be gathered from the fact that an old sea captain living at Kohimarama + sent a note to St. John's College stating that he was sure that the Bishop + had come, for he knew every vessel that had ever come into Auckland + harbour, and was sure this barque had never been there before; yet she had + come in the night through all the intricate passages, and was rounding the + heads without a pilot on board. He therefore concluded that the Bishop + must be on board, as there was no other man that could have taken command + of her at such a time, and brought her into that harbour. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn went on shore as soon as possible; Patteson + waited till the next day. Indeed he wrote on July 5 that he was in no + hurry to land, since he knew no one in the whole neighbourhood but + Archdeacon Abraham. Then he describes the aspect of Auckland from the sea:— + </p> + <p> + 'It looks much like a small sea-side town, but not so substantially built, + nor does it convey the same idea of comfort and wealth; rude warehouses, + &c., being mixed up with private houses on the beach. The town already + extends to a distance of perhaps half a mile on each side of this cove, on + which the principal part of it is built. Just in the centre of the cove + stands the Wesleyan chapel. On the rising ground on the east of the cove + is the Roman Catholic chapel, and on the west side is St. Paul's Church, + an Early English stone building, looking really ecclesiastical and + homelike. The College, at a distance of about five miles from the town, on + some higher ground, northwest of it, is reached from the harbour by a boat + ascending a creek to within a mile of the buildings, so that we shall not + go into the town at all when we land. By water too will be our shortest, + at all events our quickest way from the college to the town. + </p> + <p> + 'July 9, St. John's College.—Though we reached harbour on July 5, + and landed the next day, I have scarcely found a minute to write a line. + Imagine my feelings as I touched land and jumped ashore at a creek under + Judge Martin's house, in the presence of Rota Waitoa, the only native + clergyman in the diocese; Levi, who is perhaps to be ordained, and four or + five other natives. Tena ra fa koe e ho a? "How are you, my friends?" (the + common New Zealand greeting), said I as I shook hands with them one by + one. We walked up from the beach to the house. Roses in full flower, and + mimosa with a delicate golden flower, and various other shrubs and flowers + in full bloom. Midwinter, recollect. The fragrance of the air, the singing + of the birds, the fresh smell (it was raining a little and the grass was + steaming) were delicious, as you may suppose. Here I was, all at once, + carrying up baggage, Maoris before and behind, and everything new and + strange, and yet I felt as if it were all right and natural. The Bishop + and Mrs. Selwyn had landed the day before, and we were heartily welcomed. + Mr. Martin took me into his study. "I am thankful to see you as a fresh + labourer among us here; a man of your name needs no introduction to a + lawyer." Nothing could exceed his kindness. He began talking of at once. + </p> + <p> + 'We dined at about 12.30. Clean mutton chops, potatoes and pumpkin (very + good indeed), jam pudding, bread, and plenty of water (beer I refused). It + did taste so good, I am quite ashamed of thinking about it. About two + o'clock I started with the Bishop for the College, nearly six miles from + Auckland. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop is at a kind of collegiate establishment on the outskirts of + Auckland, where Mr. Kissling, a clergyman, is the resident, and thither I + go on Wednesday, to live till October 1, when we start, please God, in the + "Southern Cross" for the cruise around New Zealand. Here, at Mr. + Kissling's, I shall have work with Maoris, learning each day, I trust, to + speak more correctly and fluently. Young men for teachers, and it may be + for clergymen, will form at once my companions and my pupils, a good + proportion of them being nearly or quite of my own age. I am to be + constantly at the Judge's, running in and out, working on Sundays anywhere + as I may be sent. So much for myself. + </p> + <p> + 'The College is really all that is necessary for a thoroughly good and + complete place of education; the hall all lined with kauri pine wood, a + large handsome room, collegiate, capable of holding two hundred persons; + the school-room, eighty feet long, with admirable arrangements for holding + classes separately. There are two very cosy rooms, which belong to the + Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn respectively, in one of which I am now sitting.... + On the walls are hanging about certain tokens of Melanesia in the shape of + gourds, calabashes, &c., such as I shall send you one day; a spade on + one side, just as a common horse halter hanging from Abraham's bookshelf, + betokens colonial life. Our rooms are quite large enough, bigger than my + room at Feniton, but no furniture, of course, beyond a bedstead, a table + for writing, and an old bookcase; but it is never cold enough to care + about furniture... I clean, of course, my room in part, make my bed, help + to clear away things after meals, &c., and am quite accustomed to do + without servants for anything but cooking. There is a weaving room, which + used to be well worked, a printing press (from C. M. S.) which has done + some good work, and is now at work again—English, Maori, Greek and + Hebrew types. Separate groups of buildings, which once were filled with + lads from different Melanesian isles—farm buildings, barns, &c. + Last of all, the little chapel of kauri wood, stained desk, like the + inside of a really good ecclesiastical building in England, porch S.W. + angle, a semicircular apse at the west, containing a large handsome stone + font, open seats of course. The east end very simple, semicircular apse, + small windows all full of stained glass, raised one step, no rails, the + Bishop's chair on the north side, bench on the south. Here my eye and my + mind rested contentedly and peacefully. The little chapel, holding about + seventy persons, is already dear to me. I preached in it last night at the + seven o'clock service. We chanted the Unity Psalms CXXII, CXXIII, CXXIV, + and CL, heartily, all joining to a dear old double chant in parts. I felt + my heart very full as I spoke to them of the blessedness of prayer and + spiritual communion. I was at Tamaki in the morning, where I read prayers, + the Archdeacon preaching. A little stone church, very rude and simple, but + singing again good, and congregation of fifty-one, attentive. At Panmure, + about three miles off, in the afternoon, a tiny wooden church—where + Abraham took all the duty. In the evening, in the chapel, he read prayers, + and I preached to about thirty-five or forty people. We left the chapel + just as you were getting ready for breakfast, and so passed my first + Sunday in New Zealand. To-day I have had hard work; I walked with Abraham + to Auckland—six miles of rough work, I promise you, except the two + last. + </p> + <p> + I believe it was in the course of this walk that Patteson experimented on + his Maori, a native whom they visited, and who presently turned upon the + Archdeacon, and demanded, 'Why do you not speak like Te Pattihana?' Such a + compliment has seldom been paid on so early an attempt at colloquialism in + a new language. Journal continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'Lugged down boxes, big empty ones, from the Judge's house to the beach. + Went with the Bishop to the old ship, packed up books, brought away all + our things almost, helped to pack them in a cart and drag, and then walked + back to the College, which I reached in the dark at 7.30. It is delightful + to see the delight of the natives when they see the Bishop. "E—h te + Pikopa!" and then they all come round him like children, laughing and + talking. Two common men we met on Friday from Rotoma, 150 miles off, who + said that their tribe had heard that the Queen of England had taken away + his salary, and they had been having subscriptions for him every Sunday. + They are of various shades of colour, some light brown, some nearly black, + and some so tattooed all over that you can't tell what colour they are. I + was talking to-day to the best of my power with a native teacher upon + whose face I could not see one spot as big as a shilling that was not + tattooed, beautifully done in a regular pattern, one side corresponding to + the other. Each tribe, as it is said (I know not how truly), has a pattern + of its own; so they wear their coats-of-arms on their faces, that is all. + The young Christian natives are not tattooed at all, and I have been + to-day with Sydney, whose father was the great fighting man of Honghi + (miscalled Shanghi) who was presented to George IV. This young man's + father helped to exterminate a whole tribe who lived on a part of the + College property (as it is now), and he is said to be perhaps the first + New Zealander who was baptized as an infant. I find it hard to understand + them; they speak very indistinctly—not fast, but their voices are + thick in general. I hope to learn a good deal before October. My first + letter from the ends of the world tells of my peace of mind, of one sound + and hearty in body, and, I thank God, happy, calm, and cheerful in + spirit.' + </p> + <p> + 'July 11, 1855; St. John's College, Auckland. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Fan,—I do not doubt that I am where I ought to be; I do + think and trust that God has given me this work to do; but I need earnest + prayers for strength that I may do it. It is no light work to be suddenly + transplanted from a quiet little country district, where every one knew + me, and the prestige of dear Father's life and your active usefulness + among the people made everything smooth for me, to a work exceeding in + magnitude anything that falls to the lot of an ordinary parish priest in + England—in a strange land, among a strange race of men, in a newly + forming and worldly society, with no old familiar notions and customs to + keep the machine moving; and then to be made acquainted with such a mass + of information respecting Church government and discipline, educational + schemes, conduct of clergy and teachers, etc., etc. It is well that I am + hearty and sound in health, or I should be regularly overwhelmed with it. + Two texts I think of constantly: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it + with thy might." "Sufficient for the day," etc. I hardly dare look forward + to what my work may be on earth; I cannot see my way; but I feel sure that + He is ordering it all, and I try to look on beyond the earth, when at + length, by God's mercy, we may all find rest. + </p> + <p> + 'That I have been so well in body and so cheerful in mind ever since I + left home—I mean cheerful on the whole, not without seasons of + sadness, but so mercifully strengthened at all times—must, I think, + without any foolish enthusiasm, be remembered by me as a special act of + God's goodness and mercy. I was not the least weary of the sea. Another + month or two would have made very little difference to me, I think. I am + very fond of it, and I think of my voyages to come without any degree of + dread from that cause, and I have no reason to expect any great discomfort + from any other. I have my whole stock of lemon syrup and lime juice, so + that the salt meat on the "Southern Cross" will be counteracted in that + way; and going round those islands we shall be ashore every few days. But + what most surprises me is this: that when I am alone, as here at night in + a great (for it is large) cheerless, lonely room, as I should have thought + it once; though I can't help thinking of my own comforts at home, and all + dear faces around me, though I feel my whole heart swelling with love to + you all, still I am not at all sad or gloomy, or cast down. This does + surprise me: I did not think it would or could be so. I have indeed prayed + for it, but I had not faith to believe that my prayer would be so granted. + The fact itself is most certain. I have at Alfington, when alone of an + evening, experienced a greater sense of loneliness than I have once done + out here. Of this hitherto I feel no doubt: it may be otherwise any day of + course; and to what else can I attribute this fact, in all soberness of + mind, but to the mercy of God in strengthening me for my work? Much of it + may be the effect of a splendid climate upon my physique, that is true; + for indeed to find flowers in full blossom, green meadows, hot suns, birds + singing, etc., in midwinter, with a cool, steady breeze from the sea + invigorating me all the while, is no doubt just what I require; but to-day + we have a north-easter, which answers to your south-west wind, with + pouring rain, and yet my spirits are not going down with the barometer. + All the same, the said barometer will probably soon recover himself; for I + believe these heavy storms seldom last long. There is no fire in the room + where I sit, which is the Bishop's room when he is here; no fire-place + indeed, as it opens into Mrs. Selwyn's room. The thermometer is 58°, and + it is midwinter.' + </p> + <p> + To Miss Neill, on the same day, after repeating his conviction that he was + in the right place, he says:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have written to them at home what I ought not perhaps to have said of + myself, but that it will give them comfort—that from all sides my + being here as the Bishop's companion is hailed as likely to produce very + beneficial results. But I must assure you that I fully know how your love + for me and much too high opinion of me makes you fancy that I could be of + use at home. But we must not, even taking this view, send our refuse men + to the colonies. Newly forming societies must be moulded by men of energy, + and power, and high character; in fact, churches must be organised, the + Gospel must be preached by men of earnest zeal for God's glory in the + salvation of souls. To lower the standard of Christian life by exhibiting + a feeble faint glimmering instead of a burning shining light is to stamp + upon the native mind a false impression, it may be for ever. + </p> + <p> + 'Remember, we have no ancient customs nor time-hallowed usages to make up + for personal indifference and apathy; we have no momentum to carry on the + machine. We have to start it, and give it the first impulse, under the + guidance of the Spirit of God; and oh! if it takes a wrong direction at + first, who can calculate the evil that must follow? It is easy to steer a + vessel in smooth water, with a fair breeze; but how are you to keep her + head straight in a rolling sea with no way on her?' + </p> + <p> + This letter, with two or three more, went by the first mail after his + arrival. From that time he generally kept a journal-letter, and addressed + it to one or other of his innermost home circle; while the arrival of each + post from home produced a whole sheaf of answers, and comments on what was + told, by each correspondent, of family, political or Church matters. + Sometimes the letter is so full of the subject of immediate interest as + absolutely to leave no room for personal details of his own actual life, + and this became more the case as the residence in New Zealand or Norfolk + Island lost its novelty, while it never absorbed him so as to narrow his + interests. He never missed a mail in writing to his father and sisters, + and a letter to his brother was equally regular, but these latter were + generally too much concerned with James's own individual life to be as + fully given as the other letters, which were in fact a diary of facts, + thoughts, and impressions. + </p> + <p> + 'July 12, St. Stephen's, Mr. Kissling's School-house.—You know I am + to live here when not on the "Southern Cross," or journeying in the Bush; + so I must describe, first, the place itself, then my room in it. The house + is a large one-storied building of wood, no staircase in it, but only a + succession of rooms.... There are at present fourteen or sixteen girls in + the school, boarding here, besides Rota, who is a native deacon, spending + a month here; Levi, who is preparing for ordination, and three other men. + The house stands on table-land about four hundred yards from the sea, + commanding glorious views of the harbour, sea, and islands, which form + groups close round the coast. It is Church property all round, and the + site of a future cathedral is within a stone's throw of it.... Now for my + room. Plenty large enough to begin with, not less than sixteen feet long + by twelve wide, and at least eleven high, all wood, not papered or + painted, which I like much, as the kauri is a darkish grained wood; no + carpet of course, but I am writing now at 10 P.M., with no fire, and quite + warm. The east side of the room is one great window, latticed, in a wooden + frame; outside it a verandah, and such a beautiful view of the harbour and + bay beyond. I will tell you exactly what I have done to-day since two + o'clock, as a sample of my life. + </p> + <p> + '2 P.M., dinner, roast mutton; my seat between the Bishop and Eota. Fancy + the long table with its double row of Maoris. After dinner, away with the + Bishop to the hospital, a plain wooden building a mile off, capable of + taking in about forty patients in all. I am to visit it regularly when + here, taking that work off the parish clergyman's shoulders, and a great + comfort it will be. I went through it to-day, and had a long talk with the + physician and surgeon, and saw the male patients, two of them natives. One + of them is dying, and so I am to be now talking as well as I can, but at + all events reading and praying, with this poor fellow, and a great + happiness it is to have such a privilege and so on. Came back to tea, very + pleasant. After tea made Eota, and Sydney, a young-man who knows English + pretty well, sit in my room (N.B., there is but one chair, in which I + placed Eota), and then I made them read Maori to me, and read a good deal + myself, and then we talked as well as we could. At 6.15, prayers, the + whole party of Maoris assembled. Mr. Kissling read the first verse of the + chapter (Joshua vi.), and we each read one verse in turn, and then he + questioned them for perhaps fifteen minutes. They were very intelligent + and answered well, and it was striking to see grown-up men and young women + sitting so patiently to be taught. Then the evening service prayers; and + so I knelt with these good simple people and prayed with them for the + first time. Very much I enjoyed all this. Soon after came supper, a little + talking, and now here am I writing to you. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish you could see the tree-ferns; some are quite twenty feet high in + the trunk, for trunk it is, and the great broad frond waves over it in a + way that would make that child Pena clap her hands with delight. Then the + geraniums and roses in blossom, the yellow mimosa flower, the wild moncha, + with a white flower, growing everywhere, and the great variety of + evergreen trees (none that I have seen being deciduous) make the country + very pretty. The great bare volcanic hills, each with its well-defined + crater, stand up from among the woodlands, and now from among pastures + grazing hundreds of oxen; and this, with the grand sea views, and shipping + in the harbour, make a very fine sight. + </p> + <p> + 'July 14.—I write to-night because you will like a line from me on + the day when first I have in any way ministered to a native of the + country. I was in the hospital to-day, talked a little, and read St. Luke + xv. to one, and prayed with another Maori. The latter is dying. He was + baptized by the Wesleyans, but is not visited by them, so I do not scruple + to go to him. Rota, the native deacon, was with me, and he talked a long + while with the poor fellow. It is a great comfort to me to have made a + beginning. I did little more than read a few prayers from the Visitation + Service, but the man understood me well, so I may be of use, I hope. He + has never received the Lord's Supper; but if there is time to prepare him, + the Bishop wishes me to administer it to him. + </p> + <p> + 'July 20.—Yesterday in sailed the "Southern Cross" with not a spar + carried away or sail lost, perfectly sound, and in a fit state to be off + again at once. She left England on the same day that we did, and arrived + just a fortnight after us, and this is attributable to her having kept in + low latitudes, not going higher than 39°; whereas we were in 51° 30', + which diminished the distance and brought us in the way of more favourable + winds. I saw from my windows about 9 A.M. a schooner in the distance, and + told the Bishop I thought it might be the "Southern Cross" (she has no + figure-head and a very straight bow). Through the day, which was very + rainy, we kept looking from time to time through our glasses. At 3 P.M. + the Bishop came in: "Come along, Coley; I do believe it is the 'Southern + Cross.'" So I hurried on waterproofs, knowing that we were in for some + mudlarking. Off we went, lugged down a borrowed boat to the water, tide + being out. I took one oar, a Maori another, and off we went, Bishop + steering. After twenty minutes' pull, or thereabouts, we met her, jumped + on board, and then such a broadside of questions and answers. They had a + capital passage. Two men who were invalided when they started died on the + voyage—one of dysentery, I think—all the rest flourishing, the + three women respectable and tidy-looking individuals, and two children + very well. After a while the Bishop and I went off to shore, in one of his + boats, pulled by two of the crew, Lowestoft fishermen, fine young fellows + as you ever saw. Then we bought fresh meat, onions, bread, etc., for them, + and so home by 7 P.M. "Mudlarking" very slight on this occasion, only + walking over the flat swamp of low-water marsh for a quarter of a mile; + but on Tuesday we had a rich scene. Bishop and I went to the "Duke of + Portland" and brought off the rest of our things; but it was low-water, so + the boats could not come within a long way of the beach, and the custom is + for carts to go over the muddy sand, which is tolerably hard, as far into + the water as they can, perhaps two and a half or three feet deep when it + is quite calm, as it was on Tuesday. Well, in went our cart, which had + come from the College, with three valuable horses, while the Bishop and I + stood on the edge of the water. Presently one of the horses lost his + footing, and then all at once all three slipped up, and the danger was of + their struggling violently and hurting themselves. One of those in the + shafts had his head under water, too, for a time. Instanter Bishop and I + had our coats off, my trousers were rolled over my knees, and in we rushed + to the horses. Such a plunging and splashing! but they were all got up + safe. This was about 4 P.M., and I was busy about the packages and getting + them into the carts, unloading at Mr. Kissling's till past 8; but I did + not catch cold. Imagine an English Bishop with attending parson cutting + into the water up to their knees to disentangle their cart-horses from the + harness in full view of every person on the beach. "This is your first + lesson in mudlarking, Coley," was the remark of the Bishop as we laughed + over our respective appearance. + </p> + <p> + 'July 21.—I was finishing my sermon for the soldiers to-morrow at + 11.30, when Mr. Kissling came in to say that the schooner just come into + the harbour was the vessel which had been sent to bring Mr. and Mrs. + Nihill from Nengone or Mare Island. He was in very bad health when he went + there, and great doubts were entertained as to his coming back. I was + deputed to go and see. I ran a good part of the way to the town on to the + pier, and there heard that Mr. Nihill was dead. An old acquaintance of + Mrs. Nihill was on the pier, so I thought I should be in the way, and came + back, told Mrs. Kissling, and went on to the Judge's, and told Mrs. Martin + and Mrs. Selwyn. Whilst there we saw a boat land a young lady and child on + the beach just below the house, and they sent me down. Pouring with rain + here on the beach, taking shelter in a boat-house with her brother, I + found this poor young widow; and so, leaning on my arm, she walked up to + the house. I just waited to see Mrs. Selwyn throw her arms round her neck, + and then walked straight off, feeling that the furious rain and wind + chimed in with a violent struggle which was just going on in my own mind. + I go through such scenes firmly enough at the time, but when my part is + over I feel just like a child, and I found the tears in my eyes; for the + universal sympathy which has been expressed by everyone here for the + lonely situation of the Nihills at Nengone made me feel almost a personal + interest in them. He was a good linguist, and his loss will be severely + felt by the Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'August 14.—I marked out to-day some pretty places for the two + wooden houses for the "Southern Cross" sailors at Kohimarama (Focus of + Light), a quiet retired spot, with a beautiful sparkling beach, the + schooner lying just outside the little bay a third of a mile off. Forty or + fifty acres of flat pasturage, but only sixteen properly cleared, and then + an amphitheatre of low hills, covered with New Zealand vegetation. I + passed fine ferns to-day quite thirty feet in the stem, with great + spreading-fronds, like branches of the Norfolk Island pine almost. + </p> + <p> + 'On the 17th of August came the welcome mail from home. "Oh what a delight + it is to see your dear handwriting again!" is the cry in the reply. + Father's I opened first, and read his letter, stopping often with tears of + thankfulness in my eyes to thank God for enabling him not to be + over-anxious about me, and for the blessing of knowing that he was as well + as usual, and also because his work, so distasteful to him, was drawing to + a close. Then I read Fan's, for I had a secret feeling that I should hear + most from her about Alfington.' + </p> + <p> + On the evening of that day he wrote to Fanny. In answer to the expression + of the pain, of separation, he says:— + </p> + <p> + 'There is One above who knows what a trial it is to you. For myself, hard + as it is, and almost too hard sometimes, yet I have relief in the variety + and unceasing-multiplicity of my occupations. Not a moment of any day can + I be said to be idle. Literally, I have not yet had a minute to untie my + "Guardians;" but for you, with more time for meditating, with no change of + scene, with every object that meets you at home and in your daily walks + reminding you of me, it must indeed be such a trial as angels love to look + upon when it is borne patiently, and with a perfect assurance that God is + ordering all things for our good; and so let us struggle on to the end. + All good powers are on our side, and we shall meet by the infinite mercy + one day when there shall be no separation for ever. + </p> + <p> + 'I read on in your letter till I came to "Dear Coley, it is very hard to + live without you,"—and I broke down and cried like a child. I was + quite alone out in the fields on a glorious bright day, and it was the + relief I had longed for. The few simple words told me the whole story, and + I prayed with my whole heart that you might find strength in the hour of + sadness. Do (as you say you do) let your natural feelings work; do not + force yourself to appear calm, do not get excited if you can help it; but + if your mind is oppressed with the thought of my absence, do not try to + drive it away by talking about something else, or taking up a book, etc.; + follow it out, see what it ends in, trace out the spiritual help and + comfort which have already, it may be, resulted from it, the growth of + dependence upon God above; meditate upon the real idea of separation, and + think of Mamma and Uncle Frank.' + </p> + <p> + 'August 26, 1855, 10.40 P.M.: S. Stephen's, Auckland. 'My dear Arthur,—I + am tired with my Sunday work, which is heavy in a colony, but I just begin + my note on the anniversary of your dear, dear father's death. How vividly + I remember all the circumstances of the last ten days—the peaceful, + holy, happy close of a pure and well-spent life! I do so think of him, not + a day passing without my mind dwelling on him; I love to find myself + calling up the image of his dear face, and my heart is very full when I + recollect all his love for me, and the many, many tokens of affection + which he used to pour out from his warm, generous, loving heart. I can + hardly tell you what an indescribable comfort it is to me now I think of + these things, cut off from the society and sympathy of friends and the + associations of home; the memory is very active in recalling such scenes, + and I almost live in them again. I have very little time for indulging in + fancies of any kind now; I begin to get an idea of what work is; but in my + walks or at night (if I am awake), I think of dear Mamma and your dear + father, and others who are gone before, with unmixed joy and comfort. You + may be quite sure that I am not likely to forget anybody or anything + connected with home. How I do watch and follow them through the hours of + the day or night when we are both awake and at our work! I turn out at + 6.45, and think of them at dinner or tea; at 10, I think of them at + evening prayers; and by my own bed-time they are in morning church or + busied about their different occupations, and I fancy I can almost see + them. + </p> + <p> + 'So it goes on, and still I am calm and happy and very well; and I think I + am in my place and hope to be made of some use some day. I like the + natives in this school very much. The regular wild untamed fellow is not + so pleasant at first—dirty, unclothed, always smoking, a mass of + blankets, his wigwam sort of place filthy; his food ditto; but then he is + probably intelligent, hospitable, and not insensible to the advantage of + hearing about religion. It only wants a little practice to overcome one's + English feelings about dress, civilisation, etc., and that will soon come. + </p> + <p> + 'But here the men are nice fellows, and the women and girls make capital + servants; and so whereas many of the clergy and gentry do not keep a + servant (wages being enormous), and ladies like your sisters and mine do + the whole work of the housemaid, nursery-maid, and cook (which I have seen + and chatted about with them), I, on the contrary, by Miss Maria (a + wondrous curly-headed, black-eyed Maori damsel, arrayed in a "smock," + weiter nichts), have my room swept, bed made, tub—yes, even in New + Zealand—daily filled and emptied, and indeed all the establishment + will do anything for me. I did not care about it, as I did all for myself + aboard ship; but still I take it with a very good grace. + </p> + <p> + 'In about six weeks I expect we shall sail all round the English + settlement of New Zealand, and go to Chatham Island. This will occupy + about three months, and the voyage will be about 4,000 miles. Then we + start at once, upon our return, for four months in the Bush, among the + native villages, on foot. Then, once again taking ship, away for + Melanesia. So that, once off, I shall be roving about for nearly a year, + and shall, if all goes well, begin the really missionary life. + </p> + <p> + 'It is late, and the post goes to morrow. Good-bye, my dear Arthur; write + when you can. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'August 27.—I have just been interrupted by Mrs. Kissling, who came + to ask me to baptize privately the young son of poor Eota, the native + deacon, and his wife Terena. Poor fellow! This child was born two or three + days after he left this place for Taranaki with the Bishop, so he has not + seen his son as yet. He has one boy about four, and has lost three or four + others; and now this little one, about three weeks old, seems to be dying. + I was almost glad that the first time I baptized a native child, using the + native language, should be on Fan's birthday. It was striking to see the + unaffected sympathy of the natives here. The poor mother came with the + child in her arms to the large room. A table with a white cloth in the + centre, and nearly the whole establishment assembled. I doubt if you would + have seen in England grown-up men and women more thoroughly in earnest. It + was the most comforting private baptism I ever witnessed. + </p> + <p> + 'Henri has been for an hour or more this morning asking me questions which + you would seldom hear from farmers or tradesmen at home, showing a real + acquaintance with the Bible, and such a desire, hunger and thirst, for + knowledge. What was the manna in the wilderness? he began. He thought it + was food that angels actually lived upon, and quoted the verse in the + Psalm readily, "So man did eat angel's food." So I took him into the whole + question of the spiritual body; the various passages, "meats for the + belly," etc., our Lord's answer to the Sadducees, and so on to 1 Cor. xv. + Very interesting to watch the earnestness of the man and his real pleasure + in assenting to the general conclusion expressed in 1 John iii. 2 + concerning our ignorance of what we shall be, not implying want of power + on God's part to explain, but His divine will in not withdrawing the veil + wholly from so great a mystery. "E marama ana," (I see it clearly now): + "He mea ngaro!" (a mystery). His mind had wholly passed from the carnal + material view of life in heaven, and the idea of food for the support of + the spiritual body, and the capacity for receiving the higher truths (as + it were) of Christianity showed itself more clearly in the young New + Zealander than you would find perhaps in the whole extent of a country + parish. I think that when I know the language well enough to catechize + freely, it will be far more interesting, and I shall have a far more + intelligent set of catechumens, than in England. They seem especially fond + of it, ask questions constantly, and will get to the bottom of the thing, + and when the catechist is up to the mark and quick and wily in both + question and illustration, they get so eager and animated, all answering + together, quoting texts, etc. I think that their knowledge of the Bible is + in some sense attributable to its being almost the only book printed that + they care much about.' + </p> + <p> + The 11th of September produced another long letter full of home feeling, + drawn forth in response to his sister. Here are some extracts:— + </p> + <p> + 'Sometimes I cannot help wishing that I could say all this, but not often. + There is One who understands, and in really great trials even, it is well + to lean only on Him. But I must write freely. You will not think me moody + and downhearted, because I show you that I do miss you, and often feel + lonely and shut up in myself. This is exactly what I experience, and I + think if I was ill, as you often are, I should break down under it; but + God is very merciful to me in keeping me in very good health, so that I am + always actively engaged every day, and when night comes I am weary in + body, and sleep sound almost always, so that the time passes very rapidly + indeed, and I am living in a kind of dream, hardly realizing the fact of + my being at half the world's distance from you, but borne on from day to + day, I scarcely know how. Indeed, when I do look back upon the past six + months, I have abundant cause to be thankful. I never perhaps shall know + fully how it is, but somehow, as a matter of fact, I am on the whole + cheerful, and always busy and calm in mind. I don't have tumultuous bursts + of feeling and overwhelming floods of recollection that sweep right away + all composure. Your first letters upset me more than once as I re-read + them, but I think of you all habitually with real joy and peace of mind. + And I am really happy, not in the sense that happiness presents itself + always, or exactly in the way that I used to feel it when with you all, or + as I should feel it if I were walking up to the lodge with my whole heart + swelling within me. It is much more quiet and subdued, and does not + perhaps come and go quite as much; but yet in the midst of all, I half + doubt sometimes whether everything about and within me is real. I just + move on like a man in a dream, but this again does not make me idle. I + don't suppose I ever worked harder, on the whole, than I do now, and I + have much anxious work at the Hospital. Such cases, Fan! Only two hours + ago, I left a poor sailor, by whose side I had been kneeling near + three-quarters of an hour, holding his sinking head and moistening his + mouth with wine, the dews of death on his forehead, and his poor emaciated + frame heaving like one great pulse at each breath. For four days that he + has been there (brought in a dying state from the Merchantman) I have been + with him, and yesterday I administered to him the Holy Communion. He had + spoken earnestly of his real desire to testify the sincerity of his + repentance and faith and love. I have been there daily for nine days, but + I cannot always manage it, as it is nearly two miles off. The + responsibility is great of dealing with such cases, but I trust that God + will pardon all my sad mistakes. I cannot withhold the Bread of Life when + I see indications of real sorrow for sin, and the simple readiness to obey + the command of Christ, even though there is great ignorance and but little + time to train a soul for heaven. I cannot, as you may suppose, prepare for + my Sunday work as I ought to do, from want of time. Last Sunday I had + three whole services, besides reading the Communion Service and preaching + at 11 A.M., and reading Prayers at 5 P.M. I should have preached five + times but that I left my sermon at Mr. T.'s, thinking to go back for + it.... Mrs. K. gave me an old "Woolmer" the other day, which gladdened my + eyes. Little bits of comfort come in, you see, in these ways. Nothing can + be kinder than the people here, I mean in Auckland and its neighbourhood—real, + simple, hearty kindness. Perhaps the work at Kohimarama is most irksome to + me. It is no joke to keep sailors in good humour ashore, and I fear that + our presence on board was much needed during the passage out.' + </p> + <p> + With reference to his sister's reading, he continues:—'Take care of + Maurice, Fan; I do not think it too much to say that he is simply and + plainly "unsound" on the doctrine of the Atonement; I don't charge him + with heresy from his stand-point, but remember that you have not been + brought into contact with Quakers, Socinians, &c., and that he may + conceive of a way of reconciling metaphysically difficulties which a far + inferior but less inquisitive and vorsehender geist pronounces for itself + simply contrary to the word of God. There are two Greek prepositions which + contain the gist of the whole matter, huper, in behalf of, and anti, + instead of, in the place of. Maurice's doctrine goes far to do away with + the truth of the last, as applied to the Sacrifice of Christ. I have an + exceedingly high regard for him, and respect for his goodness no less than + his ability. His position has exposed him to very great difficulties, and + therefore, if he is decidedly wrong, it is not for us to judge him. Read + his "Kingdom of Christ," and his early books; but he is on very slippery + and dangerous ground now. It is indeed a great and noble task to propose + to oneself, viz.—to teach that God is our Father, and to expose the + false and most unhappy idea that has at times prevailed of representing + God as actuated by strong indignation, resentment, &c., against the + human race, so that men turned from Him as from some fearful avenging + power. This is the worst form of Anthropomorphism, but this is not the + Scriptural idea of a just God. We cannot, perhaps, conceive of absolute + justice; certainly we are no judges of God's own revealed scheme of + reconciling Justice with Law, and so I call Maurice's, to a certain + extent, human teaching, more philosophy than religion, more metaphysics + than revelation.' + </p> + <p> + On the 22nd the Ordination took place, and the second Maori deacon was + ordained, Levi (or according to Maori pronunciation, Eivata) Ahea, a man + of about thirty-eight, whose character had long been tested. Immediately + after, the Bishop, Mrs. Selwyn, Mr. Patteson, and the new deacon, set + forth on a coasting expedition in the new vessel. + </p> + <p> + The language of the journal becomes nautical, and strong in praise of the + conduct of the little ship, which took the party first to Nelson, where + Sunday, the 7th of October, was spent, the Bishop going ashore while + Patteson held a service for the sailors on board, first going round to the + vessels anchored in the harbour to invite the men's attendance, but + without much success. On the 10th he wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'Already I feel to a certain extent naturalized. I do not think I should + despair of qualifying myself in three months for the charge of a native + parish. I don't mean that I know the niceties of the language so as to + speak it always correctly, but I should be able to communicate with them + on ordinary subjects, and to preach and catechize. But, after all, + Melanesia is becoming more and more a substantial reality.' + </p> + <p> + The history of Bishop Selwyn's visitation hardly belongs to Patteson's + life; but after one Sunday morning's ministration at Queen Charlotte's + Sound, Patteson was thus entreated: 'At 2.30 I was on shore again, and + soon surrounded by some thirty or forty natives, with whom I talked a long + while about the prospect of a clergyman being settled among them. "We want + you! You speak so plainly, we can understand you!" + </p> + <p> + '"No, I am going to the islands, to the blacks there." (N.B. The Maoris + speak of the Blacks with a little touch of contempt.) + </p> + <p> + '"You are wanted here! Never mind the blacks!" + </p> + <p> + '"Ought not the Gospel to be preached to them, too? They have no teacher. + Is it not right they should be taught as you have been?" + </p> + <p> + '"Ke rae tika ana. Yes, yes, that is right!"' + </p> + <p> + The settlements, then new, of Canterbury and Dunedin were visited, and + then, the Bishop remaining on shore on other work, the 'Southern Cross' + started for the Chatham Isles, gaining high commendation for all the good + qualities of which a schooner could be supposed capable. + </p> + <p> + 'It was pretty to see the little, vessel running away from the great + broad-backed rollers which rolled over the shore far above. Every now and + then she shipped a sea, and once her deck was quite full of water, up to + the gunwale nearly.' And as for her future skipper, he says, 'I had plenty + of work at navigation. It really is very puzzling at first; so much to + remember—currents, compass, variation, sun's declination, equation + of time, lee way, &c. But I think I have done my work pretty well up + to now, and of course it is a great pleasure as well as a considerable + advantage to be able to give out the true and magnetic course of the ship, + and to be able from day to day to give out her position.' + </p> + <p> + The Chatham Islands are dependencies of New Zealand, inhabited by Maoris, + and as it has fallen to the lot of few to visit them, here is this extract + concerning them:— + </p> + <p> + 'I buried a man there, a retired sea captain who had spent some twenty + years of his life in China, and his widow was a Chinese woman, a little + dot of a thing, rather nice-looking. She spoke a little English and more + Maori. We walked through the Pa to the burial-ground, some twenty natives + all dressed in black, i.e. something black about them, and many in a good + suit, attending the funeral. Levi had spent the day before (Sunday) with + them and had told them about me. As I approached the Pa before the funeral + they all raised the native cry of welcome, the "Tangi." I advanced, + speaking to them collectively, and then went through the ceremony of + shaking hands with each one in order as they stood in a row, saying + something, if I could think of it, to each. After the funeral they all + (according to native custom) sat down in the open air, round a large cloth + on the ground, on which were spread tins of potatoes, fish, pork, &c. + The leader came to me and said, "This is the Maori fashion. Come, my + friend, and sit with us," and deposited three bottles of beer at my feet, + while provisions enough for Dan Lambert were stored around—a sort of + Homeric way of honouring me, and perhaps they made a Benjamin of me. + However, I had already eaten a mouldy biscuit and had a glass of beer at + the house of the Chinawoman, so I only said grace for them, and after + talking a little while, I shook hands all round and went off. Their hands, + being used as knives and forks, were not a little greasy; but of course + one does not think of that. + </p> + <p> + As I passed the end of the Pa I heard a cry, and saw a very old man with a + perfectly white beard, too old to come to the feast, who had crawled out + of his hut to see me. He had nothing on but a blanket, and I was sorry I + had not known of his being there, that I might have gone to the old + gentleman, so we talked and shook hands, and I set off for my eight miles + walk back. The whole island is one vast peat field, in many places below + in a state of ignition; then the earth crumbles away below and pits are + formed, rank with vegetation, splendid soil for potatoes.' + </p> + <p> + Christmas-day was spent at Wellington, in services on shore, the Christmas + dinner eaten on board, but the evening spent at the Governor's in blind + man's buff and other games with the children, then evening prayers on + board for the crew. The stay at Wellington was altogether enjoyable, and + it ended by Mr. Patteson taking the command of the vessel, and returning + with Mrs. Selwyn to Auckland, while the Bishop pursued his journey by + land, no small proof of the confidence inspired by so recent a mariner. He + was sorry to lose the sight of the further visitation, and in his New + Year's letter of 1856, written soon after receiving a budget from home, + there is one little touch of home sickness:— + </p> + <p> + 'Really it is a fine land, with wonderful facilities for large + manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural interests; worth visiting, + too, merely for the scenery, but somehow enjoying scenery depends a good + deal upon having one's own friends to enjoy it with. One thing I do enjoy + thoroughly, and that is the splendid sunsets. I don't remember anywhere to + have seen such fine soft golden sunsets; and they are not wanting in + variety, for occasionally he goes to bed among red and crimson and purple + clouds, with wild scuds flying above, which suggest to me the propriety of + turning up my bed and looking out for a good roll in the night. But there + is certainly a peculiar transparency in the air which makes the distances + look distant indeed.' + </p> + <p> + This trip, so cheerfully described, was rather a pull on the frame which + had yet to become seasoned to the heat of the southern midsummer, and + there was a languor about the outward man, the last remnant of the + original sluggishness, which, if ever a doubt arose of the fitness of the + instrument for the work, awoke it during the voyage. There was depression + likewise, in part, no doubt, from the spending the first Christmas away + from home and friends, and partly from a secret disappointment at the + arrangement which made him for a time acting-master, not to say steward, + of the ship, so that he had to live on board of her, and make himself + useful on Sundays, according to need, in the churches on shore, a + desultory life very trying to him, but which he bore with his usual quiet + determination to do obediently and faithfully the duty laid on him, + without picking or choosing. + </p> + <p> + The journal-letters continue on the 17th of January: 'Wrote a Maori sermon + this morning, not feeling able yet to preach extempore in the native + language, though it is much better to do so as soon as I can. Now I must + stick to the vessel again. I have been quite frisky, really, for two days + past, and have actually slept on shore, the fourth time since September + 24. The sensation is exceedingly pleasant of firm ground underneath and + clean water, a basin, &c., to wash in. And yet I almost like coming + back to my ship home: it is really very comfortable, and you know I always + liked being a good deal alone. I am reading, for lightish reading, the + first part of the third volume of Neander's Church History, which is all + about Missions. It is the fifth volume in the way his works are usually + bound up, and came out in this box the other day. It is very interesting, + especially to me now, and it is curious to observe how much the great men + insisted upon the necessity of attending to the more secular part of + missionary work,—agriculture, fishing, and other means of humanizing + the social condition of the heathen among whom they lived. Columbanus and + Boniface, and his pupil Gregory, and others (all the German Missionaries, + almost) just went on the plan the Bishop wants to work out here. + </p> + <p> + '2. P.M. I am off to Otaki to see my native parishioners. What different + work from calling in at S. W.'s and other good Alfingtonians! The walk + will be pleasant, especially as I have been grinding away at navigation + all the morning. My stupid head gets puzzled at that kind of work; and yet + it is very good for me, just because it requires accuracy. + </p> + <p> + '29th. Just as I am beginning to get some hold of the Maori, so as to make + real use of it, the Island languages are beginning to come into work. I + have a curious collection here now—some given by the Judge, who is a + great philologist, others belonging to the Bishop—a MS. grammar + here, one chapter of St. Mark in another language, four Gospels in a + third, a few chapters of Kings with the Lord's Prayer in a fourth, besides + Marsden's Malay grammar and lexicon. Mrs. Nihill has given me some few + sheets of the Nengone language, and also lent me her husband's MS. + grammar. One letter, written (—);, but pronounced a sort of rg in + the throat, yet not like an ordinary guttural, she declares took two years + to learn. You may fancy I have enough to do, and then all my housekeeping + affairs take up a deal of time, for I not only have to order things, but + to weigh them out, help to cut out and weigh the meat, &c., and am + quite learned in the mysteries of the store-room, which to be sure is a + curious place on board ship. I hope you are well suited with a + housekeeper: if I were at home I could fearlessly advertise for such a + situation. I have passed through the preliminary steps of housemaid and + scullerymaid, and now, having taken to serving out stores, am quite + qualified for the post, especially after my last performance of making + bread, and even a cake.' + </p> + <p> + This seems to be the right place for the description which the wife of + Chief Justice Martin gives of Mr. Patteson at this period. The first + meeting, she says, 'was the beginning of an intimate friendship, which has + been one of the great blessings of our lives. After a short stay at St. + John's College, he came into residence at St. Stephen's native + institution, of which Archdeacon Kissling was then the Principal. He + learned rapidly to read and speak Maori, and won all hearts there by his + gentle unassuming manners. My husband was at that time a great invalid, + and as our dear friend was living within five minutes' walk of our house + he came in whenever he had a spare half-hour. He used to bring Archer + Butler's sermons to read with us, and I well remember the pleasant talks + that ensued. The two minds were drawn together by common tasks and habits + of thought. Both had great facility in acquiring languages, and interest + in all questions of philology. Both were also readers of German writers on + Church history and of critical interpretation of the New Testament, and I + think it was a help to the younger man to be able to discuss these and + kindred subjects with an older and more trained mind. I had heard much of + our dear friend before he arrived, and I remember feeling a little + disappointed at first, though much drawn to him by his gentle affectionate + thoughtfulness and goodness. He said little about his future work. He had + come obedient to the call and was quietly waiting to do whatever should be + set him to do. As my husband a few months later told Sir John Patteson, + there was no sudden flame of enthusiasm which would die down, but a steady + fire which would go on burning. To me he talked much of his home. He used + to walk beside my pony, and tell me about "his dear father"—how + lovingly his voice used to linger over those words!—of the struggle + it had been to leave him, of the dreariness of the day of embarkation. + Years after he could hardly bear to recall it to mind. I remember his + bright look the first day it became certain that we must visit England. + "Why, then you will see my dear father, and tell him all about me!" I knew + all his people quite well before, and when I went to visit his little + parish of Alfington I seemed to recognise each cottage and its humble + inmates, so faithfully had he described his old people and haunts. + </p> + <p> + 'One thing that specially impressed me was his reverent appreciation of + the good he had gained from older friends. He certainly had not imbibed + any of the indifference to the opinion of elders ascribed to the youth of + this generation. "Dear old tutor," his uncles, Sir John Coleridge and Dr. + Coleridge, to whom he looked up with almost filial reverence, the beloved + Uncle Frank, whose holy life and death he dwelt on with a sort of awe, how + gratefully and humbly he spoke of the help he had got from them! He was + full of enthusiasm about music, painting, and art in general. He would + flow on to willing listeners of Mendelssohn and other great composers, and + when he found that we hoped to visit Italy he was just as eager about + pictures. He owned that both at Dresden and at Rome he had weakened his + eyes by constant study of his favourite masters. + </p> + <p> + 'Altogether he gave me the impression of having had a very happy youth and + having enjoyed it thoroughly. His Eton and Oxford life, the society of men + of thought at his father's house, home interests, foreign travel, art, + happy days with his brother Jem in the Tyrol, were all entertained as + pleasant memories, and yet he was able without conscious effort or + struggle to put them all aside for his work's sake. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop kindly gave us a passage to Wellington in the "Southern + Cross," and Mr. Patteson went with us in charge of the vessel. We were + five days at sea. I used to lie on the deck, and watch with amused + interest the struggle going on between his student habits and his + practical duties, which were peculiarly distasteful to him. He was never + quite well at sea, but was headachy and uncomfortable. He was scrupulously + neat and clean, and the dirt and stiffness displeased him—how much + we never knew, till he spoke out one day when very ill at our house in + 1870. He was not apt at teaching, but he used conscientiously to hear a + young lad spell and read daily. He would come up with some book of thought + in his hand, and seemed buried in it, till he suddenly would remember he + ought to be directing or overlooking in some way. This would happen half a + dozen times in an afternoon. + </p> + <p> + 'He shrank at this time from finding fault. It was a positive distress to + him. At Wellington we parted. He seemed a little depressed, I remember, as + to what use he would be. I said: "Why, you will be the son Timothy! This + was after some years of partially failing health, when these feelings had + become habitual. I do not think they existed in his earlier voyages so + long waited for." His face brightened up at the thought. "Yes, if I can + release the Bishop of some of his anxieties, that will be enough."' + </p> + <p> + No doubt he was depressed at parting with the Chief Justice and Mrs. + Martin, who were thoroughly home-like friends, and whose return was then + uncertain. His success as a sea-captain however encouraged him, and he + wrote as follows on his return:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: March 6, 1856. + </p> + <p> + "Southern Cross." + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Neill,—How kind of you to write to me, and such a nice + long letter. It cost you a great effort, I am sure, and much pain, I fear; + but I know it was a comfort to you that it was written, and indeed it was + a great happiness to me to read it. Oh, these letters! The intense + enjoyment of hearing about you all at home, I know no pleasure like it + now. Fond as I always was of reading letters and papers, the real + happiness of a mail from England now is quite beyond the conception of any + but a wanderer in foreign parts. Our mail went out yesterday at 2 P.M., + rather unluckily for me, as I only returned from a very rapid and + prosperous voyage to Wellington yesterday morning. + </p> + <p> + 'I took the Chief Justice and Mrs. Martin (such dear, excellent people) to + Wellington to meet the "Seringa-patam," homeward bound from that port; and + I brought back from Wellington the Governor's sick wife and suite. Only + absent a fortnight for a voyage of 1,100 miles, including three days' stay + at Wellington. The coast of New Zealand is so uncertain, and the corners + so many in coasting from Auckland to Wellington, that the usual passage + occupies seven or eight days; and when the "Southern Cross" appeared + yesterday morning in harbour, I was told by several of the officers and + other residents that they feared we had put back from foul weather, or + because the Judge could not bear the motion of the vessel. They scarcely + thought we could actually have been to Wellington and returned. + </p> + <p> + 'Most thankful am I for such a fine passage, for I had two sets of + invalids, the Judge being only now (as we trust) recovering from a severe + illness, and Mrs. Martin very weakly; and I felt the responsibility of + having the charge of them very much. This was my second trip as + "Commodore," the Bishop still being on his land journey; but we expect him + in Auckland at the end of the month. As you may suppose, I am getting on + with my navigation, take sights, of course, and work out errors of + watches, place of ship, &c.; it is pretty and interesting work, and + though you know well enough that I have no turn for mathematics, yet this + kind of thing is rendered so easy nowadays by the tables that are + constructed for nautical purposes, that I do not think I should feel + afraid of navigating a ship at all. The "seamanship" is another thing, and + that the master of the ship is responsible for.... You ask me, dear Miss + Neill, where I am settled. Why, settled, I suppose I am never to be: I am + a missionary, you know, not a "stationary." But, however, my home is the + "Southern Cross," where I live always in harbour as well as at sea, highly + compassionated by all my good friends here, from the Governor downwards, + and highly contented myself with the sole possession of a cosy little + cabin nicely furnished with table, lots of books, and my dear father's + photograph, which is an invaluable treasure and comfort to me. In harbour + I live in the cabin. It is hung round with barometers (aneroids), + sympie-someters, fixed chest for chronometers, charts, &c. Of course, + wherever the "Southern Cross" goes I go too, and I am a most complete + skipper. I feel as natural with my quadrant in my hand as of old with a + cricket bat. Then I do rather have good salt-water baths, and see glorious + sunsets and sunrises, and star-light nights, and the great many-voiced + ocean, the winds and waves chiming all night with a solemn sound, lapping + against my ear as I lie in my canvas bed, six feet by two and a half, and + fall sound asleep and dream of home. Oh! there is much that is really + enjoyable in this kind of life; and if the cares of the vessel, management + of men, &c., do harass me sometimes, it is very good for me; security + from such troubles having been anxiously and selfishly pursued by me at + home. + </p> + <p> + 'If it please God to give success to our mission work, I may some day be + "settled" (if I live) on some one of the countless islands of the South + Pacific, looking after a kind of Protestant Propaganda College for the + education of teachers and missionaries from among the islanders, but this + is all uncertain. + </p> + <p> + 'Now good-bye, my dear Miss Neill. I never doubt that in all your + sufferings God does administer abundant sources of consolation to you. + Even my life, so painless and easy, is teaching me that we judge of these + things by a relative standard only, and I can conceive of one duly trained + and prepared for heaven that many most blessed anticipations of future + rest may be vouchsafed in the midst of extreme bodily pain. It is in fact + a kind of martyrdom, and truly so when borne patiently for the love of + Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'Always, my dear Miss Neill, + </p> + <p> + 'Your very affectionate, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The Sundays were days of little rest. Clergy were too scarce for one with + no fixed cure not to be made available to the utmost, and the undeveloped + state of the buildings and of all appliances of devotion fell heavily and + coldly on one trained to beauty, both of architecture and music, though + perhaps the variety of employment was the chief trial. His Good Friday and + Easter Sunday's journal show the sort of work that came on him:— + </p> + <p> + 'Taurarua, Good Friday.—I am tired, for walking about in a hot sun, + with a Melanesian kit, as we call them, slung round the neck, with clothes + and books, is really fatiguing. Yesterday and to-day are just samples of + colonial work. Thursday, 7.30, prayers in chapel; 10.30, Communion service + in chapel. Walked two miles to see a parishioner of the Archdeacon's. + 1.30, dinner; 2.30, walked to Taurarua, five and a half miles, in a + burning sun; walked on to Mr. T.'s and back again, three miles and a half + more. 7, tea, wrote a sermon and went to bed. To-day, service and sermon, + for 600 soldiers at 9; Communion service and preached at 11. Back to + Taurarua after three miles' walk, on to the College, and read prayers at + 7. Not much work, it is true, but disjointed, and therefore more + fatiguing. I do sometimes long almost for the rest of English life, the + quiet evening after the busy day; but I must look on to a peaceful rest by + and by; meanwhile work away, and to be sure I have a grand example in the + Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'Easter Day.—I was at Tamaki chapel, a cold, bare, barn-like + building of scoria, all this country being of volcanic origin. Fifty + persons present perhaps: two or three faint female voices, two or three + rough most discordant male voices, all the attempt at singing. No + instrument of any kind. The burthen of trying to raise the tone of the + whole service to a really rejoicing thankful character wholly, I suppose, + upon myself, and I so unequal to it. But the happy blessed services + themselves, they gradually absorbed the mind, and withdrew it from all + relative and comparative ideas of externals of worship. What a training it + is here for the appreciation of the wondrous beauty of our Church + services, calming all feeling of excitement and irreverent passionate + zeal, and enabling one to give full scope to the joy and glory of one's + heart, without, I hope, forgetting to rejoice with reverence and + moderation. Here, at Tamaki, you have nothing but the help the services + themselves give, and I suppose that is very good for one in reality, + though at the time it makes one feel as if something was wanting in the + hearty sympathy and support of earnest fellow-worshippers. The College + chapel nicely decorated. + </p> + <p> + '1st Sunday after Easter: Taurarua.—I walked in from the College + yesterday afternoon, took the soldiers' service at 9.15 A.M., Communion + service and sermon at St. Matthew's at 11, Hospital at 2.30. Preached at + St. Paul's at 6 P.M., reminding me of my Sunday's work when I was living + at St. Stephen's. It is a comfort to have a Sunday in Auckland + occasionally—more like a Sunday, with a real church, and people + responding and singing.' + </p> + <p> + So passed that first year, which many an intending missionary before + Patteson has found a crucial test which he has not taken into his + calculations. The soreness of the wrench from home is still fresh, and + there is no settled or regular work to occupy the mind, while the + hardships are exactly of the kind that have not been anticipated, and are + most harassing, though unsatisfying to the imagination, and all this when + the health is adapting itself to a new climate, and the spirits are least + in time, so that the temper is in the most likely condition to feel and + resent any apparent slight or unexpected employment. No one knows how many + high hopes have sunk, how many intended workers have been turned aside, by + this ordeal of the first year. + </p> + <p> + Patteson, however, was accepting whatever was distasteful as wholesome + training in the endurance of hardships, and soon felt the benefit he + reaped from it. The fastidiousness of his nature was being conquered, his + reluctance to rebuke forced out of being a hindrance, and no doubt the + long-sought grace of humility was rendered far more attainable by the + obedient fulfilment of these lowly tasks. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. THE MELANESIAN ISLES. 1856-1857. + </h2> + <p> + And now, in his twenty-ninth year, after all the unconscious preparation + of his education, and the conscious preparation of two years, Coleridge + Patteson began the definite work of his life. Bishop Selwyn was to sail + with him in the "Southern Cross," making the voyage that had been + intermitted during the expedition to England, introducing him to the + Islands, and testing his adaptation to the work there. The first point + was, however, to be Sydney, with the hope of obtaining leave to use + Norfolk Island as the headquarters of the Mission. They meant to touch + there, weather permitting, on their way northward. + </p> + <p> + Ascension Day was always Bishop Selwyn's favourite time for starting, so + that the charge might be ringing freshly in his ears and those of his + companions, 'Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of + the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' + </p> + <p> + There was morning service and Holy Communion at the little College chapel + on the 1st of May, Ascension Day of 1856; then the party went on board, + but their first start was only to Coromandel Bay, in order that the Bishop + might arrange a dispute with the Maoris, and they then returned to + Auckland to take up Mrs. Selwyn. The crew were five in number, and Mr. + Leonard Harper, son of the future Bishop of Lyttelton, likewise + accompanied them, and relieved Patteson of his onerous duties as steward. + </p> + <p> + The first adventure was such a storm as the little vessel had never yet + encountered. The journal-letter thus describes it:—'On Saturday + morning it began to blow from the north-east, and for the first time I + experienced a circular gale or hurricane. Mrs. Somerville, I think, + somewhere describes the nature of them in her "Physical Geography." The + wind veered and hauled about a point or two, but blew from the north-east + with great force, till about seven P.M. we could do no more with it and + had to lie to. Ask old D. what that means, if you can't understand my + description of it. The principle of it is to set two small sails, one fore + and one aft, lash the rudder (wheel) amidships, make all snug, put on + hatches, batten everything down, and trust to ride out the storm. As the + vessel falls away from the wind by the action of one sail, it is brought + up to it again by the other-sail. Thus her head is always kept to the + wind, and she meets the seas, which if they caught her on the beam or the + quarter would very likely send her down at once. About midnight on + Saturday the wind suddenly chopped round to W.S.W., so that we were near + the focus of the gale; it blew harder and harder till we took down the one + sail forward, as the ropes and spars were enough for the wind to act upon. + From 1 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Sunday it blew furiously. The whole sea was one + drift of foam, and the surface of the water beaten down almost flat by the + excessive violence of the wind, which cut off the head of every wave as it + strove to raise itself, and carried it in clouds of spray and great masses + of water, driving and hurling it against any obstacle, such as our little + vessel, with inconceivable fury. As I stood on deck, gasping for breath, + my eyes literally unable to keep themselves open, and only by glimpses + getting a view of this most grand and terrible sight, it seemed as if a + furious snow-storm was raging over a swelling, heaving, dark mass of + waters. When anything could be seen beyond the first or second line of + waves, the sky and sea appeared to meet in one cataract of rain and spray. + A few birds were driving about like spirits of the storm. It was, as + Shakspeare calls it, a regular hurly. Add to this the straining of the + masts, the creaking of the planks, the shrill whistle of the wind in the + ropes and cordage, the occasional crash of a heavy sea as it struck us + with a sharp sound, and the rush of water over the decks, down the + companion and hatches, that followed, and you have a notion of a gale of + wind. And yet this was far from all the wind and sea can do, and we were + never in any danger, I believe. That is, an unlucky sea at such a time may + be fatal, and if anything about the schooner had been unsound it might + have been awkward. At prayers, the Bishop read the prayer to be used in a + storm, but I never myself entertained the idea of our being really in + peril, nor did I suffer anything like the anxiety that I did when we were + rounding Cape Palliser on our way to Wellington with the Judge. Here we + had sea room and no fear of driving upon rocks. It is blowing a good deal + now, as you see by my writing. I have a small ink-bottle of glass, made + like an eel-pot (such as tax-gatherers use), tied to my buttonhole, and + with this I can scribble away in almost any sea. Dear me! you could not + sit still a minute, even now. I was qualmish on Saturday, and for a minute + sick, but pretty comfortable on Sunday, though wearied by the constant + pitching and rolling.' + </p> + <p> + The day after this, namely May 15, the Bishop and Mr. Patteson rowed into + Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island, amid a heavy surf, but they saw no cascade, + as there had been no rain for a long time; and there were only rocks + surmounted by pine trees, no living creature, no landing-place, as they + coasted along. At last they saw a smooth-looking rock with an iron staple, + and concluding that it was the way of approach, they watched their time, + and through the surf which broke over it they leapt on it, and dashed + ashore before the returning swell caught them. They walked inland, and met + a man, one of twelve convicts who had been left behind to receive the + Pitcairners, who had not yet arrived, but were on their way from their + original island in H.M.S. 'Juno.' The vegetation and climate struck them + as beautiful; there were oranges, lemons, sweet potatoes, and common + potatoes, and English vegetables, and the Norfolk Island pine growing to a + great height: 'but,' writes Coley, 'it is coarser in the leaf and less + symmetrical in shape than I had expected. I thought to have seen the tree + of Veitch's nursery garden on a scale three or four times as large, and so + I might have done in any of the gardens; but as they grow wild in the + forest, they are not so very different from the more common fir tribe.' + </p> + <p> + They saw one house, but had little time, and getting down to the smooth + rock, stood there, barefooted, till the boat could back in between the + rollers; the Bishop leapt in at the first, and the boat made off at once, + and till it could return, Patteson had to cling to the clamps to hinder + himself from being washed off, as six or seven waves broke over him before + the boat could come near enough for another spring. These difficulties in + landing were one of the recommendations of the island, by isolating the + future inhabitants from the demoralising visits of chance vessels. + </p> + <p> + Then followed some days of great enjoyment of the calm warmth of the + semi-tropical winter, chiefly varied by catching a young shark, and + contrasting him with his attendant pilot, as the ugliest and prettiest of + fish. Patteson used the calm to write (May 30) one of his introspective + letters, owning that he felt physical discomfort, and found it hard to + banish 'recollections of clean water, dry clothes, and drink not tasting + like medicine; but that he most of all missed the perfect unconstrained + ease of home conversation.' + </p> + <p> + Then he continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'But now, don't you see, Fan, how good this is for me? If you think + impartially of me, as you recollect me, you will see how soft and indolent + I was, how easily I fell into self-indulgent habits, how little I cared to + exert myself and try and exercise the influence, etc., a clergyman may be + supposed to possess; there was nothing about me to indicate energy, to fit + me for working out a scheme and stamping my own mind upon others who came + in contact with me. Perhaps there is no one person who can trace any + sensible influence to anything I ever did or said. + </p> + <p> + 'Now I don't of course venture to say that this is otherwise now; but I + think that this is the best training to make it so. I think that I ought + to be gaining strength of purpose, resolution, energy of character, under + these circumstances. And observe, what should I be without some such + change pressing on me? Just imagine me, such a one as I was at Alfington, + alone on an island with twenty-five Melanesian boys, from half as many + different islands, to be trained, clothed, brought into orderly habits, + &c., the report of our proceedings made in some sort the test of the + working of the Mission; and all this to be arranged, ordered, and worked + out by me, who found H. B—— and W. P—— a care too + great for me. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't you see that I must become very different from what I was—more + of a man; to say nothing of the higher and religious side of this + question? While then there is much that my carnal self-indulgent nature + does not at all like, and while it is always trying to rebel, my better + sense and the true voice within tells me that, independently of this + particular work requiring such a discipline, the discipline itself is good + for the formation of my own character.... Oh! the month of June at + Feniton! the rhododendrons, azaleas, and kalmias, the burst of flowers and + trees, the song of thrush and blackbird (both unknown to New Zealand). The + green meadows and cawing rooks, and church towers and Sunday bells, and + the bright sparkling river and leaping trout: and the hedges with primrose + and violet (I should like to see a hedge again); and I am afraid I must + add the green peas and beans, and various other garden productions, which + would make salt pork more palatable! Yes, I should like to see it all + again; but it is of the earth after all, and I have the "many-twinkling + smile of Ocean," though there is no soft woodland dell to make it more + beautiful by its contrast. Well, I have had a happy hour scribbling away, + and now to work.' + </p> + <p> + 'I am less distressed now,' he adds, a few days later, in the same strain, + 'at the absence of all that is customary in England on these occasions + (great festivals), though I dare not say how far the loss of all these + privileges produces a bad effect upon my heart and character. One often + loses the spirit when the form is withdrawn, and I still sorely long for + the worship of God in the beauty of holiness, and my mind reverts to + Ottery Church, and college chapels and vast glorious cathedrals.' + </p> + <p> + On the 10th of June the 'Southern Cross' was in Sydney harbour, and + remained there a fortnight, Bishop Barker gladly welcoming the new + arrivals, though in general Bishop Selwyn and his Chaplain announced + themselves as like the man and woman in the weather-glass, only coming-out + by turns, since one or other had to be in charge of the ship; but later an + arrangement was made which set them more at liberty. And the churches at + Sydney were a great delight to Patteson; the architecture, music, and all + the arrangements being like those among which he had been trained. + </p> + <p> + 'A Sunday worth a dozen gales of wind!' he exclaims, 'but you can hardly + judge of the effect produced by all the good substantial concomitants of + Divine worship upon one who for fourteen months has scarcely seen anything + but a small wooden church, with almost all the warmth of devotion resting + on himself. I feel roused to the core. ...I felt the blessing of + worshipping the Lord with a full heart in the beauty of holiness. A very + good organ well played, and my joy was great when we sang the long 78th + Psalm to an old chant of itself almost enough to upset me, the + congregation singing in parts with heart and voice.' + </p> + <p> + His exhilaration showed itself in a letter to his little cousin, Paulina + Martin:— + </p> + <p> + "Southern Cross," Sydney Harbour: June 18, 1856. + </p> + <p> + 'My darling Pena,—Are you so anxious to have a letter from me, and + do you think I am going to forget all about you? However, you have had + long before this two or three letters from me, I hope, and when I write to + grandpapa or grandmamma or mamma, you must always take it as if a good + deal was meant for you, for I have not quite so much time for writing as + you have, I dare say, in spite of music and French and history and + geography and all the rest of it. But I do dearly love to write to you + when I can, and you must be quite certain that I shall always do so as I + have opportunity. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't you ever talk to me about any of your English watering-places and + sea-port towns! No one knows anything about what an harbour can be for + perfect beauty of earth, air, and sea, for wooded banks and rocky heights, + and fine shipping and handsome buildings, and all the bustle and stir of a + town of 80,000 inhabitants somehow lost and hidden among gum trees and + Norfolk Island pines and parks and gravel walks; and everywhere the + magnificent sea view breaking in upon the eye. Don't be angry, darling, + for I love Dawlish very much, and would sooner go and sail the "Mary Jane" + with you in some dear little basin among the rocks at low tide, and watch + all the little crabs and other creatures with long Latin names, than walk + about Sydney arm-in-arm with the Bishops of New Zealand and Newcastle, to + call on the Governor. But I must say what I think about the natural + scenery of places that I visit, and nowhere, even in New Zealand—no, + not even in Queen Charlotte's Sound, nor in Banks's Peninsula, have I seen + anything so completely beautiful as this harbour—'"heoi ano" "that's + enough." The Governor told us yesterday that when he was at Hobart Town, + he made the convicts cut a path through one of the deep gullies running + down from a mountain 4,500 feet high to the sea. The path was two miles + long, and all the way the tree-ferns, between twenty and thirty feet high, + formed a natural roof arched and vaulted like the fretted roofs of our + Tudor churches and chapels. There is a botanical garden here with a very + good collection of all the Australian trees and shrubs, and with many New + Zealand and many semi-tropical plants besides. All the English flowers and + fruits grow here as well, so that in the warmer months it must look + beautiful. It is close to the sea, which runs here in little creeks and + bays close up among the public walks and buildings; and as the shore is + all rocky and steep at low water, there is no mud or swamp or seaweed, but + only clear green water quite deep and always calm and tranquil, because + the harbour is so broken up and diversified by innumerable islets, gulfs, + &c., that no wind can raise any sea of consequence in it. + </p> + <p> + 'Just now it is winter time—slight frost at night, but no appearance + of it after the sun is up; bright hot days, and bracing cold nights, the + very perfection of a climate in winter, but in summer very hot. It is so + funny to me to see regular stone and brick houses, and shops, and + carriages, and cabs, &c., all quite new to me. + </p> + <p> + 'To-night there is a great missionary meeting. Bishops of Sydney, New + Zealand, and Newcastle present. Bishop of Newcastle and a Mr. King + advocate the cause of the Australian blacks, and the Bishop of New Zealand + and unfortunate I have to speechify about Melanesia. What on earth to say + I don't know, for of course the Bishop will exhaust the subject before me. + </p> + <p> + 'However, I must try and not be in a great fright; but I would sooner by + half be going to have a talk with a parcel of Maoris. Now, you must get + Fanny Patteson to tell you all about our voyage from New Zealand, our + adventure at Norfolk Island, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'We sail on Monday, 23rd, for Norfolk Island again, as it is in our way to + the Solomon group, because we shall get the S.E. trades just about there, + and so run away in style to the Solomon Islands, and perhaps farther north + still, but that is not probable this time. + </p> + <p> + 'Always, my darling, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + This meeting was called by the Australian Board of Missions to receive + information or propositions concerning the missions to the Australians and + Melanesians. Bishop Barker of Sydney was in the chair, and the Bishop of + Newcastle, who had made one Melanesian cruise in the 'Border Maid,' was + likewise present. The room was crowded to excess, and from 900 to 1,000 + were certainly present, many more failing to get in. Afterwards Patteson + writes to his father:— + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop of New Zealand, in introducing me to the meeting, spoke before + all these people of you and me in a way that almost unnerved me, and I had + to speak next. What he said is not reported, or very badly—calling + me his dear friend, with his voice quivering—I never saw him more, + or so much affected—"I ought to be most thankful to God for giving + me so dear a companion, &c." But he spoke so of you, and people here + seemed to know of you, coming up to me, and asking about you, after the + meeting. The Bishop of Newcastle spoke of you most kindly, and really with + very great feeling. An evening I had dreaded ended happily. Before I dined + with the three Bishops; last night with Chief Justice Sir Alfred Stephen, + and met the trio again, Bishop everywhere speaking of me as one of his + family. "No, my boys are not with me; but we have my dear friend Mr. + Patteson." Of course all this exhibition of feeling never comes out when + we are alone, we know each other too well. And now the romance of Mission + work is over, and the real labour is to begin. There has been bad work + among the islands lately, but you know in whose hands we are.' + </p> + <p> + The collections both at the door and on the following Sunday were very + large, and a strong warm feeling was excited in Sydney which has never + since died away. Mr. Patteson was much beloved there, and always met with + kind welcome and ready assistance from all classes. But there was one + great disappointment. The Bishop of New Zealand, on formally setting + before Sir William Denison, Governor-General of Australia, his plan for + making Norfolk Island the site of a school for training Melanesian + teachers, and eventually the seat of a bishopric, received a refusal, and + was not permitted even to place a chaplain there. Sir William, as he tells + us in his published diary, had heard from some quarter or other rumours + respecting the Melanesian scholars which made him suppose that their + presence might have a bad effect upon the Pitcairners; and repeated that + his instructions were that the islanders should be left as much as + possible to themselves. The request to be permitted to place Mr. Patteson + there was refused on the ground that Norfolk Island belonged to the see of + Tasmania, and not to that of New Zealand. But the Bishop of Tasmania could + hardly visit it without great inconvenience, and he had therefore placed + it under the care of his brother of New Zealand, full in whose track it + lay. The matter was referred to the Colonial Secretary, and in the + meantime Bishop Selwyn adhered to his purpose of visiting it on leaving + Sydney, and though he could not place his chaplain there, leaving Mrs. + Selwyn to assist in the work of training the new comers to the novelties + of a more temperate climate and a more genial soil than they had known on + the torrid rock of Pitcairn's Island. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, on the 4th of July, the 'Southern Cross' again approached the + island, and finding that the Pitcairners had come, and that their + magistrate and Mr. Nobbs, their clergyman, would gladly welcome + assistance, the Bishop brought Mrs. Selwyn on shore, and left her there to + assist Mr. Nobbs in preparing the entire population to be confirmed on his + return. But the Pitcairners have been amply written about, and as + Coleridge Patteson's connection with them was only incidental, I shall not + dwell on them or their history. + </p> + <p> + The 'Southern Cross' reached Anaiteum on the 14th of July. This island was + occupied by Mr. Inglis and Mr. Greddie, of the Scottish Presbyterian + Mission, who had done much towards improving the natives. Small canoes + soon began to come off to the vessel, little craft consisting of no more + than the trunk of a tree hollowed out, seldom more than a foot broad, and + perhaps eighteen inches deep, all with outriggers—namely, a slight + wooden frame or raft to balance them, and for the most part containing two + men, or sometimes three or four. Before long, not less than fifteen or + twenty had come on board, with woolly hair and mahogany skins, generally + wearing a small strip of calico, but some without even this. They were + small men, but lithe and supple, and walked about the deck quite at ease, + chattering in a language no one understood except the words 'Missy + Inglis,' as they pointed to a house. Presently another canoe arrived with + a Samoan teacher with whom the Bishop could converse, and who said that + Mr. Geddie was at Mare. They were soon followed by a whale boat with a + Tahitian native teacher, a Futuma man, and a crew of Anaiteans. + </p> + <p> + 'The Futuma man had expended his energies upon his hair, which was + elaborately dressed after a fashion that precluded the possibility of any + attention being bestowed upon the rest of his person, which was + accordingly wholly unencumbered with any clothing. The perfection of this + art apparently consisted in gathering up about a dozen hairs and binding + them firmly with grass or fine twine of cocoa-nut fibre plastered with + coral lime. As the hair grows, the binding is lengthened also, and only + about four or five inches are suffered to escape from this confinement, + and are then frizzed and curled, like a mop or a poodle's coat. Leonard + Harper and I returned in this boat, Tahitian steering, Samoan, Futuman, + and Anaiteans making one motley crew. The brisk trade soon carried us to + the beach in front of Mr. Inglis's house, and arrived at the reef I rode + out pick-a-back on the Samoan, Leonard following on a half-naked Anaitean. + We soon found ourselves in the midst of a number of men, women and + children, standing round Mr. Inglis at the entrance of his garden. I + explained to him the reason of the Bishop's being unable to land, that he + alone knew the harbour on the other side of island, and so could not leave + the vessel. + </p> + <p> + 'Then, having delivered the boxes and letters we had brought for him from + Auckland, we went into his house, gazing with delight at cocoanut trees, + bananas, breadfruit trees, citrons, lemons, taro, &c., with bright + tropical colouring thrown over all, lighting up the broad leaves and thick + foliage of the trees around us. + </p> + <p> + 'The house itself is built, after the fashion of these islands, of wattle + plastered with coral lime, the roof thatched with the leaves of the + cocoa-nut and pandana; the fences of the garden were made of cane, + prettily worked together in a cross pattern; the path neatly kept, and + everything looking clean and tidy. We sat down in a small, well-furnished + room, and looked out upon the garden, verandah, and groups of men and + women standing outside. Presently Mrs. Inglis came into the room, and + after some discussion I was persuaded to stay all night, since the + schooner could not reach her anchorage before dark, and the next day the + water-casks were to be filled. + </p> + <p> + 'An excellent dinner was provided: roast fowl with taro, a nutritious root + somewhat like potato, rice and jam, bananas and delicious fruit, bread and + Scotch cheese, with glasses of cocoa-nut milk. + </p> + <p> + 'Afterwards he showed us the arrangements for boarding young men and women—twelve + of the former, and fourteen of the latter. Nothing could well exceed the + cleanliness and order of their houses, sleeping rooms, and cooking rooms. + The houses, wattled and plastered, had floors covered with native mats, + beds laid upon a raised platform running round the inner room, mats and + blankets for covering, and bamboo cane for a pillow. The boys were, some + writing, some making twine, some summing, when we went in; the girls just + putting on their bonnets, of their own manufacture, for school. + </p> + <p> + 'They learn all household work—cooking, hemming, sewing, &c.; + the boys tend the poultry, cows, cultivate taro, make arrowroot, &c. + All of them could read fluently, and all looked happy, clean, and healthy. + The girls wear their native petticoats of cocoa-nut leaves, with a calico + body. Boys wear trousers, and some had shirts, some waistcoats, and a few + jackets. + </p> + <p> + 'We walked about a small wood adjoining the house, through which a small + fresh-water stream runs. In the wood we saw specimens of the various trees + and shrubs, and flowers of the island, including those already noticed in + Mr. Inglis's garden, and the breadfruit tree and sugar-cane, and a + beautiful bright flower of scarlet colour, a convolvulus, larger than any + I had ever seen elsewhere; also a tree bearing a very beautiful yellow + flower. + </p> + <p> + 'We then returned to the house, and shortly afterwards went to the church, + which is at present used also as the school-house, though the uprights of + a larger school-house are already fixed in the ground. + </p> + <p> + 'Men, women, and children to the number of ninety-four had assembled in a + large oblong building, wattled and plastered, with open windows on all + sides; mats arranged on the floor, and a raised platform or bench running + round the building for persons who prefer to sit after the English, + instead of the native fashion, + </p> + <p> + 'All that were called upon to read did so fluently; the singing was harsh + and nasal enough, but in very good time; their counting very good, and + their writing on slates quite equal to the average performance, I am + satisfied, of a good English parish school. They listened attentively when + Mr. Inglis spoke to them, and when at his request I said a few words, + which he translated. The most perfect order and quiet prevailed all the + time we were in the school. At the end of the lessons they came forward, + and each one shook hands with Leonard Harper and myself, smiling and + laughing with their quick intelligent eyes, and apparently pleased to see + strangers among them. + </p> + <p> + 'By this time it was dusk, and we went back to the Mission House, and + spent a pleasant evening, asking and answering questions about Anaiteum + and the world beyond it, until 8 P.M., when the boarders came to prayers, + with two or three persons who live about the place. They read the third + chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel in turns, verse by verse, and then a + prayer from Mr. Inglis followed. At 8.30 we had private family prayers, + and at 9 went to bed. + </p> + <p> + 'July 16.—We got up at four, and were soon ready for our walk to the + south side of the Island; Mr. Inglis came with us, and ten or twelve + natives. For the first half-mile we walked along the beach among cocoa-nut + trees, bananas and sugar-canes, the sun, not yet above the horizon, + tingeing the light clouds with faint pink and purple lines, the freshness + of the early dawn, and the soft breeze playing about us, gladdening at + once our eyes and our hearts. Soon we struck off to the south, and passing + through taro plantations, began to ascend the slopes of the island. As we + walked along we heard the sound of the logs beaten together, summoning the + people to attend the various schools planted in every locality, under the + management of native teachers, and we had a good opportunity of observing + the careful system of irrigation adopted by the natives for the + cultivation of the taro plant. Following the course of a small mountain + stream, we observed the labour with which the water was brought down from + it upon causeways of earth, carried in baskets from very considerable + distances; occasionally the water-course is led round the head of various + small ravines; at other times the trunk of a tree is hollowed out and + converted into an aqueduct; but no pains have been wanting to make + provision for the growth of the staple food of the island.' + </p> + <p> + From this scene of hope and encouragement the 'Southern Cross' sailed on + the sixteenth, and passing Erromango, came in sight of Fate, also called + Sandwich, a wooded island beautiful beyond description, but with a bad + character for cannibalism, and where the Samoan teachers had been + murdered. So the approach was cautious, and the vessel kept a mile from + the shore, and was soon surrounded with canoes, one of them containing a + native who had been instructed in Samoa, and was now acting as teacher. + </p> + <p> + 'The first canoe that came had five men on board. Girdles of beautifully + plaited cocoa-nut fibre round their waists were their only clothing, but + some had wreaths of flowers and green leaves round their heads, and most + of them wore mother-of-pearl shells, beads, &c., round their necks and + in their ears. They do not tattoo, but brand their skins. All five came, + and presently three more, and then another; but seeing a large double + canoe with perhaps twenty men in her coming close, we stood away. Two of + our visitors chose to stay, and we have them on board now: Alsoff, a man + of perhaps forty-five, and Mospa, a very intelligent young man from whom I + am picking up words as fast as I can. F. would have laughed to have seen + me rigging them out in calico shirts, buttoning them up. Mospa gave me his + wooden comb, which they push through their hair, as you ladies do coral or + gold pins at parties. Another fellow whose head was elaborately frizzled + and plastered with coral lime, departed with one of my common calico + pocket-handkerchiefs with my name in Joan's marking. This is to adorn his + head, and for aught I know, is the first, and certainly the best specimen + of handwriting in the island. We hope to call at all these islands on our + way back from the north, but at present we only dodge a few canoes, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'July 20.—I suppose you like to know all little things, so I tell + you that our Fate friends, being presented each with a blanket, just wound + themselves up on the cabin floor, one close to Leonard and me, and slept + away in style; that I soon taught them to eat with a knife and fork, and + to-day have almost succeeded in making them believe that plum pudding (our + Sunday dish) is a fine thing. + </p> + <p> + 'July 21.—All day we have been very slowly drifting along the west + side of Espiritu Santo. A grand mountainous chain runs along the whole + island, the peaks we estimate at 4,000 feet high. This alone is a fine + sight—luxuriant vegetation to nearly the top of the peaks, clouds + resting upon the summit of the range, from the evaporation caused by the + vast amount of vegetable matter. + </p> + <p> + 'As we were lying to, about half-way along the coast, we espied a brig at + anchor close on shore. Manned the boat and rowed about two miles to the + brig, found it was under the command of a notorious man among the + sandal-wood traders for many a dark deed of revenge and unscrupulous + retaliation upon the natives. At Nengone he shot three in cold blood who + swam off to his ship, because the people of the place were said to be + about to attempt to take his vessel. At Mallicolo but lately I fear he + killed not less than eight, though here there was some scuffling and + provocation. For the Nengone affair he was tried for his life at Sydney, + Captain Erskine and the Bishop having much to do with his prosecution. He + is now dealing fairly (apparently) with these people, and is certainly on + very friendly terms with them. The Bishop has known him many years, and + baptized some years ago his only child, a son. We are glad to let these + men see that we are about in these seas, watching what they do; and the + Bishop said, "Mr. Patteson is come from England on purpose to look after + these islands," as much as to say, Now there will be a regular visitation + of them, and outrages committed on the natives will probably be + discovered. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, on we rowed, half a mile to shore—such a lovely scene. A bend + in the coral reef made a beautiful boat harbour, and into it we rowed. + Clear as crystal was the water, bright as tropical sun at 2.30 P.M. could + make it was the foliage on the shore. Numbers of children and boys were + playing in the water or running about on the rocks and sands, and there + were several men about, all of course naked, and as they lead an + amphibious life they find it very convenient. They work little; breadfruit + trees, cocoa-nut trees, and bananas grow naturally, and the yam and taro + cultivations are weeded and tended by the women. They have nothing to do + but eat, drink, and sleep, and lie on the warm coral rock, and bathe in + the surf. + </p> + <p> + 'There was no shyness on the part of the children, dear little fellows + from six to ten clustering round me, unable to understand my coat with + pockets, and what my socks could be—I seemed to have two or three + skins. The men came up and soon shook hands, but did not seem to know the + custom. A Nengone man was ashore, and with him I could talk a little. Soon + I was walking on shore arm-in-arm with him, stark naked, and he was asking + me about Mrs. Nihill and her child. A little boy of the island held the + other hand, and so, leaving the boat, we walked inland into the bush to + see a native village. Ten minutes' walk brought us to it—cottages + all of bamboos tied together with cocoa-nut fibre, thatched with leaves, a + ridge-pole and sloping roof on either side reaching to the ground. No + upright poles or side-walls; they were quite open at the two ends, perhaps + 20, 30, or even 40 feet long; the general appearance clean and healthy. + Their food was kept on raised stages as in New Zealand, and they had + plenty of earthenware pots and basins, some of good shape, and all + apparently strong and serviceable. Large wooden or earthenware platters + are used for stirring up and pounding the yams with a heavy wooden pestle, + and they have a peculiar way of scraping the yam, on a wooden board + roughened like a grater, into a pulp, and then boiling it into a fine + dough. + </p> + <p> + 'They have plenty of pigs and dogs, which they eat, and some fowls. Spears + I saw none, but bows and arrows. I took a bow out of a man's hand, and + then an arrow, and fitted it to the string; he made signs that he shot + birds with it. Clubs they have, but as far as I saw only used for killing + pigs. There is a good deal of fighting on the island, however. Recollect + with reference to all these places, that an island fifty or sixty miles + long, one mass of forest with no path, is not like an English county. It + may take months to get an accurate knowledge of one of them; we can only + at present judge of the particular spots and bays we touch at. But there + is every indication here of friendliness, of a gentle, soft disposition, + and I hope we shall take away some of the boys when we return. I never saw + children more thoroughly attractive in appearance and manner,—dear + little fellows, I longed to bring off some of them. You would have liked + to have seen them playing with me, laughing and jumping about. These + people don't look half so well when they have any clothes on, they look + shabby and gentish; but seeing them on shore, or just coming out of a + canoe, all glistening with water, and looking so lithe and free, they look + very pleasant to the eye. The colour supplies the place of clothing. The + chief and most of the men were unfortunately absent at a great feast held + a few miles off, but there were several women and many children. + </p> + <p> + 'We went to their watering place, about a quarter or half a mile from the + beach, a picturesque spot in a part of the wood to which the water from + the hills is carried in canes of bamboo, supported on cross sticks. The + water was very clear and sweet, and one of our little guides soon had a + good shower-bath, standing under the shoot and then walking in the sun + till in a few minutes his glistening skin was dry again. Coming back we + met a man carrying water in cocoa-nut shells, six or eight hanging by + strings two feet long at each end of a bamboo cane slung across over his + shoulder, nicely balanced and very pretty. One of our party carried + perhaps two and a half gallons of water in a bamboo stuffed at the end + with grass. About five P.M. we went back to the schooner and made sail for + Bauro (San Cristoval).' + </p> + <p> + At this place there was a great disappointment at first in the + non-appearance of William Diddimang, an old baptized scholar at St. + John's; and though he came at last, and dined on board, he had evidently + so far fallen away as to be unwilling to meet the Bishop. The canoes here + were remarkably beautiful, built of several pieces, fastened with a kind + of gum. The shape was light and elegant, the thwarts elaborately carved + with figures of birds or fish, and the high prow inlaid with + mother-of-pearl let into black wood. + </p> + <p> + As a Sunday at sea was preferable to one among curious visitors who must + be entertained, the schooner put out to sea to visit one to two other + neighbouring islets, and then to return again to Bauro. + </p> + <p> + Kennell Island, where she touched on the 27th, proved to be inhabited by + Maoris. One man, who swam alone to the vessel, offered the salutation of + rubbing noses, New Zealand fashion, and converse could be held in that + language. Two more joined him, and spent the night on board in singing a + kaka or song of love for their visitors. Next day the island was visited. + 'Oh the beauty of the deep clefts in the coral reef, lined with coral, + purple, blue, scarlet, green, and white! the little blue fishes, the + bright blue starfish, the little land-crabs walking away with other + people's shells. But nothing of this can be seen by you; the coral loses + its colour, and who can show you the bright line of surf breaking the + clear blue of this truly Pacific Ocean, and the tropical sun piercing + through masses of foliage which nothing less dazzling could penetrate. Our + three friends, with two more men, their wives and children, form the whole + population of the south end of the island at all events, perhaps twenty in + all. I trod upon and broke flowering-branches of coral that you would have + wondered at.' + </p> + <p> + Bellona likewise had a Maori-speaking population. There was no passage + through the reef, so the Bishop and Patteson took off their coats, one + took two hatchets and the other two adzes, and with a good header, swam + ashore. Walking up the beach, they found a place in the bush with nine + beautiful canoes, with nets, and large wooden hooks in them, but at first + no people; and they were leaving their presents in the canoes when + Patteson spied two men, and advanced to them while the Bishop went back to + fetch the goods. After a rubbing of noses and a Maori greeting, the men + were reassured, and eleven more came up, one a chief with a spear in his + hand. 'I had my straw hat fastened by a ribbon, which my friend coveted, + so I let him take it, which he did by putting his adze (my gift) against + it, close to my ear, and cutting it, off—not the least occasion to + be afraid of them.' A characteristic comment, certainly! But there was no + foolhardiness. The Bishop was on the alert, and when presently he saw his + companion linger for a moment, a quick 'Come along,' was a reminder that + 'this was not the beach at Sidmouth.' The peculiar quickness of eye—verily + circumspect, though without the least betrayal of alarm or want of + confidence, which was learnt from the need of being always as it were on + guard, was soon learnt likewise by Patteson, while the air of suspicion or + fear was most carefully avoided. The swim back to the boat was in water + 'too warm, but refreshing,' and ended with a dive under the boat for the + pure pleasure of the thing. + </p> + <p> + Then, as before arranged, Bauro was revisited on another part of the + coast, where Iri was ready with a welcome, but Diddimang appeared no more. + He had returned to native habits, and had made no attempt at teaching, but + the visits he had made to New Zealand were not lost, for the Bishop had + acquired a knowledge of the language, and it was moreover established in + the Bauro mind that a voyage in his ship was safe and desirable. 'This + part of Bauro was exceedingly beautiful:— + </p> + <p> + 'Here were coral crags, the masses of forest trees, the creepers literally + hundreds of feet long, crawling along and hanging from the cliffs, the + cocoa-nut trees and bananas, palms, &c., the dark figures on the edge + of the rocks looking down upon us from among the trees, the people + assembling on the bright beach—coral dust as it may be called, for + it was worn as fine as white sand—cottages among the trees, and a + pond of fresh water close by, winding away among the cliffs.' + </p> + <p> + Here a visit was paid to Iri's boathouse, which contained three exquisite + canoes, beautifully inlaid; then to his house, long, low, and open at the + ends, like those formerly described, but with low wattled side walls. + Along the ridge-pole were ranged twenty-seven skulls, not yet blackened + with smoke, and bones were scattered outside, for a fight had recently + taken place near at hand. 'In this Golgotha,' the Bishop, using his little + book of Bauro words, talked to the people, and plainly told them that the + Great God hated wars and cruelty, and such ornaments were horrible in his + sight. Iri took it all in good part, and five boys willingly accepted the + invitation to New Zealand. One little fellow about eight years old had + attached himself to Coley, clinging about his waist with his arms, but he + was too young to be taken away. Iri came down to the beach, and waded up + to his waist in the water as the boat put off. + </p> + <p> + In the night Gera, or Guadalcanar, was reached, a fine mountainous island, + with a detached reef. Numerous canoes surrounded the vessel, bringing + yarns for barter. Fish-hooks were of no account; it was small hatchets + that were in request, and the Bauro boys could hold some sort of converse + with the people, though theirs was quite another dialect. They were gaily + decked out with armlets, frontlets, bracelets, and girdles of shell, and + almost all of them wore, not only nose-rings, but plugs of wood or + mother-of-pearl in the tip of the nose. One man in particular had a shell + eyelet-hole let into his nose, into which he inserted his unicorn + decoration. The Bishop amused himself and Coley by saying, as he hung a + fishhook on this man's nose-hook, 'Naso suspendis adunco.' Others had six + or eight pieces of wood sticking out from either side of the nose, like a + cat's whiskers. Two young men were taken from hence, and more would have + gone, but it was not thought well to take married men. + </p> + <p> + The isle of Mara or Malanta had a very shy population, who seemed to live + inland, having probably been molested by the warlike Gera men. It had been + supposed that there was a second islet here, but the 'Southern Cross' + boat's crew found that what had been taken for a strait was only the mouth + of a large river, where the casks were filled. + </p> + <p> + The wondrous beauty of the scene, sea and river alike fringed with the + richest foliage, birds flying about (I saw a large blue bird, a parrot, I + suppose), fish jumping, the perfectly still water, the mysterious smoke of + a fire or two, the call of a man heard in the bush, just enough of novelty + to quicken me to the full enjoyment of such a lovely bay as no English + eyes save ours have ever seen.' + </p> + <p> + No communication with the native inhabitants was here accomplished, but at + four little flat, cocoanut-covered islets, named after Torres, were the + head-quarters of an English dealer in cocoa-nut oil. The native race were + Maori-speaking, but their intercourse with sailors had given them a + knowledge of the worst part of the English language, and as usual it was + mournfully plain how much harm our countrymen instil. + </p> + <p> + The next group, sighted on the 17th of August, had already a remarkable + history, to which Patteson refers in his journal, with no foreboding of + the association those reefs and bays were to acquire for him, and far more + through him. + </p> + <p> + Alvaro de Mendana had, in 1567, gone forth from Peru on a voyage of + discovery in the Pacific, and had then found, and named, most of the + Solomon Isles. Grera and Bauro owed their names of Guadalcanar and San + Cristoval to him. In 1594, he obtained permission to found a colony on San + Cristoval, and set forth with his wife and four ships. But the Bauro + people were spared that grievous misfortune of a Spanish settlement; + Mendana missed his way, blundered into the Marquesas first, and then came + upon a cluster of islands, one large and beautiful, two small, and one a + volcano in full action. + </p> + <p> + He called the large island Santa Cruz, and fancied the natives of the same + race he had seen in Bauro, but they knew nothing of the language he had + learnt there, and though courteous at first, presently discharged their + arrows. However, he found a beautiful harbour on the other side of the + island, and a friendly and dignified old chief called Malope, who in South + Sea fashion exchanged names and presents with him. Mendana and his wife + Dona Ysabel seem to have wished to be on good terms with the natives, and + taught them to sign the cross, and say amigos, and they proceeded to found + their intended city, but neither Mendana nor Malope could restrain their + followers; there were musket-shots on one side and arrow-shots on the + other, and at last, the chief Malope himself fell into the hands of some + Spanish soldiers, who murdered him. Mendana punished them with death; but + his own health was fast failing, he died in a few weeks, and his widow + deserted the intended city, and returned home with the colonists, having + probably bequeathed to the island a distrust of white men. + </p> + <p> + All this was in Patteson's mind, as he shows by his journal, as the lovely + scenery of Santa Cruz rose on him. The people came out in canoes with + quantities of yams and taro, of which they knew the full value; but the + numbers were so large that no 'quiet work' could be done, and there was + little to be done but to admire their costume, armlets, necklaces, plates + of mother-of-pearl, but no nose ornaments. They had strips of a kind of + cloth, woven of reed, and elaborate varieties of head-gear, some + plastering their hair white with coral lime, others yellow, others red; + others had shaved half the head with no better implement than a sharp + shell, and others had produced two lines of bristles, like hogs' manes, on + a shaven crown. Their decorations made a great sensation among the Solomon + Islanders, who made offers of exchange of necklaces, &c. + </p> + <p> + In the evening the schooner made for the volcano, about three miles off. + It was a magnificent sight—a perfect cone, the base of the mountain + and all except the actual cone being under water. The cone was apparently + about 2,000 feet high, clouds hanging about it near the top, lurid and + fiery, increasing the grandeur of the glow at the summit. Every minute + streams of fire, falling from the top or sides, rushed down the mount, so + that for a space of perhaps half a mile in breadth the whole cone was + always streaked, and sometimes covered with burning-masses of stones, + cinders, &c. Bumbling noises were heard only a few times. + </p> + <p> + 'About 7 to 9 A.M. we sailed quite round the island, and saw there that + the fiery appearance at night is not actually fire or flame, but caused by + hot burning stones and masses of scoria, &c., constantly falling down + the sides of the cone, which on the lee side are almost perpendicular. On + the weather side are cocoa-nut trees, and one small house, but we could + see no people. It was grand to see the great stones leaping and bounding + down the sides of the cone, clearing 300 or 400 feet at a jump, and + springing up many yards into the air, finally plunging into the sea with a + roar, and the splash of the foam and steam combined. + </p> + <p> + This was on the 12th of August, and here is the ensuing note, how full now + of significance, which it would be faithless to term melancholy:—'We + then went on to Nukapu, an island completely encircled by a coral reef. + The natives soon came off in canoes, and brought breadfruit and + cocoa-nuts. They spoke a few words of Maori, but wore their hair like the + people of Santa Cruz, and resembled them in the character of their + ornaments and in their general appearance. They had bows and clubs of the + same kind, tapa stained with turmeric, armlets, ear-rings and nose-rings + of bone and tortoiseshell.' + </p> + <p> + Returning to Santa Cruz, a large supply of the produce was obtained by + barter, but the people were still in such noisy crowds that nothing could + be effected beyond these commercial transactions. + </p> + <p> + Tubua was the next ensuing island, a lovely spot within its encircling + ring, over which the Bishop and Patteson waded, and found thirteen men on + the beach. Patteson went up to the first, tied a bit of red tape round his + head, and made signs that he wanted a cocoa-nut in exchange for a + fish-hook. Plenty were forthcoming; but the Bishop, to his companion's + surprise, made a sudden sign to come away, and when the boat was regained + he said: 'I saw some young men running through the bush with bows and + arrows, and these young gentry have not the sense to behave well like + their parents.' + </p> + <p> + Vanikoro was the next stage. This too had its history, encircled as it is + with a complete reef of coral, in some parts double. In the year 1785, two + French vessels, which were commanded by Count La Perouse, and named 'La + Boussole' and 'L'Astrolabe,' had set forth from Brest on a voyage of + discovery in the Pacific. They made a most discursive survey of that + ocean, from Kamtschatka southwards, and at the end of 1787 were at the + Samoan Isles, then unconverted, and where their two boats' crews were + massacred, and the boats lost. The ships came to Port Jackson, in + Australia, to build fresh boats, left it in February 1788, and were never + heard of more. One or two attempts were made to ascertain their fate, but + none succeeded till, in 1826, a sandal-wood trader named Dillon found in + the possession of a European, who had lived since 1813 in Ticopia, the + silver guard of a sword, and ascertained from him that the natives had + several articles, such as china, glass, and the handle of a silver fork, + which evidently came from a ship. He had been told that these articles had + been procured from another isle called Vanikoro, where two large ships had + been wrecked. + </p> + <p> + His intelligence led to the fitting out of a vessel, in which he was sent + to ascertain the fate of the Frenchmen, and by the help of the man who had + been so long in Ticopia, he was able to examine a Vanikoran chief. It + appeared that the two ships had run aground on the parallel reefs. One had + sunk at once, and the crew while swimming out had been some of them eaten + by the sharks, and others killed by the natives; indeed, there were sixty + European skulls in a temple. The other vessel had drifted over the reef, + and the crew entrenched themselves on shore, while building another + vessel. They went out and foraged for themselves in the taro fields, but + they made no friends; they were ship-spirits, with noses two hands long + before their faces (their cocked hats). Articles were recovered that + placed the fact beyond a doubt, and which were recognised by one of the + expedition who had left it in Kamtschatka, the sole survivor. Of the fate + of the two-masted vessel built by the shipwrecked crew, nothing was ever + discovered. + </p> + <p> + The Mission party landed here, but saw nobody. They sent a black boy up a + tree for cocoa-nuts, and left a tomahawk beneath it as payment. That there + were inhabitants somewhere there was horrible proof, for a frightful odour + led to search being made, and the New Zealander Hoari turning up the + ground, found human bones with flesh hanging to them. A little farther off + was a native oven, namely, a pit lined with stones. + </p> + <p> + This was Patteson's nearest contact with cannibalism, and it left a deep + impression of horror. + </p> + <p> + The Banks group of islands came next—Great Banks Isle, or in the + native language Vanua Lava, Valua or Saddle Isle, a long narrow ridge of + hills, Mota or Sugarloaf Island, an equally descriptive name; Star Island, + and Santa Maria. These places were to become of great importance to the + Mission, but little was seen of them at this time—the walls of coral + round them were remarkably steep and difficult of access. + </p> + <p> + Valua had no beach and no canoes, and such swarms of natives clustering + upon the cliffs that the Bishop did not think it prudent to land. In Mota, + though the coast for the most part rises up in sheer crags, forty or fifty + feet above the sea, with a great volcanic cone in the centre, a little + cove was found with a good beach, where a number of inhabitants had + assembled. They were entirely without clothing or ornament, neither + tattooed nor disfigured by betel-nut, and their bright honest faces + greatly attracted Patteson, though not a word of their language could be + then understood. He wanted to swim ashore among them, but the Bishop would + not allow it, lest it should be difficult to escape from the embraces of + so many without giving offence. Great numbers swam out to the boat, and + canoes brought fruits of all kinds, and bamboos decked with leaves and + flowers. 'I crammed native combs in my hair,' says Patteson, 'picked up + what words I could, and made up the rest by a grand display of + gesticulation.' + </p> + <p> + At Santa Maria, the next day, there was the like scene around the boat, + only the sight of a bit of striped calico caused immense excitement. At + other islands it had been unheeded, but here the people were mad to get + it, and offered their largest yams for strips of it, and a pair of scarlet + braces were purchased for two beautiful bows. + </p> + <p> + At Vanua Lava, or Great Banks Island, on the 20th, a large canoe with + seven men came alongside, three-quarters of a mile from shore. They would + not, however, venture on board till Patteson had gone into the water, and + placed himself in their canoe, after which they were induced to come on + deck, were 'decorated with the order of the tape,' and received axes. No + weapon was seen among them, and there was reason to think them the + tractable and hopeful race they have since proved. + </p> + <p> + Bligh Island, the next visited, plainly revealed itself as the cone of an + enormous submerged volcano, the water forming a beautiful and extensive + bay where numbers of people could be seen. There was a landing and a + little trading for yams, and then, after the like intercourse with some of + the inhabitants of the cluster of small islets named after Torres, the + vessel steered for Espiritu Santo, but wind and time forbade a return to + the part previously visited, nor was there time to do more than touch at + Aurora, and exchange some fish-hooks for some bows. + </p> + <p> + At Malicolo, in 1851, the Bishop and his party, while fetching water, had + been assailed with stones and arrows, and had only escaped by showing the + utmost coolness. There was, therefore, much caution shown in approaching + this bay, called Port Sandwich, and the boat stopped outside its + breakwater coral reef, where numerous canoes flocked round, the people + with their bows and arrows, not attempting to barter. Their faces were + painted some red, some black, or yellow. An old chief named Melanbico was + recognised by the Bishop, and called by name into the boat. Another old + acquaintance named Nipati joined him, and it was considered safe to row + into the harbour. The Bishop had learnt a little of the language, and + talked to these two, while Patteson examined Nipati's accoutrements—a + club, a bow, arrows neatly made, handsomely feathered, and tipped with a + deadly poison, tortoiseshell ear-rings, and a very handsome shell armlet + covering the arm from the elbow eight or nine inches upward, his face + painted red and black. The Bishop read out the list of names he had made + on the former visit, and to several the answer was 'dead, or 'shot,' and + it appeared that a great mortality had taken place. Large numbers, + however, were on the beach, and the Bishop and Patteson landed among them, + and conversed with them; but they showed no disposition to trade, and + though some of the lads seemed half-disposed to come away with the party, + they all changed their minds, and went back again. However, all had + behaved well, and one little boy, when offered a fish-hook, at once showed + that he had received one already. It was plain that a beginning had been + made, which might lead to further results. + </p> + <p> + Two whales were seen while rowing back to the ship. One—about a + third of a mile off—leapt several times fairly out of the water, and + fell back on the sea 'with a regular crack,' dashing up the spray in + clouds. There was now very little time to spare, as the time of an + ordination at Auckland was fixed, and two important visits had yet to be + paid, so the two Fate guests were sent ashore in the canoes of some of + their friends, and the 'Southern Cross' reached Nengone on the 1st of + September. The Bishop had left a boat there some years before, and the + Samoan teacher, Mark, who had been Mrs. Nihill's best friend and + comforter, came out in it with a joyful party full of welcome. The Bishop + and Patteson went ashore, taking with them their two Bauro scholars, to + whom the most wonderful sight was a cow, they never having seen any + quadruped bigger than a pig. All the native teachers and their wives were + assembled, and many of the people, in front of the house where Mr. Nihill + had died. They talked of him with touching affection, as they told how + diligently he had striven to bring young and old to a knowledge of his + God; and they eagerly assisted in planting at his grave a cross, which the + Bishop had brought from Auckland for the purpose, and which bore the + words: 'I am the Resurrection and the Life.' + </p> + <p> + The coral lime church and the houses of the teachers among the cocoa-nut + trees gave the place a civilised look, and most of the people had some + attempt at clothing. Here several passengers were taken in. The two girls, + Caroline Wabisane and Sarah Wasitutru, were both married—Caroline to + a Maori named Simeona, and Sarah to a man from her own isle called Nawiki. + All these and two more men wished to go to St. John's for further + instruction, and were taken on board, making up a party of fourteen + Melanesians, besides Sarah's baby. 'Mrs. Nihill will be glad to have the + women,' writes Coley, 'and I am glad to have the others—not the + baby, of course.' + </p> + <p> + Close quarters indeed, but not for very long, for on the 3rd of September + the schooner again put into Norfolk Island, and on the next Sunday Coley + was present at the confirmation of the whole population, excepting the + younger children, and at the subsequent Communion. Strong hopes were then + entertained that the Pitcairners, standing as it were between the English + and the islanders, would greatly assist in the work of the Gospel, but + this plan was found only capable of being very partially carried out. + </p> + <p> + Off Norfolk Island, he wrote to his brother an account of the way of life + on the voyage, and of the people:— + </p> + <p> + 'They are generally gentle, and seem to cling to one, not with the very + independent goodwill of New Zealanders, but with the soft yielding + character of the child of the tropics. They are fond, that is the word for + them. I have had boys and men in a few minutes after landing, follow me + like a dog, holding their hands in mine as a little child does with its + nurse. + </p> + <p> + 'My manner of life on board is as I described it before. I eschewed shoes + and socks, rather liking to be paddling about all day, when not going on + shore, or otherwise employed, which of course made up eight or ten out of + the thirteen hours of daylight. When I went ashore (which I did whenever + the boat went), then I put on my shoes, and always swam in them, for the + coral would cut my feet to pieces. Usual swimming and wading attire—flannel + shirt, dark grey trousers, cap or straw hat, shoes, basket round my neck + with fish-hooks, or perhaps an adze or two in my hand. I enjoyed the + tropical climate very much—really warm always in the water or out of + it. On the reefs, when I waded in shallow water, the heat of it was + literally unpleasant, more than a tepid bath.' + </p> + <p> + On the 13th of September, the little missionary vessel came safe into + harbour at Auckland, and Coley and his boys—they were considered + especially as his—took up their quarters at St. John's College. All + through the voyage he had written the journals here followed for the + general benefit of his kindred, and at other leisure moments he had + written more personal letters. On his sister Fanny's birthday, when the + visit to Malicolo was just over, after his birthday wishes, he goes on:— + </p> + <p> + 'And now, how will you be when this reaches Feniton? I think of all your + daily occupations,—school, garden, driving, &c.—your + Sunday reading, visiting the cottages, &c., and the very thought of it + makes me feel like old times. When occasionally I dream, or fall into a + kind of trance when awake, and fancy myself walking up from the lodge to + the house, and old forms and faces rise up before me, I can scarcely + contain the burst of joy and happiness, and then I give a shake and say, + "Well, it would be very nice, but look about the horizon, and see how many + islands you can count!" and then, instead of thoughts of home for myself, + I am tempted to induce others to leave their homes, though I don't really + think many men have such a home to leave, or remain so long as I did, one + of the home fire-side. + </p> + <p> + 'I have been reading one or two of the German books you sent out. + "Friedrich der Grosse" is interesting, but henceforth I don't think I + shall have time for aught but a good German novel or two for wet days and + jumping seas; or such a theological book as I may send for.' + </p> + <p> + The effect of the voyage seems to have shown itself in an inflamed leg, + which was painful, but not disabled for some time. There was a welcome + budget of letters awaiting him,—one from his uncle Dr. Coleridge, to + which this is the reply:— + </p> + <p> + 'September 15, 1856: St. John's College. + </p> + <p> + 'Your letter of March 26 was awaiting my arrival here. How thankful I am + that (as Fan says) in little as in great things God is so good to us. + Letters from me arriving on the anniversary of my departure! and all at + Thorverton! + </p> + <p> + 'You are clearly right in what you say about my post in the S. X. I did + not like it at first, just as a schoolboy does not like going back to + school; but that it was good for me I have no doubt; and now see! here I + am on shore for seven or eight months, if I live so long—my + occupations most interesting, working away with twelve Melanesians at + languages, etc., with the highest of all incentives to perseverance, + trying to form in them habits of cleanliness, order, decency, etc. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night (Sunday—their first Sunday in New Zealand), after + explaining to the Solomon Islands boys, seven in number, the nature of the + Lord's Prayer as far as my knowledge of their language would carry me, I + thought myself justified in making them kneel down round me, and they + uttered with their lips after me (i.e. the five most intelligent) the + first words of prayer to their Father in Heaven. I don't venture to say + that they understood much—neither does the young child taught at his + or her mother's knees—neither do many grown persons perhaps know + much about the fulness of the Prayer of Prayers—(these scenes teach + me my ignorance, which is one great gain)—yet they knew, I think, + that they were praying to some great and mighty one—not an + abstraction—a conscious loving Being, a Father, and they know at + least the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'Their first formula was: "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy + Ghost, only One God." I can't yet explain that our Blessed Lord came from + heaven and died for our sins; neither (as far as human thought may reach) + does the power of God's Spirit as yet work in their hearts consciousness + of sin, and with that the sense of the need of a Redeemer and Saviour. I + asked in my sermon yesterday the prayers of the people for the grace of + God's Holy Spirit to touch the hearts and enlighten the understandings of + these heathen children of a common Father, and I added that greatly did + their teachers need their prayers that God would make them apt to teach, + and wise and simple in endeavouring to bring before their minds the things + that belong unto their peace. You too, dear Uncle, will think I know of + these things, for my trust is great. In this cold climate, 26° or 27° of + latitude south of their own island, I have much anxiety about their bodily + health, and more about their souls. + </p> + <p> + 'The four youngest, sixteen to eighteen, sleep in my room. One is now on + my bed, wrapped up in a great opossum rug, with cold and slight fever; + last night his pulse was high, to-day he is better. I have to watch over + them like a cat. Think of living till now in a constant temperature of + 84°, and being suddenly brought to 56°. New Zealand is too cold for them, + and the College is a cold place, wind howling round it now. + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island is the place, and the Pitcairners themselves are most + co-operative and hearty; I trust that in another year I may be there. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you for all your kind wishes on my birthday. I ought to wish to + live many years, perhaps, to try and be of use; especially as I am so + unfit to go now, or rather I ought not to wish at all. Sometimes I feel + almost fainthearted, which is cowardly and forgetful of our calling "to + fight manfully under Christ's banner." Ah! my Bishop is indeed a warrior + of the Cross. I can't bear the things Sophy said in one of her letters + about my having given up. + </p> + <p> + It seems mock humility to write it; but, dear Uncle, if I am conscious of + a life so utterly unlike what all you dear ones fancy it to be, what must + it be in the sight of God and His holy angels? What advantages I have + always had, and have now! and not a day goes by and I can say I have done + my duty. Good-bye, dear dear Uncle. + </p> + <p> + 'Always your affectionate and grateful nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON. + </h5> + <p> + 'Love to dear Aunt.' + </p> + <p> + Almost the first experience after settling in at St. John's College was a + sharp attack of fever that fell on Kerearua, one of the Bauro lads. Such + illnesses, it seemed, were frequent at home and generally fatal. His + companion Hirika remarked, 'Kerearua like this in Bauro ah! in a few days + he would die; by-and-by we go back to Bauro.' The sick boys were always + lodged in Coley's own room to be more quiet and thoroughly nursed. + Fastidiousness had been so entirely crushed that he really seemed to take + pleasure in the arrangement, speaking with enthusiasm of the patient's + obedience and gratitude, and adding, 'He looks quite nice in one of my + night-shirts with my plaid counterpane, and the plaid Joan gave me over + it, a blanket next to him.' + </p> + <p> + The Melanesians readily fell into the regular habits of short school, work + out of doors, meals in hall and bed-time, and they were allowed a good + deal of the free use of their limbs, needful to keep them happy and + healthy. Now and then they would be taken into Auckland, as a great treat, + to see the soldiers on parade, and of course the mere living with + civilization was an immense education to them, besides the direct + instruction they received. + </p> + <p> + The languages of Nengone and Bauro were becoming sufficiently familiar to + Mr. Patteson to enable him to understand much of what they said to him. He + writes to Miss Neill (October 17):— + </p> + <p> + 'I talk with them about common things, and learn a great deal of their + wild savage customs and habits, but I can do but little as yet in the way + of real instruction. Some ideas, I trust, they are beginning to acquire + concerning our Blessed Lord. Is it not a significant fact that the god + worshiped in Gfera, and in one village of Bauro, is the Serpent, the very + type of evil? I need not say that these dear boys have won their way to my + heart, they are most docile and affectionate. I think some will really, if + they live, leave their own island and live with me at Norfolk Island, or + here, or wherever my dwelling may be whenever I am not in the "Southern + Cross." + </p> + <p> + 'But of course I must not dwell on such notions. If it come to pass that + for some years I can retain a hold upon them, they may be instructed + sufficiently to make them teachers in their turn to their own people. But + all this is in the hands of God. My home journal will tell you particulars + of our voyage. Don't believe in the ferocity, &c., of the islanders. + When their passions are excited, they do commit fearful deeds, and they + are almost universally cannibals, i.e. after a battle there will be always + a cannibal feast, not otherwise. But treat them well and prudently, and I + apprehend that there is little danger in visiting them, meaning by + visiting merely landing on the beach the first time, going perhaps to a + native village the next time, sleeping on shore the third, spending ten + days the fourth, &c., &c. The language once learnt from the pupils + we bring away, all is clear. And now good-bye, my dear Miss Neill. That I + think of you and pray for you, you know, and I need not add that I value + most highly your prayers for me. When I think of my happiness and good + spirits, I must attribute much, very much, to God's goodness in accepting + the prayers of my friends.' + </p> + <p> + After the old custom of telling the home party all his doings, the + journal-letter of the 27th of November goes through the teaching to the + Bauro boys:— + </p> + <p> + 'I really think they comprehend thus much, that God, who made all things, + made man, Adam and Eve, very good and holy; that Adam and Eve sinned, that + they did not listen to the word of God, but to the Bad Spirit; that God + found them out, though they were afraid and tried to hide (for He sees and + knows all things); that He drove them out of the beautiful garden, and + said that they must die; that they had two sons, Cain and Abel; that Cain + killed his brother, and that all fighting and killing people, and all + other sins (I mention all for which I have names) came into the world + because of sin; that God and man were far apart, not living near, no peace + between them because men were so evil. That God was so good that He loved + men all the time, and that He promised to save all men who would believe + in His Son Jesus Christ, who was to die for them (for I can't yet express, + "was to die that men might not go down to the fire, but live for ever with + God "); that by and by He sent a flood and drowned all men except Noah and + seven other people, because men would not be good; that afterwards there + was a very good man, named Abraham, who believed all about Jesus Christ, + and God chose him, and his son Isaac, and his son Jacob, and his twelve + sons, to be the fathers of a people called Jews; that those people alone + knew about God, and had teachers and praying men: and that they killed + lambs and offered them (gave them to God as a sign of Jesus Christ being + one day slain and offered to God on a cross) but these very men became + wicked too, and at last, when no man knew how to be happy and good, Jesus + Christ came down from heaven. His mother was Mary, but He had no father on + earth, only God the Father in heaven was His Father: the Holy Ghost made + Mary to be mother of Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I take two books, or anything else, and say, This one is God, and + this is man. They are far apart, because man is so bad and God is so good. + But Jesus Christ came in the middle between them, and joins them together. + He is God and He is Man too; so in(side) Him, God and Man meet, like the + meeting of two men in one path; and He says Himself He is the true Way, + the only true Path to God and heaven. God was angry with us because we + sinned; but Jesus Christ died on the cross, and then God the Father + forgave us because Jesus Christ gave His life that we might always live, + and not die. By and by He will come to judge us; and He knows what we do, + whether we steal and lie, or whether we pray and teach what is good. Men + of Bauro and Gera and Santa Cruz don't know that yet, but you do, and you + must remember, if you go on doing as they do after you know God's will, + you will be sent down to the fire, and not see Jesus Christ, who died that + you might live. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that they know all this, and much in the exactly equivalent + words. Of course I find difficulty in rendering religious ideas in a + language which contains scarcely any words adequate to express them, but I + am hopeful enough to believe that they do know so much at all events. How + far their hearts are affected, One alone knows. It is indeed but little + after they have been with us four months; but till I had them on shore, I + could get very little work done. The constant boat work took me away, and + anywhere in sight of islands, of course they were on deck in eagerness to + see the strange country. Then I could not work with energy while my leg + would not let me take exercise. But it is now beginning to be a real + pleasure as well as duty to teach both Nengone and Bauro people. Enough of + the language to avoid most of the drudgery has been got over, I hope, + though not near enough for purposes of 'exact and accurate translation.' + </p> + <p> + I have given at length this account of Patteson's fundamental teaching, + though to some it may seem to savour of the infant school, because in + spite of being hampered by imperfect knowledge of the language, he has + thrown into it the great principle both of his action and teaching; + namely, the restoration of the union of mankind with God through Christ. + It never embraced that view of the heathen world which regards it as + necessarily under God's displeasure, apart from actual evil, committed in + wilful knowledge that it is evil. He held fast to the fact of man having + been created in the image of God, and held that whatever good impulses and + higher qualities still remained in the heathen, were the remnants of that + Image, and to be hailed accordingly. Above all, he realised in his whole + life the words to St. Peter: 'What God hath cleansed that call not thou + common,' and not undervaluing for a moment Sacramental Grace, viewed human + nature, while yet without the offer thereof, as still the object of + fatherly and redeeming love, and full of fitful tokens of good coming from + the only Giver of life and holiness, and needing to be brought nearer and + strengthened by full union and light, instead of being left to be quenched + in the surrounding flood of evil. 'And were by nature the children of + wrath,' he did not hold to mean that men were objects of God's anger, + lying under His deadly displeasure; but rather, children of wild impulse, + creatures of passion, swayed resistlessly by their own desires, until made + 'children of grace,' and thus obtaining the spiritual power needful to + enable them to withstand these passions. An extract from the sermon he had + preached at Sydney may perhaps best serve to illustrate his principle:— + </p> + <p> + 'And this love once generated in the heart of man, must needs pass on to + his brethren; that principle of life must needs grow and expand with its + own inherent energy; the seed must be developed into the tree, and strike + its roots deep and wide, and stretch out its branches unto the sea and its + boughs unto the rivers. No artificial nor accidental circumstances can + confine it, it recognises no human ideas of nationality, or place, or + time, but embraces like the dome of heaven all the works of God. And love + is the animating principle of all. In every star of the sky, in the + sparkling, glittering waves of the sea, in every flower of the field, in + every creature of God, most of all in every living soul of man, it adores + and blesses the beauty and the love of the great Creator and Preserver of + all. + </p> + <p> + 'Viewed indeed from that position which was occupied by ancient + philosophers, the existing contrarieties between nations might well appear + inexplicable, and intellectual powers might seem to be the exclusive + heritage of particular nations. But Christianity leads us to distinguish + between the nature of man as he came fresh from the hands of his Creator, + and that natural propensity to sin which he has inherited in consequence + of his fall from original innocence. It teaches that as God has "made of + one blood all nations to dwell together on the face of the whole earth," + and has given in virtue of this common origin one common nature destined + to be pure and holy and divine, so, by virtue of Redemption and + Regeneration, the image of God may be restored in all, and whatever is the + result of his depravity therefore may be overcome. And this seems to be + the answer to all statements relating to the want of capacity in certain + nations of the earth for the reception of Divine Truth, that every man, + because he is a man, because he is a partaker of that very nature which + has been taken into the Person of the Son of God, may by the grace of God + be awakened to the sense of his true life, of his real dignity as a + redeemed brother of Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'The spark of heavenly fire may indeed have been all but quenched by the + unbridled indulgence of his passions; the natural wickedness of the heart + of man may have exhibited itself with greater fearfulness where no laws + and customs have introduced restraints against at least the outward + expression of vice; but the capacity for the Christian life is there; + though overlaid, it may be, with monstrous forms of superstition or + cruelty or ignorance, the conscience can still respond to the voice of the + Gospel of Truth.' + </p> + <p> + And one who so entirely believed and acted upon these words found them + true. The man who verily treated the lads he had gathered round him with a + perfectly genuine sympathy, a love and a self-denial—nay more, an + identification of self with them—awoke all that was best in their + characters, and met with full response. Enthusiastic partiality of course + there was in his estimate of them; but is it not one of the absolute + requisites of a good educator to feel that enthusiasm, like the parent for + the child? And is it always the blind admiration at which outsiders smile; + is it not rather indifference which is blind, and love which sees the + truth? + </p> + <p> + 'I would not exchange my position with these lads and young men for + anything (he wrote, on December 8, to his uncle, the Eton master). I wish + you could see them and know them; I don't think you ever had pupils that + could win their way into your heart more effectually than these fellows + have attached themselves to me. It is no effort to love them heartily. + Gariri, a dear boy from San Cristoval, is standing by me now, at my desk, + in amazement at the pace that my pen is going, not knowing that I could + write to you, my dear old tutor, for hours together if I had nothing else + to do. He is, I suppose, about sixteen, a most loveable boy, gentle, + affectionate, with all the tropical softness and kindliness. + </p> + <p> + 'We have seven Solomon Islanders—five from Mata, a village at the + north-west of San Cristoval, and two from the south-east point of + Guadalcanar, or Gera, a magnificent island about twenty-five or twenty + miles to the north-west of San Cristoval. From frequent intercourse they + are almost bilingual, a great "lounge" for me, as one language does for + both; the structure of the two island tongues is the same, but scarcely + any words much alike. However, that is not much odds. + </p> + <p> + 'Then from Nengone, where you remember Mr. Nihill died after eighteen + months' residence on the island, we have four men and two women, both + married. Of these, two men and both the women have been baptized, some + time ago, by the Bishop, in 1852, and one by the London Mission, who now + occupy the island. These four I have, with full trust, admitted to the + Holy Communion. Mr. Nihill had taught them well, and I am sure they could + pass an examination in Scriptural history, simple doctrinal statements, + &c., as well as most young English people of the middle class of life. + The other two are well taught, and one of them knows a great deal, but, + poor fellow, he misconducted himself at Nengone, and hence I cannot + recommend him to the Bishop for baptism without much talk about him. + </p> + <p> + 'But I think my love is more poured out upon my Bauro and Gera lads. They + are such dear fellows, and I trust that already they begin to know + something about religion. Certain it is that they answer readily questions + and say with their mouths what amounts almost to a statement of the most + important Christian truths. Of course I cannot tell what effect this may + have on their hearts. They join in prayer morning and evening, they behave + admirably, and really there is nothing in their conduct to find fault + with. If it please God that any of them were at some future time to stay + again with us, I have great hopes that they may learn enough to become + teachers in their own country. + </p> + <p> + 'The Nengone lads are quite in a different position. Their language has + been reduced to writing, the Gospel of St. Mark translated, and they can + all read a little English, so that at evening prayers we read a verse all + round, and then I catechise and expound to them in Nengone. + </p> + <p> + 'I really trust that by God's blessing some real opening into the great + Solomon group has been effected. There is every hope that many boys will + join us this next voyage. No one can say what may be the result. As yet it + is possible to get on without more help, but I do not for a moment doubt + that should God really grant not only a wide field of labour, but some + such hope of cultivating it, He will send forth plenty of men to share in + this work. Men who have some means of their own—£100 a year is + enough, or even less—or some aptitude for languages, surely will + feel drawn in this direction. It is the happiest life a man can lead, full + of enjoyment, physical and mental, exquisite scenery, famous warm climate, + lots of bathing, yams and taro and cocoa-nut enough to make an alderman's + mouth water, and such loving, gentle people. But of course something + depends on the way in which a man looks at these things, and a fine + gentleman who can't get on without his servant, and can't put his luggage + for four months into a compass of six feet by one-and-a-half, won't like + it.... + </p> + <p> + 'You know the kind of incidents that occur, so I need not repeat them to + you. I have quite learnt to believe that there are no "savages" anywhere, + at least among black or coloured people. I'd like to see anyone call my + Bauro boys savages! Why, the fellows on the reef that have never seen a + white man will wade back to the boat and catch one's arms to prevent one + falling into pits among the coral, just like an old nurse looking after + her child. This they did at Santa Maria, where we two swam ashore to a + party of forty or fifty men, and where our visit was evidently a very + agreeable one on both sides, though we did not know one syllable of the + language, and then.... But I almost tremble to think of the immense amount + of work opening upon one. Whither will it lead? But I seldom find any time + for speculations; and oh, my dear tutor, I am as happy as the day is long, + though it never seems long to me!.... My dear father writes in great + anxiety about the Denison case. Oh dear! what a cause of thankfulness it + is to be out of the din of controversy, and to find hundreds of thousands + longing for crumbs which are shaken about so roughly in these angry + disputes! It isn't High or Low or Broad Church, or any other special name, + but the longing desire to forget all distinctions, and to return to a + simpler state of things, that seems naturally to result from the very + sight of heathen people. Who thinks of anything but this: "They have not + heard the Name of the Saviour Who died for them," when he is standing with + crowds of naked fellows round him? I can't describe the intense happiness + of this life. I suppose trials will come some day, and I almost dread the + thought, for I surely shall not be prepared to bear them. I have no trials + at all, even of a small kind, to teach me how to bear up under great + ones.' + </p> + <p> + In truth Coleridge Patteson had entered on the happiest period of his + life. He had found his vocation, and his affections were fastening + themselves upon his black flock, so that, without losing a particle of his + home love, the yearnings homewards were appeased, and the fully employed + time, and sense of success and capability, left no space for the + self-contemplation and self-criticism of his earlier life. He gives + amusing sketches of the scenes:— + </p> + <p> + 'The donkey here, a fatally stubborn brute, is an unceasing amusement to + my boys. No one of them can retain his seat more than ten minutes, but + they all fall like cats on their legs amid cries of laughter. The donkey + steers straight for some small scrubby trees, and then kicks and plunges, + or else rubs their legs against the sides of the house, and all this time + the boys are leaping about the unfortunate fellow who is mounted, and the + fun is great. + </p> + <p> + 'Wadrokala, one of the Nengone lads, who had recently made his first + communion, became the prominent scholar at this time. He had thought a + good deal. One night he said: "I have heard all kinds of words used—faith, + repentance, praise, prayer—and I don't clearly understand what is + the real great thing, the chief thing of all. They used these words + confusedly, and I feel puzzled. Then I read that the Pharisees knew a + great deal of the law, and so did the Scribes, and yet they were not good. + I am not doing anything good. Now I know something of the Bible, and I can + write; and I fear very much, I often feel very much afraid, that I am not + good, I am not doing anything good."' + </p> + <p> + He was talked to, and comforted with hopes of future work; but a day or + two later his feelings were unconsciously hurt by being told in joke that + he was wearing a shabby pair of trousers to save the good ones to take + home to Nengone. His remonstrance was poured out upon a slate:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Patteson, this is my word:—I am unhappy because of the word you + said to me that I wished for clothes. I have left my country. I do not + seek clothes for the body. What is the use of clothes? Can my spirit be + clothed with clothes for the body? Therefore my heart is greatly afraid; + but you said I greatly wished for clothes, which I do not care for. One + thing only I care for, that I may receive the life for my spirit. + Therefore I fear, I confess, and say to you, it is not the thing for the + body I want, but the one thing I want is the clothing for the soul, for + Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord.' + </p> + <p> + Soon after a very happy Christmas, Wadrokala and Kainwhat expressed a + desire, after a final visit to their native island, to return with Mr. + Patteson, and be prepared to be sent as native teachers to any dark land, + as the Samoans had come to them. + </p> + <p> + Wadrokala narrated something of the history of his island, a place with + 6,000 inhabitants, with one tribe forming a priestly caste, the head of + which was firmly believed by even these Christian Nengonese to possess the + power of striking men dead by his curse. Caroline, Kainwhat and Kowine + were the children of a terrible old chief named Bula, who had fifty-five + wives, and whose power was almost absolute. If anyone offended him, he + would send either a priest or one of his sons to kill the man, and bring + the corpse, of which the thighs were always reserved for his special + eating, the trunk being given to his slaves. If one of his wives offended + him, he sent for the high priest, who cursed her—simply said, 'She + has died,' and die she did. A young girl who refused to marry him was + killed and eaten, or if any person omitted to come into his presence + crouching, the penalty was to be devoured; in fact, he seems to have made + excuses for executions in order to gratify his appetite for human flesh, + which was considered as particularly dainty fare. Everyone dreaded him, + and when at last he died a natural death, his chief wife was strangled by + her own brother, as a matter of course. Such horrors as these had pretty + well ceased by that time, though still many Nengonese were heathen, and + the priests were firmly believed to have the power of producing death and + disease at will by a curse. Wadrokala, with entire conviction, declared + that one of his father's wives had thus been made a cripple for life. + </p> + <p> + Nengonese had become almost as familiar to Coley as Maori, and his Sundays + at this time were decidedly polyglot; since, besides a regular English + service at Taranaki, he often took a Maori service, and preached extempore + in that tongue, feeling that the people's understanding went along with + him; and there were also, in early morning and late evening, prayers, + partly in Nengonese, partly in Bauro, at the College chapel, and a sermon, + first in one language, and then repeated in the other. The Nengone lads, + who had the question of adherence to the London Mission at home, or the + Church in New Zealand, put to them, came deliberately to entreat to remain + always with Mr. Patteson, saying that they saw that this teaching of the + Church was right, and they wished to work in it. It was a difficult point, + as the London Mission was reasserting a claim to the Loyalty Isles, and + the hopes of making them a point d'appui were vanishing; but these men and + their wives could not but be accepted, and Simeona was preparing for + baptism. A long letter to Professor Max Muller on the languages will be + found in the Appendix. The Bishop of New Zealand thus wrote to Sir John + Patteson respecting Coley and his work:— + </p> + <p> + 'Taurarua, Auckland: March 2, 1857. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Judge,—Your letter of December 5 made me very happy, by + assuring me of the satisfaction which you feel in your son's duties and + position. I do indeed most thankfully acknowledge the goodness of God in + thus giving me timely aid, when I was pledged to a great work, but without + any steady force to carry it on. Coley is, as you say, the right man in + the right place, mentally and physically: the multiplicity of languages, + which would try most men, is met by his peculiar gift; the heat of the + climate suits his constitution; his mild and parental temper makes his + black boys cling about him as their natural protector; and his freedom + from fastidiousness makes all parts of the work easy to him; for when you + have to teach boys how to wash themselves, and to wear clothes for the + first time, the romance of missionary work disappears as completely as a + great man's heroism before his valet de chambre. + </p> + <p> + 'On Sunday, February 22, we had a native baptism, an adult from Nengone + and his infant child. Coley used the Baptismal Service, which he had + translated, and preached fluently in the Nengone tongue, as he had done in + the morning in New Zealand. The careful study which we had together of the + latter on our voyage out will be of great use in many other dialects, and + Mrs. Nihill has given him her husband's Nengone manuscripts. + </p> + <p> + 'You know in what direction my wishes tend, viz., that Coley, when he has + come to suitable age, and has developed, as I have no doubt he will, a + fitness for the work, should be the first island Bishop, upon the + foundation, of which you and your brother Judge, and Sir W. Farquhar, are + trustees; that Norfolk Island should be the see of the Bishop, because the + character of its population, the salubrity of its climate, and its insular + position, make it the fittest place for the purpose. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and grateful friend, + </p> + <h5> + 'G. A. NEW ZEALAND.' + </h5> + <p> + By the same mail Patteson himself wrote to Miss Neill:— + </p> + <p> + 'If it please God to give us some few native teachers from Bauro and + Grera, not to be sent before, but to go with or follow us (i.e. Bishop and + me), in a short time the word of God might be heard in many a grand wild + island, resplendent with everything that a tropical climate and primeval + forests, etc., can bestow, and thickly populated with an intelligent and, + as I imagine, tolerably docile race, of whom some are already "stretching + out their hands unto God." + </p> + <p> + 'All these Solomon Islanders here would answer questions about + Christianity as well, perhaps, as children of nine or ten years old in + England. Some seem to feel that there is a real connection between + themselves and what they are taught, and speak of the love of God in + giving Jesus Christ to die for them, and say that God's Holy Spirit alone + can enlighten their dark hearts. + </p> + <p> + 'That beautiful image of light and darkness seems common to all nations. + The regular word used by the Nengone people, who are far more advanced in + Christian knowledge and practice, for all heathen places is "the dark + lands." + </p> + <p> + 'On Sunday week, February 22, we had a deeply interesting service in the + College chapel at 7.15 P.M., just as the English world was beginning its + Sunday. Simeona and his infant boy of four weeks and three days old were + baptized. The College chapel was nicely lighted, font decorated simply. I + read the service in Nengone, having had all hands at work setting the + types and printing on Friday and Saturday. The Bishop took the part of the + service which immediately precedes the actual baptism, and baptized them + both—first the father, by the name of George Selwyn, then the baby, + by the name of John Patteson. This was the special request of the parents, + and as it is my dear Father's name, how could I object? He is, of course, + my godson, and a dear little fellow he is. At the end of my sermon, I + added a few words to "George," and besought the prayers of the Nengone + people for him and his child. We have now four regular communicants among + them—Wadrokala, Mark (Kainwhat), Carry and Sarah. George is + baptized, and baby; and Sarah's child, Lizzy, I baptized long ago. In + about two months (D. V.), we are off for a good spell of four or five + months among the islands, taking back this party, though some of them + will, by and by, rejoin us again, I hope.' + </p> + <p> + The plan of starting in April for a four or five months' cruise was + disconcerted, as regarded Bishop Selwyn, by the delay of Bishop Harper and + the Archdeacons in arriving for the intended Synod, which was thus put off + till May, too wintry a month for the Melanesians to spend in New Zealand. + After some doubt, it was decided that Mr. Patteson should make a short + voyage, for the mere purpose of returning his scholars to their homes, + come back to Auckland, and make a fresh start when the Bishop was ready. + </p> + <p> + In prospect of the parting, Patteson writes to his beloved old governess + (March 19, 1857):— + </p> + <p> + 'You will like a report of my pupils, especially as I can give most of + them a good ticket, little mark and all, as we used to say of yours + (though not as often as we ought to have done) to our dear mother. You + never had such willing pupils, though you turned out some, I hope, + eventually as good. In your hands these lads would be something indeed. + Really they have no faults that I can detect, and when their previous + state is considered, it is wonderful; for all this time they have been + with us, the greatest fault has been a fit of sulkiness, lasting about + half a day, with three of them. Their affection, gentleness, + unselfishness, cheerfulness, willingness to oblige, in some of them a + natural gentlemanly way of doing things, and sometimes indications of what + we should call high principle—all these things give one great hopes, + not for them only, but for all these nations, that, refined by + Christianity, they may be bright examples of manly virtues and Christian + graces.' + </p> + <p> + To some, no doubt, these expressions will seem exaggerated, but not to + those who have had any experience of the peculiar suavity and grace that + often is found in the highbred men of native races, before they are + debased by the corruptions brought in by white men. Moreover, in every + case, the personal influence of the teacher when in immediate contact with + a sufficiently small number, is quite enough to infuse good habits and + obviate evil ones to an extent quite inconceivable to those who have not + watched the unconscious exertion of this power. Patteson knew that too + much reliance must not be placed on present appearance. + </p> + <p> + 'It is dangerous (he says), to have persons clinging to you too much. I + feel that; but then these fellows, I take it, are very impulsive, and no + doubt the cocoanuts in their own land will exercise a counter-influence to + mine, and so I shall soon be undeceived if I learn to think too much of + their personal affection; but I never knew such dear lads, I don't know + how I shall get on without them. + </p> + <p> + 'You must be looking forward to your spring and summer. How delicious some + of those days are in England! We miss the freshness of a deciduous + foliage, our evergreens look dull, and we have no deciduous trees as yet. + A good scamper with Joan on the East Hill, or a drive with Fan in the pony + carriage along a lane full of primroses and violets would be pleasant + indeed, and so would a stroll with old Jem up the river be happy indeed, + and I could almost quit the "Southern Cross" for dear Father's + quarter-deck in the "Hermitage," but that I am, I believe, sailing in the + right vessel, and, as I trust, on the right course to the haven where we + may all meet and rest for ever.' + </p> + <p> + On Good Friday the three Nengone young men who had been baptized were + confirmed, and on the Wednesday in Easter Week the 'Southern Cross' + sailed, this time with a responsible sailing master. At Nengone Mr. + Patteson had a friendly interview with Mr. Craig, the London Society's + missionary, and explained to him the state of things with regard to these + individual pupils; then, after being overwhelmed with presents by the + Christian population, shaped his course for Bauro. + </p> + <p> + On the way he had the experience of a tropical thunderstorm, after having + been well warned by the sinking of the barometer through the whole of the + day, the 27th of April. 'At 7.30 the breeze came up, and the big drops + began, when suddenly a bright forked flash so sustained that it held its + place before our eyes like an immense white-hot crooked wire, seemed to + fall on the deck, and be splintered there. But one moment and the + tremendous crack of the thunder was alive and around us, making the masts + tremble. For more than an hour the flashes were so continuous that I think + every three seconds we had a perfect view of the whole horizon. I + especially remember the firmament between the lurid thunder clouds looking + quite blue, so intense was the light. The thunder rolled on without + cessation, but the tremendous claps occurred only at intervals. We have no + lightning conductor, and I felt somewhat anxious; went below and prayed + God to preserve us from lightning and fire, read the magnificent chapter + at the end of Job. As the storm went on, I thought that at that very hour + you were praying "From lightning and tempest, good Lord, deliver us." We + had no wind: furious rain, repeated again from midnight to three this + morning. About eleven the thunder had ceased, but the broad flashes of + lightning were still frequent. The lightning was forked and jagged, and + one remarkable thing was the length of time that the line of intense light + was kept up, like a gigantic firework, so that the shape of the flash + could be drawn with entire accuracy by any one that could handle a pencil. + It was a grand and solemn sight and sound, and I am very thankful we were + preserved from danger, for the storm was right upon us, and the danger + must have been great.' + </p> + <p> + A ready welcome awaited the 'Southern Cross' at Bauro, in a lovely bay + hitherto unvisited, where a perfect flotilla of canoes came off to greet + her, and the two chiefs, Iri and Eimaniaka, came on board, and no less + than fifty-five men with them. The chiefs and about a dozen men were + invited to spend the night on board. The former lay on the floor of the + inner cabin, talking and listening while their host set before them some + of the plain truths of Christianity. He landed next day, and returned the + visit by going to Iri's hut, where he pointed to the skulls, discoursed on + the hatefulness of such decorations, and recommended their burial. He also + had an opportunity of showing a Christian's horror of unfilial conduct, + when Rimaniaka struck his mother for being slow in handing yams; and when + a man begged for a passage to Gera in direct opposition to his father's + commands, he was dismissed with the words, 'I will have nothing to do with + a man who does not obey his own father.' + </p> + <p> + At Gera there was also a great assembly of canoes, and as all hands were + wanted on board, Patteson went ashore in a canoe with the brother of one + of the scholars. He was told that he was the first white man who had ever + landed there, and the people showed a good deal of surprise, but were + quite peaceable, and the presence of women and children was a sign that + there was no danger. When he tried to return to the ship, a heavy sea came + on, and the canoes were forced to put back, and he thus found himself + obliged to spend the night on the island. He was taken into a house with + two rooms, in each of which numbers of men were lying on the ground, a + small wood fire burning in the midst of each group of three or four. + </p> + <p> + A grass mat was brought him, and a bit of wood for a pillow, and as he was + wet through, cold, and very tired, he lay down; but sleep was impossible, + from tormenting vermin, as well as because it seemed to be the custom of + the people to be going backwards and forwards all night, sitting over the + fire talking, then dropping asleep and waking to talk again. A yam was + brought him after about an hour, and long before dawn he escaped into the + open air, and sat over a tire there till at high tide, at six o'clock in + the morning, he was able to put off again and reach the ship, where + forty-five natives had slept, and behaved well. + </p> + <p> + 'The sense of cold and dirt and weariness was not pleasing,' he confesses, + and certainly the contrast to the Eton and Oxford habits was great. There + was a grand exchange of presents; hatchets, adzes, hooks and empty bottles + on one side, and a pig and yams on the other. Immediately after follows a + perilous adventure, which, as we shall find, made a deep impression. It is + thus related in a letter for the benefit of Thorverton Rectory:— + </p> + <p> + 'At Sea: Lat. 19° 50' S.; long. 167° 41' E. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Uncle,—May is a month specially connected henceforward + in my mind with a merciful deliverance from great peril, which God + vouchsafed to us on May 2nd. We touched on a reef at the Isle of + Guadalcanar, one of the Solomon Islands, in lat. 9° 50', and but for God's + mercy in blessing our exertions, we might have incurred fearful danger of + losing the Mission vessel. As it was, in a couple of minutes we were off + the reef and in deep safe water—to Him be the praise and the glory! + I have written all particulars as usual to my father, and now that the + danger has been averted, you will rejoice to hear how great a door is + opened to us in that part of the world. Personal safety ensured, and, so + far as can be judged of, no apparent obstacle in the way of the Mission in + that quarter. Had this great peril not occurred—and it was to human + eyes and in human language the mere "chance" of a minute—I might + have dwelt with too much satisfaction on the bright side of the picture. + As it is, it is a lesson to me "to think soberly." I can hardly trust + myself to write yet with my usual freedom of the scenery, natives, &c. + One great thought is before me—"Is it all real that we touched on + that reef in the sight of hundreds of natives?" It was not a sense of + personal danger—that could not occur at such a time; but the idea + that the vessel might be lost, the missionary operations suspended, &c.; + this shot through me in those two minutes! But I had no time for more than + mental prayer, for I was pulling at ropes with all my strength; not till + it was all over could I go below and fall on my knees in a burst of + thanksgiving and praise. We suppose that there must be a very strong + under-current near the reef at the mouth of the bay, for the vessel, + instead of coming round as usual (and there was abundance of room), would + not obey the helm, and we touched an outlying rock before we could alter + the sails, when she rounded instantly on the other tack. Humanly speaking, + she would have come off very soon, as the tide was flowing, and she + received no damage, as we came very gently against the rock, which was + only about the size of an ordinary table. But it is an event to be + remembered by me with thankfulness all my life. I think the number of + natives who had been on deck and about us in canoes that morning could not + have been less than 450. They behaved very well. Of the five principal + chiefs three could talk some Bauro language, so I could communicate with + them, and this was one reason why I felt satisfied of their good-will. + They gave me two pigs, about 500 or 600 cocoa-nuts, and upwards of a ton + of yams, though I told them I had only two small hatchets, five or six + adzes, a few gimlets, and empty bottles to give in exchange. If I had not + been satisfied of their being quite friendly, I would not have put + ourselves so entirely into their power; but it is of the greatest + consequence to let the natives of a place see that you are not suspicious, + and where there is no evident hazard in so doing, I think I ought to act + upon it. Perhaps the Bishop, being an older hand at it, will think I was + rash; but as far as the natives are concerned, the result shows I was + quite right; the letting go a kedge in deepish water is another matter, + that was a mistake I know now. But we could not work the vessel by reason + of the crowds of natives, and what was I to do? Either not stand close in, + as they all expected, or let go a kedge. If I did not go into the mouth of + the bay, they would have said, "He does not trust us," and mutual + suspicion would have been (possibly) the result, and I could not make them + understand rightly the reason why I did not want to drop the kedge or + small anchor. + </p> + <p> + 'I had slept on shore about three miles up the bay among a number of + natives, twenty-five or twenty-six in the same room with me, on the + previous evening: at least, I lay down in my things, which, by the bye, + were drenched through with salt and rain water. They said I was the first + white person that had been ashore there. They treated me very well. How in + the face of all this could I run the risk of letting them think I was + unwilling to trust them? So I think still that I was right in all but one + thing. I ought to have ascertained better the nature of the current and + the bottom of the harbour, to see if there was good holding ground. But it + is easier to do those things in an English port than in the sight of a + number of natives, and especially when there is but one person able to + communicate with the said natives. If I went off in the boat sounding, who + was to look after the schooner? If I stayed on board, who was to explain + to the natives what was being done in the boat? Besides, we have but five + men on board, including the master and mate, and one of them was disabled + by a bad hand, so that if I had manned the boat, I should have left only + three able-bodied men on board—it was a puzzle, you see, dear Uncle. + Now I have entered into this long defence lest any of you dear ones should + think me rash. Indeed, I don't want to run any risks at all. But there was + no risk here, as I supposed, and had we chosen to go round on the other + tack we should have known nothing of a risk now. As it was, we did run a + great hazard of grounding on the reef, and therefore, Laus Deo. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! dear little Pena, if you had only seen the village which, as yet, I + alone of white people have been allowed to see—the great tall + cocoa-nuts, so tall and slender at the top, that I was almost afraid when + a boy was sent up to gather some nuts for me—the cottages of bamboo + and cocoa-nut leaves—the great forest trees, the parrots flying + about among the branches—the crowd of men and children and a few + women all looking at, and some talking to the strange chief, "who had + spoken the truth and brought their kinsman as he promised,"—the sea + in the harbour shut off by small islets and looking like a beautiful lake + with high wooded and steep banks—the pretty canoes on the beach, and + the great state canoe lying at its stone anchor about fifty yards off, + about fifty feet long, and inlaid throughout with mother-of-pearl, the + spears leaning against the houses—men stalking about with a kind of + club (the great chief Puruhanua gave me his);—I think your little + head would have been almost turned crazy.... + </p> + <p> + 'June 4th, Auckland.—We reached harbour a week ago in a violent + squall of wind and rain at 8.45 P.M. Anxious night after the anchor was + dropped, lest the vessel should drag. Nine days coming from Norfolk + Island, very heavy weather—no accident, but jib-boom pitched away + while lying to in a south-easter.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + The Rev. Benjamin Thornton Dudley, for several years a most valuable + helper in the work, both at home and abroad, gives the following account + of his own share in it, and his recollections of that first year:— + </p> + <p> + 'The first time I ever saw Mr. Patteson was in the beginning of 1856, when + you (this is a letter to Mrs. Selwyn) all visited Lyttelton in the newly + arrived "Southern Cross." That indescribable charm of manner, calculated + at once to take all hearts by storm, was not perhaps as fully developed in + him then as afterwards, and my experience was then comparatively limited, + yet his words in the sermon he preached on behalf of the Melanesian + Mission (a kind of historical review of the growth and spread of the + Gospel), although coming after the wonderful sermon of the Bishop in the + morning, made a deep impression on several of us, myself among the number. + </p> + <p> + 'You came to Lyttelton at the end of 1856 again, this time without him, + and the Bishop brought me up to St. John's College, and placed me under + him there. I remember at first how puzzled I felt as to what my position + was, and what I was expected to do. Not a single direction was given me by + Mr. Patteson, nor did he invite me to take a class in the comparatively + small Melanesian school. Gradually it dawned upon me that I was purposely + left there, and that I was expected to offer myself for anything I could + do. When I offered myself I was allowed to assist in this and that, until + at length I fell into my regular place. Although the treatment I received + in this respect puzzled me, I felt his great kindness from the first. How + bright he was in those days, and how overflowing with spirits when among + the Melanesians. What fun there used to be of a morning, when he would + come and hunt the lazy ones out of bed, drive them down to the bath house, + and there assist their ablutions with a few basins of water thrown at + them; and what an amount of quiet "chaff" used to go on at breakfast time + about it as we sat with them in the great hall, without any of those + restraints of the "high table" which were introduced at dinner. + </p> + <p> + 'During the first voyage made that year to return our Melanesian party, I + think Mr. Patteson was feeling very much out of sorts. I do not remember + any time during the years in which I was permitted to see so much of him + when he took things so easily. He spoke of himself as lazy, and I confess + I used to wonder somewhat how it was that he retired so completely into + the cabin, and did apparently so little in the way of study. He read the + "Heir of Redclyffe," and other books of light reading in that voyage. I + understood better afterwards what, raw youth as I was at the time, puzzled + me in one for whom I was already beginning to entertain a feeling + different from any previously experienced. That seems to me now to have + been quite a necessary pause in his life after he had with + wholeheartedness and full intention given himself to his work, but before + he had fully faced all its requirements and had learnt to map out his + whole time with separate toil.' + </p> + <p> + So concluded what may be called the first term of Coley Patteson's + tutorship of his island boys. His work is perhaps best summed up in this + sentence in a letter to me from Mrs. Abraham: 'Mr. Patteson's love for + them, and his facility in communicating with them in their own tongue, + make his dealing with the present set much more intimate and effective + than it has ever been before, and their affections towards him are drawn + out in a lively manner.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE AND LIFU. 1857-1859. + </h2> + <p> + It seems to me that the years between 1856 and 1861 were the very + brightest of Coleridge Patteson's life. He had left all for Christ's sake + and the Gospel's, and was reaping the blessing in its freshness. His + struggles with his defects had been successful, the more so because he was + so full of occupation that the old besetting trouble, self-contemplation, + had been expelled for lack of opportunity; and he had become far more + simple, since humility was ceasing to be a conscious effort. + </p> + <p> + There is a light-heartedness about his letters like that of the old Eton + times. Something might have been owing to the impulse of health, which was + due to the tropical heat. Most probably this heat was what exhausted his + constitution so early, but at first it was a delightful stimulus, and gave + him exemption from all those discomforts with which cold had affected him + at home. This exhilaration bore him over the many trials of close contact + with uncivilised human nature so completely that his friends never even + guessed at his natural fastidiousness. That which might have been selfish + in this fastidiousness was conquered, though the refinement remained. Even + to the last, in his most solitary hours, this personal neatness never + relaxed, but the victory over disgust was a real triumph over self, which + no doubt was an element of happiness. + </p> + <p> + While the Bishop continued to go on the voyages with him, he had + companionship, guidance, and comparatively no responsibility, while his + success, that supreme joy, was wonderfully unalloyed, and he felt his own + especial gifts coming constantly into play. His love for his scholars was + one continual well of delight, and really seemed to be an absolute gift, + enabling him to win them over, and compensating for what he had left, even + while he did not cease to love his home with deep tenderness. + </p> + <p> + Another pair of New Zealand friends had to be absent for a time. + Archdeacon Abraham's arm was so severely injured by an accident with a + horse, that the effects were far more serious than those of a common + fracture. The disaster took place in Patteson's presence. 'I shall never + forget,' writes his friend, 'his gentleness and consideration as he first + laid me down in a room and then went to tell my wife.' + </p> + <p> + It was found necessary to have recourse to English advice; the Archdeacon + and Mrs. Abraham went home, and were never again residents at Auckland. + </p> + <p> + A letter to Mr. Justice Coleridge was written in the interval between the + voyages:— + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland: June 12, 1857. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—You will not give me credit for being a good + correspondent, I fear; but the truth is that I seldom find time to do more + than write long chatty letters to my dear father and sisters, occasionally + to Thorverton, and to Miss Neill and one or two others to cheer them in + their sickness and weariness. Any news from afar may be a real relaxation. + </p> + <p> + 'For myself I need only say that I find these dear people most attractive + and winning, that it is no effort to love them, that they display all + natural gifts in a remarkable way—good temper, affection, + gentleness, obedience, gratitude, &c., occasionally real + self-restraint. Dear Hirika's last words to me at San Cristoval were, "Oh, + I do love you so," and his conduct showed it. He is a bright handsome lad, + clever but inaccurate, of most sweet disposition. In matters of personal + cleanliness, healthy appearance, &c., the change in seven months was + that of a lad wholly savage becoming neat, tidy in dress, and of + gentlemanly appearance. In some ways he was my pet of the whole party, + though I have equally bright hopes of Grariri, a sturdy, honest fellow + with the best temper I almost ever found among lads of sixteen anywhere, + and Kerearua is the most painstaking fellow of the lot; and a boy whose + distinguishing features it would be hard to describe; but he may be summed + up as a very good boy, and certainly a most loveable one. Sumaro and + Kimarua older and less interesting. + </p> + <p> + 'I printed short catechisms, a translation of the Lord's Prayer, Creed, + General Confession, two or three other of the Common Prayer prayers, and + one or two short missionary prayers in the dialect of both islands; but I + can only speak at all fluently the language of San Cristoval. + </p> + <p> + 'Of the Nengone people I could say much more. The two young women + (married) and the two young unmarried men had been under Mr. Nihill's + instruction two or three years, baptized, and were regular communicants + while at the College. Simeona was baptized on the same day as his infant + son, after he had been with us five months. He and the other four were + confirmed at the College chapel, and he afterwards received the Holy + Communion with the rest. + </p> + <p> + 'Kowine, a lad of seventeen, is not baptized, though well instructed. We + were not wholly satisfied about him. Of the knowledge of them all I can + speak with the utmost confidence. They know more a great deal than most + candidates for confirmation in a well-regulated English parish. It was + delightful to work with them. We wrote Bible history, which has reached + about fifty sheets in MS. in small handwriting, bringing the history to + the time of Joshua; very many questions and answers, and translated ninety + pages of the Prayer Book, including Services for Infant and Adult Baptism, + Catechism, Burial Service, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'It is most interesting work, though not easy, and much of it will no + doubt be altered when we come to know the language thoroughly well. This + island of Nengone (called also Maro and Britannia Island) contains about + 6,500 inhabitants, of whom some profess Christianity, while the remainder + are still fighting and eating one another, though accessible to white + people. + </p> + <p> + 'We hope to have time to see something of the heathen population, though + the London Mission Society having re-occupied the island, we do not + regularly visit it with the intention of establishing ourselves.... The + language is confined to that island. I call it language, not dialect, for + it is, I believe, really distinct from any others we have or have heard + of, very soft, like Italian, and capable of expressing accurately minute + shades of meaning. Causative forms, &c., remind us of the oriental + structure, one peculiarity (that of the chief's dialect, or almost + language, running parallel to that of common life) I think I have before + mentioned. + </p> + <p> + 'In about a month I suppose we shall be off again for three or four + months, and we long to get hold of pupils from the Banks Archipelago, + Santa Cruz, Espiritu Santo, in which no ground is broken at present. We + visited them last year, but did not get any pupils; lovely islands, very + populous, and the natives very bright, intelligent-looking. But how I long + to see again some of my own dear boys, I do so think of them! It may be + that two or three of them may come again to us, and then we may perhaps + hope that they may learn enough to be really useful to their own + people.... Dear uncle, I should indeed rejoice much to see my dear, dear + father and sisters and Jem and all of you if it came in the way of one's + business, but I think, so long as I am well, that the peculiar nature of + this work must require the constant presence of one personally known to, + and not only officially connected with, the natives. While I feel very + strongly that in many ways intercourse occasionally resumed with the home + clergy must be very useful to us, yet if you can understand that there is + no one to take one's place, you see how very unlikely it must be that I + can move from this hemisphere. I say "if you can understand," for it does + seem sad that one should really be in such a position that one's presence + should be of any consequence; but, till it please God that the Bishop + shall receive other men for this Mission, there is no other teacher for + these lads, and so we must rub on and do the best we can. Of course I + should be most thankful, most happy if, during his lifetime, I once more + found myself at home, but I don't think much nor speculate about it, and I + am very happy, as I am well and hearty. You won't suspect me of any + lessening of strong affection for all that savours of home. I think that I + know every face in Alfington and in Feniton, and very many in Ottery as of + old; I believe I think of all with increasing affection, but while I + wonder at it, I must also confess that I can and do live happy day after + day without enjoying the sight of those dear faces. + </p> + <p> + 'Always your affectionate and grateful nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + As soon as the 'Southern Cross' had carried Bishop Harper back to + Lyttelton, the Melanesian voyage was recommenced, this time with a + valuable assistant in Mr. Benjamin Dudley. Mrs. Selwyn was again dropped + at Norfolk Island, and five young Pitcairners were taken on board to serve + as a boat's crew, and also to receive instruction. + </p> + <p> + This was a more extensive voyage than the first, as more time could be + spent on it, but there is less full description, as there was less time + for writing; and besides, these coral islands are much alike. Futuma was + the first new island visited:— + </p> + <p> + 'The canoes did not venture to come off to us, so we went ashore in the + boat, Bishop and I wading ankle-deep to the beach. Forty or fifty natives + under a deep overhanging rock, crouching around a fire, plenty of lads and + boys, no women. Some Tanna men in the group, with their faces painted red + and black, hair (as you know) elaborately frizzled and dressed with coral + lime. The Futuma people speak a different language from those of Anaiteum, + and the Tanna people speak a third (having, moreover, four dialects of + their own). These three islands are all in sight of each other. Tanna has + an active volcano, now smoking away, and is like a hot-bed, wonderfully + fertile. People estimate its population at 10,000, though it is not very + large,—about thirty miles long. At Futuma, the process by which + these coral islands have been upheaved is well seen. The volcanic rocks + are lying under the coral, which has been gradually thrust upwards by + them. As the coral emerged, the animal went on building under water, + continually working lower and lower down upon and over the volcanic + formation, as this heaved in its upward course the coral formation out of + the sea.' + </p> + <p> + Erromango was occupied by the Scottish Mission, and Mr. Gordon was then + living there in peace and apparent security, when a visit was paid to him, + and Patteson gathered some leaves in Dillon's Bay, the spot where John + Williams met his death sixteen years before, not, as now was understood, + because he was personally disliked, but because he was unconsciously + interfering with a solemnity that was going on upon the beach. + </p> + <p> + At Fate Isle, the people were said to be among the wildest in those seas. + When the 'Royal Sovereign' was wrecked, they had killed the whole crew, + nineteen in number, eaten ten at once, and sent the other nine as presents + to their friends. Very few appeared, but there was a good 'opening' + exchange of presents. + </p> + <p> + A great number of small islets lie around Fate, forming part of the + cluster of the New Hebrides, The Bishop had been at most of them before, + and with a boat's crew of three Pitcairners and one English sailor, + starting early and spending all day in the boat, he and Patteson touched + at eleven in three days, and established the first steps to communication + by obtaining 127 names of persons present, and making gifts. These little + volcanic coral isles were all much alike, and nothing remarkable occurred + but the obtaining two lads from Mai, named Petere and Laure, for a ten + months' visit. Poor fellows, they were very sea-sick at first, and begged + to go home again, but soon became very happy, and this connection with + Petere had important consequences in the end. These lads spoke a language + approaching Maori, whereas the Fate tongue prevailed in the other isles. + </p> + <p> + At Mallicolo, on August 20, a horrible sight presented itself to the eyes + of the two explorers when they walked inland with about eighteen most + obliging and courteous natives—an open space with four hollowed + trunks of trees surrounding two stones, the trees carved into the shape of + grotesque human heads, and among them, a sort of temple, made of sloping + bamboos and pandanus leaves meeting at the top, from whence hung a dead + man, with his face painted in stripes of red and yellow, procured, it was + thought, from the pollen of flowers. There was not enough comprehension of + the language to make out the meaning of all this. + </p> + <p> + Ambrym, the next island, was more than usually lovely, and was destined to + receive many more visits. The women made their approach crawling, some + with babies on their backs. Whitsuntide, where the casks had to be filled + with water, showed a great number of large, resolute-looking men, whose + air demanded caution; 'but,' says the journal, 'practice makes perfect, + and we get the habit of landing among strangers, the knack of managing + with signs and gesticulations, and the feeling of ease and confidence + which engenders confidence and good-will in the others. Quarrels usually + arise from both parties being afraid and suspicious of each other.' + </p> + <p> + Leper's Isle owes its unpleasant name to its medicinal springs. It is a + particularly beautiful place, containing a population of good promise. + Three landings were made there, and at the fourth place Patteson jumped + ashore on a rock and spent some time in calming the fears of a party of + natives who had been frightened in their canoe by the boat under sail + overtaking them. 'They fingered bows and arrows, but only from + nervousness,' he says. However, they seem to have suspected the visitors + of designs on their load of fine taro, and it was some time before the + owner would come out and resume it. On all these isles the plan could as + yet only be to learn names and write them down, so as to enquire for + acquaintance next time, either make presents, or barter them for + provisions, discover the class of language, and invite scholars for + another time. + </p> + <p> + So at Star Island three or four natives said, 'In ten moons you two come + back; very good, then we go with you.' 'I think,' Patteson tells his + sisters, 'you would have liked to have seen me, standing on a rock, with + my two supporters, two fine young men, who will I trust go with us next + time, my arms round their necks, and a fine background of some thirty or + forty dark figures with bows and arrows, &c., and two or three little + rogues, perched on a point of rock above me, just within reach, asking for + fish-hooks.' He says it in all simplicity, but the picture presupposes + some strength of mind in the sisters who were to appreciate it. + </p> + <p> + Few natives appeared at Espiritu Santo, and the vessel passed on to Oanuta + or Cherry Island, where the Bishop had never been, and where a race of + dull, good-natured giants was found. The chief was a noble-looking man + with an aquiline nose, and seemed to have them well under command, and + some of the younger men, who had limbs which might have been a model for a + sculptor, could have lifted an ordinary-sized Englishman as easily as a + child. They were unluckily already acquainted with whalers, whom they + thought the right sort of fellows, since they brought tobacco and spirits, + did not interfere with native habits, nor talk of learning, for which the + giants saw no need. The national complexion here was of a lighter yellow, + the costume a tattooed chest, the language akin to Maori; and it was the + same at Tikopia, where four chiefs, one principal one immensely fat, + received their visitors seated on a mat in the centre of a wide circle + formed by natives, the innermost seated, the others looking over them. + These, too, were accustomed to whalers, and when they found that pigs and + yams in exchange for spirits and tobacco were not the object, they were + indifferent. They seemed to despise fish-hooks, and it was plain that they + had even obtained muskets from the whalers, for there were six in the + chiefs house, and one was fired, not maliciously but out of display. The + Bishop told them his object, and they understood his language, but were + uninterested. The fat chief regaled the two guests with a cocoa-nut + apiece, and then seemed anxious to be rid of them. + </p> + <p> + The Banks Islands, as usual, were much more hopeful, Santa Maria coming + first. Canoes came round the vessel, and the honesty of the race showed + itself, for one little boy, who had had a fish-hook given him, wished to + exchange it for calico, and having forgotten to restore the hook at the + moment, swam back with it as soon as he remembered it. There was a + landing, and the usual friendly intercourse, but just as the boat had put + off, a single arrow was suddenly shot out of the bush, and fell about ten + yards short. It was curious that the Spanish discoverers had precisely the + same experience. It was supposed to be an act of individual mischief or + fun, and the place obtained the appropriate name of Cock Sparrow Point. + </p> + <p> + It was not possible to get into the one landing-place in the wall round + Mota's sugar-loaf, but there was an exchange of civilities with the + Saddleites, and in Vanua Lava, the largest member of the group, a + beautiful harbour was discovered, which the Bishop named Port Patteson, + after the Judge. + </p> + <p> + The Santa Cruz group was visited again on the 23rd of September. Nothing + remarkable occurred; indeed, Patteson's journal does not mention these + places, but that of the Bishop speaks of a first landing at Nukapu, and an + exchange of names with the old chief Acenana; and the next day of going to + the main island, where swarms of natives swam out, with cries of Toki, + toki, and planks before them to float through the surf. About 250 + assembled at the landing place, as before, chiefly eager for traffic. The + Volcano Isle was also touched at, but the language of the few inhabitants + was incomprehensible. The mountain was smoking, and red-hot cinders + falling as before on the steep side. It was tempting to climb it and + investigate what probably no white man had yet seen, but it was decided to + be more prudent to abstain. + </p> + <p> + Some events of the visit to Bauro are related in the following letter to + the young cousin whose Confirmation day had been notified to him in time + to be thought of in his prayers:— + </p> + <p> + 'Off San Cristoval: October 5, 1857. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Pena,—It was in a heathen land, among a heathen people, + that I passed the Sunday—a day most memorable in your life—on + which I trust you received for the first time the blessed Sacrament of our + Saviour's Body and Blood. + </p> + <p> + 'My darling—, as I knelt in the chiefs house, upon the mat which was + also my bed—the only Christian in that large and beautiful island—my + prayers were, I hope, offered earnestly that the full blessedness of that + heavenly Union with the Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him with the Father and + the Holy Ghost, might rest upon you for ever. I had reckoned upon being on + board that Sunday, when the Holy Eucharist was administered on board our + vessel; but as we reached Mwaata, our well-known village at San Cristoval, + on Saturday, we both agreed that I had better go ashore while the vessel + went away, to return for me on Monday. My day was now passed strangely + enough, my first Sunday in a land where no Sunday is known. + </p> + <p> + 'It was about 3 P.M. on Saturday when I landed, and it was an effort to + have to talk incessantly till dark. Then the chief Iri went with me to his + house. It is only one oblong room, with a bamboo screen running halfway + across it about half-way down the room. It is only made of bamboo at the + sides, and leaves for the roof. Yams and other vegetables were placed + along the sides. There is no floor, but one or two grass mats are placed + on the ground to sleep on. Iri and his wife, and an orphan girl about + fourteen or fifteen, I suppose, slept on the other side of the screen; and + two lads, called Grariri and Parenga, slept on my side of it. I can't say + I slept at all, for the rats were so very many, coming in through the + bamboo on every side, and making such a noise I could not sleep, though + tired. They were running all about me. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, at daylight I sent Gariri to fetch some water, and shaved and + washed, to the great admiration of Iri and the ladies, and of others also, + who crowded together at the hole which serves for door and windows. I lay + down in my clothes, all but my coat, but I took a razor and some soap + ashore. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday was spent in going about to different neighbouring settlements, + and climbing the coral rocks was hard work, the thermometer at sea being + 85° in the cool cabin, as the Bishop told me to-day. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course many people were at work in the yam grounds, several of which I + saw; but I found considerable parties at the different villages, and had, + on the whole, satisfactory conversations with them. They listened and + asked questions, and I told them as well as I could the simplest truths of + Christianity. + </p> + <p> + 'I had a part of a yam and drank four cocoa-nuts during the day, besides + eating some mixture of yam, taro, and cocoa-nut all pounded together. + </p> + <p> + 'People offered me food and nuts everywhere. Walked back with a boy called + Tahi for my guide, and stopped at several plantations, and talked with the + people. + </p> + <p> + 'Sat out in the cool evening on the beach at Mwaata, after much talk in a + chiefs house called Tarua; people came round me on the beach, and again I + talked with them (a sort of half-preaching, half-conversing these talks + were), till Iri said we must go to bed. Slept a little that night. + </p> + <p> + 'I can truly say that you were in my head all day. After my evening + prayers, when I thought of you—for it was about 9 P.M. = 10.10 A.M. + with you, and you were on your way to church—I thought of you, + kneeling between your dear mamma and grandmamma, and dear grandpapa + administering to his three beloved ones the Bread of Life, and I was very + happy as I thought of it, for I trust, through the mercy of God, and the + merits of our Lord, that we shall be by Him raised at the Last Day to + dwell with Him for ever. But indeed I must not write to you how very + unworthy I felt to belong to that little company. + </p> + <p> + 'This morning about eleven the vessel's boat came off for me, with the + Bishop. I had arranged about some lads coming on with us, and it ended in + seven joining our party. Only one of our old scholars has come again: he + is that dear boy Grariri, whose name you will remember. + </p> + <p> + 'Now I have had a good change of shirts, etc., and feel clean and + comfortable, though I think a good night's rest will do me no harm. I have + written to you the first minute that I had time. What a blessed, happy day + it must have been for you, and I am sure they thought of you at Feniton. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + This strange Sunday was spent in conversation with different sets of + natives, and that some distinct ideas were conveyed was plain from what + old Iri was overheard saying to a man who was asking him whether he had + not a guest who spoke Bauro: 'Yes,' said Iri, adding that 'he said men + were not like dogs, or pigs, or birds, or fishes, because these cannot + speak or think. They all die, and no one knows anything more about them, + but he says we shall not die like that, but rise up again.' + </p> + <p> + On Monday, the 7th of October, Grera was revisited, and Toto, a last + year's scholar, came forth with his welcome in a canoe; but it was rather + a mixed success, for the danger of the vessel on her previous visit was a + warning against bringing her into the harbour, where there was no safe + anchorage, and this disappointed the people. Thirteen, indeed, slept on + board, and the next morning sixty canoes surrounded the vessel, and some + hundred and sixty came on deck at once; but they brought only one pig and + a few yams, and refused to fetch more, saying it was too far—a + considerable inconvenience, considering the necessity of providing the + Melanesian passengers with vegetable food. The whole nine slept in the + inner cabin, Orariri on Patteson's sofa, 'feet to feet, the others on the + floor like herrings in a barrel.' + </p> + <p> + The great island of New Caledonia was next visited. The Bishop had been + there before, and Basset, one of the chiefs, lamented that he had been so + long absent, and pleaded hard to have an English missionary placed in his + part of the country. It was very sad to have no means of complying with + the entreaty, and the Bishop offered him a passage to Auckland, there to + speak for himself. He would have come, but that it was the season for + planting his yams; but he hoped to follow, and in the meantime sent a + little orphan named Kanambat to be brought up at Auckland. The little + fellow was pleased enough with the ship at first, but when his countrymen + who had been visiting there left her, he jumped overboard and was swimming + like a duck after them, when, at a sign from the Bishop, one of the + Pitcairners leapt after him, and speedily brought him back. He soon grew + very happy and full of play and fun, and was well off in being away from + home, for the French were occupying the island, and poor Basset shortly + after was sent a prisoner to Tahiti for refusing to receive a Roman + Catholic priest. + </p> + <p> + Nengone were reached on October 23, and most of the old scholars were + ready with a warm welcome; but Mr. Creagh, the London missionary, had + taken Wadrokala away with him on an expedition, and of the others, only + Kowine was ready to return, though the two married couples were going on + well, and one previous scholar of the Bishop's and four new ones presented + themselves as willing to go. Urgent letters from the neighbouring isle of + Lifu entreated the Bishop to come thither, and, with a splendid supply of + yams, the 'Southern Cross' again set sail, and arrived on the 26th. This + island had entirely abandoned heathenism, under the guidance of the + Samoans. The people felt that they had come to the end of the stock of + teaching of these good men, and entreated for an Englishman from the + Bishop, and thus, here was the third island in this one voyage begging for + a shepherd, and only one English priest had been found to offer himself to + that multitude of heathen! + </p> + <p> + The only thing that could be done was to take John Cho, a former St. + John's scholar, to receive instruction to fit him for a teacher, and with + him came his young wife Naranadune, and their babe, whom the Bishop had + just baptized in the coral-lime chapel, with three other children. + </p> + <p> + The next few days were spent in great anxiety for Wailumai, a youth from + Grera, who was taken ill immediately after dinner with a most distressing + difficulty of breathing. He proved to have a piece of sugar cane in his + throat, which made every breath agony, and worked a small ulcer in the + throat. All through the worst Patteson held him in his arms, with his hand + on his chest: several times he seemed gone, and ammonia and sal volatile + barely revived him. His first words after he was partially relieved were, + 'I am Bishop! I am Patihana!' meaning that he exchanged names with them, + the strongest possible proof of affection in Melanesian eyes. He still + seemed at the point of death, and they made him say, 'God the Father, God + the Son, and God the Holy Ghost! Jesus Christ, Son of God.' At last a + favourable change took place, but he continued so ill for several days + that his two attendants never did more than lie down in their clothes; nor + was it till the third day that he at length coughed up the piece of cane + that had caused the mischief. He still required so much care that Patteson + did not go on shore at Norfolk Island when the five Pitcairners were + exchanged for Mrs. Selwyn. + </p> + <p> + On November 15 Auckland harbour was again reached after this signally + prosperous voyage. It is thus summed up in a letter written two days + later:— + </p> + <p> + 'November 17, 1857: St. John's College. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Neill,—Thanks for your £21. 2s., and more thanks still + for your prayers and constant interest in this part of the world. After nearly + seventeen weeks at sea, we returned safely on Sunday morning the 15th, + with thirty-three Melanesians, gathered from nine islands and speaking + eight languages. Plenty of work for me: I can teach tolerably in three, + and have a smattering of one or two more. + </p> + <p> + 'One is the wife of a young man, John Cho, an old scholar baptized. His + half-brother is chief of Lifu Isle, a man of great influence. The London + Mission (Independents) are leaving all their islands unprovided with + missionaries, and these people having been much more frequently visited by + the Bishop than by the "John Williams," turn to him for help. By and by I + will explain all this: at present no time. + </p> + <p> + 'We visited sixty-six islands and landed eighty-one times, wading, + swimming, &c.; all most friendly and delightful; only two arrows shot + at us, and only one went near—so much for savages. I wonder what + people ought to call sandal-wood traders and slave-masters if they call my + Melanesians savages. + </p> + <p> + 'You will hear accounts of the voyage from Fanny. I have a long journal + going to my father, but I can't make time to write at length any more. I + am up before five and not in bed before eleven, and you know I must be + lazy sometimes. It does me good. Oh! how great a trial sickness would be + to me! In my health now all seems easy. Were I circumstanced like you, how + much I should no doubt repine and murmur. God has given me hitherto a most + merciful share of blessings, and my dear father's cordial approbation of + and consent to my proceedings is among the greatest.... + </p> + <p> + 'The anniversary of my dear mother's death comes round in ten days. That + is my polar star (humanly speaking), and whensoever it pleases God to take + my dear dear father to his rest, how blessed to think of their waiting for + us, if it be His merciful will to bring me too to dwell before Him with + them for ever. + </p> + <p> + 'I must end, for I am very busy. The weather is cold, and my room full of + lads and young men. If I was not watching like a cat they would be + standing about in all sorts of places and catching cold. + </p> + <p> + 'I send you in a box, a box made by Pitcairners of Pitcairn woods. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever your loving old pupil, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The little New Caledonian remained at Taurarua with the Bishop, and as + there was no woman at St. John's to take the charge of Cho's wife, she was + necessarily sent to Mrs. Kissling's school for Maori girls, while her + husband pursued his studies at St. John's. + </p> + <p> + Patteson often gave his services at the Maori village of Orakei, where + there was to be a central native school managed by Pirimona (Philemon), a + well-trained man, a candidate for Holy Orders. + </p> + <p> + 'However, this did not satisfy his countrymen. As if I had not enough to + do, old Wi comes with a request from the folks at Orakei that I would be + their "minita," and take the management of the concern. Rather rich, is it + not? I said, of course, that I was minita for the islanders. "Oh, let the + Bishop take another man for that, you are the minister for us." He is, you + know, wonderfully tatooed, and a great object of curiosity to the boys! + </p> + <p> + Before many days had passed, there had occurred the first case of that + fatal tetanus, which became only too well known to those concerned in the + Mission. Of course, all weapons were taken from the scholars; but one of + the San Cristoval boys, named Tohehammai, fetched one of his own arrows + out of Mr. Dudley's room to exchange with an English lad for a shirt, and + as he was at play, carrying the arrow in his left hand behind his back and + throwing a stick like a spear with the other, he sharply pricked his right + arm, within the elbow, against the point of the arrow; but thinking + nothing of the hurt, and knowing that the weapons were forbidden + playthings, he said nothing for twelve days, but then complained of + stiffness in the arm. Two doctors happened to be at the college that day; + one thought it rheumatism, the other mentioned the word tetanus, but for + three days more the arm was merely stiff, it was hung in a sling, and the + boy went about as usual, until, on the fifteenth day, spasmodic twitchings + in the arm came on. + </p> + <p> + Liniment of chloroform was rubbed in, and the boy was kept under + chloroform, but in vain; the next day his whole body was perfectly rigid, + with occasional convulsions. About 4 p.m. his throat had become + contracted, and the endeavour to give him nourishment brought on + convulsive attacks. The Bishop came at 8. p.m., and after another attempt + at giving him food, which produced a further spasm, he was lying quietly + when Patteson felt his pulse stop. + </p> + <p> + '"He is dying!" the Bishop said. '"Father, into Thy hands we commend his + spirit."' + </p> + <p> + Patteson's 'Amen' came from his heart. The poor fellow made no sound as he + lay with his frame rigid, his back arched so that an arm could be thrust + under it. He was gone in that moment, unbaptized. Patteson writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'I had much conflict with myself about it. He had talked once with me in a + very hopeful way, but during his illness I could not obtain from him any + distinct profession of faith, anything to make me feel pretty sure that + some conviction of the truth of what he he had been taught, and not mere + learning by rote, was the occasion of his saying what he did say. I did + wish much that I might talk again with the Bishop about it, but his death + took us by surprise. I pray God that all my omission and neglect of duty + may be repaired, and that his very imperfect and unconscious yearnings + after the truth may be accepted for Christ's sake.' + </p> + <p> + The arrow was reported to have been poisoned, but by the time the cause of + the injury had been discovered it had been thrown away and could not be + recovered for examination. Indeed, lockjaw seems to be so prevalent in the + equatorial climates, and the natives so peculiarly liable to it, that + poison did not seem needful to account for the catastrophe. + </p> + <p> + Altogether, these lads were exotics in New Zealand, and exceedingly + fragile. In the very height of summer they had to wear corduroy trousers, + blue serge shirts, red woollen comforters, and blue Scotch caps, and the + more delicate a thick woollen jersey in addition; and with all these + precautions they were continually catching cold, or getting disordered, + and then the Bauro and Grera set could only support such treatment as + young children generally need. The Loyalty Islanders were much tougher and + stronger and easier to treat, but they too showed that the climate of + Auckland was a hard trial to their constitutions. + </p> + <p> + On the last day of March came tidings of the sudden death of the + much-beloved and honoured Dr. James Coleridge of Thorverton. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a great shock,' says the letter written the same day; 'not that I + feel unhappy exactly, nor low, but that many many memories are revived and + keep freshening on my mind.... And since I left England his warm, loving, + almost too fond letters have bound me very closely to him, and sorely I + shall miss the sight of his handwriting; though he may be nearer to me now + than before, and his love for me is doubtless even more pure and fervent. + </p> + <p> + 'I confess I had thought sometimes that if it pleased God to take you + first, the consciousness that he would be with you was a great comfort to + me—not that any man is worth much then. God must be all in all. But + yet he of all men was the one who would have been a real comfort to you, + and even more so to others.' To his cousin he writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Wednesday in Passion Week, 1858: St. John's College. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sophy,—Your letter with the deep black border was the + first that I opened, with trembling hand, thinking: "Is it dear dear Uncle + gone to his eternal rest; or dear Aunty? not that dear child, may God + grant; for that would somehow seem to all most bitter of all—less, + so to speak, reasonable and natural." And he is really gone; that dear, + loving, courageous, warm-hearted servant of Christ; the desire of our eyes + taken away with a stroke. I read your letter wondering that I was not + upset, knelt down and said the two prayers in the Burial Service, and then + came the tears; for the memory of him rose up very vividly before me, and + his deep love for me and the notes of comfort and encouragement he used to + write were very fresh in my mind. I looked at the print of him, the one he + sent out to me, with "your loving old Uncle" in pencil on it. I have all + his letters: when making a regular clearance some months ago, I could not + tear up his, although dangerous ones for me to read unless used as a + stimulant to become what he thought me. His "Jacob" sermon in his own + handwriting, I have by me. But more than all, the memory of his holy life, + and his example as a minister of Christ, have been left behind for us as a + sweet, undying fragrance; his manner in the sick-room—I see him now, + and hear that soft, steady, clear voice repeating verses over my dear + mother's death-bed; his kindly, loving ways to his poor people; his voice + and look in the pulpit, never to be forgotten. I knew I should never see + him again in this world. May God of His mercy take me to be with him + hereafter. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you, dear Sophy, for writing to me; every word about him is + precious, from his last letter to me:— + </p> + <p> + '"You will believe how sweet it is to me every month now to give the Holy + Eucharist to my three dear ones." + </p> + <p> + '"All complaints of old men must be serious." + </p> + <p> + 'I wish I had more time to write, but I am too busy in the midst of + school, and printing Scripture histories and private prayers, and + translations in Nengone, Bauro, Lifu; and as all my time out of school is + spent in working in the printing office, I really have not a minute + unoccupied. With one exception, I have scarcely ever taken an hour's walk + for some six weeks. A large proportion of the printing is actually set up + by my own fingers; but now one Nengone lad, the flower of my flock, can + help me much—a young man about seventeen or eighteen, of whom I hope + very much—Malo, baptized by the name of Harper, an excellent young + man, and a great comfort to me. He was setting up in type a part of the + little book of private prayers I am now printing for them. I had just + pointed out to him the translation of what would be in English—"It + is good that a man as he lies down to sleep should remember that that + night he may hear the summons of the Angel of God; so then let him think + of his death, and remember the words of St. Paul: 'Awake, thou that + sleepest,'" etc.; when in came the man whom the Archdeacon left in charge + here with my letters. "I hope, sir, there is no bad news for you;" and my + eye lighted on the deep black border of your envelope. + </p> + <p> + 'To-morrow, if I live, I enter upon my thirty-second year—a solemn + warning I have received to-day, as another year is passing from me. May + some portion of his spirit rest on me to bless my poor attempt to do what + he did so devotedly for more than forty years: his duty as a soldier and + servant of his Lord and Master, into whose joy he has no doubt now + entered. + </p> + <p> + 'Easter Day.—What an Easter for him! and doubtless we all who will + by and by, as the world rolls round, receive the Holy Eucharist shall be + in some way united to him as well as to all departed saints—members + of His Mystical Body. + </p> + <p> + 'April 12.—Bishop came out yesterday afternoon from Auckland. After + baptisms at 5, and evening service at 7, sat till past 11 settling plans: + thus, God willing, start this day fortnight to return the boys—this + will occupy about two months; as we come back from the far north, he will + drop one at Lifu, one of the Loyalty Islands, with large population; he + will go on to New Zealand, stay perhaps six weeks in New Zealand, or it + may be two months; so that with the time occupied by his voyage from Lifu + to New Zealand, 1,000 miles and back, he will be away from Lifu about two + and a half or three months. Then, picking me up (say about September 12), + we go on at once to the whole number of our islands, spending three months + or so among them, getting back to New Zealand about the end of November. + So that I shall be in Melanesia, D.V., from the beginning of May to the + end of November. I shall be able to write once more before we start—letters + which you will get by the June mail from Sydney—and of course I + shall send letters by the Bishop when he leaves me at Lifu. But I shall + not be able to hear again from England till the Bishop comes to pick me up + in September. Never mind. I shall have plenty to do; and I can think of + those dear ones at home, and of you all, in God's keeping, with perfect + comfort. The Lifu people are in a more critical state than any others just + now, otherwise I should probably stop at San Cristoval. A few years ago + they were very wild—cannibals of course; but they are now building + chapels, and thirsting for the living waters. What a privilege and + responsibility to go to them as Christ's minister, to a people longing for + the glad tidings of the Gospel of Peace. Samoan teachers have been for a + good many years among them. + </p> + <p> + 'I cannot write now to dearest Aunty or Pena. + </p> + <p> + 'May God bless you and abundantly comfort you.... I think I see his dear + face. I see him always. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Cho's wife had arrived in a cart at the College when her baby was a day + old, so rapid is recovery with mothers in those climates. 'I saw the + baby,' observes the journal, quite strong, not dark,—but I don't + care for them till they can talk; on the contrary, I think them a great + bore, especially in wooden houses, where a child with good lungs may + easily succeed in keeping all the inhabitants awake.' + </p> + <p> + 'April 12.—Settled that I stop at Lifu in the interval between the + two voyages. I think Lifu wants me more than any other island just now. + Some 15,000 or 20,000 stretching out their hands to God. The London + Mission (Independent) sent Samoan teachers long ago, but no missionary, + even after frequent applications. At last they applied personally to the + Bishop, he being well known to them of old. I can't go for good, because I + have of course to visit all these islands; but I shall try to spend all + the time that I am not at sea or with boys in New Zealand, perhaps three + months yearly, with them, till they can be provided with a regular + clergyman. + </p> + <p> + 'So I shall have no letters from you till the return of the vessel to pick + me up in September. But be sure you think of me as very happy and well + cared for, though, I am glad to say, not a white man on the island; lots + of work, but I shall take much exercise and see most of the inhabitants. + The island is large, not so large as Bauro, but still large. + </p> + <p> + 'You will say all that is kind to all relations, Buckerell, etc. Thank the + dear old vicar for the spurs, and tell him that I had a battle royal the + other day with a colonial steed, which backed into the bush, and kicked, + and played the fool amazingly, till I considerably astonished him into a + gallop, in the direction I wanted to go, by a vigorous application of the + said spurs. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless and keep you all. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + A few days later he writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'The "Southern Cross," returning to Lifu, will bring my letters; but + unless a stray whaler comes to Lifu while I am there, on its way to + Sydney, that will be the only exchange of letters. I am afraid this will + be an increase of the trial of separation to you all, but it is not sent + until you have learnt to do pretty well without me, and you will be + comforted by knowing that this island of Lifu, with many inhabitants, is + in a very critical state; that what it most wants is a missionary, and + that as far as I am concerned, all the people will be very anxious to do + all they can for me. I take a filter and some tea. We shall have yams, + taro, cocoa-nuts, occasionally a bit of turtle, a fowl, or a bit of pork. + So, you see, I shall live like an alderman; I mean, if I am to go to every + part of the island, heathen and all. Perhaps 20,000 people, scattered over + many miles. I say heathen and all, because only a very small number of the + people now refuse to admit the new teaching. Samoans have been for some + time on the island, and though, I dare say, their teaching has been very + imperfect and only perhaps ten or fifteen people are baptized, they have + chapels, and are far advanced beyond any of the islands except Nengone and + Toke, always excepting Anaiteum. Hence it is thought the leaven may work + quietly in the Solomon Islands without me, but that at Lifu they really + require guidance. So now I have a parochial charge for three months of an + island about twenty-five miles long and some sixteen or eighteen broad. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel that my letters, after so long an absence, may contain much to + make me anxious, so that I shall not look with unmixed pleasure to my + return to my great packet; yet I feel much less anxiety than you might + imagine; I know well that you are in God's keeping, and that is enough.' + </p> + <p> + After just touching at Nengone early in May the 'Southern Cross' went on + to Lifu, and on landing, the Bishop and Mr. Patteson found a number of + people ready to receive them, and to conduct them to the village, where + the chief and a great number of people were drawn up in a half-circle to + receive them. The young chief, Angadhohua, bowed and touched his hat, and + taking Coley's hand, held it, and whispered, 'We will always live + together.' + </p> + <p> + 'By and by we will talk about it,' was the answer; and they were taken to + a new house, belonging to one of the Samoans, built of lath plastered and + thatch, with one large room and a lesser one at each of its angles. There + the Bishop and Mr. Patteson sat on a chest, and seventy or eighty men + squatted on mats, John Cho and the native teacher foremost. There was a + five minutes' pause. Lifu was not yet familiar to Coley, who spoke it less + well than he had spoken German, and John Cho said to him: 'Shall I tell + them what you have said to me formerly?' + </p> + <p> + He then explained that Mr. Patteson could only offer them a visit of three + or four months, and would then have the charge of lads from 'dark isles.' + </p> + <p> + Silence again; then Angadhohua asked: 'Cannot you stop always?' + </p> + <p> + 'There are many difficulties which you cannot understand, which prevent + me. Would you like me to shut the door which God has opened to so many + dark lands?' + </p> + <p> + 'No, no; but why not have the summer school here as well as the winter?' + </p> + <p> + 'Because it does the lads good to see New Zealand, and because the Bishop, + who knows better than I do, thinks it right.' + </p> + <p> + 'And cannot we have a missionary?' + </p> + <p> + However, they were forced to content themselves with all that could be + granted to them, and it was further explained that Mr. Patteson would not + supersede the native teachers, nor assume the direction of the Sunday + services, only keep a school which any one might join who liked. This was + felt to be only right in good faith to the London Mission, in order not to + make dire confusion if they should be able to fill up the gap before the + Church could. + </p> + <p> + After sleeping in the house, Patteson produced the books that had been + printed for them at St. John's. + </p> + <p> + 'Would that you could have seen their delight! About two pages, + indifferently printed, was all they had hitherto. Now they saw thirty-two + clearly printed 8vo. pages of Bible History, sixteen of prayers, rubrics, + &c., eight of questions and answers. "You see," said I cunningly; + "that we don't forget you during these months that I can't live among + you."' + </p> + <p> + They began reading at once, and crying, 'Excellent, exactly right, the + very thing.' + </p> + <p> + It was thought good that some one from Lifu should join the Mission party + and testify to their work, and on the invitation, the chief, Angadhohua, a + bright youth of seventeen, volunteered to go. It was an unexampled thing + that a chief should be permitted by his people to leave them, there was a + public meeting about it, and a good deal of excitement, but it ended in + Cho, as spokesman, coming forward with tears in his eyes, saying, 'Yes, it + is right he should go, but bring him back soon. What shall we do?' + </p> + <p> + Patteson laid his hand on the young chief's shoulder, answering, 'God can + guard him by sea as on land, and with His blessing we will bring him back + safe to you. Let some of the chiefs go with him to protect him. I will + watch over him, but you may choose whom you will to accompany him.' + </p> + <p> + So five chiefs were selected as a body-guard for the young Angadhohua, who + was prince of all the isle, but on an insecure tenure, for the French, in + New Caledonia, were showing a manifest inclination to annex the Loyalty + group. + </p> + <p> + The heavily loaded boat had a perilous strife with the surf before the + ship was reached, and it was a very rough passage to Anaiteum, where some + goods had to be left for Mr. Inglis, and he asked that four Fate visitors + might be taken home. This was done, and Mr. Grordon was visited at + Erromango on the way, and found well and prosperous. + </p> + <p> + At Mai, the reception of Petere and Laure was ecstatic. There was a crowd + on shore to meet them, and on the two miles' walk to the village parties + met, hugged, and wept over them. At the village Mr. Patteson addressed the + people for ten minutes, and Petere made an animated exposition of what he + had learnt, and his speeches evidently had great effect. His younger + brother and two little boys all came in his stead, and would form part of + the winter school at Lifu. + </p> + <p> + The Espiritu Santo boy, the dunce of the party, was set down at home, and + the Banks Islanders were again found pleasant, honest, and courteous, + thinking, as it appeared afterwards, that the white men were the departed + spirits of deceased friends. A walk inland at Vanua Lava disclosed pretty + villages nestling under banyan trees, one of them provided with a + guest-chamber for visitors from other islands. Two boys, Sarawia and + another, came away to be scholars at Lifu, as well as his masters in the + language, of which he as yet scarcely knew anything, but which he + afterwards found the most serviceable of all these various dialects. + </p> + <p> + The 26th of May brought the vessel to Bauro, where poor old Iri was told + of the death of his son, and had a long talk with Mr. Patteson, beginning + with, 'Do you think I shall see him again?' It was a talk worth having, + though it was purchased by spending a night in the house with the rats. + </p> + <p> + It seemed as though the time were come for calling on the Baurese to cease + to be passive, and sixty or seventy men and women having come together, + Mr. Patteson told them that he did not mean to go on merely taking their + boys to return them with heaps of fish-hooks and knives, but that, unless + they cared for good teaching, to make them good and happy here and + hereafter, he should not come like a trader or a whaler. That their sons + should go backwards and forwards and learn, but to teach at home; and that + they ought to build a holy house, where they might meet to pray to God and + learn His will. + </p> + <p> + Much of this was evidently distasteful, though they agreed to build a + room. + </p> + <p> + 'I think,' he writes, 'that the trial stage of the work has arrived. This + has less to attract outwardly than the first beginning of all, and as here + they must take a definite part, they (the great majority who are not yet + disposed to decide for good) are made manifest, and the difficulty of + displacing evil customs is more apparent.' + </p> + <p> + In fact, these amiable, docile Baurese seemed to have little manliness or + resolution of character, and Sumaro, a scholar of 1857, was especially + disappointing, for he pretended to wish to come and learn at Lifu, but + only in order to get a passage to Gera, where he deserted, and was well + lectured for his deceit. + </p> + <p> + The Gera people were much more warlike and turbulent, and seemed to have + more substance in them, though less apt at learning. Patteson spent the + night on shore at Perua, a subsidiary islet in the bay, sleeping in a kind + of shed, upon two boards, more comfortably than was usual on these + occasions. Showing confidence was one great point, and the want of safe + anchorage in the bay was much regretted, because the people could not + understand why the vessel would not come in, and thought it betokened + mistrust. Many lads wished to join the scholars, but of those who were + chosen, two were forced violently overboard by their friends, and only two + eventually remained, making a total of twelve pupils for the winter school + at Lifu, with five languages between them—seven with the addition of + the Nengone and Lifu scholars. + </p> + <p> + 'You see,' writes Patteson on June 10, on the voyage, 'that our difficulty + is in training and organising nations, raising them from heathenism to the + life, morally and socially, of a Christian. This is what I find so hard. + The communication of religious truth by word of mouth is but a small part + of the work. The real difficulty is to do for them what parents do for + their children, assist them to—nay, almost force upon them—the + practical application of Christian doctrine. This descends to the smallest + matters, washing, scrubbing, sweeping, all actions of personal + cleanliness, introducing method and order, habits of industry, regularity, + giving just notions of exchange, barter, trade, management of criminals, + division of labour. To do all this and yet not interfere with the offices + of the chief, and to be the model and pattern of it, who is sufficient for + it?' + </p> + <p> + On June 16, Mr. Patteson was landed at Lifu, for his residence there, with + the five chiefs, his twelve boys, and was hospitably welcomed to the large + new house by the Samoan. He and four boys slept in one of the corner + rooms, the other eight lads in another, the Rarotongan teacher, Tutoo, and + his wife in a third. The central room was parlour, school, and hall, and + as it had four unglazed windows, and two doors opposite to each other, and + the trade-wind always blowing, the state of affairs after daylight was + much like that which prevailed in England when King Alfred invented + lanterns, while in the latter end of June the days were, of course, as + short as they could be on the tropic of Capricorn, so that Patteson got up + in the dark at 5-30 in the morning. + </p> + <p> + At 7 the people around dropped in for prayers, which he thought it better + not to conduct till his position was more defined. Then came breakfast + upon yams cooked by being placed in a pit lined with heated stones, with + earth heaped over the top. Mr. and Mrs. Tutoo, with their white guest, sat + at the scrap of a table, 'which, with a small stool, was the only thing on + four legs in the place, except an occasional visitor in the shape of a + pig.' Then followed school. Two hundred Lifu people came, and it was + necessary to hold it in the chapel. One o'clock, dinner on yams, and very + rarely on pig or a fowl, baked or rather done by the same process; and in + the afternoon some reading and slate work with the twelve Melanesians, and + likewise some special instruction to a few of the more promising Lifuites. + At 6.30, another meal of yams, but this time Patteson had recourse to his + private store of biscuit; and the evening was spent in talk, till bedtime + at 9 or 9.30. It was a thorough sharing the native life; but after a few + more experiments, it was found that English strength could not be kept up + on an exclusive diet of yams, and the Loyalty Isles are not fertile. They + are nothing but rugged coral, in an early stage of development; great + ridges, upheaved, bare and broken, and here and there with pits that have + become filled with soil enough to grow yams and cocoa-nuts. + </p> + <p> + The yams—except those for five of the lads, whose maintenance some + of the inhabitants had undertaken—were matter of purchase, and + formed the means of instruction in the rules of lawful exchange. A fixed + weight of yams were to constitute prepayment for a pair of trousers, a + piece of calico, a blanket, tomahawk, or the like, and all this was agreed + to, Cho being a great assistance in explaining and dealing with his + people. But it proved very difficult to keep them up to bringing a + sufficient supply, and as they had a full share of the universal spirit of + haggling, the commissariat was a very harassing and troublesome business, + and as to the boys, it was evident that the experiment was not successful. + Going to New Zealand was seeing the world. Horses, cows, sheep, a town, + soldiers, &c., were to be seen there, whereas Lifu offered little that + they could not see at home, and schooling without novelty was tedious. + Indeed, the sight of civilised life, the being taken to church, the + kindness of the friends around the College, were no slight engines in + their education; but the Lifu people were not advanced enough to serve as + an example—except that they had renounced the more horrible of their + heathen habits. They were in that unsettled state which is peculiarly + trying in the conversion of nations, when the old authoritative customs + have been overthrown, and the Christian rules not established. + </p> + <p> + It was a good sign that the respect for the chief was not diminished. One + evening an English sailor (for there turned out to be three whites on the + island) who was employed in the sandal-wood trade was in the house + conversing with Tutoo, when Angadhohua interrupted him, and he—in + ignorance of the youth's rank—pushed him aside out of the way. The + excitement was great. A few years previously the offender would have been + killed on the spot, and as it was, it was only after apology and + explanation of his ignorance that he was allowed to go free; but an escort + was sent with him to a place twenty miles off lest any one should + endeavour to avenge the insult, not knowing it had been forgiven. + </p> + <p> + Many of the customs of these Loyalty Isles are very unhealthy, and the + almost exclusive vegetable diet produced a low habit of body, that showed + itself in all manner of scrofulous diseases, especially tumours, under + which the sufferer wasted and died. Much of Patteson's time was taken up + by applications from these poor creatures, who fancied him sure to heal + them, and had hardly the power, certainly not the will, to follow his + advice. + </p> + <p> + Nor had he any authority. He only felt himself there on sufferance till + the promised deputation should come from Rarotonga from the London + Mission, to decide whether the island should be reserved by them, or + yielded to the Church. Meantime he says on Sunday:— + </p> + <p> + 'Tutoo has had a pretty hard day's work of it, poor fellow, and he is + anything but strong. At 9.30 we all went to the chapel, which began by a + hymn sung as roughly as possible, but having rather a fine effect from the + fact of some 400 or 500 voices all singing in unison. Then a long + extemporary prayer, then another hymn, then a sermon nearly an hour long. + It ought not to have taken more than a quarter of an hour, but it was + delivered very slowly, with endless repetitions, otherwise there was some + order and arrangement about it. Another hymn brought the service to an end + about 11. But his work was not done; school instantly succeeded in the + same building, and though seven native teachers were working their + classes, the burthen of it fell on him. School was concluded with a short + extemporary prayer. At three, service again—hymn, prayer, another + long sermon, hymn, and at last we were out of chapel, there being no more + school.' + </p> + <p> + 'To be sure,' is the entry on another Sunday, 'little thought I of old + that Sunday after Sunday I should frequent an Independent chapel. As for + extemporary prayer not being a form, that is absurd. These poor fellows + just repeat their small stock of words over and over again, and but that + they are evidently in earnest, it would seem shockingly irreverent + sometimes. Most extravagant expressions! Tutoo is a very simple, + humble-minded man, and I like him much. He would feel the help and + blessing of a Prayer-book, poor fellow, to be a guide to him; but even the + Lord's Prayer is never heard among them.' + </p> + <p> + So careful was Mr. Patteson not to offend the men who had first worked on + these islands, that on one Sunday when Tutoo was ill, he merely gave a + skeleton of a sermon to John Cho to preach. On the 27th of July, however, + the deputation arrived in the 'John Williams'—two ministers, and Mr. + Creagh on his way back to Nengone, and the upshot of the conference on + board, after a dinner in the house of Apollo, the native teacher, was that + as they had no missionary for Lifu, they made no objection to Mr. Patteson + working there at present, and that if in another year they received no + reinforcement from home, they would take into consideration the making + over their teachers to him. 'My position is thus far less anomalous, my + responsibility much increased. God will, I pray and trust, strengthen me + to help the people and build them up in the faith of Christ.' + </p> + <p> + 'August 2.—Yesterday I preached my two first Lifu sermons; rather + nervous, but I knew I had command of the language enough to explain my + meaning, and I thought over the plan of my sermons and selected texts. + Fancy your worthy son stuck up in a pulpit, without any mark of the + clergyman save white tie and black coat, commencing service with a hymn, + then reading the second chapter of St. Matthew, quite new to them, then a + prayer, extemporary, but practically working in, I hope, the principle and + much of the actual language of the Prayer-book—i.e. Confession, + prayer for pardon, expression of belief and praise—then another + hymn, the sermon about forty minutes. Text: "I am the Way," &c. + Afternoon: "Thy Word is a lantern unto my feet." + </p> + <p> + 'You can easily understand how it was simple work to point out that a man + lost his way by his sin, and was sent out from dwelling with God; the + recovery of the way by which we may again return to Paradise is + practically the one great event which the whole Bible is concerned in + teaching. The subject admitted of any amount of illustration and any + amount of reference to the great facts of Scripture history, and + everything converges to the Person of Christ. I wish them to see clearly + the great points—first, God's infinite love, and the great facts by + which He has manifested His Love from the very first, till the coming of + Christ exhibited most clearly the infinite wisdom and love by which man's + return to Paradise has been effected. + </p> + <p> + 'Significant is that one word to the thief on the Cross "Paradise." The + way open again; the guardian angel no longer standing with flaming sword + in the entrance; admission to the Tree of Life.' + </p> + <p> + 'The services were much shorter than usual, chiefly because I don't + stammer and bungle, and take half an hour to read twenty verses of the + Bible, and also because I discarded all the endless repetitions and + unmeaning phrases, which took up half the time of their unmeaning + harangues. About an hour sufficed for the morning-service; the evening one + might have been a little longer. I feel quite at my ease while preaching, + and John told me it was all very clear; but the prayers—oh! I did + long for one of our Common Prayer-books.' + </p> + <p> + One effect of the Independent system began to reveal itself strongly. How + could definite doctrines be instilled into the converts by teachers with + hardly any books, and no formula to commit to memory? What was the faith + these good Samoans knew and taught? + </p> + <p> + 'No doctrinal belief exists among them,' writes Patteson, in the third + month of his stay. 'A man for years has been associated with those who are + called "the people that seek Baptism." He comes to me:— + </p> + <p> + 'J. G. P. 'Who instituted baptism? + </p> + <p> + 'A. Jesus. + </p> + <p> + 'J. G. P. And He sent His Apostles to baptize in the Name of Whom? + </p> + <p> + 'Dead silence. + </p> + <p> + '"Why do you wish to be baptized?" + </p> + <p> + '"To live." + </p> + <p> + '"All that Jesus has done for us, and given to us, and taught us, is for + that object. What is the particular benefit we receive in baptism?" 'No + conception.' Such is their state. + </p> + <p> + 'I would not hesitate if I thought there were any implicit recognition of + the doctrine of the Trinity; but I can't baptize people morally good who + don't know the Name into which they are to be baptized, who can't tell me + that Jesus is God and man. There is a lad who soon must die of + consumption, whom I now daily examine. He has not a notion of any truth + revealed from above, and to be embraced and believed as truth upon the + authority of God's Word. A kind of vague morality is the substitute for + the Creed of the Apostles. What am I to do? I did speak out for three days + consecutively pretty well, but I am alone, and only here for four months, + and yet, I fear, I am expecting too much from them, and that I ought to be + content with something much less as the (so to speak) qualifications; but + surely they ought to repent and believe. To say the word, "I believe," + without a notion of what they believe, surely that won't do. They must be + taught, and then baptized, according to our Lord's command, suited for + adults.' + </p> + <p> + Constant private teaching to individuals was going on, and the 250 copies + of the Lifu primer were dispersed where some thousands were wanted, and + Mr. Patteson wrote a little book of sixteen pages, containing the + statement of the outlines of the faith, and of Scripture history; but this + could not be dispersed till it had been printed in New Zealand. + </p> + <p> + And in the meantime a fresh element of perplexity was arising. The French + had been for some time past occupying New Caledonia, and a bishop had been + sent thither about the same time as Bishop Selwyn had gone to New Zealand; + but though an earnest and hardworking man, he had never made much + progress. He had the misfortune of being connected in the people's minds + with French war ships and aggression, and, moreover, the South Sea race + seem to have a peculiar distaste for the Roman Catholic branch of the + Church, for which it is not easy to account. + </p> + <p> + The Loyalty Isles, as lying so near to New Caledonia, were tempting to the + French Empire, and the Bishop at the same time felt it his duty to attempt + their conversion. + </p> + <p> + Some priests had been placed at the north end of the island for about six + months past, but the first communication was a letter on July 6, + complaining, partly in French, partly in English, that since Mr. + Patteson's arrival, the people had been making threatening reports. Now + Mr. Patteson had from the first warned them against showing any unkindness + to the French priests, and he wrote a letter of explanation, and arranged + to go and hold a conference. On the way, while supping with the English + sailor, at the village where he was to sleep, he heard a noise, and found + the Frenchman, Pere Montrouzier, had arrived. He was apparently about + forty; intelligent, very experienced in mission work, and conversant with + the habits and customs of French and English in the colonies; moreover, + with plenty of firmness in putting forward his cause. He seems to have + been supported by the State in a manner unusual with French missions. + </p> + <p> + 'I had one point only that I was determined to press (Patteson says), + namely, liberty to the people to follow any form of religion they might + choose to adopt. I knew that they and I were completely in his power, yet + that my line was to assume that we were now about to arrange our plans for + the future independently of any interference from the civil power. + </p> + <p> + 'He let me see that he knew he could force upon the Lifu people whatever + he pleased, the French Government having promised him any number of + soldiers he may send for to take possession, if necessary, of the island. + They have 1,000 men in New Caledonia, steamers and frigates of war; and he + told me plainly that this island and Nengone are considered as natural + appendages of New Caledonia, and practically French possessions already, + so that, of course, to attempt doing more than secure for the people a + religious liberty is out of the question. He promised me that if the + people behaved properly to him and his people, he would not send for the + soldiers, nor would he do anything to interfere with the existing state of + the island. + </p> + <p> + 'He will not himself remain here long, being commissioned, in consequence + of his fourteen years' experience, to prepare the way for the French + mission here. He told me that twenty missionaries are coming out for this + group, about seven or eight of whom will be placed on Lifu, others on + Nengone, &c.; that the French Government is determined to support + them; that the Commandant of Nimia in New Caledonia had sent word to him + that any number of men should be sent to him at an instant's notice, in a + war steamer, to do what he might wish in Lifu, but that honestly he would + do nothing to compel the people here to embrace Romanism; but that if + necessary he would use force to establish the missionaries in houses in + different parts of the island, if the chiefs refused to sell them parcels + of land, for instance, one acre. The captain of the "Iris," an English + frigate, called on him on Monday, and sent me a letter by him, making it + quite clear that the French will meet with no opposition from the English + Government. He too knew this, and of course knew his power; but he + behaved, I must say, well, and if he is really sincere about the liberty + of religion question, I must be satisfied with the result of our talk. I + was much tired. We slept together on a kind of bed in an unfurnished + house, where I was so cold that I could not sleep; besides, my head ached + much; so my night was not a very pleasant one. In the morning we resumed + our talk, but the business was over really. The question that we had + discussed the evening before was brought to an issue, however, by his + requiring from John Cho, who was with us, permission to buy about an acre + of land in his territory. John was much staggered at this. It looked to + him like a surrender of his rights. I told him, at great length, why I + thought he must consent; but finally it was settled, that as John is not + the real chief, I should act as interpreter for the Frenchmen; and send + him from Mu an answer to a letter which he addresses to me, but which is, + in fact, intended for the chief. + </p> + <p> + 'It is, I suppose, true, that civilised nations do not acknowledge the + right of a chief to prevent any one of his subjects from selling a plot of + his land to a foreigner unless they may be at war with that particular + nation. + </p> + <p> + 'He said that France would not allow a savage chief to say "My custom in + this respect is different from yours;" and again, "This is not a taking + possession. It is merely requiring the right to put up a cottage for which + I pay the just price." He told me plainly, if the chiefs did not allow him + to do so, he would send for soldiers and put it up by force; but not use + the soldiers for any other purpose. Of course I shall relate all this to + Angadhohua at Mu, and make them consent. + </p> + <p> + 'He told me that at New Caledonia they had reserved inalienably one-tenth + of the land for the natives, that the rest would be sold to French + colonists of the poor class, no one possessing more than ten acres; that + 5,000 convicts would be sent there, and the ticket-of-leave system + adopted, and that he thought the worst and most incorrigible characters + would be sent to Lifu. Poor John! But I can't help him; he must make such + terms as he can, for he and his people are wholly in their power. + </p> + <p> + 'Our talk being ended, I found a great circle of men assembled on the + outside with a pile of yams as usual in the centre for me. I was glad to + see a small pile also for the Frenchman. I made my speech in his presence, + but he knows not Lifu. "Be kind to the French, give them food and lodging. + This is a duty which you are bound to pay to all men; but if they try to + persuade you to change the teaching which you have received, don't listen + to them. Who taught you to leave off war and evil habits, to build + chapels, to pray? Remember that. Trust the teachers who have taught you + the Word of God." + </p> + <p> + 'This was the kind of thing I said. Then off we set—two miles of + loose sand at a rattling pace, as I wanted to shake off some 200 people + who were crowding about me. Then turning to the west, climbed some coral + rocks very quickly, and found myself with only half my own attendants, and + no strangers. Sat down, drank a cocoa-nut, and waited a long time for + John, who can't walk well, and then quietly went on the remaining eight or + nine miles to Zebedee's place, a Samoan teacher. They were very attentive, + and gave me some supper. They had a bed, which was, of course, given up to + me in spite of opposition. They regard a missionary as something + superhuman almost. Sometimes I can't make them eat and drink with me; they + think it would be presumptuous. Large meeting of people in the afternoon, + and again the following morning, to whom I said much what I had already + said at We. Then fifteen miles over to Apollo's place on the west coast, a + grand bay, with perfectly calm water, delicious in the winter months. + Comfortable quarters; Apollo a cleverish, free-spoken fellow. + </p> + <p> + 'I went, on the same afternoon, two miles of very bad road to visit the + French priest, who is living here. More talk and of a very friendly + nature. He has been eighteen months at San Cristoval, but knows not the + language; at Woodlark Island, New Caledonia, &c. We talked in French + and English. He knows English fairly, but preferred to talk French. This + day's work was nineteen miles. + </p> + <p> + Slept at Apollo's. Next morning went a little way in canoes and walked six + miles to Toma's place; meeting held, speech as usual, present of yams, + pig, &c. Walked back the six miles, started in double canoe for + Gaicha, the other side of the bay: wind cold, some difficulty in getting + ashore. Walked by the bad path to Apollo's and slept there again; + Frenchman came in during the evening. Next day, Friday, meeting in the + chapel. Walked twenty miles back to We, where I am now writing. Went the + twenty miles with no socks; feet sore and shoes worn to pieces, cutting + off leather as I came along. Nothing but broken bottles equals jagged + coral. Paths went so that you never take three steps in the same + direction, and every minute trip against logs, coral hidden by long + leaves, arid weeds trailing over the path. Often for half a mile you jump + from one bit of coral to another. No shoes can stand it, and I was tired, + I assure you. Indeed, for the last two days, if I stopped for a minute to + drink a nut, my legs were so stiff that they did not get into play for + five minutes or so. + </p> + <p> + 'July 16th.—The captain of the "Iris" frigate passing Lifu dropped + me a line which satisfied me that the French will meet with no impediment + from the English Government in the prosecution of their plans out here. + Well, this makes one's own path just as easy, because all these things, + great and small, are ordered for us; but yet I grieve to think that we + might be occupying these groups with missionaries. Even ten good men would + do for a few years; and is it unreasonable to think that ten men might be + found willing to engage in such a happy work in such a beautiful part of + the world—no yellow fever, no snakes, &c. I think of the Banks + Islands, Vanua Lava, with its harbour and streams, and abundance of food, + and with eight or nine small islands round it, speaking the same language, + few dialectic differences of consequence, as I believe. + </p> + <p> + 'Even one good man might introduce religion here as we have received it, + pure and undefiled. Oh! that there were men who could believe this, and + come out unconditionally, placing themselves in the Bishop's hands + unreservedly. He must know the wants and circumstances of the islands far + better than they can, and therefore no man ought to stipulate as to his + location, &c. Did the early teachers do so? Did Titus ever think of + saying to St. Paul, "Mind I must be an elder, or bishop, or whatever he + was, of Crete?" Just as if that frame of mind was compatible with a real + desire to do what little one can by God's help to bring the heathen to a + knowledge of Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'At this moment, one man for the Banks group and another for Mai and the + neighbouring islands would be invaluable. If anything occurs to make me + leave these Loyalty Islands as my residence during a part of the year, I + am off to Banks, or Mai, or Solomon Isles. But what am I? In many respects + not so well qualified for the work as many men who yet, perhaps, have had + a less complete education. I know nothing of mechanics, and can't teach + common things; I am not apt to teach anything, I fear, having so long + deferred to learn the art of teaching, but of course exposing one's own + shortcomings is easy enough. How to get the right sort of men? First + qualification is common-sense, guided, of course, by religious principle. + Some aptitude for languages, but that is of so little consequence that I + would almost say no one was sufficient by itself as a qualification. Of + course the mission work tends immensely to improve all earnest men; the + eccentricities and superfluities disappear by degrees as the necessary + work approves itself to the affection and intellect.' + </p> + <p> + The French question resulted in a reply in Angadhohua's name, that the + people should be permitted to sell ground where the mission required it; + and that in the one place specified about which there was contention, the + land should be ceded as a gift from the chiefs. 'This,' observes Mr. + Patteson, 'is the first negotiation which has been thrust upon me. I more + than suspect I have made considerable blunders.' + </p> + <p> + By the 13th of August, he had to walk over the coral jags for another + consultation with Pere Montrouzier, whose negotiation with Cho had + resulted in thorough misunderstanding, each thinking the other was + deceiving him, and not dealing according to promise to Mr. Patteson. The + Pere had, in his fourteen years' experience, imbibed a great distrust of + the natives, and thought Mr. Patteson placed too much confidence in them, + while the latter thought him inclined to err the other way; however, + matters were accommodated, at heavy cost to poor Coley's feet. A second + pair of shoes were entirely cut to pieces, and he could not put any on the + next day, his feet were so blistered. + </p> + <p> + The troubles were not ended, for when the ground was granted, there + followed a stipulation that the chiefs should not hinder the men from + working at the building; and when the men would not work, the chiefs were + suspected of preventing it, and a note from Pere Montrouzier greatly + wounded Patteson's feelings by calling John Cho faux et artificieux. + </p> + <p> + However, after another note, he retracted this, and a day or two after + came the twenty miles over the coral to make a visit to the English + clergyman. 'There is much to like in him: a gentleman, thoroughly well + informed, anxious of course to discuss controversial points, and + uncommonly well suited for that kind of work, he puts his case well and + clearly, and, of course, it is easy to make their system appear most + admirably adapted for carrying out all the different duties of a Church, + as it is consistent in all, or nearly all, particulars, given the one or + two leading points on which all depend. The Church of England here is very + much in the position of any one of those other bodies, Wesleyan, + Independent, or Presbyterian; and though we have a Bishop at the head—of + what, however? Of one individual clergyman! Oh, that we had now a good + working force—twenty or thirty men with some stuff in them; and + there are plenty if they would only come. Meanwhile, France sends plenty + of men; steamers bring them houses, cows for themselves and as presents + for natives—supports the missionary in every way. New Caledonia is + handy for the central school, everything almost that can be requisite. + Never mind; work on, one small life is a mighty trifling thing considered + with reference to those great schemes overruled by God to bring out of + them great ultimate good, no doubt.' + </p> + <p> + There was an interchange of books between the French and English priest. + Pere Montrouzier lent, and finally gave, Martinet's 'Solution de Grands + Problemes,' which Patteson calls 'a very interesting book, with a great + deal of dry humour about it, not unlike Newman's more recent publications. + "It is," he (Montrouzier) says, "thought very highly of in France." He is + a well-read man, I should imagine, in his line; and that is pretty + extensive, for he is a really scientific naturalist, something of a + geologist, a good botanist, besides having a good acquaintance with + ecclesiastical literature.' + </p> + <p> + There was the more time for recreation with the Pere's French books, and + the serious work of translating St. Mark's Grospel and part of the Litany + into Lifu, as the inhabitants were all called off from school in the + middle of August 'by a whale being washed ashore over a barrier reef—not + far from me. All the adjacent population turned out in grass kilts, with + knives and tomahawks to hack off chunks of flesh to be eaten, and of + blubber to be boiled into oil; and in the meantime the neighbourhood was + by no means agreeable to anyone possessing a nose.' + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Sarawia, the best of the Banks pupils, had a swelling on the + knee, and required care and treatment, but soon got better. Medical + knowledge, as usual, Patteson felt one of the great needs of missionary + life. Cases of consumption and scrofula were often brought to him, and + terrible abscesses, under which the whole body wasted away. 'Poor people!' + he writes, 'a consumptive hospital looms in the far perspective of my + mind; a necessary accompaniment, I feel now, of the church and the school + in early times. I wish I could contrive some remedy for the dry food, + everything being placed between leaves and being baked on the ground, + losing all the gravy; and when you get a chicken it is a collection of dry + strings. If I could manage boiling; but there is nothing like a bit of + iron for fire-place on the island, and to keep up the wood fire in the + bush under the saucepan is hard work. I must commence a more practical + study than hitherto of "Robinson Crusoe," and the "Swiss Family." Why does + no missionary put down hints on the subject? My three months here will + teach me more than anything that has happened to me, and I dare say I + shall get together the things I want most when next I set forth from New + Zealand.... I find it a good plan to look on from short periods to short + periods, and always ask, what next? And at last it brings one to the real + answer:—Work as hard as you can, and that rest which lacks no + ingredient of perfect enjoyment and peace will come at last.' + </p> + <p> + Among the needs he discovered was this:—'By the bye, good cheap + Bible prints would be very useful; large, so as to be seen by a large + class, illustrating just the leading ideas. Schnorr's Bible prints by Rose + and Bingen are something of the kind that I mean, something quite rude + will do. Twenty-four subjects, comprising nothing either conventional or + symbolical, would be an endless treasure for teachers; the intervening + history would be filled up and illustrated by smaller pictures, but these + would be pegs on which to hang the great events these lads ought to know. + Each should be at least twenty-four inches by ten. + </p> + <p> + 'Try to remember, in the choice of any other picture books for them, that + anything that introduces European customs is no use yet. Pictures of + animals are the best things. One or two of a railway, a great bridge, a + view of the Thames with steamers rushing up and down, would all do; but + all our habits of social life are so strange that they don't interest them + yet. + </p> + <p> + 'When I next reach Auckland, I suppose my eyes will rejoice at seeing your + dear old likenesses. When we build our permanent central school-house at + Kohimarama, I shall try to get a little snuggery, and then furnish it with + a few things comfortably; I shall then invest in a chest of drawers, as I + dare say my clothes are getting tired of living in boxes since March 1855. + </p> + <p> + 'I can hardly tell you how much I regret not knowing something about the + treatment of simple surgical cases. If when with W—— I had + studied the practical—bled, drawn teeth, mixed medicines, rolled + legs perpetually, it would have been worth something. Surely I might have + foreseen all this! I really don't know how to find the time or the + opportunity for learning. How true it is that men require to be trained + for their particular work! I am now just in a position to know what to + learn were I once more in England. Spend one day with old Fry (mason), + another with John Venn (carpenter), and two every week at the Exeter + hospital, and not look on and see others work—there's the mischief, + do it oneself. Make a chair, a table, a box; fit everything; help in every + part of making and furnishing a house, that is, a cottage. Do enough of + every part to be able to do the whole. Begin by felling a tree; saw it + into planks, mix the lime, see the right proportion of sand, &c., know + how to choose a good lot of timber, fit handles for tools, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Many trades need not be attempted; but every missionary ought to be a + carpenter, a mason, something of a butcher, and a good deal of a cook. + Suppose yourself without a servant, and nothing for dinner to-morrow but + some potatoes in the barn, and a fowl running about in the yard. That's + the kind of thing for a young fellow going into a new country to imagine + to himself. If a little knowledge of glazing could be added, it would be a + grand thing, just enough to fit in panes to window-frames, which last, of + course, he ought to make himself. Much of this cannot be done for you. I + can buy window-frames in Auckland, and glass; but I can't carry a man a + thousand miles in my pocket to put that glass into these frames; and if it + is done in New Zealand, ten to one it gets broken on the voyage; whereas, + glass by itself will pack well. Besides, a pane gets broken, and then I am + in a nice fix. To know how to tinker a bit is a good thing; else your only + saucepan or tea-kettle may be lying by you useless for months. In fact, if + I had known all this before, I should be just ten times as useful as I am + now. If anyone you know thinks of emigrating or becoming a missionary, + just let him remember this.' + </p> + <p> + To these humble requisites, it appears that a missionary ought on occasion + to be able to add those of a prime minister and lawgiver. Angadhohua, a + bright, clever lad, only too easily led, was to be instructed in the + duties of a chief; Mr. Patteson scrupulously trying in vain to make him + understand that he was a person of far more consideration and + responsibility than his white visitor would be in his own country. The + point was to bring the Christian faith into connection with life and + government. 'Much talk have I had with John in order that we may try to + put before them the true grounds on which they ought to embrace + Christianity,' writes Mr. Patteson, when about to visit a heathen district + which had shown an inclination to abandon their old customs, 'and also the + consequences to which they pledge themselves by the profession of a + religion requiring purity, regularity, industry, &c., but I have + little doubt that our visit now will result in the nominal profession of + Christianity by many heathen. Angadhohua, John, and I go together, and + Isaka, a Samoan teacher who has been a good deal among them. I shall make + an arrangement for taking one of their leading men to New Zealand with me, + that he may get some notion of what is meant by undertaking to become a + Christian. It is in many respects a great benefit to be driven back upon + the very first origin of a Christian society; one sees more than ever the + necessity of what our Lord has provided, a living organised community into + which the baptized convert being introduced falls into his place, as it + were, naturally; sees around him everything at all times to remind him + that he is a regenerate man, that all things are become new. A man in + apostolic times had the lessons of the Apostles and disciples practically + illustrated in the life of those with whom he associated. The church was + an expression of the verbal teaching committed to its ministers. How + clearly the beauty of this comes out when one is forced to feel the + horrible blank occasioned by the absence of the living teacher, + influencing, moulding, building up each individual professor of + Christianity by a process always going on, though oftentimes unconsciously + to him on whom it operates. + </p> + <p> + 'But how is the social life to be fashioned here in Lifu according to the + rule of Christ? There is no organised body exemplifying in daily actions + the teaching of the Bible. A man goes to chapel and hears something most + vague and unmeaning. He has never been taught to grasp anything distinctly—to + represent any truth to his mind as a settled resting-place for his faith. + Who is to teach him? What does he see around him to make him imperceptibly + acquire new habits in conformity with the Bible? Is the Christian + community distinguished by any habits of social order and intercourse + different from non-Christians? + </p> + <p> + 'True, they don't fight and eat one another now, but beyond that are they + elevated as men? The same dirt, the same houses, the same idle vicious + habits; in most cases no sense of decency, or but very little. Where is + the expression of the Scriptural life? Is it not a most lamentable state + of things? And whence has it arisen? From not connecting Christian + teaching in church with the improvement in social life in the hut and + village, which is the necessary corollary and complement of such teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'By God's grace, I trust that some little simple books in Lifu will soon + be in their houses, which may be useful. It is even a cause for + thankfulness that in a few days (for the "Southern Cross" ought to be here + in a week with 500 more copies) some 600 or more copies, in large type, of + the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments will be in circulation; but + they won't use them yet. They won't be taught to learn them by heart, and + be questioned upon them; yet they may follow by and by. Hope on is the + rule. Give them the Bible, is the cry; but you must give them the forms of + faith and prayer which Christendom has accepted, to guide them; and oh! + that we were so united that we could baptize them into a real living + exemplification, and expression—an embodiment of Christian truth, + walking, sleeping, eating and drinking before their eyes. Christ Himself + was that on earth, and His Church ought to be now. These men saw to accept + His teaching was to bind themselves to a certain course of life which was + exhibited before their own eyes. Hence, multitudes approved His teaching, + but would not accept it—would not profess it, because they saw what + was involved in that profession. But now men don't count the cost; they + forget that "If any man come to Me" is followed by "Which of you intending + to build a tower," &c. Hence the great and exceeding difficulty in + these latter days when Christianity is popular!' + </p> + <p> + In this state of things it was impossible to baptize adults till they had + come to a much clearer understanding of what a Christian ought to do and + to believe; and therefore Coley's only christenings in Lifu were of a few + dying children, whom he named after his brother and sisters, as he + baptized them with water, brought in cocoa-nut shells, having taught + himself to say by heart his own translation of the baptismal form. + </p> + <p> + He wrote the following letter towards the end of his stay:— + </p> + <p> + 'September 6, 1858: Lifu, Loyalty Islands. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Neill,—The delay of four or five days in the arrival + of the "Southern Cross" gives me a chance of writing you a line. The + Bishop dropped me here this day three months, and told me to look out for + him on September 1. As New Zealand is 1,000 miles off, and he can't + command winds and waves, of course I allow him a wide margin; and I begged + him not to hurry over my important business in New Zealand in order to + keep his appointment exactly. But his wont is to be very punctual. I have + here twelve lads from the north-west islands: from seven islands, speaking + six languages. The plan of bringing them to a winter school in some + tropical isle is now being tried. The only difficulty here is that Lifu is + so large and populous; and just now (what with French priests on it, and + the most misty vague kind of teaching from Independents the only thing to + oppose to the complete machinery of the Romish system) demands so much + time, that it is difficult to do justice to one's lads from the distant + lands that are living with one here. The Bishop had an exaggerated notion + of the population here. I imagine it to be somewhere about 8,000. The + language is not very hard, but has quite enough difficulty to make it more + than a plaything: the people in that state when they venerate a missionary—a + very dangerous state; I do my best to turn the reverence into the right + channel and towards its proper object. + </p> + <p> + 'You will see by the last Melanesian report of which I desired a copy to + be sent to you, that our work is very rapidly increasing; that openings + are being made in all directions; and that had we men of trust, we could + occupy them at once. As it is, we keep up a communication with some + seventy-four islands, waiting, if it may be, that men may be sent, trying + to educate picked men to be teachers; but I am not very sanguine about + that. At all events, the first flush of savage customs, &c., is being, + I trust, removed, so that for some other body of Christians, if not the + Church of England, the door may be laid open. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course, the interest of the work is becoming more and more absorbing; + so that, much as there is indeed going on in your world to distract and + grieve one, it comes to me so weakened by time and distance that I don't + sympathise as I ought with those who are suffering so dreadfully from the + Indian Mutiny, or the commercial failure, or the great excitement and + agitation of the country. You can understand how this can be, perhaps; for + my actual present work leaves me small leisure for reflecting, and for + placing myself in the position of others at a distance; and when I have a + moment's time surely it is right that I should be in heart at Feniton, + with those dear ones, and especially my dear dear father, of whom I have + not heard for five months, so that I am very anxious as to what account of + him the "Southern Cross" may bring, and try to prepare myself for news of + increased illness, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'You, I imagine, my dear Miss Neill, are not much changed to those who see + you day by day; but I should find you much weaker in body than when I saw + you last, and yet it did not seem then as if you had much strength to + lose: I don't hear of any sudden changes, or any forms of illness; the + gradual exhausting process is going on, but accompanied, I fear, with even + greater active pain than of old; your sufferings are indeed very severe + and very protracted, a great lesson to us all. Yet you have much, even + speaking only of worldly comfort, which makes your position a much happier + one than that of the poor suffering souls whom I see here. Their house is + one round room, a log burning in the centre, no chimney, the room full of + smoke, common receptacle of men, women, boys, girls, pigs, and fowls. In + the corner a dying woman or child. No water in the island that is fresh, a + few holes in the coral where water accumulates, more or less brackish; no + cleanliness, no quiet, no cool fresh air, hot smoky atmosphere, no proper + food, a dry bit of yam, and no knowledge of a life to come: such is the + picture of the invalided or dying South Sea Islander. All dying children + under years of discretion I baptize, and all the infants brought to the + chapel by parents who themselves are seeking baptism; but I have not + baptized any adults yet, they must be examined and taught for some time, + for the Samoan and Rarotongan teachers sent by the Independent + missionaries are very imperfectly instructed and quite incapable of + conveying definite teaching to them. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't see, humanly speaking, how this island is to be kept from + becoming purely Roman Catholic. They have a large staff of men, and are + backed up by the presence of a complete government establishment in New + Caledonia, only two or three days distant, while what have we? Four months + a year of the time, partially otherwise occupied by Melanesian schools, of + one missionary, and while here these four months, I have my lads from many + islands to teach, so that I can't lay myself out to learn this one + language, &c. I am writing this on September 16. "Southern Cross" not + yet come, and my lads very anxious; I confess I should like to see it, not + only (as you will believe) because all my stores are gone. I have not a + morsel of biscuit or grain of sugar left, and am reduced to native fare, + which does not suit my English constitution for very long. Yams and taro, + and a fowl now and then, will be my food until the ship comes. Hitherto I + have had coffee and biscuits in addition. + </p> + <p> + 'My very kind love to Mrs. S ——, and many thanks for the + letters, which I much enjoy. + </p> + <p> + 'Your very affectionate old pupil, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + The whole of September passed without the arrival of the 'Southern Cross.' + The fact was that after Mr. Patteson had been left at Lifu, the vessel + when entering Port-au-France, New Caledonia, had come upon a coral reef, + and the damage done to her sheathing was so serious that though she + returned to Auckland from that trip, she could not sail again without + fresh coppering; and as copper had to be brought from Sydney for the + purpose, there was considerable delay before she could set forth again, so + that it was not till the last day of September that she gladdened + Patteson's eyes, and brought the long-desired tidings from home. + </p> + <p> + This voyage was necessarily short, as there were appointments to be kept + by the Bishop in New Zealand in November, and all that could be aimed at + was the touching at the more familiar islands for fresh instalments of + scholars. The grand comet of 1858 was one feature of this expedition—which + resulted in bringing home forty-seven Melanesians, so that with the crew, + there were sixty-three souls on board during the homeward voyage! + </p> + <p> + 'As you may suppose, the little "Southern Cross" is cram full, but the + Bishop's excellent arrangements in the construction of the vessel for + securing ventilation, preserve us from harm by God's blessing. Every day a + thorough cleaning and sweeping goes on, and frequent washing, and as all + beds turn up like the flap of a table, and some thirty lads sleep on the + floor on mats and blankets, by 7 A.M. all traces of the night arrangements + have vanished. The cabin looks and feels airy; meals go on regularly; the + boys living chiefly on yams, puddings, and cocoa-nuts, and plenty of + excellent biscuit. We laid in so many cocoa-nuts that they have daily one + apiece, a great treat to them. A vessel of this size, unless arranged with + special reference to such objects, could not carry safely so large a + party, but we have nothing on board to create, conceal, or accumulate + dirt; no hold, no storeroom, no place where a mixed mess of spilt flour, + and sugar, and treacle, and old rotten potatoes, and cocoa-nut parings and + bits of candle, can all be washed together into a dark foul hold; hence + the whole ship, fore and aft, is sweet and clean. Stores are kept in zinc + lockers puttied down, and in cedar boxes lined with zinc. We of course + distribute them ourselves; a hired steward would be fatal, because you + can't get a servant to see the importance of care in such details.' + </p> + <p> + Mr. Patteson always, in the most careful manner, paid respect both to the + chief's person and his dicta. He declined more than once to give + directions which he said ought to issue from the chief, although on one of + these occasions he was asked by the chief himself. He foresaw clearly the + evils that might follow if the people's respect for recognised authority + were weakened, instead of being, as it might be, turned to useful account. + And so he always accorded to John Cho, and to other persons of rank when + they were with us in the Mission school, just such respect as they were + accustomed to receive at the hands of their own people. For instance, he + would always use to a moderate extent the chief's language in addressing + John Cho or any other of the Loyalty chiefs; and it being a rule of theirs + that no one in the presence of the chiefs should ever presume to sit down + higher than the chiefs, he would always make a point of attending to it as + regarded himself; and once or twice when, on shore in the islands, the + chief had chosen to squat down on the ground among the people, he would + jocularly leave the seat that had been provided for him, and place himself + by the chief's side on the ground. All this was keenly appreciated as + significant, but alas! the Loyalty Islanders were not long to remain under + his charge. + </p> + <p> + The ensuing letter was written to Sir John Taylor Coleridge, after + learning the tidings of his retirement from the Bench in the packet of + intelligence brought by the vessel:— + </p> + <p> + 'November 10, 1858: Lat. 31° 29' S.; Long. 171° 12' E. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle John,—I see by the papers that you have actually + resigned, and keep your connection with the judges only as a Privy + Councillor. I am of course on my own account heartily glad that you will + be near my dear father for so many months of the year, and you are very + little likely to miss your old occupation much, with your study at Heath's + Court, so I shall often think of you in summer sitting out on the lawn, by + John's Pinus excelsis, and in winter in your armchair by the fire, and no + doubt you will often find your way over to Feniton. And then you have a + glorious church!.... Oh! I do long for a venerable building and for the + sound of ancient chants and psalms. At times, the Sunday is specially a + day on which my mind will go back to the old country, but never with any + wish to return. I have never experienced that desire, and think nothing + but absolute inability to help on a Melanesian or a Maori will ever make a + change in that respect. I feel as certain as I can be of anything that I + should not be half as happy in England as I am in New Zealand, or in Lifu, + in the Banks or Solomon Islands, &c. I like the life and the people, + everything about it and them.... + </p> + <p> + 'Coppering the schooner caused delay, so that he (the Bishop) could give + but two months instead of three to the Island voyage, for he starts on + November 25 for a three months' Confirmation tour (1,000 miles) among the + New Zealanders, which will bring him to Wellington by March 1, for the + commencement of the first synod. Consequently we have only revisited some + of our seventy and odd islands, but we have no less than forty-seven + Melanesians from twelve islands on board, of whom three are young married + women, while two are babies. + </p> + <p> + 'This makes our whole number on board sixty, viz., four Pitcairners, + forty-seven Melanesians, ourselves + crew = sixty-three, a number too + great for so small a vessel, but for the excellent plan adopted by the + Bishop in the internal arrangement of the vessel when she was built, and + the scrupulous attention to cleanliness in every place fore and aft. As it + is, we are not only healthy but comfortable, able to have all meals + regularly, school, prayers, just as if we had but twenty on board. + Nevertheless, I think, if you could drop suddenly on our lower deck at 9 + P.M. and visit unbeknown to us the two cabins, you would be rather + surprised at the number of the sleepers—twelve in our after-cabin, + and forty-five in the larger one, which occupies two-thirds of the vessel. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course we make no invasion upon the quarters forward of the four men + before the mast—common seamen, and take good care that master and + mate shall have proper accommodation. + </p> + <p> + 'One gets so used to this sort of thing that I sleep just as well as I + used to do in my own room at home, and by 6.30 or 7 A.M. all vestiges of + anything connected with sleeping arrangements have vanished, and the + cabins look like what they are,—large and roomy. We have, you know, + no separate cabins filled with bunks, &c., abominations specially + contrived to conceal dirt and prevent ventilation. Light calico curtains + answer all purposes of dividing off a cabin into compartments, but we + agree to live together, and no one has found it unpleasant as yet. We turn + a part of our cabin into a gunaikhon at night for the three women and two + babies by means of a canvas screen. Bishop looks after them, washes the + babies, tends the women when sick, &c., while I, by virtue of being a + bachelor, shirk all the trouble. One of these women is now coming for the + second time to the college; her name is Carry. Margaret Cho is on her + second visit, and Hrarore is the young bride of Kapua, now coming for his + third time, and baptized last year. + </p> + <p> + 'We wish to make both husbands and wives capable of imparting better + notions to their people. + </p> + <p> + 'We have, I think, a very nice set on board.... + </p> + <p> + 'I think everything points to Vanua Lava, the principal island of the + Banks group, becoming our centre of operations, i.e., that it would be the + place where winter school would be carried on with natives from many + islands, from Solomon Islands group to the north-west, and Santa Cruz + group to north, New Hebrides to south and Loyalty Islands south-west, and + also the depot among the islands, a splendid harbour, safe both from trade + and hurricane winds, plenty of water, abundantly supplied with provisions, + being indeed like a hot-house, with its hot springs constantly sending up + clouds of vapour on the high hills, a population wholly uninjured by + intercourse with traders and whalers, it being certain that our vessel was + the first at all events that has ever been seen by the eyes of any member + of this generation on the islands; I could prove this to you easily if I + had time. + </p> + <p> + 'They are most simple, gentle and docile, unwarlike, not cannibals, I + verily believe as good a specimen of the natural fallen man as can be met + with, wholly naked, yet with no sense of shame in consequence; timid, yet + soon learning to confide in one; intelligent, and gleaming with plenty of + spirit and fun. As the island, though 440 miles north of the Loyalty + Isles, is not to leeward of them, it would only take us about eight days + more to run down, and a week more to return to it from New Zealand, than + would be the case if we had our winter school on one of the Loyalty + Islands. So I hope now we may get a missionary for Lifu, and so I may be + free to spend all my time, when not in New Zealand, at Vanua Lava. + Temperature in winter something under 80° in the shade, being in lat. 13° + 45' 5". The only thing against Vanua Lava is the fact that elephantiasis + abounds among the natives, and they say that the mortality is very + considerable there, so it might not be desirable to bring many lads to it + from other islands; but the neighbouring islands of Mota and Valua, and + Uvaparapara are in sight and are certainly healthy, and our buildings are + not so substantial as to cause much difficulty in shifting our quarters if + necessary. The language is very hard, but when it is one's business to + learn a thing, it is done after a while as a matter of course. + </p> + <p> + 'We have quite made up our mind that New Zealand itself is the right place + for the head-quarters of the Mission. True, the voyage is long, and lads + can only be kept there five or six months of the year, but the advantages + of a tolerably settled state of society are so great, and the + opportunities of showing the Melanesians the working of an English system + are so many, that I think now with the Bishop that New Zealand should be + the place for the summer school in preference to any other. I did not + think so at one time, and was inclined to advocate the plan of never + bringing the lads out of the tropics, but I think now that there are so + many good reasons for bringing the lads to New Zealand that we must hope + to keep them by good food and clothing safe from colds and coughs. Norfolk + Island would have been in some ways a very good place, but there is no + hope now of our being settled there.... + </p> + <p> + 'I can hardly have quite the same control over lads brought to an island + itself wholly uncivilised as I can have over them in New Zealand, but as a + rule, Melanesians are very tractable. Certainly I would sooner have my + present school to manage, forty-five of all ages from nine to perhaps + twenty-seven or eight, from twelve or thirteen islands, speaking at least + eight languages, than half the number of English boys, up to all sorts of + mischief.... + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you, dear uncle, for the Xavier; a little portable book is very + nice for taking on board ship, and I dare say I may read some of his + letters in sight of many a heathen island.... + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, my dear Uncle. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and grateful nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'Savages are all Fridays, if you know how to treat them' is a saying of + Patteson's in one of his letters, and a true one. In truth, there was no + word that he so entirely repudiated as this of savage, and the courtesy + and untutored dignity of many of his native friends fully justified his + view, since it was sure to be called forth by his own conduct towards + them. + </p> + <p> + The chiefs, having a great idea of their own importance, and being used to + be treated like something sacred, and never opposed, were the most + difficult people to deal with, and in the present voyage there was a time + of great anxiety respecting a young chief named Aroana, from the great + isle of Malanta. He fell into an agony of nervous excitement lest he + should never see his island again, an attack of temporary insanity came + on, and he was so strong that Mr. Patteson could not hold him down without + the help of the Bishop and another, and it was necessary to tie him down, + as he attempted to injure himself. He soon recovered, and the cooler + latitudes had a beneficial effect on him, but there was reason to fear + that in Malanta the restraint might be regarded as an outrage on the + person of a chief. + </p> + <p> + The voyage safely ended on the night of the 16th of November. Here is part + of a letter to Mr. Edward Coleridge, written immediately after reading the + letters that had been waiting in Auckland:— + </p> + <p> + 'My father writes:—"My tutor says that there must be a Melanesian + Bishop soon, and that you will be the man," a sentence which amused me not + a little. + </p> + <p> + 'The plan is that the Bishop should gradually take more and more time for + the islands, as he transfers to the General Synod all deeds, documents, + everything for which he was corporation sole, and as he passes over to + various other Bishops portions of New Zealand. Finally, retaining only the + north part of the northern island, to take the Melanesian Bishopric. + </p> + <p> + 'I urged this plan upon him very strongly one day, when somewhere about + lat. 12° S. (I fancy) he pressed me to talk freely about the matter. I + said: "One condition only I think should be present to your mind, viz., + that you must not give up the native population in New Zealand," and to + this he assented. + </p> + <p> + 'If, dear tutor, you really were not in joke, just try to find some good + man who would come and place himself under the Bishop's direction + unreservedly, and in fact be to him much what I am + the ability and + earnestness, &c. Seriously, I am not at all fitted to do anything but + work under a good man. Of course, should I survive the Bishop, and no + other man come out, why it is better that the ensign should assume the + command than to give up the struggle altogether. But this of course is + pure speculation. The Bishop is hearty, and, I pray God, may be Bishop of + Melanesia for twenty years to come, and by that time there will be many + more competent men than I ever shall be to succeed him, to say nothing of + possible casualties, climate, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, my dear Uncle; kind love to all. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving nephew and pupil, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The three women and the two babies were disposed of in separate houses, + but their husbands, with thirty-nine other Melanesians, four Norfolk + Islanders, two printers, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Patteson, made up the + dinner-party every day in the hall of St. John's College. 'Not a little + happy I feel at the head of my board, with two rows of merry, + happy-looking Melanesians on either side of me!' + </p> + <p> + The coughs, colds, and feverish attacks of these scholars were the only + drawback; the slightest chill made them droop; and it was a subject of joy + to have any day the full number in hall, instead of one or two lying ill + in their tutor's own bed-chamber. + </p> + <p> + On the 29th of December came the exceeding joy of the arrival of the Judge + and Mrs. Martin, almost straight from Feniton, ready to talk untiringly of + everyone there. On the New Year's day of 1859 there was a joyful + thanksgiving service at Taurarua for their safe return, at which all the + best Church people near were present, and when John Cho made his first + Communion. + </p> + <p> + On the 20th these much-loved friends came to make a long stay at the + College, and the recollections they preserved of that time have thus been + recorded by Lady Martin. It will be remembered that she had parted from + him during the year of waiting and irregular employment: + </p> + <p> + 'We were away from New Zealand nearly three years. We had heard at Feniton + dear Coley's first happy letters telling of his voyages to the islands in + 1856-7, letters all aglow with enthusiasm about these places and people. + One phrase I well remember, his kindly regret expressed for those whose + lot is not cast among the Melanesian islands. On our return we went to + live for some months at St. John's College, where Mr. Patteson was then + settled with a large party of scholars. + </p> + <p> + 'We soon found that a great change had passed over our dear friend. His + whole mind was absorbed in his work. He was always ready, indeed, to + listen to anything there was to tell about his dear father; but about our + foreign travels, his favourite pictures, the scenes of which we had heard + so much from him, he would listen for a few minutes, but was sure in a + little while to have worked round to Melanesia in general, or to his boys + in particular, or to some discussion with my husband on the structure of + their many languages and dialects. It was then that Bishop Abraham said + that when the two came to their ninth meaning of a particle, he used to go + to sleep. + </p> + <p> + 'There were a very fine intelligent set of young men from the Loyalty + Islands, some sleepy, lazy ones from Mai, some fierce, wild-looking lads + from the Solomon Islands who had long slits in their ears and bone horns + stuck in their frizzly hair. Mr. Patteson could communicate with all more + or less easily, and his readily delicate hearing enabled him to + distinguish accurately sounds which others could not catch—wonderful + mp and piv and mbw which he was trying to get hold of for practical + purposes. + </p> + <p> + 'He was in comfortable quarters, in one long low room, with a sunny + aspect. It looked fit for a student, with books all about, and pictures, + and photos of loved friends and places on the walls, but he had no mind to + enjoy it alone. There was sure to be some sick lad there, wrapped up in + his best rugs, in the warmest nook by the fire. He had morning and + afternoon school daily in the large schoolroom, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Lask + assisting him. School-keeping, in its ordinary sense, was a drudgery to + him, and very distasteful. He had none of that bright lively way and + readiness in catechising which made some so successful in managing a large + class of pupils at once, but every person in the place loved to come to + the evening classes in his own room, where, in their own language, he + opened to them the Scriptures and spoke to them of the things pertaining + to the kingdom of God. It was in those private classes that he exercised + such wonderful influence; his musical voice, his holy face, his gentle + manner, all helping doubtless to impress and draw even the dullest. Long + after this he told me once how after these evening classes, one by one, + some young fellow or small boy would come back with a gentle tap at the + door, "I want to talk to you," and then and there the heart would be laid + open, and counsel asked of the beloved teacher. + </p> + <p> + 'It was very pleasant to see him among his boys. They all used to go off + for a walk on Saturday with him, sometimes to town, and he as full of fun + with them as if they had been a party of Eton boys. He had none of the + conventional talk, so fatal to all true influence, about degraded heathen. + They were brethren, ignorant indeed, but capable of acquiring the highest + wisdom. It was a joke among some of us, that when asked the meaning of a + Nengone term of endearment he answered naively, "Oh, it means old fellow." + He brought his fresh, happy, kindly feelings towards English lads and + young men into constant play among Melanesians, and so they loved and + trusted him.' + </p> + <p> + I think that exclusiveness of interest which Lady Martin describes, and + which his own family felt, and which is apt to grow upon missionaries, as + indeed on every one who is very earnestly engaged in any work, diminished + as he became more familiar with his work, and had a mind more at liberty + for thought. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dudley thus describes the same period:—'It was during the + summers of 1857-8 and 1858-9 that the Loyalty Islanders mustered in such + numbers at St. John's College, as it was supposed that they, at least Lifu + would be left in the hands of the Church of England. Mr. Patteson worked + very hard these years at translations, and there was an immense enthusiasm + about printing, the Lifuites and Nengonese striving each to get the most + in their own language. + </p> + <p> + 'Never shall I forget the evening service during those years held in the + College chapel, consisting of one or two prayers in Bauro, Gera, and other + languages, and the rest in Nengonese, occasionally changing to Lifu, when + Mr. Patteson used to expound the passage of Scripture that had been + translated in school during the day. Usually the Loyalty Islanders would + take notes of the sermon while it went on, but now and then it was simply + impossible, for although his knowledge of Nengonese at that time, as + compared with what it was afterwards, was very limited, and his vocabulary + a small one from which to choose his expressions, he would sometimes speak + with such intense earnestness and show himself so thoroughly en rapport + with the most intelligent of his hearers, that they were compelled to drop + their papers and pencils, and simply to to listen. I remember one evening + in particular. For some little time past the conduct of the men, + especially the married men, had not been at all satisfactory. The married + couples had the upper house, and John Cho, Simeona, and Kapua had obtained + a draught-board, and had regularly given themselves up to draught-playing, + night and day, neglecting all the household duties they were expected to + perform, to the great annoyance of their wives, who had to carry the + water, and do their husbands' work in other ways as well their own. This + became soon known to Mr. Patteson, and without saying anything directly to + the men, he took one evening as his subject in chapel those words of our + Lord, "If thy hand or thy foot offend thee," &c., and spoke as you + know he did sometimes speak, and evidently was entirely carried out of + himself, using the Nengonese with a freedom which showed him to be + thinking in it as he went on, and with a face only to be described as "the + face of an angel." We all sat spellbound. John Cho, Simeona, and the other + walked quietly away, without saying a word, and in a day or two afterwards + I learnt from John that he had lain awake that night thinking over the + matter, that fear had come upon him, lest he might be tempted again, and + jumping up instantly, he had taken the draught-board from the place where + he had left it and had cast it into the embers of their fire. + </p> + <p> + 'Many and many a time was I the recipient of his thoughts, walking with + him up and down the lawn in front of the cottage buildings of an evening, + when he would try to talk himself clear. You may imagine what a willing + listener I was, whatever he chose to talk upon, and he often spoke very + freely to me, I being for a long time his only resident white companion. + It was not long before I felt I knew his father well, and reverenced him + deeply. He never was tired of talking of his home, and of former days at + Eton and Oxford, and then while travelling on the Continent. Often and + often during those early voyages have I stood or sat by his side on the + deck of the "Southern Cross," as in the evening, after prayers, he stood + there for hours, dressed in his clerical attire, all but the grey tweed + cap, one hand holding the shrouds, and looking out to windward like a man + who sees afar off all the scenes he was describing.' + </p> + <p> + Thinking over those times since, one understands better far than one did + at the time the reality of the sacrifice he had made in devoting himself + for life to a work so far away from those he loved best on earth. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop of Wellington, for to that see Archdeacon Abraham had been + consecrated while in England, arrived early in March, and made a short + stay at the College, during which he confirmed eleven and baptized one of + Patteson's flock. Mrs. Abraham and her little boy remained at the College, + while her husband went on to prepare for her at Wellington, and thus there + was much to make the summer a very pleasant one, only chequered by + frequent anxieties about the health of the pupils, as repeated experiments + made it apparent that the climate of St. John's was too cold for them. + Another anxiety was respecting Lifu for the London Missionary Society, + had, after all, undertaken to supply two missionaries from England, and it + was a most doubtful and delicate question whether the wishes of the + natives or the established principle of noninterference with pre-occupied + ground, ought to have most weight. The Primate was so occupied by New + Zealand affairs that he wrote to Mr. Patteson to decide it himself and he + could but wait to be guided by circumstances on the spot. + </p> + <p> + To Mr. Edward Coleridge he writes on the 18th of March:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have many and delightful talks with Mr. Martin on our languages. We see + already how strong an infusion of Polynesian elements exists in the + Melanesian islands. With the language of four groups we are fairly + acquainted now, besides some of the distinguishing dialects, which differ + very much from one another; nevertheless, I think that by-and-by we shall + connect them all if we live; but as some dialects may have dropped out + altogether, we may want a few links in the chain to demonstrate the + connection fully to people at a distance. It is a great refreshment to me + to work out these matters, and the Judge kindly looked up the best books + that exist in all the Polynesian languages, so that we can found our + induction upon a comparison of all the dialects now from the Solomon + Islands to the Marquesas, with the exception of the Santa Cruz + archipelago. We have been there two or three times, but the people are so + very numerous and noisy, that we never have had a chance as yet of getting + into a quiet talk (by signs, &c.) with any of the people. + </p> + <p> + 'Still, as we know some Polynesian inhabitants of a neighbouring isle who + have large sea canoes, and go to Santa Cruz, we may soon get one of them + to go with us, and so have an interpreter, get a lad or two, and learn the + language. + </p> + <p> + 'We are sadly in want of men; yet we cannot write to ask persons to come + out for this work who may be indisposed, when they arrive in New Zealand, + to carry out the particular system on which the Bishop proceeds. Any man + who would come out and consent to spend a summer at the Melanesian school + in New Zealand in order to learn his work, and would give up any + preconceived notions of his own about the way to conduct missionary work + that might militate against the Bishop's plan—such a man would be, + of course, the very person we want; but we must try to make people + understand that half-educated men will not do for this work. Men sent out + as clergymen to the mission-field who would not have been thought fit to + receive Holy Orders at home, are not at all the men we want. It is not at + all probable that such men would really understand the natives, love them, + and live with them; but they would be great dons, keeping the natives at a + distance, assuming that they could have little in common, &c.—ideas + wholly destructive of success in missionary, or in any work. That pride of + race which prompts a white man to regard coloured people as inferior to + himself, is strongly ingrained in most men's minds, and must be wholly + eradicated before they will ever win the hearts, and thus the souls of the + heathen. + </p> + <p> + 'What a preachment, as usual, about Melanesia!... + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving old Pupil and Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Next follows a retrospective letter:— + </p> + <p> + 'April 1, 1859: St. John's College. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—Thirty-two years old to-day! Well, it is a + solemn thing to think that one has so many days and months and years to + account for. Looking back, I see how fearfully I wasted opportunities + which I enjoyed, of which, I fancy, I should now avail myself gladly; but + I don't know that I fancy what is true, for my work now, though there is + plenty of it, is desultory, and I dare say hard application, continuously + kept up, would be as irksome to me as ever. + </p> + <p> + 'It seems very strange to me that I never found any pleasure in classical + studies formerly. Now, the study of the languages for its own sake even is + so attractive to rue that I should enjoy working out the exact and + delicate powers of Greek particles, &c.; but I never cared for it till + it was too late, and the whole thing was drudgery to me. I had no + appreciation, again, of Historians, or historians; only thought Thucydides + difficult and Herodotus prosy(!!), and Tacitus dull, and Livy apparently + easy and really very hard. So, again, with the poets; and most of all I + found no interest (fancy!) in Plato and Aristotle. They were presented to + me as merely school books; not as the great effort of the cultivated + heathen mind to solve the riddle of man's being; and I, in those days, + never thought of comparing the heathen and Christian ethics, and the great + writers had no charm for me. + </p> + <p> + 'Then my French. If I had really taken any pains with old Tarver in old + days—and it was your special wish that I should do so—how + useful it would be to me now; whereas, though I get on after a sort, I + don't speak at all as I ought to do, and might have learnt to do. It is + sad to look back upon all the neglected opportunities; and it is not only + that I have not got nearly (so to speak) a quantity of useful materials + for one's work in the present time, but that I find it very hard to shake + off desultory habits. I suppose all persons have to make reflections of + this kind, more or less sad; but, somehow, I feel it very keenly now: for + certainly I did waste time sadly; and it so happens that I have just had + "Tom Brown's Schooldays" lent me, and that I spent some time in reading it + on this particular day, and, of course, my Eton life rose up before me. + What a useful book that is! A real gain for a young person to have such a + book. That is very much the kind of thing that would really help a boy—manly, + true, and plain. + </p> + <p> + 'I hear from Sydney by last mail that the Bishop is really desirous to + revive the long dormant Board of Missions. He means to propose to send a + priest and a deacon to every island ready for them, and to provide for + them—if they are forthcoming, and funds. Of this latter I have not + much doubt.... + </p> + <p> + 'April 24—I have to get ready for three English full services + to-morrow, besides Melanesian ditto.—So goodbye, my dearest Father, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Sir John Patteson might well say, in a letter of this summer, to Bishop + Selwyn:— + </p> + <p> + 'As to my dear boy Coley, I am more and more thankful every day that I + agreed to his wishes; and in whatever situation he may be placed, feel + confident that his heart will be in his work, and that he will do God + service. He will be contented to work under any one who may be appointed + Bishop of Melanesia (or any other title), or to be the Bishop himself. If + I judge truly, he has no ambitious views, and only desires that he may be + made as useful as his powers enable him to be, whether in a high or + subordinate situation.' + </p> + <p> + Nothing could be more true than this. There was a general sense of the + probability that Mr. Patteson must be the first Missionary Bishop; but he + continued to work on at the immediate business, always keeping the schemes + and designs which necessarily rose in his mind ready to be subjected to + the control of whomsoever might be set over him. The cold had set in + severely enough to make it needful to carry off his 'party of coughing, + shivering Melanesians' before Easter, and the 'Southern Cross' sailed on + the 18th. Patteson took with him a good store of coffee, sugar, and + biscuits, being uncertain whether he should or should not again remain at + Lifu. + </p> + <p> + In the outward voyage he only landed his pupils there, and then went on to + the Banks Islands, where Sarawia was returned at Vanua Lava, and after Mr. + Patteson had spent a pleasant day among the natives, Mota was visited next + after. + </p> + <p> + 'May 24.—On Monday, at 3 P.M., we sailed from Port Patteson across + to Mota. Here I landed among 750 people and the boat returned to the + vessel. She was to keep up to windward during the night and call for me + the next morning. I walked with my large following, from the teach, up a + short steep path, to the village, near to which, indeed only 200 yards + off, is another considerable village. The soil is excellent; the houses + good—built round the open space which answers to the green in our + villages, and mighty banyan trees spreading their lofty and wide-branching + arms above and around them. The side walls of these houses are not more + than two feet high, made only of bamboos lashed by cocoa-nut fibre, or + wattled together, and the long sloping roofs nearly touch ground but + within they are tolerably clean and quite dry. The moon was in the first + quarter, and the scene was striking as I sat out in the open space with + some 200 people crowding round me—men, women and children; fires in + front where yams were roasting; the dark brown forms glancing to and fro + in the flickering light; the moon's rays quivering down through the vast + trees, and the native hollow drum beating at intervals to summon the + people to the monthly feast on the morrow. I slept comfortably on a mat in + a cottage with many other persons in it. Much talk I had with a large + concourse outside, and again in this cottage, on Christianity; and all + were quiet when I knelt down as usual and said my evening prayers. Up at + 5.30 A.M., and walked up a part of the Sugar Loaf peak, from which the + island derives its English name, and found a small clear stream, flowing, + through a rocky bed, back to the village, where were some 300 people + assembled; sat some time with them, then went to the beach, where the boat + soon came for me. + </p> + <p> + 'After this there was a good deal of bad weather; but all the lads were + restored to their islands, including Aroana, the young Malanta chief, who + had begun by a fit of frenzy, but had since behaved well; and who left his + English friends with a promise to do all in his power to tame his people + and cure them of cannibalism.' + </p> + <p> + Then came some foul winds and hot exhausting weather. + </p> + <p> + 'I have done little more than read Stanley's "Sinai and Palestine," and + Helps's "Spanish America," two excellent books and most delightful to me. + The characters in the Spanish conquest of Mexico and America generally; + the whole question of the treatment of natives; and that nobleman, Las + Casas—are more intelligible to me than to most persons probably. The + circumstances of my present life enable me to realise it to a greater + extent. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I have been dipping into a little ethnology; yesterday a little + Plato; but it is almost too hot for anything that requires a working + head-piece. You know I take holiday time this voyage when we are in open + water and no land near, and it is great relaxation to me.' + </p> + <p> + A pretty severe gale of wind followed, a sharp test of Patteson's + seamanship. + </p> + <p> + 'Then came one day of calm, when we all got our clothes dry, and the deck + and rigging looked like an old clothes' shop. Then we got a fairish + breeze; but we can get nothing in moderation. Very soon it blew up into a + strong breeze, and here we are lying to with a very heavy sea. Landsmen + would call it mountainous, I suppose. I am tired, for I have had an + anxious time; and we have had but one quiet night for an age, and then I + slept from 9.30 P.M. to 7.30 A.M. continuously. 'It may be that this is + very good training for me. Indeed it must give me more coolness and + confidence. I felt pleased as well as thankful when we made the exact + point of Nengone that I had calculated upon, and at the exact time.' + </p> + <p> + On the 20th of June, Auckland harbour was safely attained; but the coming + back without scholars did not make much of holiday time for their master, + who was ready to give help to other clergymen whenever it might be needed, + though, in fact, this desultory occupation always tried him most. + </p> + <p> + On the 25th of July he says:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have had a sixty miles' walk since I wrote last; some part of it over + wild country. I lost my way once or twice and got into some swamps, but I + had my little pocket-compass. + </p> + <p> + 'My first day was eighteen miles in pouring rain; no road, in your sense + of the word; but a good warm room and tea at the end. Next day on the move + all day, by land and water, seeing settlers scattered about. Third day, + Sunday, services at two different places. Fourth day, walk of some + twenty-seven miles through unknown regions baptizing children at different + places; and reaching, after divers adventures, a very hospitable + resting-place at 8 p.m. in the dark. Next day an easy walk into Auckland + and Taurarua. Yesterday, Sunday, very wet day. Man-of-war gig came down + for me at 9.15 A.M., took the service on board; 11 A.M. St. Paul's + service; afternoon, hospital, a mile or so off; 6 P.M., St. Paul's evening + service; 8.30, arrived at Taurarua dripping.' + </p> + <p> + The same letter replies to one from home:— + </p> + <p> + 'I thank you, my dear father, for writing so fully about yourself, and + especially, for seeing and stating so plainly your full conviction that I + ought not to think of returning to England. It would, as you say, humanly + speaking, interfere most seriously with the prospects of the Mission. Some + dear friends write to me differently, but they don't quite understand, as + you have taken pains to do, what our position is out here; and they don't + see that my absence would involve great probable injury to the whole work. + </p> + <p> + 'It is curious how few there are who know anything of New Zealand and + Melanesia! + </p> + <p> + 'Of course it is useless to speculate on the future, but I see nothing at + all to make it likely that I shall ever revisit England. I can't very well + conceive any such state of things as would make it a duty to gratify my + constant inclination. And, my dear father, I don't scruple to say (for you + will understand me) that I am happier here than I should be in England, + where, even though I were absent only a few months, I should bear about + with me the constant weight of knowing that Melanesia was not provided + for. And, strange as it may seem, this has quite ceased to be a trial to + me. The effort of subduing the longing desire to see you is no longer a + great one: I feel that I am cheerful and bright, and light-hearted, and + that I have really everything to make a man thankful and contented. + </p> + <p> + 'And if you could see the thankful look of the Bishop, when he is again + assured that there is no item of regret or desire to call me home on your + part, you would feel, I know, that colonial work does require, especially, + an unconditional unreserved surrender of a man to whatever he may find to + do.' + </p> + <p> + But while admiring the noble spirit in which the son held fast his post, + and the father forebore to unsettle him there, let not their example he + used in the unkind and ignorant popular cry against the occasional return + of colonial Bishops. For, be it remembered, that dire necessity was not + drawing Coleridge Patteson to demand pecuniary assistance round all the + platforms of English towns. The Eton, and the Australian and New Zealand + Associations, supplemented by the Society for the Propagation of the + Gospel and his own family, relieved him from the need of having to + maintain his Mission by such means. All these letters are occupied with + the arrangements for raising means for removing the Melanesian College to + a less bleak situation, and it is impossible to read them without feeling + what a difference it made to have a father who did not view giving to + God's work as robbing his family. + </p> + <p> + On the 13th of August, Patteson was on board, preparing for the voyage; + very cold, and eager for the tropics. The parting voice in his farewell + letter is: 'I think I see more fully that work, by the power of God's + Spirit, is the condition of us all in this world; tiny and insignificant + as the greatest work of the greatest men is, in itself, yet the one talent + is to be used.' + </p> + <p> + It was meant to be a farewell letter, but another followed in the leisure, + while waiting for the Bishop to embark, with some strong (not to say + fiery) opinions on the stern side of duty:— + </p> + <p> + 'I feel anxious to try to make some of the motives intelligible, upon + which we colonial folk act sometimes. First. I think that we get a + stronger sense of the necessity for dispensing with that kind of courtesy + and good nature which sometimes interferes with duty than people do in + England. + </p> + <p> + 'So a man placed as I am (for example) really cannot oftentimes avoid + letting it be seen that work must come first; and, by degrees, one + sympathises less than one possibly should do with drones and idlers in the + hive, and feels it wrong to assent to a scheme which lets a real work + suffer for the sake of acquiescing in a conventional recognition of + comfort, claims of society, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Would the general of an army say to his officers, "Pray, gentlemen, don't + dirty your boots or fatigue your horses to succour the inhabitants of a + distant village"? Or a captain to his mates and middies: "Don't turn out, + don't go aloft. It is a thing hard, and you might get wet"? + </p> + <p> + 'And the difference between us and people at home sometimes is, that we + don't see why a clergyman is not as much bound as an officer in the army + or navy to do what he is pledged of his own act to do; and that at home + the 'parsonage and pony-carriage' delusion practically makes men forget + this. I forget it as much as any man, and should very likely never have + seen the mistake but for my coming to New Zealand; and it is one of the + great blessings we enjoy. + </p> + <p> + 'There is a mighty work to be done. God employs human agents, and the + Bible tells us what are the rules and conditions of their efficiency. + </p> + <p> + '"Oh! but, poor man, he has a sickly wife!" Yes, but, "it remaineth that + those who have wives be as they that have none." + </p> + <p> + 'True, but the case of a large family? "Whosoever loveth child more than + me," &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Second. The fact that we live almost without servants makes us more + independent, and also makes us acquainted with the secrets of each other's + housekeeping, &c. All that artificial intercourse which depends a good + deal upon a well-fitted servants' hall does not find place here. More + simple and more plain and homely in speech and act is our life in the + colonies—e.g., you meet me carrying six or seven loaves from town to + the college. "Oh, I knew that the Bishop had to meet some persons there + to-day, and I felt nearly sure there would be no breakfast then." Of + course an English person thinks, "Why didn't he send the bread?" To which + I answer, "Who was there to send?" + </p> + <p> + 'I don't mean that I particularly like turning myself into a miller one + day and a butcher the next; but that doing it as a matter of course, where + there is no one else to do it, one does sometimes think it unreasonable to + say, as has been said to the Bishop:—"Two thousand pounds a year you + want for your Mission work!" "Yes," said the Bishop, "and not too much for + sailing over ten thousand miles, and for educating, clothing, and feeding + some forty young men!" + </p> + <p> + 'I mean that conventional notions in England are preventing people from + really doing half what they might do for the good of the needy. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know how this might be said to be a theory tending to + revolutionise society; but I think I do know that there is a kind of + religious common sense which comes in to guide people in such matters. + Only, I do not think it right to admit that plea for not doing more in the + way of almsgiving which is founded upon the assumption that first of all a + certain position in society must be kept up, which involves certain + expenditure. + </p> + <p> + 'A barrister is living comfortably on £800 a year, or a clergyman in his + living of £400. The professional income of the one increases, and a fatter + living is given to the other, or some money is left them. What do they do? + Instantly start a carriage, another servant, put the jack-of-all-trades + into a livery, turn the buttons into a flunkey, and the village girl into + a ladies' maid! Is this really right? They were well enough before. Why + not use the surplus for some better purpose? + </p> + <p> + 'I imagine that we, the clergy, are chiefly to blame, for not only not + protesting against, but most contentedly acquiescing in such a state of + things. You ask now for something really demanding a sacrifice. "I can't + afford it." "What, not to rescue that village from starvation? not to + enable that good man to preach the Gospel to people only accessible by + means of such an outlay on his vessel, &c.? Give up your carriage, + your opera box; don't have so many grand balls, &c. "Oh no! it is all + a corban to the genius of society. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, is this Scriptural or not, my dear father? I don't mean that any + individual is justified in dictating to his neighbour, still less in + condemning him. But are not these the general principles of religion and + morality in the Bible? There are duties to society: but a good man will + take serious counsel as to what they are, and how far they may be + militating against higher and holier claims. + </p> + <p> + 'August 24.—Why I wrote all this, my dearest father, I hardly know, + only I feel sure that unless men at home can, by taking real pains to + think about it, realise the peculiar circumstances of colonial life, they + will never understand any one of us. + </p> + <p> + 'I have written Fan a note in which I said something about my few effects + if I should die. + </p> + <p> + 'One thing I should like to say to you, not as venturing to do more than + let you be in full possession of my own mind on the matter. Should I die + before you die, would it be wrong for me to say, "Make the Melanesian + Mission my heir"? + </p> + <p> + 'It may be according to the view which generally obtains that the other + three should then divide my share. But now I would take what may seem the + hard view of which I have been writing, and say, "They have enough to + maintain them happily and comfortably." The Mission work without such a + bequest will be much endangered. I feel sure that they would wish it to be + so, for, of course, you know that this large sum of which you write will + be, if I survive you, regarded simply as a bequest to the Mission in which + I have a life interest, and the interest of which, in the main, would be + spent on the Mission. + </p> + <p> + 'But I only say plainly, without any reserve, what I have thought about + it; not for one moment putting up my opinion against yours, of course, in + case you take a contrary view. + </p> + <p> + 'We sail, I hope, to-morrow, but the Bishop is more busy than ever. + </p> + <p> + 'Again, my dearest Father, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The history of this voyage was, as usual, given in a long letter for the + Feniton fireside; but there was a parallel journal also, kept for the + Bishop of Wellington, which is more condensed, and, therefore, better for + quotation. + </p> + <p> + The manner in which the interest in, and connection with all English + friends and relations was kept up is difficult to convey, though it was a + very loveable part of the character. Little comments of condolence or + congratulation, and messages of loving remembrance to persons mentioned by + playful names, would only be troublesome to the reader; but it must be + taken for granted that every reply to a home packet was full of these + evidences that the black children on a thousand isles had by no means + driven the cousins and friends of youth from a heart that was enlarged to + have tenderness for all. + </p> + <p> + 'Lat. 9° 29' S.; Long. 163° S.E. "Southern Cross:" October 9, 1859. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Bishop,—We are on our way from Uleawa to the Santa Cruz + group, having visited the Loyalty Islands, Southern New Hebrides, Banks + Island (2), and Solomon Islands. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop so planned the voyage as to run down the wind quickly to the + Solomon Islands, and do the real work coming home; not, as usual, beating + up in the open water between the Santa Cruz archipelago, Banks Islands and + New Hebrides to the east, and New Caledonia to the west. We are thus able + to visit Vanua Lava on the way out and home also; and as we meant to make + the Banks Islands the great point this voyage, that was, of course, great + gain. + </p> + <p> + 'We touched at Norfolk Island.... Going on to Nengone we found everybody + away at the distant yam grounds, and could not wait to see them. + </p> + <p> + 'At Lifu, the first thing that shocked us was John's appearance: one of + those fatal glandular swellings has already produced a great change in + him. He looked sallow and weak, and I fear ut sit vitalis. He spoke to me + very calmly about his illness, which he thinks is unto death, and I did + not contradict him. + </p> + <p> + 'We had much private talk together. He is a fine fellow and, I believe, a + sincere Christian man. Then came the applications to us not to desert + them, and letters enumerating all the villages of Lifu almost without + exception, and entreating us to suffer them to be connected with us, and + we had to answer that already two missionaries from the L. M. S. are on + their way from Sydney to Lifu, and that it would do harm to have two rival + systems on the island. They acquiesced but not heartily, and it was a sad + affair altogether, all parties unhappy and dissatisfied, and yet unable to + solve the difficulty. Then came a talk with Angadhohua, John's + half-brother, the real chief. The poor lad feels now what a terrible thing + it will be for him and his people if they should lose John. Nothing can be + nicer than his way of talking: "I know you don't think me firm enough, and + that I am easily led by others. What am I to do if John dies? We all + respect him. He has been taught so much, and people all listen to him." I + gave him the best advice that I could and longed to be able to do + something for him and his people. It was, however, a comfort to leave with + them St. Mark, Scripture books, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'We called at Tanna, to see poor Mr. Paton, who lost his wife last April. + He is living on there quite alone, and has already lived down the first + angry opposition of some of the people, and the unkind treatment that he + received from men and women alike who mocked him because of his wife's + death, &c. He has had much fever and looked very ill, but his heart + was in his work; and the Bishop said he seemed to be one of the weak + things which God hath chosen. I know he made me feel pretty well ashamed + of myself. + </p> + <p> + 'Next day we spent a few hours with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon at Erromango. He + has a small house on the high table-land overlooking Dillon's Bay, and + certainly is exposed to winds which may, for aught I know, rival those of + Wellington notoriety. The situation is, however, far preferable in the + summer to that on the beach, which is seldom free from malaria and ague. + </p> + <p> + 'Then we sailed to the great bay of Pango, landed at Fate a fellow who had + come to the Bishop in New Zealand for a passage, and in the afternoon + sailed away through "the Pool" (the landlocked space between Mallicolo and + Espiritu Santo to the west; Aspee, Ambrym, Whitsuntide, Aurora to the + east), where for eighty miles the water is always smooth, the wind always + steady, the scenery always lovely, and where, on this occasion, the + volcano was bright. + </p> + <p> + 'Being nearly becalmed to the south-east of Leper's Isle, the Bishop gave + me the choice of a visit to Whitsuntide or Leper's Island. I voted for the + latter, and delighted we were to renew an acquaintance made two years ago, + and not since kept up, with these specially nice people. We were + recognised at once, but we have a very small vocabulary. + </p> + <p> + 'The sea was running heavily into the bay, but it is sand there and not + much rock on the beach, and we had a jolly swim ashore. Then we bought a + few yams, which the surf did not permit us to get to the boat, and had a + very pleasant visit; for, as we sat among them, words came into one's + head, or were caught from their mouth, and at the end of twenty minutes we + were getting on a little. The old chief took me by the hand and led me + aside to the spot where the ladies were assembled, and divining no doubt + that I was a bachelor, politely offered me his daughter, and his + protection, &c., if I would live among them. + </p> + <p> + 'I missed seeing the Bishop knocked clean over by the breakers as he was + swimming off to the boat; I was still talking to the people, with my back + to the sea, and only saw him staggering to his feet again. Thinking to + myself that if he was knocked over, I had better look out, I awaited a + "smooth" and swam out comfortably. + </p> + <p> + 'The next morning (Sunday) at ten, we dropped anchor in Port Patteson, the + harbour which you know the Bishop would call after my father. The first + person who came off to us was Sarawia, my old Lifu pupil, from this + island! Then came a good many men. I told them there would be no going + ashore and no trading till the next day. Palemana, your friend Matawathki, + &c., were at church, all dressed and well-behaved. What nice orderly + people they are, to be sure! + </p> + <p> + 'The next day we bought lots of yams, and gave away seeds and fruit-trees, + or rather planted them; and looked for a place for a station, and fixed at + last on the rising-ground which forms the east side of the harbour, and + the Bishop, arming himself with an axe, led a party to clear the bush, + which was very thick. They made a fair path through in one afternoon to + the top, and a healthy place might be found now with little trouble to + return to at night from the schools, &c. in the village below, and so + shirk the malaria. + </p> + <p> + 'But the next day, as I had anticipated, rather changed his intentions as + to the principal station being formed at Vanua Lava. We landed at Sugar + Loaf Island, and with something of pride I showed off to him the beauties + of the villages where I slept in May last—the dry soil, the spring + of water, the wondrous fertility, the large and remarkably intelligent, + well-looking population, the great banyan tree, twenty-seven paces round—and + at once he said, "This is such a place as I have seen nowhere else for our + purpose." + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop had seen this island before I was with him, during one of the + "Border Maid's" voyages, and knew the people, of course, but had not + happened to have walked in shore at all, and so the exceeding beauty and + fitness of the island for a Mission station had not become so apparent to + him. We know of no place where there seems to be such an unusual + combination of everything that can be desired, humanly speaking, for such + an institution. So that is settled (D.V.) that next winter I should be + here, if alive and well; and that the Banks Islands should be regarded as + the central point of the Mission. + </p> + <p> + 'Such boys! Bright-eyed, merry fellows, many really handsome; of that + reddish yellow tinge of colour which betokens affinity with Polynesian + races, as their language also testifies. The majority of the people were + pleasing in their appearance and manner. Well, all this was very hopeful, + and we went off very happy, taking Eumau, the boy who first met us at Port + Patteson when we found it out, and old Wompas (who was with me at Lifu), + and another from Mota, to see the Northern Islands. + </p> + <p> + 'I think our work is more likely now to revolve upon a fixed centre—Sugar + Loaf Island in the Banks group—that we shall make the occupation of + the group the first ohject, and do all with reference to that as the + necessary part of the work to be attended to first. In the choice of + scholars, e.g., we have considered whether we should not limit our + selection to such as might pass the next winter with me at Sugar Loaf + Island, and so that the vessel need not run down to leeward of it. Solomon + Islands are the extreme verge. In the East Island, where there would be + merely a question of nothing or something, we may take very young men who + would perhaps not be easy to keep out of harm at Sugar Loaf, because there + will be no difficulty about returning them to their homes.... + </p> + <p> + 'November 11th.—We found in the Santa Cruz group that the news of + Captain Front's and his two men's death in Vanikoro, and (as we suppose) + the news of the "Cordelia" having been at that island to inquire into the + matter, had made the people anxious, uneasy, noisy, and rather rude. That + poor man went to make a station at Vanikoro in the usual way, taking three + poor New Caledonian women with him. The Vanikoro people killed the three + English and took away the women. + </p> + <p> + 'We did not land at Sta. Cruz, but we had a more pleasant intercourse than + heretofore with thirty or forty canoes' crews. + </p> + <p> + 'Timelin Island we ascertained to be identical with Nukapu, an old + familiar place whose latitude we had not ascertained correctly before. The + small reef (Polynesian) islands did not give us so good a reception as + last year, though there was no unfriendliness. The news about Vanikoro had + made them suspicious of visits from white men. But they will be all right + by next time.... + </p> + <p> + 'We saw a pleasant party at Bligh Island, brought away one young man from + that island, and two lads belonging to a neighbouring small island called + Eowa. The next day we watered on the north side of Vanua Lava, and in the + evening went across to Santa Maria. Here we landed on the next day among + two hundred or more people, shy and noisy. We bought a few yams, and I + detected some young fellows stealing from our little heap I would not + overlook this, but the noticing it made them more suspicious that we meant + to hurt them. As the Bishop and I, after some twenty minutes, turned to + rejoin the boat, the whole crowd bolted like a shot right and left into + the bush. Evidently they must have had some trading crew tire a parting + shot in mere wantonness at them from their boat. I expected some arrows to + be shot at us; but they did not shoot any. + </p> + <p> + 'The same evening (Saturday) we stood across the passage with a brisk + breeze, and took up our party, consisting of five and including Sarawia + and four others anciently noted as promising in appearance.... + </p> + <p> + 'We reached Mota (Sugar Loaf Island) in time to leave me for a night's + visit to the people. I had time before the boat called next day at noon to + see five or six of their villages. People quite accustomed to expect me—all + most friendly, apparently pleased to be told that I would stop with them + in the winter. Seven scholars joined us here.... + </p> + <p> + 'At Mai, I slept in the house of Petere and Laure. Things are promising. + It is quite ready for a missionary. We brought away Moto, Pepeu, and the + two young boys who were with me at Lifu, and very many wished to come. + </p> + <p> + 'Thence we had a very long passage to Lifu. John Cho is, I am thankful to + say, very much better. The two men from the London Missionary Society are + on the island.... The Lifu people tell me that in the north of the island + many are accepting the teaching of the two French priests. William Martin + Tahia and Chakham, a principal chief and old scholar, are with us. + </p> + <p> + 'At Nengone, Wadrokala, George Simeona, and Harper Malo have come away for + good.... We number thirty-nine Melanesians.... This is a long letter which + will try your patience. + </p> + <p> + 'Always, my dear Bishop, + </p> + <p> + 'Affectionately yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Another long letter was written during this voyage to Mr. Edward + Coleridge, a great portion of it on the expediency of the islands being + taken under British protection, also much respecting the Church of New + Zealand, which is scarcely relevant to the immediate subject, and only at + the end is there anything more personal:— + </p> + <p> + 'The last accounts of my father were unusually good, but I well know what + news may be awaiting our return from a voyage whether long or short, and I + try to be ready for any news; yet I suppose that I cannot at all realize + what it would be. It makes some difference when the idea of meeting again + in this world has been relinquished for now four and a half years, yet it + is all very well to wait or think about it! I was not so upset by dear + Uncle James's death as I should no doubt have been had I enjoyed the + prospect of frequently seeing him. Somehow, when all ideas of time and + space are annihilated by death, one must think about such separations in a + religious way: for separations in any other sense to us here, from people + in England, have already taken place. I must except, however, the loving + wise letters, and the power of realising more clearly perhaps the + occupations of those still in the body—their accustomed places and + duties; though I suppose we can tell quite enough about all this in the + case of those who have died in the true faith of Christ to know, at all + events, that we are brought and united to them whenever we think or do + anything religiously. I often think that this is well brought out in the + "Heir of Redclyffe"—the loss of "the bright outside," the life and + energy and vigour, and all the companionable and sociable qualities, + contrasted with the power of thinking oneself into the inner spiritual + relations that exist between the worlds visible and invisible. + </p> + <p> + 'All this effort is much diminished in our case. There is no very great + present loss; at least, it is not so sensibly felt by a great deal as it + would be if we missed some one with whom we lived up to the time of his + death. It is much easier to think of them as they are than it could be in + the case of persons who remember so vividly what they so lately were; and + this is why, I suppose, the news of Uncle James's death seemed to affect + me so much less than I should have expected, and it may be so again: + certain it is that I loved him dearly, and that I miss his letters very + much indeed; but I think that the point I felt most about him was the sad + affliction to his family, and the great loss to my dear father, who had of + late seen more than ever of him.' + </p> + <p> + From the home letter I only quote from the reflections so regularly + inspired by the anniversary of the 28th of November. + </p> + <p> + After lamenting that it was difficult to realise those scenes in his + mother's illness which he and his brother only knew from narration, + Patteson adds:— + </p> + <p> + 'The memory of those days would perhaps have been more precious to me if I + had witnessed more with my own eyes. And yet of course it really mattered + nothing at all, because the lesson of her life does not depend on an + acquaintance with a few days of it; and what I saw when I was there I + never have forgotten, and hope that I never may forget. + </p> + <p> + 'And indeed I feel now with regard to you, my dear Father, that I have not + learned to know you better while I was with you than I do now. I think + that in some ways I enter more almost into your mind and thought, or that + I fancy I do so: just as the present possession of anything so often + prevents our really taking pains to learn all about it. We rest content + with the superficial knowledge of that which is most easily perceived and + recognised in it.... + </p> + <p> + 'I think I know from your letters, and from the fact of my absence from + you making me think more about you, as much about you as those present. I + very much enjoy a letter from Joan, which gives me a kind of tableau + vivant of you all. That helps me to realize the home life; so do the + photographs, they help in the same way. But your letters, and the fact + that I think so much about them, and about you, are my real helps.' + </p> + <p> + The voyage ended on the 7th of December. It was the last made under the + guidance of the Bishop of New Zealand, and, alas! the last return of the + first 'Southern Cross.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. MOTA AND ST. ANDREW'S COLLEGE, KOHIMARAMA. 1859-1862. + </h2> + <p> + With the year 1860 a new period, and one far more responsible and + eventful, began. After working for four years under Bishop Selwyn's + superintendence, Coleridge Patteson was gradually passing into a sphere of + more independent action; and, though his loyal allegiance to his Primate + was even more of the heart than of the letter, his time of training was + over; he was left to act more on his own judgment; and things were + ripening for his becoming himself a Bishop. He had nearly completed his + thirty-third year, and was in his fullest strength, mental and bodily; + and, as has been seen, the idea had already through Bishop Selwyn's + letters become familiar to his family, though he himself had shrunk from + entertaining it. + </p> + <p> + The first great change regarded the locality of the Melanesian school in + New Zealand. Repeated experience had shown that St. John's College was too + bleak for creatures used to basking under a vertical sun, and it had been + decided to remove to the sheltered landing-place at Kohimarama, where + buildings for the purpose had been commenced so as to be habitable in time + for the freight of 1859. + </p> + <p> + It should be explained, that the current expenses of the Mission had been + defrayed by the Eton and Sydney associations, with chance help from + persons privately interested, together with a grant of £200, and + afterwards £300 per annum from the Society for the Propagation of the + Gospel. The extra expense of this foundation was opportunely met by a + discovery on the part of Sir John Patteson, that his eldest son, living + upon the Merton Fellowship, had cost him £200 a year less than his younger + son, and therefore that, in his opinion, £800 was due to Coleridge. + Moreover, the earlier voyages, and, in especial the characters of Siapo + and Umao, had been so suggestive of incidents fabricated in the 'Daisy + Chain,' that the proceeds of the book were felt to be the due of the + Mission and at this time these had grown to such an amount as to make up + the sum needful for erecting such buildings as were immediately requisite + for the intended College. + </p> + <p> + These are described in the ensuing letter, which I give entire, because + the form of acknowledgment is the only style suitable to what, however + lightly acquired, was meant as an offering, even though it cost the giver + all too little: + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Dec. 21, 1859. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I have received at length from my father a distinct + statement of what you have given to the Melanesian Mission. I had heard + rumours before, and the Bishop of Wellington had spoken to me of your + intentions, but the fact had not been regularly notified to us. + </p> + <p> + 'I think I know you too well to say more than this. May God bless you for + what you have lent to Him, and give us, who are specially connected with + the Mission, grace to use your gift as you intend it to be used, to His + glory in the salvation of souls. + </p> + <p> + 'But you will like to hear how your gift will be appropriated. For three + summers the Melanesian scholars lived at St. John's College, which is + situated on a low hill, from which the ground falls away on every side, + leaving it exposed to every wind that blows across and around the narrow + isthmus. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank God, we had no death traceable to the effect of the climate, but we + had constant anxiety and a considerable amount of illness. When + arrangements were completed for the arrival of a new principal to succeed + the Bishop of Wellington, the college was no longer likely to be available + for the Mission school. Consequently, we determined to build on the site + long ago agreed upon; to put up some substantial buildings, and to remove + some of the wooden buildings at the College which would not be required + there, and set them up again at Kohimarama. + </p> + <p> + 'Just opposite the entrance into the Auckland harbour, between the island + of Eangitoto with its double peak and the easternmost point of the + northern shore of the harbour, lies a very sheltered bay, with its + sea-frontage of rather more than a quarter of a mile, bounded to the east, + south, and west by low hills, which where they meet the sea become sandy + cliffs, fringed with the red-flower-bearing pohutakawa. The whole of this + bay, the seventy acres of flat rich soil included within the rising ground + mentioned, and some seventy acres more as yet lying uncleared, adjoining + the same block of seventy acres, and likely to be very valuable, as the + land is capital—the whole of this was bought by the Bishop many + years ago as the property of the Mission, and is the only piece of Church + land over which he retains the control, every other bequest or gift to the + amount of 14,000 acres, having been handed over by him to the General + Synod. This he retains till the state of the Melanesian Mission is more + definitely settled. + </p> + <p> + 'On the west corner of this bay we determined to build. A small tide creek + runs for a short way about S.S.E. from the extreme end of the western part + of the beach, then turns early eastward, and meets a small stream coming + down from the southern hill at its western extremity. This creek encloses + a space extending along the whole width of the bay of about eighteen or + twenty acres. + </p> + <p> + 'At the east end stand three wooden cottages, occupied by the master, + mate, and a married seaman of the "Southern Cross." At the west end stands + the Melanesian school. Fences divide the whole space into three portions, + whereof the western one forms our garden and orchard; and the others + pasture for cows and working bullocks; small gardens being also fenced off + for the three cottages. The fifty acres of flat land south of the creek we + are now clearing and ploughing. + </p> + <p> + 'The situation here is admirably adapted for our school. Now that we have + a solid wall of the scoria from the volcanic island opposite, we have a + complete shelter from the cold south wind. The cliff and hill to the west + entirely shut off the wind from that quarter, and the north and east winds + are always warm. The soil is very dry, and the beach composed exclusively + of small "pipi" shells—small bivalves. So that by putting many + cart-loads of these under our wooden floors, and around our buildings, we + have so perfect a drainage that after heavy rain the soil is quite dry + again in a few hours. It causes me no anxiety now, when I am for an hour + away from my flock, to be thinking whether they are lying on the ground, + forgetting that the hot sun overhead does not destroy the bad effect of a + damp clay soil such as that at St. John's College. + </p> + <p> + 'The buildings at present form three sides of a quadrangle, but the south + side is only partly filled up. The large schoolroom, eighty feet long, + with three sets of transepts, has been removed from the College, and put + up again so as to form the east side of the quadrangle. This is of wood; + so is the small wooden quadrangle which serves now for dormitories, and a + part of which I occupy; my house consisting of three little rooms, + together measuring seventeen feet by seven. These dormitories are the + southern side of the quadrangle, but do not reach more than half-way from + the east to the west side, room being left for another set of dormitories + of equal size, when we want them and can afford them. The west side + consists of a very nice set of stone buildings, including a large kitchen, + store room, and room for putting things in daily and immediate use; and + the hall, which is the northern part of the side of the quadrangle, is a + really handsome room, with simple open roof and windows of a familiar + collegiate appearance. These buildings are of the dark grey scoria, almost + imperishable I suppose, and look very well. The hall is just long enough + to take seven of us at the high table (so to speak), and thirty-four at + the long table, stretching from the high table to the end of the room. + </p> + <p> + 'At present this is used for school also, as the carpenters who are making + all our fittings, shelves, &c., are still in the large schoolroom. We + take off the north end of the schoolroom, including one set of transepts + for our temporary chapel. This part will be lined, i.e. boarded, neatly + inside. The rest of the building is very rough, but it answers its + purpose. + </p> + <p> + 'In all the stone buildings, the rough stone is left inside just as it is + outside. It does not look bad at all to my eye, and I doubt if I would + have it lined if we had funds to pay for it. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope eventually that stone buildings will take the place of the present + wooden schoolroom and dormitories; but this ought to last many years. Here + we live most happily and comfortably. The climate almost tropical in + summer. The beautiful scenery of the harbour before our eyes, the smooth + sea and clean dry beach within a stone's throw of my window. The lads and + young men have their fishing, bathing, boating, and basking in the sun, + which all day from sunrise to sunset beats right upon us; for the west + cliff does not project more than a few yards to the north of us, and the + eastern boundary is low and some way off. I see the little schooner at her + moorings whenever I look off my book or my paper, and with an opera-glass + can see the captain caulking the decks. All is under my eye; and the lads + daily say, "College too cold; Kohimarama very good; all the same Bauro, + Mota," as the speaker belongs to one or other of our fourteen islands + represented.... The moment we heard of your gift, we said simultaneously, + "Let it be given to this or to some specific and definite object." I think + you will like to feel not only that the money came most opportunely, but + that within the walls built with that money, many many hundreds, I trust, + of these Melanesian islanders will be fed and taught, and trained up in + the knowledge and fear of God.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Before the old year was out came the tidings of the death of good Miss + Neill, the governess whom Patteson had so faithfully loved from early + childhood, and whose years of suffering he had done his best to cheer. 'At + rest at last.' In the same letter, in answer to some complaint from his + sister of want of detail in the reports, he says: 'Am I trying to make my + life commonplace? Well, really so it is more or less to me. Things go on + in a kind of routine. Two voyages a year, five months in New Zealand, + though certainly two-thirds of my flock fresh every year. I suppose it + still sounds strange to you sometimes, and to others always, but they + should try to think for themselves about our circumstances. + </p> + <p> + 'And you know, Fan, I can't write for the world at large anecdotes of + missionary life, and swell the number of the "Gems" and other trashy + books. If people who care to know, would think of what their own intuition + tells them of human nature, and history tells them of heathenism, they can + make out some notion of real missionary work. + </p> + <p> + 'The school is the real work. Teaching adults to read a strange tongue is + hard work; I have little doubt but that the Bishop is right in saying they + must be taught English; but it is so very difficult a language, not spelt + a bit as pronounced; and their language is all vocalic and so easy to put + into writing. + </p> + <p> + 'But if you like I will scatter anecdotes about—of how the Bishop + and his chaplain took headers hand in hand off the schooner and + roundhouse; and how the Bishop got knocked over at Leper's Island by a big + wave; and how I borrowed a canoe at Tariko and paddled out yams as fast as + the Bishop brought them to our boat, &c.—but this is rubbish.' + </p> + <p> + This letter is an instance of the reserve and reticence which Mr. Patteson + felt so strongly with regard to his adventures and pupils. He could not + endure stories of them to become, as it were, stock for exciting interest + at home. There was something in his nature that shrank from publishing + accounts of individual pupils as a breach of confidence, as much, or + perhaps even more, than if they had been English people, likely to know + what had been done. Moreover, instances had come to his knowledge in which + harm had been done to both teachers and taught by their becoming aware + that they were shown off to the public in print. Such things had happened + even where they would have seemed not only unlikely, but impossible; and + this rendered him particularly cautious in writing of his work, so that + his reports were often dry, while he insisted strongly on his letters to + his family being kept private. + </p> + <p> + The actual undertakings of the Mission did not exceed its resources, so + that there was no need for those urgent appeals which call for sensation + and incident to back them; and thus there sometimes seemed to the exterior + world to be a lack of information about the Mission. + </p> + <p> + The letters of January 1860 show how the lads were fortified against + weather: 'They wear a long flannel waistcoat, then a kind of jersey-shaped + thing, with short trousers, reaching a little below the knee, for they + dabble about like ducks here, the sea being not a hundred yards from the + building. All the washing, of course, and most of the clothes-making they + can do themselves; I can cut out after a fashion, and they take quickly to + needle and thread; but now the Auckland ladies have provided divers very + nice garments, their Sunday dresses are very nice indeed.' + </p> + <p> + The question of the Bishopric began to come forward. On the 18th of + January a letter to Sir John Patteson, after speaking of a playful + allusion which introduced the subject, details how Mrs. Selwyn had + disclosed that a letter had actually been despatched to the Duke of + Newcastle, then Colonial Secretary, asking permission to appoint and + consecrate John Coleridge Patteson as Missionary Bishop of the Western + Pacific Isles. + </p> + <p> + J.C.P.—'Well, then, I must say what I feel about it. I have known + for some time that this was not unlikely to come some day; but I never + spoke seriously to you or to the Martins when you insinuated these things, + because I thought if I took it up gravely it would come to be considered a + settled thing.' + </p> + <p> + Mrs. S.—'Well, so it has been, and is——' + </p> + <p> + J.C.P.—'But has the Bishop seriously thought of this, that he has + had no trial of any other man; that I could give any other man who may + come, perhaps, the full benefit of my knowledge of languages, and of my + acquaintance with the islands and the people, while we may reasonably + expect some one to come out before long far better fitted to organise and + lead men than I am? Has he fairly looked at all the per contra? + </p> + <p> + Mrs. S.—'I feel sure he has.' + </p> + <p> + J.C. P.—'I don't deny that my father tells me I must not shrink from + it; that some things seem to point to it as natural; that I must not + venture to think that I can be as complete a judge as the Bishop of what + is good for Melanesia—but what necessity for acting now?' + </p> + <p> + Here came an interruption, but the conversation was renewed later in the + day with the Bishop himself, when Patteson pleaded for delay on the score + that the isles were as yet in a state in which a missionary chaplain could + do all that was requisite, and that the real management ought not to be + withdrawn from the Bishop; to which the reply was that at the present time + the Bishop could do much to secure such an appointment as he wished; but, + in case of his death, even wishes expressed in writing might be + disregarded. After this, the outpouring to the father continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'I don't mean to shrink from this. You tell me that I ought not to do so, + and I quite believe it. I know that no one can judge better than you can + as to the general question, and the Bishop is as competent to decide on + the special requirements of the case. + </p> + <p> + 'But, my dear father, you can hardly tell how difficult I find it to be, + amidst all the multiplicity of works, a man of devotional prayerful + habits; how I find from time to time that I wake up to the fact that while + I am doing more than I did in old times, yet that I pray less. How often I + think that "God gives" habitually to the Bishop "all that sail with him;" + that the work is prospering in his hands; but will it prosper in mine? I + know He can use any instrument to His glory: I know that, and that He will + not let my sins and shortcomings hinder His projects of love and blessing + to these Melanesian islanders; but as far as purity of motive, and a + spirit of prayer and self-denial do go for anything in making up the + qualification on the human side for such an office—in so far, do + they exist in me? You will say I am over sensitive and expect too much. + That, I think, very likely may be true. It is useless to wait till one + becomes really fit, for that of course I never shall be. But while I + believe most entirely that grace does now supply all our deficiencies when + we seek it fully, I do feel frightened when I see that I do not become + more prayerful, more real in communion with God. This is what I must pray + for earnestly: to become more prayerful, more constantly impressed with + the necessity of seeking for everything from Him. + </p> + <p> + 'You all think that absence from relations, living upon yams, want of the + same kind of meat and drink that I had at home, that these things are + proofs of sincerity, &c. I believe that they all mean just nothing + when the practical result does not come to this—that a man is + walking more closely with his God. I dare not say that I can feel humbly + and reverently that my inner life is progressing. I don't think that I am + as earnest in prayer as I was. Whether it be the effect of the amount of + work distracting me; or, sometimes, of physical weariness, or of the + self-indulgence (laugh as you may) which results from my never being + contradicted or interfered with, or much worried, still I do feel this; + and may He strengthen me to pray more for a spirit of prayer. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know that the actual time for my being consecrated, if I live, is + nearer by reason of this letter: I think it most probable that it may take + place when the General Synod meets, and, consequently, five bishops will + be present, in 1862, at Nelson. But I suppose it is more fixed than it has + been hitherto, and if the Bishop writes to you, as he may do, even more + plainly than he speaks to me, you will know what especially to ask for me + from God, and all you dear ones will recollect daily how I do inwardly + tremble at the thoughts of what is to come. Do you remember how strangely + I was upset before leaving home for my ordination as a deacon; and now it + is coming to this—a church to be planted, organised, edified among + the wild heathen inhabitants of Melanesia; and what hope can there be for + me if there is to be no growth of a fervent, thankful, humble spirit of + prayer and love and adoration? Not that, as I feel to my great comfort, + God's work is dependent upon the individual growth in grace even of those + who are entrusted with any given work; but it is in some way connected + with it. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet, the upshot of it all is that I shall do (D.V.) what the Bishop + tells me is right. I hope he won't press on the matter, but I am content + now to leave it with him, knowing what you have said, and being so + thankful to leave it with you and him.' + </p> + <p> + There is a letter to his sister Fanny of the same date, beginning merrily + about the family expostulation on receiving a box of reports where + curiosities had been expected:— + </p> + <p> + 'Fancy not thinking your worthy brother's important publications the most + satisfactory treasures that any box could contain! The author's feelings + are seriously injured! What are Melanesian shells to Melanesian + statistics, and Lifu spears to a dissertation on the treatment of Lifu + diseases? Great is the ingratitude of the houses of Feniton and Dawlish! + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it must have been rather a "sell," as at Eton it is called, to have + seen the long-desired and highly-paid-for box disgorge nought but + Melanesian reports! all thanks to Mrs. Martin, who packed it after I was + off to the Islands. + </p> + <p> + 'I cannot send you anything yet, but I will bear in mind the fact that + reports by themselves are not considered satisfactory. Does anybody read + them, after all? for they really cost me some days' trouble, which I can't + find time for again. This year's report (for I suppose there must be one) + is not begun, and I don't know what to put in it. I have but little news + beyond what I have written once for all to Father. + </p> + <p> + 'The decisive letter from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Duke of + Newcastle is in the Governor's hands, and all discussion of the question + is at an end. May God bring out of it all that may conduce to His glory; + but how I dread what is to come, you, who remember my leaving home first + for my deacon's ordination, can well imagine. + </p> + <p> + 'It is true I have seen this coming for a year or two, and have seen no + way of preventing its coming upon me—no one else has come out; the + Bishop feels he cannot work his present diocese and Melanesia: he is + satisfied that he ought to take New Zealand rather than the islands; that + the time is come for settling the matter while he is able to settle it; + and I had nothing to say, for all personal objections he overruled. So + then, if I live, it is settled; and that, at all events, is a comfort.... + Many of my Melanesians have heavy coughs—some twelve, but I don't + think any of them seriously ill, only needing to be watched. I am very + well, only I want some more exercise (which, by the bye, it is always in + my power to take), and am quite as much disposed as ever to wish for a + good game at tennis or fives to take it out of me. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The birthday letter of February 11 is a happy one, though chiefly taken up + with the business matters respecting the money required for the Mission, + of which Sir John was one trustee. Life was pleasant then, for Patteson + says:— + </p> + <p> + 'I do feel sometimes that the living alone has its temptations, and those + great ones; I mean that I can arrange everything—my work, my hours, + my whole life—after my own pleasure a great deal more than probably + is good for me; and it is very easy to become, in a manner, very + self-indulgent. I think that most likely, as our work (D.V.) progresses, + one or two men may be living with me, and that will supply a check upon me + of some kind. At present I am too much without it. Here I am in my cosy + little room, after my delicious breakfast of perfect coffee, made in Jem's + contrivance, hot milk and plenty of it, dry toast and potato. Missionary + hardships! On the grass between me and the beach—a distance of some + seventy yards—lie the boys' canvas beds and blankets and rugs, + having a good airing. The schooner lies at anchor beyond; and, three or + four miles beyond the schooner, lies Eangitoto, the great natural + breakwater to the harbour. With my Dollond's opera-glass that you gave me, + I can see the master and mate at their work refitting. Everything is under + my eye. Our long boat and whale boat (so-called from their shapes) lie on + the beach, covered with old sails to protect them from the sun. The lads + are washing clothes, or scrubbing their rooms, and all the rooms—kitchen, + hall, store-room, and school-room. There is a good south-western breeze + stirring—our cold wind; but it is shut off here, and scarcely + reaches us, and the sun has great power. + </p> + <p> + 'I have the jolliest little fellows this time—about seven of them—fellows + scarcely too big to take on my knee, and talk to about God, and Heaven, + and Jesus Christ; and I feel almost as if I had a kind of instinct of love + towards them, as they look up wonderingly with their deep deep eyes, and + smooth and glossy skins, and warm soft cheeks, and ask their simple + questions. I wish you could have seen the twenty Banks Islanders as I told + them that most excellent of all tales—the story of Joseph. How their + eyes glistened! and they pushed out their heads to hear the sequel of his + making himself known to his brethren, and asking once more about "the old + man of whom ye spake, is he yet alive?" + </p> + <p> + 'I can never read it with a steady voice, nor tell it either.' + </p> + <p> + Sir John had thus replied to the tirade against English conventional + luxury:— + </p> + <p> + 'The conventional notions in this old country are not always suited to + your country, and I quite agree that even here they are carried too far. + Yet there are other people than the needy whose souls are entrusted to the + clergy here, and in order to fulfil that trust they must mix on some + degree of equality with the gentry, and with the middle classes who are + well-to-do. Then again, consider both as to clergy and laity here. If they + were all to lower themselves a peg or two, and give up many not only + luxuries, but comforts, numbers of tradesmen, and others working under + them, aye, even merchants, manufacturers, and commercial men of all sorts, + would be to some extent thrown out of employ. The artificial and even + luxurious state of society here does really prevent many persons from + falling into the class of the needy. All this should be regulated in its + due proportion. Every man ought so to limit his expenses as to have a good + margin for charitable purposes of all sorts, but I cannot think that he is + doing good by living himself like a pauper in order to assist paupers. If + all men did so, labour of all kinds would be overstocked with hands, and + more paupers created. True it is, that we all are too apt as means + increase, some to set our hearts upon them, which is wickedness; some to + indulge in over much luxury, which is wicked also; there should be + moderation in all things. I believe that more money is given in private + charities of various kinds in helping those who are struggling with small + means, and yet not apparently in the class of the needy, than the world is + aware of; and those who do the most are precisely those who are never + heard of. But do not mistake me. I am no advocate for luxury and idle + expenditure. Yet I think you carry your argument a little farther than is + just. The impositions that are practised, or attempted to be practised, + upon charitable people are beyond all conception.' The following is the + answer:— + </p> + <p> + 'April 23, 1860. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—Thank you for writing your views about luxuries, + extravagant expenditure, and the like. I see at once the truth of what you + say. + </p> + <p> + 'What I really mean is something of this kind. A high degree of + civilisation seems to generate (perhaps necessarily) a state of society + wherein the natural desires of people to gratify their inclinations in all + directions, conjoined with the power of paying highly for the + gratification of such inclinations, tends to call forth the ingenuity of + the working class in meeting such inclinations in all agreeable ways. So + springs up a complicated mechanism, by which a habit of life altogether + unnecessary for health and security of life and property is introduced and + becomes naturalised among a people. + </p> + <p> + If this is the necessary consequence of the distinction between rich and + poor, and the course of civilisation must result in luxury and poverty + among the two classes respectively (and this seems to be so), it is, of + course, still more evident that the state of society being once + established gradually, through a long course of years, no change can + subsequently be introduced excepting in one way. It is still in the power + of individuals to act upon the community by their example—e.g., the + early Christians, though only for a short time, showed the result of the + practical acceptance of the Lord's teaching in its effect upon society. + Rich and poor, comparatively speaking, met each other half way. The rich + man sold his possessions, and equal distribution was made to the poor. + </p> + <p> + 'All that I contend for is that, seeing the fearful deterioration, and no + less fearful extravagance, of a civilised country, the evil is one which + calls loudly for careful investigation. Thousands of artisans and + labourers who contribute nothing to the substantial wealth of the country, + and nothing towards the production of its means of subsistence, would be + thrown out of employment, and therefore that plan would be wrong. + Jewellers, &c., &c., all kinds of fellows who simply manufacture + vanities, are just as honest and good men as others, and it is not their + fault, but the fault (if it be one at all) of civilisation that they + exist. But I don't see why, the evil being recognised, some comprehensive + scheme of colonisation might not be adopted by the rulers of a Christian + land, to empty our poor-houses, and draft off the surplus population, + giving to the utterly destitute the prospect of health, and renewed hopes + of success in another thinly-inhabited country, and securing for those who + remain behind a more liberal remuneration for their work by the + comparative absence of competition. + </p> + <p> + 'I hardly know what to write to you, my dear Father, about this new + symptom of illness. I suppose, from what you say, that at your time of + life the disease being so mild in its form now, will hardly prove + dangerous to you, especially as you submit at once to a strictness of diet + which must be pretty hard to follow out—just the habit of a whole + life to be given up; and I know that to forego anything that I like, in + matters of eating and drinking, wants an effort that I feel ashamed of + being obliged to make. I don't, therefore, make myself unnecessarily + anxious, though I can't help feeling that such a discipline must be hard. + You say that in other respects you are much the same; but that means that + you are in almost constant pain, and that you cannot obtain entire relief + from it, except in bed. + </p> + <p> + 'Still, my dear Father, as you do bear it all, how can we wish that God + should spare you one trial or infirmity, which, we know, are, in His + providence, making you daily riper and riper for Heaven? I ought not to + write to you like this, but somehow the idea of our ever meeting anywhere + else has so entirely passed from my mind, that I try to view things with + reference to His ultimate purpose and work. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and dutiful Son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The most present trouble of this summer was the sickness of Simeona. The + account of him on Ash Wednesday is: 'He is dying of consumption slowly, + and may go back with us two months hence, but I doubt it. Poor fellow, he + makes the worst of his case, and is often discontented and thinks himself + aggrieved because we cannot derange the whole plan of the school economy + for him. I have everything which is good for him, every little dainty, and + everyone is most kind; but when it comes to a complaint because one + pupil-teacher is not set apart to sit with him all day, and another to + catch him fish, of course I tell him that it would be wrong to grant what + is so unreasonable. Some one or other of the most stupid of the boys + catches his fish just as well as a pupil-teacher, and he is quite able to + sit up and read for two or three hours a day, and would only be injured by + having another lad in the room on purpose to be the receptacle of all his + moans and complaints, yet I know, poor fellow! it is much owing to the + disease upon him.' + </p> + <p> + In spite of his fretfulness and exactions, the young man, meeting not with + spoiling, but with true kindness, responded to the touch. Lady Martin + tells us: 'I shall never forget dear Mr. Patteson's thankfulness when, + after a long season of reserve, he opened his heart to him, and told him + how, step by step, this sinfulness of sin had been brought home to him. He + knew he had done wrong in his heathen boyhood, but had put away such deeds + when he was baptized, and had almost forgotten the past, or looked on it + as part of heathenism. But in his illness, tended daily and hourly by our + dear friend, his conscience had become very tender. He died in great + peace.' + </p> + <p> + His death is mentioned in the following letter to Sir John Coleridge:— + </p> + <p> + 'March 26, 1860. '(This day 5 years I left home. It was a Black Monday + indeed.) + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—At three this morning died one of my old scholars, + by name George Selwyn Simeona, from Nengone. He was here for his third + time; for two years a regular communicant, having received a good deal of + teaching before I knew him. He was baptized three years ago. I did not + wish to bring him this time, for it was evident that he could not live + long when we met last at Nengone, and I told him that he had better not + come with us; but he said, "Heaven was no farther from New Zealand than + from Nengone;" and when we had pulled some little way from shore, he ran + down the beach, and made us return to take him in. Gradual decline and + chronic bronchitis wore him to a skeleton. On Thursday the Bishop and I + administered the Holy Eucharist to him; and he died at 3 A.M. to-day, with + his hand in mine, as I was in the act of commending his soul to God. His + wife, a sweet good girl, one of Mrs. Selwyn's pupils from Nengone in old + times, died last year. They leave one boy of three years, whom I hope to + get hold of entirely, and as it were adopt him. + </p> + <p> + 'The clear bright moon was right over my head as after a while, and after + prayer with his friends, I left his room; the quiet splash of the tiny + waves on our sheltered shore, and the little schooner at her anchorage: + and I thanked God that one more spirit from among the Melanesian islanders + was gone to dwell, we trust, with JESUS CHRIST in Paradise. + </p> + <p> + 'He will not be much missed in the Melanesian school work, for, for + months, he could not make one of us.... + </p> + <p> + 'I find Trench's Notes on the Authorised Version of the New Testament very + useful, chiefly as helping one to acquire a habit of accurate criticism + for oneself, and when we come (D.V.) to translate any portion of the + Scriptures, of course such books are very valuable.' + </p> + <p> + 'Last mail brought me but a very few letters. The account of my dear + Father's being obliged to submit to discipline did not alarm me, though I + know the nature of the disease, and that his father died of it. It seems + in his case likely to be kept under, but (as I have said before) I cannot + feel uneasy and anxious about him, be the accounts what they may. It is + partly selfish, for I am spared the sight of his suffering, but then I do + long for a look at his dear face and for the sound of his voice. Five + years of absence has of course made so much change in my mind in this + respect, that I do not now find myself dreaming of home, constantly + thinking of it; the first freshness of my loss is not felt now. But I + think I love them all and you all better than ever; and I trust that I am + looking inward on the whole to the blessedness of our meeting hereafter. + </p> + <p> + 'But this work has its peculiar dangers. A man may become so familiarised + with the habits of the heathen that insensibly his conscience becomes less + sensitive. + </p> + <p> + 'There is a danger in living in the midst of utter lawlessness and + violence; and though the blessings and privileges far excel the + disadvantages, yet it is not in every way calculated to help one forward, + as I think I have in some ways found by experience. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, this is all dull and dry. But our life is somewhat monotonous on + shore, varied only by the details of incidents occurring in school, and + witnessing to the growth of the minds of my flock. They are a very + intelligent set this year, and there are many hopeful ones among them. We + have worked them hard at English, and all can read a little; and some + eight or ten really read nicely, but then they do not understand nearly + all they read without an explanation, just like an English boy beginning + his knowledge of letters with Latin (or French, a still spoken language). + </p> + <p> + 'In about a month we shall (D.V.) start to take them back; but the vessel + will be absent but a short time, as I shall keep the Solomon Islanders + with me in the Banks Archipelago for the winter, and so avoid the + necessity of the schooner running 200 or 300 miles to leeward and having + to make it up again. I have slept ashore twice in the Banks Islands, but + no other white man has done so, and that makes our course very clear, as + they have none of the injuries usually committed by traders, &c., to + revenge. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye once more, my dearest Uncle, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and grateful Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The calmness of mind respecting his father which is here spoken of was not + perpetual, and his grief broke out at times in talks with his young friend + and companion, Mr. Dudley, as appears by this extract:— + </p> + <p> + 'I remember his talking to me more than once on the subject of his father, + and especially his remarking on one occasion that his friends were + pressing him to come out there oftener, and suggesting, when he seemed out + of health and spirits, that he was not taking care of himself; but that it + was the anguish he endured, as night after night he lay awake thinking of + his father gradually sinking and craving for him, and cheerfully resigning + him, that really told upon him. I know that I obtained then a glimpse of + an affection and a depth of sorrow such as perfectly awed me, and I do not + think I have witnessed anything like it at all, either before or since. It + was then that he seemed to enter into the full meaning of those words of + our Lord, in St. Mark x. 29-30, i.e., into all that the "leaving" there + spoken of involved.' + </p> + <p> + Yet in spite of this anxiety there was no flinching from the three months' + residence at Mota, entirely out of reach of letters. A frame house, with + planks for the floor, was prepared at Auckland to be taken out, and a + stock of wine, provisions, and medicines laid in. The Rev. B. Y. Ashwell, + a New Zealand clergyman, joined the Mission party as a guest, with two + Maori youths, one the son of a deacon; and, besides Mr. Dudley, another + pupil, Mr. Thomas Kerr, was beginning his training for service in the + Mission. Sailing on one of the last days of April, there was a long + passage to Nengone, where the party went ashore, and found everything in + trouble, the French constantly expected, and the chiefs entreating for a + missionary from the Bishop, and no possibility of supplying them. Lifu was + rendered inaccessible by foul winds. + </p> + <p> + 'Much to my sorrow,' writes Mr. Patteson, 'I could not land my two + pupil-teachers, who, of course, wished to see their friends, and who made + me more desirous to give them a run on shore, by saying at once: "Don't + think of us, it is not safe to go." But I thought of what my feelings + would be if it were the Devonshire coast, somewhere about Sidmouth, and no + landing!' However, they, as well as the three Nengonese, Wadrokala, Harper + Malo, and Martin Tahia, went on contentedly. + </p> + <p> + 'Off Mai, May 19th.—Mr. Kerr has been busy taking bearings, &c., + for the purpose of improving our MS. chart, and constructing a new one. + Commodore Loring wanted me to tell him all about Port Patteson, and asked + me if I wished a man-of-war to be sent down this winter to see me, + supposing the New Zealand troubles to be all over. I gave him all the + information he wanted, told him that I did not want a vessel to come with + the idea of any protection being required, but that a man-of-war coming + with the intention of supporting the Mission, and giving help, and not + coming to treat the natives in an off-hand manner, might do good. I did + not speak coldly; but really I fear what mischief even a few wildish + fellows might do on shore among such people as those of the Banks Islands! + </p> + <p> + 'A fore-and-aft schooner in sight! Probably some trader. May be a schooner + which I heard the French had brought for missionary purposes. What if we + find a priest or two at Port Patteson! However, my course is clear any + way: work straight on. + </p> + <p> + 'May 21st.—Schooner a false alarm. We had a very interesting visit + on Saturday afternoon at Mai. We could not land till 4 P.M.; walked at + once to the village, a mile and a half inland. After some excitement + caused by our appearance, the people rushing to welcome us, we got them to + be quiet, and to sit down. I stood up, and gave them a sermonette, then + made Dudley, who speaks good Mai, say something. Then we knelt down, and I + said the second Good Friday Collect, inserted a few petitions which you + can imagine anyone would do at such a time, then a simple prayer in their + language, the Lord's Prayer in English, and the Grace.' + </p> + <p> + On Friday Mota was reached, and the people showed great delight when the + frame of the house was landed at the site purchased for a number of + hatchets and other goods, so that it is the absolute property of the + Mission. Saturday was spent in a visit to Port Patteson, where the people + thronged, while the water-casks were being filled, and bamboos cut down, + with entreaties that the station might be there; and the mosquitoes + thronged too—Mr. Patteson had fifty-eight bites on one foot. + </p> + <p> + On Whit Sunday, after Holy Communion on board, the party went on shore, + and prayed for, 'I cannot say with the people of Vanua Lava.' + </p> + <p> + And on Whit Monday the house was set up 'in a most lovely spot,' says Mr. + Dudley, 'beneath the shade of a gigantic banyan tree, the trunk and one + long horizontal branch of which formed two sides of as beautiful a picture + as you would wish to look upon; the sloping bank, with its cocoa-nut, + bread-fruit, and other trees, forming the base of the picture; and the + coral beach, the deep, clear, blue tropical ocean, with others of the + Banks Islands, Valua, Matlavo, and Uvaparapara, in the distance, forming + the picture itself.' + </p> + <p> + At least a hundred natives came to help, pulling down materials from their + own houses to make the roof, and delighted to obtain a bit of iron, or + still better of broken glass, to shave with. In the afternoon, the master + of the said house, using a box for a desk, wrote: 'Our little house will, + I think, be finished to-night; anyhow we can sleep in it, if the walls are + but half ready; they are merely bamboo canes tied together. We sleep on + the floor boarded and well raised on poles, two feet and more from the + ground—beds are superfluous here.' + </p> + <p> + Here then was the first stake of the Church's tabernacle planted in all + Melanesia! + </p> + <p> + The boards of the floor had been brought from New Zealand, the heavy posts + on which the plates were laid were cut in Vanua Lava, and the thatch was + of cocoa-nut leaves, the leaflets ingeniously bound together, native + fashion, and quite waterproof; but a mat or piece of canvas had to be + nailed within the bamboo walls to keep out the rain. + </p> + <p> + On Wednesday a short service was held, the first ever known in Mota; and + then Mr. Ashwell and Mr. Kerr embarked, leaving Mr. Patteson and Mr. + Dudley with their twelve pupils in possession. Mr. Dudley had skill to + turn their resources to advantage. Space was gained below by making a + frame, to which knapsacks, bags, &c., could be hung up, and the floor + was only occupied by the four boxes, which did the further part of tables, + desks, and chairs in turn. As to beds, was not the whole floor before + them? and, observes the Journal: 'Now I see the advantage of having + brought planks from New Zealand to make a floor. We all had something + level to lie on at night, and when you are tired enough, a good smooth + plank or a box does just as well as a mattress.' + </p> + <p> + Fresh water was half a mile off, and had to be fetched in bamboos; but + this was a great improvement upon Lifu, where there was none at all; and a + store of it was always kept in four twenty-gallon casks, three on the + beach, and one close to the house. + </p> + <p> + The place was regularly purchased:— + </p> + <p> + 'June 8th.—I have just bought for the Mission this small clearing of + half an acre, and the two acres (say) leading to the sea, with twenty or + more bread-fruits on it. There was a long talk with the people, and some + difficulty in finding out the real proprietors, but I think we arranged + matters really well at last. You would have been amused at the solemnity + with which I conducted the proceeding: making a great show of writing down + their names, and bringing each one of the owners up in their turn to see + his name put down, and making him touch my pen as I put a cross against + his name. Having spent about an hour in enquiring whether any other person + had any claim on the land or trees, I then said, "Now this all belongs to + me," and they assented. I entered it in my books—"On behalf of the + Melanesian Mission," but they could only understand that the land belonged + to the Bishop and me, because we wanted a place where some people might + live, who should be placed by the Bishop to teach them. Of course the + proceeding has no real validity, but I think they will observe the + contract: not quite the same thing as the transfer of land in the old + country! Here about 120 men, quite naked, represented the interests of the + late owners, and Dudley and I represented the Mission.' + </p> + <p> + The days were thus laid out—Morning school in the village, first + with the regular scholars, then with any one who liked to come in; and + then, when the weather permitted, a visit to some village, sometimes + walking all round, a circuit of ten miles, but generally each of the two + taking a separate village, talking to the people, teaching them from + cards, and encouraging interrogatories. Mr. Patteson always had such an + attraction for them that they would throng round him eagerly wherever he + went. + </p> + <p> + The Mota people had a certain faith of their own; they believed in a + supreme god called Ikpat, who had many brothers, one of whom was something + like Loki, in the Northern mythology, always tricking him. Ikpat had + disappeared in a ship, taking the best of everything with him. It was also + believed that the spirits of the dead survived and ranged about at night, + maddening all who chanced to meet them; and, like many other darkly + coloured people, the Motans had begun by supposing their white visitors to + be the ghosts of their deceased friends come to revisit them. + </p> + <p> + There were a good many other superstitions besides; and a ceremony + connected with one of them was going on the second week of the residence + at Mota—apparently a sort of freemasonry, into which all boys of a + certain age were to be initiated. + </p> + <p> + The Journal says:— + </p> + <p> + 'There is some strange superstitious ceremony going on at this village. A + space had been enclosed by a high hedge, and some eighteen or nineteen + youths are spending a month or more inside the fence, in a house where + they lie wrapped up in mats, abundantly supplied with food by the people, + who, from time to time, assemble to sing or perform divers rites. I had a + good deal of trouble with the father of our second year's pupil Tagalana, + who insisted upon sending his son thither. I warned him against the + consequences of hindering his son, who wished to follow Christ. He + yielded, because he was evidently afraid of me, but not convinced, as I + have no right to expect he should be. + </p> + <p> + 'The next morning comes an old fellow, and plants a red-flowering branch + in our small clearing, whereupon our Mota boys go away, not wishing to go, + but not daring to stay. No people came near us, but by-and-by comes the + man who had planted it, with whom I had much talk, which ended in his + pulling up and throwing away the branch, and in the return of our boys. + </p> + <p> + 'In the evening many people came, to whom I spoke very plainly about the + necessity of abandoning these customs if they were in earnest in saying + they wished to embrace the Word of God. On Sunday they gave up their + singing at the enclosure, or only attempted it in a very small way. + </p> + <p> + 'June 6th.—I am just returned from a village a mile and a half off, + called Tasmate, where one of their religious ceremonies took place this + morning. The village contains upwards of twenty houses, built at the edge + of the bush, which consists here almost exclusively of fruit-bearing trees—cocoa-nut + trees, bananas, bread-fruit, and large almond trefts are everywhere the + most conspicuous. The sea view looking south is very beautiful. + </p> + <p> + 'I walked thither alone, having heard that a feast was to be held there. + As I came close to the spot, I heard the hum of many voices, and the dull, + booming sound of the native drum, which is nothing but a large hollow + tree, of circular shape, struck by wooden mallets. Some few people ran off + as I appeared, but many of them had seen me before. The women, about + thirty in number, were sitting on the ground together, in front of one of + the houses, which enclosed an open air circular space; in front of another + house were many children and young people. In the long narrow house which + forms the general cooking and lounging room of the men of each village, + and the sleeping room of the bachelors, were many people preparing large + messes of grated yam and cocoa-nut in flat wooden dishes. At the long + oblong-shaped drum sat the performers, two young men, each with two short + sticks to perform the kettledrum part of the business, and an older man in + the centre, whose art consisted in bringing out deep, hollow tones from + his wooden instrument. Around them stood some thirty men, two of whom I + noticed especially, decked out with red leaves, and feathers in their + hair. Near this party, and close to the long, narrow house in the end of + which I stood, was a newly raised platform of earth, supported on stones. + On the corner stone were laid six or eight pigs' jaws, with the large + curling tusks left in them. This was a sacred stone. In front of the + platform were three poles, covered with flowers, red leaves, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'For about an hour and a half the men at or around the drum kept up an + almost incessant shouting, screaming and whistling, moving their legs and + arms in time, not with any wild gesticulations, but occasionally with some + little violence, the drum all the time being struck incessantly. About the + middle of the ceremony, an old, tall, thin man, with a red handkerchief, + our gift at some time, round his waist, began ambling round the space in + the middle of the houses, carrying a boar's skull in his hand. This + performance he repeated three times. Then a man jumped up upon the + platform, and, moving quickly about on it and gesticulating wildly, + delivered a short speech, after which the drum was beat louder than ever; + then came another speech from the same man; and then the rain evidently + hastening matters to a conclusion to the whole thing, without any ceremony + of consecrating the stone, as I had expected. + </p> + <p> + 'In the long room afterwards I had the opportunity of saying quietly what + I had said to those about me during the ceremony: the same story of the + love of God, especially manifested in JESUS CHRIST, to turn men from + darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. With what power + that verse speaks to one while witnessing such an exhibition of ignorance, + or fear, or superstition as I have seen to-day! And through it all I was + constantly thinking upon the earnestness with which these poor souls + follow out a mistaken notion of religion. Such rain as fell this morning + would have kept a whole English congregation from going to church, but + they never sought shelter nor desisted from their work in hand; and the + physical effect was really great, the perspiration streamed down their + bodies, and the learning by heart all the songs and the complicated parts + of the ceremony implied a good deal of pains. Christians do not always + take so much pains to fulfil scrupulously their duties as sometimes these + heathens do. And, indeed, their bondage is a hard one, constant suspicion + and fear whenever they think at all. Everything that is not connected with + the animal part of our nature seems to be the prey of dark and gloomy + superstitions; the spiritual part is altogether inactive as an instrument + of comfort, joy, peace and hope. You can imagine that I prayed earnestly + for these poor souls, actually performing before me their strange + mysteries, and that I spoke earnestly and strongly afterwards. + </p> + <p> + 'The argument with those who would listen was: What good comes of all + this? What has the spirit you call Ikpat ever done for you? Has he taught + you to clothe yourselves, build houses, &c.? Does he offer to make you + happy? Can you tell me what single good thing has come from these customs? + But if you ask me what good thing has come to us from the Word of God, + first you had better let me tell you what has happened in England of old, + in New Zealand, Nengone, or Lifu, then I will tell you what the Word of + God teaches;—and these with the great outline of the Faith.' + </p> + <p> + Every village in the island had the platforms, poles, and flowers; and the + next day, at a turn in the path near a village, the Mission party suddenly + came upon four sticks planted in a row, two of them bearing things like + one-eyed masks; two others, like mitres, painted red, black, and white. As + far as could be made out, they were placed there as a sort of defiance to + the inhabitants; but Mr. Patteson took down one, and declared his + intention of buying them for fish-hooks, to take to New Zealand, that the + people might see their dark and foolish customs! + </p> + <p> + Some effect had already been produced, the people declared that there had + been much less of fighting since the missionaries had spoken to them + eighteen months back, and they had given up some of the charms by which + they used to destroy each other; but there was still much carrying of + bows; and on the way home from this expedition, Mr. Patteson suddenly came + on six men with bows bent and arrows pointed in his direction. He at once + recognised a man from Veverao, the next village to the station, and called + out 'All right!' It proved that a report had come of his being attacked or + killed on the other side of the island, and that they had set out to + defend or avenge him. + </p> + <p> + He received his champions with reproof:—'This is the very thing I + told you not to do. It is all your foolish jealousy and suspicion of them. + There is not a man on the island who is not friendly to me! And if they + were not friendly, what business have you with your bows and arrows? I + tell you once more, if I see you take your bows again, though you may do + it as you think with a good intention towards me, I will not stay at your + village. If you want to help me, receive the Word of God, abandon your + senseless ceremonies. That will be helping me indeed!' + </p> + <p> + 'Cannot you live at peace in this little bit of an island?' was the + constant theme of these lectures; and when Wompas, his old scholar, + appeared with bow and arrows, saying, I am sent to defend you,' the answer + was, 'Don't talk such nonsense! Give me the bow!' This was done, and + Patteson was putting it across his knee to break it, when the youth + declared it was not his. 'If I see these things again, you know what will + become of them!' + </p> + <p> + The mitres and masks were gone; but the Veverao people were desperately + jealous of the next village, Auta, alleging that the inhabitants were + unfriendly, and by every means trying to keep the guest entirely to + themselves; while he resolutely forced on their reluctant ears, 'If you + are sincere in saying that you wish to know God, you must love your + brother. God will not dwell in a divided heart, nor teach you His truth + while you wilfully continue to hate your brother!' + </p> + <p> + The St. Barnabas Day on which most of this was written was a notable one, + for it was marked by the first administration of both the Sacraments in + Mota. In the morning one English and four Nengonese communicants knelt + round their pastor; and, in the evening, after a walk to Auta, and much of + this preaching of peace and goodwill, then a dinner, which was made + festive with preserved meat and wine, there came a message from one + Ivepapeu, a leading man, whose child was sick. It was evidently dying, and + Mr. Patteson, in the midst of the people, told them that— + </p> + <p> + 'The Son of God had commanded us to teach and baptize all nations; that + they did not understand the meaning of what he was about to do, but that + the word of JESUS the Son of God was plain, and that he must obey it; that + this was not a mere form, but a real gift from heaven, not for the body + but the soul; that the child would be as likely to die as before, but that + its spirit would be taken to God, and if it should recover, it must be set + apart for God, not taken to any heathen rites, but given to himself to be + trained up as a child of God.' The parents consented: 'Then,' he + continues, 'we knelt, and in the middle of the village, the naked group + around me, the dying child in its mother's lap, I prayed to God and Christ + in their language to bless the child according to His own promise, to + receive it for His own child, and to convey to it the fulness of the + blessing of His holy Sacrament. Then while all were silent, I poured the + water on its head, pronouncing the form of words in English, and calling + the child John, the first Christian child in the Banks Islands. Then I + knelt down again and praised God for His goodness, and prayed that the + child might live, if it were His good pleasure, and be educated to His + glory; and then I prayed for those around me and for the people of the + island, that God would reveal to them His Holy Name and Word and Will; and + so, with a few words to the parents and people, left them, as darkness + settled down on the village and the bright stars came out overhead.' + </p> + <p> + The innocent first-fruits of Mota died three days later, and Mr. Patteson + found a great howling and wailing going on over its little grave under a + long low house. This was hushed when he came up, and spoke of the + Resurrection, and described the babe's soul dwelling in peace in the + Kingdom of the Father, where those would join it who would believe and + repent, cast away their evil practices, and be baptized to live as + children of God. Kneeling down, he prayed over it, thanking God for having + taken it to Himself, and interceding for all around. They listened and + seemed touched; no opposition was ever offered to him, but he found that + there was much fighting and quarrelling, many of the villages at war with + each other, and a great deal too much use of the bow and arrow, though the + whole race was free from cannibalism. They seemed to want to halt between + two opinions: to keep up their orgies on the one hand, and to make much of + the white teacher on the other; and when we recollect that two unarmed + Englishmen, and twelve blacks from other islands, were perfectly isolated + in the midst of a heathen population, having refused protection from a + British man-of-war, it gives a grandeur to the following narrative:— + </p> + <p> + 'June 7th.—One of their chief men has just been with two bread-fruit + as a present. I detected him as a leader of one of their chief ceremonies + yesterday, and I have just told him plainly that I cannot accept anything + from him, neither can I suffer him to be coming to my place while it is + notorious that he is teaching the children the very things they ought not + to learn, and that he is strongly supporting the old false system, while + he professes to be listening attentively to the Word of God. I made him + take up his two bread-fruit and carry them away; and I suppose it will be + the story all over the village that I have driven him away. + </p> + <p> + '"By-and-by we will listen to the Word of God, when we have finished these + ceremonies." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, you hearken first to the voice of the evil spirit; you choose him + firsthand then you will care to hear about God.'" + </p> + <p> + The ceremony was to last twenty days, and only affected the lads, who were + blackened all over with soot, and apparently presented pigs to the old + priest, and were afterwards admitted to the privileges of eating and + sleeping in the separate building, which formed a kind of club-house for + the men of each village, and on which Mr. Patteson could always reckon as + both a lecture room and sleeping place. + </p> + <p> + The people kept on saying that 'by-and-by' they would make an end of their + wild ritual, and throw down their enclosures, and at the same time they + thronged to talk to him at the Mission station, and built a shed to serve + for a school at Auta. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the little estate was brought into order. A pleasant day of + landscape-gardening was devoted to clearing gaps to let in the lovely + views from the station; and a piece of ground was dug and planted with + pine-apples, vines, oranges, and cotton, also a choicer species of banana + than the indigenous one. Bread-fruit was so plentiful that breakfast was + provided by sending a boy up a tree to bring down four or five fruits, + which were laid in the ashes, and cooked at once; and as to banana leaves + 'we think nothing of cutting one down, four feet long and twenty inches + wide, of a bright pale green, just to wrap up a cooked yam or two.' + </p> + <p> + The first week in July, with Wadrokala, Mark, and two Malanta men, Mr. + Patteson set forth in the boat that had been left with him, for an + expedition among the other islands, beginning with Saddle Island, or + Valua, which was the proper name. + </p> + <p> + The day after leaving Eowa, the weather changed; and as on these perilous + coasts there was no possibility of landing, two days and the intervening + night had to be spent in the open four-oared boat, riding to a grapnel! + </p> + <p> + Very glad they were to get into Port Patteson, and to land in the wet, 'as + it can rain in the tropics.' The nearest village, however, was empty, + everybody being gone to the burial wake of the wife of a chief, and there + was no fire to cook the yams, everything dreary and deserted, but a short + walk brought the wet and tired party to the next village, where they were + made welcome to the common house; and after, supping on yams and + chocolate, spent a good night, and found the sea smooth the next day for a + return to head-quarters. + </p> + <p> + These first weeks at Mota were very happy, but after that the strain began + to tell. Mr. Patteson had been worn with anxiety for his father, and no + doubt with awe in the contemplation of his coming Episcopate, and was not + in a strong state of health when he left Kohimarama, and the lack of + animal food, the too sparing supply of wine, and the bare board bed told + upon him. On the 24th of July he wrote in a letter to his Uncle Edward:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have lost six days: a small tumour formed inside the ear about two + inches from the outer ear, and the pain has been very considerable, and + the annoyance great. Last night I slept for the first time for five + nights, and I have been so weary with sleeplessness that I have been quite + idle. The mischief is passing away now. That ear is quite deaf; it made me + think so of dear Father and Joan with their constant trial. I don't see + any results from our residence here; and why should I look for them? It is + enough that the people are hearing, some of them talking, and a few + thinking about what they hear. All in God's own time!' + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dudley adds: 'His chief trouble at this time was with one of his ears. + The swelling far in not only made him deaf while it lasted, but gave him + intense and protracted agony. More than once he had to spend the whole + night in walking up and down the room. But only on one occasion during the + whole time do I remember his losing his patience, and that was when we had + been subjected to an unusually protracted visitation from the "loafers" of + the village, who would stretch themselves at full length on the floor and + table, if we would let them, and altogether conduct themselves in such a + manner as to call for summary treatment, very different from the more + promising section. The half jocular but very decided manner in which he + cleared the house on this occasion, and made them understand that they + were to respect our privacy sometimes, and not make the Mission station an + idling place, was very satisfactory. It was no small aggravation of the + pain to feel that this might be the beginning of permanent deafness, such + as would be fatal to his usefulness in a work in which accuracy of ear was + essential.' + </p> + <p> + However, this gradually improved; and another boat voyage was made, but + again was frustrated by the torrents of rain. In fact, it was an unusually + wet and unwholesome season, which told upon everyone. Mark Chakham, the + Nengonese, was brought very near the grave by a severe attack of + dysentery. All the stores of coffee, chocolate, wine and biscuit were used + up. The 'Southern Cross' had been due full a month, and nothing was heard + of her through the whole of September. + </p> + <p> + Teaching and conversation went on all this time, trying as it was; and the + people still came to hear, though no one actually undertook to forsake his + idols. + </p> + <p> + 'I am still hopeful about these people,' is the entry on September 18, + 'though all their old customs and superstitions go on just as before. But + (1) they know that a better teaching has been presented to them. (2) They + do not pursue their old habits with the same unthinking-security. (3) + There are signs of a certain uneasiness of mind, as if a struggle was + beginning in them. (4) They have a vague consciousness, some of them, that + the power is passing away from their witchcrafts, sorceries, &c., by + which unquestionably they did and still do work strange effects on the + credulous people, like 'Pharaoh's magicians of old.' + </p> + <p> + This was ground gained; and one or two voyages to Vanua Lava and the other + isles were preparatory steps, and much experience had been acquired, and + resulted in this:— + </p> + <p> + 'The feasibility of the Bishop's old scheme is more and more apparent to + me. Only I think that in taking away natives to the summer school, it must + be understood that some (and they few) are taken from new islands merely + to teach us some of their languages and to frank us, so that we may have + access in safety to their islands. Should any of them turn out well, so + much the better; but it will not be well to take them with the expectation + of their becoming teachers to their people. But the other section of the + school will consist of young men whose behaviour we have watched during + the winter in their own homes, whose professions we have had an + opportunity of testing—they may be treated as young men on the way + to become teachers eventually to their countrymen. One learns much from + living among a heathen people, and only by living in our pupils' homes + shall we ever know their real characters. Poor fellows! they are adepts in + all kinds of deceitfulness at a very early age, and so completely in our + power on board the schooner and at Kohimarama, that we know nothing of + them as they are.' + </p> + <p> + The very paper this is copied from shows how the stores were failing, for + the full quarto sheets have all failed, and the journal is continued on + note paper. + </p> + <p> + Not till October 1 was Mr. Patteson's watch by a poor dying woman + interrupted by tidings that a ship was in sight. And soon it was too plain + that she was not the 'Southern Cross,' though, happily, neither trader nor + French Mission ship. In a short time there came ashore satisfactory + letters from home, but with them the tidings that the little 'Southern + Cross' lay in many fathoms water on the New Zealand coast! + </p> + <p> + On her return, on the night of the 17th of June, just as New Zealand + itself was reached, there was a heavy gale from the north-east. A + dangerous shoal of rocks, called the Hen and Chickens, stands out from the + head of Ngunguru Bay; and, in the darkness and mist, it was supposed that + these were safely passed, when the ship struck on the eastern Chicken, + happily on a spot somewhat sheltered from the violence of the breakers. + The two passengers and the crew took refuge in the rigging all night; and + in the morning contrived to get a line to land, on which all were safely + drawn through the surf, and were kindly received by the nearest English + settlers. + </p> + <p> + So, after five years' good service, ended the career of the good 'Southern + Cross' the first. She had gone down upon sand, and much of the wreck might + have been recovered and made useful again had labour not been scarce at + that time in New Zealand that the Bishop could find no one to undertake + the work, and all he could do was to charter another vessel to be + despatched to bring home the party from Mota. Nor were vessels fit for the + purpose easy to find, and the schooner 'Zillah'—welcome as was the + sight of her—proved a miserable substitute even in mere nautical + capabilities, and her internal arrangements were of course entirely + inappropriate to the peculiar wants of the Mission. + </p> + <p> + This was the more unfortunate because the very day after her arrival Mr. + Dudley was prostrated by something of a sunstroke. Martin Tehele was ill + already, and rapidly became worse; and Wadrokala and Harper Malo sickened + immediately, nor was the former patient recovered. Mr. Dudley, Wadrokala + and Harper were for many days in imminent danger, and were scarcely + dragged through by the help of six bottles of wine, providentially sent by + the Bishop. Mr. Dudley says:— + </p> + <p> + 'During the voyage Mr. Patteson's powers of nursing were severely tried. + Poor Martin passed away before we arrived at Nengone, and was committed to + the deep. Before he died he was completely softened by Mr. Patteson's + loving care, and asked pardon for all the trouble he had given and the + fretfulness he had shown. Poor fellow! I well remember how he gasped out + the Lord's Prayer after Mr. Patteson a few minutes before he died. We all + who had crawled up round his bed joining in with them. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, what a long dreary time that was! Light baffling winds continually, + and we in a vessel as different from the "Southern Cross" as possible, + absolutely guiltless, I should think, of having ever made two miles an + hour to windward "in a wind." The one thing that stands out as having + relieved its dreariness is the presence of Mr. Patteson, the visits he + used to pay to us, and the exquisite pathos of his voice as, from the + corner of the hold where we lay, we could hear him reading the Morning and + Evening Prayers of the Church and leading the hymn. These prevented these + long weary wakeful days and nights from being absolutely insupportable.' + </p> + <p> + At last Nengone was reached, and Wadrokala and Harper were there set + ashore, better, but very weak. Here the tidings were known that in Lifu + John Cho had lost his wife Margaret, and had married the widow of a + Karotongan teacher, a very suitable match, but too speedy to be according + to European ideas; and on November 26 the 'Zillah' was off the Three + Kings, New Zealand. + </p> + <p> + 'Monday: Nov. 26, 1860. '"Zillah" Schooner, off the Three Kings, N. of New + Zealand. + </p> + <p> + 'You know pretty well that Kohimarama is a small bay, about one-third of a + mile along the sea frontage, two-and-a-half miles due east of Auckland, + and just opposite the entrance into the harbour, between the North Head + and Eangitoto. The beach is composed entirely of the shells of "pipi" + (small cockles); always, therefore, dry and pleasant to walk upon. A fence + runs along the whole length of it. At the eastern end of it, a short + distance inside this N. (= sea) fence, are the three cottages of the + master and mate and Fletcher. Sam Fletcher is a man-of-war's man, age + about thirty-eight, who has been with us some four years and a half. He + has all the habits of order and cleanliness that his life as coxswain of + the captain's gig taught him; he is a very valuable fellow. He is our + extra man at sea. + </p> + <p> + 'Each of these cottages has its garden, and all three men are married, but + only the master (Grange) has any family, one married daughter. + </p> + <p> + 'Then going westward comes a nine-acre paddock, and then a dividing fence, + inside (i.e. to W.) of which stand our buildings. + </p> + <p> + 'Now our life here is hard to represent. It is not like the life of an + ordinary schoolmaster, still less like that of an ordinary clergyman. Much + of the domestic and cooking department I may manage, of course, to + superintend. I would much rather do this than have the nuisance of a paid + servant. + </p> + <p> + 'So at 5 A.M., say, I turn out; I at once go to the kitchen, and set the + two cooks of the week to work, light fire, put on yams or potatoes, then + back to dress, read, &c.; in and out all the time, of the kitchen till + breakfast time: say 8 or 8.30. You would be surprised to see how very soon + the lads will do it all by themselves, and leave me or Mr. Kerr to give + all our attention to school and other matters. + </p> + <p> + 'So you can fancy, Joan, now, the manner of life. My little room with my + books is my snuggery during the middle of the day, and at night I have + also a large working table at one end of the big school-room, covered with + books, papers, &c., and here I sit a good deal, my room being too + small to hold the number of books that I require to have open for + comparison of languages, and for working out grammatical puzzles. Then I + am in and out of the kitchen and store-room, and boys' rooms, seeing that + all things, clothes, blankets, floors, &c., are washed and kept clean, + and doing much what is done in every house.' + </p> + <p> + Snuggery no doubt it looked compared with the 'Zillah;' but what would the + 'Eton fellow' of fifteen years back have thought of the bare, scantily + furnished room, with nothing but the books, prints, and photographs around + to recall the tastes of old, and generally a sick Melanesian on the floor? + However, he was glad enough to return thither, though with only sixteen + scholars from ten places. Among them was Taroniara from Bauro, who was to + be his follower, faithful to death. The following addition was made to the + letter to Mr. Edward Coleridge, begun in Banks Islands:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Dec. 1, 1860. + </p> + <p> + 'One line, my dear tutor, before I finish off my pile of hastily written + letters for this mail. + </p> + <p> + 'Alas! alas! for the little schooner, that dear little vessel, our home + for so many months of each year, so admirably qualified for her work. + Whether she may be got off her sandy bed, no one can say. Great expense + would certainly be incurred, and the risk of success great also. + </p> + <p> + 'I have not yet had time to talk to the Bishop, I only reached New Zealand + on November 28. We cannot, however, well do our work in chartered vessels + [then follows a full detail of the imperfections of the 'Zillah' and all + other Australian merchant craft; then—But, dear old tutor, even the + "Southern Cross" (though what would I give to see her now at her usual + anchorage from the window at which I am now sitting!) for a time retires + into the distance, as I think of what is to take place (D.V.) in January + next. + </p> + <p> + 'I hoped that I had persuaded the Bishop that the meeting of the General + Synod in February 1862 would be a fit time. I do not see that the Duke's + despatch makes any difference in the choice of the time. But all was + settled in my absence; and now at the Feast of the Epiphany or of the + Conversion of St. Paul (as suits the convenience of the Southern Bishops) + the Consecration is to take place. I am heartily glad that the principle + of consecrating Missionary Bishops will be thus affirmed and acted upon; + but oh! if some one else was to be the Bishop! + </p> + <p> + 'And yet I must not distrust God's grace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit + to enable me for this work. I try and pray to be calm and resigned, and I + am happy and cheerful. + </p> + <p> + 'And it is a blessed thing that now three of your old dear friends, once + called Selwyn, Abraham, Hobhouse should be consecrating your own nephew + and pupil, gathered by God's providence into the same part of God's field + at the ends of the earth.' + </p> + <p> + Still with his heart full of the never-forgotten influence of his mother, + he thus begins his home letter of the same date:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Dec. 1. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—I could not write on November 28, but the memory + of that day in 1842 was with me from morning to night. We anchored on that + day at 1 A.M., and I was very busy till late at night. I had no idea till + I came back from the Islands that there was any change in the arrangements + for the consecration in February 1862. But now the Bishops of Wellington + and Nelson have been summoned for the Feast of the Epiphany, or of the + conversion of St. Paul, and all was done in my absence. I see, too, that + you in England have assumed that the consecration will take place soon + after the reception of the Duke's despatch. + </p> + <p> + 'I must not now shrink from it, I know. I have full confidence in your + judgment, and in that of the Bishop; and I suppose that if I was speaking + of another, I should say that I saw reasons for it. But depend upon it, my + dear Father, that a man cannot communicate to another the whole of the + grounds upon which he feels reluctant to accept an office. I believe that + I ought to accept this in deference to you all, and I do so cheerfully, + but I don't, say that my judgment agrees wholly with you all. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet there is no one else; and if the separation of New Zealand and + Melanesia is necessary, I see that this must be the consequence. So I + regard it now as a certainty. I pray God to strengthen and enable me: I + look forward, thanks to Him, hopefully and cheerfully. I have the love and + the prayers of many, many friends, and soon the whole Church of England + will recognise me as one who stands in special need of grace and strength + from above. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! the awful power of heathenism! the antagonism, not of evil only, but + of the Evil One, rather, I mean the reality felt of all evil emanating + from a person, as St. Paul writes, and as our Lord spoke of him. I do + indeed at times feel overwhelmed, as if I was in a dream. Then comes some + blessed word or thought of comfort, and promised strength and grace. + </p> + <p> + 'But enough of this. + </p> + <p> + 'The "Southern Cross" cannot, I think, be got off without great certain + expense and probable risk. I think we shall have to buy another vessel, + and I dare say she may be built at home, but I don't know what is the + Bishop's mind about it.... + </p> + <p> + 'I shall write to Merton, I don't know why I should needs vacate my + fellowship. I have no change of outward circumstances brought upon me by + my change presently from the name of Presbyter to Bishop, and we want all + the money. + </p> + <p> + 'What you say about a Missionary Bishop being for five months of the year + within the diocese of another Bishop, I will talk over with the Bishop of + New Zealand. I think our Synodical system will make that all right; and as + for my work, it will be precisely the same in all respects, my external + life altered only to the extent of my wearing a broader brimmed and lower + crowned hat. Dear Joan is investing moneys in cutaway coats, buckles + without end, and no doubt knee-breeches and what she calls "gambroons" + (whereof I have no cognizance), none of which will be worn more than (say) + four or five times in the year. Gambroons and aprons and lawn sleeves + won't go a-voyaging, depend upon it. Just when I preach in some Auckland + church I shall appear in full costume; but the buckles will grow very + rusty indeed! + </p> + <p> + 'How kind and good of her to take all the trouble, I don't laugh at that, + and at her dear love for me and anxiety that I should have everything; but + I could not help having a joke about gambroons, whatever they are.... + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye once more, my dearest Father. You will, I trust, receive this + budget about the time of your birthday. How I think of you day and night, + and how I thank you for all your love, and perhaps most of all, not only + letting me come to Melanesia, but for your great love in never calling me + away from my work even to see your face once more on earth. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and dutiful son, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Remark upon a high-minded letter is generally an impertinence both to the + writer and the reader, but I cannot help pausing upon the foregoing, to + note the force of the expression that thanks the father for the love that + did not recall the son. What a different notion these two men had of love + from that which merely seeks self-gratification! Observe, too, how the old + self-contemplative, self-tormenting spirit, that was unhappiness in those + days of growth and heart-searching at the first entrance into the + ministry, had passed into humble obedience and trust. Looking back to the + correspondence of ten years ago, volumes of progress are implied in the + quiet 'Enough of this.' + </p> + <p> + There were, however, some delays in bringing the three together, and on + the New Year's Day of 1861, the designate writes to Bishop Abraham: 'I + dare say the want of any positive certainty as to the time of the + Consecration is a good discipline for me. I think I feel calm now; but I + know I must not trust feelings, and when I think of those islands and the + practical difficulty of getting at them, and the need of so many of those + qualities which are so wonderfully united in our dear Primate, I need + strength from above indeed to keep my heart from sinking. But I think that + I do long and desire to work on by God's grace, and not to look to results + at all.' + </p> + <p> + A 'supplementary mail' made possible a birthday letter (the last) written + at 6 A.M. on the 11th of February: 'I wanted of course to write to you + to-day. Many happy returns of it I wish you indeed, for it may yet please + God to prolong your life; but in any case you know well how I am thinking + and praying for you that every blessing and comfort may be given you. Oh I + how I do think of you night and day. When Mrs. Selwyn said "Good-bye," and + spoke of you, I could not stand it. I feel that anything else (as I fancy) + I can speak of with composure; but the verses in the Bible, such as the + passage which I read yesterday in St. Mark x., almost unnerve me, and I + can't wish it to be otherwise. But I feel that my place is here, and that + I must look to the blessed hope of meeting again hereafter.... + </p> + <p> + 'Of course no treat is so great to me as the occasional talks with the + Bishop. Oh! the memory of those days and evenings on board the "Southern + Cross." Well, it was so happy a life that it was not good for me, I + suppose, that it should last. But I feel it now that the sense of + responsibility is deepening on me, and I must go out to work without him; + and very, very anxious I am sometimes, and almost oppressed by it. + </p> + <p> + 'But strength will come; and it is not one's own work, which is the + comfort, and if I fail (which is very likely) God will place some other + man in my position, and the work will go on, whether in my hands or not, + and that is the real point. + </p> + <p> + 'Some talk I find there has been about my going home. I did not hear of it + until after Mrs. Selwyn had sailed. It was thought of, but it was felt, as + I certainly feel, that it ought not to be.... My work lies out here + clearly; and it is true that any intermission of voyages or residences in + the islands is to be avoided.' + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Selwyn had gone home for a year, and had so arranged as to see the + Patteson family almost immediately on her return. Meantime the day drew + on. The Consecration was not by Royal mandate, as in the case of Bishops + of sees under British jurisdiction; but the Duke of Newcastle, then + Colonial Secretary, wrote:—'That the Bishops of New Zealand are at + liberty, without invasion of the Royal prerogative or infringement of the + law of England, to exercise what Bishop Selwyn describes as their inherent + power of consecrating Mr. Patteson or any other person to take charge of + the Melanesian Islands, provided that the consecration should take place + beyond British territory.' + </p> + <p> + In consequence it was proposed that the three consecrating Bishops should + take ship and perform the holy rite in one of the isles beneath the open + sky; but as Bishop Mackenzie had been legally consecrated in Cape Town + Cathedral, the Attorney-General of New Zealand gave it as his opinion that + there was no reason that the consecration should not take place in + Auckland. + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Feb. 15, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—Mr. Kerr, who has just returned from Auckland, + where he spent yesterday, brings me the news that the question of the + Consecration has been settled, and that it will take place (D.V.) on + Sunday week, St. Matthias Day, February 24. + </p> + <p> + 'I ought not to shrink back now. The thought has become familiar to me, + and I have the greatest confidence in the judgment of the Bishop of New + Zealand; and I need not say how your words and letters and prayers too are + helping me now. + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed, though at any great crisis of our lives no doubt we are intended + to use more than ordinary strictness in examining our motives and in + seeking for greater grace, deeper repentance, more earnest and entire + devotion to God, and amendment of life, yet I know that any + strong-emotion, if it existed now, would pass away soon, and that I must + be the same man as Bishop as I am now, in this sense, viz., that I shall + have just the same faults, unless I pray for strength to destroy them, + which I can do equally well now, and that all my characteristic and + peculiar habits of mind will remain unchanged by what will only change my + office and not myself. So that where I am indolent now I shall be indolent + henceforth, unless I seek to get rid of indolence; and I shall not be at + all better, wiser, or more consistent as Bishop than I am now by reason + simply of being a Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'You know my meaning. Now I apply what I write to prove that any strong + excitement now would be no evidence of a healthy state of mind. I feel now + like myself, and that is not at all like what I wish to be. And so I thank + God that as before any solemn season special inducements to earnest + repentance are put into our minds, so I now feel a special call upon me to + seek by His grace to make a more faithful use of the means of usefulness + which He gives me, that I may be wholly and entirely turned to Him, and so + be enabled to do His will in Melanesia. You know, my dearest Father, that + I do not indeed undervalue the grace of Ordination; only I mean that the + right use of any great event in one's life, as I take it, is not to + concentrate feeling so much on it as earnestness of purpose, prayer for + grace, and for increase of simplicity and honesty and purity of heart. + Perhaps other matters affect me more than my supposed state of feeling, so + that my present calmness may be attributed to circumstances of which I am + partially ignorant; and, indeed, I do wonder that I am calm when one + moment's look at the map, or thought of the countless islands, almost + overwhelms me. How to get at them? Where to begin? How to find men and + means? How to decide upon the best method of teaching, &c.? But I must + try to be patient, and to be content with very small beginnings—and + endings, too, perhaps. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday, Feb. 24, St. Matthias, 10 A.M.—The day is come, my dearest + Father, and finds me, I thank God, very calm. Yesterday, at 6 P.M., in the + little chapel at Taurama, the three Bishops, the dear Judge, Lady Martin, + Mrs. Abraham, Mr. Lloyd and I met together for special prayer. How we + missed Mrs. Selwyn, dear dear Mrs. Selwyn, from among us, and how my + thoughts passed on to you! Evening hymn, Exhortation in Consecration + Service, Litany from the St. Augustine's Missionary Manual, with the + questions in Consecration Service turned into petitions, Psalm cxxxii., + cxxxi., li.; Lesson i Tim. iii.; special prayer for the Elect Bishop among + the heathen, for the conversion of the heathen; and the Gloria in + Excelsis. + </p> + <p> + 'Then the dear Bishop walked across to me, and taking my hand in both of + his, looking at me with that smile of love and deep deep thought, so + seldom seen, and so deeply prized. "I can't tell you what I feel," he + said, with a low and broken voice. "You know it—my heart is too + full! " + </p> + <p> + 'Ah! the memory of six years with that great and noble servant of God was + in my heart too, and so we stood, tears in our eyes, and I unable to + speak. + </p> + <p> + 'At night again, when, after arranging finally the service, I was left + with him alone, he spoke calmly and hopefully. Much he said of you, and we + are all thinking much of you. Then he said: "I feel no misgiving in my + heart; I think all has been done as it should be. Many days we three have + discussed the matter. By prayer and Holy Communion we have sought light + from above, and it is, I believe, God's will." Then once more taking both + hands, he kissed my forehead: "God bless you, my dear Coley. I can't say + more words, and you don't desiderate them." + </p> + <p> + '"No," said I; "my heart, as yours, is too full for words. I have lived + six years with you to little purpose, if I do not know you full well now!" + </p> + <p> + 'And then I walked, in the perfect peace of a still cloudless night—the + moon within two days of full—the quarter of a mile to St. Stephen's + schools, where I slept last night. On the way I met the Bishop of + Wellington and Mrs. Abraham, coming up from St. Stephen's to the Bishop's + house. + </p> + <p> + J. C. P.—What a night of peace! the harbour like a silver mirror! + </p> + <p> + 'B. of W.—Dominus tecum. + </p> + <p> + 'Mrs. A.—I trust you will sleep. + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. P.—I thank you; I think so. I feel calm. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday Night, 10 P.M. (Feniton, Sunday, 10.40 A.M.)—It is over—a + most solemn blessed service. Glorious day. Church crowded—many not + able to find admittance; but orderly. More than two hundred communicants. + More to-morrow (D.V.). All day you have been in our minds. The Bishop + spoke of you in his sermon with faltering voice, and I broke down; yet at + the moment of the Veni Creator being sung over me, and the Imposition of + Hands, I was very calm. The Bible presented is the same that you gave me + on my fifth birthday with your love and blessing. Oh! my dear dear Father, + God will bless you for all your love to me, and your love to Him in giving + me to His service. May His heavenly blessing be with you—all your + dear ones for ever! + </p> + <p> + 'Your most loving and dutiful Son, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'February 25th.—I am spending to-day and to-morrow here—i.e., + sleeping at the Judge's, dining and living half at his house, and half at + the Bishop's—quiet and calm it is, and I prize it. The music + yesterday was very good; organ well played. The choirs of the three town + churches, and many of the choral society people, filled the gallery—some + eighty voices perhaps. The Veni Creator the only part that was not good, + well sung, but too much like an anthem. + </p> + <p> + 'Tagalana, half-sitting, half-kneeling behind me, held the book for the + Primate to read from at the Imposition of Hands—a striking group, I + am told.' + </p> + <p> + Here ends the letter, to which a little must be added from other pens; + and, first, from Mrs. Abraham's letter for the benefit of Eton friends:— + </p> + <p> + 'The Consecration was at St. Paul's Church, in default of a Cathedral. + Built before the Bishop arrived, St. Paul's has no chancel: and the + Clergy, including a Maori Deacon, were rather crowded within the rail. Mr. + Patteson was seated in a chair in front, ten of his island boys close to + him, and several working men of the rougher sort were brought into the + benches near. We were rather glad of the teaching that none were excluded. + The service was all in harmony with the occasion; and the sermon gave + expression to all the individual and concentrated feeling of the moment, + as well as pointing the Lesson and its teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'The sermon was on the thought of the Festival: "And they prayed, and + said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of + these two Thou hast chosen." (Acts i. 24.) After speaking of the special + import and need of the prayers of those gathered to offer up their prayers + at the Holy Communion, for those who were to exercise the office of + apostles in their choice, he spoke in words that visibly almost + overpowered their subject:— + </p> + <p> + '"In this work of God, belonging to all eternity, and to the Holy Catholic + Church, are we influenced by any private feelings, any personal regard? + The charge which St. Paul gives to Timothy, in words of awful solemnity, + 'to lay hands suddenly on no man,' may well cause much searching of heart. + 'I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect + angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring one before + another, doing nothing by partiality.' Does our own partial love deceive + us in this choice? We were all trained in the same place of education, + united in the same circle of friends; in boyhood, youth, manhood, we have + shared the same services, and joys, and hopes, and fears. I received this, + my son in the ministry of Christ Jesus, from the hands of a father, of + whose old age he was the comfort. He sent him forth without a murmur, nay, + rather with joy and thankfulness, to these distant parts of the earth. He + never asked even to see him again, but gave him up without reserve to the + Lord's work. Pray, dear brethren, for your Bishops, that our partial love + may not deceive us in this choice, for we cannot so strive against natural + affection as to be quite impartial." + </p> + <p> + 'And again, as the Primate, addressing more especially his beloved son in + the ministry, exclaimed, "May Christ be with you when you go forth in His + name, and for His sake, to those poor and needy people," and his eye went + along the dusky countenances of his ten boys, Coleridge Patteson could + hardly restrain his intensity of feeling.' + </p> + <p> + Another letter from the same lady to the sisters adds further details to + the scene, after describing the figures in the church:— + </p> + <p> + 'Lady Martin, who had never seen the dress (the cassock and rochet) + before, said that Coley reminded her of the figures of some young knight + watching his armour, as he stood in his calm stedfastness, and answered + the questions put to him by the Primate. + </p> + <p> + 'The whole service was very nicely ordered, and the special Psalm well + chanted. With one exception (which was, alas! the Veni Creator), the music + was good, and Coley says was a special help to him; the pleasure of it, + and the external hold that it gave, helping him out of himself, as it + were, and sustaining him.' + </p> + <p> + Lady Martin adds her touch to the picture; and it may perhaps be recorded + for those who may in after times read the history of the first Bishop of + the Melanesian Church, that whatever might be wanting in the beauty of St. + Paul's, Auckland, never were there three Bishops who outwardly as well as + inwardly more answered to the dignity of their office than the three who + stood over the kneeling Coleridge Patteson. + </p> + <p> + 'I shall never forget the expression of his face as he knelt in the quaint + rochet. It was meek and holy and calm, as though all conflict was over and + he was resting in the Divine strength. It was altogether a wonderful + scene: the three consecrating Bishops, all such noble-looking men, the + goodly company of clergy and Hohua's fine intelligent brown face among + them, and then the long line of island boys, and of St. Stephen's native + teachers and their wives, were living testimonies of Mission work. Coley + had told us in the morning of a consecration he had seen at Rome, where a + young Greek deacon had held a large illuminated book for the Pope to read + the words of Consecration. We had no such gorgeous dresses as they, but + nothing could have been more simply beautiful and touching than the sight + of Tagalana's young face as he did the same good office. There was nothing + artistic about it; the boy came forward with a wondering yet bright look + on his pleasant face, just dressed in his simple grey blouse. + </p> + <p> + 'You will read the sermon, so there is no need to talk about it. Your + brother was overcome for a minute at the reference to his father, but the + comfort and favour of His Heavenly Master kept him singularly calm, though + the week before he had undoubtedly had much struggle, and his bodily + health was affected.' + </p> + <p> + All the friends who were thus brought together were like one family, and + still called the new Bishop by the never disused abbreviation that + recalled his home. He was the guest of the now retired Chief Justice and + Lady Martin, who were occupying themselves in a manner probably unique in + the history of law and lawyers, by taking charge of the native school at + St. Stephen's. + </p> + <p> + The next two were great days of letter writing. Another long full letter + was written to the father, telling of the additional record which each of + the three consecrating Bishops had written in the Bible of his childhood, + and then going into business matters, especially hoping that the Warden + and Fellows of Merton would not suppose that as a Bishop he necessarily + had £5,000 a year and a palace, whereas in fact the see had no more than + the capital of £5,000 required by Government! He had already agreed with + his father that his own share of the inheritance should go to the Mission; + and, as he says, on hearing the amount:— + </p> + <p> + 'Hard enough you worked, my dear Father, to leave your children so well + off. Dear old Jem will have enough; and my children now dwell in 200 + islands, and will need all that I can give them. God grant that the day + may come when many of them may understand these things, and rise up and + call your memory blessed! + </p> + <p> + 'Your words of comfort and blessing come to me with fresh strength just + now, two days only after the time when you too, had you been here, would + in private have laid your hand on my head and called down God's blessing + upon me. I shall never know in this world what I owe to your prayers.' + </p> + <p> + There is much, too, of his brother's marriage; and in a separate letter to + the sisters there are individual acknowledgments of each article of the + equipment, gratifying the donor by informing her that the 'cutaway' coat + was actually to be worn that very evening at a dinner party at the Chief + Justice's, and admiring the 'gambroon,' which turned out to be the + material of the cassock, so much as to wish for a coat made of it for the + islands. Apropos of the hat:— 'You know my forehead is square, so + that an oval hat does not fit; it would hang on by the temples, which form + a kind of right angle with the forehead.' + </p> + <p> + Another letter of that 26th was from the Bishop of Wellington to Dr. + Goodford respecting this much-loved old pupil:— + </p> + <p> + 'Anything more conscientious and painstaking cannot be conceived than the + way he has steadily directed every talent, every hour or minute of his + life, to the one work he had set before him. However small or uncongenial + or drumdrudgery-like his occupation, however hard, or dangerous, or + difficult, it seemed to be always met in the same calm, gentle, + self-possessed spirit of love and duty, which I should fancy that those + who well knew his good and large-minded, large-hearted father, and his + mother, whom I have always heard spoken of as saintly, could best + understand. Perhaps the most marked feature in his character is his + genuine simplicity and humility. I never saw it equalled in one so gifted + and so honoured and beloved. + </p> + <p> + 'It is really creditable to the community to see how universal is the + admiration for his character, for he is so very good, so exceedingly + unworldly, and therefore such a living rebuke to the selfishness of the + world; and though so gentle, yet so firm and uncompromising that you would + have supposed he would hardly be popular outside the circle of friends who + know him and understand him. Certainly he is the most perfect character I + ever met.' + </p> + <p> + The last day of February was that of the Installation. + </p> + <p> + Again Mrs. Abraham must speak:— + </p> + <p> + 'On Thursday last we had another happy day at Kohimarama, where Bishop + Patteson was duly installed in the temporary chapel of St. Andrew's + College, as we hope to call it, after the church at Cocksmoor, in "The + Daisy Chain." The morning was grey, and we feared rain would keep our + ladies away, but we made the venture with our willing squire, Mr. M——, + in the "Iris" boat to help us. The pity was, that after all Lady Martin + could not go, as she had an invalid among her Maori flock, whom she could + not trust all day by herself. The day lightened, and our sail was + pleasant. + </p> + <p> + 'The Primate and Missionary Bishop planted a Norfolk pine in the centre of + the quadrangle—"the tree planted by the water side," &c. The + Bishop then robed and proceeded to chapel, and the Primate led the little + service in which he spoke the words of installation, and the mew Bishop + took the oath of allegiance to him. The Veni Creator was sung, and the + Primate's blessing-given. The island boys looked on from one transept, the + "Iris" sailors from another, and Charlie stood beside me. I am afraid his + chief remembrance of the day is fixed upon Kanambat's tiny boat and + outrigger, which he sat in on the beach, and went on voyages, in which the + owner waded by his side, and saw him (Kanambat) skim along the waves like + a white butterfly. We all dined in hall, after the boys, on roast beef and + plum pudding, melons and water melons, and strolled about the place and + beach at leisure, till it was time to sail back again.' + </p> + <p> + On the Sunday the new Bishop preached at St. Mary's one of the sermons + that broke from him when he was too much excited (if the word may be used) + for his usual metaphysical style. The subject was the promise of the + Comforter, His eternal presence and anointing, and the need of + intercessory prayer, for which the preacher besought earnestly, as one too + young for his office, and needing to increase in the Holy Spirit more and + more. Very far were these from being unrealised words. God's grace had + gone along with him, and had led him through every step and stage of his + life, and so mastered his natural defects, that friends who only knew him + in these years hear with incredulous indignation of those flaws he had + conquered in his younger days. 'Fearless as a man, tender as a woman, + showing both the best sides of human nature,' says one of the New Zealand + friends who knew him best; 'always drawing out the good in all about him + by force of sympathy, and not only taking care that nothing should be done + by others that he would not do himself, but doing himself what he did not + like to ask of them, and thinking that they excelled him.' Humility, the + effort of his life, was achieved at last the more truly because not + consciously. + </p> + <p> + The letter to his father was again almost wholly on money matters; but at + the end come two notable sentences:— + </p> + <p> + 'How can I thank you for giving me up to this work, and for all the wise + and loving words with which you constantly cheer me and encourage me? Your + blessing comes now to strengthen me, as work and responsibilities are fast + accumulating upon me. I thank God that He enables us at the two ends of + the world to see this matter in the same way, so that no conflict of + duties arises in my mind. + </p> + <p> + 'This book, "Essays and Reviews," I have, but pray send your copy also; + also any good books that may be produced bearing on that great question of + the Atonement, and on Inspiration, Authority of Scripture, &c. How sad + it is to see that spirit of intellectualism thinking to deal with religion + in forgetfulness of the necessary conditions of humility and faith! How + different from the true gnosis!' + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: April 29, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Father,—As I read your letters of Feb. 21-25, you are, I + trust, reading mine which tell you of what took place on Feb. 24. That + point is settled. I almost fear to write that I am a Bishop in the Church + of Christ. May God strengthen me for the duties of the office to which I + trust He has indeed called me! + </p> + <p> + 'As I read of what you say so wisely and truly, and dear Joan and Fan and + Aunt James and all, of my having expected results too rapidly at Mota, I + had sitting with me that dear boy Tagalana, who for two months last winter + was in the great sacred enclosure, though, dear lad, not by his own will, + yet his faith was weak, and no wonder. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, God's holy name be praised for it, he is, I verily believe, in his + very soul, taught by the Spirit to see and desire to do his duty. I feel + more confidence about him than I have done about anyone who has come into + my hands originally in a state of complete heathenism. It is not that his + knowledge only is accurate and clearly grasped, but the humility, the + loving spirit, the (apparent) personal appropriation of the blessing of + having been brought to know the love of God and the redemption wrought for + him by the death of Christ; this is what, as I look upon his clear + truthful eyes, makes me feel so full of thankfulness and praise. + </p> + <p> + '"But Tagalana, if I should die, you used to say that without my help you + should perhaps fall back again: is that true?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, no; I did not feel it then as I do now in my heart. I can't tell how + it came there, only I know He can never die, and will always be with me. + You know you said you were only like a sign-post, to point out the way + that leads to Him, and I see that we ought to follow you, but to go + altogether to Him." + </p> + <p> + 'I can't tell you, my dearest Father, what makes up the sum of my reasons + for thinking that God is in His mercy bringing this dear boy to be the + first-fruits of Mota unto the Christ, but I think that there is an inward + teaching going on now in his heart, which gives me sure hope, for I know + it is not my doing. + </p> + <p> + 'All you all say about Mota is most true: I never thought otherwise + really, but I wrote down my emotions and impulses rather than my + deliberate thoughts, that my letter written under such strange + circumstances might become as a record of the effect produced day by day + upon us by outward circumstances. + </p> + <p> + 'What some of you say about self-possession on one's going about among the + people being marvellous, is just what of course appears to me commonplace. + Of course it is wrong to risk one's life, but to carry one's life in one's + hand is what other soldiers besides those of the Cross do habitually; and + no one, as I think, would willingly hurt a hair of my head in Melanesia, + or that part of it where I am at all known. + </p> + <p> + 'How I think of those islands! How I see those bright coral and sandy + beaches, strips of burning sunshine fringing the masses of forest rising + into ridges of hills, covered with a dense mat of vegetation. Hundreds of + people are crowding upon them, naked, armed, with wild uncouth cries and + gestures; I cannot talk to them but by signs. But they are my children + now! May God enable me to do my duty to them! + </p> + <p> + 'I have now as I write a deepening sense of what the change must be that + has passed upon me. Again I go by God's blessing for seven months to + Melanesia. All that our experience has taught us we try to remember: food, + medicine, articles of trade and barter. + </p> + <p> + 'But what may be the result? Who can tell? You know it is not of myself + that I am thinking. If God of His great mercy lead me in His way, to me + there is little worth living for but the going onward with His blessed + work, though I like my talks with the dear Bishop and the Judge. But + others are committed to me—Mr. Pritt and Mr. Kerr go with me. Shall + I find dear old Wadrokala and Harper alive, and if alive, well? + </p> + <p> + 'And yet, thank God, we go on day by day, so happy, so hopeful! + </p> + <p> + 'I see two sermons by the Bishop of Oxford, "God's Revelation Man's + Trial," please send them. They bear, I conclude, on the controversy of the + day. I need not tell you that I find a very great interest in reading + these books, or rather at present in talking now and then, when we meet, + with the Judge on the subject of which those books treat. The books I have + not read. But I know no refreshment so great as the reading any books + which deal with these questions thoughtfully. I hope you don't think it + wrong and dangerous for me to do so; pray tell me. I don't believe that I + am wrong in doing it, yet it may be that I read them as an intellectual + treat, and prefer them to thoughtful books on other subjects, because they + deal with a study which I am a little more conversant with than with + history, science, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Besides, I do see that we have, many of us, very vague notions of the + meaning of terms which we use, and I see that I must be prepared (I speak + for myself) to expect that a clergyman may not with impunity use a + language wanting in definiteness and precision. It is possible that men do + too passively receive hereditary and conventional opinions which never + have a living reality to them. But this, you know, I do not confound with + the humble submission to authoritative teaching, given upon authority, to + supersede the necessity of every person investigating for himself the + primary grounds of his religious convictions.' + </p> + <p> + It is worth noting how the Bishop submits his reading to his father's + approval, as when he was a young boy. Alas! no more such letters of + comfort and counsel would be exchanged. This one could hardly have been + received by that much-loved father. + </p> + <p> + Preparations for the voyage were going on; but the 'Dunedin,' the only + vessel to be procured, at best a carthorse to a racer compared with the + 'Southern Cross,' was far from being in a satisfactory state, as appears + in a note of 3rd of May to the Bishop of Wellington:— + </p> + <p> + 'Here we are still. The only vessel that I could make any arrangement + about not yet returned, and known to be in such a state that the pumps + were going every two hours. I have not chartered her, but only agreed with + the owner a month ago nearly that I would take her at a certain sum per + day, subject to divers conditions about being caulked (which is all she + wants, I have ascertained), being provided with spare sails, spars, + chronometer, boat, &c., and all agreement to be off unless by a + certain day (already past) she was in a state satisfactory to Mr. Kerr. + But there is, I fear, none other, and I am in a difficulty.' + </p> + <p> + Of the same day is a letter to the Rev. Stephen Hawtrey:— + </p> + <p> + 'Taurarua, Auckland: May 6, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mr. Hawtrey,—I was highly pleased to receive a note from + you. Though I never doubt of the hearty sympathy and co-operation of all + Eton friends (how could you do so with such an annual subscription list?), + yet it is very pleasant and more than pleasant to be reminded by word or + by letter that prayers and wishes are being offered up for Melanesia by + many good men throughout the world. + </p> + <p> + 'I should like to send a special appeal for a Mission Vessel by the next + mail. We cannot get on without one. Vessels built for freight are to the + "Southern Cross" as a cart-horse to a thoroughbred steed, and we must have + some vessel which can do the work quickly among the multitude of the + isles, and many other reasons there are which we seamen only perhaps can + judge fully, which make it quite essential to the carrying on this + peculiar Mission that we should have a vessel of a peculiar kind. + </p> + <p> + 'Tagalana, from Mota (Sugar Loaf Island), in the Banks Archipelago, is, I + think, likely by God's great mercy to become the first-fruits of that + cluster of islands unto Christ. He is here for the third time; and I have + infinite comfort in seeing the earnestness of his character, and the deep + sense of what he was, and what he is going to be, so truly realised. + </p> + <p> + 'He is now so unlike what still his people are, so bright and open in + manner, and all who see him say, "What is come to the lad, his manner and + very appearance so changed!" "Clothed," thank God, he is, "and in his + right mind," soon to sit, if not already seated, at the feet of Christ. + You may, if you think fit, let your thoughts centre more especially in + him. He, of all who have come into my hands absolutely stark naked and + savage, gives now the greatest ground for hope and thanksgiving. I shall + (D.V.) think of all your dear friends assembled in your church and house + on St. Barnabas Day. May God bless and reward you all for your work of + charity to Melanesia! + </p> + <p> + 'Very sincerely yours, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'P.S.—I hope to baptize that dear boy Tagalana on his own island in + the course of the winter. I should wish to make the service as impressive + as possible, in the presence of as many islanders as I can bring to the + spot, under the shadow of a mighty banyan tree, and above the sparkling + waves of the great Pacific.' + </p> + <p> + The 'Dunedin' was patched up into sailing with the new Bishop for his + cathedral—the banyan tree of Mota. + </p> + <p> + It carried him away to his work, away from all knowledge of the blow that + was preparing for him at home, and thinking of the delight that was in + store for his family in a visit from Mrs. Selwyn, who, immediately after + his Consecration, had returned home to spend a year in England on + business. + </p> + <p> + Sir John Patteson's happiness in his son's work and worth were far greater + than those of the actual worker, having none of the drawbacks that + consciousness of weakness must necessarily excite. The joy this gave his + heart may, without exaggeration, he deliberately said to have been full + compensation for the loss of the presence so nobly sacrificed. On January + 22 he had written to the Bishop of New Zealand:— + </p> + <p> + 'You write most kindly touching him, dear fellow, and truly I am to be + envied, qui natum haberem tali ingenio praeditum. Not for a moment have I + repented of giving my sanction to his going out to New Zealand; and I + fully believe that God will prosper his work. I did not contemplate his + becoming a Bishop, nor is that the circumstance which gives me the great + satisfaction I feel. It is his devotion to so good a work, and that he + should have been found adequate to its performance; whether as a Bishop or + as a Priest is not of itself of so much importance. + </p> + <p> + 'Perhaps he may have been consecrated before I am writing this, though I + am puzzled as to the time.... + </p> + <p> + 'May God bless with the fullest success the labours of both of you in your + high and Christian works!' + </p> + <p> + There had for more than a year been cause of anxiety for Sir John's + health, but it was not the disease that had then threatened which + occasioned the following calm-hearted letter to be written to his son:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton Court: March 22, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My own dearest Coley,—I promised always to tell you the truth + respecting myself, and will do so. About a month ago, on my rising from + reading prayers, the girls and the Dawlish party who were here exclaimed + that my voice was broken, at which I laughed. Whitby was in London, but + his partner happened to call, and looking at my throat found it relaxed, + and recommended a mustard poultice on the front. When we came to put it + on, we discovered that the glands of the throat were much swelled and in + hard knots. Whitby returned in two days, and was much alarmed. He declared + that it was serious, and nothing but iodine could check it. I had been + unable to take iodine under Watson some years ago, as it affected my head + tremendously, so he applied it outwardly by painting; this painting did + not reduce them, and he strongly pressed my having London advice, for he + said that if not reduced and the swellings increased internally, they + would press on the windpipe and choke me: it was somewhat a surgical + matter. So on Tuesday the 12th inst. we went to London, and I consulted + Paget. He entirely agreed with Whitby, and thought it very serious, and + ordered iodine internally at all hazards. I took it, and by God's mercy it + agreed with me. Paget wished to talk over the case with Watson, and they + met on the 16th, Saturday. They quite agreed, and did not conceal from me + that if iodine did not reduce the swellings, and they should increase + internally, the result must be fatal. How soon, or in what particular + manner, they could not tell; it might even become cancerous. They did not + wish me to stay in town, but thought I was better here, and Paget, knowing + Whitby, has perfect confidence in his watching, and will correspond with + him, if necessary. At present there is no reduction of the swellings. The + iodine has certainly lessened the pains in my limbs, but does not seem, so + to speak, to determine to the throat, but it may be there has been hardly + time to say that it will not. My own impression is, that it will not, and + that it is highly improbable that I shall last very long. I mean that I + shall not see 1862, nor perhaps the summer or autumn of this year. I + cannot tell why, but this near prospect of death has not given me any + severe shock, as perhaps it ought to have done. It brings more than ever + to my mind serious recollection of the sins of my youth, and the + shortcomings of my after life in thousands of instances. I have never been + a hardened sinner, but years ago, if I did what was sin, it smote me, and + I tried to repent; yet there has always been in me a want of fervid love + to God, and to my blessed Redeemer for His unspeakable love in suffering + for my sins; but it has been cold—that may have been the natural + constitution of the man, I cannot tell—but I never have placed my + hopes of forgiveness and of blessedness hereafter in anything but in His + merits, and most undeserved goodness in offering me salvation, if I have + not thrown it away. But what shall I say? As the time approaches, it may + please Him in His mercy to give me a warmer heart, and a more vivid + perception of all that He has done for me. If I were to say that I am not + a sinner, the truth would not be in me; and if I am washed in His blood + and cleansed, it is not by any efforts or merits of my own, but by His + unlimited mercy and goodness. Pray for me, that when the time comes I may + not for any fears of death fall from Him. You know that as far as regards + this world and its enjoyments, save the love of my dear good children, + they have sate but lightly upon me for some time; but it is not because we + have nothing that we are unwilling to leave, therefore we are prepared for + that which is to come. Perhaps it may please God to give me still a short + time that I may try more strenuously to prepare myself. We shall never + meet again in this world. Oh! may Almighty God in His infinite mercy grant + us to meet again in His kingdom, through the merits of our blessed + Redeemer.... + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! my dearest Coley, what comfort I have had in you—what + delightful conversations we have had together, and how thankful we ought + to be to our gracious God for allowing it to be so: and still not less + thankful for the blessings of being watched and comforted and soothed by + the dear girls, and by that dear and good Jem. All so good in their + various ways, and I so little worthy of them...of Francis. That will + indeed, humanly speaking, be a terrible loss to his family, for they want + his fatherly care, and will do so for years. Not so with me; and as I am + in my seventy-second year, it cannot be said that I am cut off + prematurely: but on the contrary, fall like a fruit or a sheaf at its + proper ripeness. Oh! that it may be so spiritually indeed.' + </p> + <p> + Another letter followed the next month:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton Court: April 24, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My own dearest Coley,—How many more letters you may receive from + me, God only knows, but, as I think, not many. The iodine fails + altogether, and has produced no effect on the swellings in my throat; on + the contrary, they steadily increase, though not rapidly. Doubtless they + will have their own course, and in some way or other deliver my soul from + the burden of the flesh. Oh! may it by God's mercy be the soul of a + faithful man! Faith and love I think I have, and have long had: but I am + not so sure that I have really repented for my past sins, or only + abandoned them when circumstances had removed almost the temptation to + commit them. Yet I do trust that my repentance has generally been sincere, + and though I may have fallen again, that I may by God's grace have risen + again. I have no assurance that I have fought the good fight like St. + Paul, and that henceforth there is laid up a crown of gold; yet I have a + full and firm hope that I am not beyond the pale of God's mercy, and that + I may have hold of the righteousness of Christ, and may be partaker of + that happiness which he has purchased for His own, by His atoning blood. + No other hope have I; and in all humility I from my heart feel that any + apparent good that I may have done has been His work in me and not my own. + May it please Him that you and I, my dear son, may meet hereafter, + together with all those blessed ones, who have already departed this life + in His faith and fear, in His kingdom above. + </p> + <p> + 'My head aches occasionally, and is not so clear as it used to be.... The + next mail will bring us more definite news, if indeed I am not myself + removed before then.... I am afraid that you discern by what I have + written that I am become stupid, and though I could never write decently, + yet you will see that continued dull pain in the head, and other pains in + various parts, have made me altogether heavy and stupid. I have had the + kindest letters and messages from various quarters when it became known, + as it is always very soon, that my health was in a precarious state: one + particularly from the Bishop of Lichfield (all companions in Old Court, + King's, you know) which is very consoling. He says, If not for such as + you, for whom did Christ die? I will not go on in such strains, for it is + of no use. Only do not despair of me, my beloved Son, and believe me + always, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Father, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'Feniton Court: May 25, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'O my own dearest Coley,—Almighty God be thanked that He has + preserved my life to hear from you and others of your actual consecration + as a Missionary Bishop of the Holy Catholic Church: and may He enable you + by His grace and the powerful assistance of His Spirit to bring to His + faith and fear very many who have not known Him, and to keep and preserve + in it many others who already profess and call themselves Christians. + </p> + <p> + 'I was too ill to be present at the whole service on Sunday, but I + attended the Holy Sacrament, and hope to do so to-morrow. We have with us + our dear Sarah Selwyn, who came on Thursday: she came in the most kind and + affectionate spirit, the first visit that she could make, that she might + if possible see me: "I will go and see him before he dies." What delight + this has been to me you may easily imagine, and what talk, and what + anecdotes we have had about you and all your circle; for though your + letters have all along let us in wonderfully into your daily life, yet + there were many things to be filled up, which we have now seen more + clearly and more perfectly recollect as long as our lives are spared. + </p> + <p> + 'What at present intensely fills our hearts and minds is all that took + place on St. Matthias Day, and the day or two before and after. Passages + and circumstances there were, which it is almost wonderful that you all + could respectively bear, some affecting one the more and some the other; + but the absorbing feeling that a great work was then done, and the ardent + trust and prayer that it might turn out to the glory of God, and the good + of mankind, supported every one, I have no doubt. It was about one of + those days that I was first informed of the nature of the complaint which + had just been discovered, and which is bringing me gradually to the grave. + </p> + <p> + 'Trinity Sunday.—I am just returned from receiving the Holy + Sacrament. You will do so the same in a few hours, and they may well be + joined together, and probably the last that you and I shall receive + together in this world. My time is probably very short. Dear Sarah will + hereafter tell you more particulars of these few days. Dear Joan and Fanny + are watching me continually; it is hard work for them continually and most + uncertain, but in my mind it cannot be very long. Jem is here helping them + continually, but his wife's mother is grievously ill at a relation's in + Gloucestershire, and I will not have him withdrawn from her. I hope that + next week she may be removed to Jem's new cottage, next Hyde Park, and + then they, Joan and Fanny will watch me, and Jem on a telegraph notice may + come to me. If I dare express a hope, it is that this state of things may + not last long. But I have no desire to express any hope at all; the matter + is in the hands of a good God, who will order all things as is best.... I + would write more, but I am under the serious impression that I shall be + dead before this letter reaches you. + </p> + <p> + 'May our Almighty God, three Persons, blessed for evermore, grant that we + may meet hereafter in a blessed eternity!' + </p> + <p> + One more letter was written:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton Court, Honiton: June 12, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! my dearest Right Reverend well-beloved Son, how I thank God that it + has pleased Him to save my life until I heard of the actual fact of your + being ordained and consecrated, as I have said more than once since I + heard of it. May it please Him to prolong your life very many years, and + to enable you to fulfil all those purposes for which you have been now + consecrated, and that you may see the fruit of your labour of love before + He calls you to His rest in Heaven. But if not, may you have laid such + foundations for the spread of God's Word throughout the countries + committed to your charge, that when it pleases God to summon you hence, + you may have a perfect consciousness of having devoted all your time and + labour, and so far as you are concerned have advanced all the works as + fastly and as securely as it seemed fit to your great Assister, the Holy + Spirit, that they should be advanced. Only conceive that an old Judge of + seventy-two, cast out of his own work by infirmity, should yet live to + have a son in the Holy Office of Bishop, all men rejoicing around him; and + so indeed they do rejoice around me, mingling their loving expressions at + my illness and approaching death.... + </p> + <p> + 'I shall endeavour to write at intervals between this and July mail. It + tries me to write much at a time. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Father, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The calm of these letters was the pervading spirit of Feniton. With + perfect cheerfulness did the aged Judge await the summons, aware that he + carried the 'sentence of death within himself,' and that the manner of his + summons would probably be in itself sudden—namely, one of the + choking fits that increased in frequency. He lived on with his children + and relations round him, spending his time in his usual manner, so far as + his strength permitted—bright, kind, sunny as ever, and not + withdrawing his interest from the cares and pleasures of others, but glad + to talk more deeply, though still peacefully, of his condition and his + hopes. One thing only troubled him. Once he said, and with tears in his + eyes, to his beloved brother-in-law, Sir John Coleridge: 'Woe unto you + when all men shall speak well of you,' adding to this effect, 'Alas! That + this has been my lot without my deserts. It pains me now!' + </p> + <p> + But as this popularity had come of no self-seeking nor attempt to win + applause, it was a grief that was soon dispelled. Perhaps if there was one + strong wish, it was to hear of his son's actually having been received + into the order of Bishops, and that gratification was granted to him. The + letters with the record of consecration arrived in time to be his + Whitsuntide joy—joy that he still participated in the congregation, + for though not able to be at church for the whole service, he still was + always present at the celebration of the Holy Communion. + </p> + <p> + On the day the letters came there was great peace, and a kind of awful joy + on all the household. For many weeks past, Sir John had not attempted to + read family prayers, but on this evening he desired his daughters to let + him do so. Where in the prayer for missionaries he had always mentioned, + 'the absent member of this family,' he added in a clear tone, 'especially + for John Coleridge Patteson, Missionary Bishop.' That was the father's one + note of triumph, the last time he ever led the household prayers. In a day + or two Mrs. Selwyn came to him, and he wrote the following to the Bishop + of New Zealand:— + </p> + <p> + 'Feniton Court: May 24, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My very dear Friend,—Here I am, and I have with me your dear and + good wife, who arrived yesterday. She looks well, and I trust is so. She + has arranged her visits so as to come to me as soon as possible. "I will + go and see him before he die," and I feel sensibly the kindness of it. + What a mercy is it that my life should have been preserved to receive from + my dear son Coley and from you by letter the account of his having been + consecrated by you as Bishop of the true Catholic Church. There were + [accounts?] of that most impressive service, which, had I been present, + would have, I fear, sent me to the floor; and you and Coley must have had + difficulty in holding up at those feeling statements of your having + received him at my old hands. When you so received him, it was known I was + satisfied that his heart was really fixed on this missionary work—that + he felt a call to it. I believe, you know, and I am sure God knows, that I + had not the most distant notion in my mind that it would lead to his + becoming a Bishop, nor do I now rejoice in the result, simply on account + of the honour of the office; but because my confidence in the honesty and + sincerity of his then feelings has been justified, and that it has pleased + God to endow him with such abundant graces. May it please God that you + should continue together in your respective governments in His Church many + years, and that we may all meet together in his kingdom above! + </p> + <p> + 'When I parted with him I did not expect to see his face on earth, yet + perhaps I hardly expected that our separation would be so soon, though I + am in my seventy-second year. But in February I discovered these swellings + in my throat; which, humanly speaking, could only be cured by iodine. + Iodine has failed, and other attempts at a cure fail also; and it is only + a question of time when the soul will be delivered from the burthen of the + flesh. So indeed it is with all human beings; but it is one thing to know + this as a general proposition, and another to know that the particular + minister of death has hold of you, and that you are really only living + from day to day. + </p> + <p> + 'For all your many kindnesses to all of us and to my son, I thank you from + the very bottom of my soul, and pray that we may meet hereafter, through + the merits, and for the sake of our blessed Mediator and Redeemer Jesus + Christ our Lord, that as we have striven on earth to be followers of Him + and His glory, so we may be partakers of it in Heaven. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Friend, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The July mail was without a letter from the father. The end had come in + the early morning of June 28, 1861, with a briefer, less painful struggle + than had been thought probable, and the great, sound, wise, tender heart + had ceased to beat. + </p> + <p> + There is no need to dwell on the spontaneous honours that all of those who + had ever been connected with him paid to the good old Judge, when he was + laid beside his much-loved wife in Feniton churchyard. Bishop Sumner of + Winchester, the friend of his boyhood, read the funeral service. + </p> + <p> + 'His works do follow him:' and we turn to that work of his son's in which + assuredly he had his part, since one word of his would have turned aside + the course that had brought such blessing on both, had he not accepted the + summons, even as Zebedee, when he was left by the lake side, while his + sons became fishers of men. + </p> + <p> + Unknowing of the tidings in reserve for him, the Bishop was on his voyage, + following the usual course; hearing at Anaiteum that a frightful mortality + had prevailed in many of these southern islands. Measles had been imported + by a trader, and had, in many cases, brought on dysentery, and had swept + away a third of Mr. Geddie's Anaiteum flock. Mr. Gordon's letters had + spoken of it as equally fatal in Erromango, and there were reports of the + same, as well as of famine and war, in Nengone. + </p> + <p> + 'God will give me men in His time; for could I be cut up into five pieces + already I would be living at Nengone, Lifu, Mai, Mota, and Bauro!' was the + comment on this visit; and this need of men inspired a letter to his uncle + Edward, on a day dear to the Etonian heart:— + </p> + <p> + 'Schooner "Dunedin," 60 tons. + </p> + <p> + 'In sight of Erromango, New Hebrides: June 4, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Tutor,—Naturally I think of Eton and of you especially + to-day. I hope you have as fine a day coming on for the cricket-match and + for Surley as I have here. Thermometer 81°; Tanna and Erromango, with + their rugged hilly outlines, breaking the line of the bright sparkling + horizon. + </p> + <p> + 'I managed to charter the vessel for the voyage just in time to escape + cold weather in New Zealand. She is slow, but sound; the captain a + teetotaller, and crew respectable in all ways. So the voyage, though + lengthy, is pleasant. + </p> + <p> + 'I have some six or seven classes to take, for they speak as many more + languages; and I get a little time for reading and writing, but not much. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not tell you how heavily this new responsibility presses on me, as + I see the islands opening, and at present feel how very difficult it must + be to obtain men to occupy this opening— + </p> + <p> + 'True, we have not to contend with subtle and highly-elaborated systems of + false religion. It is the ignorantia purae negationis, comparatively + speaking, in some of the islands; yet, generally, there is a settled + system of some kind observed among them, and in the Banks Islands, an + extraordinarily developed religion, which enters into every detail of + social and domestic life, and is mixed up with the daily life of every + person in the archipelago. + </p> + <p> + 'I think, therefore, that men are needed who have what I may call strong + religious common sense to adapt Christianity to the wants of the various + nations that live in Melanesia, without compromising any truth of doctrine + or principle of conduct—men who can see, in the midst of the errors + and superstitions of a people, whatever fragment of truth or symptom of a + yearning after something better may exist among them, and make that the + point d'appui, upon which they may build up the structure of Christian + teaching. Men, moreover, of industry they must be, for it is useless to + talk of "picking up languages." Of course, in a few days a man may learn + to talk superficially and inaccurately on a few subjects; but to teach + Christianity, a man must know the language well, and this is learnt only + by hard work. + </p> + <p> + 'Then, again, unless a man can dispense with what we ordinarily call + comfort or luxuries to a great extent, and knock about anywhere in + Melanesian huts, he can hardly do much work in this Mission. The climate + is so warm that, to my mind, it quite supplies the place of the houses, + clothing, and food of old days, yet a man cannot accommodate himself to it + all at once. I don't say that it came naturally to me five years ago, as + it does now, when I feel at home anywhere, and cease to think it odd to do + things which, I suppose, you would think very extraordinary indeed. + </p> + <p> + 'But most of all—for this makes all easy—men are wanted who + really do desire in their hearts to live for God and the world to come, + and who have really sought to sit very loosely to this world. The + enjoyment, and the happiness, and the peace all come, and that abundantly; + but there is a condition, and the first rub is a hard one, and lasts a + good while. + </p> + <p> + 'Naturally buoyant spirits, the gift of a merry heart, are a great help; + for oftentimes a man may have to spend months without any white man within + hundreds of miles, and it is very depressing to live alone in the midst of + heathenism. But there must be many many fellows pulling up to Surley + to-night who may be well able to pull together with one on the Pacific—young + fellows whose enthusiasm is not mere excitement of animal spirits, and + whose pluck and courage are given them to stand the roughnesses (such as + they are) of a missionary life. For, dear Uncle, if you ever talk to any + old pupil of yours about the work, don't let him suppose that it is + consistent with ease and absence of anxiety and work. When on shore at + Kohimarama, we live very cosily, as I think. Some might say we have no + society, very simple fare, &c.; I don't think any man would really + find it so. But in the islands, I don't wish to conceal from anyone that, + measured by the rule of the English gentleman's household, there is a + great difference. Why should it, however, be measured by this standard? I + can truly say that we have hitherto always had what is necessary for + health, and what does one need more? though I like more as much as anyone. + </p> + <p> + 'How you will wonder at the news of my consecration, and, indeed, well you + may! I would, indeed, that there were a dozen men out here under whom I + was working, if only they were such men as the Primate would have chosen + to the work. + </p> + <p> + 'But it is done now, and I know I must not shrink from it. Never did I + need the love and prayers of my dear relations and friends as I do now. + Already difficulties are rising up around me, and I am so little fit to be + a leader of work like this. Don't forget, dear Tutor, your old pupil, who + used to copy the dear Bishop's letters in your study from Anaiteum, + Erromango, &c.; and little thought that he would write from these + islands to you, himself the Missionary Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'With kind love to all, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving old Pupil and Nephew, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + This thoughtful and beautiful letter was written in sight of Erromango, a + sandal-wood station, whence a trader might be found to take charge of it. + The ink was scarcely dry before the full cost of carrying the Gospel among + the heathen was brought before the writer. Not only houses and brethren + must be given up, but the 'yea and his own life also' was now to be + exemplified almost before his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The Erromaugo Mission, like that of Anaiteum, came from the Scottish Kirk. + Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, as has been seen, had been visited on every voyage of + the 'Southern Cross' during their three years' residence there, and there + was a warm regard between them and the Bishop. It was then a great shock + to hear a Nengone man call out from a sandal-wood vessel, lying in + Dillon's Bay, that they had both been killed! + </p> + <p> + It was but too true. The Erromango people had been little inclined to + listen to Mr. Gordon's warnings, and he, a young and eager man, had told + them that to persevere in their murders and idolatries would bring a + judgment upon them. When therefore the scourge of sickness came, as at + Anaiteum, they connected him with it; and it was plain from his diary that + he had for some months known his life to be in danger, but he had gone + about them fearlessly, like a brave man, doing his best for the sick. + </p> + <p> + On May 20 he was in a little wood, putting up a house instead of one that + had been blown down by a hurricane, and he had sent his few faithful + pupils to get grass for the thatch. Nine natives from a village about + three hours' walk distant came to the house where his wife was, and asked + for him. She said he was in the little wood. They went thither, and while + eight hid themselves in the bush, one went forward and asked for some + calico. Mr. Gordon took a bit of charcoal and wrote on a bit of wood + directions to his wife to give the bearer some cotton, but the man + insisted that he must come himself to give out some medicine for a sick + man. Mr. Gordon complied, walking in front as far as the place where lay + the ambush, when the man struck him with a tomahawk on the spine, and he + fell, with a loud scream, while the others leaping out fell upon him with + blows that must have destroyed life at once, yelling and screaming over + him. Another went up to the house. Mrs. Gordon had come out, asking what + the shouts meant. 'Look there!' he said, and as she turned her head, he + struck her between the shoulders, and killed her as soon as she had + fallen. + </p> + <p> + Another native had in the meantime rushed down the hill to the sandal-wood + station half a mile off on the beach, and the trader, arming his natives, + came up too late to do more than prevent the murderers from carrying off + the bodies or destroying the house. The husband and wife were buried in + the same grave; the natives fenced it round; and now, on June 7, eighteen + days after, Bishop Patteson read the Burial Service over it, with many + solemn and anxious thoughts respecting the population, now reduced to + 2,500, and in a very wild condition. + </p> + <p> + At Mai the Bishop spent two hours the next day, and brought away one old + scholar and one new one. + </p> + <p> + At Tariko, where he had been three years before with the Primate, the + Episcopal hat brought the greeting 'Bishop,' as the people no doubt + thought the wearer identical. Of Ambrym there is a characteristic + sentence: 'As we left the little rock pool where I had jumped ashore, + leaving, for prudence sake, the rest behind me in the boat, one man raised + his bow and drew it, then unbent it, then bent it again, but apparently + others were dissuading him from letting fly the arrow. The boat was not + ten yards off, I don't know why he did so; but we must try to effect more + frequent landings.' + </p> + <p> + On June 12 Mota was reached, and the next morning the Mission party + landed, warmly welcomed by the inhabitants. The house was found safely + standing and nearly weather-proof. + </p> + <p> + 'June 13th.—This morning I put up the framework for another small + house, where I shall put Wadrokala, his child-wife, and many of our boxes. + We had to carry up the timber first from the beach, and it was rather hot + work, as also the carpentering, as I chose a place for the house where no + falling bread-fruit or branches of trees would hurt it, and the sun was so + hot that it almost burnt my hand when I took up a handful of nails that + had been lying for ten minutes in the sun. So our picnic life begins + again, and that favourably. I feel the enjoyment of the glorious view and + climate, and my dear lads, Tagalana and Parenga, from Bauro, are with me, + the rest in Port Patteson, &c., coming over in the vessel to-morrow, + which I shall then discharge. I see that the people are very friendly; + they all speak of your bread-fruit tree, your property. The house had not + been entered, a keg of nails inside it not touched. + </p> + <p> + 'Tagalana's father is dead. His first words to me were, "Oh that the Word + of God had come in old times to Mota, I should not then cry so much about + him. Yes, it is true, I know, I must be thankful it is come now, and I + must remember that, and try to help others who may die too before they + believe it." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, I am quite your child now! Yes, one Father for us all in Heaven. + You my father here! Yes, I stop always with you, unless you send me away. + They ask me with whom I shall live now; I say with the Bishop." + </p> + <p> + 'How I was praising and rejoicing in my heart as the dear boy was + speaking: "Yes, I am feeling calm again now. When people die at Mota, you + know they make a great shouting, but soon forget the dead person. But I am + able to be quiet and calm now, as you talk to me about God and Jesus + Christ. Yes, He rose again. Death is not the end. I know you said it is + for those who repent and believe in Christ the Door to enter into life + eternal. How different it all seems then!" + </p> + <p> + 'When you read this you will say, "Thank God that I sent him out to + Melanesia with my blessing on his head. I too may see Tagalana one day + with Him who is the Father of us all." + </p> + <p> + 'One soul won to Christ, as I hope and believe, by His love and power, and + if in any degree by my ministry, to God be the praise!' + </p> + <p> + The comfort sent home to the sisters with the letter respecting this + voyage is:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mota: June 14, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, dear Joan, don't any of you think too much about the murder of Mr. + and Mrs. Gordon, as if my life was exposed to the same kind of risk. + </p> + <p> + 'Certainly it is not endangered here. It may be true that at places where + I am not known some sudden outbreak may occur; but humanly speaking, there + are not many places that as yet I am able to visit where I realise the + fact of any danger being run. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet it may happen that some poor fellow, who has a good cause to think + ill of white men, or some mischievous badly disposed man, may let fly a + random arrow or spear some day. + </p> + <p> + 'If so, you will not so very much wonder, nor be so very greatly grieved. + Every clergyman runs at least as great a risk among the small-pox and + fevers of town parishes. Think of Uncle James in the cholera at + Thorverton.' + </p> + <p> + So with the 'Dunedin' dismissed, Bishop Patteson, Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, and + their pupils recommenced their residence at Mota. The Banks Islanders + returned to their homes; and when the Bishop came to Aroa, Tagalana's + native place, three weeks lately the little fellow received him + affectionately, cooked yams, fetched mats, and was not ashamed before his + own people to kneel down, and join audibly in hymn and prayer. The people + begged for Wadrokala or some other teacher to be placed among them. The + Journal continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'On Friday, at 8.30, I started, not quite knowing whither I should go, but + soon saw that I could fetch round the south end of Vanua Lava, which was + well. The sea, when it comes through the passage between Mota and Valua, + is heavy, but the boat had great way on her, sailing very fast, so that I + could steer her well, and we did not take very long crossing to the small + reef islands. I passed between Pakea and Vanua Lava (Dudley Passage), and + then we had unexpectedly a very heavy sea, a strong tide up. I did not + like it, but, thank God, all went well. One very heavy sea in particular I + noticed, which broke some twenty yards ahead, and about the same distance + astern of us, while the exact part of it which came down upon us was only + a black wall of water, over which we rode lightly and dry. I think that it + might have swamped us had it broken upon the boat. My boat is an open + four-oared one, 26 feet long, and about five wide, strong but light. She + sails admirably with a common lug sail. I had one made last summer, very + large, with two reefs, so that I can reduce it to as small a sail as I + please. By 4 or 5 P.M. I neared Aruas, in the bay on the west side of + Vanua Lava; the same crowd as usual on the beach, but I did not haul the + boat up. I had a grapnel, and dropped it some fifty yards from the beach. + </p> + <p> + 'Somehow I did not much like the manner of some of the people; they did + not at night come into the Ogamal, or men's common eating and sleeping + house, as before, and I overheard some few remarks which I did not quite + like—something about the unusual sickness being connected with this + new teaching—I could not be quite sure, as I do not know the dialect + of Aruas. There were, however, several who were very friendly, and the + great majority were at least quiet, and left us to ourselves. The next + morning I started at about eight, buying two small pigs for two hatchets, + and yams and taro and dried bread-fruit for fish-hooks. I gave one young + man a piece of iron for his attention to us. As we pulled away, one + elderly man drew his bow, and the women and children ran off into the + bush, here, as everywhere almost in these islands, growing quite thickly + some twenty yards above high-water mark. The man did not let fly his + arrow: I cannot tell why this small demonstration took place.' + </p> + <p> + When an arrow was pointed at him, it was Bishop Patteson's custom to look + the archer full in the face with his bright smile, and in many more cases + than are here hinted at, that look of cheery confidence and good-will made + the weapon drop. + </p> + <p> + After a few more visits to the coasts of this archipelago the boat + returned to Mota, where Mr. Pritt and Mr. Kerr had kept school every day, + besides getting the station into excellent order and beauty. Their + presence at the head-quarters left the Bishop free to circulate in the + villages, sleeping in the Ogamals, where he could collect the men. They + always seemed pleased and interested, and their pugnacious habits were + decidedly diminishing, though their superstitious practices and + observances were by no means dropped. + </p> + <p> + The Diary, on July 24, thus speaks of the way of life; which, however, was + again telling on the health of the party:— + </p> + <p> + 'I am so accustomed to sleeping about anywhere that I take little or no + account of thirty, forty, fifty naked fellows, lying, sitting, sleeping + round me. Someone brings me a native mat, someone else a bit of yam; a + third brings a cocoa-nut; so I get my supper, put down the mat (like a + very thin door-mat) on the earth, roll up my coat for a pillow, and make a + very good night of it. I have had deafness in my right ear again for some + days; no pain with it, but it is inconvenient. + </p> + <p> + 'Several of our lads have had attacks of fever and ague; Wadrokala and his + child of a wife, Bum, a Bauro boy, &c. The island is not at all + unhealthy, but natives cannot be taught caution. I, thank God, am in + robust health, very weather-beaten. I think my Bishop's dress would look + quite out of keeping with such a face and pair of hands! + </p> + <p> + 'There is much as usual in such cases to encourage and to humble us. Some + few people seem to be in earnest. The great majority do their best to make + me think they are listening. Meanwhile, much goes on in the island as of + old. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday, July 28th, 11.45 A.M.—I have much anxiety just now. At this + moment Wadrokala is in an ague fit, five or six others of my party kept + going by quinine and port wine, and one or other sickening almost daily. + Henry Hrahuena, of Lifu, I think dying, from what I know not—I think + inflammation of the brain, induced possibly by exposure to the sun, though + I have not seen him so exposed, and it is a thing I am very careful about + with them. I do what I can in following the directions of medical books, + but it is so hard to get a word from a native to explain symptoms, &c.; + besides, my ear is now, like last year, really painful; and for two nights + I have had little sleep, and feel stupid, and getting a worn-out feeling. + With all this, I am conscious that it is but a temporary depression, a day + or two may bring out the bright colours again. Henry may recover by God's + mercy, the boys become hearty again; my ear get right. At present I feel + that I must rub on as I can, from hour to hour. + </p> + <p> + 'If I find from experience that natives of Melanesia, taken to a different + island, however fertile, dry, and apparently healthy, do seem to be + affected by it, I must modify my plans, try as soon as possible to have + more winter schools, and, what is of more consequence, I must reconsider + the whole question of native teachers. If a great amount of sickness is to + be the result of gathering scholars around me at an island, I could do, + perhaps, more single-handed, in health, and with no one to look after, + than with twenty fellows of whom half are causing continual anxiety on the + score of health. Now were I alone, I should be as brisk as a bee, but I + feel weighed down somewhat with the anxiety about all these fellows about + me. + </p> + <p> + 'I must balance considerations, and think it out. It requires great + attention. It is at times like these that I experience some trials. + Usually my life is, as you know, singularly free from them. + </p> + <p> + 'July 31st.—Henry died on Sunday about 4 A.M. Wadrokala is better. + The boys are all better. I have had much real pain and weariness from + sleepless nights, owing to the small tumour in my ear. What a sheet of + paper for you to read! And yet it is not so sad either. The boys were + patient and good; Wadrokala takes his ague attacks like a man; and about + Henry I had great comfort. + </p> + <p> + 'He was about eighteen or nineteen, as I suppose, the son of the great + enchanter in Lifu in old times—the hereditary high priest of Lifu + indeed. He was a simple-minded, gentle, good fellow, not one probably who + would have been able to take a distinct line as a teacher, yet he might + have done good service with a good teacher. We found that afternoon a + slate on which he had written down some thoughts when first taken ill, + showing that he felt that he was sick unto death. Very full of comfort + were his written as well as his spoken words.' + </p> + <p> + On August 1, while the Bauro scholars were writing answers to questions on + the Lord's Prayer, a party of men and women arrived, headed by a man with + a native scarf over his shoulders. They had come to be taught, bringing + provisions with them, and eating them, men and women together, a memorable + infringement of one of the most unvarying customs of the Banks + inhabitants; and from the conversation with them and with others, Bishop + Patteson found that the work of breaking down had been attained, that of + building up had to be begun. They must learn that leaving off heathen + practices was not the same thing as adopting the religion of Christ, and + the kind of work which external influences had cut short in Lifu had to be + begun with them. + </p> + <p> + 'Soon, I think, the great difficulty must be met in Mota of teaching the + Christian's social and domestic life to people disposed to give up much of + their old practices. This is the point at which I suppose most Missions + have broken down. It is a great blessing indeed to reach it, but the + building up of converts is the harder work. Here, for example, a + population of 1,500 people; at present they know all that is necessary for + the cultivation of yams, &c., they build houses sufficient for the + purpose of their present life, they are giving up fighting, losing-faith + in their old charms and contrivances for compassing the death of their + enemies; they will very likely soon be at peace throughout the whole + island. Well, then, they will be very idle, talk infinite scandal, indulge + in any amount of gluttony; professing to believe our religion, their whole + life will contradict that profession, unless their whole social and + domestic life be changed, and a new character infused into them. It would + be a great mistake to suppose that the English aspect of the Christian's + social life is necessarily adapted to such races as these. The Oriental + tendencies of their minds, the wholly different circumstances of their + lives, climate, absence of all poverty or dependence upon others, &c., + will prevent them from ever becoming a little English community; but not, + I trust, their becoming a Christian community. But how shall I try to + teach them to become industrious, persevering, honest, tidy, clean, + careful with children, and all the rest of it? What a different thing from + just going about and teaching them the first principles of Christianity! + The second stage of a Mission is the really difficult one.' + </p> + <p> + A few days after the foregoing observations were written, H.M.S. + 'Cordelia,' a war steamer, entered Port Patteson, and Captain Hume himself + came across by boat to Mota, to communicate to Bishop Patteson his + instructions to offer him a cruise in the vessel, render him any + assistance in his power in the Solomon Islands, and return him to any + island he might desire. Letters from the Primate assumed that the proposal + should be accepted; it was an opportunity of taking home the Bauro and + Grera boys; moreover there was a quarrel between English and natives to be + enquired into at Ysabel Island, where the Bishop could be useful as + interpreter; and, as he could leave his two friends to carry on the school + at Mota, he went on board, and very good it was for him, in the depressed + state of health brought on by rude bed and board, to be the guest on board + a Queen's ship and under good medical care. + </p> + <p> + For the 'Cordelia' had brought out the letters which gave the first + intimation of his father's state; and without the privacy, and freedom + from toil and responsibility, he could hardly have borne up under the + blow. The first day was bad enough: 'a long busy day on shore with just + one letter read, and the dull heavy sensation of an agony that was to + come, as soon as I could be alone to think.' Arrangements had to be made; + and there was not one solitary moment till 9 P.M. in the cabin when this + loving and beloved son could shut himself in, kneel down, and recover + composure to open the two letters in his father's hand. + </p> + <p> + He wrote it all—his whole heart—as of old to the father who + had ever shared his inmost thoughts:— + </p> + <p> + 'It may be that as I write, your blessed spirit, at rest in Paradise, may + know me more truly than ever you did on earth; and yet the sorrow of + knowing how bitter it is within may never be permitted to ruffle your + everlasting peace. + </p> + <p> + 'I may never see you on earth. All thought of such a joy is gone. I did + really cling to it (I see it now) when most I thought I was quite content + to wait for the hope of the great meeting. I will try to remember and to + do what you say about all business matters. + </p> + <p> + 'I will pray God to make me more desirous and more able to follow the holy + example you leave behind. Oh that the peace of God may be given to me also + when I come to die; though how may I dare to hope for such an end, so full + of faith and love and the patient waiting for Christ! + </p> + <p> + 'I must go on with my work. This very morning I was anxious, passing shoal + water with the captain and master beside me, and appealing to me as pilot. + I must try to be of some use in the ship. I must try to turn to good + account among the islands this great opportunity. Probably elasticity of + mind will come again now for very pain of body. Oh! how much more sorrow + and heavy weight on my heart! I am quite worn out and weary. It seems as + if the light were taken from me, as if it was no longer possible to work + away so cheerily when I no longer have you to write to about it all, no + longer your approval to seek, your notice to obtain. + </p> + <p> + 'I must go on writing to you, my own dearest Father, even as I go on + praying for you. It is a great comfort to me, though I feel that in all + human probability you are to be thought of now as one of the blessed drawn + wholly within the veil. Oh! that we may all dwell together hereafter for + His blessed sake who died for us. Now more than ever your loving and + dutiful Son,' &c. + </p> + <p> + Such another letter was written to his sister Fanny; but it is dated four + days later, when he was better in health, and was somewhat recovered from + the first shock; besides which, he felt his office of comforter when + writing to her. So the letter is more cheerful, and is a good deal taken + up with the endeavour to assure the sisters of his acquiescence in + whatever scheme of life they might adopt, and willingness that, if it were + thought advisable, Feniton Court should be sold. 'This is all cold and + heartless,' he says, 'but I must try and make my view pretty clear.' + Towards the end occurs the following:— + </p> + <p> + 'Last night, my slight feverish attack over, my ears comfortable, with the + feeling of health and ease returning, I lay awake, thought of dear Uncle + Frank, and then for a long time of dear Mamma. How plainly I saw her face, + and dear dear Uncle James, and I wondered whether dear dear Father was + already among them in Paradise. It is not often that I can fasten down my + mind to think continuously upon those blessed ones; I am too tired, or too + busy; and this climate, you know, is enervating. But last night I was very + happy, and seemed to be very near them. The Evening Lesson set me off, 1 + John iii. How wonderful it is! But all the evening I had been reading my + book of Prayers and Meditations. Do you know, Fan, at times the thought + comes upon me with a force almost overpowering, that I am a Bishop; and + that I must not shrink from believing that I am called to a special work. + I don't think that I dwell morbidly on this, but it is an awful thought. + And then I feel just the same as of old, and don't reach out more, or aim + more earnestly at amendment of life and strive after fresh degrees of + enlightenment and holiness. But probably I have to learn the lesson, which + it may be only sickness will teach me, of patient waiting, that God will + accomplish His own work in His own time.' + </p> + <p> + Some of this is almost too sacred for publication, and yet it is well that + it should be seen how realising the Communion of Saints blessed the + solitary man who had given up home. The next letter is to Sir J. T. + Coleridge:— + </p> + <p> + 'H.M.S. "Cordelia," September 11, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Uncle,—It is now nearly five weeks since I learnt from + my letters of March and April, brought to me by this ship, the very + precarious state of my dear Father. + </p> + <p> + 'He has never missed a mail since we have been parted, never once; and he + wrote as he always did both in March and April. I had read a letter from + the good Primate first; because I had to make up my mind whether I could, + as I was desired, take a cruise in this vessel; and in his letter I heard + of my dear Father's state. With what reverence I opened his letters! With + what short earnest prayers to God that I might have strength supplied and + resignation I had kept them till the last. All day at Mota I had been too + busy to read any but the Primate's letters. I had many matters to + arrange...and it was not until night that I could quietly read my letters + in the captain's cabin. My dear Father's words seem to come to me like a + voice from another world. I think from what he says, and what they all + say, that already he has departed to be with Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'I think of him and my dear mother, and those dear uncles James and Frank, + so specially dear to me, and others gone before. I think of all that he + has been to me, and yet how can I be unhappy? The great shock to me was + long overpast: it is easy for me to dwell on his gain rather than my loss; + yet how I shall miss his wise loving letters and all the unrestrained + delights of our correspondence. + </p> + <p> + 'It is not with me as with those dear sisters, or with old Jem. Theirs is + the privilege of witnessing the beauty and holiness of his life to the + end; and theirs the sorrow of learning to live without him. Yet I feel + that the greatest perhaps of all the pleasures of this life is gone. How I + did delight in writing to him and seeking his approval of what I was + about! How I read and re-read his letters, entering so entirely into my + feelings, understanding me so well in my life, so strangely different from + what it used to be. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it should make me feel more than ever that I have but one thing to + live for—the good, if so it may please God, of these Melanesian + islands. + </p> + <p> + 'I cannot say, for you will like to know my feelings, that I felt so + overwhelmed with this news as not to be able to go about my usual + business. Yet the rest on board the vessel has been very grateful to me. + The quiet cheerfulness and briskness will all come again, as I think; and + yet I think too that I shall be an older and more thoughtful man by reason + of this. + </p> + <p> + 'There has been reported a row at Ysabel Island, one of the Solomon group, + eighteen months ago. This vessel, a screw steamer, ten guns and a large + pivot gun, came to enquire, with orders from the Commodore of the station + to call at Mota and see me, and request me to go with the vessel if I + could find time to do so; adding that the vessel was to take me to any + island which I might wish to be returned to. Now I have long wished to + indoctrinate captains of men-of-war with our notions of the right way to + settle disputes between natives and traders. Secondly, I had a passage + free with my Solomon Islanders, and consequently all October and half + November I may devote to working up carefully (D.V.) the Banks and New + Hebrides group without being under the necessity of going down to the + Solomon Islands. Thirdly, I had an opportunity of going further to the + westward than I had ever been before, and of seeing new ground. Fourthly, + the Primate, I found, assumed that I should go. So here I am, in great + clover, of course: the change from Mota to man-of-war life being amusing + enough. Barring some illness, slight attacks of fever, I have enjoyed + myself very much. The seeing Ysabel Island is a real gain. I had time to + acquire some 200 words and phrases of the language, which signify to me a + great deal more. The language is a very remarkable one, very Polynesian; + yet in some respects distinguished from the Polynesian, and most closely + related to Melanesian dialects. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not enter into all this. It is my business, you know, to work at + such things, and a word or two often tells me now a good deal of the + secrets of a language—the prominent forms, affixes, &c., &c.; + the way in which it is linked on to other dialects by peculiar + terminations, the law by which the transposition of vowels and consonants + is governed in general. All these things soon come out, so I am very + sanguine about soon, if I live, seeing my way in preparing the way for + future missionaries in the far West. + </p> + <p> + 'But I must not forget that I have some islands to visit in the next month + or two where the people are very wild, so that I of all people have least + reason to speculate about what I may hope to do a year hence. + </p> + <p> + 'The real anxiety is in the making up my own mind whether or not I ought + to lower the boat in such a sea way; whether or not I ought to swim ashore + among these fellows crowded there on the narrow beach, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'When my mind is made up, it is not so difficult then. But, humanly + speaking, there are but few islands now where I realise the fact of there + being any risk; at very many I land with confidence. Yet I could + enumerate, I dare say, five-and-twenty which we have not visited at all, + or not regularly; and where I must be careful, as also in visiting + different parts of islands already known to us in part. Poor poor people, + who can see them and not desire to make known to them the words of life? I + may never forget the Bishop's words in the Consecration Service:—"Your + office is in the highest sense to preach the Gospel to the poor;" and then + his eye glanced over the row of Melanesians sitting near me. + </p> + <p> + 'How strange that I can write all this, when one heavy sense of trouble is + hanging vaguely over me. And yet you will be thankful that I can think, as + I trust, heartily of my work, and that my interest is in no way lessened. + It ought to be increased. Yet I scarce realise the fact of being a Bishop, + though again it does not seem unnatural. I can't explain what I mean. I + suppose the fact that I knew for so long before that it must come some day + if I lived, makes the difference now. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't think, however, that your words will come true of my appearing in + shovel hat, &c., at Heath's Court some fine day. It is very improbable + that I shall ever see the northern hemisphere, unless I see it in the + longitude of New Guinea. + </p> + <p> + 'I must try to send a few island shells to M——, B——, + and Co.; those little ones must not grow up, and I am sure that you all do + not suffer them to grow up, without knowing something about "old cousin + Coley" tumbling about in a little ship (albeit at present in a war + steamer) at the other end of the world. Seriously, dear Uncle, as they + grow older, it may be some help for them to hear of these poor + Melanesians, and of our personal intercourse with them, so to speak. + </p> + <p> + 'I have but little hope of hearing, if I return safe to New Zealand at the + end of November, that this disastrous war is over. I fear that the + original error has been overlaid by more recent events, forgotten amongst + them. The Maori must suffer, the country must suffer. Confession of a + fault in an individual is wrong in a State; indeed, the rights of the case + are, and perhaps must be, unknown to people at a distance. We have no + difficulty here in exposing the fallacies and duplicities of the authors + of the war, but we can't expect (and I see that it must be so) people in + England to understand the many details. To begin with, a man must know, + and that well, Maori customs, their national feeling, &c. It is all + known to One above, and that is our only hope now. May He grant us peace + and wisdom for the time to come! + </p> + <p> + 'I have been reading Helps again this voyage, a worthy book, and specially + interesting to me. How much there is I shall be glad to read about. What + an age it is! America, how is that to end? India, China, Japan, Africa! I + have Jowett's books and "Essays and Reviews." How much I should like to + talk with you and John, in an evening at Heath's Court, about all that + such books reveal of Intellectualism at home. One does feel that there is + conventionalism and unreality in the hereditary passive acceptance of much + that people think they believe. But how on Jowett's system can we have + positive teaching at all? Can the thing denoted by "entering into the mind + of Christ or St. Paul" be substituted for teaching the Catechism? + </p> + <p> + 'Not so, writes my dear Father in the depth of his humility and + simplicity, writing to me what a father could scarcely say to a son! But + our peculiar circumstances have brought this blessing to me, that I think + he has often so "reamed out" his heart to me in the warmth of his love to + a son he was never again to see in the body, that I know him better even + than I should have done had I remained at home. + </p> + <p> + 'So wonderful was my dearest Father's calmness when he wrote on the 24th + of April, that if he was alive to write again in May, I think it not + impossible that he may allude to these matters. If so, what golden words + to be treasured up by me! I have all his letters. You will see, or have + seen him laid by my dear Mother's side. They dwell together now with Him + in Paradise. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, my dearest Uncle. Should God spare your life, my letters will + be more frequent to you now. + </p> + <p> + 'My kindest love to Aunt. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and grateful Nephew, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + There is little more record of this voyage. There was less heart and + spirit than usual for the regular journalizing letter; but the five weeks' + voyage had been most beneficial in restoring health and energy, and it had + one very important effect upon the Mission, for it was here that + Lieutenant Capel Tilly, R.N., became so interested in the Mission and its + head, as to undertake the charge of the future 'Southern Cross.' The + 'Cordelia' was about to return to England, where, after she was paid off, + Mr. Tilly would watch over the building of the new vessel on a slightly + larger scale than the first, would bring her out to Kohimarama, and act as + her captain. + </p> + <p> + So great a boon as his assistance did much to cheer and encourage the + Bishop, who was quite well again when he landed at Mota on September 17, + and found Mr. Pritt convalescent after a touch of ague, and Mr. Kerr so + ill as to be glad to avail himself of Captain Hume's kind offer to take + him back to Auckland in the 'Cordelia.' + </p> + <p> + Probably all were acclimatised by this time, for we hear of no more + illness before the 'Sea Breeze,' with Mr. Dudley, came, on the 10th of + October, to take the party off. + </p> + <p> + He says:—'The Bishop and Mr. Pritt both looked pale and worn. There + were, however, signs in the island of a great advance in the state of + things of the previous year. An admirable schoolroom had been built; and + in the open space cleared in front of it, every evening some hundred + people would gather, the older ones chatting, the younger ones being + initiated in the mysteries of leap-frog, wrestling, and other English + games, until prayer time, when all stood in a circle, singing a Mota hymn, + and the Bishop prayed with and for them. + </p> + <p> + 'That voyage was not a long one. We did not go to the Solomon Islands and + the groups to the north, but we worked back through the New Hebrides, + carefully visiting them.' + </p> + <p> + Mr. Dudley had brought letters that filled the Bishop's heart to + overflowing, and still it was to his father that he wrote: 'It seems as if + you had lived to see us all, as it were, fixed in our several positions, + and could now "depart in peace, according to His word."' + </p> + <p> + The agony and bitterness seem to have been met and struggled through, as + it were, in those first days on board the 'Cordelia.' In this second + letter there is infinite peace and thankfulness; and so there still was, + when, at Norfolk Island, the tidings of the good old man's death met him, + as described in the ensuing letter:— + </p> + <p> + '"Sea Breeze," one hundred miles south-east of Norfolk Island: 8 A.M. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—Joy and grief were strangely mingled together + while I was on shore in Norfolk Island, from 6 P.M. Saturday to 8 P.M. + Sunday (yesterday). + </p> + <p> + 'I was sitting with Mr. Nobbs (Benjamin Dudley the only other person + present) when he said, "We have seen in our papers from Sydney the news of + the death of your revered Father." He concluded that I must have known of + it. + </p> + <p> + 'How wonderful it seems to me that it did not come as a great shock. I + showed by my face (naturally) that I had not known before that God had + taken him unto Himself, but I could answer quite calmly, "I thank God. Do + not be distressed at telling me suddenly, as you see you have done + inadvertently. I knew he could not live long. We all knew that he was only + waiting for Christ." + </p> + <p> + 'And, dear dear John and Fan, how merciful God has been! The last part of + his letter to me, of date June 25, only three days before his call came, + so that I know (and praise God for it) that he was spared protracted + suffering. Shall I desire or wish to be more sorry than I am? Shall I try + to make myself grieve, and feel unhappy? Oh, no; it is of God's great + mercy that I still feel happy and thankful, for I cannot doubt the depth + of my love to him who has indeed been, and that more than ever of late, + the one to whom I clung in the world. + </p> + <p> + 'I could be quiet at night, sleeping in Mr. Nobbs's house, and yet I could + not at once compose myself to think it all over, as I desired to do. And + then I had much to do, and here was the joy mingling with the sorrow. + </p> + <p> + 'For the Norfolk Island people have come to see how wise was the Primate's + original plan, and now they much desire to connect themselves more closely + with the Mission. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. and Mrs. Nobbs desire their son Edwin, who was two years at the + Governor's at Sydney, and is now eighteen and a half years old, to be + given wholly to us.... So said Simon Young of his boy Fisher, and so did + three others. All spoke simply, and without excitement, but with deep + feeling. I thought it right to say that they should remain at Norfolk + Island at present, that we all might prove them whether they were indeed + bent upon this work, that we might be able to trust that God had indeed + called them. To the lads I said, "This is a disappointment, I know, but it + is good for you to have to bear trials. You must take time to count the + cost. It is no light thing to be called to the work of a teacher among the + heathen. In giving up your present wish to go immediately, you are obeying + your parents and others older than yourselves, and your cheerful obedience + to them is the best evidence that you wish to act upon a sense of duty, + and not only from impulse; but don't think I wish to discourage you. I + thank Him who has put the good desire into your hearts. Prove yourselves + now by special prayer and meditation." + </p> + <p> + 'Then came the happy, blessed service, the whole population present, every + confirmed person communicating, my voice trembling at the Fifth + Commandment and the end of the Prayer for the Church Militant, my heart + very full and thankful. I preached to them extempore, as one can preach to + no other congregation, from the lesson, "JESUS gone to be the guest of a + man that is a sinner," the consequences that would result in us from His + vouchsafing to tabernacle among us, and, as displayed in the Parable of + the Pounds, the use of God's gifts of health, influence, means; then, + specifying the use of God's highest gifts of children to be trained to His + glory, quoting 1 Samuel i. 27, 28, "lent to the Lord," I spoke with an + earnestness that felt strange to me at the time. + </p> + <p> + 'Simon Young said afterwards: "My wife could not consent months ago to + Fisher's going away, but she has told me now that she consents. She can't + withhold him with the thought of holy Hannah in her mind." And I felt as + if I might apply (though not in the first sense) the prophecy "Instead of + thy fathers, thou shalt have children." + </p> + <p> + 'To add to all, Mr. Nobbs said: "I have quite altered my mind about the + Melanesian school, I quite see that I was mistaken;" and the people are + considering how to connect themselves closely with us. + </p> + <p> + 'You may imagine, dear Joan, that joy and grief made a strange, yet not + unhappy tumult in my mind. I came away at 3 P.M. (the wind being very + fair) hoping to revisit them, and, by the Bishop of Tasmania's desire, + hold a confirmation in six months' time. How I am longing to hear the last + record of the three days intervening between June 25 and 28, you may well + imagine.... Already, thank God, four months have passed, and you are + recovering from the great shock. Yours is a far harder trial than mine. + May God comfort and bless us all, and bring us to dwell with our dear + parents in heaven, for our blessed Lord's sake. + </p> + <p> + 'Your very loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + And this most touching account from within is supplemented by the + following, by Mr. Dudley, from without:— + </p> + <p> + 'He took it [the tidings of his father's death] quite calmly. Evidently it + had been long expected and prepared for. He was even cheerful in his quiet + grave way. In the evening there was singing got up for him by some of the + Norfolk Islanders, in one of the large rooms of the old barracks. He + enjoyed it; and after it had gone on some time, he thanked them in a few + touching words that went home, I am sure, to the hearts of many of them, + and then we all knelt down, and he prayed extempore. I wish I had kept the + words of that prayer! Everyone was affected, knowing what was then + occupying his mind, but we were still more so next morning, at the service + in church. His voice had that peculiarly low and sweet tone which always + came into it when he was in great anxiety or sorrow, but his appeal to the + congregation was inspiring to the last degree. It was the Twenty-third + Sunday after Trinity, and the subject he took was from the second lesson, + the Parable of the Pounds, in St. Luke xix., and so pointed out the + difficulties between the reception of a talent and the use of it. He + showed that the fact of people's children growing up as wild and careless + as heathen was no proof that no grace had been bestowed upon them; on the + contrary, in the baptized it was there, but it had never been developed; + and then came the emphatic assertion, "The best way of employing our gifts + of whatever kind—children, means, position—is by lending them + to the Lord for His service, and then a double blessing will be returned + for that we give. Hannah giving her child to the Lord, did she repent of + it afterwards, think you, when she saw him serving the Lord, the one + upright man of the house of Israel?"' + </p> + <p> + No doubt these words were founded on those heartfelt assurances which + stirred his very soul within him that his own father had never for a + moment regretted or mourned over the gift unto the Lord, which had indeed + been costly, but had been returned, 'good measure, pressed together, and + flowing over,' in blessing! can I grieve and sorrow about my dear dear + Father's blessed end?' are the words in a letter to myself written on the + 19th. It further contained thanks for a photograph of Hursley Church spire + and Vicarage, which had been taken one summer afternoon, at the desire of + Dr. Moberly (the present Bishop of Salisbury), and of which I had begged a + copy for him. 'I shall like the photograph of Hursley Vicarage and Church, + the lawn and group upon it. But most shall I like to think that Mr. Keble, + and I dare say Dr. Moberly too, pray for me and this Mission. I need the + prayers of all good people indeed.' I quote this sentence because it led + to a correspondence with both Mr. Keble and Dr. Moberly, which was equally + prized by the holy and humble men of heart who wrote and received the + letters:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's, Kohimarama: November 20, 1861. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you, my dearest Sophy, for your loving letters, and all your love + and devotion to him. + </p> + <p> + 'I fear I do not write to those two dear sisters of mine as they and you + all expect and wish. I long to pour it all out; I get great relief in + talking, as at Taurarua I can talk to the dear Judge and Lady Martin. She + met me with a warm loving kiss that was intended to be as home-like as + possible, and for a minute I could not speak, and then said falteringly, + "It has been all one great mercy to the end. I have heard at Norfolk + Island." But I feel it still pent up to a great extent, and yet I have a + great sense of relief. I fancy I almost hear sometimes the laboured + breathing, the sudden stop—the "thanks be to God, he has entered + into his rest." + </p> + <p> + 'What his letters are, I cannot even fully say to another, perhaps never + fully realise myself. + </p> + <p> + 'As I write, the tears come, for it needs but a little to bring them now, + though I suppose the world without thinks that I "bear up," and go on + bravely. + </p> + <p> + 'But when any little word or thought touches the feelings, the sensitive + rather than the intellectual part of me, then I break down. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet it seems to bring thoughts and hopes into more definite shape. + How I read that magnificent last chapter of Isaiah last Sunday. I seemed + to feel my whole heart glowing with wonder, and exultation, and praise. + The world invisible may well be a reality to us, whose dear ones there + outnumber now those still in the flesh. Jem's most beautiful, most + intensely affecting letter, with all his thoughtfulness about the grave, + &c., fairly upset me. I let the Judge and Lady Martin read some parts + of it, and they returned it, saying it had quite overcome them. Now all + day I feel really as much as at those moments, only the special + circumstances give more expression at one time than at another to the + inward state of mind. + </p> + <p> + 'How I treasure up many many of his words and actions! + </p> + <p> + 'What a history in these words: "All times of the day are alike to me now; + getting near, I trust, the time when it will be all day." + </p> + <p> + 'Those are the things that break me down. I see his dear face, and hear + him slowly and calmly saying such words of patient trust and faith, and it + is too much. Oh! that I might live as the son of such parents ought to + live! + </p> + <p> + 'And then I turn to the practical duties again, and get lost in the + unceasing languages and all the rest of it. + </p> + <p> + 'Now enough—but I write what comes uppermost. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Very soon after the return, on the 6th December, 1861, an Ordination was + held at St. Paul's, Auckland, when the Primate ordained two Maori deacons, + and Bishop Patteson, the Rev. Benjamin Dudley. + </p> + <p> + Sir William and Lady Martin spent part of this summer in the little + cottage at Kohimarama where the sailing master of the late 'Southern + Cross' had lived: and again we have to thank her for a picture of life at + St. Andrew's. She says:— + </p> + <p> + 'The new settlement was then thought to be healthy, and he and his boys + alike rejoiced in the warmth of the sheltered bay, after the keenness of + the air at St. John's on higher ground. The place looked very pretty. The + green fields and hawthorn hedges and the sleek cattle reminded one of + England. As a strong contrast, there was the white shelly beach and yellow + sands. Here the boys sunned themselves in play hours, or fished on the + rocks, or cooked their fish at drift-wood fires. On calm days one or two + would skim across the blue water in their tiny canoes. One great charm of + the place was the freedom and naturalness of the whole party. There was no + attempt to force an overstrained piety on these wild fellows, who showed + their sincerity by coming with the Bishop. By five in the morning all were + astir, and jokes and laughter and shrill unaccountable cries would rouse + us up, and go on all day, save when school and chapel came to sober them. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop had not lost his Eton tastes, and only liked to see them play + games, and the little fat merry-faced lads were always on the look-out for + a bit of fun with him. One evening a tea-drinking was given in the hall in + honour of us. The Mota boys sung in twilight the story of the first + arrival of the Mission vessel and of their wonder at it. The air, with a + monotonous, not unpleasing refrain, reminded us of some old French + Canadian ditties. I remember well the excitement when the Bishop sent up a + fire balloon. It sailed slowly towards the sea, and down rushed the whole + Melanesian party, shrieking with delight after it. Our dear friend's own + quarters were very tiny, and a great contrast to his large airy room at + St. John's. He occupied a corner house in the quadrangle, to be close to + the boys. Neither bedroom nor sitting-room was more than ten feet square. + Everything was orderly, as was his wont. Photographs of the faces and + places he loved best hung on the walls. Just by the door was his standing + desk, with folios and lexicons. A table, covered with books and papers in + divers languages, and a chair or two, completed his stock of furniture. + The door stood open all day long in fine weather, and the Bishop was + seldom alone. One or other of the boys would steal quietly in and sit + down. They did not need to be amused, nor did they interrupt his work. + They were quite content to be near him, and to get now and then a kind + word or a pleasant smile. It was the habitual gentle sympathy and + friendliness on his part that won the confidence of the wild timid people + who had been brought up in an element of mistrust, and which enabled them + after a while to come and open their hearts to him. + </p> + <p> + 'How vividly the whole scene comes back to me as I write! The Bishop's + calm thoughtful face, the dusky lads, the white-shelled square in front, + relieved by a mass of bright geraniums or gay creepers, the little + bed-room with its camp bed, and medicine bottles and good books, and, too + often, in spite of our loving remonstrances, an invalid shivering with + ague, or influenza, in possession. We knew that this involved broken + nights for him, and a soft board and a rug for a couch. He was overtasking + his powers during those years. He was at work generally from five A.M. to + eleven P.M., and this in a close atmosphere; for both the schoolroom and + his own house were ill-ventilated. He would not spare time enough either + for regular exercise. He had a horse and enjoyed riding, but he grudged + the time except when he had to come up to town on business or to take + Sunday services for the English in the country. It was very natural, as he + had all a student's taste for quiet study, yet could only indulge it by + cutting off his own hours for relaxation. He was constantly called off + during the day to attend to practical work, teaching in school, + prescribing for and waiting on the sick, weighing out medicines, keeping + the farm accounts, besides the night classes in several languages. + </p> + <p> + 'He was really never so happy as among his boys or his books. He had no + liking for general society, though his natural courteousness made him + shrink from seeming ungracious. He did thoroughly enjoy a real talk with + one or two friends at a time, but even this he denied himself.' + </p> + <p> + Fanny Patteson had spent several days at Hursley in the course of the + winter, and the Vicar and Mrs. Keble had greatly delighted in hearing her + brother's letters. The following letter from Mr. Keble was written, as + will be perceived, immediately after hearing the account of the baptism of + the dying child at Mota:— + </p> + <p> + 'Hursley, February 19, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Bishop Patteson,—I seat myself down on a low chair between + the pictures of your uncle and your Metropolitan, and that by command of + your sister, who is on a footstool in the corner opposite, I to send two + words, she 200, or, for aught I know, 2,000, to greet you on the other + side of the world. We have the more right, as your kind sisters have kept + us well up to your Missionary doings from time to time, and we seem to be + very often with you on board or in your islands (I say we, for my dear + wife is more than half of me, as you may well suppose, in such + sympathies), and it seems to me that, perhaps, in the present state of + your island or sea-work you may have more time than by-and-by for thinking + of one and another; anyhow we trust that that may happen which we ask for + every evening—that we may be vouchsafed a part in the holy prayers + which have been that day offered to the Throne of Grace, in Melanesia or + elsewhere. I don't know whether I am right, but I fancy you at times + something between a Hermit and a Missionary. God grant you a double + blessing! and as you are a Bishop besides, you will breathe us a blessing + in return for this, such as it is. Fanny's visit has been, as you know it + would be, most charming and genial to us old folks (not that my wife ought + to be so spoken of), and I shall always think it so kind of her to have + spared us the time when she had so much to do and so short a time to do it + in; but she seems like one going about with a bag of what Bishop Selwyn + calls "hope-seed," and sowing it in everyplace; yet when one comes to look + close at it, it all consists of memories, chiefly you know of whom. I only + wish I could rightly and truly treasure up all she has kindly told us of + your dear Father; but it must be a special grace to remember and really + understand such things. It will be a most peculiar satisfaction, now that + we have had her with us in this way, to think of you all three together, + should God's Providence allow the meeting of which we understand there is + a hope. The last thing she has told us of is the baptism on St. Barnabas' + Day—"the first fruits of Mota unto Christ." What a thought—what + a subject for prayer and thanksgiving! God grant it may prove to you more + than we can ask or think. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever yours, my dear Bishop, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. K. + </h5> + <p> + 'Don't trouble yourself to write, but think of us.' + </p> + <p> + Of course there was no obeying this postscript, and the immediate reply + was:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dear dear Mr. Keble,—Few things have ever given me more real + pleasure than the receipt of your letter by this mail. I never doubted + your interest in New Zealand and Melanesia, and your affection for me for + my dear Father's sake. I felt quite sure that prayers were being offered + up for us in many places, and where more frequently than at Hursley? Even + as on this day, five years ago, when I touched the reef at Guadalcanar, in + the presence of three hundred armed and naked men, (I heard afterwards) + prayers were being uttered in the dead of your night by my dear old + governess, Miss Neill, that God would have me in His safe keeping. But it + is most pleasant, most helpful to me, to read your letter, and to feel + that I have a kind of right now to write to you, as I hope I may do while + I live fully and freely. + </p> + <p> + 'I do not say a word concerning the idea some of you in England seem to + take of my life here. It is very humbling to me, as it ought to be, to + read such a letter from you. How different it is really! + </p> + <p> + 'If my dear sisters do come out to me for a while, which, after their + letters by this February mail, seems less impossible than before, they + will soon see what I mean: a missionary's life does not procure him any + immunity from temptations, nor from falling into them; though, thanks be + to God, it has indeed its rich and abundant blessings. It is a blessed + thing to draw a little fellow, only six months ago a wild little savage, + down upon one's knee, and hear his first confession of his past life, and + his shy hesitating account of the words he uses when he prays to his + newly-found God and Saviour. These are rare moments, but they do occur; + and, if they don't, why the duty is to work all the same. + </p> + <p> + 'The intelligence of some of these lads and young men really surprises me. + Some with me now, last October were utterly wild, never had worn a stitch + of clothing, were familiar with every kind of vice. They now write an + account of a Scripture print, or answer my MS. questions without copy, of + course, fairly and legibly in their books, and read their own language—only + quite lately reduced to writing—with ease. What an encouragement! + And this applies to, I think, the great majority of these islanders. + </p> + <p> + 'One child, I suppose some thirteen or fourteen years of age, I baptized + on Christmas Day. Three days afterwards I married her to a young man who + had been for some years with us. They are both natives of Nengone, one of + the Loyalty Isles. I administered the Holy Eucharist to her last Saturday, + and she is dying peacefully of consumption. What a blessed thing! This + little one, fresh from Baptism, with all Church ministrations round her, + passing gently away to her eternal rest. She looks at me with her soft + dark eyes, and fondles my hand, and says she is not unhappy. She has, I + verily believe, the secret of real happiness in her heart. + </p> + <p> + 'I must write more when at sea. I have very little time here. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope by God's blessing to make a long round among my many islands this + winter; some, I know, must be approached with great caution. Your prayers + will be offered for me and those with me, I know, and am greatly comforted + by the knowledge of it. + </p> + <p> + 'Fanny tells me what you have said to her about supplying any deficit in + the money required for our vessel. I feel as if this ought not in one + sense to come upon you, but how can I venture to speak to you on such + matters? You know all that I think and feel about it. Send me more your + blessing. I feel cares and anxieties now. My kind love to Mrs. Keble. + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + Two more notes followed in quick succession to Hursley Vicarage, almost + entirely upon the matter of the new 'Southern Cross,' which was being + built under Mr. Tilly's eye. The two Bishops were scrupulous about letting + Mr. Keble give more than a fair proportion towards the vessel, which was + not to cost more than £3,000, though more roomy than her lamented + predecessor. Meantime the 'Sea Breeze' was 'again to serve for the winter + voyage:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Barnabas Day, Auckland: 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Sisters,—Think of my being ashore, and in a Christian land + on this day. So it is. We sail (D.V.) in six days, as it may be this day + week. The Melanesians are very good and pretty well in health, but we are + all anxious to be in warm climates. I think that most matters are settled. + Primate and I have finished our accounts. Think of his wise stewardship! + The endowment in land and money, and no debts contracted! I hope that I + leave nothing behind me to cause difficulty, should anything happen. The + Primate and Sir William Martin are my executors; Melanesia, as you would + expect, my heir. I may have forgotten many items, personal reminiscences. + Ask for anything, should anything happen. I see no reason to anticipate + it, humanly speaking, but it is always well to think of such things. I am + just going to the little Taurarua chapel to our Melanesian Commemoration + service with Holy Communion. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! if it should please God to grant us a meeting here! + </p> + <p> + 'Great blessings have been given me this summer in seeing the progress + made by the scholars, so great as to make me feel sober-minded and almost + fearful, but that is wrong and faithless perhaps, and yet surely the + trials must come some day. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you all, and keep you all safe from all harm. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + 'Friday, June 27th, 2 P.M.—How you are thinking of all that took + place that last night on earth. He was taking his departure for a long + voyage, rather he was entering into the haven where he would be! May God + give us grace to follow his holy example, his patient endurance of his + many trials, the greatest his constant trial of deafness. + </p> + <p> + 'I think if the weather be fair, that we shall go off to-morrow. Oh! if we + do meet, and spend, it may be, Christmas together. + </p> + <p> + 28th, 3 P.M.—The first anniversary of our dear Father's death. How + you are all recalling what took place then! How full of thankfulness for + his gain, far outweighing the sorrow for our loss! And yet how you must + feel it, more than I do, and yet I feel it deeply: but the little fond + memories of the last months, and above all the looks and spoken words of + love, I can't altogether enter into them. His letters are all that letters + can be, more than any other letters can be, but they are not the same + thing in all ways. The Primate has left us to hurry down the sailing + master of the "Sea Breeze." It was a very rough morning, but is calm now, + boats passing and repassing between the shore and the schooner at anchor + off Kohimarama.' + </p> + <p> + The habit of writing journals was not at once resumed by Bishop Patteson + when his father was not there to read them; and the chance of seeing his + sisters, no doubt, made him write less fully to them, since they might be + on the voyage when the letters arrived in England. Thus the fullest record + of the early part of the voyage is in a report which he drew up and + printed in the form of a letter to the Rev. J. Keble:— + </p> + <p> + 'We chartered the "Sea Breeze" schooner in June last for four months: she + is a vessel of seventy tons register, a little larger than the old + "Southern Cross," and as well suited for our purpose as a vessel can be + which is built to carry passengers in the ordinary way. No voyage can of + course equal in importance those early expeditions of the Primate, when he + sailed in his little schooner among seas unknown, to islands never before + visited, or visited only by the sandal-wood traders. But I never recollect + myself so remarkable a voyage as this last. I do not mean that any new + method was adopted in visiting islands, or communicating with the natives. + God gave to the Bishop of New Zealand wisdom to see and carry out from the + first the plan, which more and more approves itself as the best and only + feasible plan, for our peculiar work. But all through this voyage, both in + revisiting islands well known to us, and in recommencing the work in other + islands, where, amidst the multitude of the Primate's engagements, it had + been impossible to keep up our acquaintance with the people, and in + opening the way in islands now visited for the first time, from the + beginning to the end, it pleased God to prosper us beyond all our utmost + hopes. I was not only able to land on many places where, as far as I know, + no white man had set foot before, but to go inland, to inspect the houses, + canoes, &c., in crowded villages (as at Santa Cruz), or to sit for two + hours alone amidst a throng of people (as at Pentecost Island), or to walk + two and a half miles inland (as at Tariko or Aspee). From no less than + eight islands have we for the first time received, young people for our + school here, and fifty-one Melanesian men, women, and young lads are now + with us, gathered from twenty-four islands, exclusive of the islands so + long-known to us of the Loyalty Group. When you remember that at Santa + Cruz, e.g., we had never landed before, and that this voyage I was + permitted to go ashore at seven different places in one day, during which + I saw about 1,200 men: that in all these islands the inhabitants are, to + look at, wild, naked, armed with spears and clubs, or bows and poisoned + arrows; that every man's hand (as, alas! we find only too soon when we + live among them) is against his neighbour, and scenes of violence and + bloodshed amongst themselves of frequent occurrence; and that throughout + this voyage (during which I landed between seventy and eighty times) not + one hand was lifted up against me, not one sign of ill-will exhibited; you + will see why I speak and think with real amazement and thankfulness of a + voyage accompanied with results so wholly unexpected. I say results, for + the effecting a safe landing on an island, and much more the receiving a + native lad from it, is, in this sense, a result, that the great step has + been made of commencing an acquaintance with the people. If I live to make + another voyage, I shall no longer go ashore there as a stranger. I know + the names of some of the men; I can by signs remind them of some little + present made, some little occurrence which took place; we have already + something in common, and as far as they know me at all, they know me as a + friend. Then some lad is given up to us, the language learned, and a real + hold on the island obtained. + </p> + <p> + 'The most distant point we reached was the large island Ysabel, in the + Solomon Archipelago. From this island a lad has come away with us, and we + have also a native boy from an island not many miles distant from Ysabel, + called Anudha, but marked in the charts (though not correctly) as Florida. + </p> + <p> + 'It would weary you if I wrote of all the numerous adventures and strange + scenes which in such a voyage we of course experience. I will give you, if + I can, an idea of what took place at some few islands, to illustrate the + general character of the voyage. + </p> + <p> + 'One of the New Hebrides Islands, near the middle of the group, was + discovered by Cook, and by him called "Three Hills." The central part of + it, where we have long-had an acquaintance with the natives, is called by + them "Mai." Some six years ago we landed there, and two young men came + away with us, and spent the summer in New Zealand. Their names were Petere + and Laure; the former was a local chief of some consequence. We took a + peculiar interest in this island, finding that a portion of the population + consists of a tribe speaking a dialect of the great Polynesian language of + which another dialect is spoken in New Zealand. Every year we have had + scholars from Mai, several of whom can read and write. We have landed + there times without number, slept ashore three or four times, and are well + known of course to the inhabitants. + </p> + <p> + 'The other day I landed as usual among a crowd of old acquaintances, + painted and armed, but of that I thought nothing. Knowing them to be so + friendly to us, instead of landing alone, I took two or three of our party + to walk inland with me; and off we started, Mr. Dudley and Wadrokala being + left sitting in the boat, which was, as usual, a short distance from the + beach. We had walked about half a mile before I noticed something unusual + in the manner of the people, and I overheard them talking in a way that + made me suspect that something had happened which they did not want me to + know. Petere had not made his appearance, though in general the first to + greet us, and on my making enquiries for him, I was told that he was not + well. Not long afterwards I overheard a man say that Petere was dead, and + taking again some opportunity that offered itself for asking about him, + was told that he was dead, that he had died of dysentery. I was grieved to + hear this, because I liked him personally and had expected help from him + when the time came for commencing a Mission station on the island. The + distance from the beach to the village where Petere lived is about one and + a half mile, and a large party had assembled before we reached it. There + was a great lamentation and crying on our arrival, during which I sat down + on a large log of a tree. Then came a pause, and I spoke to the people, + telling them how sorry I was to hear of Petere's death. There was + something strange still about their manner, which I could not quite make + out; and one of our party, who was not used to the kind of thing, did not + like the looks of the people and the clubs and spears. At last one of + them, an old scholar of ours, came forward and said, "The men here do not + wish to deceive you; they know that you loved Petere, and they will not + hide the truth; Petere was killed by a man in a ship, a white man, who + shot him in the forehead." Of course I made minute enquiries as to the + ship, the number of masts, how many people they saw, whether there was + anything remarkable about the appearance of any person on board, &c. + The men standing round us were a good deal excited, but the same story was + told by them all. + </p> + <p> + 'After a while I walked back to the beach, no indication having been made + of unfriendliness, but I had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when + three men rushed past me from behind, and ran on to the beach. Meanwhile + Mr. Dudley and Wadrokala in the boat were rather uneasy at the manner of + the people standing near them on the reef; and they too suspected that + something unusual had occurred. Presently they saw these three men rush + out of the bush on to the beach and distribute "kava" (leaves of the + pepper plant) among the people, who at once changed their manner, became + quite friendly and soon dispersed. It was quite evident that a discussion + had taken place on shore as to the treatment we were to receive; and these + men on the beach were awaiting the result of the discussion, prepared to + act accordingly. There was scarcely any danger in our case of their + deciding to injure us, because they knew us well; but had we been + strangers we should have been killed of course; their practice being, + naturally enough, to revenge the death of a countryman on the arrival of + the next man who comes from what they suppose to be their enemies' + country. + </p> + <p> + 'This story may show you that caution is necessary long after the time + that a real friendship has commenced and been carried on. We never can + tell what may have taken place during the intervals of our visits. I + returned to the village, with Mr. Kerr and Mr. Dudley and slept ashore, + thinking it right to restore mutual confidence at once; and there was not + the slightest risk in doing so. + </p> + <p> + 'Now let me tell you about an island called Ambrym, lying to the south of + Aurora and Pentecost, the two northernmost islands of the New Hebrides + group. + </p> + <p> + 'Ambrym is a grand island, with a fine active volcano, so active on this + last occasion of our visiting it, that we were covered and half-blinded by + the ashes; the deck was thickly covered with them, and the sea for miles + strewed with floating cinders. We have repeatedly landed in different + parts of the island, but this time we visited an entirely new place. There + was a considerable surf on the beach, and I did not like the boat to go + near the shore, partly on that account, but chiefly because our rule is + not to let the boat approach too near the beach lest it should be hauled + up on shore by the people and our retreat to the schooner cut off. So I + beckoned to some men in a canoe (for I could not speak a word of the + language), who paddled up to us, and took me ashore. + </p> + <p> + 'As I was wading to the beach, an elderly man came forward from the crowd + to the water's edge, where he stood holding both his arms uplifted over + his head. Directly that I reached him, he took my hand, and put it round + his neck, and turned to walk up the beach. As I walked along with him + through the throng of men, more than three hundred in number, my arm all + the while round his neck, I overheard a few words which gave me some + slight clue as to the character of their language, and a very few words go + a long way on such occasions. We went inland some short distance, passing + through part of a large village, till we came to a house with figures, + idols or not, I hardly know, placed at some height above the door. + </p> + <p> + 'They pointed to these figures and repeated a name frequently, not unlike + the name of one of the gods of some of the islands further to the north; + then they struck the hollow tree, which is their native drum, and thronged + close round me, while I gave away a few fish-hooks, pieces of red braid, + &c. I asked the names of some of the people, and of objects about me, + trees, birds, &c. I was particularly struck with two boys who kept + close to me. After some time I made signs that I would return to the + beach, and we began to move away from the village; but I was soon stopped + by some men, who brought me two small trees, making signs that I should + plant them. + </p> + <p> + 'When I returned to the beach, the two boys were still with me, and I took + their hands and walked on amidst the crowd. I did not imagine that they + would come away with me, and yet a faint hope of their doing so sprang up + in my mind, as I still found them holding my hands, and even when I began + to wade towards the boat still close by my side in the water. All this + took place in the presence of several hundred natives, who allowed these + boys to place themselves in the boat and be taken on board the schooner. + </p> + <p> + 'I was somewhat anxious about revisiting an island called Tikopia. Once we + were there, five or six years ago. The island is small, and the + inhabitants probably not more than three hundred or four hundred. They are + Polynesians, men of very large stature, rough in manner, and not very + easily managed. I landed there and waded across the reef among forty or + fifty men. On the beach a large party assembled. I told them in a sort of + Polynesian patois, that I wished to take away two lads from their island, + that I might learn their language, and come back and teach them many + things for their good. This they did not agree to. They said that some of + the full-grown men wished to go away with me; but to this I in my turn + could not agree. These great giants would be wholly unmanageable in our + school at present. I went back to the edge of the reef—about three + hundred yards—and got into the boat with two men; we rowed off a + little way, and I attempted, more quietly than the noisy crowd on shore + would allow, to explain to them my object in coming to them. After a while + we pulled back to the reef, and I waded ashore again; but I could not + induce them to let me take any one away who was at all eligible for the + school. Still I was very thankful to have been able twice to land and + remain half an hour or more on shore among the people. Next year (D.V.) I + may be able to see more of them, and perhaps may obtain a scholar, and so + open the island. It is a place visited by whalers, but they never land + here, and indeed the inhabitants are generally regarded as dangerous + fellows to deal with, so I was all the more glad to have made a successful + visit. + </p> + <p> + 'Nothing could have been more delightful than the day I spent in making + frequent landings on the north side of Santa Cruz. This island was visited + by Spaniards, under the command of Mendana, nearly three hundred years + ago. They attempted to found a colony there, but after a short time were + compelled, by illness and the death of Mendana and his successor, to + abandon their endeavour. It is apparently a very fertile island, certainly + a very populous one. The inhabitants are very ingenious, wearing beautiful + ornaments, making good bags woven of grass stained with turmeric, and fine + mats. Their arrows are elaborately carved, and not less elaborately + poisoned: their canoes well made and kept in good order. We never before + landed on this island; but the Primate, long before I was in this part of + the world, and two or three times since, had sailed and rowed into the bay + at the north-west end, called Graciosa Bay, the fine harbour in which the + Spaniards anchored. I went ashore this last voyage in seven different + places, large crowds of men thronging down to the water's edge as I waded + to the beach. They were exceedingly friendly, allowed me to enter the + houses, sit down and inspect their mode of building them. They brought me + food to eat; and when I went out of the houses again, let me examine the + large sea-going canoes drawn up in line on the beach. I wrote down very + many names, and tried hard to induce some young people to come away with + me, but after we had pulled off some way, their courage failed them, and + they swam back to the shore. + </p> + <p> + 'Two or three of the men took off little ornaments and gave them to me; + one bright pretty boy especially I remember, who took off his shell + necklace and put it round my neck, making me understand, partly by words, + but more by signs, that he was afraid to come now, but would do so if I + returned, as I said, in eight or ten moons. + </p> + <p> + 'Large baskets of almonds were given me, and other food also thrown into + the boat. I made a poor return by giving some fish-hooks and a tomahawk to + the man whom I took to be the person of most consequence. On shore the + women came freely up to me among the crowd, but they were afraid to + venture down to the beach. Now this is the island about which we have long + felt a great difficulty as to the right way of obtaining any communication + with the natives. This year, why and how I cannot tell, the way was opened + beyond all expectation. I tried hard to get back from the Solomon Islands + so as to revisit it again during the voyage, but we could not get to the + eastward, as the trade-wind blew constantly from that quarter. + </p> + <p> + 'At Leper's Island I had just such another day—or rather two days + were spent in making an almost complete visitation of the northern part of + the island—the people were everywhere most friendly, and I am hoping + to see them all again join us soon, when some may be induced to. + </p> + <p> + 'It would be the work of days to tell you all our adventures. How at + Malanta I picked two lads out of a party of thirty-six in a grand war + canoe going on a fighting expedition—and very good fellows they are; + how we filled up our water-casks at Aurora, standing up to our necks in + the clear cool stream rushing down from a cataract above, with the natives + assisting us in the most friendly manner; how at Santa Maria, which till + this year we never visited without being shot at, I walked for four or + five hours far inland wherever I pleased, meeting great crowds of men all + armed and suspicious of each other—indeed actually fighting with + each other—but all friendly to me; how at Espiritu Santo, when I had + just thrown off my coat and tightened my belt to swim ashore through + something of a surf, a canoe was launched, and without more ado a nice lad + got into our boat and came away with us, without giving me the trouble of + taking a swim at all; how at Florida Island, never before reached by us, + one out of some eighty men, young and old, standing all round me on the + reef, to my astonishment returned with me to the boat, and without any + opposition from the people quietly seated himself by my side and came away + to the schooner; how at Pentecost Island, Taroniara (a lad whom the + Primate in old days had picked up in his canoe paddling against a strong + head wind, and kept him on board all night, and sent him home with + presents in the morning) now came away with me, but not without his bow + and poisoned arrows, of which I have taken safe possession; how Misial + felt sea-sick and home-sick for a day or two, but upon being specially + patronised by the cook, soon declared "that no place could compare with + the galley of a Mission vessel," to the truth of which declaration the + necessity of enlarging his scanty garments soon bore satisfactory + testimony; how at Ysabel the young chief came on board with a white + cockatoo instead of a hawk on his wrist, which he presented to me with all + the grace in the world, and with an enquiry after his good friend Captain + Hume, of H.M.S. "Cordelia," who had kindly taken me to this island in the + winter of 1861.' + </p> + <p> + To this may be added some touches from the home letter of August 27, off + Vanikoro:— + </p> + <p> + 'I don't deny that I am thankful that the Tikopia visit is well over. The + people are so very powerful and so independent and unmanageable, that I + always have felt anxious about visiting them. Once we were there in 1856, + and now again. I hope to keep on visiting them annually. Sydney traders + have been there, but have never landed; they trade at arm's length from + their boat and are well armed. It is a strange sensation, sitting alone + (say) 300 yards from the boat, which of course can't be trusted in their + hands, among 200 or more of people really gigantic. No men have I ever + seen so large—huge Patagonian limbs, and great heavy hands clutching + up my little weak arms and shoulders. Yet it is not a sensation of fear, + but simply of powerlessness; and it makes one think, as I do when among + them, of another Power present to protect and defend. + </p> + <p> + 'They perfectly understood my wish to bring away lads. Full-grown + Brobdignag men wished to come, and some got into the boat who were not + easily got out of it again. Boys swam off, wishing to come, but the elder + people prevented it, swimming after them and dragging them back. It was a + very rough, blustering day; but even on such a day the lee side of the + island is a beautiful sight, one mass of cocoa-nut trees, and the villages + so snugly situated among the trees. + </p> + <p> + 'Just been up the rigging to get a good look at this great encircling reef + at Vanikoro. Green water as smooth as glass, inside the reef for a mile, + and then pretty villages; but there is no passage through the reef, it is + a continuous breakwater. We are working up towards a part of the reef + where I think there may be a passage. Anyhow I am gaining a good local + knowledge of this place, and that saves time another year. + </p> + <p> + 'The ten lads on board talk six languages, not one of which do I know; but + as I get words and sentences from them, I see how they will "work in" with + the general character of the language of which I have several dialects. It + is therefore not very difficult to get on some little way into all at + once; but I must not be disappointed if I find that other occupations take + me away too much for my own pleasure from this particular branch of my + work.' + </p> + <p> + A long letter to Sir John T. Coleridge gives another aspect of the voyage:— + </p> + <p> + '"Sea Breeze" Schooner: off Rennell Island. 'Therm. 89° in shade; lat. 11° + 40', long. 160° 18' 5". 'September 7, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—I can hardly keep awake for the unusually great + heat. The wind is northerly, and it is very light, indeed we are almost + becalmed, so you will have a sleepy letter, indeed over my book I was + already nodding. I think it better to write to you (though on a Sunday) + than to sleep. What a compliment! But I shall grow more wakeful as I + write. Perhaps my real excuse for writing is that I feel to-day much + oppressed with the thought of these great islands that I have been + visiting, and I am sadly disappointed in some of my scholars from San + Cristoval. + </p> + <p> + 'Leaving New Zealand on June 20th, I sailed to Norfolk Island, where I + held my first Confirmation. By desire of the Bishop of Tasmania, I act as + Bishop for the Norfolk Islanders. This was, as you know, a very solemn + time for me; sixteen dear children were confirmed. Since that time I have + visited very many islands with almost unequalled success, as far as + effecting landings, opening communication, and receiving native lads are + concerned. I have on board natives from many places from which we have + never received them before. Many I have left with Mr. Dudley and Mr. Pritt + on Mota Island at school, but I have now twenty-one, speaking eleven + languages. At many places where we had never landed, I was received well. + </p> + <p> + 'The state of things, too, in the Banks Islands is very encouraging. What + do you think of my having two married (after their fashion) couples on + board from the Solomon Islands (San Cristoval and Contrariete)? This was + effected with some difficulty. Both the men are old scholars, of course. I + ought therefore to be most thankful; and yet my heart is sad because, + after promises given by Grariri and his wife, Parenga and Kerearua (all + old scholars, save Mrs. Garm), not one came away with me yesterday, and I + feel grieved at the loss of my dear boys, who can read and write, and + might be taught so much now! It is all very faithless; but I must tell it + all to you, for indeed I do not feel as if I had any right to expect it + otherwise, but in the moment of perceiving and confessing that it is very + good for me, I find out for the first time how much my heart was set upon + having them. + </p> + <p> + 'And then San Cristoval, sixty miles long, with its villages and + languages, and Malanta over eighty miles long, and Guadalcanar, seventy! + It is a silly thought or a vain, human wish, but I feel as if I longed to + be in fifty or a hundred places at once. But God will send qualified men + in good time. In the meanwhile (for the work must be carried on mainly by + native teachers gathered from each island), as some fall off I must seek + to gain others. Even where lads are only two, or even one year with mer + and then apparently fall back to what they were before, some good may be + done, the old teaching may return upon them some day, and they may form a + little nucleus for good, though not now. + </p> + <p> + 'As for openings for men of the right sort, they abound. Really if I were + free to locate myself on an island instead of going about to all, I hardly + know to which of some four or five I ought to go. But it is of no use to + have men who are not precisely the kind of men wanted. Somehow one can't + as yet learn to ask men to do things that one does oneself as a matter of + course. It needs a course of training to get rid of conventional notions. + I think that Norfolk Island may supply a few, a very few fellows able to + be of use, and perhaps New Zealand will do so, and I have the advantage of + seeing and knowing them. I don't think that I must expect men from + England, I can't pay them well; and it is so very difficult to give a man + on paper any idea of what his life will be in Melanesia or Kohimarama. So + very much that would be most hazardous to others has ceased to be so to + me, because I catch up some scrap of the language talked on the beach, and + habit has given an air of coolness and assurance. But this does not come + all at once, and you cannot talk about all this to others. I feel ashamed + as I write it even to you. They bother me to put anecdotes of adventures + into our Report, but I cannot. You know no one lands on these places but + myself, and it would be no good to tell stories merely to catch somebody's + ear. It was easier to do so when the Bishop and I went together, but I am + not training up anyone to be the visitor, and so I don't wish anybody else + to go with me. Besides Mr. Pritt and Mr. Dudley are bad swimmers, and Mr. + Kerr not first-rate. My constant thought is "By what means will God + provide for the introduction of Christianity into these islands," and my + constant prayer that He will reveal such means to me, and give me grace to + use them. + </p> + <p> + 'What reality there is in such a work as this! What continual need of + guidance and direction! I here see before me now an island stretching away + twenty-five miles in length! Last night I left one sixty miles long. I + know that hundreds are living there ignorant of God, wild men, cannibals, + addicted to every vice. I know that Christ died for them, and that the + message is for them, too. How am I to deliver it? How find an entrance + among them? How, when I have learnt their language, speak to them of + religion, so as not to introduce unnecessary obstacles to the reception of + it, nor compromise any of its commands? + </p> + <p> + 'Thank God I can fall back upon many solid points of comfort—chiefest + of all, He sees and knows it all perfectly. He sees the islanders too, and + loves them, how infinitely more than I can! He desires to save them. He + is, I trust, sending me to them. He will bless honest endeavours to do His + will among them. And then I think how it must all appear to angels and + saints, how differently they see these things. Already, to their eyes, the + light is breaking forth in Melanesia; and I take great comfort from this + thought, and remember that it does not matter whether it is in my time, + only I must work on. And then I think of the prayers of the Church, + ascending continually for the conversion of the heathen; and I know that + many of you are praying specially for the heathen of Melanesia. And so + one's thoughts float out to India, and China, and Japan, and Africa, and + the islands of the sea, and the very vastness of the work raises one's + thoughts to God, as the only One by whom it must be done. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, dear Uncle, I have written all this commonplace talk, not regarding + its dulness in your eyes, but because I felt weary and also somewhat + overwrought and sad; and it has done me much good, and given me a happy + hour. + </p> + <p> + 'We had our service on board this morning, and the Holy Eucharist + afterwards; Mr. Kerr, two Norfolk Islanders, a Maori, and a Nengone man + present. I ought not to be faint-hearted. My kind love to Aunt and Mary. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and dutiful Nephew, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + The climate of Mota had again disagreed with Mr. Dudley, who was laid up + with chronic rheumatism nearly all the time he was there; and the Bishop + returned from his voyage very unwell; but Mr. Pritt happily was strong and + active, and the elder Banks Island scholars were very helpful, both in + working and teaching, so that the schools went on prosperously, and the + custom of carrying weapons in Mota was dropped. + </p> + <p> + On November 7 the 'Sea Breeze' was again in harbour; and on the 15th, + after mature consideration, was written this self-sacrificing letter:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's: November 15, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—I returned from a voyage unusually interesting + and prosperous on the 7th of this month; absent just nineteen weeks. We + were in all on board seventy-one. + </p> + <p> + 'I found all your letters from April to August 25. How thankful I am to + see and know what I never doubted, the loving manner in which my first and + later letters about New Zealand were taken. How wise of you to perceive + that in truth my judgment remained all through unaltered, though my + feelings were strongly moved, indeed the good folk here begged me to + reconsider my resolution, thinking no doubt kindly for me that it would be + so great a joy to me to see you. Of course it would; were there no other + considerations that we already know and agree upon, what joy so great on + earth! But I feel sure that we are right. Thank God that we can so speak, + think, and act with increasing affection and trust in each other! + </p> + <p> + 'The more I think of it, the more I feel "No, it would not do! It would + not be either what Joan expects or what Fan expects. They look at it in + some ways alike—i.e., in the matter of seeing me, which both equally + long to do. In some ways they regard it differently. But it would not to + one or the other be the thing they hope and wish for. They would both feel + (what yet they would not like to acknowledge) disappointment." Though, + therefore, I could not help feeling often during the voyage, "What if I + hear that they may be with me by Christmas!" yet it was not exactly + unwelcome to hear that you do not come. I recognised at once your reading + of my letters as the right one; and my feelings, strong as they are, give + way to other considerations, especially when, from my many occupations, I + have very little time to indulge them. + </p> + <p> + 'But for the thought of coming, and your great love to me, I thank you, + dear ones, with all my heart. May God bless you for it!... + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, my dear Sisters; we are together in heart at all events. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, 'J. C. P.' + </p> + <p> + The judgment had decided that the elder sister especially would suffer + more from the rough life at Kohimarama than her brother could bear that + she should undergo, when he could give her so little of his society as + compensation, without compromising his own decided principle that all must + yield to the work. Perhaps he hardly knew how much he betrayed of the + longing, even while deciding against its gratification; but his sisters + were wise enough to act on his judgment, and not on their own impulse; and + the events of the next season proved that he had been right. To Sir John + Coleridge he wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: November 15, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—I should indeed, as you say, delight to have a + ramble in the old scenes, and a good unburthening of thoughts conceived + during the past seven or eight years. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet you see I could not try the experiment of those dear good sisters + of mine coming out. It would not have been what they expected and meant to + come out to. I am little seen by any but Melanesians, and quite content + that it should be so. I can't do what I want with them, nor a tenth part + of it as it is. I cannot write to you of this last voyage—in many + respects a most remarkable one—indicating, if I am not over hopeful, + a new stage in our Mission work. Many islands yielding scholars for the + first time; old scholars, with but few exceptions, steadfast and rapidly + improving; no less than fifty-seven Melanesians here now from twenty-four + islands, exclusive of the Loyalty Islands, and five bright Pitcairners, + from twenty-four to sixteen, helpful, good, conscientious lads. There are + eight languages that I do not know, besides all the rest; yet I can see + that they are all links in the great chain of dialects of the great + "Pacific language,"—yet dialects very far removed sometimes from one + another. + </p> + <p> + 'I find it not very easy to comply with reasonable demands from men in + Europe, who want to know about these things. If I had time and ability, I + think I should enjoy really going into philology. I get books sent me from + people such as Max Muller, Grabalentz, &c.; and if I write to them at + all, it is useless to write anything but an attempt at classification of + the dialects; and that is difficult, for there are so many, and it takes + so long to explain to another the grounds upon which I feel justified in + connecting dialects and calling them cognate. It becomes an instinct + almost, I suppose, with people in the trade. + </p> + <p> + 'But I hardly know how far I ought to spend any time in such things. + Elementary grammars for our own missionaries and teachers are useful, and + the time is well spent in writing them. Hence it is that I do not write + longer letters. Oh! how I enjoy writing un-business letters; but I can't + help it—it's part of my business now to write dull Reports—i.e. + reports that I can't help making dull, and all the rest of it.... + </p> + <p> + 'I cannot write about Bishop Mackenzie. Mr. Pritt (at 9.30 P.M. the night + we landed) put his head into my room and said, "Bishop Mackenzie is dead," + and I sat and sat on and knelt and could not take it all in! I cannot + understand what the papers say of his modus operandi, yet I know that it + was an error of judgment, if an error at all, and there may be much which + we do not know. So I suspend my opinion.' + </p> + <p> + In a letter to myself, written by the same mail, in reply to one in which + I had begged him to consider what was the sight, to a Christian man, of + slaves driven off with heavy yokes on their necks, and whether it did not + justify armed interposition, he replies with arguments that it is needless + now to repeat, but upholding the principle that the shepherd is shepherd + to the cruel and erring as well as to the oppressed, and ought not to use + force. The opinion is given most humbly and tenderly, for he had a great + veneration for his brother Missionary Bishop. Commenting on the fact that + Bishop Selwyn's speech at Cambridge had made Charles Mackenzie a + missionary, and that he would gladly have hailed an invitation to the + Australasian field of labour, the letter proceeds:— + </p> + <p> + 'How wonderful it is to reflect upon the events of the last few years! Had + he come out when I did to New Zealand, I might be now his Missionary + Chaplain; and yet it is well that there should be two missionary dioceses, + and without the right man for the African Mission, there might have been a + difficulty in carrying out the plan. + </p> + <p> + 'The chapel is not built yet, for I have sixty mouths to feed, and other + buildings must be thought of for health's sake. But I have settled all + that in my will.' + </p> + <p> + 'In a postscript is mentioned the arrival of some exquisite altar plate + for the College chapel, which had been offered by a lady, who had also + bountifully supplied with chronometers and nautical instruments the + 'Southern Cross,' which was fast being built at Southampton. + </p> + <p> + The above letter was accompanied by one to Dr. Moberly:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's College, Kohimarama: Nov. 18, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Dr. Moberly,—Thank you heartily for writing to me. It is a + real help to me and to others also, I think, of my party to be in + communication with those whom we have long respected, and whose prayers we + now more than ever earnestly ask. We returned on November 7 from a very + remarkable voyage. + </p> + <p> + 'I was nineteen weeks absent all but a day: sailed far beyond our most + distant island in my previous voyage, landed nearly eighty times amidst + (often) 300 and more natives, naked, armed, &c., and on no less than + thirty or forty places never trodden before (as far as I know) by the foot + of a white man. Not one arm was lifted up against me, not one bow drawn or + spear shaken. I think of it all quietly now with a sort of wondering + thankfulness. + </p> + <p> + 'From not less than eight islands we have now for the first time received + native lads; and not only are openings being thus made for us in many + directions, but the permanent training of our old scholars is going on + most favourably; so that by the blessing of God we hope, at all events in + the Banks Islands, to carry on continuously the Mission Schools during the + winter and summer also. We have spent the three last winters here, but it + would not be wise to run the risk of the damp hot climate in the summer. + Natives of the island must do this, and thank God there are natives being + raised up now to do it. The enclosed translation of a note. It is but + three or four years since the language was reduced to writing, and here is + a young man writing down his thoughts to me after a long talk about the + question of his being baptized. + </p> + <p> + 'Four others there are soon, by God's blessing, to be baptized also—Sarawia + from Vanua Lava, Tagalana from Aroa, Pasvorang from Eowa, Woleg from Mota, + and others are pressing on; Taroniara from San Cristoval, Kanambat from + New Caledonia, &c. I tell you their names, for you will I know, + remember them in your prayers. + </p> + <p> + 'Will you kindly let Mr. Keble see the enclosed note? It does not, of + course, give much idea of the lad's state of mind; but he is thoroughly in + earnest, and as for his knowledge of his duty there can be no question + there. He really knows his Catechism. I have scarcely a minute to write by + this mail. Soon you will have, I hope, a sketch of our last voyage. We + remember you all, benefactors and benefactresses, daily. Thank you again + for writing to me: it humbles me, as it ought to do, to receive such a + letter from you. + </p> + <p> + 'Very faithfully yours, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + These names deserve note: Sarawia the first to be ordained of the + Melanesian Church; and Taroniara, who was to share his Bishop's death. B——, + as will be seen, has had a far more chequered course. Tagalana is + described in another letter as having the thoughtfulness of one who knows + that he has the seeds of early death in him; but he, the living lectern at + the consecration, has lived to be the first deacon of his island of Aroa. + </p> + <p> + The ensuing is to the Rev. Derwent Coleridge, at that time Principal of + St. Mark's Training College, Chelsea, upon the question whether that + institution would afford assistants:— + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland, New Zealand: Nov. 15, 1862. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—You will not be surprised, I hope, to hear from me; + I only wish I had written to you long ago. But until quite recently we + could not speak with so much confidence concerning the Melanesian Mission, + and it is of little use to write vaguely on matters which I am anxious now + to make known to you. + </p> + <p> + 'The general plan of the Mission you may get some notion of from the last + year's Report (which I send), and possibly you may have heard or seen + something about it in former years. This last voyage of nineteen weeks, + just concluded, has determined me to write to you; for the time is come + when we want helpers indeed, and I think that you will expect me naturally + to turn to you. + </p> + <p> + 'It is not only that very many islands throughout the South Pacific, from + the Loyalty Islands on to the northwest as far as Ysabel Island in the + Solomon group, are now yielding up scholars and affording openings for + Mission stations, though this indeed is great matter for thankfulness; but + there is, thank God, a really working staff gathered round us from the + Banks Archipelago, which affords a definite field, already partially + occupied with a regular system at work in it; and here young persons may + receive the training most needed for them, actually on a heathen island, + though soon not to be without some few Christians amongst its population. + Now I can say to anyone willing and qualified to help me:— + </p> + <p> + 'In the six summer months there is the central school work in New Zealand, + where now there are with me fifty-one Melanesians from twenty-four + islands, speaking twenty-three languages; and in the six winter months + there is a station regularly occupied on Mota Island, where all the + necessary experience of life in the islands can be acquired. + </p> + <p> + 'I am not in any hurry for men. Norfolk Island has given me five young + fellows from twenty-one to sixteen years of age, who already are very + useful. One has been with me a year, another four months. They are given + unreservedly into my hands, and already are working well into our school, + taking the superintendence of our cooking, e.g., off our hands; with some + help from us, they will be very useful at once as helpers on Mota, doing + much in the way of gardening, putting up huts, &c., which will free us + for more teaching work, &c., and they are being educated by us with an + eye to their future employment (D.V.) as missionaries. I would not wish + for better fellows; their moral and religious conduct is really singularly + good—you know their circumstances and the character of the whole + community. But I should be thankful by-and-by to have men equally willing + to do anything, yet better educated in respect of book knowledge. No one + is ever asked to do what we are not willing to do, and generally in the + habit of doing ourselves—cooking, working, &c., &c. But the + Melanesian lads really do all this kind of work now. I have sixty mouths + to fill here now; and Melanesian boys, told out week by week, do the whole + of the cooking (simple enough, of course) for us all with perfect + punctuality. I don't think any particular taste for languages necessary at + all. Anyone who will work hard at it can learn the language of the + particular class assigned to him. Earnest, bright, cheerful fellows, + without that notion of "making sacrifices," &c., perpetually occurring + to their minds, would be invaluable. You know the kind of men, who have + got rid of the conventional notion that more self-denial is needed for a + missionary than for a sailor or soldier, who are sent anywhere, and leave + home and country for years, and think nothing of it, because they go "on + duty." Alas! we don't so read our ordination vows. A fellow with a + healthy, active tone of mind, plenty of enterprise and some enthusiasm, + who makes the best of everything, and above all does not think himself + better than other people because he is engaged in Mission work—that + is the fellow we want. I assume, of course, the existence of sound + religious principle as the greatest qualification of all. Now, if there be + any young persons whom you could wish to see engaged in this Mission now + at St. Mark's, or if you know of any such and feel justified in speaking + to them, you will be doing a great kindness to me, and, I believe, aiding + materially in this work. + </p> + <p> + 'I should not wish at all any young man to be pledged to anything; as on + my part I will not pledge myself to accept, much less ordain, any man of + whom I have no personal knowledge. But let anyone really in earnest, with + a desire and intention (as far as he is concerned) to join the Mission, + come to me about December or January in any year. Then he will live at the + Mission College till the end of April, and can see for himself the mode of + life at the Central Summer School in New Zealand. Then let him take a + voyage with me, see Melanesians in their own homes, stop for a while at + Mota—e.g. make trial of the climate, &c., &c., and then let + me have my decisive talk with him. + </p> + <p> + 'If he will not do for the work, I must try and find other employment for + him in some New Zealand diocese, or help to pay his passage home. I don't + think such a person as you would recommend would fail to make himself + useful; but I must say plainly that I would rather not have a man from + England at all, than be bound to accept a man who might not thoroughly and + cordially work into the general system that we have adopted. We live + together entirely, all meals in common, same cabin, same hut, and the + general life and energy of us all would be damaged by the introduction of + any one discordant element. You will probably say, "Men won't go out on + these terms," and this is indeed probable, yet if they are the right + fellows for this work—a work wholly anomalous, unlike all other work + that they have thought of in many respects—they will think that what + I say is reasonable, and like the prospect all the better (I think) + because they see that it means downright work in a cheery, happy, hopeful, + friendly spirit. + </p> + <p> + 'A man who takes the sentimental view of coral islands and cocoa-nuts, of + course, is worse than useless; a man possessed with the idea that he is + making a sacrifice will never do; and a man who thinks any kind of work + "beneath a gentleman" will simply be in the way, and be rather + uncomfortable at seeing the Bishop do what he thinks degrading to do + himself. I write all this quite freely, wishing to convey, if possible, + some idea to you of the kind of men we need. And if the right fellow is + moved by God's grace to come out, what a welcome we will give him, and how + happy he will soon be in a work the abundant blessings of which none can + know as we know them. There are three clergymen with me. Mr. Pritt, who + came out with the Bishop of Nelson as his chaplain, but who, I am thankful + to say, is regularly part and parcel of the Mission staff; Mr. Dudley, + ordained last year, who for six years has been in the Mission, and has had + the special advantage of being trained under the Primate's eye; and Mr. + Kerr who was also ordained about ten months ago. + </p> + <p> + 'I give 100 pounds to a clergyman when ordained, increasing it 101 + annually to a maximum of 150 pounds. But this depends upon subscriptions, + &c. I could not pledge myself even to this, except in the case of a + man very highly recommended. But of this I will write more. + </p> + <p> + 'Again let me say that I do not want anyone yet, not this year. I shall be + off again (D.V.) in the beginning of May 1863, for six months; and if then + I find on my return (D.V.) in November, letters from you, either asking me + to write with reference to any young man, or informing me that one is on + the way out, that will be quite soon enough. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not say I don't expect any such help so soon, if at all. + </p> + <p> + 'Finally, pray don't think that I underrate the great advantage of having + such persons as St. Mark's produces; but I write guardedly. My kind love + to Mrs. Derwent. + </p> + <p> + 'Affectionately yours, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + On the 29th of December, after two pages of affectionate remarks on + various family incidents, the letter proceeds:— + </p> + <p> + 'We are having an extra scrubbing in preparation for our visitors on + Thursday, who may wish to be with us on the occasion of the baptism of our + six Banks Islanders; and I am writing in the midst of it, preferring to + sit in the schoolroom to my own room, which is very tiny and very hot. + </p> + <p> + 'We have some eight only out of the fifty-one whom I am obliged to treat + rather as an awkward squad, not that they are too stupid to learn, but + that we cannot give them the individual attention that is necessary. They + teach me their language; but I cannot put them into any class where they + could be regularly taught—indeed, they are not young fellows whom I + should bring again. They do the work of introducing us to their islands, + and of teaching us something of their language. So I continue to give them + what little time I can—the real strength of our force being given to + those whom we hope to have here again. + </p> + <p> + 'We are all on the qui vive about our beautiful vessel, hoping to see it + in about six or eight weeks. It will, please God, be for years the great + means by which we may carry on the Mission if we live; and all the care + that has been spent upon it has been well spent, you may be sure. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't want to appear as if I expected this to be done in one sense, but + it is only when I think of the personal interest shown in it that I + suppose it right to thank people much. I don't want it to be thought of + any more than you do as a gift to us particular missionaries. It is the + Church carrying on its own work. Yet, as you truly say, private feelings + and interests are not to be treated rudely; and I do think it a very + remarkable thing that some 2,000 pounds should be raised by subscriptions, + especially when one knows that so very few people have an idea of the work + that is being done.' + </p> + <p> + 'What a blessed New Year's rejoicing in hope here follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Jan. 1, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—The first letter of the year to you! Thank God + for bringing us to see it! It is 1 P.M., and at 4.30 P.M. six dear + children (from twenty-two to fourteen) are to be baptized. Everything in + one sense is done; how very little in the other and higher sense! May + Almighty God pour the fulness of His blessing upon them! I sit and look at + them, and my heart is too full for words. They sit with me, and bring + their little notes with questions that they scarcely dare trust themselves + to speak about. You will thank God for giving me such comfort, such + blessings, and such dear children. How great a mercy it is! How + unexpected! May God make me humble and patient through it all! + </p> + <p> + 'What a sight it would be for you four hours hence! Our party of + sixty-one, visitors from Auckland, the glorious day, and the holy service, + for which all meet. + </p> + <p> + 'I use Proper Psalms, 89, 96, 126, 145, and for lessons a few verses, 2 + Kings v. 9-15, and Acts viii. 35-9. After the third Collect, the Primate + may say a few words, or I may do so; and then I shall use our usual + Melanesian Collect for many islands, very briefly named; and so conclude + with the Blessing. + </p> + <p> + 'What this is to me you must try and realise, that you may be partakers of + my joy and thankfulness. To have Christians about me, to whom I can speak + with a certainty of being understood, to feel that we are all bound + together in the blessed Communion of the Body of Christ, to know that + angels on high are rejoicing and evil spirits being chased away, that all + the Banks Islands and all Melanesia are experiencing, as it were, the + first shock of a mighty earthquake, that God who foresees the end may, in + his merciful Providence, be calling even these very children to bear His + message to thousands of heathens, is not it too much? One's heart is not + large enough for it, and confession of one's own unworthiness breaks off + involuntarily into praise and glory! + </p> + <p> + 'I know, my dear Sisters, that this is most likely one of the great + blessings that precede great trials. I can't expect or wish (perhaps) + always to sail with a fair wind, yet I try to remember that trial must + come, without on that account restraining myself from a deep taste of the + present joy. I can't describe it! + </p> + <p> + 'Then we have now much that we ever can talk about—deep talk about + Mota and the other islands, and the special temptations to which they must + be exposed; that now is the time when the devil will seek with all his + might to "have" them, and so hinder God's work in the land; that they have + been specially blest by God to be the first to desire to know His will, + and that they have heavy responsibilities. + </p> + <p> + '"Yes," they say, "we see man does not know that his room is dirty and + full of cobwebs while it is all dark; and another man, whose room is not + half so dirty, because the sun shines into it and shows the dirt, thinks + his room much worse than the other. That is like our hearts. It is worse + now to be angry than it was to shoot a man a long time ago. But the more + the sun shines in, the more we shall find cobwebs and dirt, long after we + thought the room was clean. Yes, we know what that means. We asked you + what would help us to go on straight in the path, now that we are entering + at the gate. We said prayer, love, helping our countrymen. Now we see + besides watchfulness, self-examination; and then you say we must at once + look forward to being confirmed, as the people you confirmed at Norfolk + Island. Then there is the very great thing, the holy and the great, the + Supper of the Lord." So, evening by evening and day by day, we talk, this + being of course not called school, being, indeed, my great relaxation, for + this is the time when they are like children with a father. + </p> + <p> + 'I know I feel it so. Don't take the above as a fair sample of our talk, + for the more solemn words we say about God's Love, Christ's Intercession, + and the Indwelling of the Spirit, I can hardly write down now. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P. + </h5> + <p> + 'P.S.—Feast of the Epiphany. Those dear children were baptized on + Thursday. A most solemn interesting scene it was!' + </p> + <p> + Thoroughly happy indeed was the Bishop at this time. In a note of February + 3 to the Bishop of Wellington, he speaks of the orderly state of the + College:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Pritt has made a complete change in the Melanesian school, very + properly through me; not putting himself forward, but talking with me, + suggesting, accepting suggestions, giving the benefit of his great + knowledge of boys and the ways to educate them. All the punctuality, + order, method, &c., are owing to him; and he is so bright and hearty, + thoroughly at ease with the boys, and they with him.' + </p> + <p> + The same note announces two more recruits—Mr. John Palmer, a + theological student at St. John's, and Joseph Atkin, the only son of a + settler in the neighbourhood, who had also held a scholarship there. He + had gained it in 1860, after being educated at the Taranaki Scotch School + and the Church of England Grammar School at Parnell, and his abilities + were highly thought of. The Bishop says:— + </p> + <p> + 'Joe Atkin, you will be glad to hear, has joined us on probation till next + Christmas, but he is very unlikely to change his mind. He and his father + have behaved in a very straightforward manner. I am not at all anxious to + get fellows here in a hurry. The Norfolk Islanders, e.g., are in need of + training much more than our best Melanesians, less useful as teachers, + cooks, even as examples. This will surprise you, but it is so. + </p> + <p> + 'I have long suspected that Joe thought about joining us. He tells me, + "You never would give me a chance to speak to you, Sir." + </p> + <p> + "Quite true, Joe; I wished the thought to work itself out in your own + mind, and then I thought it right to speak first to your father." + </p> + <p> + 'I told him that I could offer but "a small and that an uncertain salary" + should he be ordained five years hence; and that he ought to think of + that, that there was nothing worldly in his wishing to secure a + maintenance by-and-by for wife and child, and that I much doubted my power + to provide it. But this did not at all shake either his father or him. I + have a great regard for the lad, and I know you have.' + </p> + <p> + From that time forward reading with and talking with 'Joe Atkin' was one + of the chief solaces of the Bishop's life, though at present the young man + was only on trial, and could not as yet fill the place of Mr. Benjamin + Dudley, who, soon after the voyage, married, and returned to Canterbury + settlement. The loss was felt, as appears in the following:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama; Saturday, 1 P.M., Feb. 7, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—I have a heavy cold, so you must expect a + stupid letter. I am off in an hour or two for a forty-mile ride, to take + to-morrow's services (four) among soldiers and settlers. The worst of it + is that I have no chance of sleep at the end, for the mosquitos near the + river are intolerable. How jolly it would be, nevertheless, if you were + here, and strong enough to make a sort of picnic ride of it. I do it this + way: strap in front of the saddle a waterproof sheet, with my silk gown, + Prayer-book, brush and comb, razor and soap, a clean tie, and a couple of + sea biscuits. Then at about 3 P.M. off I go. About twenty miles or so + bring me to Papakura, an ugly but good road most of the way. Here there is + an inn. I stop for an hour and a half, give the horse a good feed, and + have my tea. At about 7.30 or 8 I start again, and ride slowly along a + good road this dry weather. The moon rises at 9.30, and by that time I + shall be reaching the forest, through which a good military road runs. + This is the part of the road I should like to show you. Such a night as + this promises to be! It will be beautiful. About 11 I reach a hut made of + reeds on the very brink of the river, tether the horse, give him a feed, + which I carry with me from Papakura, light a fire (taking matches) inside + the hut, and try to smoke away mosquitos, lie down in your plaid, Joan—do + you remember giving it to me?—and get what sleep I can. To-morrow I + work my way home again, the fourth service being at Papakura at 4 P.M., so + I ought to be at Kohimarama by 9 P.M., dead tired I expect. I think these + long days tire me more than they did; and I really do see not a few white + hairs, a dozen or so, this is quite right and respectable. + </p> + <p> + 'I am writing now because I am tired with this cold, but chiefly because + when I write only for the mail I send you such wretched scrawls, just + business letters, or growls about something or other which I magnify into + a grievance. But really, dear Joan and Fan, I do like much writing to you; + only it is so very seldom I can do so, without leaving undone some regular + part of the day's work. I am quite aware that you want to know more + details about my daily life, and I really wish to supply them; but then I + am so weary when I get a chance of writing, that I let my mind drift away + with my pen, instead of making some effort to write thoughtfully. How many + things I should like to talk about, and which I ought to write about: + Bishops Mackenzie and Colenso, the true view of what heathenism is, Church + government, the real way to hope to get at the mass of heathens at home, + the need of a different education in some respects for the clergy, &c. + But I have already by the time I begin to write taken too much out of + myself in other ways to grapple with such subjects, and so I merely spin + out a yarn about my own special difficulties and anxieties. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't mind my grumbling. I think that it is very ungrateful of me to do + so, when, this year especially, I am receiving such blessings; it is + partly because I am very much occupied, working at high pressure, partly + because I do not check my foolish notions, and let matters worry me. I + don't justify it a bit; nor must you suppose that because I am very busy + just now, I am really the worse for it. The change to sea life will set me + all to rights again; and I feel that much work must be done in a little + time, and a wise man would take much more pains than I do to keep himself + in a state fit to do it. + </p> + <p> + 'I have told you about our manner of life here. Up at 5, when I go round + and pull the blankets, not without many a joke, off the sleeping boys, + many of the party are already up and washing. Then, just before prayers, I + go into the kitchen and see that all is ready for breakfast. Prayers at + 5.45 in English, Mota, Baura, &c., beginning with a Mota Hymn, and + ending with the Lord's Prayer in English. Breakfast immediately after: at + our table Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, and young Atkin who has just joined us. At + the teachers' table, five Norfolk Islanders, Edward (a Maori), five girls + and two of their husbands, and the three girls being placed at this table + because they are girls; Melanesians at the other three tables + indiscriminately. There are four windows, one at the north, three at the + east side. The school and chapel, in one long modern building, form the + corresponding wing on the eastern side of my little room, and the boys + dormitories between. + </p> + <p> + 'We are daily expecting the vessel, though it will be a quick passage for + her if she comes in the next ten days, and then what a bustle! + </p> + <p> + 'We send Dudley and his wife away to Canterbury for eight or nine months; + he is so weak as to make the change, which I had urged him to try for some + time past, quite necessary. + </p> + <p> + 'Next Sunday a Confirmation at Orehunga, eight miles off; back to Auckland + for catechising and Baptism at 3 p.m. and evening service at 6.30, and + never a word of either sermon written, and all the school work! Never + mind, a good growl to you is a fine restorative, and really I get on very + well somehow. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, good-bye, you dear Sisters, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + On the last day of February came the new 'Southern Cross,' and two + delightful notes announced it to the Vicar of Hursley and to myself in one + envelope. + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's: Feb. 28, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—The "Southern Cross" arrived safely this morning. + Thanks to God! + </p> + <p> + 'What it is to us even you can hardly tell; I know not how to pour out my + thankfulness. She seems admirably adapted for the work. Mr. Tilly's report + of her performance is most satisfactory: safe, fast, steers well, and very + manageable. Internal arrangements very good; after cabin too luxurious, + but then that may be wanted for sick folk, and as it is luxurious, why I + shall get a soft bed, and take to it very kindly. + </p> + <p> + 'Pray let dear Mr. Keble and Dr. Moberly know at once how very happy and + thankful I am for this blessing. I know all you good friends at home will + try to picture to yourselves my delight as I jumped on board! + </p> + <p> + 'The boys are, of course, wild with excitement. It is blowing very hard. + Last night (when we were thinking of them) it was an anxious night for + them close on the coast. + </p> + <p> + 'I have no time to write more. I thought of Lady... as I looked at the + chronometers and instruments, and of you all as I looked at the beautiful + vessel slipping along through the water with scarce a stitch of canvas. I + pray that she may be spared many years to the Mission, and that we may + have grace to use her, as she ought to be used, to His glory. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Bishop. + </p> + <p> + 'You know that you are daily remembered in our prayers. God bless you.' + </p> + <p> + '10.30 P.M., March 1, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mr. Keble,—One line, though on Sunday night, to tell you of + the safe arrival of the "Southern Cross." You have a large share in her, + and she has a large share in your good wishes and prayers, I am sure. + </p> + <p> + 'Solemn thoughts on this day, an Ordination Sunday, mingle with the joy at + the coming of this messenger (I trust of mercy and peace). I need not ask + you to pray continually for us, for I know you do so. But indeed, now is + the time when we seem especially to need your prayers. + </p> + <p> + 'The lads have no lack of intellectual capacity, they not unfrequently + surprise me. Now is the time when they are in the receptive state, and now + especially any error on our part may give a wrong direction to the early + faith of thousands! What an awful thought! We are their only teachers, the + only representatives of Christianity among them. How inexpressibly solemn + and fearful! This is the thought so perpetually present to me. The + training of the future missionaries of Melanesia is, by God's Providence, + placed in our hands. No wonder that I feel sometimes overwhelmed at the + thought! + </p> + <p> + 'But I know that if God gives me grace to become more simple-minded and + humble, He will order even this aright. You I know will pray more than + ever for me. My kindest regards to Mrs. Keble; I hope she is better. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and grateful young Friend, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + Before the first joy of the arrival was over, ere the 'Southern Cross' + could make her first voyage among the multitude of isles, a great calamity + had fallen upon St. Andrew's. Whether it was from the large numbers, or + the effect of the colder climate, or from what cause could not be told, + but a frightful attack of dysentery fell upon the Melanesians, and for + several weeks suffering and death prevailed among them. How Bishop + Patteson tended them during this time can be better guessed than + described. + </p> + <p> + Archdeacon Lloyd, who came to assist in the cares of the small party of + clergy, can find no words to express the devotion with which the Bishop + nursed them, comforting and supporting them, never shrinking from the most + repulsive offices, even bearing out the dead silently at night, lest the + others should see and be alarmed. + </p> + <p> + Still no mail, except during the voyages, had ever left New Zealand + without a despatch for home; and time was snatched in the midst of all + this distress for a greeting, in the same beautiful, clear minute hand as + usual:— + </p> + <p> + 'Hospital, St. Andrew's: Saturday night, 9 P.M., March 22, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Brother and Sister,—I write from the dining hall (now + our hospital), with eleven Melanesians lying round me in extremity of + peril. I buried two to-day in one grave, and I baptized another now dying + by my side. + </p> + <p> + 'God has been pleased in His wisdom and mercy to send upon us a terrible + visitation, a most virulent form of dysentery. Since this day fortnight I + have scarce slept night or day, but by snatching an hour here and there; + others are working quite as hard, and all the good points of our + Melanesian staff are brought out, as you may suppose. + </p> + <p> + 'The best medical men cannot suggest any remedy. All remedies have been + tried and failed. Every conceivable kind of treatment has been tried in + vain. There are in the hall (the hospital now) at this moment eleven—eleven + more in the little quadrangle, better, but in as anxious a state as can + be; and two more not at all well. + </p> + <p> + 'I have sent all the rest on board to be out of the way of contagion. How + we go on I scarce know.... My good friend, Mr. Lloyd, is here, giving + great help; he is well acquainted with sickness and a capital nurse. + </p> + <p> + 'I have felt all along that it would be good for us to be in trouble; we + could not always sail with a fair wind, I have often said so, and God has + sent the trial in the most merciful way. What is this to the falling away + of our baptized scholars! + </p> + <p> + 'But it is a pitiful sight! How wonderfully they bear the agony of it. No + groaning. + </p> + <p> + 'When I buried those two children to-day, my heart was full, I durst not + think, but could only pray and believe and trust in Him. God bless you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P. + </h5> + <p> + 'O Lord, correct me, but with judgment!' + </p> + <p> + On the 25th, two more were dead, and buried without time to make coffins, + for thirteen still hung between life and death, while fresh cases were + sent from on board ship. Mr. Pritt and Mr. Palmer cooked nourishing food + and prepared rice-water unceasingly; while the others tended the sick, and + the Primate returned from a journey to give his effective aid. On the + night of the 30th, a fifth died unexpectedly, having only been ill a week, + the only scholar from Pentecost Island. One of these lads, when all hope + was over, was wrapped in his white winding sheet, carried into the chapel, + and there baptized by the Bishop, with choked voice and weeping eyes. + </p> + <p> + Over those who had not faith enough to justify him in baptizing them, he + said the following prayers as he laid them in their graves:— + </p> + <p> + 'Sentences. Psalms from the Burial Service. + </p> + <p> + 'Forasmuch as it hath pleased Thee, O Almighty God, to take from amongst + us the souls of these two children committed to our charge, we therefore + commit their bodies to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to + dust; humbly commending to Thy Fatherly mercy these and all other Thy + children who know not Thee, whom Thou knowest, who art the Father and Lord + of all things in heaven and earth, to whom be all praise and glory, with + Thy Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. + </p> + <p> + 'We humbly beseech Thee, most merciful God, to remember for good the + inhabitants of the islands of Melanesia, and specially we pray God by the + grave of these children, for the dwellers in Vanua Lava and Ambrym that + Thou wouldest cause the light of the Gospel to shine m their hearts. Give + unto Thy servants grace in their sight, that we may go forth in peace, and + return if it be Thy will in safety, to the honour and glory of Thy Name, + through Jesus Christ our Lord. + </p> + <p> + 'O Almighty God, Father of Mercy, we cry unto Thee in our sorrow and + distress, most humbly confessing that we have most justly provoked Thy + wrath and heavy indignation. + </p> + <p> + 'We know, O Lord, that this is a dispensation of mercy, a gift from Thee, + to be used, as all things may be used to Thy glory. Yet, O Lord, suffer + not our unworthiness to hinder Thy work of mercy! + </p> + <p> + 'O Lord, look down from heaven, visit with Thy tender compassion Thy + children lying under Thy hand in grievous sufferings of body. Restore them + if it be Thy good pleasure to health and strength, or if it be Thy good + will to take them out of this world, receive them to Thy tender mercies + for His blessed sake who died for all men, Thy Son our Lord. + </p> + <p> + 'Lord's Prayer. Grace.' + </p> + <p> + This was written down for use, in great haste, in the same spirit that + breathes through the account of the next death: the entry dated on + Coleridge Patteson's thirty-sixth birthday, April 1, 1863, which must be + transcribed, though much of the detail of this time of trial has been + omitted. + </p> + <p> + 'Sosaman died at 9 A.M. this day—a dear lad, one of the Banks + Islanders, about ten or twelve years old. As usual I was kneeling by him, + closing his eyes in death. I can see his poor mother's face now! What will + she say to me? she who knows not the Christian's life in death! Yet to + him, the poor unbaptized child, what is it to him? What a revelation! Yes, + the names he heard at our lips were names of real things and real persons! + There is another world! There is a God, a Father, a Lord Jesus Christ, a + Spirit of holiness, a Love and Glory. So let us leave him, O Father, in + Thy hands, who knowest him who knew not Thee on earth. Thy mercies never + fail. Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were + created. + </p> + <p> + 'I washed him, and laid him out as usual in a linen sheet. How white it + looked! So much more simple and touching than the coffin—the form + just discernible as it lay where five had lain before; and then I knelt + down in our little chapel; and, I thank God, I could still bless and + praise Him in my heart! + </p> + <p> + 'How is it that I don't pray more? I pray in one sense less than usual—am + not so long on my knees. I hope it is that I am so worn out, and so very, + very much occupied in tending the sick and dying, but I am not sure. + </p> + <p> + 'Anyhow I am sure that I am learning at terrible cost lessons which, it + may be, God would have taught me more gently if I had ears to hear. I have + not in all things depended upon Him, and perpetually sought help from Him. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh that my unworthiness may not hinder His work of mercy! + </p> + <p> + 'If I live, the retrospect of this most solemn time will, I hope, be very + useful. I wonder if I ever went through such acute mental suffering, and + yet, mind! I feel perfectly hardened at times—quite devoid of + sensibility.' + </p> + <p> + He said in another letter that he felt that if he relaxed his self-command + for one moment he should entirely break down. To him writing to his + beloved home was what speaking, nay, almost thinking, would be in another + man; it gave an outlet to his feeling, and security of sympathy. There was + something in his spiritual nature that gave him the faculty of realising + the Communion of Saints in its fullest sense, both with those on earth and + in Paradise; and, above all, with his Heavenly Father, so that he seems as + complete an example as ever lived of the reality of that privilege, in + which too often we only express our belief. + </p> + <p> + Sosaman's was the last death. On a fragment of pink paper, bearing the + date of the next day, it is declared that an alleviation in the worst + symptoms had taken place, and that the faces and eyes were less haggard. + 'Oh! if it be God's will to grant us now a great deliverance, all glory be + to Him!' + </p> + <p> + The deliverance was granted. The next mail brought tidings of gladness:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's: April 17, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—You know the calm yet weary feeling that + succeeds to the period of intense anxiety and constant watchfulness. Six + dear children are taken from us, as you know already. Some twenty-one + others have been very ill, nigh unto death. Two or three are still weak, + but doing well. + </p> + <p> + 'All the rest are convalescent. Oh! I look at them, to see the loving + bright smile again on their poor wan faces. I don't mind breaking down + now; yet I have experienced no decided reaction; only I am very indolent, + like one who, for six weeks, has not had his usual allowance of sleep. + What abundant cause we have for thankfulness! All the many hours that I + spent in that atmosphere, and yet not a whit the worse for it. What a + sight it was! What scenes of suffering! There seemed to be no end to it; + and yet there was always strength for the immediate work in hand. Tending + twenty-four sick, after hurrying back from burying two dear lads in one + grave, or with a body lying in its white sheet in the chapel; and once, + after a breathless watch of two hours, while they all slept the sleep of + opium, for we dared almost anything to obtain some rest, stealing at dead + of night across the room to the figure wrapped so strangely in its + blanket, and finding it cold and stiff, while one dying lay close by. It + has been a solemn time indeed. And now the brightness seems to be coming + back. + </p> + <p> + 'I have not yet ceased to think of the probable consequences; but, + speaking somewhat hastily, I do not think that this will much retard the + work. I may have to use some extra caution in some places—e.g., one + of the two first lads brought from Ambrym is dead: one lad, the only one + ever brought from the middle of Whitsuntide Island, is dead; I must be + careful there. The other four came from Mota, Matlavo, Vanua Lava (W. + side), and Guadalcanar; for the six who died came from six islands. + </p> + <p> + 'One dear lad, Edmund Quintal, sixteen or seventeen years old, was for a + while in a critical state. Fisher Young, a little older, was very unwell + for three or four days. They came from Norfolk Island. + </p> + <p> + 'The last six weeks have been very unhealthy. We had an unusually hot dry + summer—quite a drought; the wells, for example, were never so tried. + There was also an unusual continuance of north-east winds—our sultry + close wind. And when the dry weather broke up, the rain and damp weather + continued for many days. Great sickness prevailed in Auckland and the + country generally. + </p> + <p> + 'The Norfolk Islanders, now four in number—Edwin Nobbs, Gilbert + Christian, Fisher Young, and Edmund Quintal—have behaved + excellently. Oh, how different I was at their age! It is pleasant, indeed, + to see them so very much improved; they are so industrious, so punctual, + so conscientious. The fact seems to be that they wanted just what I do + hope the routine of our life has supplied—careful supervision, + advice, and, when needed, reproof. They had never had any training at all. + </p> + <p> + 'But there was something better—religious feeling—to work on! + and the life here has, by God's blessing, developed the good in them. I am + very hopeful about then now. Not, mind! that any one of them has a notion + of teaching, but they are acquiring habits which will enable them to be + good examples in all points of moral conduct to those of the Melanesians + who are not already like B——, &c. The head work will come + by-and-by, I dare say. + </p> + <p> + 'April 22.—The storm seems to have passed, though one or two are + still very weak. But there are no active symptoms of disease. How + mercifully God has dealt with us! I have been very seedy for a few days, + and am so still. In spite of two teeth taken out a fortnight ago, my whole + jaw has been paining me much, heavy cold, and I can't get good sleep by + reason of the pain, and I want sleep much. I think I must go to the + dentist again. You see we hope to sail in ten days or so, and I want to be + well. + </p> + <p> + 'We have just washed and scrubbed the hall thoroughly, and once again it + ceases to be our hospital. That looks bright, does not it? You must let + all friends know about us, for I shall not be able to write to many, and + perhaps I shall not have time to write at all. In the midst of all this, I + have so much work about the management of the Mission farm and property, + and the St. John's College estate, and educational prospects.' + </p> + <p> + The 'Southern Cross' was at sea again on May 2, and approved herself + entirely to her owners' satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + Moreover, another clergyman had come on board for a trial trip, the Rev. + Robert Codrington, a Fellow of Wadham, Oxford, who brought the University + culture which was no small personal pleasure to Bishop Patteson in the + companion of his labours. So that the staff consisted of Mr. Pritt, Mr. + Kerr, Mr. Codrington, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Atkin, besides Mr. Tilly, whose + management of the vessel left the Bishop free from cares whenever his + knowledge of the coast was not needed. Some of the results of his leisure + on the outward voyage here appear:— + </p> + <p> + 'I am glad I have read the accounts which Bishop Mackenzie's sister sent + me. I know more about it now. Work and anxiety and necessity for action + all came upon them so rapidly, that there was but little time for forming + deliberate plans. I can well realise the finding oneself surrounded with a + hundred poor creatures, diseased and hungered, the multitude of questions + how to feed, lodge, and clothe them. How far it is right to sanction their + mode of life, &c. One thing I am glad to notice, that the Bishop + abstained from all attempts to convey religious instruction, because he + was not sufficiently acquainted with the language to know what ideas he + might or might not be suggesting. That was wise, and yet how unlike many + hot-headed men, who rush with unintentional irreverence into very + dangerous experiments. + </p> + <p> + 'I confess, as you know, that there seems to me far too cumbrous and + expensive and talkative a method employed in England, for raising supplies + for that Mission and Columbia, Honolulu, &c. I never think of all that + fuss of the four Universities, and all the meetings and speeches, without + some shame. But united action will come in the train of real synodical + action; and if I understand aright, the last Convocation of Canterbury + accepted all that we are trying for, taking the right view in the question + of Provinces, Metropolitans, position of Colonial Churches, joint action + of the Church at large, &c. Extension of Episcopate in England. Oh, + thanks be to God for it all. What a work for this branch of the Catholic + Church! How can people sit quiet, not give their all! + </p> + <p> + 'I like very much Vaughan's work on the Epistle to the Romans. That is the + book to teach young students how to read their Greek Testament. Accurate + scholarship, no private notions imported into the Greek text. I should + like to hear Mr. Keble speak about the law underlying the superstitions of + heathenism, the way to deal with the perversions of truth, &c. Somehow + I get to marvel at and love that first book of Hooker more and more. It is + wonderful. It goes to the bottom of the matter; and then at times it gives + one to see something of the Divine wisdom of the Bible as one never saw it + before. + </p> + <p> + 'But I fear that I seek too much after a knowledge and understanding of + principles of action which are attainable by a scholar and man of real + reasoning power, but which I am not able to make of practical use, having + neither the brains nor the goodness. This is what I really mean. + </p> + <p> + 'May 20th.—Any really good book on the New Testament, especially + dealing critically with the Greek text, I certainly wish to have. I feel + that the great neglect of us clergy is the neglect of the continual study + most critically and closely of the grammatical meaning of the Hebrew and + Greek texts. Oh! that in old days I had made myself a good scholar! Oh! + that I did really know Hebrew and Greek well! What a blessing and delight + it would be now! I fear that I shall never be a good Hebrew scholar, I + can't make time for it; but a decent Greek scholar I hope to be. I work + away, but alas I for want of time, only by fits and starts, at grammars, + and such a book as Vaughan's "Epistle to the Romans," an excellent + specimen of the way to give legitimate help to the student. Trench's books + I delight in. The Revision by Five Clergymen is an assistance. There was a + review in the Quarterly the other day on the Greek Testament, very nearly + an excellent one. The ordinary use of folio commentaries I don't wish to + depreciate, but I think it far less valuable than the diligent study for + oneself with the best grammatical aids of the original text. I always + assume an acquaintance with the true mind and spirit of the Church of + England as a substratum of interpretation. I like Westcott's book on the + "Introduction to the Study of the Gospels." + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! why, when I sat evening after evening with our dear Father, did I not + ask him on all these points much more than I did? He did talk of such + things! But I suppose it is partly the impulse given to such studies by + the tendency of present religious thought. Yet ought it not to have been + always put forward at Eton and Oxford that the close study of the text of + the Bible is the first duty of a Christian scholar. I never really thought + of it till I came out here, and then other occupations crowded upon me, + and so it was too late to make myself a scholar. Alas! + </p> + <p> + 'Now I really think nothing is so great a relaxation tome as a good book + by Trench, or Vaughan, or Ellicott, or Dr. Pusey, and I do enjoy it. Not + that I can keep up my attention for very long so as to make it profitable, + but even then it is delightful, only I must go over it again, and so it is + perhaps time wasted. + </p> + <p> + 'But I greatly miss the intimate friend with whom to fix what I read by + conversation and communication of mutual difficulties in understanding + passages. I don't often forget points on which the Judge and I have had a + talk, but what I read by myself I read too quickly, and forget. I want to + fix it by subsequent discussion and enquiry with a competent friend. If I + have intelligent young men to read with, that will almost do, it will + easily help me to remember what I have read. It won't be suggestive, like + the Judge's conversation; yet if one tries to teach conscientiously one + does learn a great deal. I am puzzled as to books for my Norfolk + Islanders. I should like much the "Conversations on the Catechism." Are + they published separately? Shall I ask Miss Yonge to give me a copy? And + the "Plain Commentary" would be useful too, if (which I doubt) it is plain + enough.' + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross:" May 9, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Joan,—You ask me about qualifications which a man had + better possess for this Mission, so perhaps I had better ask you to + enquire of cousin Derwent Coleridge and of Ernest Hawkins for letters + written to them some six months ago in which (if I remember rightly) I + succeeded as well as I am likely to do now in describing the class of men + I should like some day to have. I dare say they have not kept the letters, + I forgot that, because although they took me some little time to write, + they may have chucked them away naturally enough. Still if they have them + and can find them, it may be worth while for you to keep a copy by you to + show to any person who wishes for information. + </p> + <p> + 'It is not necessary at all that a man should have a taste for languages + or a faculty of acquiring them. What I want now is not a linguist, but a + well-trained school-master of black boys and men, who will also put his + hand to any kind of work—a kindly, gentle, cheerful, earnest fellow, + who will make light of all little inconveniences, such as necessarily + attend sea life, &c., who is so much of a gentleman that he can afford + to do any kind of work without being haunted by the silly thought that it + "is beneath him," "not his business." That is the fellow for me. He would + have to learn one language, the language of the particular class given + over to him, and I think that a person of any moderate ability might soon + do this with our teaching. If I could get him to take an interest in the + general science of language and to go into philological points, of course + his work would be lighter, and he would have soon the advantage of knowing + dialects cognate to that which he must know. But that is not necessary. + </p> + <p> + 'The real thing is to train a certain number of lads in habits of + attention, punctuality, tidiness, &c., to teach them also upon a plan, + which I should show him, to read and write. The religious instruction I + should take, and the closer investigation of the language too, unless he + showed a capacity for going into the nicer points of structure, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'But somehow a cut and dried teaching machine of a man, however + methodical, and good, and conscientious, won't do. There must be a + vivacity, an activity of mind, a brightness about the man, so that a + lesson shall never be mere drudgery; in short, there must be a real love + in the heart for the scholars, that is the qualification. + </p> + <p> + 'One man and one only I hope to have some day who ought to be able to + learn scraps at least of many languages, but he will have a different work + to do. No work can be considered to be satisfactorily carried on while it + depends on the life of any one man. Someone to take my place will come, I + hope, some day. He would have to go round the islands with me, and acquire + a knowledge of the whole field of work—the wading and swimming, the + mode of dealing with fellows on a first meeting, &c.; he will not only + have one class to look after, but he must learn the same kind of lesson + that I learnt under the Primate. Where to get such a man, I'm sure I don't + know. He must be of standing and ability to be acceptable to the others + should I die, &c., &c. + </p> + <p> + 'So we need not speculate about him, and the truth is, I am not in any + hurry to get men from home. We are educating ourselves lads here who will + very likely learn to do this kind of work fairly well. Mr. Palmer will, I + hope, be ordained at Christmas. Young Atkin will be useful some day. + By-and-by if I can get one or two really first-rate men, it will indeed be + a great thing. But who knows anything of me in England? I don't expect a + really able man to come out to work with me. They will go to other parts + of the world kept more before the notice of the public by committees and + meetings and speeches, &c.; and indeed I am very thankful for it. I am + not old nor wise enough to be at the head of a party of really able men. I + must be more fit to lead before I can ask men to follow. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course I know that the work, if I chose to speak out, is second to + none in interest and importance, and that very little comparatively is + known about it in England. But it is evidently far better that it should + go quietly on without attracting much notice, and that we all should + remain unknown at all events at present. By-and-by, when by God's blessing + things are more ripe for definite departments of work, and men can have + distinct duties at once assigned to them, and our mode of carrying on the + Mission has been fairly tested, then it will be high time to think about + first-rate men. + </p> + <p> + 'And, presumptuous and strange as it may seem for me to say it, a man + confessedly second-rate, unfit to hold a position with the best stamp of + English clergymen, I had rather not have. I can get the material cheaper + and made to my own hand out here. + </p> + <p> + 'Some men are dull though good, others can't get away from their book life + and the proprieties, others are donnish, others are fine gentlemen, others + are weak in health, most have preconceived and, many, mistaken views about + heathenism, and the way to deal with it; some would come out with the + notion that England and English clergymen were born to set the colonies + right. + </p> + <p> + 'How few would say, "There's a young man for the Bishop, only a + second-class man, no scholar, not remarkable in any way, but he has learnt + his work in a good school, and will go out to him with the purpose of + seeing how he carries on the work, and learning from him." I don't expect + men worth anything to say this. Of course I don't; and yet you know, Joan, + I can't take them on any other terms. No, I prefer taking promising lads + here, and training them up, not with any pledge that I will employ them in + the Mission, but with the promise of giving them every chance of becoming + qualified for it.' + </p> + <p> + The voyage was much shorter than had been intended, and its history is + best summed up here:— + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross," Kohimarama: Aug. 6, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—This date, from this place, will surprise you. We + returned yesterday, after a short voyage of only three months. I had + arranged my plans for a long voyage, hoping to revisit all our known + islands, and that more than once. We sailed to Norfolk Island, thence at + once to Mota. I spent two days there, and left the Rev. L. Pritt in charge + of the station; Mr. Palmer being with him and the four Norfolk Islanders, + and several old scholars. + </p> + <p> + 'I spent a fortnight in the Banks Archipelago, returning some scholars, + and taking away others from divers islands; and then went back to Mota, + bringing some sixteen or seventeen lads to the central school. I found + them all pretty well; the whole island at peace, people moving about + everywhere unarmed, and a large school being gathered together. + </p> + <p> + 'I went off again to the south (the New Hebrides group), returning + scholars who had been in New Zealand, purchasing yams for axes and iron, + &c., to supply the large number of scholars at Mota. The season had + been unfavourable, and the crop of yams in some islands had almost failed. + However, in another fortnight I was again at Mota with some six or seven + tons of yams. I found things lamentably changed. A great mortality was + going on, dysentery and great prostration of strength from severe + influenza. + </p> + <p> + 'But of those not actually boarding at the station, the state was very sad + indeed. About twenty-five adults were dead already, several of them + regular attendants at school, of whom we were very hopeful. + </p> + <p> + 'I spent two days and a half in going about the island, the wet incessant, + the ground steaming and reeking with vegetable exhalations. During those + days twenty-seven adults died, fifty-two in all, and many, many more were + dying, emaciated, coughing, fainting; no constitutional vigour of body, + nor any mutton broth, or beef tea, or jellies, or chickens, or wine, &c. + Mr. Pritt did what he could, and more than I thought could have been done; + but what could be done? How could nourishing food be supplied to dozens of + invalids living miles off, refusing to obey directions in a country which + supplies no food to rally the strength of persons in illness? + </p> + <p> + 'I decided to remove the whole party at once, explaining to the people + that we were not afraid to share with them the risk of dying, but that if + Mr. Pritt and the others died, there were no teachers left. I felt that + our Banks Island scholars must be removed, and that at once lest they + should die. I could not send the vessel to the Solomon Islands without me, + for Mr. Tilly was completely laid up and unable to move from rheumatic + gout, and no one else on board knows those languages. + </p> + <p> + 'I could not leave the party at Mota in the sickness, and I could not well + send the vessel to Port Patteson for a time, for the danger was imminent. + So I took them all away, in all thirty-nine. + </p> + <p> + 'But now the vessel was full, more than sixty on board, and I had reckoned + upon an empty vessel in the hot Santa Cruz and Solomon Island latitudes. + Moreover, the weather was extraordinarily unfavourable—damp, foul + winds, squalls, calms, unhealthy weather. Mr. Tilly was being greatly + pulled down, and everything seemed to point out that the voyage ought not + to be long. I made my mind up, took back the Solomon Island scholars; and, + with heavy sea and baffling winds and one short gale, sailed back to New + Zealand. + </p> + <p> + 'How mysteriously our plans are overruled for good! I came back to hear of + the war; and to learn to be thankful for my small, very young and very + manageable party. Thirty-three Banks Islanders, the baptized party and + select lads from their islands, one New Caledonian, four Ysabel lads, + constitute this summer's Melanesian school. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't be disappointed; I was at first, but I had the comfort of having + really no alternative. I had, indeed, a great desire to make a thorough + visitation of Leper's Island, and Santa Cruz especially; but the wind, + usually so fair, was dead against me, we had, so to speak, no trade winds, + and I had to give it up. It was certainly my duty to get to the south with + my invalids as soon as I could, and alter my plans, which, you know, + always are made with a view to divers modifications being rendered + necessary. + </p> + <p> + 'Training the baptized scholars, and putting into shape such knowledge as + I have of Melanesian tongues, that made a good summer programme, as I was + obliged to content myself with a small party gathered from but few + islands. Concentration v. diffusion I soon began to think a very good + thing. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, so it is, and now I see great reason to be thankful. Why do we not + always give thanks whether we see the reason or not? + </p> + <p> + 'The vessel behaves admirably. I have written to Jem at length, and he + must be applied to for my account of her. Pray tell Mr. Keble all this. I + have a most valuable letter from Dr. Moberly, a great delight and honour + to me. It is very kind of him to write; and his view of Church matters is + really invaluable, no papers can give that which his letter gives, and + only he and a very few others could give an opinion which I so greatly + value. He speaks hopefully of Church matters in general, and there are + great reasons surely for thankfulness and hope. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet men such as he see far and wide, and to their great hearts no very + violent storms are caused by such things as sorely trouble others. He sees + the presumption and weakness, the vain transitory character of that phase + of modern thought which Bishop Colenso represents, and confidently expects + its speedy disappearance. But it does try the earnest, while it makes + shipwreck of the frivolous, and exercises the faith and humility of all. + Even a very poor scholar can see that his reasoning is most inconclusive, + and his reading superficial and inferences illogical. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you, my dear Cousin. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + Perhaps this is the fittest place to give Mr. Tilly's description of the + Bishop in his voyages:— + </p> + <p> + 'My acquaintance with the late Bishop Patteson began at Port Patteson, in + the Banks Islands, in 1861. He went with us in H.M.S. "Cordelia" to the + Solomon Islands, and after being together some two months we again left + him at Port Patteson on our way back to Auckland. During the time he was + on board the "Cordelia" it was arranged that I was to sail the new vessel + (the present "Southern Cross"), then about to be built by the Messrs. + Wigram, and the size, internal arrangements, &c. were told me by him. + He did not trouble me with much detail, referring me almost altogether to + Bishop Selwyn—and gave no written directions; the little he said I + carefully noted, observing that he spoke as with a thorough knowledge of + the subject (so far as I could be a judge) as to sea-going qualities, + capacity, &c., and to the best of my recollection, I found that while + the vessel was building these few directions were the main ones to be kept + in view. We entered Auckland harbour (from England) early on the morning + of February 28, 1863, and hove to off the North Head, to wait for the + Bishop coming off from Kohimarama before going up the harbour. It had been + blowing hard outside the night before from the N.E., and there was still + much wind, and some sea, even in the harbour. I was much struck by his + appearance and manner. Having to launch his boat through a surf at + Kohimarama beach, he had only on a shirt and trousers, and was of course + drenched. He stepped on board more like a sailor than a clergyman, and + almost immediately made one or two sailor-like remarks about the vessel, + as if he understood her qualities as soon as he felt her in motion; and he + was quite right in what he said. + </p> + <p> + 'Before the building of the present vessel he had (I am told) navigated at + different times to and from the islands; of his capacity in this respect, + therefore, others who knew him there can speak. During the time I remained + in the "Southern Cross," he never in any way, to the best of my + recollection, interfered in the navigation or management of the vessel; + but I came to know—almost at once—that his general planning of + a voyage, knowledge of local courses and distances, the method by which it + could be done most quickly and advantageously, and the time required to do + it in, were thorough; and, in fact, I suppose, that almost without knowing + it, in all this I was his pupil, and to the last felt the comfort of his + advice or assistance, as, e.g., when looking out together from aloft he + has seen shoal water more quickly than myself, or has decided whether + certain doubtful appearances ahead were or were not sufficient to make us + alter our course, &c.; and always speaking as no one who was what + sailors call a landsman could have done. There was, of course, always a + great deal of boat work, much of it to be done with a loaded boat in a + seaway, requiring practical knowledge of such matters, and I do not + remember any accidents, such as staving a boat on a reef, swamping, &c. + in all those years; and he invariably brought the boat out when it was + easy for the vessel to pick her up, a matter not sufficiently understood + by many people. This was where Mr. Atkin's usefulness was conspicuous. Mr. + Atkin was a fearless boatman, and the knowledge of boating he gained with + us at sea was well supplemented when in Auckland, where he had a boat of + his own, which he managed in the most thorough manner, Auckland being at + times a rough place for boating. He (Mr. Atkin) pulled a good and strong + oar, and understood well how to manage a boat under sail, much better in + fact than many sailors (who are not always distinguished in that respect). + His energy, and the amount of work he did himself were remarkable; his + manner was quiet and undemonstrative. He took all charge—it may in a + manner be said—of the boys on board the vessel, regulated everything + concerning meals, sleeping arrangements, &c., how much food had to be + bought for them at the different islands, what "trade" (i.e. hatchets, + beads, &c.) it was necessary to get before starting on a voyage, + calculated how long our supply of water would last, and in fact did so + much on board as left the master of the vessel little to do but navigate. + With regard to the loss the Mission has sustained in Mr. Atkin, speaking + from my personal knowledge of his invaluable services on a voyage, I can + safely say there is no one here now fitted to take his place. He had + always capital health at sea, and was rarely sea-sick, almost the only one + of the party who did not suffer in that way. And his loss will be the more + felt now, as those who used to help in the boat are now otherwise employed + as teachers, &c.; and as Norfolk Island is a bad place to learn + boating, there is great need of some one to take his place, for a good + boat's crew is a necessity in this work as may be readily understood when + the boat is away sometimes for the greater part of the day, pulling and + sailing from place to place. At those places where the Bishop landed + alone, Mr. Atkin gradually acquired the experience which made him so fit + to look after the safety of the boat and crew. In this manner he, next to + the Bishop, became best known to the natives throughout the islands, and + was always looked for; in fact, at many places they two were perhaps only + recognised or remembered. + </p> + <p> + 'Bishop Patteson was hardly what could be called a good sailor in one + sense of the word; rough weather did not suit him, and although I believe + seldom if ever actually sea-sick, he was now and then obliged to lie down + the greater part of the day, or during bad weather. He used to read and + write a great deal on board, and liked to take brisk walks up and down the + deck, talking to whoever happened to be there. He was orderly and + methodical on board, liked to see things in their places, and was most + simple in all his habits. He always brought a good stock of books on board + (which we all made use of), but very few clothes. + </p> + <p> + 'The living on board was most simple, much the same as the crew, those in + the cabin waiting on themselves (carrying no steward), until gradually + boys used to volunteer to do the washing up, &c. School with all the + boys was kept up when practicable; but the Bishop was always sitting about + among them on the deck, talking to one and another, and having classes + with him in the cabin. There were regular morning and evening native and + English prayers. The sermons on Sundays were specially adapted for the + sailors, and listened to with marked attention, as indeed they well might + be, being so earnest, simple, and suitable. + </p> + <p> + 'Speaking for myself, I used to look forward to the voyage as the time + when I should have the privilege of being much with him for some months. + While on shore at Kohimarama I saw but comparatively little of him, except + at meals; but during the voyage I saw of course a great deal of him, and + learned much from him—learned to admire his unselfishness and + simplicity of mode of life, and to respect his earnestness and abilities. + His conversation on any subject was free and full; and those on the few + nights when quietly at anchor they could be enjoyed more, will be long + remembered. Of his manner to Melanesians, others will, no doubt, say + enough, but I may be excused for mentioning one scene that very much + struck me, and of which I am now the only (white) one left who was present + at it. We were paying a visit for the first time to an island, and—the + vessel being safe in the offing—the Bishop asked me if I would go + with them as he sometimes did on similar occasions. We pulled in to a + small inner islet among a group, where a number of (say 200) natives were + collected on the beach. Seeing they looked as if friendly, he waded on + shore without hesitation and joined them; the reception was friendly, and + after a time he walked with them along the beach, we in the boat keeping + near. After a while we took him into the boat again, and lay off the beach + a few yards to be clear of the throng, and be able to get at the things he + wanted to give them, they coming about the boat in canoes; and this is the + fact I wished to notice—viz., the look on his face while the + intercourse with them lasted. I was so struck with it, quite + involuntarily, for I had no idea of watching for anything of the sort; but + it was one of such extreme gentleness, and of yearning towards them. I + never saw that look on his face again, I suppose because no similar scene + ever occurred again when I happened to be with him. It was enough in + itself to evoke sympathy; and as we pulled away, though the channel was + narrow and winding, yet, as the water was deep, we discussed the + possibility of the schooner being brought in there at some future time. I + am quite aware of my inability to do justice to that side of the Bishop's + character, of which, owing to the position in which I stood to him as + master of the Mission vessel, I have been asked to say a few words. There + are others who know far better than myself what his peculiar + qualifications were. His conduct to me throughout the time was marked by + an unvarying confidence of manner and kindliness in our everyday + intercourse, until, gradually, I came to think I understood the way in + which he wished things done, and acted in his absence with an assurance of + doing his wishes, so far as I could, which I never had attained to before + with anyone else, and never shall again. And, speaking still of my own + experience, I can safely say the love we grew to feel for him would draw + such services from us (if such were needed) as no fear of anyone's reproof + or displeasure ever could do. And perhaps this was the greatest privilege, + or lesson, derived from our intercourse with him, that "Love casteth out + fear!" + </p> + <p> + 'Tiros. CAPEL TILLY. + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland: October 28, 1872.' + </p> + <p> + This letter to Mr. Derwent Coleridge follows up the subject of the + requisites for missionary work:— + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross," Kohimarama: August 8, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—Thank you for a very kind letter which I found here + on my return from a short three months' voyage in Melanesia. You will, I + am sure, give me any help that you can, and a young man trained under your + eye would be surely of great use in this work. I must confess that I + distrust greatly the method adopted still in some places of sending out + men as catechists and missionaries, simply because they appear to be + zealous and anxious to engage in missionary work. A very few men, well + educated, who will really try to understand what heathenism is, and will + seek, by God's blessing, to work honestly without prejudice and without an + indiscriminating admiration for all their own national tastes and modes of + thought—a few such men, agreeing well together and co-operating + heartily, will probably be enabled to lay foundations for an enduring + work. I do not at all wish to apply hastily for men—for any kind of + men—to fill up posts that I shall indeed be thankful to occupy with + the right sort of men. I much prefer waiting till it may please God to put + it into the head of some two or three more men to join the Mission—years + hence it may be. We need only a few; I don't suppose that ten years hence + I should (if alive) ever wish to have more than six or eight clergy; + because their work will be the training of young natives to be themselves + teachers, and, I pray God, missionaries in due time. I am so glad that you + quite feel my wants, and sympathise with me. It is difficult to give + reasons—intelligible to you all at a distance—for everything + that I may say and do, because the circumstances of this Mission are so + very peculiar. But you know that I have always the Primate to consult with + as to principles; and I must, for want of a better course, judge for + myself as to the mode of working them out in detail. + </p> + <p> + 'Two plans are open for obtaining a supply of young men. First, I may + receive some few ready-trained men, who nevertheless will have to learn + the particular lessons that only can be taught here on the spot. Secondly, + I may have youths of (say) sixteen to eighteen years of age, sent out from + such a school as Stephen Hawtrey's for example, who will come with a good + general knowledge of ordinary things, and receive a special training from + myself. I think, too, that New Zealand will now and then supply an + earnest, active-minded young fellow—who will be a Greek or Latin + scholar, yet may find a useful niche in which he may be placed. At present + I have means only to maintain one or two such persons, and this because I + am able to use the money my dear Father left me for this purpose. Indeed, + I have no other use for it. The money received on public account would not + keep the Mission in its present state, and the expenditure ought to be + increased by maintaining more scholars and teachers. I don't forget what + you say about the philological part of my business. My difficulty is this, + mainly: that it is next to impossible to secure a few hours of continuous + leisure. You can have no idea of the amount of detail that I must attend + to: seeing everything almost, and having moreover not a few New Zealand + matters to employ my time, besides my Melanesian work. I have, I suppose, + a considerable amount of knowledge of Melanesian tongues, unknown by name + to anyone else perhaps; I quite feel that this ought not to die with me, + if anything should suddenly happen to me. I hoped this summer to put + together something; but now there is this Maori war, and an utterly + unsettled state of things. I may have to leave New Zealand with my + Melanesians almost any day. But I will do what I can, and as soon as I + can. Again: I find it so hard to put on paper what I know. I could talk to + a philologist, and I fancy that I could tell him much that would interest + him; but I never wrote anything beyond a report in my life, and it is + labour and grief to me to write them—I can't get on as a scribe at + all. Then, for two or three years I have not been able to visit some + islands whose language I know just enough of to see that they supply a + valuable link in the great Polynesian chain. One might almost get together + all the disjecta membra and reconstruct the original Polynesian tongue. + But chiefly, of course, my information about Melanesia may be interesting. + I have begun by getting together numerals in forty quite unknown dialects. + I will give, at all events, short skeleton grammars too of some. But we + have no time. Why, I have from five hundred to two thousand or more + carefully ascertained words in each of several dialects, and of course + these ought to be in the hands of you all at home. I know that, and have + known it for years; but how to do it, without neglecting the daily + necessary work? + </p> + <p> + 'Again: the real genius of the language, whatever it may be, is learned + when I can write down what I overhear boys saying when they are talking + with perfect freedom, and therefore idiomatically, about sharks, + cocoa-nuts, yams, &c. All translations must fail to represent a + language adequately, and most of all the translation into a heathen + language of religious expressions. They have not the ideas, and the + language cannot be fairly seen in the early attempts to make it do an + unaccustomed work. + </p> + <p> + 'I remember more of you and my Aunt than you suppose. Even without the + photograph (which I am very glad to have—thank you for it), I could + have found you and Aunt out in a crowd. I can't say that I remember my own + generation so well. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you again for writing so kindly. + </p> + <p> + 'Always, my dear Cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'Affectionately yours, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Missionary Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + The next mail carried the reply to Johanna's sympathy with the troubles of + the time of sickness in the early part of the year. + </p> + <p> + 'August 28, 1863. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Joan,—Very full of comfort to have all your kind loving + thoughts and words about our sickness. I know you thought and talked much + about it, and indeed it was a very heavy visitation viewed in one way, + though in another (and I really can't analyze the reason why) there was + not only peace and calmness, but eyen happiness. I suppose one may be + quite sure one is receiving mercies, and be thankful for them, although + one is all the time like a man in a dream. I can hardly think of it all as + real. But I am sure that God was very, very merciful to us. There was no + difficulty anywhere about the making known the death of the lads to their + relatives. I did not quite like the manner of the people at Guadalcanar, + from which island poor Porasi came; and I could not get at the exact place + from which Taman came, though I landed on the same island north and south + of the beach from which I brought him. + </p> + <p> + 'I do not at all think that any interruption of the work has been + occasioned by it. It was very unfortunate that I could not, last voyage, + make visits (and long ones too, as I had hoped) to many islands where in + the voyage before I had met with such remarkable tokens of good-will, + especially Leper's Island and Santa Cruz, but I think that if I can make a + regular good round next time, it may be all as well. I imagine that in a + great many islands it would now take a good deal to shake their confidence + in us. At the same time it was and is a matter of great regret that I did + not at once follow up the openings of the former year, and by returning + again to the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands (as in the contemplated six + months' voyage I intended to do), strengthen the good feeling now + existing. Moreover, many scholars who were here last year would have come + again had I revisited them and picked them up again. But the Mota + sickness, the weather, and Mr. Tilly's illness made it more prudent to + return by what is on the whole the shorter route, i.e., to the west of New + Caledonia. + </p> + <p> + 'You should have been with me when, as I jumped on shore at Mota, I took + Paraskloi's father by the hand. That dear lad I baptized as he lay in his + shroud in the chapel, when the whole weight of the trial seemed, as it + were, by a sudden revelation to manifest itself, and thoroughly + overwhelmed and unnerved me. I got through the service with the tears + streaming down my cheeks, and my voice half choked. He was his father's + pride, some seventeen years old. A girl ready chosen for him as his wife. + "It is all well, Bishop, he died well. I know you did all you could, it is + all well." He trembled all over, and his face was wet with tears; but he + seemed strangely drawn to us, and if he survives this present epidemic, + his son's death may be to him the means in God's hands of an eternal life. + Most touching, is it not, this entire confidence? + </p> + <p> + 'At Aruas, the small island close to Valua, from which dear Sosaman came, + it was just the same; rather different at the west side of Vanua Lava, + where they did not behave so well, and where (as I heard afterwards) there + had been some talk of shooting me; but nothing occurred while I was on + shore with them to alarm me. + </p> + <p> + 'At Ambrym I landed with Talsil (Joval, from the same place, had died), a + great crowd, all friendly, walked into the village and sat down, + speechifying by the principal man, a presentation to me of a small pig; + but such confidence that this man came back with me on board, where I gave + him presents. I much wished to land at Taman's place, but could not do so, + though I tried twice, without causing great delay. + </p> + <p> + 'I could have brought away any number of scholars from almost any of these + islands, probably from all. I have great reason to regret not having + revisited Ambrym and other islands, but I think that a year hence, if + alive, I may feel that it is better as it is. + </p> + <p> + 'These Norfolk Islanders, four of them, I take as my children, for I can't + fairly charge them (except Edwin Nobbs) to the Mission, and I wish to give + Norfolk Island some help, as it is really, though not by letters patent, + part of my charge. Edwin Nobbs is a thoroughly good fellow, and Fisher + Young is coming on very well. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, my dearest Joan, good-bye. My hats will come no doubt in good time, + my present chapeau is very seedy, very limp and crooked and battered; as + near green as black almost—a very good advertisement of the poverty + of the Mission. But if I go about picking up gold in Australia, I shall + come out in silk cassock and all the paraphernalia—very episcopal + indeed! + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Herewith was a letter for Dr. Moberly:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's College, Kohimarama: August 29, 1863. 'My dear Dr. Moberly,—Thank + you for a very kind and most interesting letter written in May. I know + that you can with difficulty find time to write at all, and thank you all + the more. If you knew the real value to us of such letters as you have now + sent, containing your impressions and opinions of things in general, men, + books, &c., you would be well rewarded for your trouble, I assure you. + To myself, I must say to you, such letters are invaluable; they are a real + help to me, not only in that they supply information from a very good + authority on many questions which I much desire to understand, but even + more because I rise up or kneel down after reading them, and think to + myself, "how little such men who so think of me really know me; how + different I ought to be," and then it is another help to me to try and + become by God's grace less unlike what you take me to be. Indeed, you must + forgive me for writing thus freely. I live very much alone as far as + persons of the same language, modes of thought, &c., are concerned. I + see but little (strange as it may seem to you) even of my dear Primate. We + are by land four or five miles apart, and meet perhaps once or twice a + month for a few minutes to transact some necessary business. His time is, + of course, fully occupied; and I never leave this place, very seldom even + this little quadrangle, and when other work does not need immediate + attention (a state of things at which I have not arrived as yet), there + are always a dozen new languages to be taken up, translations to be made, + &c. So that when I read a letter which is full of just such matters as + I think much of, I naturally long to talk on paper freely with the writer. + Were I in England, I know scarcely any place to which I would go sooner + than Winchester, Hursley, Otterbourne, and then I should doubtless talk as + now I write freely. All that you write of the state of mind generally in + England on religious questions is most deeply interesting. What a matter + of thankfulness that you can say, "With all the sins and shortcomings that + are amongst us, there is an unmistakeable spreading of devotion and the + wish to serve God rightly on the part of very many." + </p> + <p> + 'Then, the Church preferments have lately been good; Bishop Ellicott, one + of your four coadjutors in the revision of the A. V., especially. I know + some part of his Commentary, and am very glad to find that you speak so + very highly of it. What a contrast to be sure between such work as his and + Jowett's and Stanley's! Jowett actually avows a return to the old exploded + theory of the inaccurate use of language in the Greek Testament. This must + make men distrust him sooner or later as an interpreter of Scripture. I + thank you heartily for your offer of sending me Bishop Ellicott's + Commentary, but I hardly like you to send me so valuable a gift. What if + you substitute for it a copy of what you have written yourself, not less + valuable to me, and less expensive to you? I hardly like to write to ask + favours of such people as Bishop Ellicott; I mean I have no right to do + so; yet I almost thought of asking him to send a copy of his Commentaries + to us for our library. I have ventured to write to Dean Trench: and I am + pretty sure that Mr. Keble will send me his "Life of Bishop Wilson." But + pray act as you wish. I am very grateful to you for thinking of it at all; + and all such books whether yours or his will be used and valued, I can + undertake to say. My good friend Kidding knows that I was, alas! no + scholar at Eton or Oxford. I have sought to remedy this in some measure as + far as the Greek Testament is concerned, and there are some excellent + books which help one much; yet I can never make myself a good scholar, I + fear; one among many penalties I pay for want of real industry in old + days. + </p> + <p> + 'Miss Yonge will hear from my sisters, and you from her, I have no doubt, + my very scanty account of a very uninteresting voyage. I see everywhere + signs of a change really extraordinary in the last few years. I can tell + no stories of sudden conversions, striking effects, &c. But I know + that in twenty, thirty, perhaps forty places, where a year or two ago no + white man could land without some little uncertainty as to his reception, + I can feel confident now of meeting with friends; I can walk inland—a + thing never dreamt of in old days, sleep ashore, put myself entirely into + their hands, and meet with a return of the confidence on their part. We + have, too, more dialects, talk or find interpreters in more places; our + object in coming to them is more generally known—and in Mota, and + two or three other small islands of the Banks group, there is almost a + system of instruction at work. The last voyage was a failure in that I + could not visit many islands, nor revisit some that I longed to land at + for the second or third time. But I don't anticipate any difficulty in + reestablishing (D. V.) all the old familiarity before long. No doubt it is + all, humanly speaking, hazardous where so much seems to depend upon the + personal acquaintance with the people. + </p> + <p> + 'By-and-by I hope to have some young man of character and ability enough + to allow of his being regarded as my probable successor, who may always go + with me—not stop on any one island—but learn the kind of work + I have to do; then, when I no longer can do the work, it will be taken up + by a man already known to the various islanders. + </p> + <p> + 'I have not touched on many points in your letter. Again, thank you for + it: it is very kind of you to write. I must send a line to Dr. Eidding. + </p> + <p> + 'I am, my dear Dr. Moberly, + </p> + <p> + 'Yours very truly, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + The next of the closely written sheets that every mail carried was chiefly + occupied with the Maori war and apostasy, on which this is not the place + to enter, until the point where more personal reflections begin. + </p> + <p> + 'How all this makes me ponder about my own special work I need not say. + There is not the complication of an English colony, it is true; that makes + a great difference. + </p> + <p> + 'My own feeling is that one should teach positive truth, the plain message + of Christianity, not attacking prejudices. Conviction as it finds its way + into the heart by the truth recommending itself will do the work of + casting out the old habits. I do not mean to say that the devil is not in + a special way at work to deceive people to follow lying delusions. But all + error is a perversion of truth; it has its existence negatively only, as + being a negation of truth. But God is truth, and therefore Truth is + ——. Now this is practically to be put, it seems to me, in this + way. Error exists in the mind of man, whom God has created, as a + perversion of truth; his faculties are constructed to apprehend and rest + satisfied with truth. But his faculties are corrupted, and the devil + supplies a false caricature of truth, and deceives him to apprehend and + rest satisfied with a lie. But inasmuch as his nature, though damaged, is + not wholly ruined by the Fall, therefore it is still not only possible for + him to recognise positive truth when presented to him, but he will never + rest satisfied with anything else—he will be restless and uneasy + till he has found it. + </p> + <p> + 'It is because I feel that it is more natural to man to follow truth than + error ("natural" being understood to mean correspondent to the true + nature) that I believe the right thing is to address oneself to the + principle in a man which can and will recognise truth. Truth when + recognised expels error. But why attack error without positively + inculcating truth? I hope it does not bore you for me to write all this. + But I wish you to learn all that may explain my way of dealing with these + questions.' + </p> + <p> + The next day, October 25, a headache gives the Bishop a reason for + indulging himself, while waiting for his pupils, in calling up and setting + down a realisation of his sisters' new home at St. Mary Church, where for + the time he seems to go and live with them, so vividly does he represent + the place to himself. His first return to his own affairs is a vision that + once more shows his unappeased craving for all appliances 'for glory and + for beauty' in the worship of God. + </p> + <p> + 'I may some day have a connection with Mary Church marbles. Sometimes I + have a vision—but I must live twenty years to see more than a vision—of + a small but exceedingly beautiful Gothic chapel, rich inside with marbles + and stained glass and carved stalls and encaustic tiles and brass screen + work. I have a feeling that a certain use of really good ornaments may be + desirable, and being on a very small scale it might be possible to make a + very perfect thing some day. There is no notion of my indulging such a + thought. It may come some day, and most probably long after I am dead and + gone. It would be very foolish to spend money upon more necessary things + than a beautiful chapel at present, when in fact I barely pay my way at + all. And yet a really noble church is a wonderful instrument of education, + if we think only of the lower way of regarding it. Well, you have a grand + church, and it is pleasant to think of dear dear Father having laid the + stone, and of Cousin George. What would he say now to Convocation and + Synods, and the rapid progress of the organisation of the Church? + </p> + <p> + 'I think that what you say, Fan, about my overvaluing the world's opinion + is very true. Self-consciousness and a very foolish sinful vanity always + have been and are great sources of trial to me. How often I have longed + for that simplicity and truthfulness of character that we saw so + beautifully exemplified in our dear Father! How often I think that it is + very good for me that I am so wanting in all personal gifts! I should be + intolerable! I tell you this, not to foster such feelings by talking of + them, but because we wish to know and be known to each other as we are. It + is a very easy thing to be a popular preacher here, perhaps anywhere. You + know that I never write a really good sermon, but I carry off platitudes + with a sort of earnest delivery, tolerably clear voice, and with all the + prestige of being a self-devoted Missionary Bishop. Bless their hearts! if + they could see me sipping a delicious cup of coffee, with some delightful + book by my side, and some of my lads sitting with me, all of them really + loving one, and glad to do anything for one! + </p> + <p> + 'A less self-conscious person could do what I can hardly do without + danger. I see my name in a book or paper, and then comes at once a + struggle against some craving after praise. I think I know the fault, but + I don't say I struggle against it as I ought to do. It is very hard, + therefore, for me to write naturally about work in which I am myself + engaged. But I feel that a truthful account of what we see and hear ought + to be given, and yet I never speak about the Mission without feeling that + I have somehow conveyed a false impression.' + </p> + <p> + Again there was a time of sickness. The weather alternated between keen + cutting winds and stifling heat; and there was much illness among the + colonists, as well as a recurrence of the dreadful disease of the former + year among the scholars of St. Andrew's, though less severe, and one boy + died after fourteen days' sickness, while two pulled through with + difficulty. In the midst came the Ember Week, when Mr. Palmer was ordained + Deacon; and then the Bishop collapsed under ague, and spent the morning of + Christmas Day in bed, but was able to get up and move into chapel for the + celebration, and afterwards to go into hall and see the scholars eat their + Christmas dinner. + </p> + <p> + In the letter he wrote in the latter part of the day, he confessed that + 'he felt older and less springy;' though, as he added, there was good + reason for it in the heavy strain that there had been upon him throughout + the year, though his native, scholars were all that he could desire. + </p> + <p> + A few days' holiday and change at the Primate's brought back spirits and + strength; but the question whether under any circumstances New Zealand + would be a safe residence for the great body of Melanesian scholars was + becoming doubtful, and it seemed well to consider of some other locality. + Besides, it was felt to be due to the supporters of the Mission in + Australia to tell them personally how great had been the progress made + since 1855; and, accordingly, on one of the first days of February, Bishop + Patteson embarked in a mail steamer for Sydney, but he was obliged to + leave six of his lads in a very anxious state with a recurrence of + dysentery. However, the Governor, Sir George Grey, had lent his place on + the island of Kawau, thirty miles north of Auckland, to the party, so that + there was good hope that change would restore the sick. + </p> + <p> + 'Fancy me,' says the Journal of February 6, 'on board a screw steamer, 252 + feet long, with the best double cabin on board for my own single use, the + manager of the company being anxious to show me every attention, eating + away at all sorts of made dishes, puddings, &c., and lounging about + just as I please on soft red velvet sofas and cushions.' + </p> + <p> + The rest and good living were the restorative he needed; and, in spite of + anxiety about the patients at home, he enjoyed and profited by it. + </p> + <p> + On February 6, Sydney was reached, but the Bishop sailed on at once for + his farthest point. At Melbourne, on the 11th, he quaintly declares, after + describing his kind reception: 'I feel at present a stranger among + strangers; no new thing to me, especially if they are black, and begin by + offering me cocoa-nut instead of bread and butter. This place looks too + large for comfort—like a section of London, busy, bustling, + money-making. There are warm hearts somewhere amid the great stores and + banks and shops, I dare say. But you know it feels a little strange, and + especially as I think it not unlikely that a regular hearty Church feeling + may not be the rule of the place. Still I am less shy than I was, and with + real gentlemen feel no difficulty in discussing points on which we differ. + </p> + <p> + It is the vulgar uneducated fellow that beats me. The Melanesians, laugh + as you may at it, are naturally gentlemanly and courteous and well-bred. I + never saw a "gent" in Melanesia, though not a few downright savages. I + vastly prefer the savage.' + </p> + <p> + Melbourne was, however, to be taken on the return; and he went on to + Adelaide, where Bishop Short and the clergy met him at the port, and he + was welcomed most heartily. The Diocesan Synod assembled to greet him, and + presented an address; and there were daily services and meetings, when + great interest was excited, and tangibly proved by the raising of about + £250. He was perfectly astonished at the beauty and fertility of the + place, and the exceeding luxuriance of the fruit. One bunch of grapes had + been known to weigh fourteen pounds. As to the style of living with all + ordinary English comforts and attendance, he says:—'I feel almost + like a fish out of water, and yet I can't help enjoying it. One very + easily resumes old luxurious habits, and yet the thought of my dear boys, + sick as I fear some must be, helps to keep me in a sober state of mind.' + </p> + <p> + On St. Matthew's Day he assisted at an Ordination: and on the 27th + returned to Melbourne for three weeks, and thence to Sydney. His time was + so taken up that his letters are far more scanty and hurried than usual. + </p> + <p> + 'I have been running no little risk of being spoilt, and I don't say that + I have come off uninjured. In Melbourne I was told by the Dean (the Bishop + is in England) and by Judge Pohlman (an excellent good man) that they + remembered no occasion during the twenty-two years of sojourn (before + Melbourne was more than a village) when so much interest had been shown in + Christian work, especially Mission work. This is a thing to be very + thankful for. I felt it my duty to speak strongly to them on their own + duties, first to Aborigines, secondly to Chinese (of whom some 40,000 live + in Victoria), thirdly to Melanesians. I did not aim only at getting money + for Melanesia; I took much higher ground than that. But the absence of the + ordinary nonsense about startling conversions, rapid results, &c., and + the matter-of-fact unsentimental way of stating the facts of heathenism, + and the way to act upon it, did, no doubt, produce a very remarkable + effect. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not tell you that I did pray for strength to make good use of such + unexpected and very unusual opportunities. Crowded meetings, nothing + before like it in Melbourne or the provinces. I did not feel nervous, much + to my surprise; I really wonder at it, I had dreaded it much. + </p> + <p> + 'It was a sight to see St. George's Hall crowded, children sitting on the + floor, platform, anywhere, and very many adults (about 500) besides. Now + you know my old vanity. Thank God, I don't think it followed me very much + here. There was a strong sense of a grand opportunity, and the need of + grace to use it.' + </p> + <p> + The enthusiasm at Victoria resulted in 350 pounds, and pledges of future + assistance; and at Sydney there was the like grand meeting, the like + address, and hearty response; and the Churches of Australia pledged + themselves to bear the annual expenses of the voyages of the 'Southern + Cross.' A number of young clerks and officials, too, united in an + arrangement by which she could be insured, high as was the needful rate. + </p> + <p> + The preaching and speeches produced an immense feeling, and the after + review of the expedition is thus recorded:— + </p> + <p> + 'As for my sermons in Australia, I found to my surprise that every minute + was so occupied that I could not make time to write; and as for doing so + in New Zealand before I started, why, I systematized and put into the + printer's hands, in about four months, grammars, &c., more or less + complete, of seventeen languages, working up eight or ten more in MS.! + </p> + <p> + 'I had to preach extempore for the most part: I did not at all like it, + but what could I do? Sermons and speeches followed like hail—at + least one, sometimes two on week-days, and three on Sundays. I preached on + such points as I had often talked out with the Primate and Sir William, + and illustrated principles by an occasional statement of facts drawn from + missionary experience. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, old Fan, as you know, the misery of self-consciousness and conceit + clings to me. I can't, as dear old father could, tell you what actually + occurred without doing myself harm in the telling of it. + </p> + <p> + 'It pleased God to make me able to say all through what I think it was + good for people to hear. All meetings and services (with a few, very few + exceptions, from heavy rains, &c.) were crowded. I could not in a few + minutes speak with any degree of completeness on subjects which for years + had occupied my thoughts: I was generally about an hour and a half, + occasionally longer—I tried to be shorter. But people were attentive + and interested all through. At Melbourne, it was said that 1,500 children + (at a meeting for them) were present, and 500 adults, including many of + the most educated people. All, children included, were as still as mice + for an hour and a half, except occasional cheers. + </p> + <p> + 'But generally there was little excitement. I did not, as you can suppose, + take the sensation line; spoke very rapidly, for I had no time to spare—but + clearly and quietly, sometimes gravely, sometimes with exceeding + earnestness, and exposed sophistries and fallacies and errors about the + incapacity of the black races, &c. There were times when I lost all + sense of nervousness and self, and only wished that 10,000 people had been + present, for I felt that I was speaking out, face to face, plain simple + words of truth. + </p> + <p> + 'The effect at the time was no doubt very remarkable. The Dean of + Melbourne, e.g., said publicly that no such earnestness in religious, + matters had ever been exhibited there. The plan of Mission work was + simple, practicable, commended itself to hard-headed men of business. Many + came to hear who had been disgusted with the usual sentimentalism and + twaddle, the absence of knowledge of human nature, the amount of + conventional prejudice, &c. They were induced to come by friends who + represented that this was something quite different, and these men went + away convinced in many cases, seconding resolutions and paying + subscriptions. + </p> + <p> + 'I said what was true, that I was the mouthpiece of the Bishop of New + Zealand; that I could speak freely of the plan of the Mission, for it was + not my plan, &c. How I was carried through it all, I can't say. I was + unusually well, looked and felt bright, and really after a while enjoyed + it, though I was always glad when my share in the speechifying was over. + Yet I did feel it a blessing, and a privilege, to stand up there and speak + out; and I did speak out, and told them their plain duties, not appealing + to feelings, but aiming at convincing the judgment. I told 1,500 people in + church at Sydney, "I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say." Do you + know, Fan, I almost feel that if I live a few years I ought to write a + book, unless I can get the Primate to do it? So much that is self-evident + to us, I now see to be quite unknown to many good educated men. I don't + mean a silly book, but a very simple statement of general principles of + Christian work, showing the mode that must be adopted in dealing with men + as partakers of a common nature, coupled with the many modifications and + adaptations to circumstances which equally require special gifts of + discernment and wisdom from on high. Then occasional narratives, by way of + illustration, to clench the statement of principles, might be introduced; + but I can't write, what I might write if I chose, folios of mere events + without deducing from them some maxims for Christian practice.' + </p> + <p> + The impression produced was deep and lasting at all the Australian + capitals, including Brisbane. + </p> + <p> + A plan was even set on foot for transferring a part of the Melanesian + school to a little island not far from the coast of Queensland, in a much + warmer climate than Kohimarama, where it was thought Australian natives + might be gathered in. + </p> + <p> + Here is the description of the place, written a day or two after the + return to New Zealand:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's: April 27, 1864. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I returned on the 24th from Australia. I visited + the dioceses of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Everywhere I + met with great encouragement; and indeed, I thank God that (as I had + hoped) the special work of the Mission became the means of exciting + unusual interest in the work of the Church generally. It was a great + opportunity, a great privilege in the crowded meetings to tell people face + to face their duties, to stand up as the apologist of the despised + Australian black, and the Chinese gold-digger, and the Melanesian + islander. + </p> + <p> + 'All the Primate had taught me—what heathenism is, how to deal with + it, the simple truisms about the "common sin, common redemption," the + capacity latent in every man, because he is a man, and not a fallen angel + nor a brute beast, the many conventional errors on Mission (rather) + ministerial work—many, many things I spoke of very fully and + frequently. I felt it was a great responsibility. How strange that I + forgot all my nervous dread, and only wished there could be thousands more + present, for I knew that I was speaking words of truth, of hope, and love; + and God did mercifully bless much that He enabled, me to say, and men's + hearts were struck within them, though, indeed, I made no effort to excite + them. + </p> + <p> + 'Much may result from it. We may have a branch school on the S.W. of + Curtis Island, on the east coast of Queensland, healthy, watered, wooded, + with anchorage, about 25° S. latitude, a fair wind to and from some of the + islands; to which place I could rapidly carry away sick persons. + </p> + <p> + 'There I could convey two hundred or more scholars, in the same time + required to bring sixty to New Zealand; there yams can be grown; there it + may be God's will that a work may be commenced at length among the remnant + that is left of the Australian blacks. The latter consideration is very + strongly urged upon me by the united voice of the Australian Churches, by + none more strongly than by the Bishop of Sydney. I dare to hope that the + communion of the Australian and New Zealand Churches will be much + strengthened by the Mission as a link. What blessings, what mercies! + </p> + <p> + 'This will not involve an abandonment of St Andrew's, but the work must + expand. I think Australia will supply near 1,000 pounds a year, perhaps + more before long. + </p> + <p> + 'To teach me that all is in His hands, we have again had a visitation from + dysentery. It has been very prevalent everywhere, no medical men remember + such a season. We have lost from consumption two, and from dysentery six + this year; in fourteen months not less than fourteen: more than in all the + other years put together. Marvellous to relate, all our old baptized and + confirmed scholars are spared to us. Good-bye, and God ever bless and keep + you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. PATTESON, Bishop.' + </p> + <p> + One of these deaths was that of Kareambat, the little New Caledonian + confided to the Bishop of New Zealand by poor Basset. He had been + christened on the previous Epiphany. + </p> + <p> + No doubt this grief on coming home increased the effect of this year of + trial. Indeed even on the voyage there had been this admission, 'Somehow I + don't feel right with all this holiday; I have worked really very hard, + but "change of work is the best holiday." I don't feel springy. I am not + so young as I was, that's the truth of it, and this life is not likely to + be a long one. Yet when used up for this work, absence of continual + anxiety and more opportunity of relaxation may carry a man on without his + being wholly useless!' + </p> + <p> + The Maori war was a constant grief and anxiety to all the friends on + shore, and there was thus evidently much less elasticity left to meet the + great shock that was preparing for the voyagers in the expedition of 1864. + Mr. Codrington was not of the party, having been obliged to go to England + to decide whether it was possible to give himself wholly to the Mission; + and the staff therefore consisted of Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, and Mr. Palmer, + with Mr. Joseph Atkin, whose journal his family have kindly put at my + disposal. + </p> + <p> + The endeavour was to start after the Ascension Day Communion, but things + were not forward enough. May was not, however, very far advanced before + the 'Southern Cross' was at sea. + </p> + <p> + On May 17, Norfolk Island was visited, and Edwin Nobbs and Fisher Young + had what proved to be their last sight, of their home and friends. The + plan was to go on to Nengone and Erromango, take up the stores sent to the + latter place from Sydney, drop the two clergymen at Mota, and after a stay + there, go to the New Hebrides, and then take up the party, and if possible + leave them to make experiment of Curtis Island, while going to those Santa + Cruz islands for which he always seems to have had such a yearning. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel as usual,' he finishes the letter sent from Norfolk Island, 'that + no one can tell what may be the issue of such voyages. I pray and trust + that God will mercifully reveal to me "what I ought to do, and give me + grace and power to fulfil the same." + </p> + <p> + 'I have now been for some time out of the way of this kind of work, but I + hope that all may be safely ordered for us. It is all in His hands; and + you all feel, as I try to do, that there should be no cause for anxiety or + trouble. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet there are moments when one has such an overwhelming sense of one's + sins and negligences provoking God to chastise one. I know that His + merciful intention towards men must be accomplished, and on the whole I + rest thankfully in that, and feel that He will not suffer my utter + unworthiness to hinder His work of love and goodness.' + </p> + <p> + At Mota, Mr. Atkin's journal shows to what work a real helper needed to be + trained:— + </p> + <p> + 'The Mission-house had lost its roof in a gale of wind. The epidemic that + was raging last year did not seem to have continued long after with such + violence; some more of the people were dead, but not very many. We took + off all the Mota boys, and things that were wanted in three boat-loads, + the last time leaving the Bishop. There was, fortunately, very little + surf, and we got nothing wet, but as the tide was high, we had to carry + the things over the coral reefs with the water a little above our knees. + </p> + <p> + 'About an hour later we dropped anchor at Vanua Lava. On Saturday morning + I went ashore with the boat, and got water for washing and sand for + scrubbing decks, and several tons of taro and yams discharged on board the + vessel. Then made another trip, left all the boys on shore for a holiday, + and took off twelve or fourteen cwt. of yams, taro, and cocoa-nuts. After + dinner and washing up, went to fetch boys back. Where we bought the yams + there was such a surf breaking that we could not haul the boat on the + beach, and we had to wade and carry them out. After we got on board, we + had a bathe. Two of the Solomon Islanders distinguished themselves by + jumping off the fore-yard, and diving under the ship. Mr. Tilly and the + mates had been stowing, and the rest of us had been getting yams all day, + and if our friends could have seen us then, haggard-looking and dirty, + singing choruses to nigger melodies, how shocked they would have been! + </p> + <p> + 'Next Thursday went across to Mota, took the Bishop on board, and sailed + south as fast as possible. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday morning we were at the entrance of the passage between Ambrym and + Mallicolo, without a breath of wind. We had service at 10 A.M.; and in the + afternoon, psalms and hymns and chants in the cabin, the Bishop doing most + of the singing. + </p> + <p> + 'June 6th.—On Monday morning we landed at the old place at Tariko. + We began to buy some yams. The Bishop and William Pasvorang went ashore, + and the rest of us stayed in the boat, keeping her afloat and off the + reefs. Unfortunately the place where we landed was neutral ground between + two tribes, who both brought yams to the place to sell. One party said + another was getting too many hatchets, and two or three drew off and began + shooting at the others. One man stood behind the Bishop, a few feet from + him, and fired away in the crowd with a will. The consternation and alarm + of both parties were very ludicrous. Some of each set were standing round + the boat, armed with bows and arrows, but they were so frightened that + they never seemed to think of using them, but ran off as hard as they + could scamper to the shallow water, looking over their shoulders to see if + the enemies' arrows were after them. One arrow was fired at the Bishop + from the shore, and one hit the boat just as we pushed off. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop himself says of this fray:—"I was in the middle, one man + only remained by me, crouching under the lee of the branch of the tree, + and shooting away from thence within a yard of me. I did not like to leave + the steel-yard, and I had to detach it from the rope with which it was + tied to the tree, and the basket too was half full of yams and heavy, so + that it was some time before I got away, and walked down the beach, and + waded to the boat, shooting going on all round at the time; no one + shooting at me, yet as they shot on both sides of me at each other, I was + thankful to get well out of it. I thought of him who preserves from 'the + arrow that flieth by day,' as He has so mercifully preserved so many of us + from 'the sickness.'" Now don't go and let this little affair be printed.' + </p> + <p> + At Parama there was a friendly landing. At Sopevi Mr. Atkin says: 'We + could not find the landing place where the Bishop two years ago found + several people. We saw three or four on the shore. They were just the same + colour as the dust from the volcano. What a wretched state they must be + in! If they go to the neighbouring-isles they will be killed as enemies, + and if they stay at home they are constantly suffocated by the ashes, + which seemed to have fallen lately to the depth of more than afoot.' + </p> + <p> + At Mallicolo a landing place was found, and an acquaintance begun by means + of gifts of calico. At Leper's Island St. Barnabas Day was celebrated by + bringing off two boys, but here again was peril. The Bishop writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'The people, though constantly fighting, and cannibals and the rest of it, + are to me very attractive, light-coloured, and some very handsome. As I + sat on the beach with a crowd about me, most of them suddenly jumped up + and ran off. Turning my head I saw a man (from the boat they saw two men) + a few yards from me, corning to me with club uplifted. I remained sitting, + and held out a few fish-hooks to him, but one or two men jumped up and + seizing him by the waist forced him off. After a few minutes (lest they + should think I was suspicious of them), I went back to the boat. I found + out from the two young men who went away with me from another place, just + what I expected to hear, viz. that a poor fellow called Moliteum was shot + dead two months ago by a trader for stealing a bit of calico. The wonder + was, not that they wanted to avenge the death of their kinsman, but that + the others should have prevented it. How could they possibly know that I + was not one of the wicked set? Yet they did discriminate; and here again, + always by the merciful Providence of God, the plan of going among the + people unarmed and unsuspiciously has been seen to disarm their mistrust + and to make them regard me as a friend.' + </p> + <p> + Curtis Island was inspected, but there was no possibility of leaving a + party to make experiment on it; and then the 'Southern Cross' sailed for + the Santa Cruz cluster, that group whose Spanish name was so remarkable a + foreboding of what they were destined to become to that small party of + Christian explorers. Young Atkin made no entry in his diary of those days, + and could never bear to speak of them; and yet, from that time forward, + his mind was fully made up to cast in his lot with the Mission. + </p> + <p> + It was on August 15 that the first disaster at these islands took place. + Not till the 27th could the Bishop—on his sister Fanny's birthday—begin + a letter to her, cheering himself most touchingly with the thought of the + peace at home, and then he broke off half way, and could not continue for + some days:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—You remember the old happy anniversaries of your + birthday—the Feniton party—the assembly of relations—the + regular year's festivity. + </p> + <p> + 'No doubt this anniversary brings as much true happiness, the assurance of + a more abiding joy, the consciousness of deeper and truer sympathy. You + are, I hope, to pass the day cheerfully and brightly with perhaps —— + and —— about you.... Anyhow, I shall think of you as possibly + all together, the remnant of the old family gathering, on a calm autumn + day, with lovely South Devon scenery around you. + </p> + <p> + 'The day comes to me in the midst of one of the deepest sorrows I have + ever known—perhaps I have never felt such sorrow...perhaps I have + never been so mercifully supported under it. It is a good and profitable + sorrow I trust for me: it has made so much in me reveal itself as hollow, + worldly, selfish, vainglorious. It has, I hope, helped to strip away the + veil, and may be by God's blessing the beginning of more earnest life-long + repentance and preparation for death. + </p> + <p> + 'On August 15 I was at Santa Cruz. You know that I had a very remarkable + day there three years ago. I felt very anxious to renew acquaintance with + the people, who are very numerous and strong. + </p> + <p> + 'I went off in the boat with Atkin (twenty), Pearce (twenty-three or + twenty-four years old), Edwin Nobbs, Fisher Young, and Hunt Christian, the + last three Norfolk Islanders. Atkin, Edwin and Fisher have been with me + for two or three years—all young fellows of great promise, Fisher + perhaps the dearest of all to me, about eighteen, and oh! so good, so + thoroughly truthful, conscientious, and unselfish! + </p> + <p> + 'I landed at two places among many people, and after a while came back as + usual to the boat. All seemed pleasant and hopeful. At the third place I + landed amidst a great crowd, waded over the broad reef (partially + uncovered at low water), went into a house, sat down for some time, then + returned among a great crowd to the boat and got into it. I had some + difficulty in detaching the hands of some men swimming in the water. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, when the boat was about fifteen yards from the reef, on which + crowds were standing, they began (why I know not) to shoot at us.—(Another + letter adds) 300 or 400 people on the reef, and five or six canoes being + round us, they began to shoot at us.—I had not shipped the rudder, + so I held it up, hoping it might shield off any arrows that came straight, + the boat being end on, and the stern, having been backed into the reef, + was nearest to them. + </p> + <p> + 'When I looked round after a minute, providentially indeed, for the boat + was being pulled right into a small bay on the reef, and would have + grounded, I saw Pearce lying between the thwarts, with the long shaft of + an arrow in his chest, Edwin Nobbs with an arrow as it seemed in his left + eye, many arrows flying close to us from many quarters. Suddenly Fisher + Young, pulling the stroke oar, gave a faint scream; he was shot through + the left wrist. Not a word was spoken, only my "Pull! port oars, pull on + steadily." Once dear Edwin, with the fragment of the arrow sticking in his + cheek, and the blood streaming down, called out, thinking even then more + of me than of himself, "Look out, sir! close to you!" But indeed, on all + sides they were close to us! + </p> + <p> + 'How we any of us escaped I can't tell; Fisher and Edward pulled on, Atkin + had taken Pearce's oar, Hunt pulled the fourth oar. By God's mercy no one + else was hit, but the canoes chased us to the schooner. In about twenty + minutes we were on board, the people in the canoes round the vessel seeing + the wounded paddled off as hard as they could, expecting of course that we + should take vengeance on them. But I don't at all think that they were + cognisant of the attack on shore.' + </p> + <p> + Several letters were written about this adventure; but I have thought it + better to put them together, every word being Bishop Patteson's own, + because such a scene is better realised thus than by reading several + descriptions for the most part identical. What a scene it is! The + palm-clad island, the reef and sea full of the blacks, the storm of long + arrows through the air, the four youths pulling bravely and steadily, and + their Bishop standing over them, trying to ward off the blows with the + rudder, and gazing with the deep eyes and steadfast smile that had caused + many a weapon to fall harmless! + </p> + <p> + Pearce, it should be observed, was a volunteer for the Mission then on a + trial-trip. + </p> + <p> + There was an even more trying time to come on board. The Bishop continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'I drew out the arrow from Pearce's chest: a slanting wound not going in + very deep, running under the skin, yet of apparently almost fatal + character to an ignorant person like myself; Five inches were actually + inside him. The arrow struck him almost in the centre of the chest and in + the direction of the right breast. There was no effusion of blood, he + breathed with great difficulty, groaning and making a kind of hollow + sound, was perfectly composed, gave me directions and messages in case of + his death. I put on a poultice and bandage, and leaving him in charge of + some one, went to Fisher. The wrist was shot through, but the upper part + of the arrow broken off and deep down; bleeding profuse, of which I was + glad; I cut deeply, though fearing much to cut an artery, but I could not + extract the wooden arrow-head. At length getting a firm hold of the + projecting point of the arrow on the lower side of his wrist, I pulled it + through: it came out clean. The pain was very great, he trembled and + shivered: we gave him brandy, and he recovered. I poulticed the wound and + went to Edwin. Atkin had got out the splinter from his wound; the arrow + went in near the eye and came out by the cheek-bone: it was well syringed, + and the flow of blood had been copious from the first. The arrows were not + bone-headed, and not poisoned, but I well knew that lock-jaw was to be + dreaded. Edwin's was not much more than a flesh wound. Fisher's being in + the wrist, frightened me more: their patience and quiet composure and calm + resignation were indeed a strength and comfort to us all. + </p> + <p> + 'This was on Monday, August 15. All seemed doing well for a day or two, I + kept on poultices, gave light nourishing food, &c. But on Saturday + morning Fisher said to me, "I can't make out what makes my jaws feel so + stiff." + </p> + <p> + 'Then my heart sank down within me, and I prayed earnestly, earnestly to + God. I talked to the dear dear lad of his danger, night and day we prayed + and read. A dear guileless spirit indeed. I never saw in so young a person + such a thorough conscientiousness as for two years I witnessed in his + daily life, and I had long not only loved but respected him. + </p> + <p> + 'We had calm weather and could not get on. By Saturday the jaws were + tight-locked. Then more intense grew the pain, the agony, the whole body + rigid like a bar of iron! Oh! how I blessed God who carried me through + that day and night. How good he was in his very agonies, in his fearful + spasms, thanking God, praying, pressing my hand when I prayed and + comforted him with holy words of Scripture. None but a well-disciplined, + humble, simple Christian could so have borne his sufferings: the habit of + obedience and faith and patience; the childlike unhesitating trust in + God's love and fatherly care, supported him now. He never for a moment + lost his hold upon God. What a lesson it was! it calmed us all. It almost + awed me to see in so young a lad so great an instance of God's infinite + power, so great a work of good perfected in one young enough to have been + confirmed by me. + </p> + <p> + 'At 1 A.M. (Monday) I moved from his side to my couch, only three yards + off. Of course we were all (I need not say) in the after cabin. He said + faintly, "Kiss me. I am very glad that I was doing my duty. Tell my father + that I was in the path of duty, and he will be so glad. Poor Santa Cruz + people!" Ah! my dear boy, you will do more for their conversion by your + death than ever we shall by our lives. And as I lay down almost convulsed + with sobs, though not audible, he said (so Mr. Tilly afterwards told me), + "Poor Bishop!" How full his heart was of love and peace, and thoughts of + heaven. "Oh! what love," he said. The last night when I left him for an + hour or two at 1 A.M. only to lie down in my clothes by his side, he said + faintly (his body being then rigid as a bar of iron), "Kiss me, Bishop." + At 4 A.M. he started as if from a trance; he had been wandering a good + deal, but all his words even then were of things pure and holy. His eyes + met mine, and I saw the consciousness gradually coming back into them. + "They never stop singing there, sir, do they?"—for his thoughts were + with the angels in heaven. Then, after a short time, the last terrible + struggle, and then he fell asleep. And remember, all this in the midst of + that most agonizing, it may be, of all forms of death. At 4 A.M. he was + hardly conscious, not fully conscious: there were same fearful spasms: we + fanned him and bathed his head and occasionally got a drop or two of weak + brandy or wine and water down. Then came the last struggle. Oh! how I + thanked God when his head at length fell back, or rather his whole body, + for it was without joint, on my arm: long drawn sighs with still sadder + contraction of feature succeeded, and while I said the Commendatory + Prayer, he passed away. + </p> + <p> + 'The same day we anchored in Port Patteson, and buried him in a quiet spot + near the place where the Primate and I first landed years ago. It seems a + consecration of the place that the body of that dear child should be + resting there. + </p> + <p> + 'Some six years ago, when Mrs. Selwyn stopped at Norfolk Island she + singled him out as the boy of special promise. For two or three years he + had been with me, and my affection flowed out naturally to him. God had + tried him by the two sicknesses at Kohimarama and at Mota, and by his + whole family returning to Pitcairn. I saw that he had left all for this + work. He had become most useful, and oh! how we shall miss him! + </p> + <p> + 'But about five days after this (August 22) Edwin's jaws began to stiffen. + For nine or ten days there was suspense, so hard to bear. Some symptoms + were not so bad, it did not assume so acute a form. I thought he ought to + be carried through it. He was older, about twenty-one, six feet high, a + strong handsome young man, the pride of Norfolk Island, the destined + helper and successor (had God so willed) of his father, the present + Clergyman. The same faith, the same patience, the same endurance of + suffering. + </p> + <p> + 'On Friday, September 2, I administered the Holy Communion to him and + Pearce. He could scarce swallow the tiniest crumb. He was often delirious, + yet not one word but spoke of things holy and pure, almost continually in + prayer. He was in the place where Fisher had died, the best part of the + cabin for an invalid. Sunday came: he could take no nourishment, stomach + and back in much pain: a succession of violent spasms at about 10.30 A.M., + but his body never became quite rigid. The death struggle at 1 A.M. + September 5, was very terrible. Three of us could scarcely hold him. Then + he sank back on my arm, and his spirit passed away as I commended his soul + to God. Then all motionless. After some minutes, I said the first prayer + in the Burial Service, then performed the last offices, then had a solemn + talk with Pearce, and knelt down, I know not how long. + </p> + <p> + 'We buried him at sea. All this time we were making very slow progress; + indeed the voyage has been very remarkable in all respects. Pearce seems + to be doing very well, so that I am very hopeful about him. The + temperature now is only 72 degrees, and I imagine that his constitution is + less liable to that particular disease. Yet punctured wounds are always + dangerous on this account. + </p> + <p> + 'Patience and trust in God, the same belief in His goodness and love, that + He orders all things for our good, that this is but a proof of His + merciful dealing with us: such comforts God has graciously not withheld. I + never felt so utterly broken down, when I thought, and think, of the + earthly side of it all; never perhaps so much realised the comfort and + power of His Presence, when I have had grace to dwell upon the heavenly + and abiding side of it. I do with my better part heartily and humbly thank + Him, that He has so early taken these dear ones by a straight and short + path to their everlasting home. I think of them with blessed saints, our + own dear ones, in Paradise, and in the midst of my tears I bless and + praise God. + </p> + <p> + 'But, dear Fan, Fisher most of all supplied to me the absence of earthly + relations and friends. He was my boy: I loved him as I think I never loved + any one else. I don't mean more than you all, but in a different way: not + as one loves another of equal age, but as a parent loves a child. + </p> + <p> + 'I can hardly think of my little room at Kohimarama without him. I long + for the sight of his dear face, the sound of his voice. It was my delight + to teach him, and he was clever and so thoughtful and industrious. I know + it is good that my affections should be weaned from all things earthly. I + try to be thankful, I think I am thankful really; time too will do much, + God's grace much more. I only wonder how I have borne it all. "In the + multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, Thy comforts have + refreshed my soul." Mr. Tilly has been and is full of sympathy, and is + indeed a great aid. He too has a heavy loss in these two dear ones. And + now I must land at Norfolk Island in the face of the population crowding + the little pier. Mr. Nobbs will be there, and the brothers and sisters of + Edwin, and the uncles and aunts of Fisher. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet God will comfort them; they have been called to the high privilege of + being counted worthy to suffer for their Savior's sake. However much I may + reproach myself with want of caution and of prayer for guidance (and this + is a bitter thought), they were in the simple discharge of their duty. + Their intention and wish were to aid in bringing to those poor people the + Gospel of Christ. It has pleased God that in the execution of this great + purpose they should have met with their deaths. Surely there is matter for + comfort here! + </p> + <p> + 'I can't write all this over again.... I have written at some length to + Jem also; put the two letters together, and you will be able to realise it + somewhat. + </p> + <p> + 'This is a joint letter to you and Joan. It was begun on your birthday, + and it has been written with a heavy, dull weight of sorrow on my heart, + yet not unrelieved by the blessed consciousness of being drawn, as I + humbly trust, nearer to our most merciful Father in heaven, if only by the + very impossibility of finding help elsewhere. It has not been a time + without its own peculiar happiness. How much of the Bible seemed endued + with new powers of comfort.... How true it is, that they who seek, find. + "I sought the Lord, and He heard me." The closing chapters of the Gospels, + 2 Corinthians, and how many other parts of the New Testament were + blessings indeed! Jeremy Taylor's "Life of Christ," and "Holy Living and + Dying," Thomas a Kempis, most of all of course the Prayer-book, and such + solemn holy memories of our dear parents and uncles, such blessed hopes of + reunion, death brought so near, the longing (if only not unprepared) for + the life to come: I could not be unhappy. Yet I could not sustain such a + frame of mind long; and then when I sank to the level of earthly thoughts, + then came the weary heartache, and the daily routine of work was so + distasteful, and I felt sorely tempted to indulge the "luxury of grief." + But, thanks be to God, it is not altogether an unhealthy sorrow, and I can + rest in the full assurance that all this is working out God's purposes of + love and mercy to us all—Melanesians, Pitcairners, and all; and that + I needed the discipline I know full well.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + It was not possible to touch at Norfolk Island, each attempt was baffled + by the winds; and on September 16 the 'Southern Cross' anchored at + Kohimarama, and a sad little note was sent up to the Primate with the + announcement of the deaths and losses. + </p> + <p> + In spite of the comfort which, as this note said, Patteson felt 'in the + innocence of their lives, and the constancy of their faith' unto the + death, the fate of these two youths, coming at the close of a year of + unusual trial, which, as he had already said, had diminished his + elasticity, had a lasting effect. It seemed to take away his youthful + buoyancy, and marked lines of care on his face that never were effaced. + The first letter after his return begins by showing how full his heart was + of these his children:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: Sunday, September 18, 1864. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Fan,—I must try to write without again making my whole + letter full of dear Edwin and Fisher. That my heart is full of them you + can well believe. + </p> + <p> + 'These last five weeks have taught me that my reading of the Bible was + perhaps more intellectual and perhaps more theological than devotional, to + a dangerous extent probably; anyhow I craved for it as a revelation not + only of truth, but of comfort and support in heavy sorrow. It may be that + when the sorrow does not press so heavily, the Bible cannot speak so + wonderfully in that particular way of which I am writing, and it is right + to read it theologically also. + </p> + <p> + 'But yet it should always be read with a view to some practical result; + and so often there is not a special, though many general points which may + make our reading at once practical. Then comes the real trial, and then + comes the wondrous power of God's Word to help and strengthen. + </p> + <p> + 'Now it helps me to know where I am, to learn how others manage to see + where they are. + </p> + <p> + 'All that you say about self-consciousness, &c., can't I understand + it! Ah! when I saw the guileless pure spirit of those two dear fellows + ever brightening more and more for now two years. I had respected them as + much as I loved them. I used to think, "Yes, we must become such as they; + we too must seek and pray for the mind of a little child." + </p> + <p> + 'And surely the contemplation of God is the best cure. How admirable + Jeremy Taylor is on those points! Oh that he had not overlaid it all with + such superabundant ornamentation of style and rhetoric. But it is the + manner of the age. Many persons I suppose get over it, perhaps like it; + but I long for the same thoughts, the same tenderness and truthfulness, + and faithful searching words with a clear, simple, not unimaginative + diction. Yet his book is a great heritage. + </p> + <p> + 'Newman has a sermon on Contemplation or Meditation, I forget which; and + my copy is on board. But I do hope that by praying for humility, with + contemplation of God's majesty and love and our Savior's humility and + meekness, some improvement may be mercifully vouchsafed to me. + </p> + <p> + 'To dwell on His humiliation, His patience, that He should seek for + heavenly aids, accept the ministration of an angel strengthening Him, how + full of mystery and awe! and yet written for us! And yet we are proud and + self-justified and vainglorious! + </p> + <p> + 'The Archbishop of York, in "Aids to Faith," on the Death of Christ, has + some most solemn and deep remarks on the Lord's Agony. I don't know that + it could ever be quite consistent with reverence to speak on what is there + suggested. Yet if I could hear Mr. Keble and Dr. Pusey (say) prayerfully + talking together on that great mystery, I should feel that it might be + very profitable. But he must be a very humble man who should dare to speak + on it. Yet read it, Fan, it cannot harm you; it is very awful, it is fully + meant that He was sinless, without spot, undefiled through all. It makes + the mystery of sin, and of what it cost to redeem our souls, more awful + than ever. + </p> + <p> + 'And then, surely to the contemplation of God and the necessary contrast + of our own weakness and misery, we add the thought of our approaching + death, we anticipate the hours, the days, it may be the weeks and months, + even the years of weariness, pain, sleeplessness, thirst, distaste for + food, murmuring thoughts, evil spirits haunting us, impatient longings + after rest for which we are not yet prepared, the thousand trials, + discomforts, sadnesses of sickness—yes, it must come in some shape; + and is it to come as a friend or an enemy to snatch us from what we love + and enjoy, or to open the gates of Paradise? + </p> + <p> + 'I humbly thank God that, while I dare not be sure that I am not mistaken, + and suppose that if ready to go I should be taken, the thought of death at + a distance is the thought of rest and peace, of more blessed communion + with God's saints, holy angels and the Lord. Yet I dare not feel that if + death was close at hand, it might not be far otherwise. How often the + "Christian Year," and all true divinity helps up here! Why indulge in such + speculations? Seek to prepare for death by dying daily. Oh! that blessed + text: Be not distracted, worry not yourselves about the morrow, for the + morrow shall, &c. How it does carry one through the day! Bear + everything as sent from God for your good, by way of chastisement or of + proving you. Pusey's sermon on Patience, Newman's on a Particular + Providence, guarding so wisely against abuse as against neglect of the + doctrine. How much to comfort and guide one! and then, most of all, the + continual use of the Prayer-book. Do you often use the Prayer at the end + of the Evening Service for Charles the Martyr? Leave out from "great + deep...teach us to number"—and substitute "pride" for "splendour." + Leave out "according to... blessed martyr." In the Primate's case, it is a + prayer full of meaning, and it may have a meaning for us all. + </p> + <p> + 'Once more, the love of approbation is right and good, but then it must be + the love of the approbation of God and of good men. Here, as everywhere, + we abuse His gift; and it is a false teaching which bids us suppress the + human instinct which God implanted in us, but a true leading, which bids + us direct and use it to its appointed and legitimate use. On this general + subject, read if you have not read them, and you can't read them too + often, Butler's Sermons; you know, the great Butler. I think you will + easily get an analysis of them, such as Mill's "Analysis of Pearson on the + Creed," which will help you, if you want it. Analyse them for yourself, if + you like, and send me out your analysis to look at. There is any amount of + fundamental teaching there and the imprimatur of thousands of good men to + assure us of it. + </p> + <p> + 'I think, as I have written to Joan, that if I were with you, after the + first few days my chiefest delight would be in reading and talking over + our reading of good books. Edwin and Fisher were beginning to understand + thoughtful books; and how I did delight in reading with them, + interspersing a little Pitcairn remark here and there! Ah! never more! + never more! But they don't want books now. All is clear now: they live + where there is no night, in the Glory of God and of the Lamb, resting in + Paradise, anticipating the full consummation of the Life of the + Resurrection. Thanks be to God, and it may not be long—but I must + not indulge such thoughts. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel better, but at times this sad affliction weighs me down much, and + business of all kinds seems almost to multiply. Yet there are many many + comforts, and kindest sympathy. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + Just at this time heavy sorrow fell upon Bishop Hobhouse of Nelson; and + the little council of friends at Auckland decided that Bishop Patteson + should go at once to do his best to assist and comfort him, and bring him + back to Auckland. There was a quiet time of wholesome rest at Nelson; and + the effects appeared in numerous letters, and in the thinking out of many + matters on paper to his sisters. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! how I think with such ever-increasing love of dear Fisher and Edwin! + How I praised God for them on All Saints' Day. But I don't expect to + recover spring and elasticity yet awhile. I don't think I shall ever feel + so young again. Really it is curious that the number of white hairs is + notably increased in these few weeks (though it is silly to talk about it. + Don't mention it!), and I feel very tired and indolent. No wonder I seem + to "go softly." But I am unusually happy down in the depths, only the + surface troubled. I hope that it is not fancy only that makes the + shortness and uncertainty of this life a ground of comfort and joy. + Perhaps it is, indeed I think it is, very much a mere cowardly indolent + shirking of work. + </p> + <p> + 'Did I say I thought I might some day write a book? It will be some day + indeed. It seems funny enough to think of such a thing. The fact is, it is + much easier to me to speak than to write. I think I could learn with a + good deal of leisure and trouble to write intelligibly, but not without + it. I am so diffusive and wanting in close condensed habits of thought. + How often I go off in a multitude of words, and really say nothing worthy + to be remembered. + </p> + <p> + 'How I should enjoy, indeed, a day or two at Hursley with Mr. and Mrs. + Keble. A line from him now and then, if he can find time, would be a great + delight to me; but I know that he thinks and prays, and that is indeed a + great happiness. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, the blessing of such thoughts as All Saints' Day brings!—and + now more dear than ever, every day brings!—"Patriarchs, prophets, + apostles, martyrs, and every spirit made perfect in the faith of Christ," + as an old Liturgy says. And the Collects in the Burial Service! How full, + how simple and soothing, how full of calm, holy, tender, blessed hopes and + anticipations! + </p> + <p> + 'So you think the large Adelaide photograph very sad. I really don't + remember it; I fancy I thought it a very fair likeness. But you know that + I have a heavy lumpy dull look, except when talking—indeed, then too + for aught I know—and this may be mistaken for a sad look when it is + only a dull stupid one. You can't get a nice picture out of an ugly face, + so it's no use trying, but you are not looking for that kind of thing. You + want to see how far the face is any index of the character and life and + work. + </p> + <p> + I don't think it odd that I should look careworn. I have enough to make me + so! And yet if I were with you now, brightened up by being with you, you + would say, "How well he looks!" And you would think I had any amount of + work in me, as you saw me riding or walking or holding services. And then + I had to a very considerable extent got over that silly shyness, which was + a great trial and drawback to me of old, and sadly prevented me from + enjoying the society of people (at Oxford especially) which would have + done me much good. But without all these bodily defects, I should have + been even more vain, and so I can see the blessing and mercy now, though + how many times I have indulged murmuring rebellious thoughts! + </p> + <p> + 'Perhaps I shall live ten or twenty years, and look back and say, "I + recollect how in '64 I really almost thought I should not last long." But + don't fancy that I am morbidly cherishing such fancies. Only I like you + all to know me as I am changing in feeling from time to time. There is + quite enough to account for it all.' + </p> + <p> + A few days later he returned to Auckland, and thence wrote to me a letter + on the pros and cons of a move from New Zealand. The sight of ships and + the town he had ceased to think of great importance, and older scholars + had ceased to care for it, and there was much at that time to recommend + Curtis Island to his mind. The want of bread-fruit was the chief + disadvantage he then saw in it, but he still looked to keeping up + Kohimarama for a good many years to come. I cannot describe how tender and + considerate he was of feelings he thought I might possibly have of + disappointment that St. Andrew's was not a successful experiment as far as + health was concerned, evidently fearing that I had set my hopes on that + individual venture, and that my feelings might be hurt if it had to be + deserted. + </p> + <p> + The next letters are a good deal occupied with the troubles incident to + the judgment upon 'Essays and Reviews.' He took a view, as has been seen, + such as might be expected of the delicate refining metaphysical mind, + thinking out points for itself, and weighing the possible value of every + word, and differed from those who were in the midst of the contest, and + felt some form of resistance and protest needful. He was strongly averse + to agitation on the subject, and at the same time grieved to find himself + for the first time, to his own knowledge, not accepting the policy of + those whom he so much respected; though the only difference in his mind + from theirs was as to the manner of the maintenance of the truth, and the + immediate danger of error going uncondemned—a point on which his + remote life perhaps hardly enabled him to judge. + </p> + <p> + All these long letters and more, which were either in the same tone, or + too domestic to be published, prove the leisure caused by having an + unusually small collection of pupils, and happily all in fair health; but + with Christmas came a new idea, or rather an old one renewed. Instead of + only going to Norfolk Island, on sufferance from the Pitcairn Committee, + and by commission from the Bishop of Tasmania, a regular request was made, + by Sir John Young, the Governor of Australia, that the Pitcairners might + be taken under his supervision, so that, as far as Government was + concerned, the opposition was withdrawn which had hindered his original + establishment there, though still Curtis Island remained in the ascendency + in the schemes of this summer. The ensuing is a reply to Sir John + Coleridge's letter, written after hearing of the attack at Santa Cruz:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: March 3, 1865. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Uncle,—Many many thanks for your letter, so full of + comfort and advice. I need not tell you that the last budget of letters + revived again most vividly not only the actual scene at Santa Cruz, but + all the searchings of heart that followed it. I believe that we are all + agreed on the main point. Enough ground has been opened for the present. + Codrington was right in saying that the object of late has been to fill up + gaps. But some of the most hazardous places to visit lie nearest to the + south, e.g. some of the New Hebrides, &c., south of the Banks Islands. + My notion is, that I ought to be content even to pass by (alas!) some + places where I had some hold when I had reason to feel great distrust of + the generally kind intentions of the people (that is a dark sentence, but + you know my meaning). In short, there are very few places where I can + feel, humanly speaking, secure against this kind of thing. It is always in + the power of even one mischievous fellow to do mischief. And if the + feeling of the majority might be in my favour, yet there being no way of + expressing public opinion, no one cares to take an active part in + preventing mischief. It is not worth his while to get into a squabble and + risk his own life. + </p> + <p> + 'But I shall be (D.V.) very cautious. I dare say I was becoming + presumptuous: one among the many faults that are so discernible. It is, + dear Uncle, hard to see a wild heathen party on the beach, and not try to + get at them. It seems so sad to leave them. But I know that I ought to be + prudent, even for my own sake (for I quite suppose that, humanly speaking, + my life is of consequence for a few years more), and I can hardly bear the + thought of bringing the boat's crew, dear good volunteers, into danger. + Young Atkin, the only son of my neighbour, behaved admirably at Santa + Cruz, and is very staunch. But his parents have but him and one daughter, + and I am bound to be careful indeed. But don't think me careless, if we + get into another scrape. There is scarcely one island where I can fully + depend upon immunity from all risk. There was no need to talk so much + about it all before. + </p> + <p> + 'As to Curtis Island, I need not say that I have no wish indeed to take + Australian work in hand. I made it most clear, as I thought, that the + object of a site on Curtis Island was the Melanesian and not the + Australian Mission. I offered only to incorporate Australian blacks, if + proper specimens could be obtained, into our school, regarding in fact + East Australia as another Melanesian island. This would only have involved + the learning a language or two, and might have been of some use. I did not + make any pledge. But I confess that I think some such plan as this one + only feasible one. I don't see that the attempts at mission work are made + on the most hopeful plan. But I have written to the Brisbane authorities, + urging them to appropriate large reserves for the natives. I tell them + that it is useless for them to give me a few acres and think they are + doing a mission work, if they civilize the native races off their own + lands. In short, I almost despair of doing anything for blacks living on + the same land with whites. Even here in New Zealand, the distrust now + shown to us all, to our religion even, is the result in very great measure + of the insolent, covetous behaviour exhibited by the great majority of the + white people to the Maori. Who stops in Australia to think whether the + land which he wants for his sheep is the hunting ground of native people + or not? + </p> + <p> + 'I confess that while I can't bear to despair and leave these poor souls + uncared for, I can't propose any scheme but one, and who will work that? + If, indeed, one or two men could be found to go and live with a tribe, + moving as they move and really identifying himself with their interests! + But where are such men, and where is a tribe not already exasperated by + injurious treatment? + </p> + <p> + 'It was the statement for our mode of action which commended itself so + much to people in Australia, that they urged me to try and do something. + But I answered as I have now written; and when at one meeting in Sydney I + was asked whether I would take Australians into my school, I said, "Yes, + if I can get the genuine wild man, uncontaminated by contact with the + white man." I can't, in justice to our Melanesian scholars, take the poor + wretched black whose intercourse with white men has rendered him a far + more hopeless subject to deal with than the downright ferocious yet not + ungenerous savage. "If," was the answer, "you can get them, I will pay for + them." + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed, dear Uncle, I don't want more but less work on my hands: yet as I + look around, I see (as far as I can judge) so great a want of that + prudence and knowledge and calm foresight that the Primate has shown so + remarkably, that I declare I do think his plan is almost the only + reasonable one for dealing with black races. Alas! you can't put hearty + love for strangers into men's hearts by paying them salaries. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that in two or three years I may, if I live, have some + preparatory branch school at Curtis Island. If it should clearly succeed, + then I think in time the migration from New Zealand might take place. I do + not think two schools in two different countries would answer. We want the + old scholars to help us in working the school; we can't do without them, + and the old scholars can't be trained without the younger ones, the + material on whom their teaching, and training faculties must be exercised. + </p> + <p> + 'You all know how deeply I feel about dear Mr. Keble! + </p> + <p> + 'Thank God, we have as yet no dysentery. I baptized last week a lad dying + of consumption. There are many blessings, as all clergymen know, in having + death scenes so constantly about one; and the having to do everything for + these dear fellows makes one love them so.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate and dutiful Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + The above sentence refers to the paralytic attack Mr. Keble had on + November 30, 1864. Nevertheless, almost at that very time, he was writing + thus:— + </p> + <p> + 'Penzance: March 7, 1865. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear and more than dear Bishop,—It would be vain for me to write + to you, if I pretended to do more than just express my heart's wish that I + could say something of the doings and sufferings which now for years past + we of course associate with your name, so as to encourage and support you + in your present manifold distress. But (especially for reasons known only + to myself) I must leave that altogether to Him who helps His own to do and + suffer. One thing only I would say, that to us at our great distance it + looks as if the sanguis martyrum were being to you as the semen Ecclesiae, + and you know how such things were hailed in the time of St. Cyprian. May + it please God before long to give you some visible earnest of this sure + blessing! but I suppose that if it tarry, it may be the greater when it + comes. Our troubles as a Church, though of a different kind, are not + small. The great point with me is, lest, if in our anxiety to keep things + together, we should be sinfully conniving at what is done against the + faith, and so bringing a judgment upon ourselves. I do not for a moment + think that by anything which has yet been done or permitted our being as a + Church is compromised (though things look alarmingly as if it might be + before long), but I fear that her well-being is more and more being + damaged by our entire and conscious surrender of the disciplinary part of + our trust, and that if we are apathetic in such things we may forfeit our + charter. There is no doubt, I fear, that personal unbelief is spreading; + but I trust that a deeper faith is spreading also; it is (at Oxford, e.g.) + Pusey and Moberly, &c., against the Rationalists and other tempters. + As to the question of the Bible being (not only containing) the Word, I + had no scruples in signing that Declaration. One thought which helped me + was, the use made in the New Testament of the Old, which is such as to + show that we are not competent judges as to what passages convey deep + moral or religious meanings or no. Another, that in every instance where + one had the means of ascertaining, so far as I have known, the Bible + difficulty has come right: therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that so + it would be in all the rest, if we knew the right reading and the right + interpretation of the words. And as to what are called the Divine and + Human Elements, I have seemed to help myself with the thought that the + Divine adoption (if so be) of the human words warrants their truthfulness, + as a man's signature makes a letter his own; but whether this is relevant, + I doubt. My wife and I are both on the sick list, and I must now only add + that we never forget you. + </p> + <p> + 'Ever yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. K. + </h5> + <p> + Nothing has hitherto been said of this term at St. Andrew's: so here is an + extract from a letter to one of the cousinhood, who had proposed a plan + which has since been carried out extensively and with good effect:— + </p> + <p> + 'The difficulty about scholars appropriated to certain places or parishes + is this: I cannot be sure of the same persons remaining with me. Some + sickness in an island, some panic, some death of a relative, some war, or + some inability on my part from bad weather or accident to visit an island, + may at any time lose me a scholar. Perhaps he may be the very one that has + been appropriated to some one, and what am I to say then? + </p> + <p> + 'This year we have but thirty-eight Melanesians, we ought to have sixty. + But after dear Edwin and Fisher's wounds, I could not delay, but hurried + southwards, passing by islands with old scholars ready to come away. This + was sad work, but what could I do? + </p> + <p> + 'I will gladly assign, to the best of my power, scholars whom I think + likely to remain with me to various places or persons; but pray make them + understand that their scholar may not always be forthcoming. Anyhow, their + alms would go to the support of some Melanesian, who would be their + scholar as it were for the time being. + </p> + <p> + 'You would perhaps feel interested in knowing that the Gospel of St. Luke + has been printed in the Mota language, to a great extent by our scholars, + and that George Sarawia is printing now the Acts, composing it, and doing + press-work and all. Young Wogale (about thirteen) prints very fairly, and + sent off 250 copies of a prayer, which the Bishop of Nelson wanted for + distribution, of which everything was done by him entirely. They both + began to learn about last November. + </p> + <p> + 'When morning school is over at 10 A.M., all hands, "dons" and all, are + expected to give their time to the Mission till 12.45. Mr. Pritt is + general overlooker (which does not mean doing nothing himself) of domestic + work: kitchen, garden, farm, dairy, &c. You know that we have no + servants. Mr. Palmer prints and teaches printing. Atkin works at whatever + may be going on, and has a large share of work to get ready for me, and to + read with me: Greek Testament, 12 to 12.45, Greek and Latin from 2 to 3. + So all the lads are busy at out-door work from 10 to 12.45; and I assure + you, under Mr. Pritt's management, we begin to achieve considerable + results in our farm and garden work. We are already economising our + expenditure greatly by keeping our own cows, for which we grow food (a + good deal artificial), and baking our own bread. We sell some of our + butter, and have a grand supply of milk for our scholars, perhaps the very + best kind of food for them. + </p> + <p> + 'If we can manage to carry on a winter's school here with some ten or + twelve of the lads left under Mr. Pritt's charge, while I go off with the + rest, I really think that the industrial department may become something + considerable. It is an essential part of the system, for we must begin + with teaching habits of order, punctuality, &c:, in respect of those + things with which they have already some acquaintance. No Melanesian can + understand why he is to sit spelling away at a black board; and he is not + like a child of four or five years old, he must be taught through his + power of reasoning, and perceiving the meaning of things. Secondly, we can + gradually invest the more advanced scholars with responsible duties. There + are the head cooks in the various weeks, the heads of departments in + garden work, &c., &c. As these lads and men are being trained (we + hope) to teach others, and as we want them to teach industry, decency, + cleanliness, punctuality, to be, and to teach others to be honest, and + careful, and thoughtful, so we find all these lessons are learnt more in + the industrial work than in the mere book work, though that is not + neglected. Indeed school, in the restricted sense of the word, is going on + for four or four and a half hours a day. + </p> + <p> + 'The main difficulty remains, of retaining our hold upon boys. Oh that I + could live permanently in twenty islands at once! But I can't do so even + in one; and all the letter-writing and accounts, and, worst of all, the + necessity for being trustee for matters not a bit connected with + Melanesia, because there is no one else, interferes sadly with my time. I + think I could work away with the languages, &c., and really do + something with these fellows, but I never get a chance. I never have two + days together which I can spend exclusively at Melanesian work. And I + ought to have nothing whatever to distract me. Twenty languages calling + for arrangement and comparison causes confusion enough!' + </p> + <p> + These interruptions made the Kohimarama life trying. 'As for + correspondence,' says the birthday despatch to Fanny, 'why this mail my + letters to Victoria alone are twelve, let alone Sydney, Brisbane, + Adelaide, Tasmania, New Zealand, and England. Then three sermons a week, + occasional services, reading up for a most difficult session of General + Synod, with really innumerable interruptions from persons of all kinds. + Sometimes I do feel tempted to long for Curtis Island merely to get away + from New Zealand! I feel as if I should never do anything here. Everything + is in arrears. I turn out of a morning and really don't know what to take + up first. Then, just as I am in the middle of a letter (as yesterday) down + comes some donkey to take up a quarter of an hour (lucky if not an hour) + with idle nonsense; then in the afternoon an invasion of visitors, which + is worst of all. That fatal invention of "calling"! However, I never call + on anyone, and it is understood now, and people don't expect it. I have + not even been to Government House for more than a year! + </p> + <p> + 'There, a good explosion does one good! But why must idle people interfere + with busy men? I used to make it up by sitting up and getting up very + early indeed; but somehow I feel fit for nothing but sleeping and eating + now.' + </p> + <p> + After an absence of three weeks at the General Synod at Christchurch, the + Bishop took up such of his party as were to return, and sailed home, + leaving those whom he thought able to brave the winter with Mr. and Mrs. + Pritt, on one of the first days of June. The first visit was one to the + bereaved family at Norfolk Island, whence a brief note to his brother on + the 9th begins:— + </p> + <p> + 'Nothing can be more comforting to me than the loving patient spirit of + these dear people. Poor Mr. and Mrs. Nobbs and all the brothers and + sisters so good and so full of kindness to me. It was very trying when I + first met them yesterday. They came and kissed me, and then, poor things, + fairly gave way, and then I began to talk quietly about Edwin and Fisher, + and they became calm, and we knelt and prayed together.' + </p> + <p> + After landing the Bishop at Mota, the others crossed to Port Patteson + where they found Fisher Young's grave carefully tended, kept clear of + weeds, and with a fence round it. After establishing Mr. Palmer at the + station at Mota, the Bishop re-embarked for Santa Maria, where, at the + north-east—Cock Sparrow Point, as some one had appropriately called + it—the boat was always shot at; but at a village called Lakona, the + people were friendly, and five scholars had come from thence, so the + Bishop ventured on landing for the night, and a very unpleasant night it, + was—the barrack hut was thronged with natives, and when the heat was + insufferable and he tried to leave it, two of his former scholars advised + him strongly to remain within. + </p> + <p> + It was bad weather too, and there was some difficulty in fetching him off, + and he was thankful that the wet had hindered more than 300 or 400 natives + from collecting; there was no possibility of speaking to them quietly, for + the sight of the boat suggested trading, and they flocked round as he was + fetched off, half a dozen swimming out and begging to go to New Zealand. + He took three old scholars and one new one, and sent the others off with + fish-hooks, telling them that if they would not behave at Lakona as he + liked, he would not do as they liked. However, no arrows were shot. + </p> + <p> + Then while the 'Southern Cross,' with Mr. Tilly and Mr. Atkin, went on to + land the Solomon Island scholars, the work at Mota was resumed in full + force. It seems well worth while to dwell on the successive steps in the + conversion of this place, and the following letter shows the state of + things in the season of 1865:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mota: July 4, 1865. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters and Brother,—I must write a joint letter for + all, with little notes if I have anything more special for anyone of you. + I wish you could see this place. The old hut is queer enough certainly, + quite open on one side, and nearly so on another, but it is weather-tight + in the middle, with forms to sit on and a table or two like a kitchen + table, on which I read and write by day, and sleep by night. Last night we + killed five lizards; they get on the roof and drop down and bite pretty + severely, so seeing these running all about, we made a raid upon them, + poor things. The great banyan tree is as grand as ever, a magnificent + tree, a forest in itself, and the view of the sea under its great + branches, and of the islands of Matlavo and Valua, is beautiful. + </p> + <p> + 'At daylight I turn off my table and dress, not elaborately—a + flannel shirt, old trousers and shoes; then a yam or two is roasted on the + embers, and the coffee made, and (fancy the luxury here in Mota!) + delicious goat's milk with it. Then the morning passes in reading, + writing, and somewhat desultory talking with people, but you can't expect + punctuality and great attention. Then at one, a bit of biscuit and cheese + (as long as the latter lasts). Mr. Palmer made some bread yesterday. Then + generally a walk to meet people at different villages, and talk to them, + trying to get them to ask me questions, and I try to question them. Then + at 6 P.M., a tea-ation, viz., yam and coffee, and perhaps a crab or two, + or a bit of bacon, or some good thing or other. But I forgot! this morning + we ate a bit of our first full-grown and fully ripe Mota pine-apple (I + brought some two years ago) as large and fine as any specimens I remember + in hot-houses. If you mention all these luxuries, we shall have no more + subscriptions, but you may add that there is as yet no other pineapple, + though our oranges, lemons, citrons, guavas, &c., are coming on. + Anyone living here permanently might make a beautiful place indeed, but it + becomes sadly overgrown in our absence, and many things we plant are + destroyed by pigs, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Then after tea—a large party always witnessing that ceremony—there + is an hour or so spent in speaking again to the people, and then I read a + little with Wadrokala and Carry. Then Mr. Palmer and I read a chapter of + Vaughan on the Revelation, then prayers, and so to bed. It seems as if + little was done—certain talks with people, sometimes many, sometimes + few; yet, on the whole, I hope an increased acquaintance with our + teaching. You can well understand that the consciousness of sin and the + need of a Redeemer may be talked about, but cannot be stated so as to make + one feel that one has stated it in the most judicious and attractive + manner. Of course it is the work of God's Spirit to work this conviction + in the heart. But it is very hard so to speak of it as to give (if you can + understand me) the heathen man a fair chance of accepting what you say. + Forgetfulness of God; ingratitude to the Giver of life, health, food; + ignorance of the Creator and the world to come, of the Resurrection and + Life Everlasting, are all so many proofs to us of a fallen and depraved + state. But the heathen man recognises some outward acts as more or less + wrong; there he stops. "Yes, we don't fight now, nor quarrel, nor steal so + much as we used to do. We are all right now." + </p> + <p> + '"Are you? I never taught you to think so. You tell me that you believe + that the Son of God came down from heaven. What did He come for? What is + the meaning of what you say that He died for us?" + </p> + <p> + 'It is the continual prayer and effort of the Christian minister + everywhere, that God would deepen in his own heart the sense of sin, and + create it in the mind of the heathen. And then the imperfect medium of a + language very far from thoroughly known! It is by continual prayer, the + intercession of Christ, the power of the Spirit (we well know) that the + work must be carried on. How one does understand it! The darkness seems so + thick, the present visible world so wholly engrosses the thoughts, and + yet, you see, there are many signs of progress even here, in changed + habits to some extent, in the case of our scholars, real grounds of hope + for the future. One seems to be doing nothing, yet surely if no change be + wrought, what right have we to expect it. It is not that I looked for + results, but that I seek to be taught how to teach better. The Collect for + the first Sunday after Epiphany is wonderful. + </p> + <p> + 'It requires a considerable effort to continually try to present to + oneself the state of the heathen mind, to select illustrations, &c., + suitable to his case. And then his language has never been used by him to + set forth these new ideas; there are no words which convey the ideas of + repentance, sin, heartfelt confession, faith, &c. How can there be, + when these ideas don't exist? Yet somehow the language by degrees is made + the exponent of such ideas, just as all religious ideas are expressed in + English by words now used in their second intention, which once meant very + different and less elevated ideas. + </p> + <p> + 'I find everywhere the greatest willingness to listen. Everywhere I take + my pick of boys, and now for any length of time. That is the result of + eleven scholars remaining now in New Zealand. Everyone seems to wish to + come. I think I shall take away five or six young girls to be taught at + Kohimarama, to become by and by wives for scholars. Else the Christian lad + will have to live with a heathen girl. But all this, if carried out + properly, would need a large number of scholars from only one island. At + Curtis Island, indeed (should it answer and supply plenty of food), we + might hope to have a school some day of 300 or 400, and then thirty or + forty from each island could be educated at once; but it can't be so in + New Zealand. And a good school on an island before a certain number are + trained to teach could not, I think, be managed successfully. I feel that + I must concentrate more than hitherto. I must ascertain—I have to + some extent ascertained—the central spots upon which I must chiefly + work. This is not an easy thing, nevertheless, to find out, and it has + taken years. Then using them as centres, I must also find out how far + already the dialect of that spot may extend, how far the people of the + place have connections, visiting acquaintances, &c. elsewhere, and to + use the influence of that place to its fullest extent. Many islands would + thus fall under one centre, and thus I think we may work. My mind is so + continually, day and night, I may say, working on these points, that I + dare say I fill up my letters with nothing else. But writing on these + points helps me to see my way.' + </p> + <p> + On July 7, an expedition to Aroa seems to have overtired Bishop Patteson, + and a slight attack of fever and ague came on. One of his aunts had + provided him with a cork bed, where, after he had exerted himself to talk + to his many visitors, he lay 'not uncomfortably.' He was not equal to + going to a feast where he hoped to have met a large concourse, and after a + day of illness, was taken back to Mota in the bottom of the boat; but in + another week more revived, and went on with his journal, moralising on the + books he had been reading while laid up. + </p> + <p> + 'I looked quite through Bishop Mackenzie's life. What a beautiful story it + is! what a truthful, simple, earnest character, and that persuasiveness + that only real humility and self-forgetfulness and thoughtfulness can + give. Then his early desire to be useful, his Cambridge life, the clear + way in which he was being led on all through. It is very beautiful as an + illustration of the best kind of help that God bestows on His children. + Here was one so evidently moulded and fashioned by Him, and that + willingly, for so it must be, and his life was just as it should be, + almost as perfect perhaps as a life can be. What if his work failed on the + Shire? First, his work has not failed to begin with, for aught we know; + and secondly his example is stimulating work everywhere. I shall indeed + value his Thomas a Kempis. [A copy sent home from the Zambesi stained with + the water of the Shire, and sent to the Bishop by Miss Mackenzie]. + </p> + <p> + The ship returned with tidings that the more important scholars would be + ready to come back after a short holiday with their friends, and the + Bishop embarked again on the 29th. At Mai he landed, and slept ashore, + when little Petere, the son of the young man whose death had so nearly + been revenged on the Bishop, a boy of eight years old, did the honours as + became a young chief, and announced, 'I am going to New Zealand with you.' + No one made any attempt to prevent him; but the old scholars did not show + themselves helpful, and only one of them, besides three more new ones, + came away. The natives were personally friendly, but there was no sign of + fighting being lessened among them. + </p> + <p> + At Whitsuntide there was a brisk trade in yams, but no scholars were + brought away; the parents would not part with any young enough to be + likely to be satisfactory pupils, nor would the one last year's scholar + come. Here intelligence was received that a two-masted ship had been at + Leper's Island, a quarrel had taken place and some natives had been shot. + It was therefore decided that it would not be safe to land, but as the + vessel sailed along the coast, numerous canoes came out, bringing boars' + tusks for sale. Three boys who had been taken on a cruise of six weeks the + year before, eagerly came on board, and thirty or forty more. All the + parents were averse to letting them go, and only two ended by being + brought away: Itole, a young gentleman of fourteen or so, slim and slight, + with a waist like a wasp, owing to a cincture worn night and day, and his + hair in ringlets, white with coral-lime; his friend a little older, a + tall, neat-limbed fellow, not dark and with little of the negro in his + features. + </p> + <p> + A letter to me was written during this cruise, from which I give an + extract:— + </p> + <p> + 'It was a great delight to me to receive a letter from Mr. Keble, by the + February mail from England. How kind of him to write to me; and his words + are such a help and encouragement. + </p> + <p> + 'I dare say I shall see Merivale's Lectures soon. Nothing can well be so + wonderful, as a proof of God's hand controlling and arranging all the + course of history to those who need it, as a subject for adoration and + praise, to those who need not such proof, than the vast preparation made + for the coming of Christ and the spreading of the Gospel. To popularise + this the right way, and bring it home to the thought of many who have not + time nor inclination for much reading, must be a good work. I suppose that + all good Church histories deal with that part of the subject; it is + natural for the mere philosopher to do so. + </p> + <p> + 'And think how the early Alexandrian teachers used the religious yearnings + of the East to draw men to the recognition of their wants, supplied and + satisfied only in Christianity. Often it is the point d'appui that the + Missionary must seek for. There is an element of faith in superstition; we + must fasten on that, and not rudely destroy the superstition, lest with it + we destroy the principle of faith in things and beings unseen. I often + think, that to shake a man's faith in his old belief, however wrong it may + be, before one can substitute something true and right, is, to say the + least, a dangerous experiment. But positive truth wins its way without + controversy, while error has no positive existence, and there is a craving + for truth deep down in the heathen heart. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you remember that grand passage of Hooker, where he says that he + cannot stand to oppose all the sophisms of Romanism, only that he will + place against it a structure of truth, before which, as Dagon before the + Ark, error will be dashed in fragments? + </p> + <p> + 'In our work (and so I suppose in a Sunday school) one must think out each + step, anticipate each probable result, before one states anything. It is + of course full of the highest interest. Can't you fancy a party of twenty + or thirty dark naked fellows, when (having learnt to talk freely to them) + I question them about their breakfast and cocoa-nut trees, their yams and + taro and bananas, &c., "Who gave them to you? Can you make them grow? + Why, you like me and thank me because I give you a few hatchets, and you + have never thought of thanking Him all these long years." + </p> + <p> + '"It is true, but we didn't think." + </p> + <p> + '"But will you think if I tell you about Him?" + </p> + <p> + '"He gave them rain from heaven and fruitful seasons." + </p> + <p> + 'How it takes one back to the old thoughts, the true philosophy of + religion. Sometimes I lie awake and think "if Jowett and others could see + these things!" + </p> + <p> + 'And yet, if it is not presumptuous in me to say so, I do think that this + work needs men who can think out principle and supply any thoughtful + scholar or enquirer with some good reason for urging this or that change + in the manners and observances of the people. Often as I think of it, I + feel how greatly the Church needs schools for missionaries, to be prepared + not only in Greek and Latin and manual work, but in the mode of regarding + heathenism. It is not a moment's work to habitually ask oneself, "Why feel + indignant? How can he or she know better?" It is not always easy to be + patient and to remember the position which the heathen man occupies and + the point of view from which he must needs regard everything brought + before him. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you for Maclear's book. It is a clear statement of the leading + facts that one wishes to know, a valuable addition to our library. You + know, no doubt, a book which I like much, Neander's "Light in Dark + Places." + </p> + <p> + 'I shall remember about Miss Mackenzie's memoir of that good Mrs. + Robertson. I wonder that men are not found to help Mr. Robertson. Here, as + you know, the climate (as in Central Africa) is our difficulty. I think + sometimes I make too much of it, but really I don't see how a man is to + stand many months of it. But I can't help thinking and hoping that if that + difficulty did not exist I could see my way to saying, "Now, a missionary + is wanted for these four or five or six islands, one for each, and a + younger man as fellow-helper to that missionary," and they would be + forthcoming. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet doubtless I don't estimate fairly the difficulties and hardships as + they appear to the man who has never left England, and is not used to + knocking about. I should have felt the same years ago but for the thought + of being with the Primate, at least I suppose so. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I have written a very dull letter, but the place from which it + comes will give it some interest. I really think that not Mota only, but + the Banks Islands are in a hopeful state. + </p> + <p> + 'Next year (D.V.) Mr. Palmer will try the experiment of stopping here for + eight or ten months. I almost dare to hope that a few years may make great + changes. Yet it seems as if nothing were done in comparison with what + remains to be done. + </p> + <p> + 'Sarah, Sarawia's wife, pronounced that as she was always ill at home, she + would risk the New Zealand winter; two more married pairs came, and four + little maidens to be bred up under Mrs. Pritt, girls from twelve to eight + years old, of whom Sarah was quite able to take charge.' + </p> + <p> + There was the usual proportion of lads from various islands; but the most + troublesome member of the community seems to have been Wadrokala's three + years old daughter. 'I have daily to get Wadrokala and Carry to prevent + their child from being a nuisance to everybody.' But this might have been + a difficulty had she been white. + </p> + <p> + This large party had to be taken to the Solomon Isles to complete the + party, sailing in company with the 'Curacoa,' the Commodore's ship, when + the local knowledge and accurate surveying done by Mr. Tilly and Mr. Kerr + proved very valuable, and Sir William Wiseman gave most kind and willing + assistance. + </p> + <p> + Since his short interview with the Bishop off Norfolk Island, he had been + cruising in the New Hebrides. There some of the frequent outrages of the + traders had made the people savage and suspicious, and one of the + Missionaries of the London Missionary Society living at Tanna had been + threatened, driven away across the island, and his property destroyed. He + had appealed for protection as a British subject, and Sir William Wiseman + had no choice but to comply; so after warning had been sent to the tribe + chiefly concerned to quit their village, it was shelled and burnt. No one + seems to have been hurt, and it was hoped that this would teach the + natives to respect their minister—whether to love his instruction + was another question. + </p> + <p> + This would not have been worth mentioning had not a letter from on board + the 'Curacoa' spoken of chastising a village for attacking a Missionary. + It went the round of the English papers, and some at once concluded that + the Missionary could be no other than the Bishop. Articles were published + with the usual disgusting allusions to the temptation presented by a plump + missionary; and also observing with more justice that British subjects had + no right to run into extraordinary peril and appeal to their flag for + protection. + </p> + <p> + Every friend or relative of Bishop Patteson knew how preposterous the + supposition was, and his brother took pains to contradict the rumour. As a + matter of fact, as his letters soon proved, he was not only not in company + with the 'Curacoa' at the time, but had no knowledge either of the outrage + or the chastisement, till Sir William Wiseman mentioned it to him when + they were together at Sydney. + </p> + <p> + At Ysabel or Mahya, the party was made up to sixty, seven married couples + and seven unmarried girls among them. The female population was stowed + away at night in the after cabins, with 'arrangements quite satisfactory + to them, as they were quite consistent with propriety, but which would + somewhat startle unaccustomed folk.' + </p> + <p> + The 'Curapoa' stood in the offing while Sta. Cruz was visited, or rather + while the 'Southern Cross' approached, for the Bishop thought it better + not to risk landing; but numerous canoes came off, and all the curiosities + were bought which were offered in hopes of reestablishing a friendly + relation. There was reason to think the people of this group more than + usually attached to the soil, and very shy and distrustful, owing perhaps + to the memories left by the Spaniards. + </p> + <p> + Thence the 'Southern Cross' sailed across for an inspection of Curtis + Island, and again with a favourable impression; but the Brisbane + Parliament had just been prorogued, everyone was taking holiday, and the + Bishop therefore gave up his visit to that place, and sent the vessel + straight home to Auckland with her cargo of souls, while he returned to + Sydney to carry on the same work as in the former year. Here one great + delight and refreshment to him was a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Mort at their + beautiful home at Greenoaks. What a delight it must have been to find + himself in a church built by his host himself! 'one of the most beautiful + things I have seen, holds about 500 people; stained glass, carved stalls, + stone work, &c.,—perfect.' And the house, 'full of first-rate + works of art, bronzes, carvings, &c.,' was pleasant to the eyes that + had been so enthusiastic in Italy and Germany, and had so long fasted from + all beauty but that of Nature, in one special type. The friends there were + such as to give life and spirit to all these external charms, and this was + a very pleasant resting place in his life. To Sir John Coleridge he + writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'I am having a real holiday. This place, Greenoaks, the really magnificent + place of my good friends Mr. and Mrs. Mort, is lovely. The view of the + harbour, with its land-locked bays, multitude of vessels, wooded heights, + &c., is not to be surpassed; and somehow I don't disrelish handsome + rooms and furniture and pictures and statues and endless real works of art + in really good taste. + </p> + <p> + 'One slips into these ways very readily. I must take care I am not spoilt. + Everyone, from the governor downwards, lays himself out to make my visit + pleasant. They work me hard on Sundays and week days, but it is a + continual round of, I don't deny, to me, pleasurable occupation. Kindly + people asked to meet me, and the conversation always turned to pleasant + and useful subjects: Church government, principles of Mission work, &c. + These colonies, unfortunate in many ways, are fortunate in having + governors and others in high position who are good men, and the class of + people among whom my time is spent might (me judice) hold its position + among the best English society. + </p> + <p> + 'I am very intimate with some few families, drop in and set the young + ladies down to play Beethoven and Mendelssohn, and it is a nice change, + and refreshes me.' + </p> + <p> + From Sydney the Bishop went to Adelaide and Melbourne, and these five + weeks in Australia obtained about 800 pounds for the Mission; the Bishop + of Sydney had hoped to raise more, but there had been two years of + terrible drought and destruction of cattle, and money was not abundant. + The plan of sending Australian blacks to be educated with the Melanesians + was still entertained; but he had not much hope of this being useful to + the tribes, though it might be to the individuals, and none of them ever + were sent to him. + </p> + <p> + But what had a more important effect on the Mission was a conference + between Sir William Wiseman and Sir John Young, the Governor of New South + Wales, resulting in an offer from the latter of a grant of land on Norfolk + Island for the Mission, for the sake of the benefit to the Pitcairners; at + the same time the Commodore offered him a passage in the 'Curacoa' back to + Auckland, touching at Norfolk Island by the way. The plan was carried out, + and brought him home in time for Christmas, to find all and prosperous + under Mr. Pritt at St. Andrew's. His mind was nearly made up on the + expedience of a change to a place which was likely to suit both English + and tropical constitutions alike, and he hoped to make the experiment the + ensuing winter with Mr. Palmer and a small body of scholars. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. THE EPISCOPATE AT KOHIMARAMA. 1866. + </h2> + <p> + The removal of his much-loved correspondent did not long withhold the + outpouring of Bishop Patteson's heart to his family; while his work was + going on at the College, according to his own definition of education + which was given about this time in a speech at St. John's: 'Education + consists in teaching people to bear responsibilities, and laying the + responsibilities on them as they are able to bear them.' + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, he wrote as follows to Miss Mackenzie, on receiving the book + she had promised to send him as a relic of her brother:— + </p> + <p> + 'January 1, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Mackenzie,—I have this evening received your brother's + Thomas a Kempis, and your letter. I valued the letter much, as a true + faithful record of one whom may God grant that I may know hereafter, if, + indeed, I may be enabled to follow him as he followed Christ. And as for + the former, what can I say but I hope that the thought of your dear + brother may help me to read that holy book in something of the spirit in + which he read and meditated on it. + </p> + <p> + 'It seems to bring me very near to him in thought. Send me one of his + autographs to paste into it. I don't like to cut out the one I have in the + long letter to the Scottish Episcopal Church, which you kindly sent me. + </p> + <p> + 'I found, too, in one of Mr. Codrington's boxes, a small sextant for me, + which, being packed with the Thomas a Kempis, I think may have been your + brother's. Do you really mean this for me too? If so, I shall value it + scarcely less than the book. Indeed, I think that, divided as I am from + all relations and home influences and affections, I cling all the more to + such means as I may still enjoy of keeping up associations. I like to have + my father's watch-chain in use, and to write on his old desk. I remember + my inkstand in our drawing-room in London. So I value much these memorials + of the first Missionary Bishop of the Church of England, in modern days at + all events, and night by night as I read a few lines in his book, and + think of him, it brings me, I hope, nearer in spirit to him and to others, + who, like him, have done their duty well and now rest in Christ. + </p> + <p> + 'We are pretty well now (Jan. 20), but one very promising lad sank last + week in low fever; a good truthful lad he was, and as I baptized him at + midnight shortly before he died, I felt the great blessing of being able + with a very clear conscience to minister to him that holy sacrament; and + so he passed away, to dwell, I trust, with his Lord. + </p> + <p> + 'What a revelation to that spirit in its escape from the body! But I must + not write on. With many thanks once again for these highly-valued + memorials of your brother, + </p> + <p> + 'I remain, my dear Miss Mackenzie, + </p> + <p> + 'Very truly yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The sandal-wood referred to in the following letter was the brother's gift + to a church, All Saints, Babbicombe, in which his sisters were deeply + interested, and of which their little nephew laid the first stone:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Matthias' Day. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—You are thinking of me to-day, I know, but you + hardly know that in an hour or two I hope the Primate will ride down and + baptize nine of our Melanesian scholars. + </p> + <p> + 'The last few weeks have been a happy, though of course an anxious time, + and now to-day the great event of their lives is to take place. May God + grant that the rest of their lives may be like this beginning! + </p> + <p> + 'We avoid all fuss. I don't like anyone being here but the Primate and + Mrs. Selwyn, yet I think some dozen more may come, though I don't like it. + I need not say that making a scene on such occasions is to my mind very + objectionable. I could much prefer being quite alone. I have translated + some appropriate Psalms, but the 2nd and 57th they hardly know as yet + quite well; so our service will be Psalms 96, 97, 114; 1st lesson 2 Kings, + v. 9—15, Magnificat; 2nd lesson Acts viii. 5-12, and the Baptismal + Service. Henry Tagalana reads the first, and George Sarawia the second + lesson. Then will come my quiet evening, as, I trust, a close of an + eventful day. I have your English letters of December, with the news of + Johnny laying the stone. I am thankful that that good work is begun. Sir + John Young writes to me that I can have a gift of 100 acres at Norfolk + Island, with permission to buy more. I think that, all being well, I shall + certainly try it with a small party next summer, the main body of scholars + being still brought to Kohimarama. + </p> + <p> + 'The sandal-wood is not yet gone! But, my dear Joan, the altar of + sandal-wood! If it is to be solid and not veneered, why, £50 would not buy + it at Erromango. It sells in Sydney for about £70 a ton, and it is very + heavy wood. However, I will send some of the largest planks I ever saw of + the wood, and it is now well seasoned. It cost me £14 merely to work it + into a very simple lectern, so hard is the grain. + </p> + <p> + 'What has become of the old Eton stamp of men? Have you any in England? I + must not run the risk of the Mission being swamped, by well-intentioned, + but untaught men. We must have gentlemen of white colour, or else I must + rely wholly, as I always meant to do chiefly, on my black gentlemen; and + many of them are thorough gentlemen in feeling and conduct, albeit they + don't wear shoes. + </p> + <p> + 'It was a most impressive service. The dear Primate looking worn and + somewhat aged, very full of feeling; the two most advanced, George and + Henry, in their surplices, reading the Lessons; the nine candidates + looking so reverent and grave, yet not without self-possession. + </p> + <p> + 'As he signed each one with the sign of the Cross, his left hand resting + on the head of each, the history of the Mission rushed into my mind, the + fruit of the little seed be sowed when, eight years ago, he thought it + wisest not to go ashore at Mota, and now more than twenty Christians of + the Banks Islands serve God with prayers night and day. + </p> + <p> + 'What would you have thought, if you could have been there? Our little + chapel looked nice with the red hangings and sandal-wood lectern. + </p> + <p> + 'Then we had a quiet cup of tea, and the old and new baptized party had a + quiet talk with me till 8.30, when I sent them away. + </p> + <p> + 'And then after an hour I was alone. That I should have been already five + years a Bishop, and how much to think of and grieve over, something too to + be thankful for. Perhaps after all, dear Edwin and Fisher stand out most + clearly from all the many scenes and circumstances. + </p> + <p> + 'And now what is to come? This move to Norfolk Island? Or what? + "Something," you say; "perhaps in time showing the Governor that the + Melanesians are not so very wild." But it is another Governor; and so far + from the Melanesians being wild, it is expressly on the ground that the + example of the school will be beneficial that I am asked to go! + </p> + <p> + 'Tell all who may care to know it about our St. Matthias' Day, I must give + myself the pleasure of writing one line to Mr. Keble. I won't write many + lest I weary him, dear good man. I like to look at his picture, and have + stuck the photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Keble which Charlotte Yonge sent me + into the side of it. How I value his prayers and thoughts for us all! + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P. + </h5> + <p> + 'P.S.—No terms of full communion between the Home and the Colonial + Church can be matter of Parliamentary legislation. It is the "One Faith, + One Lord," that binds us together; and as for regulating the question of + colonially ordained clergy ministering in English dioceses, you had better + equalise your own Church law first for dealing with an Incumbent and a + Curate.' + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland: Tuesday in Holy Week. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Uncle,—I have long owed you a letter, but I have not + written because I have had an unusual time of distraction. Now, all my + things being on board the "Southern Cross," I am detained by a foul wind. + We can do nothing till it changes; and I am not sorry to have a few quiet + hours, though the thought of a more than usually serious separation from + the dear Primate and Mrs. Selwyn, Sir William and Lady Martin, hangs over + my head rather gloomily. Still I am convinced, as far as I can be of such + matters, that this move to Norfolk Island is good for the Mission on the + whole. It has its drawbacks, as all plans have, but the balance is + decidedly in favour of Norfolk Island as against New Zealand. I have given + reasons at length for this opinion in letters to Joan and Fan, and also, I + think, to Charlotte Yonge, who certainly deserves to know all my thoughts + about it. + </p> + <p> + 'But I may shortly state some of them, in case you may not have heard + them, because I should like this step to approve itself to your mind:— + </p> + <p> + '1. Norfolk Island is 600 miles hearer to Melanesian islands than + Auckland, and not only nearer in actual distance, but the 600 miles from + Norfolk Island to Auckland are the cold and boisterous miles that must be + passed at the extremities of the voyages with no intervening lands to call + at and obtain a change for our large party on board. + </p> + <p> + '2. The difficulty usually is to get westward when sailing from New + Zealand, by the North Cape of New Zealand, because the prevalent winds are + from the west. So that usually the passage to Norfolk Island is a + long-one. + </p> + <p> + '3. New Zealand is much to the east of Norfolk Island, and to go from the + Loyalty, New Hebrides, Banks, and Santa Cruz groups to New Zealand, it is + necessary to make a long stretch out to the N.E. (the trades blowing from + about S.E. by E.), standing down to S. on the other tack. But Norfolk + Island is almost due S. of other those groups. + </p> + <p> + '4. I cannot come back from the islands during my winter voyage to New + Zealand, it is too distant; the coast is dangerous in the winter season + and the cold too great for a party of scholars first coming from the + tropics. But I can go backwards and forwards through the islands and + Norfolk Island during the five winter months. It is not wise to sail about + in the summer, hurricanes being prevalent then. + </p> + <p> + '5. As I can only make one return from the islands to New Zealand in the + year, I can only have a school consisting of (say) sixty Melanesians + brought in the very crowded vessel + (say) thirty left in New Zealand for + the winter; and I dare not attempt to leave many, for so much care is + needed in the cold season. But in Norfolk Island I can have a school of + any number, because I can make separate voyages thither from the Banks and + Solomon Islands, &c., each time bringing a party of sixty, if I think + fit. + </p> + <p> + '6. The productions of Norfolk Island include the yam, taro (Caladium + esculentum), sweet potato, sugar-cane, banana, almond, orange, pine-apple, + coffee, maize. Only cocoa-nut and bread-fruit are wanting, that natives of + Melanesia care much about. + </p> + <p> + '7. There is no necessity for so violent a contrast as there must be in + New Zealand between the life with us and in their homes in respect of + dress, food, and houses. + </p> + <p> + 'Light clothing and an improved style of native house and more cleanly way + of eating their food—not of cooking it, for they are cleanly already + in that—may be adopted, and more easily perpetuated in their own + homes than the heavy clothing necessary here, and the different style of + houses and more English food. + </p> + <p> + 'This is very important, because with any abrupt change of the outer man, + there is sometimes a more, very more natural abandonment of the inner + thoughts and disposition and character. Just as men so often lose + self-respect when they take to the bush life; or children who pray by + their own little bedside alone, leave off praying in "long chamber," the + outward circumstances being altered. + </p> + <p> + 'I have for years thought that we seek in our Missions a great deal too + much to make English Christians of our converts. We consciously and + unanimously assume English Christianity (as something distinct I mean from + the doctrines of the Church of England), to be necessary; much as so many + people assume the relation of Church and State in England to be the + typical and normal condition of the Church, which should be everywhere + reproduced. Evidently the heathen man is not treated fairly if we encumber + our message with unnecessary requirements. + </p> + <p> + 'The ancient Church had its "selection of fundamentals"—a kind of + simple and limited expansion of the Apostles' Creed for doctrine and + Apostolic practice for discipline. + </p> + <p> + 'Notoriously the Eastern and Western mind misunderstood one another. The + speculative East and the practical West could not be made to think after + the same fashion. The Church of Christ has room for both. + </p> + <p> + 'Now any one can see what mistakes we have made in India. Few men think + themselves into the state of the Eastern mind, feel the difficulties of + the Asiatic, and divine the way in which Christianity should be presented + to him. + </p> + <p> + 'We seek to denationalise these races, as far as I can see; whereas we + ought surely to change as little as possible—only what is clearly + incompatible with the simplest form of Christian teaching and practice. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't mean that we are to compromise truth, but to study the native + character, and not present the truth in an unnecessarily unattractive + form. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't we overlay it a good deal with human traditions, and still more + often take it for granted that what suits us must be necessary for them, + and vice versa. + </p> + <p> + 'So many of our missionaries are not accustomed, not taught to think of + these things. They grow up with certain modes of thought, hereditary + notions, and they seek to reproduce these, no respect being had to the + utterly dissimilar character and circumstances of the heathen. + </p> + <p> + 'I think much about all this. Sir William Martin and I have much talk + about it; and the strong practical mind of the Primate, I hope, would keep + me straight if I was disposed to theorise, which I don't think is the + case. + </p> + <p> + 'But Christianity is the religion for humanity at large. It takes in all + shades and diversities of character, race, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'The substratum of it is, so to say, inordinate and coextensive with the + substratum of humanity—all men must receive that. Each set of men + must also receive many thing of secondary, yet of very great importance + for them; but in this class there will be differences according to the + characteristic differences of men throughout the world. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't explain myself fully; but, dear Uncle, I think there is something + in what I am trying to say. + </p> + <p> + 'I want to see more discrimination, more sense of the due proportion, the + relative importance of the various parts which make up the sum of extra + teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'There is so great want of order in the methods so often adopted, want of + arrangement, and proper sequence, and subordination of one to another. + </p> + <p> + 'The heathen man will assume some arbitrary dictate of a missionary to be + of equal authority and importance with a moral command of God, unless you + take care. Of course the missionary ought not to attempt to impose any + arbitrary rule at all; but many missionaries do, and usually justify such + conduct on the ground of their "exceptional position." + </p> + <p> + 'But one must go much further. If I tell a man just beginning to listen, + two or three points of Christian faith, or two or three rules of Christian + life, without any orderly connection, I shall but puzzle him. + </p> + <p> + 'Take, e.g., our English Sunday, I am far from wishing to change the + greater part of the method of observing it in England. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope the Melanesian Christians may learn to keep holy the Lord's Day. + But am I to begin my teaching of a wild Solomon Islander at that end; when + he has not learned the evil of breaking habitually the sixth, seventh, and + eighth Commandments? + </p> + <p> + 'I notice continually the tendency of the teaching of the very men who + denounce "forms" to produce formation. + </p> + <p> + 'It is nearest to the native mind; it generates hypocrisy and mere outward + observance of certain rules, which, during the few years that the people + remain docile on their first acceptance of the new teaching, they are + content to submit to. + </p> + <p> + 'I see the great difficulty of making out all this. It necessitates the + leaving so very much to the discretion of the pioneer. Ergo the missionary + must not be the man who is not good enough for ordinary work in England, + but the men whom England even does not produce in large numbers with some + power of dealing with these questions. + </p> + <p> + 'It is much better and safer to have a regular well-known rule to act by; + but I don't see how you can give me, e.g., precise directions. It seems to + me that you must use great care in selecting your man, and then trust him + fully. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope it is not an excess of self-conceit and self-reliance which makes + me pass by, rather lightly, I confess, some of the advice that very + well-intentioned people occasionally volunteer to missionaries. I have had + (D. Gr.) the Primate and Sir William Martin's men, who know what + heathenism is, and the latter of whom has deeply studied the character of + the various races of the world. + </p> + <p> + 'I mean that when some one said, "Do you really mean to place those savage + Melanesians among the immaculate Pitcairners?" the natural answer seemed + to me to be, "I am not aware that you ever saw either a Pitcairner or a + Melanesian." I thought it rather impertinent. The truth is, that the great + proportion of our Melanesian scholars in our school, i.e., not standing + alone, but helped by the discipline of the school, are quite competent to + set an example to the average Pitcairners. But this I mark only as an + illustration of my meaning. Occasionally I hear of some book or sermon or + speech in which sound views (as I venture to call them) are propounded on + these points. + </p> + <p> + 'Always your loving and grateful Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The next letter was called forth by my sorrowful communication of the + shattered state of both my dear friends; of whom, one, at the very time + that my Cousin wrote, was already gone to his rest, having been mercifully + spared the loneliness and grief we had feared for him. + </p> + <p> + 'St. Andrew's: April 24, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I write a line at once in reply to a letter of + January 29, for I see that a great sorrow is hanging over you, is perhaps + already fallen on you, and I would fain say my word of sympathy, possibly + of comfort. + </p> + <p> + 'One, perhaps, of the great blessings that a person in my position enjoys + is that he must perforce see through the present gloom occasioned by loss + of present companionship on to the joy beyond. I hear of the death of dear + Uncle, and friends, and even of that loving and holy Father of mine, and + somehow it seems all peace, and calmness, and joy. It would not be so were + I in England, to actually experience the sense of loss, to see the vacant + seat, and miss the well-known voice; but it is (as I see) a great and most + blessed alleviation to the loss of their society here below. You feel that + when those loving hearts at Hursley can no longer be a stay and comfort to + you here, you will have a sense almost of desolation pressing on you. You + must, we all have, many trials and some sorrows, and I suppose Hursley has + always been to you a city of refuge and house of rest. + </p> + <p> + 'But I think the anticipation is harder than the reality. For him, but how + can I speak of such as he is? Why should we feel anxiety? Surely he is + just the man upon whom we should expect some special suffering, which is + but some special mark of love and (may we not say in such a case?) of + approbation. Some special aid to a very close conformity to the mind and + character of Christ, to be sent in special love and mercy. + </p> + <p> + 'I always seem to think that in the case of good men the suffering is the + sure earnest of special nearness to God. It surely—if one may dare + so to speak, and the case of Job warrants it, and the great passage + "Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you" (all)—is true that + God is glorified in the endurance of sufferings which He lays upon the + saints. And if dear Mr. Keble must suffer this last blow, as all through + his life he has felt the care of the Churches pressing sorely on him, and + has even had to comfort the weary, and guide the wayward, and to endure + disappointment, and to restrain the over zealotish, and reprove the + thoughtless, and bear in his bosom the infirmities of many people—why + must we be unhappy about him, and why mourn for ourselves? God forbid! It + is only one mark of the cross stamped upon him, only one more draught of + the cup of the lacking measures of the afflictions of Christ. But you + must, more than I, know and feel all this; and it is only in attempting to + put before your eyes your own thoughts, that I have written this. For, + indeed, I do sympathise with you, and I think how to me, who knew him so + little yet yield to no one in deep reverence and love for him, his + departure would be almost what the passing away of one of those who had + seen the Lord must have been to those of old time; yet our time is not so + very long now, and may be short, and we have had this blessed example for + a long time, and there is on all accounts far more cause for joy than for + sorrow. + </p> + <p> + 'You must not think me unkind to Miss Mackenzie, because I have written to + Fan to say that my letters and anecdotes are not to be fishes to swim in + her "Net." It may be unwise in me to write all that kind of thing, but it + does such an infinity of harm by its reflex action upon us who are engaged + in this work. And I can write brotherly letters, if they are to be treated + as public property. I could not trust my own brother to make extracts from + my letters. No one in England can be a judge of the mischief that the + letters occasion printed contrary to my wish by friends. We in the Mission + think them so infinitely absurd, one-sided, exaggerated, &c., though + we don't mean to make them so when we write them. + </p> + <p> + 'We are all well, thank God, except a good fellow called Walter Hotaswol, + from Matlavo (Saddle Island), who is in a decline. He has had two bad + haemorrhages; but he is patient, simple-minded, quite content to die, and + not doubting at all his Father's love, and his Saviour's merits, so I + cannot grieve for him, though he was the one, humanly speaking, to have + led the way in his home. + </p> + <p> + 'You know that I sympathise with all your anxieties about Church matters. + Parliamentary legislation would be the greatest evil of all. All your + troubles only show that synodical action, and I believe with the laity in + the Synod, is the only cure for these troubles. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you, my dear Cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + To the sisters he wrote at the same time:— + </p> + <p> + 'I hear from Miss Yonge that Mrs. Keble is very ill—dying. But, as I + wrote to her, why should such things grieve us? He will soon rejoin her, + and so it is all peace and comfort. He was seventy-five, I think, last St. + Mark's Day, and I began a letter to him, but it was not fair to him to + give him the trouble of reading it, and I tore it up. He knows without it + how I do love and revere him, and I cannot pluck up courage to ask for + some little book which he has used, that there may be a sort of odour of + sanctity about it, just as Bishop Mackenzie's Thomas a Kempis, with him on + the Zambesi, is on my table now.' + </p> + <p> + Before going forth with this 'lonely watcher' upon his voyage, the + description of this season's work with his scholars must be given from a + Report which he brought himself to write for the Eton Association. After + saying how his efforts were directed to the forming a number of native + clergy in time to work among their own people, he continues:—'When + uncivilised races come into contact with civilised men, they must either + be condemned to a hopeless position of inferiority, or they must be raised + out of their state of ignorance and vice by appealing to those powers + within them which God intended them to use, and the use of which will + place them by His blessing in the possession of whatever good things may + be denoted by the words Religion and Civilisation. + </p> + <p> + 'Either we may say to our Melanesian scholars, "You can't expect to be + like us: you must not suppose that you can ever cease to be dependent on + us, you must be content always to do as you are told by us, to be like + children, as in malice so in knowledge; you can never be missionaries, you + may become assistant teachers to English missionaries whom you must + implicitly obey, you must do work which it would not be our place to do, + you must occupy all the lower and meaner offices of our society;"—or, + if we do not say this (and, indeed, no one would be likely to say it), yet + we may show by our treatment of our scholars that we think and mean it. + </p> + <p> + 'Or we may say what was, e.g., said to a class of nineteen scholars who + were reading Acts ix. + </p> + <p> + '"Did our Lord tell Saul all that he was to do?" + </p> + <p> + '"No." + </p> + <p> + '"What! not even when He appeared to him in that wonderful way from + Heaven?" + </p> + <p> + '"No." + </p> + <p> + '"What did the Lord say to him?" + </p> + <p> + '"That he was to go into Damascus, and there it would be told him what he + was to do." + </p> + <p> + '"What means did the Lord use to tell Saul what he was to do?" + </p> + <p> + '"He sent a man to tell him." + </p> + <p> + '"Who was he?" + </p> + <p> + '"Ananias." + </p> + <p> + '"Do we know much about him?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, only that he was sent with a message to Saul to tell him the Lord's + will concerning him and to baptize him." + </p> + <p> + '"What means did the Lord employ to make His will known to Saul?" + </p> + <p> + '"He sent a disciple to tell him." '"Did He tell him Himself immediately?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, He sent a man to tell him." + </p> + <p> + '"Mention another instance of God's working in the same way, recorded in + the Acts." + </p> + <p> + '"The case of Cornelius, who was told by the angel to send for Peter." + </p> + <p> + '"The angel then was not sent to tell Cornelius the way of salvation?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, God sent Peter to do that." + </p> + <p> + '"Jesus Christ began to do the same thing when He was on earth, did He + not, even while He was Himself teaching and working miracles?" + </p> + <p> + '"Yes; He sent the twelve Apostles and the seventy disciples." + </p> + <p> + '"But what is the greatest instance of all, the greatest proof to us that + God chooses to declare His will through man to man?" + </p> + <p> + '"God sent His own Son to become man." + </p> + <p> + '"Could He not have converted the whole world in a moment to the obedience + of faith by some other way?" + </p> + <p> + '"Yes." + </p> + <p> + '"But what did He in His wisdom choose to do?" + </p> + <p> + '"He sent His Son to be born of the Virgin Mary, to become man, and to + walk on this earth as a real man, and to teach men, and to die for men." + </p> + <p> + '"What does Jesus Christ call us men?" + </p> + <p> + '"His brethren." '"Who is our Mediator?" + </p> + <p> + '"The Man Christ Jesus." + </p> + <p> + '"What means does God employ to make His will known to us?" + </p> + <p> + '"He uses men to teach men." + </p> + <p> + '"Can they do this by themselves?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, but God makes them able." + </p> + <p> + '"How have you heard the Gospel?" + </p> + <p> + '"Because God sent you to us." + </p> + <p> + '"And now, listen. How are all your people still in ignorance to hear it? + What have I often told you about that?" + </p> + <p> + 'Whereupon the scholars looked shy, and some said softly, "We must teach + them." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, indeed you must!" + </p> + <p> + 'And so the lesson ended with questioning them on the great duty and + privilege of prayer for God's Holy Spirit to give them both the will and + the power to do the work to which God is calling them. + </p> + <p> + 'So we constantly tell them "God has already been very merciful to you, in + that He has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. He has + enabled you to receive the knowledge of His will, and to understand your + relations to Him. He has taught you to believe in Him, to pray to Him, to + hope for salvation through the merits of His Son's death and resurrection. + He has made you feel something of the power of His love, and has taught + you the duty of loving Him and serving your brother. He calls upon you now + to rouse yourself to a sense of your true position, to use the gifts which + He has given you to His glory and the good of your brethren. Don't suppose + that you are unable to do this. You are unable to do it, as you were + unable to believe and love Him by yourselves, but He gives you strength + for this very purpose that you may be able to do it. You can do it through + Christ, who strengtheneth you. Our fathers were not more able to teach + their people once than you to teach your people now!" + </p> + <p> + 'We make no distinction whatever between English and Melanesian members of + the Mission as such. No Melanesian is excluded from any office of trust. + No classification is made of higher and lower kinds of work, of work + befitting a white man and work befitting a black man. English and + Melanesian scholars or teachers work together in the school, + printing-office, dairy, kitchen, farm. The senior clergyman of the Mission + labours most of all with his own hands at the work which is sometimes + described as menial work; and it is contrary to the fundamental principle + of the Mission that anyone should connect with the idea of white man the + right to fag a black boy. + </p> + <p> + 'Young men and lads come to us and say, "Let me do that. I can't write the + languages, or do many things you or Mr. Pritt or Mr. Palmer do, so let me + scrub your floor, or brush your shoes, or fetch some water." And of course + we let them do so, for the doing it is accompanied by no feeling of + degradation in their minds; they have seen us always doing these things, + and not requiring them to do them as if it were the natural work for them, + because they are black, and not proper for us, because we are white. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night, a young man, sitting by the fire, said to the Bishop, "They + want you to stop with them in my land." + </p> + <p> + '"I wish with all my heart I could." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, I know, you must go to so many places." + </p> + <p> + '"But they are different in your land now." + </p> + <p> + '"Oh! yes, they don't fight now as they used to do; they don't go about + armed now." + </p> + <p> + '"Well, that is a thing to be thankful for. What is the reason of it, do + you think? " + </p> + <p> + "Why they know about you, and see you now and then, and Henry Tagalana + talked to them, and I talked a little to them, and they asked me about our + ways here, and they want to learn." + </p> + <p> + '"Well, there are now five of you from your island, and you must try hard + to learn, that you may teach them, for remember you must do it, if God + spares your life."' + </p> + <p> + 'During the year 1865 a great advance was made in the industrial + department of our work. About seventeen acres of land were taken in hand + and worked by Mr. Pritt, with the Melanesian lads. We have our own dairy + of thirteen cows, and, besides supplying the whole Mission party, + numbering in all seventy-seven persons, with abundance of milk, we sell + considerable quantities of butter. We grow, of course, our own potatoes + and vegetables, and maize, &c., for our cows. The farm and dairy work + affords another opportunity for teaching our young people to acquire + habits of industry.' + </p> + <p> + Cooking, farm, gardening, dairy-work, setting out the table, &c., were + all honourable occupations, and of great importance in teaching + punctuality and regularity, and the various arts and decencies of life to + the youths, who were in time to implant good habits in their native homes. + Their natural docility made them peculiarly easy to manage and train while + in hand; the real difficulty was that their life was so entirely different + from their home, that there was no guessing how deep the training went, + and, on every voyage, some fishes slipped through the meshes of the net, + though some returned again, and others never dropped from their Bishop's + hands. But he was becoming anxious to spare some of his scholars the trial + of a return to native life; and, as the season had been healthy, he + ventured on leaving twenty-seven pupils at St. Andrew's with Mr. and Mrs. + Pritt, among them George and Sarah Sarawia. + </p> + <p> + After Trinity Sunday, May 27, the 'Southern Cross' sailed, and the outward + voyage gave leisure for the following letter to Prof. Max Muller, + explaining why he could not make his knowledge of languages of more + benefit to philology while thus absorbed in practical work:— + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross," off Norfolk Ireland: June 6, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Friend,—I am about to tire your patience heavily. For I + must find you some reasons for doing so little in making known these + Melanesian dialects, and that will be wearisome for you to read; and, + secondly, I cannot put down clearly and consecutively what I want to say. + I have so very little time for thinking out, and working at any one + subject continuously, that my whole habit of mind becomes, I fear, + inaccurate and desultory. I have so very many and so very different + occupations, and so much anxiety and so many interruptions, as the + "friction" that attends the working, of a new and somewhat untried + machine.' + </p> + <p> + 'You know that we are few in number; indeed (Codrington being absent) I + have but two clergymen with me, and two young men who may be ordained + by-and-by. Besides, had I the twenty troublesome men, whom you wish to + banish into these regions, what use would they or any men be until they + had learnt their work? And it must fall to me to teach them, and that + takes again much of my time; so that, as a matter of fact, there are many + things that I must do, even when all is going on smoothly; and should + sickness come, then, of course, my days and nights are spent in nursing + poor lads, to whom no one else can talk, cheering up poor fellows seized + with sudden nervous terror, giving food to those who will take it from no + one else, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Then the whole management of the Mission must fall upon me; though I am + most thankful to say that for some time Mr. Pritt has relieved me from the + charge of all domestic and industrial works. He does everything of that + kind, and does it admirably, so that our institution really is a + well-ordered industrial school, in which kitchen work, dairy work, farm + work, printing, clothes making and mending, &c., are all carried on, + without the necessity of having any foreign importation of servants, who + would be sure to do harm, both by their ideas as to perquisites (= + stealing in the minds of our Melanesians), and by introducing the idea of + paid labour; whereas now we all work together, and no one counts any work + degrading, and still less does any one qua white consider himself entitled + to fag a Melanesian. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Tilly, R.N., has also quite relieved me from my duties as skipper, + and I have no trouble about marine stores, shipping seamen, navigating the + vessel now. I cannot be too thankful for this; it, saves me time, anxiety, + and worry; yet much remains that I must do, which is not connected with + peculiar work directly. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't refuse the Bishop of New Zealand when he presses me (for want of + a better man) to be trustee of properties, and to engage in managing the + few educational institutions we have. I can't refuse to take some share in + English clerical work while on shore; indeed, in 1865, my good friend + Archdeacon Lloyd being ill, I took his parish (one and a half hour distant + from Kohimarama), the most important parish in Auckland, for some three + months; not slacking my Melanesian work, though I could only avoid going + back by hard application, and could make no progress. Then I must attend + our General Synod; and all these questions concerning the colonial + churches take some time to master, and yet I must know what is going on. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I must carry on all the correspondence of the Mission. I am always + writing letters. Every £5 from any part of New Zealand or Australia I must + acknowledge; and everyone wants information, anecdotes, &c., which it + vexes my soul to have to supply, but who else can do it? Then I keep all + the accounts, very complicated, as you would say if you saw my big ledger. + And I don't like to be altogether behindhand in the knowledge of + theological questions, and people sometimes write to me, and their letters + need to be answered carefully. Besides, take my actual time spent in + teaching. Shall I give you a day at Kohimarama? + </p> + <p> + 'I get in the full summer months an hour for reading by being dressed at + 5.30 A.M. At 5.30 I see the lads washing, &c., 7 A.M. breakfast all + together, in hall, 7.30 chapel, 8-9.30 school, 9.30-12.30 industrial work. + During this time I have generally half an hour with Mr. Pritt about + business matters, and proof sheets are brought me, yet I get a little time + for preparing lessons. 12.45 short service in chapel, 1 dinner, 2-3 Greek + Testament with English young men, 3-4 classics with ditto, 5 tea, 6.30 + evening chapel, 7-8.30 evening school with divers classes in rotation or + with candidates for Baptism or Confirmation, 8.30-9 special instruction to + more advanced scholars, only a few. 9-10 school with two other English lay + assistants. Add to all this, visitors interrupting me from 4-5, + correspondence, accounts, trustee business, sermons, nursing sick boys, + and all the many daily unexpected little troubles that must be smoothed + down, and questions inquired into, and boys' conduct investigated, and + what becomes of linguistics? So much for my excuse for my small progress + in languages! Don't think all this egotistical; it is necessary to make + you understand my position. + </p> + <p> + 'If I had spare time, leisure for working at any special work, perhaps + eleven years of this kind of life have unfitted me for steady sustained + thought. And you know well I bring but slender natural qualifications to + the task. A tolerably true ear and good memory for words, and now + something of the instinctive insight into new tongues, but that is chiefly + from continual practice. + </p> + <p> + 'But when I attempt to systematise, I find endless ramifications of + cognate dialects rushing through my brain, by their very multitude + overwhelming me, and though I see the affinities and can make practical + use of them, I don't know how to state them on paper, where to begin, how + to put another person in my position. + </p> + <p> + 'Again, for observation of the rapid changes in these dialects, I have not + much opportunity. For no one in Melanesia can be my informant. It is not + easy where so many dialects must be known for practical purposes, for the + introductory part of Mission work, to talk to some wild naked old fellow, + and to make him understand what I am anxious to ascertain. It is a matter + that has no interest for him, he never thought of it, he doesn't know my + meaning, what have we in common? How can I rouse him from his utter + indifference, even if I know his language so well as to talk easily, not + to a scholar of my own, but to an elderly man, with none but native ideas + in his head? + </p> + <p> + 'All that I can do is to learn many dialects of a given archipelago, + present their existing varieties, and so work back to the original + language. This, to some extent, has been done in the Banks group, and in + the eastern part of the Solomon Isles. But directly I get so far as this, + I am recalled to the practical necessity of using the knowledge of the + several dialects rather to make known God's truth to the heathen than to + inform literati of the process of dialectic variation. Don't mistake me, + my dear friend, or suspect me of silly sentimentalism. But you can easily + understand what it is to feel "God has given to me only of all Christian + men the power of speaking to this or that nation, and, moreover, that is + the work He has sent me to do." Often, I don't deny, I should like the + other better. It is very pleasant to shirk my evening class, e.g. and + spend the time with Sir William Martin, discussing some point of + Melanesian philosophy. But then my dear lads have lost two hours of + Christian instruction, and that won't do. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't need to be urged to do more in working out their languages. I am + quite aware of the duty of doing all that I can in that way, and I wish to + do it; but there are only twenty-four hours in the day and night together! + I feel that it is a part of my special work, for each grammar and + dictionary that I can write opens out the language to some other than + myself. But I am now apologising rather for my fragmentary way of writing + what I do write by saying that what I find enough, with my help given in + school to enable one of my party to learn a dialect, I am almost obliged + to regard as a measure of the time that I ought to spend on it. + </p> + <p> + 'Another thing, I have no outline provided for me, which I can fill up. My + own clear impression is that to attempt to follow the analogy of our + complicated Greek and Latin grammars would not only involve certain + failure, but would mislead people altogether. I don't want to be hunting + after a Melanesian paulo-post-futurum. I had rather say, "All men qua men + think, and have a power of expressing their thoughts. They have wants and + express them. They use many different forms of speech in making that + statement, if we look superficially at the matter, not so if we look into + it," and so on. Then, discarding the ordinary arrangement of grammars, + explain the mode of thought, the peculiar method of thinking upon matters + of common interest, in the mind of the Melanesian, as exhibited in his + language. An Englishman says, "When I get there, it will be night." But a + Pacific Islander says, "I am there, it is night." The one says, "Go on, it + will soon be dark." The other, "Go on, it has become already night." + Anyone sees that the one possesses the power of realising the future as + present, or past; the other now whatever it may have been once, does not + exercise such power. A companion calls me at 5.30 A.M., with the words, + "Eke! me gong veto," (Hullo! it is night already). He means, "Why, we + ought to be off, we shall never reach the end of our journey before dark." + But how neatly and prettily he expresses his thought! I assure you, + civilised languages, for common conversational purposes needed by + travellers, &c., are clumsy contrivances! Of course you know all this + a hundred times better than I do. I only illustrate my idea of a grammar + as a means of teaching others the form of the mould in which the + Melanesian's mind is cast. I think I ought to go farther, and seek for + certain categories, under which thought may be classified (so to say), and + beginning with the very simplest work on to the more complicated powers. + </p> + <p> + 'But I haven't the head to do this; and suppose that I did make such a + framework, how am I to fill it in so as to be intelligible to outsiders? + For practical purposes, I give numerals, personal, possessive, and + demonstrative pronouns, the mode of qualifying nouns, e.g., some languages + interpose a monosyllable between the substantive and adjective, others do + not. The words used (as it is called) as prepositions and adverbs, the + mode of changing a neuter verb into a transitive or causative verb, + usually by a word prefixed, which means do or make, e.g., die, do-die, + do-to-the-death, him. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I teach orally how the intonation, accentuation, pause in the + utterance, gesticulation, supply the place of stops, marks of + interrogation, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Then giving certain nouns, verbs, &c., make my English pupils + construct sentences; then give them a vocabulary and genuine native + stories, not translations at all, least of all of religious books, which + contain very few native ideas, but stories of sharks, cocoa-nuts, canoes, + fights, &c. This is the apparatus. This gives but little idea of a + Melanesian dialect to you. I know it, and am anxious to do more. + </p> + <p> + 'This last season I have had some three or four months, during which I + determined that I must refuse to take so much English work, &c. I sat + and growled in my den, and of course rather vexed people, and perhaps, for + which I should be most heartily grieved, my dear friend and leader, the + Bishop of New Zealand. But I stuck to my work. I wrote about a dozen + papers of phrases in as many dialects, to show the mode of expressing in + those dialects what we express by adverbs and prepositions, &c. This + is, of course, the difficult part of a language for a stranger to find + out. I also printed three, and have three more nearly finished in MS., + vocabularies of about 600 words with a true native sehdia on each word. + The mere writing (for much was written twice over) took a long time. And + there is this gained by these vocabularies for practical purposes: these + are (with more exceptions, it is true, than I intended) the words which + crop up most readily in a Melanesian mind. Much time I have wasted, and + would fain save others from wasting, in trying to form a Melanesian mind + into a given direction into which it ought, as I supposed, to have + travelled, but which nevertheless it refused to follow. Just ten years' + experience has, of course, taught me a good deal of the minds of these + races; and when I catch a new fellow, as wild as a hawk, and set to work + at a new language, it is a great gain to have even partially worked out + the problem, "What words shall I try to get from this fellow?" Now I go + straight to my mark, or rather I am enabling, I hope, my young friends + with me to do so, for of course, I have learnt to do so myself, more or + less, for some time past. Many words may surprise you, and many + alterations I should make in any revision. I know a vast number of words + not used in these vocabularies, in some languages I daresay five times the + number, but I had a special reason for writing only these. The rest must + come, if I live, by-and-by. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course these languages are very poor in respect of words belonging to + civilised and literary and religious life, but exceedingly rich in all + that pertains to the needs and habits of men circumstanced as they are. I + draw naturally this inference, "Don't be in any hurry to translate, and + don't attempt to use words as (assumed) equivalents of abstract ideas. + Don't devise modes of expression unknown to the language as at present in + use. They can't understand, and therefore don't use words to express + definitions." + </p> + <p> + But, as everywhere, our Lord gives us the model. A certain lawyer asked + Him for a definition of his neighbour, but He gave no definition, only He + spoke a simple and touching parable. So teach, not a technical word, but + an actual thing. + </p> + <p> + 'Why do I write all this to you? It is wasting your time. But I prose on.—(A + sheet follows on the structure of the languages.) + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I have inflicted a volume on you. We are almost becalmed after a + weary fortnight of heavy weather, in which we have been knocked about in + every direction in our tight little 90-ton schooner. And my head is hardly + steady yet, so excuse a long letter, or rather long chatty set of + desultory remarks, from + </p> + <p> + 'Your old affectionate Friend, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + A little scene from Mr. Atkin's journal shows how he had learnt to talk to + natives. He went ashore with the Bishop and some others at Sesaki for + yams:— + </p> + <p> + 'It has been by far the pleasantest day of the kind that I have seen here. + The people are beginning to understand that they can do no better than + trade fairly with us, and to-day they on the whole behaved very well. A + very big fellow had been ringing all the changes between commanding and + entreating me to give him a hatchet (I was holding the trade bag). When he + found it was no use, he said, "I was a bad man, and never gave anything." + I said "Yes, I was." He said the Bishops were very good men, they gave + liberally. He had better go and ask the Bishop for something, for he was a + good man, though I was not.' + </p> + <p> + After landing Mr. Palmer at Mota, the vessel went onto the Solomon Isles, + reaching Bauro on the 27th:— + </p> + <p> + 'About 8.30 in the evening the boat was lowered, and the party pulled + towards the village, which was the home of Taroniara, in a fine clear + moonlit night, by the fires which people had lit for the people on shore, + and directed by Taroniara himself to the opening in the reef. They landed + in the midst of a group of dark figures, some standing in a brook, some by + the side under a large spreading tree, round a fire fed by dry cocoa-nut + leaves; and in the background were tall cocoa-nuts with their gracefully + drooping plumes, and the moon behind shining through them made the shade + seem darker and deeper as the flashing crests of the surf, breaking on the + reef, made the heaving sea beyond look murkier. It was a sight worth going + a long way to see,' so says Mr. Atkin's journal. + </p> + <p> + The next sight was, however, still more curious. The Bishop relented so + far towards 'the Net,' as to write an account of it on purpose for it. + Ysabel Island is, like almost all the rest, divided among many small + communities of warlike habits. And some years previously the people of + Mahaga, the place with which he was best acquainted, had laid an ambush + for those of Hogirano, killed a good many, and, cutting off their heads, + had placed them in a row upon stones, and danced round them in a + victorious suit of white-coral lime. However, a more powerful tribe, not + long after, came down upon Mahaga and fearfully avenged the massacre of + Hogirano. All were slain who could not escape into the bush; and when the + few survivors, after days and nights of hunger, ventured back, they found + the dwellings burnt, the fruit trees cut down, the yam and taro grounds + devastated, and more than a hundred headless bodies of their kindred lying + scattered about. + </p> + <p> + This outrage had led to the erection of places of refuge in the tops of + trees; and Bishop Patteson, who had three Mahagan scholars, went ashore, + with the hope of passing the night in one of these wonderful places, where + the people always slept, though by day they lived in the ordinary open + bamboo huts. + </p> + <p> + After landing in a mangrove swamp, and wading through deep mud, he found + that the Mahaga people had removed from their old site, and had built a + strong fortification near the sea; and close above, so as to be reached by + ladders resting on the wall, were six large tree-houses. + </p> + <p> + It had been raining heavily for a day or two, and the paths were so deep + in mud that the bed of a water-course was found preferable to them. The + bush had been cleared for some distance before the steep rocky mound where + the village stood, surrounded by a high wall of stones, in which one + narrow entrance was left, approached by a fallen trunk of a tree lying + over a hollow. The huts were made of bamboo canes, and the floors, raised + above the ground, were nearly covered with mats and a kind of basket work. + </p> + <p> + The tree-houses, six in number, were upon the tops of trees of great + height, 50 feet round at the base, and all branches cleared off till near + the summit, where two or three grew out at right angles, something after + the manner of an Italian stone pine:— + </p> + <p> + 'From the top of the wall the ladder that led to one of these houses was + 60 feet long, but it was not quite upright, and the tree was growing at + some little distance from the bottom of the rock, and the distance by a + plumb line from the floor of the verandah to the ground on the lower side + of the tree was 94 feet. The floor of the house, which is made first, was + 23 feet long and about 11 broad; a narrow verandah is left at each end, + and the inside length of the house is 18 feet, the breadth 10 feet, the + height to the ridge pole 6 feet. The floor was of bamboo matted, the roof + and sides of palm-leaf thatch. The ladders were remarkable contrivances: a + pole in the centre, from 4 to 6 inches in diameter, to which were lashed + by vines cross pieces of wood, about two feet long. To steady these and + hold on by were double shrouds of supple-jacks. The rungs of the ladder + were at unequal distances, 42 upon the 50 feet ladder.' + </p> + <p> + The Bishop and Pasvorang, who had gone ashore together, beheld men, women, + and children running up and down these ladders, and walking about the bare + branches, trusting entirely to their feet and not touching with their + hands. The Bishop, in his wet slippery shoes, did not think it right to + run the risk of an accident: and though Pasvorang, who was as much at home + as a sailor among the ropes of the 'Southern Cross,' made the ascent, he + came down saying, 'I was so afraid, my legs shook. Don't you go, going + aloft is nothing to it;' but the people could not understand any dread; + and when the Bishop said, 'I can't go up there. I am neither bird nor bat, + and I have no wings if I fall,' they thought him joking. At the same time + he saw a woman with a load on her back, quietly walking up a ladder to + another tree, not indeed so lofty as that Pasvorang had tried, but as if + it were the most natural thing in the world, and without attempting to + catch hold with her hands. + </p> + <p> + 'At night,' says the Bishop, 'as I lay ignominiously on the ground in a + hut, I heard the songs of the women aloft as voices from the clouds, while + the loud croaking of the frogs, the shrill noise of countless cicadas, the + scream of cockatoos and parrots, the cries of birds of many kinds, and the + not unreasonable fear of scorpions, all combined to keep me awake. Solemn + thoughts pass through the mind at such times, and from time to time I + spoke to the people who were sleeping in the hut with me. It rained + heavily in the night, and I was not sorry to find myself at 7 A.M. on + board the schooner.' + </p> + <p> + The next day was spent in doing the honours of the ship, a crowd on board + all day; and on July 2 the Bishop landed again with Mr. Atkin, and mounted + up to this wonderful nest, where all these measurements were made. It + proved much more agreeable to look at from below than to inhabit 'the low + steaming bamboo huts—the crowds, the dirt, the squalling of babies—you + can't sit or stand, or touch anything that is not grimy and sooty and + muddy. It is silly to let these things really affect one, only that it now + seems rather to knock me up. After such a day and night I am very tired, + come back to our little ship as to a palace, wash, and sit down on a + clean, if not a soft stool, and am free for a little while from continual + noise and the necessity of making talk in an imperfectly known language. + </p> + <p> + 'It is really curious to see how in some way our civilised mode of life + unfits one for living among these races. It is not to be denied that the + want of such occupations as we are employed in is a large cause of their + troubles. What are they to do during the long hours of night, and on wet, + pouring days? They can't read, they can't see in their huts to do any + work, making baskets, &c. They must lie about, talking scandal and + acquiring listless indolent habits. Then comes a wild reaction. The + younger people like excitement as much as our young men like hunting, + fishing, shooting, &c. How can they get this? Why, they must quarrel + and fight, and so they pass their time. It does seem almost impossible to + do much for people so circumstanced; yet it was much the same in Mota and + elsewhere, where things are altered for the better.' + </p> + <p> + It was bad and trying weather, and it was well to have only two old Banks + Islanders on board, besides three Ysabel lads. The Bishop had plenty of + time for writing; and for the first time in his life 'pronounced himself + forward with that Report which was always on his mind.' He goes on: 'I + read a good deal, but I don't say that my mind is very active all the + time, and I have some schooling. Yet it is not easy to do very much mental + work. I think that I feel the heat more than I used to do, but that may be + only my fancy. + </p> + <p> + 'You meantime are, I hope, enjoying fine summer weather. Certainly it must + be a charming place that you have, close to that grand Church and grand + scenery. I think my idea of a cosy home is rather that of a cottage in the + Isle of Wight, or, better still, a house near such a Cathedral as Wells, + in one of the cottages close to the clear streams that wind through and + about the Cathedral precincts. But I can form no real notions about such + things. Only I am pretty sure that there is little happiness without real + hard work. I do long sometimes for a glorious Cathedral service, for the + old chants, anthems, not for "functions" and "processions," &c. I have + read Freeman's pamphlet on "Ritual" with interest; he really knows what he + writes about, and has one great object and a worthy one, the restoration + of the universal practice of weekly communion as the special Sunday + service. That all our preachifying is a wide departure from the very idea + of worship is self-evident, when it is made more than a necessary part of + the religious observance of the Lord's Day, and catechising is worth far + more than preaching (in the technical sense of the word).' + </p> + <p> + A first visit was paid to Savo; where numerous canoes came out to meet + them, one a kind of state galley, with the stem and stern twelve feet + high, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and ornamented with white shells (most + likely the ovum or poached egg), and containing the chief men of the + island. The people spoke the Ysabel language, and the place seemed + promising. + </p> + <p> + Some little time was spent in beating up to Bauro; where the Bishop again + landed at Taroniara's village, and slept in his hut, which was as + disagreeable as all such places were:—'Such a night always disturbs + me for a time, throws everything out of regular working order; but it + always pays, the people like it, and it shows a confidence in them which + helps us on. + </p> + <p> + 'I was disappointed though in the morning, when Taroniara declined to come + with me to this place. + </p> + <p> + 'My people say, "Why do you go away?"—the old stupid way of getting + out of an engagement.' However, two others came to 'this place,' which was + a hut in the village of Wango, which the Bishop had hired for ten days for + the rent of a hatchet. + </p> + <p> + 'A very sufficient rent too, you would say, if you could see the place. I + can only stand upright under the ridge pole, the whole of the oblong is + made of bamboo, with a good roof that kept out a heavy shower last night. + There is a fresh stream of water within fifteen yards, where I bathed at 9 + P.M. yesterday; and as I managed to get rid of strangers by 8.30, it was + not so difficult to manage a shift into a clean and dry sleeping shirt, + and then, lying down on Aunt William's cork-bed (my old travelling + companion), I slept very fairly. + </p> + <p> + 'People about the hut at earliest dawn; and the day seems long, the + sustained effort of talking, the heat, the crowd, and the many little + things that should not but do operate as an annoyance, all tire one very + much. But I hope that by degrees I may get opportunities of talking about + the matter that I come to talk about. Just now the trading with the + vessel, which is detained here by the weather, and surprise at my + half-dozen books, &c., prevent any attention being paid to anything + else. + </p> + <p> + '7 P.M.—The vessel went off at 10.30 A.M. I felt for a little while + rather forlorn, and a little sinking at the heart. You see I confess it + all, how silly! Can't I after so many years bear to be left in one sense + alone? I read a little of you know what Book, and then found the feeling + pass entirely away. + </p> + <p> + 'But, more than that, the extreme friendliness of the people, the real + kindness was pleasant to me. One man brought his child, "The child of us + two, Bishop." Another man, "These cocoa-nut trees are the property of us + two, remember." A third, "When you want yams, don't you buy them, tell + me." + </p> + <p> + 'But far better still. Many times already to-day have I spoken to the + people; they have so far listened that they say, "Take this boy, and this + boy, and this boy. We see now why you don't want big men, we see now that + you can't stop here long, what for you wish for lads whom you may teach, + we see that you want them for a long time. Keep these lads two years." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, two or three or four. By-and-by you will understand more and more + my reason." + </p> + <p> + 'Then came the talks that you too may experience when dealing with some + neglected child in London, or it may be in the country; but which, under + the cocoa-nut tree, with dark naked men, have a special impressiveness. It + was the old lesson, of the Eternal and Universal Father, who has not left + Himself without witness in that He gives us all rain from Heaven, &c., + and of our ingratitude, and His love; of His coming down to point out the + way of life, and of His Death and Rising again; of another world, + Resurrection, and Judgment. All interrupted, now and then, by exclamations + of surprise, laughter, or by some one beginning to talk about something + that jarred sadly on one's ear, and yet was but natural. But I do hope + that a week may pass not unprofitably. In one sense, I shall no doubt be + glad when it is over; but I think that it may, by God's great goodness, be + a preparation for something more to come. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night, my little hired hut being crowded as usual, they all cried + out at once "Numu" (earthquake). I should not the least have known that + anything had occurred. I said I thought it was a pig pushing against the + bamboo wall of the hut. They say that they have no serious shocks, but + very many slight ones. Crocodiles they have too, but, they say, none in + this stream. + </p> + <p> + 'July 22nd.—It is 9 P.M., the pleasantest time, in one sense, of my + twenty-four hours, for there are only two people with me in the hut. + </p> + <p> + 'My arrangements are somewhat simple; but I am very comfortable. Delicious + bathes I have in the stream: yams and fish are no bad fare; and I have + some biscuit and essence of coffee, and a few books, and am perfectly + well. The mode of life has become almost natural to me. I am on capital + terms with the people, and even the babies are no longer afraid of me. Old + and young, men and women, boys and girls about me of course all day; and + small presents of yams, fish, bananas, almonds, show the friendliness of + the people when properly treated. But the bunches of skulls remain slung + up in the large canoe houses, and they can be wild enough when they are + excited.' + </p> + <p> + [The home diary continues, on the 26th]:—'I am expecting the + schooner, and shall be glad to get off if it arrives to-day, for it is + very fine. I don't think I could do any good by staying a few days more, + so I might as well be on my way to Santa Cruz. If I were here for good, of + course I should be busy about many things that it would be useless to + attempt now, e.g., what good would it be to induce half-a-dozen boys to + learn "a," when I should be gone before they could learn "b"? So I content + myself with making friends with the people, observing their ways, and + talking to them as I can. It is hot, now at 8.30 A.M. What will it be at 2 + P.M.? But I may perhaps be able to say something to cheer me up. One of + the trials of this kind of thing is that one seems to be doing nothing. + Simply I am here! Hardly in one hour out of the twenty-four am I sure to + be speaking of religion. Yet the being here is something, the gaining the + confidence and goodwill of the people. Then comes the thought, who is to + carry this on? And yet I dare not ask men to come, for I am certain they + would after all my pains find something different from what they expect. + </p> + <p> + My death would very likely bring out some better men for the work, with + energy and constructive power and executive genius, all of which, guided + by Divine Wisdom, seem to be so much wanted! But just now, I don't see + what would become of a large part of the work if I died. I am leaving + books somewhat more in order; but it is one thing to have a book to help + one in acquiring a language, quite another to speak it freely, and to be + personally known to the people who speak it. + </p> + <p> + '11th Sunday after Trinity.—Off Anudha Island, 4 P.M. Thermometer + 88° in the empty cabin, everyone being on deck. Well, dear old Joan and + Fan, refreshed by—what do you think? O feast of Guildhall and + Bristol mayors! Who would dream of turtle soup on board the "Southern + Cross" in these unknown seas? Tell it not to Missionary Societies! Let no + platform orator divulge the great secret of the luxurious self-indulgent + life of the Missionary Bishop! What nuts for the "Pall Mall Gazette"! How + would all subscriptions cease, and denunciations be launched upon my + devoted head, because good Mr. Tilly bought, at San Cristoval, for the + price of one tenpenny hatchet, a little turtle, a veritable turtle, with + green fat and all the rest of it, upon which we have made to-day a most + regal feast indeed. + </p> + <p> + 'But seriously. There has been much to make me hopeful, and something to + disappoint me, since I last wrote.' + </p> + <p> + The two days at Santa Cruz were hopeful—[Mr. Atkin says that the + natives came on board with readiness and stole with equal readiness; but + this was all in a friendly way]—and a small island, named Piteni, + was visited, and judged likely to prove a means of reaching the larger + isle. + </p> + <p> + The disappointment is not here mentioned, unless it was the missing some + of the Ysabel scholars, and bringing away only three; but this mattered + the less, as the Banks Island party, which, as forming a nucleus, was far + more important, was now considerable. Sixty-two scholars were the present + freight, including nine little girls, between eight and twelve, mostly + betrothed to old pupils. + </p> + <p> + At Malanta, a new village called Saa was visited. The 'harbour' was a wall + of coral, with the surf breaking upon it, but a large canoe showed the + only accessible place, and this was exposed to the whole swell of the + Pacific. + </p> + <p> + 'The natives,' writes Mr. Atkin, 'held the boat in water up to their + knees, but the seas that broke thirty yards outside washed over their + shoulders and sometimes their heads. We might have taken away half the + people of the village, and had no trouble in getting two nice-looking + little boys. About 320 miles from Norfolk Island, one of these little + boys, Wate, playing, fell overboard: we were going ten knots at the time, + right before the wind; it was a quarter of an hour before we picked him + up, as it took five minutes to stop the vessel and ten to get to him. Wate + seemed all the better for his ducking.' This little Wate became Mr. + Atkin's especial child, his godson and devoted follower. + </p> + <p> + On October 2, Norfolk Island was reached, and there, a wooden house having + been conveyed thither by H.M.S. 'Falcon,' Mr. Palmer and fifteen scholars + were placed to spend the winter. The Pitcairners welcomed the Mission, but + were displeased at the Government assuming a right to dispose of the land + which they had fancied entirely their own. + </p> + <p> + One of the letters written separate from the journal during this voyage + gives a commission for photographs from the best devotional prints, for + the benefit chiefly of his young colonial staff:—'I have not the + heart to send for my Lionardo da Vinci,' (he says), that much valued + engraving, purchased at Florence, and he wishes for no modern ones, save + Ary Scheffer's 'Christis Consolator,' mentioning a few of his special + favourites to be procured if possible. For the Melanesians, pictures of + ships, fishes, and if possible tropical vegetation, was all the art yet + needed, and beads, red and blue, but dull ones; none not exactly like the + samples would be of any use. 'It is no good sending out any "fancy" + articles such as you would give English children. "Toys for savages" are + all the fancies of those who manufacture such toys for sale. Of course, + any manufacturer who wishes to give presents of knives, tools, hatchets, + &c., would do a great benefit, but then the knives must be really + strong and sharp.' + </p> + <p> + I have concluded the letters of the island voyage, before giving those + written on the homeward transit from Norfolk Island, whither the 'Falcon' + had conveyed the letters telling of the departure of both Mr. and Mrs. + Keble. The first written under this impulse was of course to Sir John + Coleridge, the oldest friend:— + </p> + <p> + 'At Sea, near Norfolk Island: October 3, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear, dear Uncle,—How can I thank you enough for telling me so + much of dear saintly Mr. Keble and his wife? He has been, for my dear + father and mother's sakes, very loving to me, and actually wrote me two + short letters, one after his seizure, which I treasure. How I had grown to + reverence and love him more and more you can easily believe; and yesterday + at Norfolk Island, whither some letters had been sent, I read with a very + full heart of the peaceful close of such a holy life. And I do love to + think too of you and him, if I may speak freely of such as you; and the + weight attached to all you say and do (you two I mean) in your several + occupations seems at all events one hopeful sign among not a few gloomy + ones. I suppose you and Mr. Keble little estimated the influence which + even a casual word or sentence of yours exercises upon a man of my age, + predisposed (it is true) to hearken with attention and reverence.... + </p> + <p> + 'Is it possible that fifty years hence any similar event, should there be + such, which should so "stir the heart of the country" (as you say about + Mr. Keble's death), might stimulate people to raise large sums for the + endowment of a Church about to be, or already separated from the State? I + can't avoid feeling as if God may be permitting the extension of the + Colonial Churches, partly and in a secondary sense that so the ground may + be travelled over on a small scale before the Church at home may be thrown + in like manner upon its own resources. The alliance is a very precarious + one surely, and depends upon the solemn adherence to a fiction. It is + extraordinary that some Colonial Bishops should seek to reproduce the + state of things which is of course peculiar to England, the produce of + certain historical events, and which can have no resemblance whatever to + the circumstances of our Colonies. + </p> + <p> + 'The mail closes just after our arrival; and I am very busy at first + coming on shore with such a party. Goodbye for the present, my dear dear + Uncle, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and grateful Nephew, 'J. C. P.' + </p> + <p> + To me the condolence was:— + </p> + <p> + 'October 6, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'And so, my dear Cousin, the blow has fallen upon you, and dear Mr. and + Mrs. Keble have passed away to their eternal rest. I found letters at + Norfolk Island on October 2, not my April letters, which will tell me most + about him, but my May budget. + </p> + <p> + 'How very touching the account is which my Uncle John sends me of dear + Mrs. Keble, so thankful that he was taken first, so desirous to go, yet so + content to stay! And how merciful it has all been. Such a calm holy close + to the saintly life. May God bless and support all you who feel the + bereavement! Even I feel that I would fain look for one more letter from + him, but we have his "Christian Year," and other books. Is it not + wonderful that all the wisdom and love and beauty of the "Christian Year," + to say nothing of the exquisite and matured poetry, should have been given + to him so early in life? Why, as I gather, the book was finished in the + year 1825, though not published till 1827. He wrote it when he was only 33 + years old, and for 45 years he lived after he was capable of such a work. + Surely such a union of extreme learning, wisdom, and scholarship, with + humility and purity of heart and life has very seldom been found. Everyone + wishes to say something to everyone else of one so dear to all, and no one + can say what each and all feel. We ought indeed to be thankful, who not + only have in common with all men his books, but the memory of what he was + personally to us. + </p> + <p> + 'The change must needs be a great one to you. I do feel much for you + indeed. But you will bear it bravely; and many duties and the will and + power to discharge them occupy the mind, and the elasticity comes back + again after a time. I know nothing of the Keble family, not even how they + were related to him, so that my interest in Hursley is connected with him + only. Yet it will always be a hallowed spot in the memory of English + Churchmen. You will hear the various rumours as to who is to write his + life, &c. Let me know what is worth knowing about it. + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama. Anchored on October 8, after an absence of exactly six weeks; + all well on board and ashore. + </p> + <p> + 'Thanks be to God for so many mercies. The mail is gone, and alas! all my + letters and newspapers were sent off a few days since in the "Brisk" to + Norfolk Island. We passed each other. They did not expect me back so soon, + so I have no late news, and have no time to read newspapers. + </p> + <p> + 'May God bless you, my dear Cousin, + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </p> + <p> + In spite of this deep veneration for Mr. Keble and for his teachings, + Bishop Patteson did not embrace to the full the doctrine which had been + maintained in 'Eucharistic Adoration,' and which he rightly perceived to + lie at the root of the whole Ritualistic question. His conclusions had + been formed upon the teachings of the elder Anglican divines, and his + predilections for the externals of worship upon the most reverent and + beautiful forms to which he had been accustomed before he left home. + </p> + <p> + After an All Saints' Communion, the following letter was written:— + </p> + <p> + 'All Saints' Day, 1866. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—You know why I write to you on this day. The + Communion of Saints becomes ever a more and more real thing to us as holy + and saintly servants of God pass beyond the veil, as also we learn to know + and love more and more our dear fellow-labourers and fellow-pilgrims still + among us in the flesh. + </p> + <p> + 'Such a day as this brings, thanks be to God, many calm, peaceful memories + with it. Of how many we may both think humbly and thankfully whose trials + and sorrows are over for ever, whose earthly work is done, who dwell now + in Paradise and see His Face, and calmly wait for the great consummation. + To you the sense of personal loss must be now—it will always be—mixed + up with the true spirit of thankfulness and joy; but remember that as they + greatly helped you, so you in no slight measure have received from God + power to help others, a trust which I verily believe you are faithfully + discharging, and that the brightness of the Christian life must be not + lost sight of in our dealings with others, would we really seek to set + forth the attractiveness of religion. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't mean that I miss this element in any of your writings; rather I + am thankful to you because you teach so well how happiness and joy are the + portion of the Christian in the midst of so much that the world counts + sorrow and loss. But I think that depression of mind rapidly communicates + itself, and you must be aware that you are through your books stamping + your mind on many people. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you mind my saying all this to you? only I would fain say anything + that at such a time may, if only for a minute, help to keep the bright + side before you. The spirit of patience did seem so to rest upon him and + his dear saintly wife. The motto of the Christian Year seemed to be + inwoven into his life and character. I suppose he so well knew the + insignificance of what to us mortals in our own generation seems so great, + that he had learned to view eternal truths in the light of Him who is + eternal. He fought manfully for the true eternal issues, and everything + else fell into its subordinate place. Is not one continually struck with + his keen sense of the proportion of things? He wastes no time nor strength + in the accidents of religion; much that he liked and valued he never + taught as essential, or even mentioned, lest it might interfere with + essentials. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! that his calm wise judgment, his spiritual discernment, may be poured + out on many earnest men who I can't help thinking lack that instinct which + divinely guided the early Church in the "selection of fundamentals." We + must all grieve to see earnest, zealous men almost injuring the good + cause, and placing its best and wisest champions in an unnecessarily + difficult position, because they do not see what I suppose Mr. Keble did + see so very clearly. + </p> + <p> + 'I know that these questions present themselves somewhat differently to + those situated severally as you and we are. But it is, I suppose, by + freely interchanging amongst ourselves thoughts that the general balance + is best preserved. Pray, when you have time, write freely to me on such + matters if you think it may be of use to do so. The Church everywhere + ought to guard, and teach, and practise what is essential. In + non-essentials I suppose the rule is clear. I will eat no meat, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'And now good-bye, my dear Cousin; and may God ever bless and comfort you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Sir William and Lady Martin had just paid their last visit to Kohimarama, + and here is the final record by Lady Martin's hand of the pleasant days + there spent:— + </p> + <p> + 'One more visit we paid to our dear friend in November 1866, a few months + before he left Kohimarama for Norfolk Island. He invited my dear husband + specially for the purpose of working together at Hebrew, with the aid of + the lights they thought our languages throw on its grammatical structure. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop was very happy and bright. He was in his new house, a great + improvement upon the stuffy quarters in the quad. His sitting-room was + large and lofty, and had French windows which opened on a little verandah + facing the sea. + </p> + <p> + 'The Mission party were most co-operative, and would not let the Bishop + come into school during the three weeks of our stay, so he had a working + holiday which he thoroughly enjoyed. The weather was lovely, the boys were + all well, and there was no drawback to the happiness of that time. At + seven the chapel bell rang and we walked across with him to the pretty + little chapel. The prayers and hymn were in Mota, the latter a translation + by the Bishop of the hymn "Now that the daylight fills the sky." The boys + all responded heartily and were reverent in demeanour. After breakfast the + two wise men worked steadily till nearly one. We were not allowed to dine + in Hall as the weather was very warm, and we inveigled the Bishop to stay + out and be our host. + </p> + <p> + 'A quaint little procession of demure-looking little maidens brought our + dinner over. They were grave and full of responsibility till some word + from 'Bisop' would light up their faces with shy smiles. + </p> + <p> + 'What pleasant walks we had together before evening chapel under the + wooded cliffs or through the green fields. Mr. Pritt had by this time + brought the Mission farm into excellent working order by the aid of the + elder lads alone. Abundance of good milk and butter (the latter getting + ready sale in town) and of vegetables. His gifts too in school-keeping + were invaluable. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish I could recall some of the conversations with our dear friend. A + favourite topic was concerning the best modes of bringing the doctrines of + the Christian religion clearly and fully within the comprehension of the + converts. Some of their papers written after being taught by him showed + that they did apprehend them in a thoughtful intelligent way. + </p> + <p> + 'At half-past six we had a short service, again in Mota, in chapel, and + then we rarely saw our dear friend till nine. He would not neglect any of + his night classes. At half-past nine the English workers gathered together + in the Bishop's room for prayers and for a little friendly chat. Curiously + enough, the conversation I most distinctly remember was one with him as we + rode up one Saturday from Kohimarama to St. John's College. I got him to + describe the game of tennis, and he warmed up and told me of games he had + played at. + </p> + <p> + 'How that cheery talk came to mind as I drove down the same road last year + just after fine weather had come! It was the same season, and the hedges + on each side of the narrow lane were fragrant as then with may and sweet + briar.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. ST. BARNABAS COLLEGE, NORFOLK ISLAND. 1867—1869. + </h2> + <p> + A new phase of Coleridge Patteson's life was beginning with the year 1867, + when he was in full preparation for the last of his many changes of home, + namely, that to Norfolk Island, isolating him finally from those who had + become almost as near kindred to him, and devoting him even more + exclusively to his one great work. No doubt the separation from ordinary + society was a relief, and the freedom from calls to irregular clerical + duty at Auckland was an immense gain; but the lack of the close + intercourse with the inner circle of his friends was often felt, and was + enhanced by the lack of postal communication with Norfolk Island, so that, + instead of security of home tidings by every mail, letters and parcels + could only be transmitted by chance vessels touching at that inaccessible + island, where there was no harbour for even the 'Southern Cross' to lie. + </p> + <p> + But the welfare of the Mission, and the possible benefit to the + Pitcairners, outweighed everything. It is with some difficulty that the + subject of this latter people is approached. They have long been the + romance of all interested in Missionary effort, and precious has been the + belief that so innocent and pious a community existed on the face of the + earth. And it is quite true that when they are viewed as the offspring of + English mutineers and heathen Tahitians, trained by a repentant old + sailor, they are wonderful in many respects; and their attractive manners + and manifest piety are sure to strike their occasional visitors, who have + seldom stayed long enough to penetrate below the surface. + </p> + <p> + But it has been their great disadvantage never to have had a much higher + standard of religion, morals, civilisation, or industry set before them, + than they had been able to evolve for themselves; and it is a law of + nature that what is not progressive must be retrograde. The gentle + Tahitian nature has entirely mastered the English turbulence, so that + there is genuine absence of violence, there is no dishonesty; and + drunkenness was then impossible; there is also a general habit of + religious observance, but not including self-restraint as a duty, while + the reaction of all the enthusiastic admiration expressed for this + interesting people has gendered a self-complacency that makes them the + harder to deal with. Parental authority seems to be entirely wanting among + them, the young people grow up unrestrained; and the standard of morality + and purity seems to be pretty much what it is in a neglected English + parish, but, as before said, without the drunkenness and lawlessness, and + with a universal custom of church-going, and a great desire not to expose + their fault to the eyes of strangers. The fertile soil, to people of so + few wants, and with no trade, prevents the necessity of exertion, and the + dolce far niente prevails universally. The Government buildings have + fallen into entire ruin, and the breed of cattle has been allowed to + become worthless for want of care. The dwellings are uncleanly, and the + people so undisciplined that only their native gentleness would make their + present self-government possible; and it is a great problem how to deal + with them. + </p> + <p> + The English party who were to take up their abode on Norfolk Island + consisted of the Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Palmer, who was there already, Mr. + Atkin, and Mr. Brooke. The Rev. R. Codrington was on his way from England + with Mr. Bice, a young student from St. Augustine's, Canterbury; but Mr. + and Mrs. Pritt had received an appointment at the Waikato, and left the + Mission. The next letter to myself tells something of the plans:— + </p> + <p> + 'January 29, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I enclose a note to Miss Mackenzie, thanking her + for her book about Mrs. Robertson. It does one good to read about such a + couple. I almost feel as if I should like to write a line to the good man. + There was the real genuine love for the people, the secret of course of + all missionary success, the consideration for them, the power of sympathy, + of seeing with the eyes of others, and putting oneself into their + position. Many a time have I thought: "Yes, that's all right, that's the + true spirit, that's the real thing." + </p> + <p> + 'Oh that men could be trained to act in that way. It seems as if mere + common sense would enable societies and men to see that it must be so. And + yet how sadly we mismanage men, and misuse opportunities. + </p> + <p> + 'Men should be made to understand that they cannot receive training for + this special Mission work except on the spot; at the institution the aim + should be to give them a thorough grounding in Greek and Latin, the + elements of Divinity, leaving out all talk about experiences, and all that + can minister to spiritual pride, and delude men into the idea that the + desire (as they suppose) to be missionaries implies that they are one whit + better than the baker and shoemaker next door. + </p> + <p> + 'The German system is very different. The Moravians don't handle their + young candidates after this fashion. + </p> + <p> + 'Now Mr. Robertson and his good wife refresh one by the reality and + simplicity of their life, the simple-mindedness, the absence of all cant + and formalism. I mean the formal observance of a certain set of views + about the Sabbath, about going to parties, about reading books, &c., + the formal utterance of an accepted phraseology. + </p> + <p> + 'Would that there were hundreds such! Would that his and her example might + stir the hearts of many young people, women as well as men! Well, I like + all that helps me to know him and her in the book, and am much obliged to + Miss Mackenzie for it. + </p> + <p> + 'We have had a trying month, unusually damp close weather, and influenza + has been prevalent. Many boys had it, one little fellow died. He was very + delirious at last, and as he lay day and night on my bed we had often to + hold him. But one night he was calm and sensible, and with Henry + Tagalana's help I obtained from him such a simple answer or two to our + questions that I felt justified in baptizing him. He was about ten years + old, I suppose one of our youngest. + </p> + <p> + 'Last Saturday, at 12.45 A.M., he passed away into what light, and peace, + and knowledge, and calm rest in his Saviour's bosom! we humbly trust. God + be praised for all His mercies! It was touching, indeed, to hear Henry + speaking to his little friend. He spoke so as to make me feel very hopeful + about his work as a teacher being blessed, his whole heart on his lips and + in his voice and manner and expression of face. + </p> + <p> + 'But, my dear Cousin, often I think that I need more than ever your + prayers that I may have the blessing for which we pray in our Collect for + the First Sunday after Epiphany: grace to use the present opportunities + aright. My time may be short; we are very few in number: now the young + English and Melanesian teachers ought to be completely trained, that so, + by God's blessing, the work may not come to nought. Codrington's coming + ought to be a great gain in this way. A right-minded man of age and + experience may well be regarded as invaluable indeed. I so often feel that + I am distracted by multitudinous occupations, and can't think and act out + my method of dealing with the elder ones, so as to use them aright. So + many things distract—social, domestic, industrial matters and + general superintendence, and my time is of course always given to anyone + who wants it. + </p> + <p> + 'The change to Norfolk Island, too, brings many anxious thoughts and + cares, and the state of the people there will be an additional cause of + anxiety. I think that we shall move en masse in April or May, making two + or three trips in the schooner. Palmer has sixteen now with him there. I + shall perhaps leave ten more for the winter school and then go on to the + islands, and return (D.V.) in October, not to New Zealand, but to Norfolk + Island; though, as it is the year of the meeting of the General Synod, + i.e., February 1868, I shall have to be in New Zealand during that summer. + You shall have full information of all my and our movements, as soon as I + know myself precisely the plan. + </p> + <p> + 'And now good-bye, my dear Cousin; and may God ever bless and keep you. I + think much of you, and of how you must miss dear Mr. Keble. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + 'Sunday, February 10, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear old Fan,—No time to write at length. We are pretty well, + but coughs and colds abound, and I am a little anxious about one nice lad, + Lelenga, but he is not very seriously ill. + </p> + <p> + 'I have of course occasional difficulties, as who has not? Irregularities, + not (D. Gr.) of very serious nature, yet calling for reproof; a certain + proportion of the boys, and a large proportion of the girls careless, and + of course, like boys and girls such as you know of in Devonshire, not free + from mischief. + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed, it is a matter for great thankfulness that, as far as we know, no + immorality has taken place with fifteen young girls in the school. We take + of course all precautions, rooms are carefully locked at night. Still + really evil-minded young persons could doubtless get into mischief, if + they were determined to do so. Only to-day I spoke severely, not on this + point, but on account of some proof of want of real modesty and purity of + feeling. But how can I be surprised at that? + </p> + <p> + 'All schoolmaster's work is anxious work. It is even more so than the + ordinary clergyman's work, because you are parent and schoolmaster at + once. + </p> + <p> + 'You may suppose that as time approaches for Codrington and Bice to + arrive, and for our move to Norfolk Island, I am somewhat anxious, and + have very much to do. Indeed, the Norfolk Island people do sadly want + help. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Brother. + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P. + </h5> + <p> + 'P. S.—You may tell your boys at night school, if you think it well, + that no Melanesian I ever had here would be so ungentlemanly as to throw + stones or make a row when a lady was present.' + </p> + <p> + 'St. Matthias Day, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Joan and Fan,—The beginning of the seventh year of my + Bishop's life! How quickly the time has gone, and a good deal seems to + have taken place, and yet (though some experience has been gained) but + little sense have I of real improvement in my own self, of "pressing + onwards," and daily struggles against faults. But for some persons it is + dangerous to talk of such things, and I am such a person. It would tend to + make me unreal, and my words would be unreal, and soon my thoughts and + life would become unreal too. I am conscious of very, very much that is + very wrong, and would astonish many of even those who know me best, but I + must use this consciousness, and not talk about it any more. + </p> + <p> + 'I am in harness again for English work. How can I refuse? I am writing + now between two English services. + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed, no adequate provision is made here for married clergymen with + families; £300 a year is starvation at present prices. Men can't live on + it; and who can work vigorously with the thought ever present to him, + "When I die, what of my wife and family?" What is to be done? + </p> + <p> + 'I solve the difficulty in Melanesian work by saying, "Use Melanesians." I + tell people plainly, "I don't want white men." + </p> + <p> + 'I sum it all up thus: They cost about ten times as much as the Melanesian + (literally), and but a very small proportion do the work as well. + </p> + <p> + 'I was amused at some things in your December letters. How things do + unintentionally get exaggerated! I went up into the tree-house by a very + good ladder of bamboos and supple-jacks, quite as easily as one goes up + the rigging of a ship, and my ten days at Bauro were spent among a people + whose language I know, and where my life was as safe and everybody was as + disposed to be friendly as if I had been in your house at Weston. But, of + course, it is all "missionary hardships and trials." I don't mean that you + talk in this way. + </p> + <p> + 'Our first instalment of scholars with Messrs. Atkin and Brooke will go + off (D.V.) about March 21. Then my house is taken down; the boys who now + live in it having been sent off: and on the schooner's return about April + 15, another set of things, books, houses, &c. Probably a third trip + will be necessary, and then about May 5 or 6 I hope to go. It will be + somewhat trying at the end. But I bargain for all this, which of course + constitutes my hardest and most trying business. The special Mission work, + as most people would regard it, is as nothing in comparison. Good-bye, and + God bless you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + On March 5 Mr. Codrington safely arrived, bringing with him Mr. Bice. The + boon to the Bishop was immense, both in relief from care and in the + companionship, for which he had henceforth to depend entirely on his own + staff. The machinery of the routine had been so well set in order by Mr. + Pritt that it could be continued without him; and though there was no + English woman to superintend the girls, it was hoped that Sarah Sarawia + had been prepared by Mrs. Pritt to be an efficient matron. + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama: March 23, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—Our last New Zealand season, for it may be our + last, draws near its close. On Monday, only two days hence, the "Southern + Cross" sails (weather permitting) with our first instalment. Mr. Palmer + has got his house up, and they must stow themselves away in it, three + whites and forty-five blacks, the best way they can. The vessel takes + besides 14,000 feet of timber, 6,000 shingles for roofing, and boxes of + books, &c., &c., without end. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope she may be here again to take me and the remaining goods, live and + inanimate, in about eighteen or twenty days. I can't tell whether I am + more likely to spend my Easter in New Zealand or Norfolk Island. + </p> + <p> + 'I see that in many ways the place is good for us. The first expense is + heavy. I have spent about £1,000 already, sinking some of my private money + in the fencing, building, &c., but very soon the cost of all the + commissariat, exclusive of the stores for the voyage, and a little English + food for the whites, will be provided. Palmer has abundance of sweet + potatoes which have been planted in ground prepared by our lads since last + October. The yam crop is coming on well: fish are always abundant. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that in twelve months' time we ought to provide ourselves with + almost everything in the island. The ship and the clergymen's stipends and + certain extras will always need subscriptions, but we ought at once to + feed ourselves, and soon to export wool, potatoes, corn (maize I mean), + &c. + </p> + <p> + 'I never forget about the idea of a chapel. At present the Norfolk Island + Chapel will be only a wing of my house: which will consist of two rooms + for myself, a spare room for a sick lad or two, and a large dormitory + which, if need be, can be turned into a hospital, and the other end a wing + in the chapel, 42 x 18 feet, quite large enough for eighty or more people. + The entrance from without, and again a private door from my sitting room. + All is very simple in the plan. It seem almost selfish having it thus as a + part of my dwelling house; but it will be such a comfort, so convenient + for Confirmation and Baptism and Holy Communion classes, and so nice for + me. Some ladies in Melbourne give a velvet altar cloth, Lady S. in Sydney + gives all the white linen: our Communion plate, you know, is very + handsome. Some day Joan must send me a solid block of Devonshire + serpentine for my Font, such a one as there is at Alfington, or + Butterfield might now devise even a better. + </p> + <p> + 'But I think, though I have not thought enough yet, that in the diocese of + Norfolk Island, and in the islands, the running stream of living water and + the Catechumens "going down" into it is the right mode of administering + the holy sacrament. The Lectern and the small Prayer-desk are of + sandal-wood from Erromango. + </p> + <p> + 'It will be far more like a Church than anything the Pitcairners have ever + seen. Perhaps next Christmas—but much may take place before then—I + may ordain Palmer Priest, Atkin and Brooke Deacons, and there may be a + goodly attendance of Melanesian communicants and candidates for baptism. + If so, what a day of hope to look forward to! And then I think I see the + day of dear George Sarawia's Ordination drawing nigh, if God grant him + health and perseverance. He is, indeed, and so are others, younger than + he, all that I could desire. + </p> + <p> + 'So, my dear Cousin, see what blessings I have, how small our trials are. + They may yet come, but it is now just twelve years, exactly twelve years + on Monday, since I saw my Father's and Sisters' faces, and how little have + those years been marked with sorrows. My lot is cast in a good land + indeed. I read and hear of others, such as that noble Central African + band, and I wonder how men can go through it all. It comes to me as from a + distance, not as to one who has experienced such things. We know nothing + of war, or famine, or deadly fever; and we seem now to have a settled plan + of work, one of the greatest comforts of all; but while I write thus + brightly I don't forget that a little thing (humanly speaking) may cause + great reverses, delays, and failures. + </p> + <p> + 'I am very glad you understand my unwillingness to write, and still more + to print over much about our proceedings. I do speak pretty freely in New + Zealand and Australia, from whence I profess and mean to draw our + supplies. + </p> + <p> + 'Accurate information is all very well, but to convey an idea of our life + and work is quite beyond my powers. Still, everything that helps the + ordinary men and women of England to look out into the world a bit, and + see that the Gospel is a power of God, is good. + </p> + <p> + 'And now, good-bye, my dear Cousin. May God bless and keep you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + On Lady Day the Bishop wrote to his sisters:— + </p> + <p> + 'This day, twelve years ago, I saw your faces for the last time; and so I + told Mary Atkin, my good young friend's only sister, as we stood on the + beach just now, watching the 'Southern Cross' carrying away her only + brother and some forty other people to Norfolk Island. + </p> + <p> + The first detachment is therefore gone; I hope that we, the rest, will + follow in about sixteen or eighteen days. I think back over these twelve + years. On the whole, how smoothly and easily they have passed with me! + Less of sorrow and anxiety than was crowded into one short year of Bishop + Mackenzie's life. I have been reading Mr. Rowley's book on the University + Mission to Central Africa, and am glad to have read it. They were indeed + fine gallant fellows, full of faith and courage and endurance. + </p> + <p> + 'As I write, some dozen boys are on the roof, knocking away the shingles, + i.e., the wooden tiles of roofing, a carpenter is taking down all that + needs some more skilled handiwork. In a week the house will all be tied up + in bundles of boarding, battens, about 14,000 or 15,000 feet of timber in + all. Yesterday I was with the Primate; I went up indeed on Monday + afternoon, as the "Southern Cross" sailed with thirty-one Melanesians at + 11 A.M., and I could get away. It was rather a sad day. I was resigning + trusts, and it made the departure from New Zealand appear very real. + </p> + <p> + 'April 1st.—My fortieth birthday. It brings solemn thoughts. Last + night I had to take the service at St. Paul's, and as I came back I + thought of many things, and principally of how very different I ought to + be from what I am. + </p> + <p> + 'All are well here at Kohimarama. My house knocked down and arrangements + going on, the place leased to Mr. Atkin, Joe Atkin's father, my trusts + resigned, accounts almost made up, many letters written, business matters + arranged.' + </p> + <p> + In a few days more the last remnant of St. Andrew's was broken up; and the + first letter to the Bishop of New Zealand was written from Norfolk Island + before the close of the month:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Barnabas' Mission School: April 29, 1867. + </p> + <p> + My dear Primate,—We had a fair wind all the way, and having + shortened sail during all Friday so as not to reach Norfolk Island in the + night, made the lead at 5 A.M. on Saturday morning. But a sad casualty + occurred; we lost a poor fellow overboard, one of the seamen. He ought not + to have been lost, and I blame myself. He was under the davits of the boat + doing something, and the rope by which he was holding parted; the + life-buoy almost knocked him as he passed the quarter of the vessel, and + I, instead of jumping overboard, and shouting to the Melanesians to do the + same, rushed to the falls. The boat was on the spot where his cap was + floating within two and a half minutes of the time he fell into the sea, + but he was gone. + </p> + <p> + 'Fisher in the hurry tore his nail by letting the falls run through his + hand too fast. I was binding it up, the boat making for the poor fellow + faster than any swimmer could have done. How it was that he did not lay + hold of the buoy, or sank so soon, I can't say; the great mistake was not + jumping overboard at once. This is a gloomy beginning, and made us all + feel very sad. He was not married and was a well-behaved man. + </p> + <p> + 'It was blowing fresh on Saturday, but we anchored under Nepean Island, + and by hard work cleared the vessel by 5 P.M.; all worked hard, and all + the things were landed safely. Palmer, with the cart and boys, was on the + pier, and the things were carted and carried into the store as they + arrived. I came on shore about 5, found all well and hearty, the people + very friendly, nothing in their manner to indicate any change of feeling. + </p> + <p> + 'I walked up to our place. It is, indeed, a beautiful spot. Palmer has + worked with a will. I was surprised to see what was done. Some three and a + half acres of fine kumaras, maize, yams, growing well; a yam of ten pounds + weight, smooth and altogether Melanesian, just taken up, not quite ripe, + so the boys say they will grow much bigger. Abundant supply of water, + though the summer has been dry. + </p> + <p> + 'Much of the timber has been carted up, more has been stacked at the top + of the hill. This was carried by the boys, and will be carted along the + pine avenue; a good deal is still near the pines, but properly stacked. I + see nothing anywhere thrown about, even here not a chip to be seen, all + buried or burnt, and the place quite neat though unfinished. + </p> + <p> + '1. House, on the plan of my old house just taken down by Gray, but much + larger. + </p> + <p> + '2. Kitchen of good size. + </p> + <p> + '3. Two raupo outhouses. + </p> + <p> + '4. Cow-shed. + </p> + <p> + 'I find it quite assumed here that the question is settled about our + property here; but I have not thought it desirable to talk expressly about + it. They talk about school, doctor, and other public arrangements as + usual. + </p> + <p> + 'It seems that it was on St. Barnabas Day that, after Holy Communion, we + walked up here last year and chose the site of the house. The people have + of their own accord taken to call the place St. Barnabas; and as this + suits the Eton feeling also, and you and others never liked St. Andrew's, + don't you think we may adopt the new name? Miss Yonge won't mind, I am + sure. + </p> + <p> + 'I could not resist telling the people that you and Mrs. Selwyn might come + for a short time in September next to see them, and they are really + delighted; and so shall we be, I can tell you indeed.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The time for the island voyage was fully come; and, after a very brief + stay in the new abode, the Bishop sailed again for Mota, where the old + house was found (May 8) in a very dilapidated condition; and vigorous + mending with branches was needed before a corner could be patched up for + him to sleep on his table during a pouring wet night, having first supped + on a cup of tea and a hot yam, the latter brought from the club-house by + one of his faithful adherents; after which an hour and a half's reading of + Lightfoot on the Epistle to the Galatians made him forget every + discomfort. + </p> + <p> + There had, however, been a renewal of fighting of late; and at a village + called Tasmate, a man named Natungoe had ten days previously been shot in + the breast with a poisoned arrow, and was beginning to show those first + deadly symptoms of tetanus. He had been a well-conducted fellow, though he + had hitherto shown indifference to the new teaching; and it had not been + in a private quarrel that he was wounded, but in a sudden attack on his + village by some enemies, when a feast was going on. + </p> + <p> + On that first evening when the Bishop went to see him it was plain that + far more of the recent instruction had taken root in him than had been + supposed. 'He showed himself thoroughly ready to listen, and manifested a + good deal of simple faith. He said he had no resentment against the person + who had shot him, and that he did wish to know and think about the world + to come. He accepted at once the story of God's love, shown in sending + Jesus to die for us, and he seemed to have some apprehension of what God + must be, and of what we are—how unlike Him, how unable to make + ourselves fit to be with Him. He certainly spoke of Jesus as of a living + Person close by him, willing and able to help him. He of his own accord + made a little prayer to Him, "Help me, wake me, make my heart light, take + away the darkness. I wish for you, I want to go to you, I don't want to + think about this world."' + </p> + <p> + Early the next morning the Bishop went again, taking George Sarawia with + him. The man said, 'I have been thinking of what you said. I have been + calling on the Saviour (i Vaesu) all night.' The Bishop spoke long to him, + and left Sarawia with him, speaking and praying quietly and earnestly. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile continues the diary:— + </p> + <p> + 'I went to the men in the village, and spoke at length to them: "Yes, God + will not cast out those who turn to Him when they are called, but you must + not suppose that it is told us anywhere that He will save those who care + nothing about Him through their years of health, and only think about Him + and the world to come when this world is already passing away." + </p> + <p> + 'How utterly unable one feels to say or do the right thing, and the words + fall so flat and dull upon careless ears!' + </p> + <p> + Every day for ten days the poor sufferer Natungoe was visited, and he + listened with evident faith and comprehension. On May 15 the entry is:— + </p> + <p> + 'I was so satisfied with his expressions of faith in the Saviour, of his + hope of living with Him; he spoke so clearly of his belief in Jesus having + been sent from the Great Creator and Father of all to lead us back to Him, + and to cleanse us from sin, which had kept us from our Father, by His + Death for us; he was so evidently convinced of the truth of our Lord's + Resurrection and of the resurrection of us all at the last day—that + I felt that I ought to baptize him. I had already spoken to him of + Baptism, and he seemed to understand that, first, he must believe that the + water is the sign of an inward cleansing, and that it has no magical + efficacy, but that all depended on his having faith in the promise and + power of God; and second, that Jesus had commanded those who wished to + believe and love Him to be baptized. + </p> + <p> + 'The expression Nan ive Maroo i Vaesu, "I wish for the Saviour," had been + frequently used by him; and I baptized him by the name of Maroovaesu, a + name instantly substituted for his old name Natungoe by those present. + </p> + <p> + 'I have seen him again to-day; he cannot recover, and at times the tetanus + spasms are severe, but it is nothing like dear Fisher's case. He can still + eat and speak; women sit around holding him, and a few people sit or lie + about in the hut. It looks all misery and degradation of the lowest kind, + but there is a blessed change, as I trust, for him.' + </p> + <p> + On Sunday the 19th the last agony had come. He lay on a mat on the ground, + in the middle of the village, terribly racked by convulsions, but still + able in the intervals to speak intelligibly, and to express his full hope + that he was going to his Saviour, and that his pain would soon be over, + and he would be at rest with Him, listening earnestly to the Bishop's + prayers. He died that night. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the Bishop had not neglected the attacking party. Of + them, one had been killed outright, and two more were recovering from + their wounds, and it was necessary to act as pacificator. + </p> + <p> + 'Meanwhile, I think how very little religion has to do directly with + keeping things quiet; in England (for example) men would avenge + themselves, and steal and kill, were it not for the law, which is, indeed, + an indirect result of religion; but religion simply does not produce the + effect, i.e. men are not generally religious in England or Mota. I have + Maine's Book of "Ancient Law" among the half-dozen books I have brought on + shore, and it is extremely interesting to read here.' + </p> + <p> + How he read, wrote, or did anything is the marvel, with the hut constantly + crowded by men who had nothing to do but gather round, in suffocating + numbers, to stare at his pen travelling over the paper. 'They have done so + a hundred times before,' he writes, actually under the oppression, 'but + anything to pass an hour lazily. It is useless to talk about it, and one + must humour them, or they will think I am vexed with them.' + </p> + <p> + The scholars, neatly clothed, with orderly and industrious habits, were no + small contrast: 'But I miss as yet the link between them and the resident + heathen people. I trust and pray that George and others may, ere long, + supply it. + </p> + <p> + 'But it is very difficult to know how to help them to change their mode of + life. Very much, even if they did accept Christianity, must go on as + before. Their daily occupations include work in the small gardens, + cooking, &c., and this need not be changed. + </p> + <p> + 'Then as to clothing. I must be very careful lest they should think that + wearing clothes is Christianity. Yet certain domestic changes are + necessary, for a Christian life seems to need certain material + arrangements for decency and propriety. There ought to be partition + screens in the hut, for example, and some clothing is desirable no doubt. + A resident missionary now could do a good deal towards showing the people + why certain customs, &c., are incompatible with a Christian life. His + daily teaching would show how Christ acted and taught, and how + inconsistent such and such practices must be with the profession of faith + in Him. But regulations imposed from without I rather dread, they produce + so often an unreasoning obedience for a little while only. + </p> + <p> + The rules for the new life should be very few and very simple, and + carefully explained. "Love to God and man," explained and illustrated as + the consequence of some elementary knowledge of God's love to us, shown of + course prominently in the giving His own Son to us. There is no lack of + power to understand simple teaching, a fair proportion of adults take it + in very fairly. I was rather surprised on Friday evening (some sixty or + seventy being present) to find that a few men answered really rather well + questions which brought out the meaning of some of our Saviour's names. + </p> + <p> + '"The Saviour?" + </p> + <p> + '"The saving His people." + </p> + <p> + '"Not all men? And why not all men? And from what poverty, sickness, &c., + here below?" + </p> + <p> + '"From their sins." + </p> + <p> + '"What is sin?" + </p> + <p> + '"All that God has forbidden." + </p> + <p> + '"What has He forbidden? Why? Because He grudges us anything? Why do you + forbid a child to taste vangarpal ('poison'), &c. &c.?" + </p> + <p> + '"The Way," "the Mediator," "the Redeemer," "the Resurrection," "the + Atoner," "the Word." Some eight days' teaching had preceded this; but I + dare say there are ten or fifteen people here now, not our scholars, who + can really answer on these points so as to make it clear that they + understand something about the teaching involved in these names. Of + course, I had carefully worked out the best way to accept these names and + ideas in Mota; and the illustrations, &c., from their customs made me + think that to some extent they understood this teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course the personal feeling is as pleasant as can be, and I think + there is something more: a real belief that our religion and our habits + are good, and that some day they will be accepted here. A considerable + number of people are leading very respectable lives on the whole. But I + see that we must try to spend more time here. George Sarawia is being + accepted to some extent as one whom they are to regard as a teacher. He + has a fair amount of influence. But in this little spot, among about 1,500 + people, local jealousies and old animosities are so rife, that the + stranger unconnected with any one of them has so far a better chance of + being accepted by all; but then comes, on the other hand, his perfect + knowledge and our comparative ignorance of the language and customs of the + people. We want to combine both for a while, till the native teacher and + clergyman is fully established in his true position. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a curious thing that the Solomon Islanders from the south-east part + of that group should have dropped so much behind the Banks Islanders. I + knew their language before I knew the language of Mota, they were (so to + say) my favourites. But we can't as yet make any impression upon them. The + Loyalty Islanders have been suffered to drop out; and so it is that all + our leading scholars, all who set good examples, and are made responsible + for various duties, are (with the sole exception of Soro, from Mai Island, + New Hebrides) from the Banks group. Consequently, their language is the + lingua franca of the school—not that we made it so, or wished it + rather than any other to be so; indeed Bauro is easier, and so are some + others: but so it is. It is an excellent thing, for any Melanesian soon + acquires another Melanesian language, however different the vocabulary may + be. Their ideas and thoughts and many of their customs are similar, the + mode of life is similar, and their mode of expressing themselves similar. + They think in the same way, and therefore speak in the same way. Their + mode of life is natural; ours is highly artificial. We are the creatures + of a troublesome civilisation to an extent that one realises here. When I + go ashore for five weeks, though I could carry all my luggage, yet it must + comprise a coffee-pot, sugar, biscuits, a cork bed, some tins of preserved + meat, candles, books, and my hut has a table and a stool, and I have a + cup, saucer, plate, knife, fork, and spoon. My good friend George, who I + think is on the whole better dressed than I am, and who has adopted + several of our signs of civilisation, finds the food, cooking, and many of + the ways of the island natural and congenial, and would find them so + throughout the Pacific. + </p> + <p> + 'May 2lst.—The morning and evening school here is very nice. I doubt + if I am simple enough in my teaching. I think I teach too much at a time; + there is so much to be taught, and I am so impatient, I don't go slowly + enough, though I do travel over the same ground very often. Some few + certainly do take in a good deal. + </p> + <p> + 'A very hot day, after much rain. This morning we took down our old wooden + hut, that was put up here by us six years ago. Parts of it are useless, + for in our absence the rain damaged it a good deal. I mean to take it + across to Arau, Henry Tagalana's little island, for there, even in very + wet weather, there is little fear of ague, the soil being light and sandy. + It would be a great thing to escape from the rich soil and luxuriant + vegetation in the wet months, if any one of us spent a long time here. It + was hot work, but soon over. It only took about two and a half hours to + take down, and stack all the planks, rafters, &c. Two fellows worked + well, and some others looked on and helped now and then. + </p> + <p> + 'I have had some pleasant occupation for an hour or so each day in + clearing away the bush, which in one year grows up surprisingly here. Many + lemon, citron, and orange trees that we planted some years ago. cocoa-nut + trees also, were almost, some quite overgrown, quite hidden, and our place + looked and was quite small and close; but one or two hours for a few days, + spent in clearing, have made a great difference. I have planted out about + twenty-five lemon suckers, and as many pine-apples, for our old ones were + growing everywhere in thick clumps, and I have to thin them out. + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday was a great day; we cut down two large trees, round one of + which I had carelessly planted orange, lemon, and cocoa-nut trees, so that + we did not know how to fell it so as to avoid crushing some fine young + trees; but the tree took the matter into its own hands, for it was hollow + in the centre, and fell suddenly, so that the fellows holding the rope + could not guide it, and it fell at right angles to the direction we had + chosen, but right between all the trees, without seriously hurting one. It + quite reminds me of old tree-cutting days at Feniton; only here I see no + oaks, nor elms, nor beeches, nor firs, only bread-fruit trees and almond + trees, and many fruit-bearing trees—oranges, &c., and guavas and + custard-apples—growing up (all being introduced by us), and the two + gigantic banyan trees, north and south of my little place. It is so very + pretty! + </p> + <p> + 'I don't trouble myself much about cooking. My little canteen is capital; + and I can make myself all sorts of good things, if I choose to take the + trouble, and some days I do so. I bake a little bread now and then, and + natter myself it is uncommonly good; and one four-pound tin of Bloxland's + preserved meat from Queensland has already lasted me twelve days, and + there is about half of it remaining. He reckons each pound well soaked and + cooked to be equal to three pounds, and I think he is right. A very little + of this, with a bit of yam deliciously cooked, and brought to me each day + as a present by some one from their cooking ovens, makes a capital dinner. + Then I have some rice and sugar for breakfast, a biscuit and coffee, and a + bit of bread-fruit perhaps; and all the little delicacies are here—salt, + pepper, mustard, even to a bottle of pickles—so I am pretty well + off, I think. + </p> + <p> + 'I find that the white ant, or an insect like it, is here. The plates of + our old hut are quite rotten, the outside still untouched, all within like + tinder. They call the insect vanoa; it is not found in New Zealand, but it + is a sad nuisance in Australia. + </p> + <p> + 'I do not read much here this time, so much of every day is taken up with + talking to the people about me. That is all right, and I generally can + turn the talk to something that I wish them to hear, so it is all in the + way of business here. And I am glad to say that my school, and + conversations and lessons, need some careful preparation. I have spent + some time in drawing up for myself a little scheme of teaching for people + in the state of my friends here. I ought of course to have done it long + ago, and it is a poor thing now. I cannot take a real pleasure in + teaching, and so I do it badly. I am always, almost always, glad when + school is over, though sometimes I get much interested myself, though not + often able to interest others. + </p> + <p> + 'I am reading some Hebrew nearly every day, and Lightfoot on the + Galatians, Tyler's "Researches into the Early History of Mankind," + Dollinger's "First Ages of the Church," and "Ecce Homo." I tried Maine's + "Ancient Law," but it is too tough for the tropics, unless I chance to + feel very fresh. I generally get an hour in the evening, if I am sleeping + at home. + </p> + <p> + 'May 23rd.—I suppose anyone who has lived in a dirty Irish village—pigs, + fowls, and children equally noisy and filthy, and the parents wild, + ignorant, and impulsive—may have some notion of this kind of thing. + You never get a true account, much less a true illustration of the real + thing. Did you happen to see a ridiculous engraving on one of the S. P. + Gr. sheets some years ago, supposed to be me taking two Ambrym boys to the + boat? (Footnote: No such engraving can be found by the S. P. Gr. It was + probably put forth in some other publication.) Now it is much better not + to draw at all than to draw something which can only mislead people. If + Ambrym boys really looked like those two little fellows, and if the boat + with bland-looking white men could quietly be pulled to the beach, and if + I, in a respectable dress, could go to and from the boat and the shore, + why the third stage of Mission work has been reached already! I don't + suppose you can picture to yourselves the real state of things in this, + and in many of these islands, and therefore the great difficulty there is + in getting them out of their present social, or unsocial, state! + </p> + <p> + 'To follow Christian teaching out in detail, to carry it out from the + school into the hut, into the actual daily life of the dirty naked women, + and still dirtier though not more naked children; to get the men really to + abandon old ways from a sense of responsibility and duty and love to God, + this of course comes very slowly. I am writing very lazily, being indeed + tired with heat and mosquitos. The sun is very hot again to-day. I have no + thermometer here, but it feels as if it ought to be 90° in the shade. + </p> + <p> + 'May 25th.—George Sarawia spent yesterday here, and has just gone to + his village. He and I had a good deal of conversation. I copied out for + him the plan of teaching drawn up from books already printed in their + language. He speaks encouragingly, and is certainly recognised as one who + is intended to be the teacher here. No one is surprised that he should be + treated by me in a very different way from anyone else, with a complete + confidence and a mutual understanding of each other. He is a thoroughly + good, simple-minded fellow, and I hope, by God's blessing, he may do much + good. He told me that B—— wants to come with me again; but I + cannot take him. As we have been living properly, and for the sake of the + head school and our character in the eyes of the people here, I cannot + take him until he shows proof of a real desire to do his duty. I am very + sorry for it. I have all the old feeling about him; and he is so quick and + intelligent, but he allows himself again and again to be overcome by + temptation, hard I dare say to withstand; but this conduct does disqualify + him for being chosen to go with us. I am leaving behind some good but dull + boys, for I can't make room as yet for them, and I must not take an + ill-conducted fellow because he is quick and clever. He has some sort of + influence in the place from his quickness, and from his having acquired a + good deal of riches while with us. He says nothing, according to Sarawia, + for or against our teaching. Meanwhile, he lives much like a somewhat + civilised native. Poor fellow! I sent a message to him by George that if + he wished to see me, I should be very willing to have a talk with him. + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday we made some sago. A tree is cut down in its proper stage of + growth, just when it begins to flower. The pith is pulled and torn into + shreds and fibres, then the juice is squeezed out so as to allow it to run + or drip into some vessel, while water is poured on the pith by some one + assisting the performer. The grounds (as say of coffee) remain at the + bottom when the water is poured off, and an hour of such a sun as we had + yesterday dries and hardens the sago. It is then fit for use. I suppose + that it took an hour and a half to prepare about a slop-basin full of the + dried hard sago. I have not used it vet. We brought tapioca here some + years ago, and they used it in the same way, and they had abundance of + arrow-root. On Monday I will make some, if all is well. Any fellow is + willing to help for a few beads or fish-hooks, and they do all the heavy + work, the fetching water, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'I never saw anything like the pigeons in the great banyan tree close by. + They eat its berries, and I really think there are at times more than a + hundred at once in it. Had I a gun here I think I might have brought down + three or four at a shot yesterday, sitting shot of course, but then I + should shoot "for the pot." Palmer had his gun here last year, and shot as + many as he wanted at any time. The bats at night are innumerable; they too + eat the banyan berries, but chiefly the ripening bread-fruit. The cats we + brought here have nearly cleared the place of the small rats which used to + abound here; but lizards abound in this hut, because it is not continually + smoke-dried. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night I think some of the people here heard some rather new notions, + to them, about the true relation of man and woman, parent and child, &c. + They said, as they do often say, "Every word is true! how foolish we are!" + But how to get any of them to start on a new course is the question. + </p> + <p> + 'Ascension Day, May 30th.—There is a good deal of discussion going + on now among the people. I hear of it not only from our old scholars, but + from some of the men. I have been speaking day by day more earnestly to + the people; always reading here and there verses of the Gospels or the + Acts, or paraphrasing some passage so that they may have the actual words + in which the message is recorded. They say, "This is a heavy, a weighty + word," and they are talking, as they say, night after night about it. Some + few, and they elderly men, say, "Let us talk only about our customs here." + Others say, "No, no; let us try to think out the meaning of what he said." + A few come and ask me questions, only a few, not many are in earnest, and + all are shy. Many every night meet in Robert Pantatun's house, twenty-five + or thirty, and ask him all manner of questions, and he reads a little. + They end with prayer. + </p> + <p> + 'They have many strange customs and superstitious observances peculiar to + this group. They have curious clubs, confraternities with secret rites of + initiation. The candidate for admission pays pigs and native money, and + after many days' seclusion in a secret place is, with great ceremony, + recognised as a member. No woman and none of the uninitiated may know + anything of these things. + </p> + <p> + 'In every village there is a Sala Goro, a place for cooking, which only + those who have "gazed at the sacred symbol" may frequent. Food cooked + there may not be eaten by one uninitiated, or by women or children. The + path to the Sala Goro is never trodden by any woman or matanomorous ("eye + closed"). When any ceremony is going on the whole of the precincts of the + Sala Goro are sacred. At no time dare any woman eat with any man, no + husband with his wife, no father with his daughter as soon as she is no + longer a child. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course such a system can be used by us in two ways. I say, "You have + your method of assembling together, and you observe certain customs in so + doing; so do we, but yours is an exclusive and selfish system: your secret + societies are like our clubs, with their entrance fees, &c. But + Christ's society has its sacred rite of admission, and other mysteries + too, and it is for all who wish to belong to it. He recognises no + distinction of male or female, bond or free." + </p> + <p> + 'Some of the elder men are becoming suspicious of me. I tell them plainly + that whatever there may be in their customs incompatible with the great + law of Love to God and man must come to nought. "You beat and terrify + matanomorous in order to make them give, that you may get pigs and native + money from them. Such conduct is all wrong, for if you beat or frighten a + youth or man, you certainly can't love him." + </p> + <p> + 'At the same time I can't tell how far this goes. If there were a real + ceremony of an idol or prayer to it, of course it would be comparatively + easy to act in the matter; but the ceremony consists in sticking a curious + sort of mitre, pointed and worked with hair, on the head of the candidate, + and covering his body with a sort of Jack-in-the green wicker work of + leaves, &c., and they joke and laugh about it, and attach, apparently, + no religious significance to it whatever. + </p> + <p> + 'I think it has the evil which attends all secret societies, that it tends + to produce invidious distinctions and castes. An instinct impels men to + form themselves into associations; but then Christ has satisfied that + instinct legitimately in the Church. + </p> + <p> + 'Christianity does meet a human instinct; as, e.g., the Lord's Supper, + whatever higher and deeper feelings it may have, has this simple, but most + significant meaning to the primitive convert, of feasting as a child with + his brethren and sisters at the Father's Board. + </p> + <p> + 'The significance of this to people living as more than half the human + beings in the world are living still, is such as we have lost the power of + conceiving; the Lord's Supper has so long had, so to say, other meanings + for many of us. Yet to be admitted a member of God's family, and then + solemnly at stated times to use this privilege of membership, + strengthening the tie, and familiarising oneself more and more with the + customs of that heavenly family, this surely is a very great deal of what + human instinct, as exhibited in almost universal customs, requires. + </p> + <p> + 'There are depths for those who can dive into them; but I really think + that in some of these theological questions we view the matter solely from + our state of civilisation and thought, and forget the multitudes of + uneducated, rude, unrefined people to whom all below the simple meaning is + unmeaning. May I not say to Robert Pantatun, "Christ, you know, gave His + Body and Blood for us on the Cross, He gives them to you now, for all + purposes of saving you and strengthening your spiritual life, while you + eat and drink as an adopted child at your Father's Table"? + </p> + <p> + 'It is the keeping alive the consciousness of the relation of all children + to God through Christ that is needed so much. And with these actual sights + before me, and you have them among you in the hundreds of thousands of + poor ignorant creatures, I almost wonder that men should spend so much + time in refining upon points which never can have a practical meaning for + any persons not trained to habits of accurate thought and unusual + devotion. But here I am very likely wrong, and committing the very fault + of generalizing from my own particular position. + </p> + <p> + 'June 4th.—I was greatly pleased, on Friday evening last which + George Sarawia spent here with me, to hear from him that he had been + talking with the Banks Islanders at Norfolk Island, and on board ship, + about a plan which he now proposed to me. I had indeed thought of it, but + scarcely saw my way. It is a new proof of his real earnestness, and of his + seeking the good of his people here. The plan is this:— + </p> + <p> + 'G. S. "Bishop, we have been talking together about your buying some land + here, near your present place, where we all can live together, where we + can let the people see what our mode of life is, what our customs are, + which we have learnt from you." + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. P. "Capital, George, but are you all willing to give up your living + in villages among your own particular relations?" + </p> + <p> + 'G. S. "Yes, we all agreed about it. You see, sir, if we live scattered + about we are not strong enough to hold our ground, and some of the younger + ones fall back into their old ways. The temptations are great, and what + can be expected of one or two boys among eighty or ninety heathen people?" + </p> + <p> + 'J. C. P. "Of course you know what I think about it. It is the very thing + I have always longed for. I did have a general school here, as you know." + </p> + <p> + 'G. S. "Yes, but things are different now. People are making enquiries. + Many young fellows want to understand our teaching, and follow it. If we + have a good large place of our own there, we can carry on our own mode of + living without interfering with other people." + </p> + <p> + 'J. G. P. "Yes, and so we can, actually in the midst of them, let them see + a Christian village, where none of the strange practices which are + inconsistent with Christianity will be allowed, and where the comforts and + advantages of our customs may be actually seen." + </p> + <p> + 'G. S. "By-and-by it will be a large village, and many will wish to live + there, and not from many parts of Mota only." + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I have told you, I suppose, of the fertility of this island, and + how it is far more than sufficient to supply the wants of the people. Food + is wasted on all sides. This very day I have plucked ten large + bread-fruits, and might have plucked forty now nearly ripe, simply that + the bats may not get them. I gave them away, as I can't eat more than a + third part of one at a meal. + </p> + <p> + 'So I went with George on Saturday, and we chose such a beautiful + property, between Veverao and Maligo, I dare say about ten acres. Then I + spoke to the people here, explaining my wishes and motives. To-day we have + been over it with a large party, that all might be done publicly and + everybody might hear and know. The land belongs to sixteen different + owners; the cocoa-nut trees, breadfruit, almond, and other fruit-trees are + bought separately. + </p> + <p> + 'They all agree; indeed, as they have abundance of space of spare land + just as good all about, and they will get a good stock of hatchets, pigs, + &c., from me, for this land, there is not much doubt about that. But + it is pleasant to hear some of them say, "No, no, that is mine and my + son's, and he is your boy. You can have that for nothing." + </p> + <p> + 'I shan't take it; it is safer to buy, but it is pleasant to see the kind + feeling. + </p> + <p> + 'If it be God's will to prosper this undertaking, we should begin next + year with about fifteen of our own scholars, and a goodly number of + half-scholars, viz., those who are now our regular scholars here, but have + not been taken to New Zealand. + </p> + <p> + 'Fencing, clearing, &c., could go on rapidly. Many would help, and + small payments of beads and fish-hooks can always secure a man's services. + </p> + <p> + 'I should build the houses with the material of the island, save only + windows, but adopt of course a different shape and style for them. The + idea would be to have everything native fashion, but improved, so as to be + clearly suitable for the wants of people sufficiently civilised. All that + a Christian finds helpful and expedient we ought to have, but to adopt + English notions and habits would defeat my object. The people could not + adopt them, there would be no teaching for them. I want to be able to say: + "Well, you see, there is nothing to prevent you from having this and that, + and your doing this and that." + </p> + <p> + 'We must have some simple rules about cleanliness, working hours, &c., + but all that is already familiar to those who have been with us at + Kohimarama and Norfolk Island. Above all, I rejoice in the thought that + the people understand that very soon this plan is to be worked by George + Sarawia. He is to be the, so to say, head of the Christian village. I + shall be a kind of Visitor. Palmer will, of course, be wanted at first, + but must avoid the fault of letting the people, our own pupils as well as + others, become dependent upon us. The Paraguay Mission produced docile + good-natured fags for the missionaries, but the natives had learnt no + self-respect, manliness, nor positive strength of character. They fought + well, and showed pluck when the missionaries armed them, but they seem to + have had no power of perpetuating their newly-learnt customs, without the + continual guidance of the missionaries. It may be that such supervision is + necessary; but I do not think it is so, and I should be sorry to think it + is so.' + </p> + <p> + As usual, the Mota climate told on the health of the party, there was + general influenza, and the Bishop had a swelling under his left arm; but + on Whitsunday the 'Southern Cross,' which had been to set down the Solomon + Islanders, returned, and carried him off. Vanua Lava was touched at, and a + stone, carved by John Adams, put up at Fisher Young's grave, which was + found, as before, well kept in order. Then the round of the New Hebrides + was made; but new volunteers were refused, or told to wait ten moons, as + it was an object to spend the first season in the new locality with tried + scholars. + </p> + <p> + At 'the grand island, miscalled Leper's,' the Bishop slept ashore for the + first time, and so also at Whitsuntide. + </p> + <p> + At Espiritu Santo much friendliness was shown, and a man would not take a + present Mr. Atkin offered, because he had nothing, to pay for it. Santa + Cruz, as usual, was disappointing, as, Mr. Atkin says, the only word in + their mouths, the only thought in their heads, was 'iron;' they clamoured + for this, and would not listen; moreover, their own pronunciation of their + language was very indistinct, owing to their teeth being destroyed by the + use of the betel-nut, so that they all spoke like a man with a hot potato + in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + 'So again we leave this fine island without any advance, as far as we can + see, having been made. I may live to think these islanders very wild, and + their speech very difficult, yet I know no more of them now than I did + years ago. Yet I hope that some unforeseen means for "entering in among" + them may be given some day. Their time is to come, sooner or later, when + He knows it to be the right time.' + </p> + <p> + Savo was then touched at; and the Bishop slept ashore at Florida, and left + Mr. Brooke there to the hospitality of three old scholars for a few days, + by way of making a beginning. The observations on the plan show a strange + sense of ageing at only forty:— + </p> + <p> + 'He speaks the language fairly; and his visit will, I hope, do good. Of + course he will be tired, and will enjoy the quiet of the schooner after + it. I know what that is pretty well, and it takes something to make one + prefer the little vessel at sea to any kind of shore life. However, he has + youth and cheery spirits at command, and that makes life on an island. A + man whose tastes naturally are for books, &c., rather than for small + talk, and who can't take much interest in the very trifling matters that + engage the attention of these poor fellows, such a man finds it very + tiring indeed sometimes, when a merry bright good-natured fellow would + amuse himself and the natives too. + </p> + <p> + 'In these introductory visits, scarcely anything is done or said that + resembles Mission work as invented in stories, and described by the very + vivid imagination, of sensational writers. The crowd is great, the noise + greater, the heat, the dirt, the inquisitiveness, the endless repetition + of the same questions and remarks, the continual requests for a fish-hook, + for beads, &c.—this is somewhat unlike the interesting pictures, + in a Missionary Magazine, of an amiable individual very correctly got up + in a white tie and black tailed coat, and a group of very attentive, + decently-clothed and nicely-washed natives. They are wild with excitement, + not to hear "the good news," but to hear how the trading went on: "How + many axes did they sell? How many bits of iron?" + </p> + <p> + 'You say, "Why do you trade at all?" Answer: In the first visits that we + make we should at once alienate all the goodwill of the people from us + unless we so far complied with their desire to get iron tools, or to trade + more or less with them. As soon as I can I give presents to three or four + leading men, and then let the buying curiosities be carried on by the crew + and others; but not to trade at all would be equivalent to giving up hope + of establishing any intercourse with the people. + </p> + <p> + 'But in new islands, and upon our first visits, if we do get a chance of + saying something amid the uproar, what can we say about religion that will + be intelligible to men whose language has never been used to express any + thought of ours that we long to communicate, and whose minds are + pre-occupied by the visit of the vessel, and the longing for our articles + of trade? Sometimes we do try to say a few words; sometimes we do a little + better, we get a hearing, some persons listen with some interest; but + usually, if we can merely explain that we don't come to trade, though we + trade to please them, that we wish to take lads and teach them, we are + obliged to be satisfied. "Teach them! teach them what?" think the natives. + Why, one old hatchet would outweigh in their minds all that boy or man can + gain from any teaching. What appreciable value can reading, writing, + wearing clothes, &c., have in their eyes? So we must in first visits + (of which I am now thinking) be thankful that we can in safety sleep on + shore at all, and regard the merely making friends with the people as a + small beginning of Mission work. + </p> + <p> + 'Poor fellows! they think it very strange! As you lie down in the dark and + try to sleep, you presently feel hands stroking your arms and legs, and + feeling you about to make sure that the stranger has the same allowance of + arms and legs that they have; and you overhear such quaint remarks as you + lie still, afraid to let them know that you are awake, lest they should + oblige you to begin talking over again the same things that you have + already said twenty times.' + </p> + <p> + Mr. Brooke stayed four days at Florida; and came away with three former + pupils, and four new ones, one of them grown up, a relative of the leading + man of the island. Taroniara was the only Bauro scholar brought away this + time; but so many were taken from Mota that the whole party numbered + thirty-seven, seven of them girls, all betrothed to one or other of the + lads. The entire colony at St. Barnabas, including English, was thus + raised to seventy, when the 'Southern Cross' returned thither in August. + On the 23rd, Bishop Patteson writes:— + </p> + <p> + 'I wish you could see this place and the view from this room. I have only + got into it within this hour. The carpenters are just out of it. You know + that I left Palmer here about eleven months ago, on the return from that + island voyage. He had sixteen lads with him, of whom eleven were good + stout fellows. + </p> + <p> + 'He did work wonderfully. The place I chose for the site of the station is + about three miles from the settlement—the town, as the people call + it. If you have a map of the island, you will see Longridge on the western + part of it. Follow on the principal road, which goes on beyond Longridge + in a N. and NW. direction, and about a mile beyond Longridge is our + station. The top of Mount Pitt is nearly opposite our houses, of which two + are now habitable, though not finished. The third, which is the house at + Kohimarama which I had for one year, and in which Sir W. and Lady Martin + spent ten days, will be begun on Monday next, I hope. The labour of + getting all these things from New Zealand and then landing them (for there + is no harbour), and then carting them up here (for there are no really + good horses here, but the two I bought and sent down), was very + considerable. Palmer and his boys worked admirably. He was industrious + indeed. He and they lived at first in a little cottage, about + three-quarters of a mile from our place, i.e., about a quarter of a mile + from Longridge. During the first month, while they had no cart or horses + as yet (for I had to send them down from Auckland), they fenced in some + lands (the wire for which I had bought at Sydney, and a man-of-war brought + it hither), planted yams (which grow excellently, such a crop never was + seen here) and sweet potatoes, melons, vegetables, &c. Meanwhile, the + timber for the houses was being sent as I had opportunity, a large + quantity having been already taken to Norfolk Island in a man-of-war. + Luckily, timber was selling very cheap at Auckland. + </p> + <p> + 'After this first month, Palmer set to work at house building. He built + entirely by himself, save the chimney and some part of the shingling + (wooden roofing). As yet, no rooms have any ceiling or lining; they might + by innocent people be thought to resemble barns, but they are + weather-proof, strong, and answer all present purposes. The verandah, + about 8 feet broad, is another great room really. + </p> + <p> + 'I am still buying and sending down bricks, timber, &c. Two Auckland + carpenters, thoroughly steady men, left Norfolk Island, about three weeks + after we left it, for the Melanesian islands. They have been putting up my + special building. We have no doors like hall doors, as all the rooms open + with glass doors on to the verandah, and they are the doors for going in + and out. Comprenez-vous? The ground slopes away from these two houses for + some 200 yards or more to a little stream; and this slope is all covered + with sweet potatoes and vegetables, and Codrington and Palmer have planted + any number of trees, bushes, flowers, &c. Everything grows, and grows + luxuriantly. Such soil, such a climate! + </p> + <p> + 'By-and-by I shall have, I hope, such myrtles and azaleas, kalmias and + crotons, and pine-apples and almond trees, bananas and tree-ferns, and + magnolias and camellias, &c., all in the open air. + </p> + <p> + 'The ground slopes up beyond the little stream, a beautiful wooded bank, + wooded with many kinds of trees and bushes, large Norfolk Island pines; + cattle and sheep stray about. Oh! how very pretty it is! And then beyond + and above this first slope, the eye travels along the slopes of the Pitt + to its summit, about 1,000 feet, a pretty little hill. It is, indeed, a + calm peaceful scene, away from noise and bustle, plenty of pleasant sounds + of merry boys working in the gardens, and employing themselves in divers + ways. The prospect is (D. Gr.) a very happy one. It is some pleasure to + work here, where the land gives "her increase" indeed. + </p> + <p> + 'All seem very happy and well pleased with the place. I don't see how it + can be otherwise, and yet to the young people there may be something + attractive in society. But the young ones must occasionally go to Auckland + or Sydney, or whithersoever they please, for a two or three months' + holiday. For me, what can I desire more than this place affords? More than + half of each year spent here if I live, and quietly, with any amount of + work, uninterrupted work, time for quiet reading and thought. This room of + mine in which I now am sitting is magnifique, my dear Joan; seriously, a + very good room. You see it will be full of boys and girls; and I must have + in it many things, not books only, for the general use of all here, so + that I determined to make it a nice place at once. + </p> + <p> + 'This room then, nicely lined, looking rather like a wooden box, it is + true, but clean and airy, is 22 feet x 14 feet 6 in., and the wall plates + 9 feet 6 in. high, the ceiling coved a little, so as to be nearly 14 feet + high in the centre. What do you think of that for a room? It has a + fire-place, and wide verandah, which is nearly 6 feet above the ground, so + that I am high and dry, and have all the better view too, quite a grand + flight of steps—a broad ladder—up into my house. The Mahaga + lads and I call it my tree-house. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I have one great luxury. I thought I would have it, and it is so + nice. My room opens into the Chapel by red baize swinging doors; my + private entrance, for there is a regular porch where the rest go in. + </p> + <p> + 'Service at 7 A.M. and 8 P.M. But it is always open, boys come in of a + morning to say their private prayers, for sleeping together in one room + they have little privacy there. And I can go in at all hours. Soon it will + become a sacred spot to us. It is really like a Chapel. + </p> + <p> + 'August 27th.—Your birthday, my dear old Fan! God bless you, and + grant you all true happiness, and the sense of being led onwards to the + eternal peace and joy above. The parting here is a long one; and likely to + be a parting for good, as far as this world is concerned. + </p> + <p> + 'Last night was the coldest night that they have had during the whole + winter; the thermometer touched 43°—Codrington has regular + registering thermometers, so you see what a charming climate this is for + us. Palmer was here all the summer, and he says that the heat, though + great as marked by thermometer, was never trying, relaxing, and unfitting + for work, as at Kohimarama.' + </p> + <p> + Thus began the first period of the residence in Norfolk Island; where Mr. + Codrington's account of the way of life shall supplement the above:— + </p> + <p> + 'When the Bishop returned in August 1867, our party consisted of himself, + Mr. Palmer in Deacon's orders, and myself, Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke + already experienced in the work, and Mr. Bice, who had with myself lately + arrived from England. The whole number of Melanesians was about sixty; + among the eldest of these the most intelligent and advanced of the few + then baptized, George, Henry, B——, Robert and Edward. There + were then, I think, thirteen baptized, and two Communicants. To this elder + class, the Bishop, as far as I can recollect, devoted the greater part of + his time. He said that now for the first time he was able without + interruption to set to work to teach them, and he certainly made great + progress in those months. I remember that every evening they used to sit + in Chapel after prayers, and consider what difficulty or question they + should propound to him; and he would come in after a time, and, after + hearing the question, discuss the subject, discourse upon it, and end with + prayer. They were at the time, I remember, much impressed by this; and + those who were the most advanced took in a great deal of an elevated + strain of doctrine which, no doubt, passed over the heads of the greater + number, but not without stirring up their hearts. + </p> + <p> + 'It became a regular custom on the evening before the Communion Sunday, + i.e., every other Sunday, to give the Communicants instruction and + preparation after the Chapel service. At this time there was no Sunday + sermon in Chapel. The Bishop used to say that the preaching was done in + the school; but much of his school was of a hortatory kind in the Chapel, + and often without taking off the surplice. + </p> + <p> + 'At this time I should add that he used from time to time to have other + boys with him to school, and particularly Solomon Islanders, whose + languages he alone could generally speak. He had also a good deal with him + the second set of eight Banks Islanders, who were by this time recognised + Catechumens. + </p> + <p> + 'There were other occupations of the Bishop's time, besides his school + with Melanesians. The hour from 12 to 1 was devoted to instruction given + to the two young men, one from New Zealand and one a son of Mr. Nobbs, who + were working with the Mission; and on alternate days to the younger + members of the Mission, who were being prepared for Ordination. + </p> + <p> + 'The reading with the younger clergy continued to be to the last one of + the most regular and most fruitful of the Bishop's engagements. The + education which Mr. Atkin had for many years received from the Bishop had + set him considerably above the average of young English clergy, not only + in scholarship and information, but also in habits of literary industry. + The Bishop, with his own great interest in Hebrew, enjoyed very much his + Hebrew reading with Mr. Atkin and Mr. Bice. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop also began as soon as he could to pay attention to the + teaching of the young Norfolk Islanders. He preached very often in their + Church, and went down on Wednesdays to take a class of candidates for + Confirmation. He said, and I believe with truth, that he wasted a great + deal of time in preparing his lessons with the candidates for Ordination + or younger clergy; that is, he looked up the subject in some book, and + read on and on till he had gone far beyond the point in search of which he + started, and had no time left to take up the other points which belonged + to the subject he had in view. I should say he was always a desultory + scholar, reading very much and to very great purpose, but being led + continually from one subject or one book to another long before coming to + an end of the first. He was always so dissatisfied with what he did, that + whereas there are remaining several beginnings of one or two pages on one + subject or another, there is no paper of his which is more than a fragment—that + is, in English. There is one series of Notes on the Catechism in Mota + complete. In those days I was not myself able to converse sufficiently in + Mota to learn much from the elder boys about the teaching they were + receiving; but it was evident that they were much impressed and stirred + up, they spent much time with their books by themselves, and one could not + fail to form a high estimate of the work that was going on. Now they say + they never had school like that before or since. The Bishop was, in fact, + luxuriating in the unbroken opportunity of pouring out instruction to + intelligent and interested scholars. I think it was altogether a happy + time to him; he enjoyed the solitude, the advantages of the move to the + island were apparent in the school work, and were anticipated in the farm, + and the hope of doing something for the Pitcairn people, which I believe + had much to do with fixing the Mission here, was fresh.' + </p> + <p> + This judgment is thoroughly borne out by the Bishop's own letter to his + sisters of October 27, wherein it appears how considerable an element of + his enjoyment and comfort was Mr. Codrington's own companionship, partly + as a link with the younger members of the little community:— + </p> + <p> + 'Do I feel doubtful about an early Communion Service, Codrington, when I + broach the matter, takes it up more eagerly almost than I do; and then I + leave him to talk with the others, who could hardly differ from me on such + a point if they wished to do so, but will speak freely to him. Not that, + mind, I am aware of there being anything like a feeling of distance + between me and them, but necessarily they must just feel that I am forty + and their Bishop, and so I might perhaps influence them too much, which + would be undesirable. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I can talk with him on matters which of course have special interest + for me, for somehow I find that I scarcely ever read or think on any + points which do not concern directly my work as clergyman or + language-monger. It is very seldom that I touch a book which is not a + commentary on the Bible or a theological treatise, scarcely ever, and of + course one likes to talk about those things of which one's mind is full. + That made the talks with the Judge so delightful. Now young people, of + course, have their heads full (as I used to have mine) of other things, + and so my talk would be dull and heavy to them. + </p> + <p> + 'No doubt, if you had me at home you would find that I am pretty full of + thoughts on some points, but not very well able to express myself, and to + put my thoughts into shape. It is partly want of habit, because, except as + one speaks somewhat dictatorially to pupils, I do not arrange my ideas by + conversing with others—to a great extent, from want of inclination, + i.e., indolence, and also I have not the brains to think out a really + difficult subject. I am amused occasionally to see what a false estimate + others form of me in that way. You see it has pleased God to give me one + faculty in rather an unusual degree, that of learning languages, but in + every other respect my abilities are very moderate indeed. Distance + exaggerates of course, and I get credit with some folks for what if I had + it would simply be a gift and no virtue in me; but I attain anything I + work at with very considerable labour, and my mind moves very sluggishly, + and I am often very dull and stupid. You may judge, therefore, of the + great advantage of having a bright, cheery, intelligent, well-informed man + among us, without whom every meal would be heavy and silent, and we should + (by my fault) get into a mechanical grind.... + </p> + <p> + 'As for your own worthy Brother, I don't think I knew what rest meant till + I got here. I work, in one sense, as hard as before, i.e., from early morn + till 10 P.M., with perhaps the intermission of a hour and a half for + exercise, besides the twenty minutes for each of the three meals; and did + my eyes allow it, I could go on devouring books much later. But then I am + not interrupted and distracted by the endless occupation of the New + Zealand life. Oh! how utterly distasteful to me were all those trustee + meetings, those English duties of all kinds, and most of all, those + invasions of Kohimarama by persons for whom I could get up no interest. I + am not defending these idiosyncrasies as if they were all right, but + stating what I felt and what I feel. I am indeed very happy here; I trust + not less useful in my way. School of course flourishes. You would be + surprised at the subjects that I and my first class work at. No lack of + brains! Perhaps I can express it briefly by saying that I have felt for a + year or more the need of giving them the Gospel of St. John. Because they + were ready, thank God, for those marvellous discourses and arguments in + that blessed Gospel, following upon the record of miracles wrought or + events that happened. + </p> + <p> + 'Of course the knowledge of the facts must come first, but there was + always in school with me—either they have it as a natural gift, or + my teaching takes naturally that line—a tendency to go deeper than + the mere apprehension of a fact, a miracle wrought, or a statement made. + The moral meaning of the miracle, the principle involved in the less + important expression of it, or particular manifestation of it, these + points always of late I am able to talk about as to intelligent and + interested listeners. I have these last six weeks been translating St. + John; it is nearly done. Think, Fan, of reading, as I did last night, to a + class of fifteen Melanesian Christians, the very words of St. John vi. for + the first time in their ears! They had heard me paraphrase much of it at + different times. I don't notice these things, unless (as now) I chance to + write about them. After 6 P.M. Chapel, I remain with some of the lads, the + first class of boys, men, and women, every night, and in addition, the + second class every other night (not on the nights when I have had them + from 7 to 8). I used to catechise them at first, starting the subject + myself. Now, I rejoice to say, half goes very quickly in answering + questions, of which they bring me plenty. + </p> + <p> + Then, at about 8.50 or 9, I leave them alone in the Chapel (which opens, + as you know, into my sitting-room), and there they stay till past 10, + talking over points among themselves, often two or three coming in to me, + "Bishop, we can't quite make out this." What do they know and ask? Well, + take such a subject as the second Psalm, and they will answer you, if you + ask them, about prophecy and the prophetic state. Test them as to the idea + they form of a spiritual vision of something seen, but not with the + fleshly eye, and they will say, "Yes, our minds have that power of seeing + things. I speak of Mota, it is far off, but as I speak of it, I see my + father and my mother and the whole place. My mind has travelled to it in + an instant. I am there. Yes, I see. So David, so Moses, so St. Peter on + the housetop, so St. Paul, caught up into the third heaven, so with his + mind." + </p> + <p> + '"But was it like one of our dreams?" + </p> + <p> + '"Yes and No—Yes, because they were hardly like waking-men. No, + because it was a real true vision which God made them see." + </p> + <p> + 'Ask them about the object of prophecy, and they will say, in quaint + expression, it is true, what is tantamount to this—it was not only a + prediction of things to come, but a chief means of keeping before the + minds of the Jews the knowledge of God's true character as the moral + Governor of their nation, and gradually the knowledge was given of His + being the Lord and Ruler of all men. The Prophet was the teacher of the + present generation as well as the utterer of truths that, when fulfilled + in after ages, would teach future ages. + </p> + <p> + 'I mention these fragmentary sentiments, merely to show you how I can + carry these fellows into a region where something more than memory must be + exercised. The recurrence of the same principles upon which God deals with + us is an illustration of what I mean; e.g., the Redemption out of Egypt + from the Captivity and the Redemption involve the same principle. So the + principle of Mediation runs through the Bible, the Prophet, Priest, King, + &c. Then go into the particular Psalm, ask the meaning of the words, + Anointed, Prophet, Priest, King—how our Lord discharged and + discharges these offices. What was the decree? The Anointed is His Son. + "This day have I begotten Thee"—the Eternal Generation—the + Birth from the grave. His continual Intercession. Take up Psalm cx., the + Priest, the Priest for ever, not after the order of Aaron. Go into the + Aaronical Priesthood. Sacrifices, the idea of sacrifice, the Mosaic + ritual, its fulfilment; the principle of obedience, as a consequence of + Faith, common to Old and New Testaments, as, indeed, God's Moral Law is + unchangeable, but the object of faith clearly revealed in the New + Testament for the first time, &c., &c. + </p> + <p> + 'Christ's Mediatorial reign, His annihilation of all opposition in the + appointed time, the practical Lesson the Wrath of the Lamb. + </p> + <p> + 'Often you would find that pupils who can be taught these things seem and + are very ignorant of much simpler things; but they have no knowledge of + books, as you are aware, and my object is to teach them pretty fully those + matters which are really of the greatest importance, while I may fill up + the intervening spaces some day, if I live. To spend such energy as they + and I have upon the details of Jewish history, e.g., would be unwise. The + great lessons must be taught, as, e.g., St. Paul in 1 Cor. x. uses Jewish + history. + </p> + <p> + 'October 15, I finished my last chapter of St. John's Gospel in the Mota + language; we have also a good many of the Collects and Gospels translated, + and some printed. What is better than to follow the Church's selection of + passages of Scripture, and then to teach them devotionally in connection + with the Collects? + </p> + <p> + 'Brooke works away hard at his singing class in the afternoon. We sing the + Venite, Magnificat, Nunc dimittis, &c., in parts, to single and double + chants, my old favourite "Jacob's" for the Venite, also a fine chant of G. + Elvey's. They don't sing at all well, but nevertheless, though apt to get + flat, and without good voices, there is a certain body of sound, and I + like it. Brooke plays the harmonium nicely. + </p> + <p> + 'The Norfolk Island people, two or three only, have been here at evening + service, and are extremely struck with the reverence of the Melanesians. + </p> + <p> + 'I work away with my Confirmation class, liking them personally, but + finding no indication of their having been taught to think in the least. + It is a relief to get back to the Melanesians.' + </p> + <p> + The visit of the Bishop of New Zealand which had been hoped for, had been + prevented by the invitation to attend the Synod of the Church held at + Lambeth, in the autumn of 1867, and instead of himself welcoming his + friends, Bishop Patteson was picturing them to himself staying with his + sisters at Torquay, and joining in the Consecration Services of the Church + of All Saints, at Babbicombe, where the altar stood, fragrant with the + sandal wood of the Pacific isles. The letters sent off by an opportunity + in November were to family and friends, both in England. The one to his + sister Joanna narrates one of those incidents that touched the Bishop most + deeply:— + </p> + <p> + 'On Friday last we had such a very, very solemn service in our little + Chapel. Walter Hotaswol, from Matlavo Island, is dying—he has long + been dying, I may say—of consumption. For two winters past he has + remained with us rather than in his own island, as he well knew that + without good food and care he would sink at once. Years ago he was + baptized, and after much time spent in preparation, Tuesday, at 7.30 A.M., + was the day when we met in Chapel. Walter leant back in a chair. The whole + service was in the Mota language, and I administered the Holy Communion to + eleven of our Melanesian scholars, and last of all to him. Three others I + trust I may receive to Holy Communion Sunday next. Is not this a blessed + thing? I think of it with thankfulness and fear. My old text comes into my + mind—"Your heart shall fear and be enlarged." I think there is good + hope that I may baptize soon seven or eight catechumens.' + </p> + <p> + The letter to Bishop Selwyn despatched by the same vessel on November 16, + gives the first hint of that 'labour traffic' which soon became the chief + obstacle to the Mission. + </p> + <p> + After describing an interview with an American captain, he continues:—'Reports + are rife of a semi-legalised slave-trading between the South Sea Islands + and New Caledonia and the white settlers in Fiji. I have made a little + move in the matter. I wrote to a Wesleyan Missionary in Fiji (Ovalau) who + sent me some books. I am told that Government sanctions natives being + brought upon agreement to work for pay, &c., and passage home in two + years. We know the impossibility of making contracts with New Hebrides or + Solomon natives. It is a mere sham, an evasion of some law, passed, I dare + say, without any dishonourable intention, to procure colonial labour. If + necessary I will go to Fiji or anywhere to obtain information. But I saw a + letter in a Sydney paper which spoke strongly and properly of the + necessity of the most stringent rules to prevent the white settlers from + injuring the coloured men.' + </p> + <p> + So first loomed the cloud that was to become so fatal a darkening of the + hopes of the Mission, all the more sad because it was caused by Christian + men, or men who ought to have been Christian. It will be seen, however, + that Bishop Patteson did not indiscriminately set his face against all + employment of natives. Occupation and training in civilised customs were + the very things he desired for them, but the whole question lay in the + manner of the thing. However, to him as yet it was but a report, and this + Advent and Christmas of 1867 were a very happy time. A letter to me + describes the crowning joy. + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: Christmas Day, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—One line to you to-day of Christmas feelings and + blessings. Indeed, you are daily in my thoughts and prayers. You would + have rejoiced could you have seen us last Sunday or this morning at 7 A.M. + Our fourteen Melanesian Communicants so reverent, and (apparently) + earnest. On Sunday I ordained Mr. Palmer Priest, Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke + Deacons. + </p> + <p> + 'The service was a solemn one, in the Norfolk Island Church, the people + joining heartily in the first ordination they had seen; Codrington's + sermon excellent, the singing good and thoroughly congregational, and the + whole body of confirmed persons remaining to receive the Holy Communion. + Our own little Chapel is very well decorated (Codrington again the leader) + with fronds of tree-ferns, arums, and lilies; "Emmanuel, God amemina" + (with us), in large letters over the altar. + </p> + <p> + 'And now (9.30P.M.) they are practising Christmas hymns in Mota for our 11 + A.M. service. Then we have a regular feast, and make the day a really + memorable one for them. The change from the old to the new state of + things, as far as our Banks Islanders are concerned, is indeed most + thankworthy. I feel that there is great probability of George Sarawia's + ordination before long. This next year he will be left alone (as far as we + whites are concerned) at Mota, and I shall be able to judge, I hope, of + his fitness for carrying on the work there. If it be God's will to give + him health of body and the will and power to serve Him, then he ought to + be ordained. He is an excellent fellow, thoughtful, sensible, and my right + hand among the Melanesians for years. His wife, Sara Irotaviro, a nice + gentle creature, with now a fine little boy some seven months old. She is + not at all equal to George in intelligence, and is more native in habits, + &c. But I think that she will do her best. + </p> + <p> + 'You know I have long felt that there is almost harm done by trying to + make these islanders like English people. All that is needful for decency + and propriety in the arrangement of houses, in dress, &c., we must get + them to adopt, but they are to be Melanesian, not English Christians. We + are so far removed from them in matters not at all necessarily connected + with Christianity, that unless we can denationalise ourselves and + eliminate all that belongs to us as English, and not as Christians, we + cannot be to them what a well-instructed fellow-countryman may be. He is + nearer to them. They understand him. He brings the teaching to them in a + practical and intelligible form. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope and pray that dear old George may be the first of such a band of + fellow-workers. Others—Henry Tagalana, who is, I suppose, about + eighteen, Fisher Pantatun, about twenty-one, Edward Wogale (George's own + brother), about sixteen, Robert Pantatun, about eighteen—are + excellent, all that I could wish; and many younger ones are coming up. + They stay with us voluntarily two or three years now without any going + home, and the little ones read and write surprisingly well. They come to + me very often and say, "Bishop, I wish to stop here again this winter." + </p> + <p> + 'They come for help of the best kind. They have their little printed + private prayers, but some are not content with this. Marosgagalo came last + week with a slip of paper— + </p> + <p> + '"Well, Maros, what is it?" + </p> + <p> + 'He is a shy little fellow who has been crippled with rheumatism. + </p> + <p> + '"Please write me my prayer." + </p> + <p> + 'And as my room opens into the Chapel, and they are told to use that at + all times (their sleeping-rooms not allowing much privacy), I know how + they habitually come into it early (at 5 A.M.) and late at night for their + private prayers. You cannot go into the Chapel between 5 and 6.30 A.M. + without seeing two or three kneeling about in different corners. As for + their intelligence, I ought to find time to send you a full account of + them, translations of their answers, papers, &c., but you must be + content to know that I am sure they can reason well upon facts and + statements, that they are (the first class) quite able to understand all + the simpler theological teaching which you would expect Communicants and + (I pray) future clergymen to understand. Of some six or seven I can thus + speak with great confidence, but I think that the little fellows may be + better educated still, for they are with us before they have so much + lee-way to make up—jolly little fellows, bright and sharp. The whole + of the third Banks Island class (eight of them) have been with me for + eighteen months, and they have all volunteered to stay for eighteen months + more. They ought to know a great deal at the end of that time, then they + will go home almost to a certainty only for two or three months, and come + back again for another long spell. + </p> + <p> + 'All this is hopeful, and we have much to be thankful for indeed; but I + see no immediate prospect of anything like this in the other islands at + present. We know very many of the islanders and more or less of their + languages; we have scholars who read and write, and stop here with us, and + who are learning a good deal individually, but I have as yet no sense of + any hold gained upon the people generally. We are good friends, they like + us, trust young people with us, but they don't understand our object in + coming among them properly. The trade and the excitement of our visit has + a good deal to do with their willingness to receive us and to give us + children and young men. They behave very well when here, and their people + treat us well when we are with them. But as yet I see no religious + feeling, no apprehension of the reality of the teaching: they know in one + sense, and they answer questions about the meaning of the Creed, &c., + but they would soon fall again into heathen ways, and their people show no + disposition to abandon heathen ways. In all this there is nothing to + surprise or discourage us. It must be slow work, carried on without + observation amidst many failures and losses and disappointments. If I + wished to attribute to secondary causes any of the results we notice, I + might say that our having lived at Mota two or three months each year has + had a great deal to do with the difference between the Banks and the other + islanders. + </p> + <p> + 'It may be that, could we manage to live in Bauro, or Anudha, or Mahaga, + or Whitsuntide, or Lepers' Island, or Espiritu Santo, we might see soon + some such change take place as we notice in Mota; but all that is + uncertain, and such thoughts are useless. We must indeed live in those + other islands as soon as we can, but it is hard to find men able to do so, + and only a few of the islands are ripe for the attempt. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel often like a horse going his regular rounds, almost mechanically. + Every part of the day is occupied, and I am too tired at night to think + freshly. So that I am often like one in a dream, and scarcely realise what + I am about. Then comes a time when I wish to write, e.g. (as to you now) + about the Mission, and it seems so hard to myself to see my way, and so + impossible to make others see what is in my mind about it. Sometimes I + think these Banks Islanders may be evangelists beyond the limits of their + own islands. So many of the natives of other islands live here with them, + and speak the language of Mota, and then they have so much more in common + with them than with us, and the climate and food and mode of life + generally are familiar to them alike. I think this may come to pass some + day; I feel almost sure that I had better work on with promising islanders + than attempt to train up English boys, of which I once thought. I am more + and more confirmed in my belief that what one wants is a few right-minded, + well-educated English clergymen, and then for all the rest trust to native + agency. + </p> + <p> + 'When I think of Mr. Robertson and such men, and think how they work on, + it encourages me. And so, where do I hear of men who have so many + comforts, so great immunity from hardship and danger as we enjoy? This is + nothing to the case of a London parish. + </p> + <p> + 'Fanny has sent me out my old engravings, which I like to look at once + more, although there is only one really good one among them, and yet I + don't like to think of her no longer having them. I have also a nice + selection of photographs just sent out, among which the cartoons from + Hampton Court are especially good. That grand figure of St. Paul at + Athens, which Raphael copied from Masaccio's fresco, always was a + favourite of mine. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel at home here, more so than in any place since I left England; but + I hope that I may be able to spend longer intervals in the islands than + the mere sixteen or eighteen weeks of the voyage, if I have still my + health and strength. But I think sometimes that I can't last always; I + unconsciously leave off doing things, and wake up to find that I am + shirking work. + </p> + <p> + 'Holy Innocents' Day.—I don't think I have sufficiently considered + your feelings in suffering the change of name in the Mission School that + took place, and I am rather troubled about it. I came back from the last + voyage to find that as I had selected a site for the buildings on St. + Barnabas Day, which was, by a coincidence, the day I spent here on my + outward voyage in 1866, the people had all named the place St. Barnabas. + Then came the thought of the meetings on St. Barnabas, and the + appropriateness of the Missionary Apostle's name, and I, without thinking + enough about it, acquiesced in the change of name. I should have consulted + you,—not that you will feel yourself injured, I well know; but for + all that, I ought to have done it. It was the more due to you, because you + won't claim any right to be consulted. I am really sorry for it, and + somewhat troubled in mind. (Footnote: 'He need not have been sorry. I give + this to show his kind, scrupulous consideration; but I, like everyone + else, could not help feeling that it was more fitting that the germ of a + missionary theological college should not bear a name even in allusion to + a work of fiction.) + </p> + <p> + 'The occasional notices of Mr. and Mrs. Keble in your letters, and the + full account of him and her as their end drew nigh, is very touching. How + much, how very much there is that I should like to ask him now! How I + could sit at his feet and listen to him! These are great subjects that I + have neither time nor brains to deal with, and there is no one here who + can give me all the help I want. I think a good deal about Ritualism, more + about Union, most about the Eucharistic question; but I need some one with + whom to talk out these matters. When I have worked out the mind of Hooker, + Bull, Waterland, &c., and read Freeman's "Principles," and Pusey's + books, and Mr. Keble's, &c., then I want to think it out with the aid + of a really well-read man. It is clearly better not to view such holy + subjects in connection with controversy; but then comes the thought—"How + is Christendom to be united when this diversity exists on so great a + point?" And then one must know what the diversity really amounts to, and + then the study becomes a very laborious and intricate enquiry into the + ecclesiastical literature of centuries. Curiously enough, I am still + waiting for the book I so much want, Mr. Keble's book on "Eucharistic + Adoration." I had a copy, of course, but I lent it to some one. I lose a + good many books in that way. + </p> + <p> + 'The extraordinary change in the last thirty years will of course mark + this time hereafter as one of the most noticeable periods in the history + of the Church, indeed one can't fail to see it, which is not always the + case with persons living in the time of great events. The bold, outspoken + conduct of earnest men, the searching deeply into principles, the + comparative rejection of conventionalities, local prejudices, exclusive + forms of thought and practice, must strike everyone. But one misses the + guiding, restraining hand...the man in the Church corresponding to "the + Duke" at one time in the State, the authority. + </p> + <p> + 'One thing I do think, that the being conversant only with thoughtful + educated Christians may result in a person ignoring the simpler idea of + the Eucharist which does not in the least divest it of its mysterious + character, but rather, recognising the mystery, seeks for no solution of + it. How can I teach my fifteen Melanesian Communicants the points which I + suppose an advanced Ritualist would regard as most essential? But I can + give them the actual words of some of the ancient, really ancient, + Liturgies, and teach them what Christ said, and St. Paul said, and the + Church of England says, and bid them acquiesce in the mystery. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet I would fain know more. I quite long for a talk with Mr. Keble. + Predisposed on every account to think that he must be right, I am not sure + that I know what he held to be the truth, nor am I quite sure that I would + see it without much explanation; but to these holy men so much is revealed + that one has no right to expect to know. What he held was in him at all + events combined with all that a man may have of humility, and learning, + and eagerness for union with God.' + </p> + <p> + This letter was sent with these:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: December 16, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mr. Atkin,—The "Pacific" arrived on Friday after a quick + passage. All our things came safely. She leaves to-morrow for Sydney, and + we are in a great hurry. For (1) we have three mails all at once, and I + have my full share of letters, public and private; and (2) we have had + last week our first fall of rain for some three and a half months, and we + are doing our best to plant kumaras, &c., which grow here wonderfully, + if only they get anything like a fair chance. + </p> + <p> + 'Joe as usual is foremost at all work; fencing, well-sinking, &c. And + he proves the truth of the old saying, that "the head does not suffer by + the work of the hand." His knowledge of Scripture truth, of what I may + fairly call the beginning of theological studies, gives me great comfort. + I am quite sure that in all essentials, in all which by God's blessing + tends to qualify a man for teaching faithfully, and with sufficient + learning and knowledge of the Word of God, he is above the average of + candidates for ordination in England. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't say that he would pass the kind of examination before an English + Bishop so well as a great many—they insist a good deal on technical + points of historical knowledge, &c.—but in all things really + essential—in his clear perception of the unity of the teaching of + the Bible; in his knowledge of the Greek Testament, in his reading with me + the Articles, Prayer Book, &c., I am convinced that he is well fitted + to do his work well and truly. We have had more than one talk on deeper + matters still, on inward feelings and thoughts, on prayer and the + devotional study of God's Word, and divinity in general. I feel the + greatest possible thankfulness and happiness as I think of his ordination, + and of what, by the grace of God, he may become to very many both heathens + and Christians, if his life be spared. + </p> + <p> + 'Once again, my dear friends, I thank you for giving him to this work. He + is the greatest conceivable comfort and help to me. I always feel when he + is walking or working with others, that there is one on whose steadiness + and strong sense of duty I can always rely. May God bless him with His + richest blessings.... + </p> + <p> + 'On Sunday next (D.V.) we shall not forget you, as I well know your + thoughts and prayers will be with us; and we sing "Before JEHOVAH'S awful + Throne" to the Old Hundredth; 2nd, No. 144 of the Hymnal, after third + Collect; and before sermon, 3rd, No. 143; after sermon, 4th, No. 19; after + Litany, 5th, Veni Creator to All Saints. + </p> + <p> + The ordination will be in the Norfolk Island Church.—My kind regards + to Mrs. Atkin and Mary. + </p> + <p> + 'Always, my dear friend, very truly yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'December 16, 1867. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Mackenzie,—Your brother's pedometer reached me safely + three days ago. I feel most truly unworthy to receive such gifts. I have + now his sextant, his pedometer, and, most precious of all, his "Thomas a + Kempis"; they ought to help me to think more of him, and his holy example. + Your letter commenting on the published life makes me know him pretty + well. He was one to love and honour; indeed, the thorough humility and + truthfulness, the single-mindedness of the man, the simple sense of duty + and unwearied patience, energy, and gentleness—indeed you must love + to dwell on the memory of such a brother, and look forward with hope and + joy to the reunion. + </p> + <p> + 'We are fast settling ourselves into our headquarters here. Our buildings + already sufficient to house eighty or one hundred Melanesians. We are + fencing, planting, &c., &c., vigorously, and the soil here repays + our labours well. The yam and sweet potatoes grow excellently, and the + banana, orange, lemon, and nearly all semi-tropical fruits and vegetables. + I think that our commissariat expenditure will soon be very small, and we + ought to have an export before long. + </p> + <p> + 'Two things seem to be pretty clear: that there is no lack of capacity in + the Melanesian, and no probability of any large supply of English teachers + and clergymen, even if it were desirable to work the Mission with foreign + rather than native clergymen. My own mind is, and has long been in favour + of the native pastorate; but it needs much time to work up to such a + result. + </p> + <p> + 'All our party are well in health, save one good fellow, Walter Hotaswol, + who is dying of consumption, in faith and hope. "Better," he says, "to die + here with a bright heart than to live in my own land with a dark one." It + is a solemn Ember week for us. + </p> + <p> + 'I remain, dear Miss Mackenzie, very truly yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON. + </h5> + <p> + 'I quite agree with you that you cannot educate tropical and semi-tropical + people in England; and you don't want to make them English Christians, you + know.' + </p> + <p> + Walter's history is here completed:— + </p> + <p> + 'January 22, 1868. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I write you a line: I have not time for more in + addition to my other epistle, to tell you that I purpose to baptize, on + Sunday next, eight Melanesian youths and one girl. You will, I know, thank + God for this. Indeed I hope (though I say it with a kind of trembling and + wonder) that a succession of scholars is now regularly established from + the Banks Islands. + </p> + <p> + 'These nine are being closely followed by some ten or twelve more, younger + than they, averaging from seven to eleven years, who all read and write + and know the elements of Christian teaching, but you should see them, + bright merry little fellows, and the girls too, full of play and fun. Yet + so docile, and obedient, and good-tempered. They all volunteer to stay + here again this winter, though they have not been at home since they first + left it, in July and August 1866. They have a generation of Christians—I + mean one of our generations—some two dozen or more, to help them; + they have not the brunt of the battle to bear, like dear George and Henry + and others; and because, either here or there, they will be living with + Christians; I need not, I think, subject them to a probation. Next year + (D.V.) they may be baptized, and so the ranks are being filled up. + </p> + <p> + 'I would call the girl Charlotte were she a favourite of mine, but I wait + in hopes that a nicer girl (though this one is good and nice too) may be + baptized by your and Mrs. Keble's name. You may well believe that my heart + and mind are very full of this. May God grant that they may continue His + for ever! + </p> + <p> + 'I confirm on the same day fourteen Norfolk Islanders. + </p> + <p> + 'Walter Hotaswol, from Matlavo, the southern part of Saddle Island, died + on the evening of the Epiphany: a true Epiphany to him, I trust. He was + remarkably gentle and innocent for one born in a heathen land. His + confession, very fully made to me before his first Communion, was very + touching, simply given, and, thank God, he had been wonderfully kept from + the sins of heathenism. With us, his life for years was blameless. He died + almost without pain, after many weeks of lingering in consumption, I + verily believe in full faith in his Saviour and his God. + </p> + <p> + 'During his last illness, and for a short time before he actually took to + his bed, he frequently received the Holy Communion. And very remarkable + were his words to me the day after his first Communion. I was sitting by + him, when he said, apropos of nothing, "Very good!" + </p> + <p> + '"What is very good, Walter?" + </p> + <p> + '"The Lord's Supper." + </p> + <p> + '"Why do you think so?" + </p> + <p> + '"I can't talk about it. I feel it here (touching his heart), I don't feel + as I did!" + </p> + <p> + '"But you have long believed in Him." + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, but I feel different from that; I don't feel afraid for death. My + heart is calm (me masur kal, of a calm following a gale)." His look was + very earnest as he added: "I do believe that I am going to Him." + Presently, "Bishop!" + </p> + <p> + '"Well." + </p> + <p> + '"Last night—no, the night before I received the Lord's Supper, I + saw a man standing there, a tanum liana (a man of rank, or authority). He + said Your breath is bad, I will give you a new breath.'" + </p> + <p> + '"Yes." + </p> + <p> + '"I thought it meant, I will give you a new life. I thought it must be + JESUS." + </p> + <p> + 'He was weak, but not wandering. "Yes, better to die here with a bright + heart than to live in my old home with a dark one." + </p> + <p> + 'January 28th.—The nine young Christians were baptized on Sunday + evening; a very touching and solemn service it was, very full of comfort. + It may be that now, in full swing of work, I am too sanguine, but I try to + be sober-minded, thankful, and hopeful. I try, I say—it is not easy. + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you, my dear Cousin, and as I pray for you, so I know you pray + for us. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + A long letter to James Patteson, which was begun a few days later, goes + into the man's retrospect of the boy's career:— + </p> + <p> + 'March 3rd.—I think often of your boys. Jack, in two or three years, + will be old enough for school, and I suppose it must make you anxious + sometimes. I look back on my early days, and see so much, so very much to + regret and grieve over, such loss of opportunities, idleness, &c., + that I think much of the way to make lessons attractive to boys and girls. + I think a good deal may be done simply by the lessons being given by the + persons the children love most, and hence (where it can be done) the + mother first, and the father too (if he can) are the best people. They + know the ways of the child, they can take it at the right times. Of + course, at first it is the memory, not the reasoning power, that must be + brought into exercise. Young children must learn by heart, learn miles + which they can't understand, or understand but very imperfectly. I think I + forget this sometimes, and talk to my young Melanesians as I should to + older persons. But I feel almost sure that children can follow a simple, + lively account of the meaning and reasons of things much more than one is + apt to fancy. And I don't know how anything can be really learnt that is + not understood. A great secret of success here is an easy and accurate use + of illustration—parabolic teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'Every day of my life I groan over the sad loss I daily experience in not + having been grounded properly in Latin and Greek. I have gone on with my + education in these things more than many persons, but I can never be a + good scholar; I don't know what I would not give to have been well taught + as a boy. And then at Eton, any little taste one might have had for + languages, &c., was never called out. + </p> + <p> + My fault again, but I can't help thinking that it was partly because the + reason of a rule was never explained. Who ever taught in school the + difference between an aorist and a perfect, e.g.? And at college I was + never taught it, because it was assumed that I knew it. I know that at + ten, fifteen, or twenty, I should not in any case have gone into languages + as I do now. But I might have learnt a good deal, I think. A thoroughly + good preparatory school is, I dare say, very difficult to find. I would + make a great point, I think, to send a boy to a good one; not to cram him + or make a prig of him, but simply to give him the advantage which will + make his whole career in life different from what it will be if his + opening days pass by unimproved. Cool of me, Jem, to write all this; but I + think of this boy, and my boyish days, and what I might have been, and am + not. + </p> + <p> + 'I was always shallow, learned things imperfectly, thought I knew a thing + when I knew scarce any part of it, scrawling off common-place verses at + Eton, and, unfortunately, getting sent up for them. I had a character + which passed at school and at home for that of a fair scholar. Thence came + my disgrace at being turned out of the select, my bad examination for the + Balliol scholarship, my taking only a second, &c. Nothing was really + known! Pretty quick in seizing upon a superficial view of a matter, I had + little patience or determination to thoroughly master it. The fault + follows me through life. I shall never, I fear, be really accurate and + able to think out a matter fully. The same fault I see in my inner life. + But it is not right to talk perhaps too much of that, only I know that I + get credit for much that I don't do, and for qualities which I don't + possess. This is simple truth, not false humility. Some gifts I have, + which, I thank God, I have been now taught to employ with more or less of + poverty in the service.' + </p> + <p> + The vessel that took away the above despatches brought the tidings of New + Zealand's beloved Primate being appointed to the See of Lichfield. It was + another great wrench to the affectionate heart, as will be seen in this + filial reply to the intelligence:— + </p> + <p> + '2nd Sunday in Lent, 10 P.M. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear, dear Bishop,—I don't think I ever quite felt till now what + you have been to me for many a long year. Indeed, I do thank God that I + have been taught to know and dearly love you; and much I reproach myself + (not now for the first time) that I have been wilful, and pained you much + sometimes by choosing for myself when I ought to have followed your + choice. I could say much, but I can't say it now, and you don't desire it. + You know what I think and feel. Your letter of the 3rd reached me last + night. I don't yet realise what it is to me, but I think much more still + of those dear people at Taurarua. It is perfectly clear to my mind that + you could not have acted otherwise. I don't grudge you to the Mother + Church one atom! + </p> + <p> + 'I write at this time because I think you may possibly be soon beginning + your first Ordination Service in your Cathedral. It was almost my first + thought when I began to think quietly after our 8 P.M. prayers. And I pray + for those whom you may be leading to their work, as so often you have laid + your hands on me. I understand Bishop Andrewes' [Greek text] now. + </p> + <p> + 'What it must have been to you and still is!... + </p> + <p> + 'This move to Norfolk Island does make a great difference, no doubt. And + full well I know that your prayers will be around us; and that you will do + all that mortal man can do for us and for the islands. Indeed, you must + not trouble yourself about me too much. I shall often need you, often + sadly miss you, a just return for having undervalued the blessing of your + presence. But I do feel that it is right. I humbly pray and trust that + God's blessing may be on us all, and that a portion of your spirit may be + with us. + </p> + <p> + 'More than ever affectionately yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The tidings had come simultaneously with the history of the Consecration + of All Saints, Babbicombe, for indeed the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn were + staying with Joanna and Fanny Patteson for the Octave Services when the + first offer arrived. So that the two mails whose contents were transported + together to Norfolk Island contained matter almost overwhelming for the + brother and friend, and he had only one day in which to write his answers. + To the sisters the assurance is, 'Only be quite comforted about me!' and + then again, 'No, I don't grudge him one bit. There is no room for small + personal considerations when these great issues are at stake.' + </p> + <p> + 'I don't think I quite know yet what it is to me. I can't look at his + photograph with quite dry eyes yet. But I don't feel at all sad or + unhappy. You know the separation, if God, in His mercy, spare me at last, + can't be long; and his prayers are always around us, and he is with us in + spirit continually, and then it will be such joy and delight to me to + watch his work. + </p> + <p> + 'I think with such thankfulness of the last Holy Week; the last Easter + Sunday spent wholly with him. I think too, and that sadly enough, of + having pained him sometimes by being self-willed, and doing just what he + has not done, viz., chosen for myself when I ought to have followed him. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you remember when, on the morning of Mamma's death, we came into the + study where Uncle and Aunt Frank were, and our dear Father in his great + faith and resignation said, with broken voice, "I thank God, who spared + her to me so long"? Surely I may with far greater ease say, "I thank God + for the blessing for now thirteen, years of his example and loving care of + me." Had he been taken away by death we must have borne it, and we can + bear this now by His grace.' + </p> + <p> + The thought engrossed him most completely. It is plain in all his letters + that it was quite an effort to turn his mind to anything but the + approaching change. His Primate had truly been a 'Father in God' to him. + His affections had wound themselves about him and Mrs. Selwyn, and the + society that they formed together with Sir William and Lady Martin had + become the next thing to his home and family. Above all, the loneliness of + sole responsibility was not complete while the Primate was near to be + consulted. There had been an almost visible loss of youth and playfulness + ever since the voyages had been made without the leader often literally at + the helm; and though Bishop Patteson had followed his own judgment in two + decided points—the removal to Norfolk Island, and the use of Mota + language instead of English, and did not repent having done so, yet still + the being left with none to whom to look up as an authority was a heavy + trial and strain on mind and body, and brought on another stage in that + premature age that the climate and constant toil were bringing upon him + when most men are still in the fulness of their strength. + </p> + <p> + The next letter spoke the trouble that was to mark the early part of the + year 1868 as one of sickness and sorrow. + </p> + <p> + 'Our two Ambrym boys are coming out; and I am hopeful as to some more + decided connection with the north face of the Island. Mahaga lads very + promising, but at present Banks Islanders much ahead of the rest. Indeed, + of some of them, I may say that while they have no knowledge of many + things that an English lad ought to know, yet they have a very fair share + of intelligence concentrated on the most important subject, and know a + good deal about it. They think.' + </p> + <p> + Then follows a working out of one of the difficult questions that always + beset missionaries respecting the heathen notions—or no notions—about + wedlock. Speaking of the persons concerned, the journal continues:— + </p> + <p> + 'They were not able to understand—and how can a man and woman, or + rather a girl and boy, understand—what we understand by marriage. + They always saw men and women exchanging husbands and wives when they + pleased, and grew up in the midst of such ideas and practices, so that + there never was a regular contract, nor a regularly well-conceived and + clearly-understood notion of living together till "death us do part" in + their minds. You will say, "And yet they were baptized." Yes, but I did + not know so much about heathen ways then, and, besides, read St. Paul to + the Corinthians, and see how the idea of sanctity of marriage, and of + chastity in general is about the last idea that the heathen mind + comprehends. Long after the heathen know that to break the sixth, eighth, + even the ninth and tenth Commandments is wrong, and can understand and + practically recognise it to be so, the seventh is a puzzle to them. At the + best they only believe it because we say that it is a Commandment of God. + Look at the Canons of the early Church on the question; look how Luther + sanctioned the polygamy, the double marriage, of the Landgrave of Hesse! + So that although now, thank God, our scholars understand more of what is + meant by living with a woman, and the relation of husband and wife is not + altogether strange to them, yet it was not so at first, and is not likely + to be so with any but our well-trained scholars for a long time.' + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: March 26, 1868. 'My dearest Sisters,—How you are + thinking of me this anniversary? Thirteen years since I saw your dear + faces and his face. Oh! how thankful I am that it is so long ago. It was + very hard to bear for a long long time. Last night as I lay awake I + thought of that last Sunday, the words I said in church (how absurdly + consequential they seem to me now), the walk home, calling to see C. L., + parting with the Vicar and M., the last evening—hearts too full to + say what was in them, the sitting up at night and writing notes. And then + black Monday! Well, I look back now and see that it was very hard at + first, and I don't deny that I found the mere bodily roughnesses very + trying at first, but that has long past. My present mode of life is + agreeable to me altogether now. Servants and company would be a very great + bore indeed. So even in smaller ways, you see, I have all that I can + desire. I always try to remember that I may miss these things, and + specially miss you if it should please God to send any heavy sickness upon + me. I dare say I should be very impatient, and need kind soothing nurses. + But I must hope for the best. + </p> + <p> + 'Just now we have some anxiety. There has been and is a bad typhoid fever + among the Pitcairners: want of cleanliness, no sewerage, or very bad + draining, crowded rooms, no ventilation, the large drain choked up, a dry + season, so that the swampy ground near the settlement has been dry, these + are secondary causes. For two months it has been going on. I never + anticipated such a disease here. + </p> + <p> + 'But the fever is bad. Last night two died, both young women of about + twenty. Two, one a married man of thirty, with five children, the other a + girl of twelve, had died before. I have been backwards and forwards, but + no one else of the party. The poor people like to see me. For three weeks + I have felt some anxiety about four or five of our lads, and they have + been with me in my room. I don't like the symptoms of one or two of them. + But it is not yet a clear case of the fever.' + </p> + <p> + 'Easter Eve.—Dear Sisters, once more I write out of a sick hospital. + This typhoid fever, strongly marked, as described in Dr. Watson's books, + Graye's edition of Hooper's "Vade Mecum," and, as a very solemn lesson of + Lent and Holy Week, seven Pitcairners have died. For many weeks the + disease did not touch us; we established a regular quarantine, and used + all precautions. We had, I think, none of the predisposing causes of fever + at our place. It is high, well-drained, clean, no dirt near, excellent + water, and an abundant supply of it; but I suppose the whole air is + impregnated with it. Anyhow, the fever is here. + </p> + <p> + 'April 23rd.—My house consists, you know, of Chapel, my rooms, and + hospital. This is the abode of the sick and suspected. The hospital is a + large, lofty, well-ventilated room; a partition, 6 feet high, only divides + it into two; on one side are the sick, on the other side sleep those who + are sickening. + </p> + <p> + 'As yet twenty have been in my quarters. Of these seven are now in + Codrington's house, half-way between hospital and ordinary school life. + They are convalescents, real convalescents. You know how much so-called + convalescents need care in recovering from fever, but these seven have had + the fever very slightly indeed, thank God; the type of the disease is much + less severe than it was at first. One lad of about sixteen, Hofe from + Ysabel Island, died last Friday morning. The fever came on him with power + from the first. He was very delirious for some days, restless, sleepless, + then comatose. The symptoms are so very clearly marked, and my books are + so clear in detail of treatment, that we don't feel much difficulty now + about the treatment, and the nursery and hospital work we are pretty well + used to. + </p> + <p> + 'Barasu, from Ysabel Island, who was near dying on Thursday week, a + fortnight ago to-day, has hovered between life and death. I baptized him + at 9 P.M. on Holy Thursday (the anniversary of Mr. Keble's death). John + Keble: rather presumptuous to give such a name, but I thought he would not + have been named here by it for many hours. He is now sitting by the + hospital fire. I have just fed him with some rice and milk; and he is well + enough to ask for a bit of sweet potato, which he cannot yet hold, nor + guide his hand to his mouth. He has had the regular fever, and is now, + thank God, becoming convalescent. No other patient is at present in a + dangerous state; all have the fever signs more or less doubtful. No one is + at present in a precarious state. It has been very severe in the town, and + there are many cases yet. Partly it is owing to the utter ignorance or + neglect of the most ordinary rules of caution and nursing. Children and + men and women all lie on the ground together in the fever or out of it. + The contagion fastens upon one after another. In Isaac Christian's house, + the mother and five children were all at one time in a dangerous state, + wandering, delirious, comatose. Yet the mortality has been small. Only + seven have died; some few are still very ill, yet the character of the + fever is less severe now. We had some sharp hospital work for a few days + and nights, all the accompaniments of the decay of our frail bodies. Now + we have a respite. Codrington, Palmer, and I take the nursing; better that + the younger ones, always more liable to take fever, should be kept out of + contagion; to no one but I have gone among the sick in town, or to town at + all. We are all quite well. + </p> + <p> + 'Beef tea, chicken broth, mutton broth, wine, brandy, milk to any extent, + rice, &c.—Palmer manufactures all. The Pitcairners, most + improvident people, are short of all necessary stores. I give what I can, + but I must be stingy, as I tell them, for I never anticipated an attack of + typhus here. They will, I trust, learn a lesson from it, and not provoke a + recurrence of it by going on in their old ways. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't deny that at times I have been a good deal depressed: about Holy + Week and Easter Week was the worst time. Things are much brighter now; + though I fully expect that several others, perhaps many others, will yet + have the attack, but I trust and fancy it may be only in a modified form. + We have regular Chapel and school, but the school is a mild affair now; I + who am only in bed from 12.30 or 1 to 5, and in the hospital all day, + cannot be very bright in school. I just open a little bit of my red baize + door into Chapel, so that the sick in my room join in the service. Nice, + is it not? + </p> + <p> + 'This will greatly unsettle plans for the voyage. The "Southern Cross" is + expected here about May 10; but I can't leave any sick that may want my + care then, and I can't take back to the islands any that are only just + convalescent, or indeed any of the apparently healthy who may yet have the + seeds of the fever in them. It would be fearful if it broke out on the + islands. I must run no risk of that; so I think that very likely I may + keep the whole party here another year, and make myself a short + visitation. I suppose that the Bishop will come to New Zealand, and I must + try to meet him; I should like to see his face once more; but if he + doesn't come, or if I can't (by reason of this sickness) go to meet him—well, + I shall be spared the parting if I don't have the joy of the meeting, and + these things are not now what they once were. + </p> + <p> + 'April 28th.—Barasu (John Keble) died this morning as I read the + Commendatory Prayer by his side. He had a relapse some five days ago, how + we cannot say, he was always watched day and night. I had much comfort in + him, he was a dear lad, and our most hopeful Ysabel scholar. His peaceful + death, for it was very peaceful at the last, may work more than his life + would have done; some twenty others convalescent, or ailing, or sick. At + this moment another comes to say that he feels out of sorts; you know that + sensation, and how one's heart seems to stop for a minute, and then one + tries to look and speak cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + 'April 29th.—I read the Service over another child to-day, son of + James and Priscilla Quintall, the second child they have lost within a few + days, and Priscilla herself is lying ill of the fever. Poor people, I did + what little I could to comfort them; the poor fellow is laid up too with a + bad foot; a great many others are very ill, some young ones especially. + </p> + <p> + 'May 5th.—Jemima Young sent for me yesterday morning. I was with her + the day before, and she was very ill. I reached the room at 11.45, and she + died at noon. [Jemima Young had been particularly bright, pleasant, and + helpful when Mrs. Selwyn was on the island]. + </p> + <p> + 'May 7th.—The sick ones doing pretty well. You must not think it is + all gloom, far from it, there is much to cheer and comfort us. The hearty + co-operation of these excellent fellow-workers is such a support, and is + brought out at such times. + </p> + <p> + 'We are going on with divers works, but not very vigorously just now. We + are sawing the timber for our large hall: the building still to be put up, + and then our arrangements will be complete for the present. + </p> + <p> + 'Then our fencing goes on. We have one large field of some ninety or one + hundred acres enclosed, the sea and a stream bounding two sides, and two + other fields of about forty and twenty acres. I have good cart mares and + one cart horse, a riding mare which I bought of Mr. Pritt, and Atkin has + one also, eleven cows, and as many calves, poultry (sadly destroyed by + wild cats) and pigs, and two breeding sows, and a flock of fifty well-bred + sheep imported. These cost me £4. 10s. a head; I hope they are the + progenitors of a fine flock. The ram cost £12. We have plenty of work, and + must go on fencing and subdividing our fields. Most of the land is wooded; + but a considerable quantity can easily be cleared. Indeed 200 or 300 acres + are clear now of all but some smaller stuff that can easily be removed. A + thick couch-grass covers all. It is not so nutritious as the ordinary + English grasses; but cattle, sheep, and horses like it, only a larger + quantity is needed by each animal. It gives trouble when one wants to + break it up, it is such a network of roots; but once out of the ground and + the soil clear, and it will grow anything. Our crops of sweet potatoes are + excellent. The ordinary potato does very well too; and maize, vegetables + of all sorts, many fruit trees, all the semi-tropical things, capitally; + guavas by the thousand, and very soon I hope oranges; lemons now by + thousands, melons almost a weed, bananas abundant; by-and-by coffee, + sugar-cane, pineapples (these last but small), arrowroot of excellent + quality. Violets from my bed, and mignonette from Palmer's, scent my room + at this minute. The gardeners, Codrington, Palmer, and Atkin, are so kind + in making me tidy, devising little arrangements for my little plot of + ground, and my comfort and pleasure generally. Well, that is a nice little + chat with you. Now it is past 8 P.M., and the mutton broth for Clement and + Mary is come. I must feed my chicks. Excellent patients they are, as good + as can be. They don't make the fuss that I did in my low fever when I was + so savage with your doves that would go on cooing at my window, don't you + remember? + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Bishop will be touched by the confidence in him shown by his late + Diocesan Synod in entrusting to him the nomination of his successor. It + was clearly the right thing to do. As for me, no one who knows anything + about it or me would dream of removing me from Melanesia, as long as I + have health and strength, and still less of putting me into another + diocese. When I break down, or give up, it will not be to hold any other + office, as I think. + </p> + <p> + 'May 8th.—All going on pretty well, thank God. Mary is weak, but I + think better; did not wander last night. Clement, with strong typhoid + symptoms, yet, at all events, not worse. But he is a very powerful, + thickset fellow, not a good subject for fever. I feel that I am beginning + to recover my interest in things in general, books, &c. For two months + I was entirely occupied with hospital work, and with visiting daily the + sick Pitcairners, and I was weary and somewhat worn out. Now I am better + in mind and body; some spring in me again. This may be to fit me for more + trials in store; but I think that the sunshine has come again.' + </p> + <p> + There were, however, two more deaths—the twins of Mwerlau. Clement + died on the 24th of May; the other brother, Richard, followed him a + fortnight later. They were about seventeen, strong and thick-set; Clement + had made considerable progress during his two years of training, and had + been a Communicant since Christmas. Before passing to the other topics + with which, as the Bishop said, he could again be occupied, here is Mr. + Codrington's account of this period of trouble:— + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + The letters she carried back refer again to the growing anxiety about the + 'labour traffic.' + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 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."' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 'June 20, 9 P.M., 1868. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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." + </p> + <p> + '"Why?" + </p> + <p> + '"I do wish to be good, to learn, to be like George and Henry and the + rest." + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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?" + </p> + <p> + '"What do you think it is?" + </p> + <p> + '"I think—but it is so (mava) great—I think it is the Spirit + of God in my heart." + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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." + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + (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):— + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '(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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'How many men did good work who could hardly read, only repeat a few + portions of the Service-book, &c.! + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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°. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + It was no small plunge from the calm of St. Barnabas. 'We agree,' said + Lady Martin, in a note within his envelope, 'that we cannot attempt to + write letters just now. We are in a whirl, mental and bodily; one bit of + blue sky has just shown itself, viz. that Coley may possibly stay on with + us for a week or two after the Selwyns have left us. This really is + proeter spem, and I mean to think that it will come to pass.' + </p> + <p> + But in all this bustle, he found time to enclose a kind little note to me; + showing his sympathy with the sorrow of that summer, in my mother's + illness:— + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland. October 3, 1868. + </p> + <p> + 'I add one line, my dear Cousin, to assure you of my prayers being offered + for you, now more especially when a heavy trial is upon you and a deep + sorrow awaiting you. May God comfort and bless you! Perhaps the full + experience of such anxiety and the pressure of a constant weight may, in + His good Providence, qualify you more than ever to help others by words + put into your mouth out of your own heart-felt troubles. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet in whatever form the sorrow comes, there is the blessing of knowing + that she is only being mysteriously prepared for the life of the world to + come. There is no real sorrow where there is no remorse, nor misery for + the falling away of those we love. You have, I dare say, known (as I have) + some who have the bitterness of seeing children turn out badly, and this + is the sorrow that breaks one down.' + </p> + <p> + It was during these spring days of October, that last Sunday before the + final parting, that being hindered by pouring rain from going with the + Primate, who was holding a farewell service with the sick at the hospital, + Bishop Patteson said the prayers in the private chapel. After these were + ended (Lady Martin says), 'he spoke a few words to us. He spoke of our + Lord standing on the shore of the Lake after His Resurrection; and he + carried us, and I think himself too, out of the heaviness of sorrow into a + region of peace and joy, where all conflict and partings and sin shall + cease for ever. It was not only what he said, but the tones of his musical + voice, and expression of peace on his own face, that hushed us into a + great calm. One clergyman, who was present, told Sir William Martin that + he had never known anything so wonderful. The words were like those of an + inspired man. + </p> + <p> + 'Three days after, our dear friends sailed. I will not dwell on the last + service at St. Paul's Church, when more than four hundred persons received + the Holy Communion, where were four Bishops administering in the body of + the church and the transepts; but in the chancel, the Primate and his + beloved son in the faith were partaking together for the last time of the + Bread of Life. + </p> + <p> + 'From the Church we accompanied our beloved friends to the ship, and drove + back on a cold, dry evening, a forlorn party, to the desolate house. But + from that time dear Bishop Patteson roused himself from his natural + depression (for to whom could the loss be greater than to him?) and set + himself to cheer and comfort us all. How gentle and sympathising he was! + He let me give him nourishing things, even wine—which he had long + refused to take—because I told him Mrs. Selwyn wished him to have + it. Many hearts were drooping, and he no longer shrank from society, but + went about from one to another in the kindest manner. I do not know how we + could have got on without him. He loved to talk of the Bishop. In his + humility he seemed to feel as if any power of usefulness in himself had + been gained from him. It was like him to think of our Auckland poor at + this time. They would so miss the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn. He prayed me to + draw £50 a year for the next year or two, to be spent in any way I should + think best. And he put it as a gift from his dear Father, who would have + wished that money of his invested here should be used in part for the good + of the townspeople. This did not include his subscriptions to the Orphan + Home and other charities.' + </p> + <p> + To make his very liberal gifts in time of need in the name of his Father, + was his favourite custom; as his former fellow-labourer, the Rev. B. T. + Dudley, found when a case of distress in his own parish in the Canterbury + Settlement called forth this ready assistance. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the young Church of New Zealand has never known so memorable or so + sorrowful a day as that which took from her her first Bishop: a day truly + to be likened to that when the Ephesians parted with their Apostle at + Miletus. The history of this parting Bishop Patteson had himself to read + on Saturday, October 17, the twenty-seventh anniversary of Bishop Selwyn's + Consecration. It was at the Celebration preceding the last meeting of the + Synod, when Collect, Epistle, and Gospel were taken from the Order for the + Consecration of Bishops; and as the latter says,—'He has always told + me to officiate with him, and I had, by his desire, to read Acts xx. for + the Epistle. I did read it without a break-down, but it was hard work.' + Then followed the Sunday, before described by Lady Martin; and on Tuesday + the 20th, that service in St. Mary's—the parting feast:— + </p> + <p> + 'Then,' writes the younger Bishop, 'the crowded streets and wharf, for all + business was suspended, public offices and shops shut, no power of moving + about the wharf, horses taken from the carriage provided for the occasion, + as a mixed crowd of English and Maoris drew them to the wharf. Then + choking words and stifled efforts to say, "God bless you," and so we + parted! + </p> + <p> + 'It is the end of a long chapter. I feel as if "my master was taken from + my head." + </p> + <p> + 'Ah! well, they are gone, and we will try to do what we can. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel rather no-how, and can't yet settle down to anything!' + </p> + <p> + But to the other sister on the same day comes an exhortation not to be + alarmed if friends report him as 'not up to the mark.' How could it be + otherwise at such a time? For truly it was the last great shock his + affections sustained. In itself, it might not be all that the quitting + home and family had been; but not only was there the difference between + going and being left behind, but youth, with its spirit of enterprise and + compensation, was past, and he was in a state to feel the pain of the + separation almost more intensely than when he had walked from the door at + Feniton, and gathered his last primrose at his mother's grave. Before + leaving Auckland, the Bishop married the Rev. John Palmer to Miss Ashwell; + and while they remained for a short time in New Zealand, he returned for + the Ember Week. + </p> + <p> + 'St. Thomas, Norfolk Island: December 21, 1868. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I must write you a few lines, not as yet in answer + to your very interesting letter about Mr. Keble and about Ritualism, &c., + but about our great event of yesterday. + </p> + <p> + 'George Sarawia was ordained Deacon in our little chapel, in the presence + of fifty-five Melanesians and a few Norfolk Islanders. With him Charles + Bice, a very excellent man from St. Augustine's, was ordained Deacon also. + He has uncommon gifts of making himself thoroughly at home with the + Melanesians. It comes natural to him, there is no effort, nothing to + overcome apparently, and they of course like him greatly. He speaks the + language of Mota, the lingua franca here, you know. + </p> + <p> + 'But what am I to say of George that you cannot imagine for yourself? It + was in the year 1857 that the Bishop and I first saw him at Vanua Lava + Island. He has been with us now ten years; I can truly say, that he has + never given me any uneasiness. He is not the cleverest of our scholars; + but no one possesses the confidence of us all in the same degree. True, he + is the oldest of the party, he can hardly be less than twenty-six years + old, for he had been married a year when first we saw him; but it is his + character rather than his age which gives him his position. For a long + time he has been our link with the Melanesians themselves whenever there + was something to be done by one of themselves rather than by us strangers. + Somehow the other scholars get into a way of recognising him as the A 1 of + the place, and so also in Mota and the neighbouring islands his character + and reputation are well known. The people expect him to be a teacher among + them, they all know that he is a person of weight. + </p> + <p> + 'The day was warm and fine. + </p> + <p> + 'At 7.20 A.M. we had the Morning Service, chanting the 2nd Psalm. I read + Isa. xlii. 5-12 for the First Lesson, and 1 Tim. iii. 8-13 for the Second, + and the Collect in the Ordination Service before the Prayer of St. + Chrysostom. Mr. Codrington, as usual, read the prayers to the end of the + third Collect, after which we sang our Sunday hymn. + </p> + <p> + 'At 11 A.M. we began the Ordination Service. One Epiphany hymn, my short + sermon, then Mr. Codrington presented the candidates, speaking Mota for + one and English for the other. The whole service was in Mota, except that + I questioned Bice, and he answered in English, and I used the English + words of Ordination in his case. George was questioned and answered in + Mota, and then Bice in English, question by question. Mr. Nobbs was here + and a few of the people, Mr. Atkin, Mr. Brooke, so we made a goodly little + party of seven in our clerical supper. + </p> + <p> + 'What our thoughts were you can guess as we ordained the first Melanesian + clergyman. How full of thankfulness, of awe, of wonderment, the fulfilment + of so much, the pledge of it, if it be God's will, of so much more! And + not a little of anxiety, too—yet the words of comfort are many; and + it does not need much faith, with so evident a proof of God's Love and + Power and Faithfulness before our very eyes, to trust George in His Hands. + </p> + <p> + 'The closing stanzas of the Ordination Hymn in the "Christian Year" + comforted me as I read them at night; but I had peace and comfort, thank + God, all through. + </p> + <p> + 'Others, too, are pressing on. I could say, with truth, to them in the + evening in the Chapel, "This is the beginning, only the beginning, the + first fruit. Many blossoms there are already. I know that God's Spirit is + working in the hearts of some of you. Follow that holy guidance, I pray + always that you may be kept in the right way, and that you may be enabled + to point it out to others, and to guide them in it." + </p> + <p> + 'And yet no words can express what the recoil of the wave heathenism is, + but "when the enemy shall come in like a flood," and it has indeed its own + glorious word of Promise. It is like one who was once a drunkard and has + left off drinking, and then once more tastes the old deadly poison, and + becomes mad for drink; or like the wild furious struggles (as I suppose) + of poor penitents in penitentiaries, when it seems as if the devil must + whirl them back into sin. You know we see things which look like + "possession," a black cloud settling down upon the soul, overwhelming all + the hopeful signs for a time. And then, when I have my quiet talk with + such an one (and only very few, and they not the best among us), he will + say, "I can't tell, I didn't mean it. It was not I. What was it?" And I + say, "It was the devil, seeking to devour you, to drag you back into the + old evil dark ways." "It is awful, fearful." "Then you must gird your + loins and pray the more, and remember that you are Christ's, that you + belong to Him, that you are God's child, that Satan has no right to claim + you now. Resist him in this name, in the strength of the Spirit whom + Christ has sent to us from the Father, and he will flee from you." + </p> + <p> + 'It is of course the same more or less with us all, but it comes out in, a + shape which gives it terrible reality and earnestness. Only think, then, + more than ever, of them and of me, and pray that "the Spirit of the Lord + may lift up a standard against the enemy." At times we do seem to realise + that it is a downright personal struggle for life or death.' + </p> + <p> + There the writer paused, and the next date is + </p> + <p> + 'Christmas Day, 1868. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—What a happy happy day! At 12.5 A.M. I was + awoke by a party of some twenty Melanesians, headed by Mr. Bice, singing + Christmas carols at my bedroom door. It is a glass window, opening on to + the verandah. How delightful it was! I had gone to bed with the Book of + Praise by my side, and Mr. Keble's hymn in my mind; and now the Mota + versions, already familiar to us, of the Angels' Song and of the "Light to + lighten the Gentiles," sung too by some of our heathen scholars, took up + as it were the strain. Their voices sounded so fresh and clear in the + still midnight, the perfectly clear sky, the calm moon, the warm genial + climate. + </p> + <p> + 'I lay awake afterwards, thinking on the blessed change wrought in their + minds, thinking of my happy happy lot, of how utterly undeserved it was + and is, and (as is natural) losing myself in thoughts of God's wonderful + goodness and mercy and love. + </p> + <p> + 'Then at 4.45 A.M. I got up, a little later perhaps than usual. Codrington + and Brooke were very soon at work finishing the decorations in the Chapel; + branches of Norfolk Island pines, divers evergreens, pomegranates and + oleanders and lilies (in handfuls) and large snow-white arums; on the + altar-table arums above, and below lilies and evergreens. Oleanders and + pomegranates marked the chancel arch. The rugs looked very handsome, the + whole floor at the east end is covered with a red baize or drugget to + match the curtains. + </p> + <p> + '7 A.M., Holy Communion. Six clergymen in surplices and fifteen other + communicants. At 10 A.M., a short, very bright, joyful service, the + regular Morning Prayers, Psalms xcv. xix. cx. all chanted. Proper Lessons, + two Christmas hymns. + </p> + <p> + 'Then games, cricket, prisoner's base, running races. Beef, pork, + plum-puddings. + </p> + <p> + 'Now we shall soon have evening Chapel, a great deal of singing, a few + short words from me; then a happy, merry, innocent evening, native dances, + coffee, biscuit, and snapdragons to finish with. + </p> + <p> + 'If you had been here to-day, you would indeed have been filled with + surprise and thankfulness and hope. There is, I do think, a great deal to + show that these scholars of ours so connect religion with all that is + cheerful and happy. There is nothing, as I think, sanctimonious about + them. They say, "We are so happy here! How different from our lands!" + </p> + <p> + 'And I think I can truly say that this is not from want of seriousness in + those of an age to be serious. + </p> + <p> + 'I pour this out to you in my happy day—words of hope and joy and + thankfulness! But remember that I feel that all this should make me + thoughtful as well as hopeful. How can I say but what sorrow and trial may + even now be on their way hither? But I thank God, oh! I do thank Him for + his great love and mercy, and I do not think it wrong to give my feelings + of joy some utterance.' + </p> + <p> + With this year the Eucharist was administered weekly, the Melanesians + still attending fortnightly; but it proved to have been a true foreboding + that a sorrow was on its way:— + </p> + <p> + 'January 8th.—A very joyful Christmas, but a sad Epiphany! + </p> + <p> + 'U—-, dearer to me than ever, has (I now hear from him) been putting + himself in the way of temptation. I had noticed that he was not like + himself, and spoke to him and warned him. I told him that if he wished to + be married at once, I was quite willing to marry him; but he said they + were too young, and yet he was always thinking of the young fiancee. Alas! + he had too often (as he says) put himself in the way of temptation with + his eyes open, and he fell. He was frightened, terrified, bewildered. + </p> + <p> + 'Alas! it is our first great sorrow of the kind, for he was a Communicant + of nearly three years' standing. Yet I have much comfort. + </p> + <p> + 'I can have no doubt, 1st, that a fall was necessary, I believe fully. His + own words (not suggested by me) were, "I tempted God often, and He let me + fall; I don't mean He was the cause of it, it is of course only my fault; + but I think I see that I might have gone on getting more and more careless + and wandering further and further from Him unless I had been startled and + frightened." And then he burst out, "Oh! don't send me away for ever. I + know I have made the young ones stumble, and destroyed the happiness of + our settlement here. I know I must not be with you all in Chapel and + school and hall. I know I can't teach any more, I know that, and I am + miserable, miserable. But don't tell me I must go away for ever. I can't + bear it!" + </p> + <p> + 'I did manage to answer almost coldly, for I felt that if I once let loose + my longing desire to let him see my real feeling, I could not restrain + myself at all. "Who wishes to send you away, U—? It is not me whom + you have displeased and injured." + </p> + <p> + '"I know. It is terrible! But I think of the Prodigal Son. Oh! I do long + to go back! Oh! do tell me that He loves me still." + </p> + <p> + 'Poor dear fellow! I thought I must leave him to bear his burthen for a + time. We prayed together, and I left him, or rather sent him away from my + room, but he could neither eat nor sleep. + </p> + <p> + 'The next day his whole manner, look, everything made one sure (humanly + speaking) that he was indeed truly penitent; and then when I began to + speak words of comfort, of God's tender love and compassion, and told him + how to think of the Lord's gentle pity when He appeared first to the + Magdalene and Peter, and when I took his hand in the old loving way, poor + fellow, he broke down more than ever, and cried like a child. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah! it is very sad; but I do think he will be a better, more steadfast + man: he has learnt his weakness, and where to find strength, as he never + had before. And the effect on the school is remarkable. That there should + be so much tenderness of conscience and apprehension of the guilt of + impurity among the children of the heathen in among many brought up in + familiarity with sin, is a matter for much thankfulness.' + </p> + <p> + To this may well be added an extract from Joseph Atkin's journal, showing + his likemindedness both in thoughtfulness and charity:— + </p> + <p> + 'I feel quite sure that we must be prepared for many such cases. The whole + associations and training of the early lives of these people must + influence them as long as they live. The thought of what my mother and + sister would think, never occur to them as any influence for good; and + although this may be said to be a low motive for doing right, it is a very + powerful one, and it is more tangible because it is lower. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop, in speaking of it to-day, told the boys that they ought not + to do right to please him, but because it was right to please God; but I + can't help thinking that pleasing the Bishop may and can help the other + very much. Is it not right for a child to do right to please its parents, + and for older children too to be helped by the thought that they are + pleasing those they love and honour? + </p> + <p> + 'We had a council to-day of all the Church members to talk about how U—— + was to be treated. For himself, poor fellow, I should think kindness would + be harder to bear than neglect. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Codrington says, "On this occasion all the male Communicants went + together to some little distance, where a group of boulders under the + pines gave a convenient seat. The Bishop set out the case, and asked what + was the opinion of the elder boys as to the treatment of the offender. + They were left alone to consider; and when we came back, they gave their + judgment, that he should not eat in the hall at what may be called the + high table, that he should not teach in school, and should not come into + Chapel." + </p> + <p> + 'This was of course what was intended, but the weight of the sentence so + given was greater with the school, and a wholesome lesson given to the + judges. How soon the Bishop's severity, which never covered his pity, gave + way to his affection for one of his oldest and dearest pupils, and his + tenderness for the penitent, and how he took a large share of blame upon + himself, just where it was not due, can well be understood by all who knew + him.' + </p> + <p> + There was soon a brighter day. On January 25, writes Mr. Atkin:— + </p> + <p> + 'We had a great day. In the morning some who were baptized last summer + were confirmed, and at night there were baptized three girls and thirteen + boys. Most of them were quite little fellows. I don't think any of us will + easily forget their grave and sober but not shy looks, as one by one they + stepped up to the Bishop. I think that all understood and meant what they + said, that Baptism was no mere form with them, but a real solemn compact. + All who were in my class (nine), or the Sunday morning school, were + baptized in the evening. While we were standing round the font, I thought + of you at home, and half wished that you could have seen us there. I was + witness for my son (Wate); he was called Joseph, so that I shall lose my + name that I have kept so long.' + </p> + <p> + Joseph Wate, the little Malanta boy, was always viewed by the Atkin family + as a kind of child, and kept up a correspondence with his godfather's + sister, Mother Mary as he called her. + </p> + <p> + On the same day the Bishop wrote to Judge Pohlman:— + </p> + <p> + 'My very dear Friend,—I must not let our correspondence drop, and + the less likely it seems to be that we may meet, the more I must seek to + retain your friendship, by letting you know not only the facts that occur + here, but my thoughts and hopes and fears about them.' + </p> + <p> + (Then, after mentioning the recent transgression, the letter continues + respecting the youth.) + </p> + <p> + 'His fright and terror, his misery and deep sorrow, and (I do believe) + godly repentance, make me say that he is still, as I trust, one of our + best scholars. But it is very sad. For three weeks he did not come even + into chapel with us. He not only acquiesced, but wished that it should be + so. + </p> + <p> + 'Last Saturday evening he was readmitted, without any using of fine names. + I did as a matter of fact do what was the practice of the early + Christians, and is recognised in our Ash Wednesday service now. It was + very desirable that great notice should be taken of the commission of an + act which it is hard for a heathen to understand to be an act of sin, and + the effect upon the whole school of the sad and serious way in which this + offence was regarded has been very good. + </p> + <p> + 'In the circumstances it is so easy to see how the discipline of the early + Church was not an artificial, but a necessary system, though by degrees + elaborated in a more complicated manner. But I find, not seldom, that + common sense dictates some course which afterwards I come across in + Bingham, or some such writer, described as a usage of the early + Christians. + </p> + <p> + 'In our English nineteenth century life such practices could hardly be + reintroduced with benefit. Yet something which might mark open offences + with the censure of the Christian Body is clearly desirable when you can + have it; and of course with us there is no difficulty whatever. + </p> + <p> + 'I cannot be surprised, however deeply grieved at this sad occurrence; and + though it is no comfort to think how many English persons would think + nothing of this, and certainly not show the deep compunction and sorrow + which this poor fellow shows, yet, as a matter of fact, how few young + Englishmen are there who would think such an act, as this young Melanesian + thinks it to be, a grievous sin against God, and matter for continual + sorrow and humiliation. So I do rejoice that he is sorrowing after a godly + sort. + </p> + <p> + 'In other respects there is a very hopeful promising appearance just now. + We number seven clergymen, including myself. We have a very efficient band + of Melanesian teachers, and could at this moment work a school of 150 + scholars. + </p> + <p> + 'George Sarawia will (D.V.) start with a little company of Christian + friends at his own island. The scholars from all the different islands + fraternise excellently well, and in many cases the older and more advanced + have their regular chums, by private arrangement among themselves, whom + they help, and to whose islands they are quite prepared to be sent, if I + think fit so to arrange; and I really do believe that from the Banks + Islands we may send out missionaries to many of the Melanesian islands, as + from Samoa and Karotonga they have gone out to the islands of the Eastern + Pacific. Humanly speaking, I see no difficulty in our drawing into our + central school here any number of natives that we can support, from the + New Hebrides, Banks and Solomon Islands, and I trust soon from the Santa + Cruz Islands also. + </p> + <p> + 'Here must be the principal work, the training up missionaries and + steadfast Christian men and women, not of ability sufficient to become + themselves missionaries, but necessary to strengthen the hands of their + more gifted countrymen. This training must be carried on here, but with it + must be combined a frequent visitation and as lengthened sojourns in the + islands as possible. The next winter we hope that the Rev. J. Atkin will + be some time at San Cristoval, the Rev. C. H. Brooke at Florida, the Rev. + J. Palmer at Mota. But I am more than ever convinced that the chiefest + part of our work is to consist in training up Melanesian clergymen, and + educating them up to the point of faithfully reproducing our simple + teaching. We must hope to see native self-supporting Melanesian Churches, + not weak indolent Melanesians dependent always on an English missionary, + but steadfast, thoughtful men and women, retaining the characteristics of + their race so far as they can be sanctified by the Word of God in prayer, + and not force useless imitations of English modes of thought and + nineteenth century civilisation. + </p> + <p> + 'It is sometimes a consequence of our national self-conceit, sometimes of + want of thought, that no consideration is shown to the characteristic + native way of regarding things. But Christianity is a universal religion, + and assimilates and interpolates into its system all that is capable of + regeneration and sanctification anywhere. + </p> + <p> + 'Before long I hope to get something more respectable in the way of a + report printed and circulated. It seems unreasonable to say so, but really + I have very little time that I can spare from directly Melanesian work, + what with school, translations, working out languages, and (thank God) the + many, many hours spent in quiet interviews with Melanesians of all ages + and islands, who come to have private talks with me, and to tell me of + their thoughts and feelings. These are happy hours indeed. I must end. + Always, my dear friend, affectionately and sincerely yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The readmission thus mentioned was by the imposition of hands, when the + penitent was again received, and his conduct ever since has proved his + repentance true. + </p> + <p> + February brought Mr. and Mrs. Palmer to their new home, and carried away + Mr. Codrington for a holiday. The budget of letters sent by this + opportunity contained a remarkable one from young Atkin. Like master, like + scholar:— + </p> + <p> + 'February 24, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mother,—You must not think about my coming back; I may have + to do it, but if I do, it will seem like giving up the object of my life. + I did not enter upon this work with any enthusiasm, and it is perhaps + partly from that cause that I am now so attached to it that little short + of necessity would take me away; my own choice, I think, never. I know it + is much harder for you than for me. I wish I could lighten it to you, but + it cannot be. It is a great deal more self-denial for you to spare me to + come away than for me to come away. You must think, like David, "I will + not offer unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." If you + willingly give Him what you prize most, however worthless the gift may be, + He will prize it for the willingness with which it is given. If it had + been of my own choosing that I came away, I should often blame myself for + having made a selfish choice in not taking harder and more irksome work + nearer home, but it came to me without choosing. I can only be thankful + that God has been so good to me.' + </p> + <p> + Well might the Bishop write to the father, 'I thank you in my heart for + Joe's promise.' + </p> + <p> + How exactly his own spirit, in simple, unconscious self-abnegation and + thorough devotion to the work. How it chimes in with this, written on the + self-same morning to the Bishop of Lichfield:— + </p> + <p> + 'St. Matthias Day, 6.45 A.M., 1869. + </p> + <p> + My dear Bishop,—You do not doubt that I think continually of you, + yet I like you to have a line from me to-day. We are just going into + Chapel, altering our usual service to-day that we may receive the Holy + Communion with special remembrance of my Consecration and special prayer + for a blessing on the Mission. There is much to be thankful for indeed, + much also that may well make the retrospect of the last eight years a + somewhat sad and painful one as far as I am myself concerned. It does seem + wonderful that good on the whole is done. But everything is wonderful and + full of mystery.... + </p> + <p> + 'It is rather mean of me, I fear, to get out of nearly all troubles by + being here. Yet it seems to me very clear that the special work of the + Mission is carried on more conveniently (one doesn't like to say more + successfully) here, and my presence or absence is of no consequence when + general questions are under discussion.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your very affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The same mail brought a letter to Miss Mackenzie, with much valuable + matter on Mission work:— + </p> + <p> + 'February 26, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear Miss Mackenzie,—I have just read your letter to me of April + 1867, which I acknowledged, rather than answered, long ago. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't answer it as it deserves to be answered now. I think I have + already written about thirty-five letters to go by this mail, and my usual + work seldom leaves me a spare hour. + </p> + <p> + 'But I am truly thankful for the hopes that seem to show themselves + through the mists, in places where all Christian men must feel so strong + an interest. I do hope to hear that the new Bishopric may soon be founded, + on which Mr. Robertson and you and others have so set your hearts. That + good man! I often think of him, and hope soon to send him, through you, + £10 from our Melanesian offertory. + </p> + <p> + 'You know we have, thank God, thirty-nine baptized Melanesians here, of + whom fifteen are communicants, and one, George Sarawia, a clergyman. He + was ordained on December 20. + </p> + <p> + 'There are many little works usually going ons which I don't consider it + fair to reckon among the regular industrial work of the Mission. I pay the + young men and lads and boys small sums for such things, and I think it + right to teach the elder ones the use of money by giving them allowances, + out of which they buy their clothing, &c., when necessary, all under + certain regulations. I say this that you may know that our weekly + offertory is not a sham. No one knows what they give, or whether they give + or not. A Melanesian takes the offertory bason, and they give or not as + they please. I take care that such moneys as are due to them shall be + given in 3d., 4d., and 6d. pieces. + </p> + <p> + 'Last year our offertory rather exceeded £40, and it is out of this that + my brother will now pay you £10 for the Mackenzie fund. I write all this + because you will like to think that some of this little offertory comes + bond fide from Melanesians. + </p> + <p> + '...You take me to mean, I hope, that Christianity is the religion for + mankind at large, capable of dealing with the spiritual and bodily needs + of man everywhere. + </p> + <p> + 'It is easy for us now to say that some of the early English Missions, + without thinking at all about it, in all probability, sought to impose an + English line of thought and religion on Indians and Africans. Even English + dress was thought to be almost essential, and English habits, &c., + were regarded as part of the education of persons converted through the + agency of English Missions. All this seems to be burdening the message of + the Gospel with unnecessary difficulties. The teacher everywhere, in + England or out of it, must learn to discriminate between essentials and + non-essentials. It seems to me self-evident that the native scholar must + be educated up to the highest point that is possible, and that unless one + is (humanly speaking) quite sure that he can and will reproduce faithfully + the simple teaching he has received, he ought not to teach, much less to + be ordained. + </p> + <p> + 'All our elder lads and girls here teach the younger ones, and we know + what they teach. Their notes of our lessons are brought to me, books full + of them, and there I see what they know; for if they can write down a + plain account of facts and doctrines, that is a good test of their having + taken in the teaching. George Sarawia's little essay on the doctrine of + the Communion is to me perfectly satisfactory. It was written without my + knowledge. I found it in one of his many note-books accidentally. + </p> + <p> + 'As for civilisation, they all live entirely with us, and every Melanesian + in the place, men and women, boys and girls, three times a day take their + places with all of us in hall, and use their knives and forks, plates, + cups and saucers (or, for the passage, one's pannikins) just as we do. + George and two others, speaking for themselves and their wives, have just + written out, among other things, in a list which I told them to make out: + plates, cups, saucers, knives, forks, spoons, tubs, saucepans, kettles, + soap, towels, domestic things for washing, ironing, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'The common presents that our elder scholars take or send to their friends + include large iron pots for cooking, clothing, &c. They build improved + houses, and ask for small windows, &c., to put in them, boxes, carpet + bags for their clothes, small writing desks, note-books, ink, pens. They + keep their best clothes very carefully, and on Sundays and great days look + highly respectable. And for years we know no instance of a baptized + Melanesian throwing aside his clothing when taking his holiday at home. + </p> + <p> + 'As far as I can see my way to any rule in the matter, it is this: all + that is necessary to secure decency, propriety, cleanliness, health, &c., + must be provided for them. This at once involves alteration of the houses, + divisions, partitions. People who can read and write, and cut out and sew + clothes, must have light in their houses. This involves a change of the + shape and structure of the hut. They can't sit in clean clothes on a dirty + floor, and they can't write, or eat out of plates and use cups, &c., + without tables or benches, and as they don't want to spend ten hours in + sleep or idle talk, they must have lamps for cocoa-nut and almond oil. + </p> + <p> + 'These people are not taught to adopt these habits by word of mouth. They + live with us and do as we do. Two young married women are sitting in my + room now. I didn't call them in, nor tell them what to do. "We didn't + quite understand what you said last night." "Well, I have written it out,—there + it is." They took, as usual, the MS., sat down, just as you or anyone + would do, at the table to read it, and are now making their short notes of + it. Anyone comes in and out at any time, when not at school, chapel, or + work, just as they please. We each have our own sitting-room, which is in + this sense public property, and of course they fall into our ways. + </p> + <p> + 'There is perhaps no such thing as teaching civilisation by word of + command, nor religion either. The sine qua non for the missionary—religious + and moral character assumed to exist—is the living with his scholars + as children of his own. And the aim is to lift them up, not by words, but + by the daily life, to the sense of their capacity for becoming by God's + grace all that we are, and I pray God a great deal more; not as literary + men or scholars, but as Christian men and women, better suited than we are + for work among their own people. "They shall be saved even as we." They + have a strong sense of and acquiescence in, their own inferiority. If we + treat them as inferiors, they will always remain in that position of + inferiority. + </p> + <p> + 'But Christ humbled Himself and became the servant and minister that He + might make us children of God and exalt us. + </p> + <p> + 'It is surely very simple, but if we do thus live among them, they must + necessarily accept and adopt some of our habits. Our Lord led the life of + a poor man, but He raised His disciples to the highest pitch of excellence + by His Life, His Words, and His Spirit, the highest that man could receive + and follow. The analogy is surely a true one. And exclusiveness, all the + pride of race must disappear before such considerations. + </p> + <p> + 'But it is not the less true that He did not make very small demands upon + His disciples, and teach them and us that it needs but little care and + toil and preparation to be a Christian and a teacher of Christianity. The + direct contrary to this is the truth. + </p> + <p> + 'The teacher's duty is to be always leading on his pupils to higher + conceptions of their work in life, and to a more diligent performance of + it. How can he do this if he himself acquiesces in a very imperfect + knowledge and practice of his duty? + </p> + <p> + '"And yet the mass of mediaeval missionaries could perhaps scarce read." + That may be true, but that was not an excellence but a defect, and the + mass of the gentry and nobility could not do so much. They did a great + work then. It does not follow that we are to imitate their ignorance when + we can have knowledge. + </p> + <p> + 'But I am wasting your time and mine. + </p> + <p> + 'Yours very truly, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON. + </h5> + <p> + 'P.S.—George and his wife and child, Charles and his wife, Benjamin + and his wife, will live together at Mota on some land I have bought. A + good wooden house is to be put up by us this winter (D.V.) with one large + room for common use, school, &c., and three small bed-rooms opening on + to a verandah. One small bed-room at the other end which any one, two or + three of us English folks can occupy when at Mota. I dare say, first and + last, this house will cost seventy or eighty pounds. + </p> + <p> + 'Then we hope to have everything that can be sown and planted with profit + in a tropical climate, first-class breed of pigs, poultry, &c., so + that all the people may see that such things are not neglected. These + things will be given away freely-settings of eggs, young sows, seeds, + plants, young trees, &c. All this involves expense, quite rightly too, + and after all, I dare say that dear old George will cost about a sixth or + an eighth of what we English clergymen think necessary. I dare say £25 per + annum will cover his expenses.' + </p> + <p> + On Easter Sunday the penitent was readmitted to the Lord's Table. A happy + letter followed:— + </p> + <p> + 'Easter Tuesday, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Sisters,—Another opportunity of writing. I will only say + a word about two things. First, our Easter and the Holy Week preceding it; + secondly, how full my mind has been of Mr. Keble, on his two + anniversaries, Holy Thursday and March 29. And I have read much of the + "Christian Year," and the two letters I had from him I have read again, + and looked at the picture of him, and felt helped by the memory of his + holy saintly life, and I dared to think that it might be that by God's + great mercy in Christ, I might yet know him and other blessed Saints in + the Life to come. + </p> + <p> + 'Our Holy Week was a calm solemn season. All the services have long been + in print. Day by day in school and chapel we followed the holy services + and acts of each day, taking Ellicott's "Historical Lectures" as a guide. + </p> + <p> + 'Each evening I had my short sermonet, and we sought to deepen the + impressions made evidently upon our scholars by whatever could make it a + real matter of life and death to them and us. Then came Good Friday and + Easter Eve, during which the Melanesians with Mr. Brooke were busily + engaged in decorating the Chapel with fronds of tree-ferns, bamboo, arums, + and oleander blossoms. + </p> + <p> + 'Then, at 7 A.M. on Easter Morning, thirty of us—twenty-one, thank + God, being Melanesians—met in Chapel for the true Easter Feast. + </p> + <p> + 'Then, at 11 A.M., how we chanted Psalms ii, cxiii, cxiv, and Hymn, and + the old Easter Hallelujah hymn to the old tune with Mota words. Then at 7 + P.M. Psalms cxviii, cxlviii, to joyful chants, and singing Easter and + other hymns. + </p> + <p> + 'So yesterday and so to-day. The short Communion Service in the morning + with hymn, and in the evening we chant Psalm cxviii, and sing out our + Easter hymn. Ah well! it makes my heart very full. It is the season of + refreshing, perhaps before more trails. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear U—— was with us again on Easter morn, a truly repentant + young man, I verily believe, feeling deeply what in our country districts + is often not counted a sin at all to be a foul offence against his Father + and Saviour and Sanctifier. + </p> + <p> + 'Six were there for their first Communion, among them honest old Stephen + Taroniara, the first and only communicant of all the Solomon Isles—of + all the world west of Mota, or east of any of the Bishop of Labuan's + communicants. Think of that! What a blessing! What a thought for praise + and hope and meditation! + </p> + <p> + 'I sit in my verandah in the moonlight and I do feel happy in spite of + many thoughts of early days which may well make me feel unhappy. + </p> + <p> + 'But I do feel an almost overpowering sensation of thankfulness and peace + and calm tranquil happiness, which I know cannot last long. It would not, + I suppose, be good: anyhow it will soon be broken by some trial which may + show much of my present state to be a delusion. Yet I like to tell you + what I think, and I know you will keep it to yourselves. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, and all Easter blessings be with you. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON ' + </h5> + <p> + The island voyage was coming near, and was to be conducted, on a larger + scale, after the intermission of a whole year. Mr. Brooke was to make some + stay at Florida, Mr. Atkin at Wango in Bauro, and the Bishop himself was + to take the party who were to commence the Christian village at Mota, + while Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice remained in charge of twenty-seven + Melanesians. The reports of the effects of the labour traffic were + becoming a great anxiety, and not only the Fiji settlers, but those in + Queensland were becoming concerned in it. + </p> + <p> + The 'Southern Cross' arrived in June, but the weather was so bad that, + knocking about outside the rocks, she sustained some damage, and could not + put her freight ashore for a week. However, on the 24th she sailed, and + put down Mr. Atkin at Wango, the village in Bauro where the Bishop had + stayed two years previously. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Atkin gives a touching description of Taroniara's arrival:— + </p> + <p> + 'Stephen was not long in finding his little girl, Paraiteka. She was soon + in his arms. The old fellow just held her up for the Bishop to see, and + then turned away with her, and I saw a handkerchief come out privately and + brush quickly across his eyes, and in a few minutes he came back to us.' + </p> + <p> + The little girl's mother, for whose sake Taroniara had once refused to + return to school, had been carried off by a Maran man; and as the heathen + connection had been so slight, and a proper marriage so entirely beyond + the ideas of the native state, it was thought advisable to leave this as a + thing of heathen darkness, and let him select a girl to be educated into + becoming fit for his true wife. + </p> + <p> + Besides Stephen, Joseph Wate and two other Christian lads were with Mr. + Atkin, and he made an expedition of two days' visit to Wate's father. At + Ulava he found that dysentery had swept off nearly all the natives, and he + thought these races, even while left to themselves, were dying out. 'But,' + adds the brave man in his journal, 'I will never, I hope, allow that + because these people are dying out, it is of no use or a waste of time + carrying the Gospel to them. It is, I should rather say, a case where we + ought to be the more anxious to gather up the fragments.' + </p> + <p> + So he worked on bravely, making it an object, if he could do no more, to + teach enough to give new scholars a start in the school, and to see who + were most worth choosing there. He suffered a little loss of popularity + when it was found that he was not a perpetual fountain of beads, hatchets, + and tobacco, but he did the good work of effecting a reconciliation + between Wango and another village named Hane, where he made a visit, and + heard a song in honour of Taroniara. He was invited to a great + reconciliation feast; which he thus describes, beginning with his walk to + Hane by short marches:— + </p> + <p> + 'We waited where we overtook Taki, until the main body from Wango came up. + They charged past in fine style, looking very well in their holiday dress, + each with his left hand full of spears, and one brandished in the right. + It looked much more like a fighting party than a peace party; but it is + the custom to make peace with the whole army, to convince the enemy that + it is only for his accommodation that they are making peace, and not + because they are afraid to fight him. It was about 12 o'clock when we + reached the rendezvous. There was a fine charge of all, except a dozen of + the more sedate of the party; they rattled their spears, and ran, and + shouted, and jumped, even crossing the stream which was the neutral + ground. We halted by the stream for some time; at last some Hane people + came to their side; there was a charge again almost up to them, but they + took it coolly. At about 10 o'clock the whole body of the Hane men came, + and two or three from Wango went across to them. I was tired of waiting, + and asked Taki if I should go. "Yes, and tell them to bring the money," he + said. + </p> + <p> + 'While I was wading through the stream, the Hane men gathered up and + advanced; I turned back with them. They rushed, brandishing their spears, + to within ten or twelve paces of the Wango party, who had joined into a + compact body, and so seated themselves as soon as they saw the movement. + </p> + <p> + 'Kara, a Hane man, made his speech, first running forwards and backwards, + shaking his spear all the time; and at the end, he took out four strings + of Makira money, and gave it to Taki. Hane went back across the stream; + and Wango went through the same performance, Taki making the speech. He + seemed a great orator, and went on until one standing by him said, "That's + enough," when he laughed, and gave over. He gave four strings of money, + two shorter than the others, and the shortest was returned to him, I don't + know why; but in this way the peace was signed.' + </p> + <p> + After nineteen days, during which the Bishop had been cruising about, Mr. + Atkin and his scholars were picked up again, and likewise Mr. Brooke, who + had been spending ten days at Florida with his scholars, in all + thirty-five; and then ensued a very tedious passage to the Banks Islands, + for the vessel had been crippled by the gale off Norfolk Island, and could + not be pressed; little canvas was carried, and the weather was + unfavourable. + </p> + <p> + However, on September 6, Mota was safely reached; and great was the joy, + warm the welcome of the natives, who eagerly assisted in unloading the + vessel, through storms of rain and surf. + </p> + <p> + The old station house was in entire decay; but the orange and lemon trees + were thirty feet high, though only the latter in bearing. + </p> + <p> + The new village, it was agreed, should bear the name of Kohimarama, after + the old home in New Zealand, meaning, in Maori, 'Focus of Light.' After + landing the goats, the Bishop, Mr. Atkin, and five more crossed to Valua. + They were warmly welcomed at Ara, where their long absence had made the + natives fancy they must all be dead. The parents of Henry, Lydia, and + Edwin were the first to approach the boat, eager to hear of their children + left in Norfolk Island; and the mother walked up the beach with her arm + round Mr. Atkin's neck. But here it appeared that the vessels of the + labour traffic had come to obtain people to work in the cotton plantations + in Queensland, and that they had already begun to invite them in the name + of the Bishop, whose absence they accounted for by saying his ship had + been wrecked, he had broken his leg, he had gone to England, and sent them + to fetch natives to him. No force had been used as yet, but there was + evident dread of them; and one vessel had a Mota man on board, who + persuaded the people to go to Sydney. About a hundred natives had been + taken from the islands of Valua, Ara, and Matlavo, and from Bligh Island + twenty-three were just gone, but Mota's inaccessibility had apparently + protected it. It will be remembered that it has a high fortification of + coral all round the beach, with but one inconvenient entrance, and that + the people are little apt to resort to canoes. This really has hitherto + seemed a special Providence for this nucleus of Christianity. + </p> + <p> + They spent the night at Ara, making a fire on the sandy beach, where they + boiled their chocolate, and made gravy of some extract of meat to season + their yam, and supped in public by firelight, reclining upon mats. + Afterwards they went up to the Ogamal, or barrack tent: it was not an + inviting bed-chamber, being so low that they could only kneel upright in + it, and so smoky that Stephen remarked, 'We shall be cooked ourselves if + we stay here,' proving an advance in civilisation. One of the private + houses was equally unattractive, and the party slept on the beach. + </p> + <p> + The next morning they started to walk round the island: taking two cork + beds, a portmanteau and a basket of provisions; stopping wherever a few + people were found, but it was a thinly peopled place, and the loss of the + men carried off was sensibly felt. + </p> + <p> + One village had had a fight with a boat's crew from Sydney. They made no + secret of it, saying that they would not have their men taken away; and + they had been sharp enough to pour water into the guns before provoking + the quarrel. + </p> + <p> + Further on there was a closer population, where the Bishop was + enthusiastically welcomed, and an Ogamal was found, making a good shelter + for the night. Then they returned to Ara, where Mr. Atkin notes, in the + very centre of the island, a curious rock, about 200 feet high, and on the + top, 20 or 30 feet from the nearest visible soil, a she-oak stump, and two + more green and flourishing a little below. The rock was of black scoriae, + too hot in the middle of the day to sit upon, and near it was a pool of + water. 'Such water, so rotten.' The water used by the visitors had been + brought from Auckland. The natives do not trouble water much, I don't + think they ever drink it, and they certainly don't look as if they ever + washed. + </p> + <p> + On the following day they recrossed to Vanua Lava, where they spent a + quiet calm Sunday in the vessel, landing in the afternoon to see Fisher + Young's grave, which they found well kept and covered with a pretty blue + creeper. + </p> + <p> + The next Sunday they spent at Kohimarama: beginning with Celebration at + 7.30 A.M., and in the afternoon making the circuit of the island, about + ten miles. In one place Mr. Atkin bent over the edge of the natural sea + wall, and saw the sea breaking 150 or 200 feet below! + </p> + <p> + After a fortnight spent in this manner, he and the other two clergymen + carried off their Melanesians to Norfolk Island, leaving the Bishop to be + fetched away in a month's time. Here is the letter written during his + solitude:— + </p> + <p> + 'Kohimarama, Mota Island: September 23, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Joan and Fan,—Here I am sitting in a most comfortable + house in our new Kohimarama, for so the Melanesians determine to call our + station in Mota. The house is 48 feet by 18, with a 9-foot verandah on two + sides. It has one large room, a partition at each end, one of which is + subdivided into two small sleeping rooms for George and his wife, and + Charles and his wife. There is no ceiling, so that we have the full + advantage of the height of the house, and plenty of ventilation, as the + space beyond where the roof comes down upon the wall plates is left open. + </p> + <p> + 'The verandah is a grand lounging place; very commodious for school also, + when other classes fill the large room, and a delightful place to sit or + lie about on in this genial warm climate. These bright moonlight nights + are indeed delicious. The mosquito gives no trouble here to speak of. The + cocoa-nut trees, the bread-fruit trees, yam gardens, and many kinds of + native trees and shrubs, are all around us; the fine wooded hill of Mota + shows well over the house. The breeze always plays round it; and though it + is very hot, it is only when the wind comes from the north and north-west, + as in the midsummer, that the heat is of an oppressive and sickly nature. + </p> + <p> + 'About twenty lads and young men live here, and about forty attend daily + school; but I think there is every indication of all Mota sending its + young people here as soon as we have our crops of yams, &c., &c., + to provide sufficient food. Improved native huts will, I think, soon be + built over our little estate here. + </p> + <p> + 'Many girls I hope to take to Norfolk Island. They could hardly be brought + together with safety to this place yet. The parents see and admit this, + and consent to my taking them. I tell them that their sons will not marry + ignorant heathen girls (their sons I mean who have been and are still with + us); that all the young fellows growing up at Kohimarama must have + educated wives provided for them, and that I must therefore take away many + young girls with me to Norfolk Island. The fashion here is to buy at an + early age young girls for their sons, though occasionally a girl may be + found not already betrothed, but almost grown up. I now say, "I want to + train up wives for my sons," and the fashion of the place allows of my + buying or appropriating them. You would be amused to see me engaged in + this match-making. It is all the same a very important matter, for clearly + it is the best way to secure, as I trust, the introduction of Christian + family life among these people. + </p> + <p> + 'George and I are satisfied that things are really very promising here. Of + course, much old heathen ignorance, and much that is very wrong, will long + survive. So you recollect perhaps old Joe (great-Uncle Edward's coachman) + declaring that C. S. as a witch, and there is little proof of practical + Christianity in the morals of our peasants of the west, and of Wales + especially. + </p> + <p> + 'It is not that one should acquiesce in what is wrong here, but one ought + not to be surprised at it. Public opinion, the constraint of law, + hereditary notions, are more effective in preventing the outbreak of evil + passions into criminal acts in very many cases and districts in England. + </p> + <p> + 'Now these restraints are, indeed, indirect consequences of Christianity, + but do not imply any religion in the individuals who are influenced by + them. These restraints don't exist here. If they did, I think these Mota + people now would live just as orderly decent lives as average English + folk. Christianity would not be a vigorous power in the one case or in the + other. Exceptional cases would occur here and there. + </p> + <p> + 'If I am asked for proofs of the "conversion" of this people, I should + say, "Conversion from what to what?" and then I should say, "Ask any close + observer in England about the commercial and social morality existing in + not only the most ignorant ranks of society: how much is merely formal, + and therefore, perhaps, actually detrimental to a true spirit of + religion!" Here you don't find much that you associate with religion in + England, in the external observances of it; but there are not a few + ignorant people (I am not speaking of our trained scholars) who are giving + up their old habits, adopting new ways, accepting a stricter mode of life, + foregoing advantages of one kind and another, because they believe that + this "Good news," this Gospel, is true, and because the simple truths of + Christianity are, thank God, finding some entrance into their hearts. + </p> + <p> + 'I dread the imposition from without of some formal compliances with the + externals of religion while I know that the meaning and spirit of them + cannot as yet be understood. Can there be conceived anything more formal, + more mischievous, than inculcating a rigid Sabbatarian view of the Lord's + Day upon a people who don't know anything about the Cross and the + Resurrection? Time enough to talk about the observance when the people + have some knowledge of the vital living truth of a spiritual religion. + </p> + <p> + 'So about clothing. If I tried to do it, I think I could make the people + here buy, certainly accept, and wear, clothing. With what result at + present? That they would think that wearing a yard of unbleached calico + was a real evidence of the reception of the new teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'Such things are, in this stage of Mission work, actually hurtful. The + mind naturally takes in and accepts the easy outward form, and by such + treatment you actually encourage it to do so, and to save itself the + trouble of thinking out the real meaning and teaching which must of course + be addressed to the spirit. + </p> + <p> + 'These outward things all follow as a matter of course after a time, as + consequences of the new power and light felt in the soul; but they may be + so spoken of as to become substitutes for the true spiritual life, and + train up a people in hypocrisy. + </p> + <p> + 'I beg your pardon really for parading all these truisms. Throw it in the + fire. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't for a moment mean or think that religion is to be taught by mere + prudence and common sense. But a spiritual religion is imperilled the + moment that you insist upon an unspiritual people observing outward forms + which are to them the essence of the new teaching. Anything better than + turning heathens into Pharisees! What did our Lord call the proselytes of + the Pharisee and the Scribe? + </p> + <p> + 'And while I see and love the beauty of the outward form when it is known + and felt to be no more than the shrine of the inward spiritual power; + while I know that for highly advanced Christians, or for persons trained + in accurate habits of thought, all that beauty of holiness is needful; yet + I think I see that the Divine wisdom of the Gospel would guard the teacher + against presenting the formal side of religion to the untaught and + ignorant convert. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship + Him in spirit and in truth," is the great lesson for the heathen mind + chained down as it is to things of sense. + </p> + <p> + '"He that hateth his brother is a murderer:" not the outward act, but the + inward motive justifies or condemns the man. Every day convinces me more + and more of the need of a different mode of teaching than that usually + adopted for imperfectly taught people. How many of your (ordinary) + parishioners even understand the simple meaning of the Prayer-book, nay, + of their well-known (as they think) Gospel miracles and parables? Who + teaches in ordinary parishes the Christian use of the Psalms? Who puts + simply before peasant and stone-cutter the Jew and his religion, and what + he and it were intended to be, and the real error and sin and failure?—the + true nature of prophecy, the progressive teaching of the Bible, never in + any age compromising truth, but never ignoring the state, so often the + unreceptive state, of those to whom the truth must therefore be presented + partially, and in a manner adapted to rude and unspiritual natures? What + an amount of preparatory teaching is needed! What labour must be spent in + struggling to bring forth things new and old, and present things simply + before the indolent, unthinking, vacant mind! How much need there is of a + more special training of the Clergy even now! Many men are striving nobly + to do all this. But think of the rubbish that most of us chuck lazily out + of our minds twice a week without method or order. It is such downright + hard work to teach well. Oh! how weary it makes me to try. I feel as if I + were at once aware of what should be attempted, and yet quite unable to do + it! + </p> + <p> + 'St. Michael's Day.—[After an affectionate review of most of his + relations at home.]—When the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn pressed me a + good deal to go with them to England, it obliged me a little to analyse my + feelings. You won't suspect me of any want of longing to see you, when I + say that it never was a doubtful matter to me for five minutes. I saw + nothing to make me wish to go to England in comparison with the crowd of + reasons for not doing so. They, good people, thought it would be rest and + refreshment to me. Little they know how a man so unlike them takes his + rest! I am getting it here, hundreds of miles out of reach of any white + man or woman, free from what is to me the bother of society. I am not + defending myself; but it is true that to me it is a bore, the very + opposite of rest, to be in society. I like a good talk with Sir William + Martin above anything, but I declare that even that is dearly purchased by + the other accompaniments of society. + </p> + <p> + 'And I could not spend a quiet month with you at Weston. I should have + people calling, the greatest of all nuisances, except that of having to go + out to dinner. I should have to preach, and perhaps to go to meetings, all + in the way of my business, but not tending to promote rest. + </p> + <p> + 'Seriously, I am very well now; looking, I am sure, and feeling stronger + and stouter than I was in New Zealand in the winter. So don't fret + yourself about me, and don't think that I shouldn't dearly love to chat + awhile with you. What an idle, lazy letter. You see I am taking my rest + with you, writing without effort.' + </p> + <p> + He was looking well. Kohimarama must be more healthily situated than the + first station, for all his three visits there were beneficial to him; and + there seems to have been none of the tendency to ague and low fever which + had been the trouble of the first abode. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice came back in the schooner early in October, + and were landed at Mota, while the Bishop went for a cruise in the New + Hebrides; but the lateness of the season and the state of the vessel made + it a short one, and he soon came back with thirty-five boys. Meanwhile, a + small harmonium, which was to be left with the Christian settlement, had + caused such an excitement that Mr. Bice was nearly squeezed to death by + the crowds that came to hear it. He played nearly all day to successive + throngs of men, but when the women arrived, they made such a clatter that + he was fain to close the instrument. Unbleached calico clothing had been + made for such of the young ladies as were to be taken on board for Norfolk + Island, cut out by the Bishop and made up by Robert, William, and + Benjamin, his scholars; and Mr. Codrington says, 'It was an odd sight to + see the Bishop on the beach with the group of girls round him, and a + number of garments over his arm. As each bride was brought by her friends, + she was clothed and added to the group. + </p> + <p> + 'Esthetically, clothes were no improvement. "A Melanesian clothed," the + Bishop observes, "never looks well; there is almost always a stiff, + shabby-genteel look. A good specimen, not disfigured by sores and ulcers, + the well-shaped form, the rich warm colour of the skin, and the easy, + graceful play of every limb, unhurt by shoe or tight-fitting dress, the + flower stuck naturally into the hair, &c., make them look pleasant + enough to my eye. You see in Picture Bibles figures draped as I could wish + the Melanesians to be clothed."' + </p> + <p> + To continue Mr. Codrington's recollections of this stay in Mota:— + </p> + <p> + 'I remember noticing how different his manner was from what was common at + home. His eyes were cast all about him, keeping a sharp look-out, and all + his movements and tones were quick and decisive. In that steaming climate, + and those narrow paths, he walked faster than was at all agreeable to his + companions, and was dressed moreover in a woollen coat and waistcoat all + the time. In fact, he thoroughly enjoyed the heat, though no doubt it was + weakening him; he liked the food, which gave him no trouble at all to eat, + and he liked the natives. + </p> + <p> + 'He felt, of course, that he was doing his work all the while; but the + expression of his countenance was very different while sitting with a + party of men over their food at Mota, and when sitting with a party in + Norfolk Island. + </p> + <p> + 'The contrast struck me very much between his recluse studious life there, + and his very active one at Mota, with almost no leisure to read, and very + little to write, and with an abundance of society which was a pleasure + instead of a burthen. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that the alert and decisive tone and habit which was so + conspicuous in the islands, and came out whenever he was roused, was not + natural to his disposition, but had been acquired in early years in a + public school, and faded down in the quiet routine of St. Barnabas, and + was recalled as occasion required with more effort as time went on. No + doubt, his habitual gentleness made his occasional severity more felt, but + at Mota his capacity for scolding was held in respect. I was told when I + was last there, that I was no good, for I did not know how to scold, but + that the Bishop perfectly well understood how to do it. Words certainly + would never fail him in twenty languages to express his indignation, but + how seldom among his own scholars had he to do it in one!' + </p> + <p> + This voyage is best summed up in the ensuing letter to one of the Norfolk + relations:— + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross" Schooner, 20 miles East of Star Island. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—We are drawing near the end of a rather long + cruise, as I trust, in safety. We left Norfolk Island on the 24th June, + and we hope to reach it in about ten days. We should have moved about in + less time, but for the crippled state of the schooner. She fell in with a + heavy gale off Norfolk Island about June 20th-23rd; and we have been + obliged to be very careful of our spars, which were much strained. Indeed, + we still need a new mainmast, main boom, and gaff, a main topmast, + foretopmast, and probably new wire rigging, besides repairs of other + kinds, and possibly new coppering. Thank God, the voyage has been so far + safe, and, on the whole, prosperous. We sailed first of all to the Banks + Islands, only dropping two lads at Ambrym Island on our way. We spent a + week or more at Mota, while the vessel was being overhauled at the harbour + in Vanua Lava Island, seven miles from Mota. It was a great relief to us + to get the house for the station at Mota out of the vessel, the weight of + timber, &c., was too much for a vessel not built for carrying freight. + After a few days we left Mr. Palmer, George Sarawia, and others at Mota, + busily engaged in putting up the house, a very serious matter for us, as + you may suppose. + </p> + <p> + 'Our party was made up of Mr. Atkin, Mr. Brooke, and two Mota volunteers + for boat work, and divers Solomon Islanders. We were absent from Mota + about seven years, during which time we visited Santa Cruz, and many of + the Solomon Isles. Mr. Atkin spent three weeks in one of the isles, and + Mr. Brooke in another, and we had more than thirty natives of the Solomon + Islands on board, including old scholars, when we left Ulava, the last + island of the Solomon group at which we called. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Palmer, Mr. Atkin, and Mr. Brooke went on to Norfolk Island, the + whole number of Melanesians on board being sixty-two. I had spent a very + happy month at Mota when the vessel returned from Norfolk Island both with + Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice on board, bringing those of the Melanesians + (nearly thirty in all) who chose to stay on Norfolk Island. Then followed + a fortnight's cruise in the New Hebrides, and now with exactly fifty + Melanesians on board from divers islands, we are on our way to Norfolk + Island. We have fourteen girls, two married, on board, and there are ten + already at Norfolk Island. This is an unusual number; but the people + understand that the young men and lads who have been with us for some + time, who are baptized and accustomed to decent orderly ways, are not + going to marry heathen wild girls, so they give up these young ones to be + taught and qualify to become fit wives for our rapidly increasing party of + young men. + </p> + <p> + 'It is quite clear that we must aim at exhibiting, by God's blessing, + Christian family life in the islands, and this can only be done by + training up young men and women. + </p> + <p> + 'Three married couples, all Communicants, live now at Kohimarama, the + station at Mota. George has two children, Benjamin one. It is already a + small specimen of a little Christian community, and it must be reinforced, + year by year, by accessions of new couples of Christian men and women. + </p> + <p> + 'About twenty lads live at the station, and about forty more come daily to + school. It may grow soon into a real working school, from which the most + intelligent and best conducted boys may be taken to Norfolk Island for a + more complete education. I am hopeful about a real improvement in Mota and + elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + 'But a new difficulty has lately been caused by the traders from Sydney + and elsewhere, who have taken many people to work in the plantations at + Brisbane, Mimea, (New Caledonia), and the Fiji Islands, actual kidnapping, + and this is a sad hindrance to us. I know of no case of actual violence in + the Banks Islands; but in every case, they took people away under false + pretences, asserting that "the Bishop is ill and can't come; he has sent + us to bring you to him." "The Bishop is in Sydney, he broke his leg + getting into his boat, and has sent us to take you to him," &c., &c. + In many of these places some of our old scholars are found who speak a + little English, and the traders communicated with them. + </p> + <p> + 'In most places where any of our young people happened to be on shore, + they warned their companions against these men, but not always with + success. Hindrances there must be always in the way of all attempts to do + some good. But this is a sad business, and very discreditable to the + persons employed in it and the Government which sanctions it, for they + must know that they cannot control the masters of the vessels engaged in + the trade; they may pass laws as to the treatment the natives are to + receive on the plantations, as to food, pay, &c., the time of service, + the date of their being taken home, but they know that the whole thing is + dishonest. The natives don't intend or know anything about any service or + labour; they don't know that they will have to work hard, and any regular + steady work is hard work to South Sea Islanders. They are brought away + under false pretences, else why tell lies to induce them to go on board? + </p> + <p> + 'I dare say that many young fellows go on board without much persuasion. + Many causes may be at work to induce them to do so, e.g., sickness in the + island, quarrels, love of excitement, spirit of enterprise, &c., but + if they knew what they were taken for, I don't think they would go. + </p> + <p> + 'November 2nd.—In sight of Norfolk Island. All well on board. + </p> + <p> + 'November 6th.—Yesterday we all landed safely, and found our whole + party quite well. Our new hall is finished, and in good time to receive + 134 Melanesians.' + </p> + <p> + Before the full accumulation of letters arrived from Auckland, a report by + a passing ship from Sydney stirred the hermit Bishop deeply, and elicited + the following warm congratulation:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: November 17, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Dr. Moberly,—Since my return—a fortnight since—from + the islands a rumour has reached us, brought hither in a small trader, + that the Bishop of Winchester has resigned his see, and that you are his + successor. It is almost too good to be true. I am waiting with great + anxiety for a vessel expected soon; I have had no English news since + letters of April. But in all seriousness, private news is of small moment + compared with the news of what is to become of that great Diocese. And + especially now, when almost all the south of England is so sadly in want + of officers to command the Church's army. Exeter, Bath and Wells, + Salisbury, Chichester (very old), and till now (if this rumour be true) + Winchester, from old age or sickness almost, if not quite, unfit for work. + If indeed I hear that God's Providence has placed you in charge of that + great see, it will give a different hue to the prospect, dreary enough, I + confess, to me; though I hope I am mistaken in my gloomy forebodings of + the results of all those many Dioceses being so long without active + Bishops. Salisbury of course I except, and Chichester is a small Diocese + comparatively, and the good Bishop, I know, works up to the maximum of his + age and strength. But if this be a true rumour, and I do sincerely trust + and pray that it may be so, indeed it will give hope and courage and fresh + life and power to many and many a fainting soul. If I may presume to say + so, it is (as Mrs. Selwyn wrote to me when he was appointed to Lichfield) + "a solemn and anxious thing to undertake a great charge on the top of such + great expectations." But already there is one out here anyhow who feels + cheered and strengthened by the mere hope that this story is true; and + everywhere many anxious men and women will lift up their hearts to God in + thankfulness, and in earnest prayers that you may indeed do a great work + to His glory and to the good of His Church in a new and even greater + sphere of usefulness. No doubt much of my thoughts and apprehensions about + the religious and social state of England is very erroneous. I have but + little time for reading about what is going on, and though I have the + blessing of Codrington's good sense and ability, yet I should like to have + more persons to learn from on such matters. I am willing and anxious to + believe that I am not cheerful and faithful enough to see the bright side + as clearly as I ought. Your letters have always been a very great help to + me; not only a great pleasure, much more than a pleasure. I felt that I + accepted, occasionally even that I had anticipated, your remarks on the + questions of the day, the conduct of parties and public men, books, &c. + It has been a great thing for me to have my thoughts guided or corrected + in this way. + </p> + <p> + 'Your last present to me was your volume of "Bampton Lectures," of which I + need not say how both the subject and the mode of treating it make them + especially valuable just now. And there is a strong personal feeling about + the work and writings of one where the public man is also the private + friend, which gives a special zest to the enjoyment of reading a work of + this kind. + </p> + <p> + 'Certainly it is one of the many blessings of my life that I should + somehow have been allowed to grow into this degree of intimacy with you, + whom I have always known by name, though I don't remember ever to have + seen you. I think I first as a child became familiar with your name + through good Miss Rennell, whom I dare say you remember: the old Dean's + daughter. What a joy this would have been to dear Mr. and Mrs. Keble; what + a joy it is to Charlotte Yonge; and there may be others close to + Winchester whose lives have been closely bound tip with yours. + </p> + <p> + 'But, humanly speaking, the thing is to have Bishops who can command the + respect and love and dutiful obedience of their clergy and laity alike. + </p> + <p> + 'One wants men who, by solid learning, and by acquaintance too with modern + modes of criticism and speculation, by scholarship, force of character, + largeness of mind, as well as by their goodness, can secure respect and + exercise authority. It is the lawlessness of men that one deplores; the + presumption of individual priests striking out for themselves unauthorised + ways of managing their parishes and officiating in their churches. And, if + I may dare to touch on such a subject, is there not a mode of speaking and + writing on the Holy Eucharist prevalent among some men now, which has no + parallel in the Church of England, except, it may be, in some of the + non-jurors, and which does not express the Church of England's mind; which + is not the language of Pearson, and Jackson, and Waterland, and Hooker, + no, nor of Bull, and Andrewes, and Taylor, &c.? I know very little of + such things—very little indeed. But it is oftentimes a sad grief to + me that I cannot accept some of the reasonings and opinions of dear Mr. + Keble in his book on "Eucharistic Adoration." I know that I have no right + to expect to see things as such a man saw them: that most probably the + instinctive power of discerning truth—the reward of a holy life from + early childhood—guided him where men without such power feel all + astray. But yet, there is something about the book which may be quite + right and true, but does not to me quite savour of the healthy sound + theology of the Church of England; the fragrance is rather that of an + exotic plant; here and there I mean—though I feel angry with myself + for daring to think this, and to say it to you, who can understand him. + </p> + <p> + 'November 27th.—I leave this as I wrote it, though now I know from + our mails, which have come to us, that you are Bishop of Salisbury, not of + Winchester. I hardly stop to think whether it is Winchester or Salisbury, + so great is my thankfulness and joy at the report being substantially + true. Though it did seem that Winchester was a natural sphere for you, I + can't help feeling that at Salisbury you can do (D.V.) what perhaps + scarcely any one else could do. And now I rejoice that you have had the + opportunity of speaking with no uncertain sound in your "Bampton + Lectures." Anyone can tell what the Bishop of Salisbury holds on the great + questions of Church Doctrine and Church Government. The diocese knows + already its Bishop, not only by many former but by his latest book. Surely + you will have the confidence of all Churchmen, and be blessed to do a + great work for the glory of God and the edification of the Church. + </p> + <p> + 'And now, my dear Bishop of Salisbury, you will excuse my writing on so + freely, too freely I fear. I do like to think of you in that most perfect + of Cathedrals. I hope and trust that you will have ere long, right good + fellow-workers in Exeter, Winton, and Bath and Wells. + </p> + <p> + 'But in the colonies you have a congeries of men from all countries, and + with every variety of creed, jumbled up together, with nothing whatever to + hold them together—no reverence—no thoughts of the old parish + church, &c. They are restless, worldly people to a great extent, + thinking of getting on, making money. To such men the very idea of the + Church as a Divine Institution, the mystical Body of the Lord, on which + all graces are bestowed, and through whose ministrations men are trained + in holiness and truth, is wholly unknown. The personal religion of many a + man is sincere; his position and duty as a Churchman he has never thought + about. I wish the clergy would master that part, at all events, of your + Lectures which deals with this great fundamental point, and then, as they + have opportunity, teach it to their people. And by-and-by, through the + collective life of the Church in its synods, &c., many will come to + see it, we may hope. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that I may give you a cheering account of ourselves. I was + nineteen weeks in the islands—met with no adventures worth + mentioning, only one little affair which was rather critical for a few + minutes, but ended very well—and in some of the Solomon Islands made + more way than heretofore with the people. We have 134 Melanesians here and + a baby. George Sarawia and his wife and two children, and two other + married couples—all Communicants—are at Mota, in a nice place, + with some twenty-two lads "boarding" with them, and about thirty more + coming to daily school. + </p> + <p> + 'The vessel was much knocked about in a violent gale in June off Norfolk + Island, and we had to handle her very carefully. The whole voyage was made + with a mainmast badly sprung, and fore topmast very shaky. Mr. Tilly was + very watchful over the spars, and though we had a large share of squally + weather, and for some days, at different times, were becalmed in a heavy + swell, the most trying of all situations to the gear of a vessel, yet, + thank God, all went well, and I have heard of the schooner safe in + Auckland harbour. About forty of our Melanesians here are Solomon + Islanders, from seven different islands; a few came from the New Hebrides, + the rest from the Banks Islands. We are already pretty well settled down + to our work. Indeed, it took only a day or two to get to work; our old + scholars are such great helpers to us. We number six clergymen here (G. + Sarawia being at Mota). Ten or twelve of the sixth form are teachers. If + you care to hear more; I must refer you to a letter just written to Miss + Yonge. But it is not easy to write details about 134 young people. Their + temptations are very great when they return to their islands; every + inducement to profligacy, &c., is held out to them. One of our young + baptized lads fell into sinful ways, and is not now with us. He was not + one of whom we had great expectations, though we trusted that he would go + on steadily. Many others, thank God, were kept pure and truthful in the + midst of it all, refusing even to sleep one night away from our little + hut, and in some cases refusing even to leave the schooner. "No, I will + wait till I am married," said two lads to me, who were married here to + Christian girls on November 24th, "and then go ashore for a time with my + young wife. I don't think I should yield, but I don't want to put myself + in the way of such temptations." And so, when I had naturally expected + that they would take their six weeks' holiday on shore, while the + "Southern Cross" went from Mota to Norfolk Island and back (during my stay + at Mota), they remained on board, rejoining me, as they were two of my + boating crew, for the New Hebrides trip! This was very comforting. And + when I married three couples on November 24th, and knew that they were + pure, youths and girls alike, from the great sin of heathenism, you can + well think that my heart was very full of thankfulness and hope. + </p> + <p> + 'I must end my long letter. How will you find time to read it? Send me + some day a photograph of your beautiful Cathedral. + </p> + <p> + 'Yours very faithfully, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Before the letter to which Bishop Moberly is referred, Mr. Codrington's + bit about the weddings seems appropriate:— + </p> + <p> + 'These wedding days were great festivals, especially before many had been + seen. The Chapel was dressed with flowers, the wedding party in as new and + cheerful attire as could be procured, the English Marriage Service + translated into Mota. We make rings out of sixpences or threepenny bits. + The place before is full of the sound of the hammer tapping the silver on + the marlingspike. The wedding ceremony is performed with as much solemnity + as possible, all the school present in their new clothes and with flowers + in their hair. There is even a kind of processional Psalm as the wedding + party enters the Chapel. There is of course a holiday, and after the + service they all go off, taking with them the pig that has been killed for + the feast. An enormous quantity of plum pudding awaits them when, in the + evening, they come back to prayers and supper. Rounds of hearty cheers, + led off by the Bishop, used to complete the day. Weddings of this kind + between old scholars, christened, confirmed, and trustworthy, represented + much anxiety and much teaching and expense, but they promise so much, and + that so near of what has been worked for, that they have brought with them + extraordinary pleasure and satisfaction.' + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: November 24, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—To-day we married three young couples: the + bridegrooms. Robert Pantatun, William Pasvorang, and Marsden Sawa, who + have been many years with us, and are all Communicants; the brides, Emily + Milerauwe, Lydia Lastitia, and Rhoda Titrakrauwe, who were baptized a year + ago. + </p> + <p> + 'The Chapel was very prettily dressed up with lilies and many other + flowers. The bridegrooms wore white trousers, shirts, &c., the brides + wore pretty simple dresses and flowers in their hair. We crowded as many + persons as possible into our little Chapel. Mr. Nobbs and some ten or + twelve of our Pitcairn friends were all the visitors that we could manage + to make room for. + </p> + <p> + 'Great festivities followed, a large pig was killed yesterday and eaten + to-day, and Mr. Palmer had manufactured puddings without end, a new kind + of food to many of the present set of scholars, but highly appreciated by + most of them. Then followed in the evening native dances and songs, and a + supper to end with, with cheers for the brides and bridegrooms. + </p> + <p> + 'There are now six married couples here, three more at Mota, and one or + two more weddings will take place soon. Very fortunately, a vessel came + from Auckland only three or four days ago, the first since the "Southern + Cross," in June, It brought not only five mails for us English folk, but + endless packages and boxes for the Mission, ordered by us long ago, + stores, clothing, &c. We had all ordered more or less in the way of + presents for scholars, and though we keep most of these treasures for + Christmas gifts, yet some are distributed now. + </p> + <p> + 'These presents are for the most part really good things. It is quite + useless for kind friends to send presents to Melanesians as they would do + to an English lad or girl. To begin with, most of our scholars are grown + up, and are more like English young people of twenty or eighteen years old + than like boys and girls, and not a few are older still; and secondly, no + Melanesian, old or young, cares a rush about a toy. They, boys and girls, + men and women, take a practical view of a present, and are the very + reverse of sentimental about it, though they really do like a photograph + of a friend. But a mere Brummagem article that won't stand wear is quite + valueless in their eyes. + </p> + <p> + 'Whatever is given them, cheap or dear, is estimated according to its + usefulness; and whatever is given, though it may cost but a shilling, must + be good of its kind. For example, a rough-handled, single-bladed knife, + bought for a shilling, they fully appreciate; but a knife with + half-a-dozen blades, bought for eighteen-pence, they would almost throw + away. And so about everything else. I mention this as a hint to kind + friends. They do like to hear that people think of them and are kind to + them, but they don't understand why useless things should be sent from the + other end of the world when they could buy much better things with their + own money out of the mission store here. + </p> + <p> + 'They are very fond of anything in the way of notebooks, 8vo and 12mo + sizes (good paper), writing-cases (which must be good if given at all), + patent safety inkstands—these things are useful on board ship, and + can be carried to the islands and brought back again safely. Work-baskets + or boxes for the girls, with good serviceable needles, pins, thread, + scissors, thimbles, tapes, &c. &c., not a plaything. Here we can + buy for them, or keep in the store for them to buy, many things that are + much too bulky to send from a distance, the freight would be ruinous. The + "Southern Cross" brings them usually to us. Such things I mean as good + carpet-bags, from 5s. to 10s., stout tin boxes with locks and keys, axes, + tools, straw hats, saucepans, good strong stuff (tweed or moleskin) for + trousers and shirts, which they cut out and make up for themselves, quite + understanding the inferior character of "slop" work, good flannel for + under-shirts, or for making up into Crimean shirts, Nottingham drill, good + towelling, huckaback, &c., ought to be worth while to send out, and if + bought in large quantities at the manufacturer's, it would pay us to get + it in England, especially if the said manufacturer reduced the price a + little in consequence of the use to be made of his goods. + </p> + <p> + 'Dull small blue beads are always useful, ditto red. Bright glittering + ones are no use, few Melanesians would take them as a gift. Some islanders + like large beads, as big or bigger than boys' marbles. These are some + hints to any kind people who may wish to contribute in kind rather than in + money. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Codrington has given these fellows a great taste for gardening. Much + of their spare hours (which are not many) are spent in digging up, fencing + in and preparing little pieces of land close about the station, two or + three lads generally making up a party, and frequently the party consists + of lads and young men from different islands. Then they have presents of + seeds, cuttings, bulbs, &c., from Mr. Codrington chiefly, and Mrs. + Palmer and others contribute. Some of these little gardens are really very + nicely laid out in good taste and well looked after. They have an eye to + the practically useful here too, as every garden has its stock of bananas, + and here and there we see the sugar-cane too. + </p> + <p> + 'From 3.30 P.M. to 6 P.M. is the play time, although they do not all have + this time to themselves. For three lads must milk from 5 to 6, one or two + must drive in the cows, seven or eight are in the kitchen, three or four + must wash the horses, one must drive the sheep into the fold, all but the + milkers have only their one week of these diverse occupations. There are + about twelve head cooks, who choose their helpers (the whole school, minus + the milkers and two or three overlookers, being included), and so the + cooking work comes only once in twelve weeks. The cooks of the one week + drive up the cows and water the horses the next week, and then there is no + extra work, that is, nothing but the regular daily work from 9.30 A.M. + after school to 1 P.M. Wednesday is a half-holiday, Saturday a whole + holiday. There are six milkers, one of whom is responsible for the whole. + One receives 2s. 0d. per week, his chief mate 1s. 6d., and the other four + 1s. each. They take it in turns, three each week. This is the hardest work + in one sense; it brings them in from their play and fishing, or gardening, + &c., and so they are paid for it. We do not approve of the white man + being paid for everything, and the Melanesian being expected to work + habitually extra hours for nothing. There are many other little extra + occupations for which we take care that those engaged in them shall have + some reward, and as a matter of fact a good deal of money finds its way + into the hands of the storekeeper, and a very fair amount of 3d., 4d. and + 6d. pieces may be seen every Sunday in the offertory bason. + </p> + <p> + 'Perhaps I should say that we have seldom seen here any indications of + these Melanesians expecting money or presents; but we want to destroy the + idea in their minds of their being fags by nature, and to help them to + have some proper self-respect and independence of character. We see very + little in them to make us apprehensive of their being covetous or stingy, + and indisposed to give service freely. + </p> + <p> + 'School hours 8-9.20, 2-3.30, singing 7-8 P.M., chapel 6.45 A.M., 6.30 + P.M. + </p> + <p> + 'Of the 134 Melanesians, besides the baby, ten are teachers, and with + their help we get on very fairly. There are sixteen of us teachers in all, + so that the classes are not too large. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Codrington takes at present the elder Banks Islanders, Mr. Palmer the + next class, and Mr. Bice the youngest set of boys from the same group. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Atkin takes the Southern Solomon Islanders, and Mr. Brooke those from + the northern parts of the same group. I have been taking some Leper's + Islanders and Maiwo or Aurora Islanders as new comers, and other classes + occasionally. + </p> + <p> + 'Out of so many we shall weed out a good number no doubt. At present we + don't condemn any as hopelessly dull, but it will not be worth while to + spend much time upon lads who in five months must go home for good, and + some such there must be; we cannot attempt to teach all, dull and clever + alike. We must make selections, and in so doing often, I dare say, make + mistakes. But what can we do? + </p> + <p> + 'Our new hall is a great success. We had all the framework sawn out here; + it is solid, almost massive work, very unlike the flimsy wooden buildings + that are run up in a week or two in most colonial villages. It is so large + that our party of 145, plus 9 English, sit in the aisles without occupying + any part of the middle of the room. This gives us ample accommodation for + the present. Indeed we might increase our numbers to 200 without any more + buildings being necessary. The married people give the most trouble in + this respect, as they have their separate rooms, and four or five married + couples take up more room than three times the number of single folk. + However we have here room for all, I am thankful to say, though we must + build again if more of our young people take it into their heads to be + married. They pass on quickly, however, when married, into the next stage, + the life in their own islands, and so they leave their quarters here for + some successors. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope you can understand this attempt at a description, but I never + could write properly about such things, and never shall do so, I suppose. + I like the life, I know, a great deal better than I can write about it. + Indeed, it is a quiet restful life here, comparatively. Some anxieties + always, of course, but, as compared with the distractions of New Zealand + life, it is pleasant indeed. We have very few interruptions here to the + regular employment of our time, and need not waste any of it in visits or + small talk, which seems to be a necessary, though most wearisome part of + civilised life. + </p> + <p> + 'Your namesake goes on well; not a clever girl, but very steady and good; + her sister and brother are here; the sisters are much alike in character + and ability, the brother is sharper. You will, I know, specially think of + George Sarawia and his wife Sarah at Mota, with Charles and Ellen, + Benjamin and Marion. They are all Communicants, but the temptations which + surround them are very great, and early familiarity with heathen practices + and modes of thought may yet deaden the conscience to the quick + apprehension of the first approaches of sin. They do indeed need the + earnest prayers of all. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + How many sons who have lost a mother at fifteen or sixteen dwell on the + thought like this affectionate spirit, twenty-seven years later? + </p> + <p> + 'Advent Sunday, November 20, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a solemn thing to begin a new year on the anniversary of our dear + Mother's death. I often think whether she would approve of this or that + opinion, action, &c. Wright's painting is pleasant to look upon. I + stand in a corner of my room, at father's old mahogany desk. Her picture + and his, the large framed photographs from Richmond's drawing, and a good + photograph of the Bishop are just above. I wish you could see my room. I + write now on December 3, a bright summer day, but my room with its deep + verandah is cool and shady. It is true that I refuse carpet and curtains. + They only hold dust and make the room fusty. But the whole room is filled + with books, and those pictures, and the Lionardo da Vinci over the + fireplace, and Mr. Boxall's photograph over it, and his drawing vis-a-vis + to it at the other end of the room, and by my window a splendid gloxinia + with fine full flowers out in a very pretty porcelain pot, both Mr. + Codrington's gift. On another glass stand (also his present) a Mota flower + imported here, a brilliant scarlet hibiscus, and blossoms of my creepers + and bignonia, most beautiful. So fresh and pretty. The steps of the + verandah are a mass of honeysuckle. The stephanotis, with the beautiful + scented white flowers and glossy leaves, covers one of the posts. How + pleasant it is. Everyone is kind, all are well, all are going on well just + now. Such are missionary comforts. Where the hardships are I have not yet + discovered. Your chain, dear Joan, is round my neck, and the locket + (Mamma's) in which you, Fan, put the hair of you five, hangs on it. + </p> + <p> + 'I am dipping my pen into the old silver inkstand which used to be in the + front drawing-room. Every morning at about 5 A.M. I have a cup of tea or + coffee, and use Grandmamma Coleridge's old-fashioned silver cream-jug, and + the cup and saucer which Augusta sent out years ago, my old christening + spoon, and the old silver tea-pot and salver. Very grand, but I like the + old things. + </p> + <p> + 'This day fortnight (D.V.) I ordain J. Atkin and C. H. Brooke Priests. + </p> + <p> + 'I have no time to answer your April and September letters. I rejoice with + all my heart to hear of Dr. Moberly's appointment. What a joyful event for + Charlotte Yonge. That child Pena sent me Shairp's (dear old Shairp) book, + which I wanted. I must write to Sophy as soon as I can. You will forgive + if I have seemed to be, or really have been, unmindful of your sorrows and + anxieties. Sometimes I think I am in too great a whirl to think long + enough to realise and enter into all your doings. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + The intended letter to Mrs. Martyn was soon written. The death there + referred to was that of Mrs. William Coleridge, widow of the Bishop of + Barbadoes:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: December 14, 1869. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Sophy,—I should be specially thinking of you as Christmas + draws nigh with its blessed thoughts, and hopes, and the St. Stephen's + memories in any case I should be thinking of you. But now I have lately + received your long loving letter of last Eastertide, partly written in + bed. + </p> + <p> + Then your dear child's illness makes me think greatly (and how lovingly!) + of you three of the three generations. Lastly, I hear of dear Aunt + William's death. You know that I had a very great affection for her, and I + feel that this is a great blow probably to you all, though dear Aunty (as + I have noticed in all old persons, especially when good as well as old) + takes this quietly, I dare say. The feeling must be, "Well, I shall soon + meet her again; a few short days only remain." + </p> + <p> + 'I suppose that you, with your quarter of a century's widowhood, still + feel as if the waiting time was all sanctified by the thought of the + reunion. Oh! what a thought it is: too much almost to think that by His + wonderful mercy, one may hope to be with them all, and for ever; to behold + the faces of Apostles, and Apostolic men, and Prophets, and Saints, holy + men and women; and, as if this were not enough, to see Him as He is, in + His essential perfections, and to know Him. One can't sustain the effort + of such a thought, which shows how great a change must pass on one before + the great Consummation. Well, the more one can think of dear Father and + Mother, and dear dear Uncle James and Uncle Frank, and Cousin George, and + Uncle and Aunt William, others too, uncles and aunts, and your dear Fanny, + and your husband, though it would be untrue to say I knew him, taken so + early—the more one thinks of them all the better. And I have, Sophy, + so many very different ones to think of Edwin and Fisher, and so many + Melanesians taken away in the very first earnestness and simplicity of a + new convert's faith. How many have died in my arms—God be thanked—in + good hope! + </p> + <p> + 'If by His great mercy there be a place for me there, I feel persuaded + that I shall there find many of those dear lads, whom indeed I think of + with a full heart, full of affection and thankfulness. + </p> + <p> + 'I have been reading the "Memoir of Mr. Keble," of course with extreme + interest. It is all about events and chiefly about persons that one has + heard about or even known. I think we get a little autobiography of our + dear Uncle John in it too, for which I don't like it the less. + </p> + <p> + There are passages, as against going to Borne, which I am glad to see in + print; they are wanted now again, I fear. I am glad you like Moberly's + "Bampton Lectures." His book on "The Great Forty Days," his best book (?) + after all, has the germ of it all. I am so thankful for his appointment to + Salisbury. I dare say you know that he is kind enough to write to me + occasionally; and he sends me his books, one of the greatest of the + indirect blessings of being known to Mr. Keble. I do very little in the + way of reading, save that I get a quiet hour for Hebrew, 5-6 A.M., and I + do read some theology. In one sense it is easier reading to me than other + books, history, poetry, because, though I don't know much about it, I know + nothing about them. + </p> + <p> + 'My pleasure would be, if with you, in talking over such little insight as + I may have received into the wondrous harmony and symmetry of the whole + Bible, by tolerably close examination of the text of the Greek, and to + some extent of the Hebrew. The way in which a peculiar word brings a whole + passage or argument en rapport with a train of historical associations or + previous statements is wonderful; e.g., the verb of which Moses is formed + occurs only in Exodus ii. 10, 2 Samuel xxii. 17, Psalm xviii. 16. See how + the magnificent description of the Passage of the Red Sea in Psalm xviii. + is connected with Moses by this one word. These undesigned coincidences, + and (surely) proofs of inspiration are innumerable. + </p> + <p> + 'I do delight in it: only I want more help, far more. We have great + advantages in this generation. Dear Uncle James had no Commentary, one + might almost say, on Old Testament or New Testament. Ellicott, Wordsworth, + and Alford on the New Testament were not in existence; and the Germans, + used with discrimination, are great helps. An orthodox Lutheran, one + Delitzsch (of whom Liddon wrote that Dr. Pusey thinks highly of his Hebrew + scholarship), helps me much in Isaiah. He has sucked all the best part out + of Vitringa's enormous book, and added much minute, and I am told correct + criticism. And how grand it is! This morning—it is now 6.15 A.M.—I + have been reading part of that wonderful chapter xxvi. + </p> + <p> + 'It strikes me that the way to teach a class or a congregation is to bring + out the doctrine from the very words of Scripture carefully, critically + examined and explained. Only think, Sophy, of the vague desultory way in + which we all, more or less, read; and we have accepted a phraseology + without enquiring to a great extent, and use words to which we attach no + definite meaning. Few in the congregation could draw out in clear words + what they mean when they talk of faith, justification, regeneration, + conversion, &c. &c. All language denoting ideas and thoughts is + transferred to the region of the mind from denoting at first only external + objects and sensations. This is in accordance with the mystery of all, the + union of mind and matter—which no pagan philosopher could comprehend—the + extreme difficulty of solving which caused Dualism and Asceticism on the + one hand, and neglect of all bodily discipline on the other. Mind and + matter must be antagonistic, the work of different beings: man must get + rid of his material part to arrive at his true end and perfection. + </p> + <p> + 'So some said, "Mortify, worry the body, which is essentially and + inherently evil." "No," said others, "the sins of the body don't hurt the + mind; the two things are distinct, don't react on one another." (St. Paul + deals with all this in the Colossians.) The Incarnation is the solution or + the culmination of the mystery. + </p> + <p> + 'What a prose! but I meant, that people so often use words as if the use + of a word was equivalent to the knowledge of the thought which, in the + mind of an accurate thinker, accompanies the utterance of the word. + </p> + <p> + 'I should think that three-fourths of what we clergymen say is + unintelligible to the mass of the congregation. We assume an acquaintance + with the Bible and Prayer-book, thought, and a knowledge of the meaning of + words which few, alas! possess. We must begin, then, with the little ones; + as far as I see, all children are apt to fail at the point when they ought + to be passing from merely employing the memory (in learning by heart, + e.g., the Catechism) by exercising the reasoning and thinking faculty. + </p> + <p> + '"Well now, you have said that very well, now let us think what it means." + </p> + <p> + 'How well Dr. Pusey says, in his Sermons, "Not altogether intentional + deliberate vice, but thoughtlessness is destroying souls." + </p> + <p> + 'I run on at random, dear Sophy, hoping to give you one and a half hour's + occupation on a sick bed or couch, and because, as you say, this is the + only converse we are likely to have on earth. + </p> + <p> + 'I think I am too exclusively fond of this reading, very little else + interests me. I take up a theological book as a recreation, which is, + perhaps, hardly reverent, and may narrow the mind; but even Church history + is not very attractive to me. I like Jackson and Hooker, and some of the + moderns, of whom I read a good many; and I lose a good deal of time in + diving into things too deep by half for me, while I forget or don't learn + simple things. + </p> + <p> + 'All this modern rage for reviews, serials, magazines, I can't abide. My + mind is far too much distracted already, and that fragmentary mode of + reading is very bad for many people, I am sure. + </p> + <p> + 'Naturally enough at forty-two years of age ninety-nine hundredths of the + "lighter" books seem to me mere rubbish. They come to me occasionally. + However, there are younger ones here, so it isn't sheer waste to receive + such donations: they soon get out of my room. Not, mind you, that I think + this the least evidence of my being wiser, or employing my time more + carefully than other folk. Only I want you to know what I am, and what I + think. + </p> + <p> + 'Pena has sent me a nice book which I wanted: 1st. Because I have a great + personal liking for Shairp, a simple-minded, affectionate man, with much + poetical feeling and good taste-a kindly-natured man. 2nd. Because he + writes in an appreciative kind of way, and is the very opposite of .... + whom I can't stand with his insufferable self-sufficiency, and incapacity + for appreciating the nobler, simpler, more generous natures who are unlike + him. Well! that is fierce. But there is a school of men whom I can't + stand. Their nature repels me, and I hardly wish to like them; which is an + evil feeling. + </p> + <p> + 'I shall add a line in a few days. + </p> + <p> + 'My very dearest love to Aunty—dear Aunty; and if I can't write to + Pena, give her my best love and thanks for her book. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear Sophy, your loving Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + Two other letters, one to each of the sisters, were in progress at this + time. To Joanna, who had been grieved for the poor girl whose + transgression had occurred in the beginning of the year, he says:— + </p> + <p> + 'About Semtingvat, you must be comforted about her. For a poor child who, + two short years before, had assumed as a matter of course that a woman + simply existed to be a man's slave in every kind of way, her fault could + not, I think, be regarded as very great. Indeed, there was much comfort + from the first; and since that time they not only have gone on well, but I + do believe that their religious character has been much strengthened by + the kind of revelation they then obtained of what Christianity really does + mean. Anyhow, all notice the fact that U—— has improved very + much, and they all sing Semtingvat's praises. I had no difficulty about + marrying them after a little while. I spoke openly in chapel to everyone + about it. Their wedding was not as other weddings—no festivity, no + dressing of the chapel, no feast, no supper and fun and holiday. It was + perfectly understood to be in all respects different from a bright, happy + wedding. But it was quite as much for the sake of all, for the sake of + enforcing the new teaching about the sanctity of marriage, that we made so + very much of what (as men speak) was under the circumstances a + comparatively light fault, less than an impure thought on the part of such + as have been taught their duty from their childhood. + </p> + <p> + 'I am almost confused with the accounts from England. All seems in a state + of turmoil and confusion; all the old landmarks being swept away by a + deluge of new opinions as to all matters civil and ecclesiastical. I don't + think that we ought to refuse to see these signs of a change in men's mode + of regarding great political and religious questions. A man left high and + dry on the sand-bank of his antiquated notions will do little good to the + poor folk struggling in the sea way, though he is safer as far as he is + himself concerned by staying where he is than by plunging in to help them. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a critical time in every sense. Men and women can hardly be + indifferent; they must be at the pains of making up their minds. As for us + clergy, everywhere but in Norfolk Island, we must know that people are + thinking of matters which all were content a few years ago to keep back in + silence, and that they expect us to speak about them. How thankful I am + that we fortunate ones are exempt from this. Yet in my way I, too, try to + think a bit about what is going on; and I don't want to be too gloomy, or + to ignore some good in all this ferment in men's minds. It is better than + stagnation and indolent respectability. There is everywhere a + consciousness of a vast work to be done, and sincere efforts are made to + do it. I suppose that is a fact; many, many poor souls are being taught + and trained for heaven through all these various agencies which seem to a + distant and idle critic to be so questionable in some ways. + </p> + <p> + 'Of old one thought that the sober standard of Church of England divinity + was the rule to which all speculations should be reduced; and one thought + that Pearson, Hooker, Waterland, Jeremy Taylor also, and Andrewes, and + Bull, and Jackson, and Barrow, &c., stood for the idea of English + divinity. Now we are launched upon a wider sea. Catholic usage and + doctrine take the place of Church of England teaching and practice; + rightly, I dare say, only it may be well to remember that men who can + perhaps understand a good deal of the English divines, can hardly be + supposed to be equally capable of understanding the far wider and more + difficult range of ecclesiastical literature of all ages and all writers. + </p> + <p> + 'Everyone knows and is struck by the fact that passages of old writers are + continually quoted by men of quite different schools of thought in favour + of their own (different) views. Clearly they can't both understand the + mind and spirit of these writers; and the truth is, isn't it, that only + they who by very long study, and from a large share of the true historical + imagination, sympathise with and really enter into the hearts and minds of + these writers, are competent to deal with and decide upon such wide and + weighty matters? + </p> + <p> + 'It seems to me as if men who are in no sense divines, theologians, or + well read, speak strongly and use expressions and teach doctrines which, + indeed, only very few men should think of uttering or teaching. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet, don't think I wish to be only an exclusive Anglican, without + sympathy for East or West; still less that I wish to ignore the Catholic + Church of the truly primitive times; but I take the real, so to say, + representative teaching of the Church of England to be the divinity of the + truly primitive Church, to which our formularies and reformers appeal. I + know, moreover, that our dear Father accepted Jackson and Waterland; and I + don't feel disposed to disparage them, as it is the fashion to do + nowadays. Few men, in spite of occasional scholastic subtlety, go so deep + in their search right down into principles as Jackson. Few men so analyse, + dissect, search out the precise, exact meaning of words and phrases, so + carry you away from vague generalities to accurate defined meanings and + doctrines. He had an honest and clear brain of his own, though he was a + tremendous book-worm; and I think he is a great authority, though I know + about him and his antagonism to Rome. I don't fear to weary you by this + kind of talk; but don't I wish I could hear three or four of our very best + men discuss these points thoroughly. In all sincerity I believe that I + should be continually convinced of error, shallow judgments, and + ignorance. But then I should most likely get real light on some points + where I would fain have it.' + </p> + <p> + To this unconscious token of humility, another must be added, from the + same letter, speaking of two New Zealand friends:—'To me she has + always been kindness itself, with her husband overrating me to such an + amusing extent that I don't think it hurt even my vanity.' + </p> + <p> + Full preparation was going on for the ordination, of the two priests. + </p> + <p> + No special account of the actual service seems to have been written; and + the first letter of January was nearly absorbed by the tidings of the + three Episcopal appointments of the close of 1869, the Oxford choice + coming near to Bishop Patteson by his family affections, and the + appointment to Exeter as dealing with his beloved county at home. + </p> + <p> + And now, before turning the page, and leaving the period that had, on the + whole, been full of brightness, will be the best time to give Mr. + Codrington's account of the manner of life at St. Barnabas, while the + Bishop was still in his strength:— + </p> + <p> + 'Certainly one of the most striking points to a stranger would have been + the familiar intercourse between the Bishop and his boys, not only the + advanced scholars, but the last and newest comers. The kindly and friendly + disposition of the Melanesians leads to a great deal of free and equal + familiarity even where there are chiefs, and the obsequious familiarity of + which one hears in India is here quite unknown. Nevertheless, I doubt very + much whether other Melanesians live in the same familiarity with their + missionaries—e.g., Carry, wife of Wadrokala, writes thus:—"I + tremble very much to write to you, I am not fit to write to you, because, + does an ant know how to speak to a cow? We at Nengone would not speak to a + great man like you; no, our language is different to a chief and a + missionary." + </p> + <p> + 'Making every allowance, and, looking at the matter from within, that + perfect freedom and affectionateness of intercourse that existed with him + seems very remarkable. + </p> + <p> + 'The secret of it is not far to seek. It did not lie in any singular + attractiveness of his manner only, but in the experience that everyone + attracted gained that he sought nothing for himself; he was entirely free + from any desire to be admired, or love of being thought much of, as he was + from love of commanding for the sake of being obeyed. The great + temptations to missionaries among savage people, as it seems, are to + self-esteem, from a comparison of themselves with their European + advantages and the natives among whom they live; and to a domineering + temper, because they find an obedience ready, and it is delightful to be + obeyed. Bishop Patteson's natural disposition was averse to either, and + the principles of missionary work which he took up suited at once his + natural temper and his religious character. He was able naturally, without + effort, to live as a brother among his black brothers, to be the servant + of those he lived to teach. The natural consequence of this was, the + unquestioned authority which he possessed over those with whom he lived on + equal terms. No one could entertain the idea that anything was ordered + from a selfish motive, for any advantage to himself, or that anything was + forbidden without some very good reason. This familiarity with a superior, + which is natural with Melanesians, is accompanied, especially in Banks + Islanders, with a very great reserve about anything that touches the + feelings or concerns character. Thus a boy, who would use the Bishop's + room as if it were his own, coming in unasked, to read or write, or sit by + the fire there, would with very great difficulty get over the physical + trembling, which their language implies, that would come upon him, if he + wished to speak about his own feelings on religious matters, or to tell + him something which he well knew it was his duty to make known. When one + knows how difficult it is to them to speak openly, their openness with the + Bishop is more appreciated, though he indeed often enough complained of + their closeness with him. The real affection between the boys and the + Bishop required no acquaintance with the character of either to discern, + and could surprise no one who knew anything of the history of their + relation one to another. It is well known that he wished his elder boys to + stand in the place of the sixth form of a public school; and to some + extent they did so, but being mostly Banks Islanders, and Banks Islanders + being peculiarly afraid of interfering with one another, his idea was + never reached. Still no doubt a good deal is attained when they arrive + rather at the position of pupil-teacher in a National School; and this at + least they occupy very satisfactorily, as is shown by the success with + which so large a school has been carried on since the Bishop's death. No + doubt the Ordination of more from among their number would go far to raise + them in their own estimation. + </p> + <p> + 'In truth, the carrying out of the principle of the equality of black and + white in a missionary work, which is the principle of this mission, is + very difficult, and cannot be done in all particulars in practice by + anyone, and by most people, unless brought up to it, probably not at all. + Nevertheless, it is practicable, and, as we think, essential, and was in + all main points carried out by Bishop Patteson. But the effect of this + must not be exaggerated. It is true that we have no servants, yet a boy + regularly brought water, &c., for the Bishop, and a woman regularly + swept and cleaned his rooms, and received regular wages for it. The Bishop + never cooked his dinner or did any such work except upon occasions on + which a bachelor curate in England does much of the kind, as a matter of + course. The extraordinary thing is that it is, as he at any rate supposed, + the custom in other missions to make scholars and converts servants as a + matter of course; and the difference lies not in the work which is done or + not done by the one party or the other, but in the social relation of + equality which subsists between them, and the spirit in which the work is + asked for and rendered. + </p> + <p> + 'The main thing to notice about the Bishop is that there was nothing + forced or unnatural in his manner of taking a position of equality, and + equality as real in any way as his superiority in another. Consequently, + there was never the least loss of dignity or authority on his part. + </p> + <p> + 'There never was visible the smallest diminution of freedom and affection + in the intercourse that went on. It required some knowledge in one respect + to appreciate the extraordinary facility with which he conversed with boys + from various islands. A stranger would be struck with his bright smiles + and sweet tones as he would address some little stranger who came into his + room; but one who knew a little of the languages alone could know with + what extraordinary quickness he passed from one language to another, + talking to many boys in their own language, but accommodating his tongue + with wonderful readiness to each in succession. It would be hard to say + how many languages he could speak; those which he spoke quite freely, to + my knowledge, were not so many: Mota, Bauro, Mahaga, and Nengone, + certainly; some others no doubt quite readily when among the people who + spoke them; and very many only with a small vocabulary which was every + instant being enlarged. It does not appear to me that his scientific + philological acquirements were extraordinary; but that his memory for + words giving him such a command of vocabulary, and so wide a scope for + comparison, and his accurate and delicate ear to catch the sounds, and + power of reproducing them, were altogether wonderful and very rarely + equalled. A man of his faculty of expression and powers of mind could not + speak like a native; he spoke better than a native, than a native of Mota + at least. That is that, although no doubt he never was quite master of the + little delicate points of Mota scholarship, which no one not a native can + keep quite right, and no native can account for, yet his vocabulary was so + large and accurate, and his feeling of the native ways of looking at + things and representing them in words so true, that he spoke to them more + clearly and forcibly than even any native spoke, and with the power of an + educated mind controlling while following the native taste. He was an + enthusiast, no doubt, about these languages, and jealous of their claim to + be considered true language, and not what people suppose them to be, the + uncouth jargon of savages. I will only say that his translations of some + of the Psalms into Mota are as lofty in their diction and as harmonious in + their rhythm, in my estimation, as anything almost I read in any language. + This no doubt sounds exaggerated, and must be taken only for what it is + worth. + </p> + <p> + 'It was probably in a great measure because his natural power of acquiring + languages was so extraordinary, and needed so very little labour in him, + that he did so very little to put on paper what he knew of all those many + tongues. All there is in print I have put together. Besides this, he + carried the same unfortunate way of leaving off what he had begun into + these notes on language also. In the year '63-'64 he got printed a number + of small grammatical papers in almost all the languages he knew, because + he felt he ought not to subject them to the risk of being lost. Another + reason why he did not go into any laborious manuscript or printing work + with the various languages was, that he saw as time went on, first, that + it was so very uncertain what language would come in practice into + request; and, secondly, that one language would suffice for the use, in + practice, of all natives of a neighbourhood. For example, the language of + part of Mae (Three Hills), in the New Hebrides, was once studied and well + known. Nothing whatever came of the intercourse with that island, once so + constant, I don't know why, and now the people themselves are destroyed + almost, and hopes of doing them good destroyed by the slave trade. And, + secondly, the use of the Mota language in our ordinary intercourse here + has very much diminished the need for any one's knowing a particular + language beyond the missionary who has charge of the boys who speak it. + Thus the Bishop rather handed over the language of Bauro to Mr. Atkin, of + Florida to Mr. Brooke, of Leper's Island to Mr. Price; and as the common + teaching of all boys who belonged to either of the principal groups into + which the school fell went on in Mota, there was no practical use in the + other tongues the Bishop knew, except in his voyages, and in giving him + more effectual powers of influencing those to whom he could speak in their + own tongue. Besides, he saw so clearly the great advantage, on the one + hand, of throwing together in every possible way the boys from all the + islands, which was much helped by the use of one language, and, on the + other hand, the natural tendency in a group of boys from one island or + neighbourhood to keep separate, and of the teacher of a particular set to + keep them separate with himself, that, without saying much about it, he + discouraged the printing of other languages besides Mota, and in other + ways kept them rather in the background. How things would have arranged + themselves if Mota had not by circumstances come into such prominence I + cannot say, but the predominance of Mota came in with the internal + organisation of the Mission by Mr. Pritt. It is impossible for one who + knew Bishop Patteson intimately, and the later condition of the Mission + intimately, to lose sight for long of Mr. Pritt's influence and his useful + work.' + </p> + <p> + Perhaps this chapter can best be completed by the external testimony of a + visitor to Norfolk Island, given in a letter to the Editor of the + 'Australian Churchman':— + </p> + <p> + 'Daily at 7 A.M. the bell rings for chapel about one minute, and all hands + promptly repair thither. In spite of the vast varieties of language and + dialect spoken by fifty or sixty human beings, collected from twenty or + thirty islets of the Pacific main, no practical difficulty has been found + in using the Mota as the general language in Chapel and school, so that in + a short time a congregation of twenty languages are able to join in + worship in the one Mota tongue, more or less akin to all the rest, and a + class of, say, nine boys, speaking by nature five different languages, + easily join in using the one Mota language, just as a Frenchman, a German, + a Russian, a Pole, an Italian, and an Englishman, all meeting in the same + cafe or railway carriage, on the same glacier or mountain top, might + harmoniously agree to use the French language as their medium of + communication. So the service is conducted in Mota with one exception + only. The collect for the day is read in English, as a brief allowable + concession to the ears and hearts of the English members of the Mission. + The service consists of the greater part of the Church of England Service + translated. Some modifications have been made to suit the course of + religious instruction. The Psalms are chanted and hymns sung in parts, and + always in admirable tune, by the congregation. Noteworthy are the perfect + attention, the reverent attitude, the hearty swing and unison of the + little congregation, a lesson, I felt with shame, to many of our white + congregations. + </p> + <p> + 'Immediately after service clinks out the breakfast bell, and, with + marvellous promptitude and punctuality, whites and blacks, lay and + clerical, are seen flocking to the mess-room. The whites sit at the upper + end of the table, but beyond the special privilege of tea, all fare alike, + chiefly on vegetables: yams or sweet potatoes, and carrots or vegetable + marrows, as may suit the season, with plenty of biscuit for more ambitious + teeth, and plenty of milk to wash it down. Soon afterwards comes school + for an hour and a half. Then work for the boys and men, planting yams, + reaping wheat, mowing oats, fencing, carting, building, as the call may + be, only no caste distinction or ordering about; it is not go and do that, + but come and do this, whether the leader be an ordained clergyman, a white + farm bailiff, or a white carpenter. This is noteworthy, and your readers + will gain no clear idea of the Mission if they do not seize this point, + for it is no matter of mere detail, but one of principle. The system is + not that of the ship or the regiment, of the farm or the manufactory of + the old country, but essentially of the family. It is not the officer or + master saying "Go" but the father or the brother saying "Come." And to + this, I firmly believe, is the hearty cheerful following and merry work of + the blacks chiefly due. At 1 P.M. is dinner, much the same as breakfast. + Meat, though not unknown, is the weak point of the Mission dietary. In the + afternoon, work. At 6, tea. In the evening, class again for an hour or + two; this evening class being sometimes a singing lesson, heartily enjoyed + by the teacher. I forget precisely when the boys have to prepare matter + arising out of the lessons they have received viva voce. + </p> + <p> + 'There are evening prayers, and bed-time is early. Noteworthy are the + happy conjunctions of perfect discipline with perfect jollity, the + marvellous attainment of a happy familiarity which does not "breed + contempt." + </p> + <p> + 'I presume I need scarcely say to your readers that besides education in + reading, writing, and arithmetic, through the medium of the Mota language, + instruction in the Holy Scriptures and the most careful explanations of + their meaning and mutual relation, forms a main part of the teaching + given. The men and boys of the senior classes take notes; notes not by + order expressly to be inspected, but, so to say, private notes for the aid + of their memories; and from the translation given to me by Bishop Patteson + of some of these, I should say that few, if any, of the senior class of an + English Sunday School could give anything like so close, and sometimes + philosophical, an explanation of Scripture, and that sometimes in + remarkably few words. + </p> + <p> + 'There remains to be noticed one most effectual means of doing good. After + evening school, the Bishop, his clergy, and his aides, retire mostly into + their own rooms. Then, quietly and shyly, on this night or the other + night, one or two, three or four of the more intelligent of the black boys + steal silently up to the Bishop's side, and by fits and starts, slowly, + often painfully, tell their feelings, state their difficulties, ask for + help, and, I believe, with God's blessing, rarely fail to find it. They + are not gushing as negroes, but shy as Englishmen; we Englishmen ought, + indeed, to have a fellow-feeling for these poor black boys and help them + with all our hearts. + </p> + <p> + 'Such is the routine for five of the six work days. Saturday is whole + holiday, and all hands go to fish if the sea permits; if not, to play + rounders or what not. Merry lads they are, as ever gladdened an English + playground. + </p> + <p> + 'On Sunday, the early Chapel is omitted. The full Liturgy is divided into + two services—I forget the laws—and a kind of sermon in Mota is + given; and in the afternoon, the Bishop, or one of the ordained members of + the Mission, usually goes down to the town to relieve Mr. Nobbs in his + service for the Pitcairners. + </p> + <p> + 'As regards the manual work of the station, this general principle is + observed—women for washing and house-work; the men for planting and + out-of-door work; but no one, white or black, is to be too grand to do his + share. The Bishop's share, indeed, is to study and investigate and compare + the languages and necessary translations, but no one is to be above manual + labour. No one, because he is a white man, is to say, "Here, black fellow, + come and clean my boots." "Here, black people, believe that I have come to + give you a treasure of inestimable price. Meantime, work for me, am I not + your superior? Can I not give you money, calico, what not?" + </p> + <p> + 'This Christian democracy, if I may so call it, has worked well in the + long run.' + </p> + <p> + This observer does seem to have entered well into the spirit of the place; + and there can be no doubt that the plan and organisation of the Mission + had by this time been well tested and both found practicable, and, as at + present worked, more than ordinarily successful. The college was in full + working order, with a staff of clergy, all save one formed under the + Bishop, one native deacon and two teachers living with their wives in a + population that was fast becoming moulded by the influence of + Christianity, many more being trained up, and several more islands in + course of gradual preparation by the same process as was further advanced + in Mota. + </p> + <p> + Such were the achievements which could be thankfully recounted by the end + of 1869. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS. 1870-1871. + </h2> + <p> + The prosperous days of every life pass away at last. Suffering and sorrow, + failure and reverse are sure to await all who live out anything like their + term of years, and the missionary is perhaps more liable than other men to + meet with a great disappointment. 'Success but signifies vicissitude,' and + looking at the history of the growth of the Church, it is impossible not + to observe that almost in all cases, immediately upon any extensive + progress, there has followed what seems like a strong effort of the Evil + One at its frustration, either by external persecution, reaction of + heathenism, or, most fatally and frequently during the last 300 years, + from the reckless misdoings of unscrupulous sailors and colonists. The + West Indies, Japan, America, all have the same shameful tale to tell—what + wonder if the same shadow were to be cast over the Isles of the South? + </p> + <p> + It is one of the misfortunes, perhaps the temptations of this modern + world, that two of its chief necessaries, sugar and cotton, require a + climate too hot for the labour of men who have intelligence enough to grow + and export them on a large scale, and who are therefore compelled, as they + consider, to employ the forced toil of races able to endure heat. The + Australian colony of Queensland is unfit to produce wheat, but well able + to grow sugar, and the islands of Fiji, which the natives have implored + England to annex, have become the resort of numerous planters and + speculators. There were 300 white inhabitants in the latter at the time of + the visit of the 'Curacoa' in 1865. In 1871 the numbers were from 5,000 to + 6,000. Large sheep farms have been laid out, and sugar plantations + established. + </p> + <p> + South Sea Islanders are found to have much of the negro toughness and + docility, and, as has been seen, when away from their homes they are + easily amenable, and generally pleasant in manner, and intelligent. Often + too they have a spirit of enterprise, which makes them willing to leave + home, or some feud with a neighbour renders it convenient. Thus the + earlier planters did not find it difficult to procure willing labourers, + chiefly from those southern New Hebrides, Anaiteum, Tanna, Erromango, + &c., which were already accustomed to intercourse with sandal-wood + traders, had resident Scottish or London missionaries, and might have a + fair understanding of what they were undertaking. + </p> + <p> + The Fiji islanders themselves had been converted by Wesleyan Missionaries, + and these, while the numbers of imported labourers were small, did not + think ill of the system, since it provided the islanders with their great + need, work, and might give them habits of industry. But in the years 1868 + and 1869 the demand began, both in Queensland and Fiji, to increase beyond + what could be supplied by willing labour, and the premium, £8 a head, on + an able-bodied black, was sufficient to tempt the masters of small craft + to obtain the desired article by all possible means. Neither in the colony + nor in Fiji were the planters desirous of obtaining workers by foul means, + but labour they must have, and they were willing to pay for it. + Queensland, anxious to free herself from any imputation of slave-hunting, + has drawn up a set of regulations, requiring a regular contract to be made + with the natives before they are shipped, for so many years, engaging that + they shall receive wages, and be sent home again at the end of the + specified time. No one denies that when once the labourer has arrived, + these rules are carried out; he is well fed, kindly treated, not over + worked, and at the end of three or five years sent home again with the + property he has earned. + </p> + <p> + A recent traveller has argued that this is all that can be desired, and + that no true friend of the poor islander can object to his being taught + industry and civilisation. Complaints are all 'missionary exaggeration,' + that easy term for disposing of all defence of the dark races, and as to + the difficulty of making a man, whose language is not understood, + understand the terms of a contract—why, we continually sign legal + documents we do not understand! Perhaps not, but we do understand enough + not to find ourselves bound to five years' labour when we thought we were + selling yams, or taking a pleasure trip. And we have some means of + ascertaining the signification of such documents, and of obtaining redress + if we have been deceived. + </p> + <p> + As to the boasted civilisation, a sugar plantation has not been found a + very advanced school for the American or West Indian negro, and as a + matter of fact, the islander who has fulfilled his term and comes home, + bringing tobacco, clothes, and fire-arms, only becomes a more dangerous + and licentious savage than he was in his simplicity. It is absolutely + impossible, even if the planters wished it, to give any instruction to + these poor fellows, so scattered are the settlements, so various the + languages on each, and to send a man home with guns and gunpowder, and no + touch of Christian teaching, is surely suicidal policy. + </p> + <p> + Yet, as long as the natives went in any degree willingly, though the + Missionaries might deplore their so doing for the men's own sakes, and for + that of their islands, it was only like a clergyman at home seeing his + lads engage themselves to some occupation more undesirable than they knew. + Therefore, the only thing that has been entreated for by all the missions + of every denomination alike in the South Seas, has been such sufficient + supervision of the labour traffic as may prevent deceit or violence from + being used. + </p> + <p> + For, in the years 1869 and 1870, if not before, the captains of the labour + ships, finding that a sufficient supply of willing natives could not be + procured, had begun to cajole them on board. When they went to trade, they + were thrust under hatches, and carried off, and if the Southern New + Hebrides became exhausted, and the labour ships entered on those seas + where the 'Southern Cross' was a welcome visitor, these captains sometimes + told the men that 'the Bishop gave no pipes and tobacco, he was bad, they + had better hold with them.' Or else 'the Bishop could not come himself, + but had sent this vessel to fetch them.' Sometimes even a figure was + placed on deck dressed in a black coat, with a book in his hand, according + to the sailors' notion of a missionary, to induce the natives to come on + deck, and there they were clapped under hatches and carried off. + </p> + <p> + In 1870, H.M.S. 'Rosario,' Captain Palmer, brought one of these vessels, + the 'Daphne,' into Sydney, where the master was tried for acts of + violence, but a conviction could not be procured, and, as will be seen in + the correspondence, Bishop Patteson did not regret the failure, as he was + anxious that ships of a fair size, with respectable owners, should not be + deterred from the traffic, since the more it became a smuggling, + unrecognised business, the worse and more unscrupulous men would be + employed in it. + </p> + <p> + But decoying without violence began to fail; the natives were becoming too + cautious, so the canoes were upset, and the men picked up while struggling + in the water. If they tried to resist, they were shot at, and all + endeavours at a rescue were met with the use of firearms. + </p> + <p> + They were thus swept off in such numbers, that small islands lost almost + all their able-bodied inhabitants, and were in danger of famine for want + of their workers. Also, the Fiji planters, thinking to make the men + happier by bringing their wives, desired that this might be done, but it + was not easy to make out the married couples, nor did the crews trouble + themselves to do so, but took any woman they could lay hands on. Husbands + pursued to save the wives, and were shot down, and a deadly spirit of + hatred and terror against all that was white was aroused. + </p> + <p> + There is a still lower depth of atrocity, but as far as enquiry of the + Government at Sydney can make out, unconnected with labour traffic, but + with the tortoise-shell trade. Skulls, it will be remembered, were the + ornament of old Iri's house at Bauro, and skulls are still the trophies in + the more savage islands. It seems that some of the traders in + tortoise-shell are in the habit of assisting their clients by conveying + them in their vessels in pursuit of heads. There is no evidence that they + actually do the work of slaughter themselves, though suspicion is strong, + but these are the 'kill-kill' vessels in the patois of the Pacific, while + the kidnappers are the 'snatch-snatch.' Both together, these causes were + working up the islanders to a perilous pitch of suspicion and exasperation + during the years 1870, 1871, and thus were destroying many of the best + hopes of the fruit of the toils of all these years. But the full extent of + the mischief was still unknown in Norfolk Island, when in the midst of the + Bishop's plans for the expedition of 1870 came the illness from which he + never wholly recovered. + </p> + <p> + Already he had often felt and spoken of himself as an elderly man. Most + men of a year or two past forty are at the most vigorous period of their + existence, generally indeed with the really individual and effective work + of their lives before them, having hitherto been only serving their + apprenticeship; but Coleridge Patteson had begun his task while in early + youth, and had been obliged to bear at once responsibility and active toil + in no ordinary degree. Few have had to be at once head of a college, sole + tutor and steward, as well as primary schoolmaster all at once, or + afterwards united these charges with those of Bishop, examining chaplain + and theological professor, with the interludes of voyages which involved + intense anxiety and watchfulness, as well as the hardships of those + unrestful nights in native huts, and the exhaustion of the tropical + climate. No wonder then that he was already as one whose work was + well-nigh done, and to whom rest was near. And though the entrance into + that rest was by a sudden stroke, it was one that mercifully spared the + sufferings of a protracted illness, and even if his friends pause to claim + for it the actual honours (on earth) of martyrdom, yet it was no doubt + such a death as he was most willing to die, full in his Master's service—such + a death as all can be thankful to think of. And for the like-minded young + man who shared his death, only with more of the bitterness thereof, the + spirit in which he went forth may best be seen in part of a letter written + in the January of 1870, just after his Ordination:— + </p> + <p> + 'The right way must be to have a general idea of what to aim at, and to + make for the goal by what seem, as you go, the best ways, not to go on a + course you fixed to yourself before starting without having seen it. It is + so easy for people to hold theories, and excellent ones too, of the way to + manage or deal with the native races, but the worst is that when you come + to work the theory, the native race will never be found what it ought to + be for properly carrying it out. I am quite sure that nothing is to be + done in a hurry; a good and zealous man in ignorance and haste might do + more harm in one year than could be remedied in ten. I would not root out + a single superstition until I had something better to put in its place, + lest if all the weeds were rooted up, what had before been fertile should + become desert, barren, disbelieving in anything. Is not the right way to + plant the true seed and nourish it that it may take root, and out-grow and + choke the weeds? My objection to Mission reports has always been that the + readers want to hear of "progress," and the writers are thus tempted to + write of it, and may they not, without knowing it, be at times hasty that + they may seem to be progressing? People expect too much. Those do so who + see the results of Mission work, who are engaged in it; those do so who + send them. We have the precious seed to sow, and must sow it when and + where we can, but we must not always be looking out to reap what we have + sown. We shall do that "in due time" if we "faint not." Because missionary + work looks like a failure, it does not follow that it is. + </p> + <p> + 'Our Saviour, the first of all Christian Missionaries, was thirty years of + His life preparing and being prepared for His work. Three years He spake + as never man spake, and did not His work at that time look a failure? He + made no mistakes either in what He taught or the way of teaching it, and + He succeeded, though not to the eyes of men. Should not we be contented + with success like His? And with how much less ought we not to be + contented! So! The wonder is that by our means any result is accomplished + at all.' + </p> + <p> + These are remarkable words for a young man of twenty-seven, full of life, + health, and vigour, and go far to prove the early ripening of a spirit + chastened in hopes, even while all was bright. + </p> + <p> + In the latter part of February, Bishop Patteson, after about six days of + warning, was prostrated by a very severe attack of internal inflammation, + and for three days—from the 20th to the 22nd—was in + considerable danger as well as suffering. Mr. Nobbs's medical knowledge + seems, humanly speaking, to have brought him through, and on the 28th, + when an opportunity occurred of sending letters, he was able to write a + note to his brother and sisters—weak and shattered-looking writing + indeed, but telling all that needed to be told, and finishing with 'in a + few days (D.V.) I may be quite well;' then in a postscript: 'Our most + merciful Father, Redeemer and Sanctifier is merciful indeed. There was a + time when I felt drawing near the dark valley, and I thought of Father, + Mother, of Uncle Frank, and our little ones, Frankie and Dolly,'—a + brother and sister who had died in early infancy. + </p> + <p> + But it was not the Divine will that he should be well in a few days. Day + after day he continued feeble; and suffering much, though not so acutely + as in the first attack, Mr. Nobbs continued to attend him, and the + treatment was approved afterwards by the physicians consulted. All the + clergy took their part in nursing, and the Melanesian youths in turn + watched him day and night. He did not leave his room till the beginning of + April, and then was only equal to the exertion of preparing two lads for + Baptism and a few more for Confirmation. On Easter Sunday he was able to + baptize the first mentioned, and confirm the others; and, the 'Southern + Cross' having by this time arrived for the regular voyage, he embarked in + her to obtain further advice at Auckland. + </p> + <p> + Lady Martin, his kind and tender hostess and nurse, thus describes his + arrival:— + </p> + <p> + 'We had heard of his illness from himself and others, and of his being out + of danger in the middle of March. We were therefore much surprised when + the "Southern Cross," which had sailed a fortnight before for Norfolk + Island, came into the harbour on the morning of the 25th of April, and + anchored in our bay with the Bishop's flag flying. We went down to the + beach with anxious hearts to receive the dear invalid, and were greatly + shocked at his appearance. His beard, which he had allowed to grow since + his illness, and his hair were streaked with grey; his complexion was very + dark, and his frame was bowed like an old man's. + </p> + <p> + 'The Captain and Mr. Bice almost carried him up the hill to our house. He + was very thankful to be on shore, and spoke cheerfully about the + improvement he had made on the voyage. It was not very apparent to us who + had not seen him for two years. Even then he was looking worn and ill, but + still was a young active man. He seemed now quite a wreck. For the first + fortnight his faithful attendant Malagona slept in his room, and was ready + at all hours to wait upon his beloved Bishop. Day by day he used to sit by + the fire in an easy chair, too weak to move or to attend to reading. He + got up very early, being tired of bed. His books and papers were all + brought out, but he did little but doze.' + </p> + <p> + Yet, in his despatch of the 2nd of May, where the manuscript is as firm, + clear, and beautiful as ever, only somewhat less minute, he says that he + had improved wonderfully on the voyage, though he adds that the doctor + told him, 'At an office, they would insure your life at fifty, instead of + forty-three years of age.' + </p> + <p> + Dr. Goldsboro had, on examination, discovered a chronic ailment, not + likely, with care and treatment, to be dangerous to life, but forbidding + active exertion or horse exercise, and warning him that a sudden jar or + slip or fall on rugged ground would probably bring on acute inflammation, + which might prove fatal after hours of suffering. + </p> + <p> + After, in the above-mentioned letter, communicating his exact state, he + adds:—'The pain has been at times very severe, and yet I can't tell + you of the very great happiness and actual enjoyment of many of those + sleepless nights; when, perhaps at 2 A.M., I felt the pain subsiding, and + prayer for rest, if it were His will, was changed into thanksgiving for + the relief; then, as the fire flickered, came restful, peaceful, happy + thoughts, mingled with much, I trust, heart-felt sorrow and remorse. And + Psalms seemed to have a new meaning, and prayers to be so real, and + somehow there was a sense of a very near Presence, and I felt almost sorry + when it was 5.30, and I got up, and my kind Melanesian nurse made me my + morning cup of weak tea, so good to the dry, furred tongue. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, that is all past and gone; and now the hope and prayer is, that + when my time is really come, I may be better prepared to go. + </p> + <p> + 'Sir William and Lady Martin are pretty well; and I am in clover here, + getting real rest, and gaining ground pretty well. I have all confidence + in the prudence of the other missionaries and leave the work thankfully in + their hands, knowing well Whose work it is, and to Whose guidance and + protection we all trust.' + </p> + <p> + On the 9th, in a letter sent by a different route, he adds:— + </p> + <p> + 'So I think it will come to my doing my work on Norfolk Island just as + usual, with only occasional inconvenience or discomfort. But I think I + shall have to forego some of the more risky and adventurous part of the + work in the islands. This is all right. It is a sign that the time is come + for me to delegate it to others. I don't mean that I shall not take the + voyages, and stop about on the islands (D.V.) as before. But I must do it + all more carefully, and avoid much that of old I never thought about. Yet + I think it will not, as a matter of fact, much interfere with my work. + </p> + <p> + 'I have, you understand, no pain now, only some discomfort. The fact that + I can't do things, move about, &c., like a sound healthy person is not + a trial. The relief from pain, the <i>resty</i> feeling, is such a + blessing and enjoyment that I don't seem, as yet at all events, to care + about the other.' + </p> + <p> + So of that restful state Lady Martin says: 'Indeed it was a most happy + time to us, and I think on the whole to him. It was a new state of things + to keep him without any pricks of conscience or restlessness on his part. + He liked to have a quiet half-hour by the fire at night; and before I left + him I used to put his books near him: his Bible, his Hebrew Psalter, his + father's copy of Bishop Andrewes. Sometimes I would linger for a few + minutes to talk about his past illness. He used to dwell specially on his + dear father's nearness to him at that time. He spoke once or twice with a + reverent holy awe and joy of sleepless nights, when thoughts of God had + filled his soul and sustained him. + </p> + <p> + 'His face, always beautiful from the unworldly purity of its expression, + was really as the face of an angel while he spoke of these things and of + the love and kindness he had received. He seemed to have been standing on + the very brink of the river, and it was yet doubtful whether he was to + abide with us. Now, looking back, we can see how mercifully God was + dealing with His servant. A time of quiet and of preparation for death + given to him apart from the hurry of his daily life, then a few months of + active service, and then the crown. + </p> + <p> + 'At the end of a fortnight (?—you must please to rectify dates) the + "Southern Cross" sailed again, with Mr. Bice and Malagona on board; when, + just as we were expecting she would have reached Norfolk Island, she was + driving back into the harbour.' + </p> + <p> + The following letter to the Bishop of Lichfield gives an account of her + peril:— + </p> + <p> + 'Taurarua: May 11, 1870. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Bishop,—I have to tell you of another great mercy. The + "Southern Cross" left Auckland on May 3—fair wind and fine weather. + </p> + <p> + 'On May 5 she was within 185 miles of Norfolk Island. + </p> + <p> + 'Then came on a fearful gale from the east and northeast to north-west. + They were hove-to for three days, everything battened down; port boat and + davits carried away by a sea; after a while the starboard boat dashed to + pieces. + </p> + <p> + 'Malagona, my nurse at Norfolk Island, who was brought up for a treat, was + thrown completely across the cabin by one lurch, when she seemed almost + settling down. It was dark. The water in the cabin, which had come through + the dead-light, showed a little phosphoric glimmer. "Brother," he said to + Bice, "are we dying?" "I don't know; it seems like it. We are in God's + hands." "Yes, I know." + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. (Captain) Jacobs was calm and self-possessed. He even behaved + excellently. Once, all on deck were washed into the lee scuppers, and one + man washed overboard; but he held a rope, and with it and the recoil was + borne in again upon the deck. Lowest barometer, 28° 65'! We were startled + yesterday at about 4 P.M. with the news of the reappearance of the vessel. + I think that some £30 and the replacing the boats will pay damages, but + one doesn't think of that. + </p> + <p> + 'We hope to get, at all events, one ready-made boat, so as to cause no + delay. The good people at Norfolk Island will be anxious if the vessel + does not reappear soon. + </p> + <p> + 'Auckland, June 6th—"Southern Cross" could not sail till May 23. If + I am not found by them at Norfolk Island on their return, they are to come + on for me. I hope to make a two months' cruise. + </p> + <p> + 'General health quite well, no pain for weeks past. Dr. Goldsboro' says I + shall be better in a hot climate; but he won't let me out of his hands + yet. + </p> + <p> + 'I really think I shall do very well by-and-by. + </p> + <p> + 'Your very affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 'The repairs took some time (continues Lady Martin). The delay must have + been very trying to the Bishop in his weak state, as it threw out all the + plans for the winter voyage; but he showed no signs of fretfulness or of a + restless desire to go himself to see after matters. The winter was + unusually cold after the vessel sailed again; and I used to wonder + sometimes whether he lay awake listening to the wind that howled in gusts + round the house; he may have, but certainly there was always a look of + unruffled calm and peace on his face when we met in the morning. + </p> + <p> + 'Tis enough that Thou shouldst care Why should I the burden bear? + </p> + <p> + 'Our dear friend mended very slowly. It was more than a month before he + could bear even to be driven up to Bishop's Court to receive the Holy + Communion in the private Chapel, and some time longer before he could sit + through the Sunday services. I cannot be sure whether he went first on + Ascension Day. His own letters may inform you. I only remember how + thankful and happy he was to be able to get there. He had felt the loss of + the frequent Communions in which he could join all through his illness.' + </p> + <p> + He was making a real step towards recovery, and by the 10th of June he was + able to go and stay at St. Sepulchre's parsonage with Mr. Dudley, and + attend the gathering at the Bishop of Auckland's Chapel on St. Barnabas + Day; but the calm enjoyment and soothing indifference which seems so often + a privilege of the weakness of recovery was broken by fuller tidings + respecting the labour traffic that imperilled his work. A schooner had + come in from Fate with from fifteen to twenty natives from that and other + islands to work in flax mills; and a little later a letter arrived from + his correspondent in Fiji, showing to what an extent the immigration + thither had come, and how large a proportion of the young men working in + the sugar plantations had been decoyed from home on false pretences. + </p> + <p> + This was the point, as far as at the time appeared in New Zealand. If + violence had then begun, no very flagrant instances were known; and the + Bishop was not at all averse to the employment of natives, well knowing + how great an agent in improvement is civilisation. But to have them + carried off without understanding what they were about, and then set to + hard labour, was quite a different thing. + </p> + <p> + 'The difficulty is (he writes) to prove in a court of law what everyone + acknowledges to be the case, viz., that the natives of the islands are + inveigled on board these vessels by divers means, then put under the + hatches and sold, ignorant of their destination or future employment, and + without any promises of being returned home. + </p> + <p> + 'It comes to this, though of course it is denied by the planters and the + Queensland Government, which is concerned in keeping up the trade. + </p> + <p> + 'There will always be some islanders who from a roving nature, or from a + necessity of escaping retaliation for some injury done by them, or from + mere curiosity, will paddle off to a ship and go on board. But they can't + understand the white men: they are tempted below to look at some presents, + or, if the vessel be at anchor, are allowed to sleep on board. Then, in + the one case, the hatches are clapped on; in the other, sail is made in + the night, and so they are taken off to a labour of which they know + nothing, among people of whom they know nothing! + </p> + <p> + 'It is the regulation rather than the suppression of the employment of + native labourers that I advocate. There is no reason why some of these + islanders should not go to a plantation under proper regulations. My + notion is that— + </p> + <p> + '1. A few vessels should be licensed for the purpose of conveying these + islanders backwards and forwards. + </p> + <p> + '2. That such vessels should be in charge of fit persons, heavily bound to + observe certain rules, and punishable summarily for violating them. + </p> + <p> + '3. That the missionaries, wherever they be situated, should be informed + of the names of the vessels thus licensed, of the sailing masters, &c. + </p> + <p> + '4. That all other vessels engaged in the trade should be treated as + pirates, and confiscated summarily when caught. + </p> + <p> + '5. That a small man-of-war, commanded by a man fit for such work, should + cruise among the islands from which islanders are being taken. + </p> + <p> + '6. That special legislative enactments should be passed enabling the + Sydney Court to deal with the matter equitably. + </p> + <p> + 'Something of this kind is the best plan I can suggest. + </p> + <p> + 'It is right and good that the "Galatea" should undertake such work; and + yet we want a little tender to the "Galatea" rather than the big vessel, + as I think my experience of large vessels is that there is too much of + routine; and great delay is occasioned by the difficulty of turning a + great ship round, and you can't work near the shore, and even if chasing a + little vessel which could be caught at once in the open sea, you may be + dodged by her among islands. Yet the sense of the country is expressed + very well by sending "Captain Edinburgh" himself to cruise between New + Caledonia, Fiji, and the Kingsmill Islands, for the suppression of the + illegal deportation of natives. So reads the despatch which the Governor + showed me the other day. He asked me to give such information as might be + useful to the "Galatea."' + </p> + <p> + With the Governor, Sir George Bowen, an old Oxford friend, Bishop Patteson + spent several days, and submitted to him a memorial to Government, on the + subject, both at home and in Queensland, stating the regulations, as above + expressed. + </p> + <p> + The 'Rosario,' Captain Palmer, had actually captured the 'Daphne,' a + vessel engaged in capturing natives, and brought her into Sydney, where + the master was tried; but though there was no doubt of the outrage, it was + not possible to obtain a conviction; and a Fiji planter whom the Bishop + met in Auckland told him that the seizure of the 'Daphne' would merely + lead to the exclusion of the better class of men from the trade, and that + it would not stop the demand for native labourers. It would always pay to + 'run' cargoes of natives into the many islets of Fiji; and they would be + smuggled into the plantations. And there the government was almost + necessarily by the whip. 'I can't talk to them,' said the planter; 'I can + only point to what they are to do; and if they are lazy, I whip them.' + </p> + <p> + It was no wonder that Mr. Dudley thought the Bishop depressed; and, + moreover, he over-exerted himself, walking a mile and a half one day, and + preaching in the little Church of St. Sepulchre's. He longed to return to + St. Barnabas, but was in no state to rough it in a common little sailing + vessel, so he waited on. 'I am very lazy,' he says: 'I can't do much work. + Sir William and I read Hebrew, and discuss many questions in which his + opinion is most valuable. I have business letters to write, e.g., about + the deportation of islanders and about a clergyman whom the Melbourne + people are helping to go to Fiji.... This is perhaps a good trial for me, + to be sitting lazily here and thinking of others at work!' + </p> + <p> + This was written about the middle of July, when the convalescent had + regained much more strength, and could walk into town, or stand to read + and write according to his favourite custom, as well as thoroughly enjoy + conversations with his hosts at Taurarua. + </p> + <p> + 'I never saw (observes Lady Martin) a larger charity united to a more + living faith. He knew in Whom he believed; and this unclouded confidence + seemed to enable him to be gentle and discriminating in his judgments on + those whose minds are clouded with doubt. + </p> + <p> + 'It was pleasant to see how at this time his mind went back to the + interests which he had laid aside for years. He liked to hear bits of + Handel, and other old masters, and would go back to recollections of + foreign travels and of his enthusiasm for music and art as freshly and + brightly as he had done in the first days of our acquaintance. But this + was only in the "gloaming" or late in the evening when he was resting in + his easy chair. + </p> + <p> + 'At the end of July we were expecting a young relation and his bride to + spend a week with us before returning to England, and we gave the Bishop + the option of going to Bishop's Court for the time, where he was always + warmly welcomed. Some years before, he would certainly have slipped away + from the chatter and bustle; but now he decided to remain with us, and + throw himself into the small interests around, in a way which touched and + delighted the young couple greatly. He put away his natural shrinking from + society and his student ways, and was willing to enjoy everything as it + came. We had a curious instance at this time of the real difficulty the + Bishop felt about writing sermons. He had not attempted to preach, save at + Mr. Dudley's Church; but a week or two before he left us, Archdeacon + Maunsell came to beg of him to preach at St. Mary's, where he had often + taken service formerly. He promised to do so without any apparent + hesitation, and said afterwards to us that he could not refuse such a + request. So on Wednesday he began to prepare a sermon. He was sitting each + morning in the room where I was at work, and he talked to me from time to + time of the thoughts that were in his mind. The subject was all that was + implied in the words, "I have called thee by thy name," the personal + knowledge, interest, &c.; and I was rejoicing in the treat in store, + when, to my dismay, I saw sheet after sheet, which had been written in his + neat, clear hand as though the thoughts flowed on without effort, flung + into the fire. "I can't write," was said again and again, and the work put + by for another day. At last, on Saturday morning, he walked up to the + parsonage to make his excuses. Happily Dr. Maunsell would not let him off, + so on Sunday the Bishop, without any notes or sermon, spoke to us out of + the fulness of his heart about the Mission work, of its encouragements and + its difficulties. He described, in a way that none can ever forget who + heard the plaintive tones of his voice and saw his worn face that day, + what it was to be alone on an island for weeks, surrounded by noisy + heathen, and the comfort and strength gained then by the thought that we + who have the full privileges of Christian worship and communion were + remembering such in our prayers. + </p> + <p> + 'Our young friends sailed on Sunday, August 7; and we expected the Bishop + to sail the next day, but the winds were foul and boisterous, and we had + him with us till Friday morning, the 12th. Those last days were very happy + ones. His thoughts went back to Melanesia and to his work; and every + evening we drew him to tell of adventures and perils, and to describe the + islands to us in a way he had scarcely ever done before. I think it was + partly to please our Maori maiden, who sat by his side on a footstool in + the twilight, plying him with questions with so much lively natural + interest that he warmed up in return. Generally, he shrank into himself, + and became reserved at once if pressed to tell of his own doings. He spoke + one evening quite openly about his dislike to ship life. We were laughing + at some remembrance of the Bishop of Lichfield's satisfaction when once + afloat; and he burst into an expression of wonder, how anyone could go to + sea for pleasure. I asked him what he disliked in particular, and he + answered, Everything. That he always felt dizzy, headachy, and unable to + read with comfort; the food was greasy, and there was a general sense of + dirt and discomfort. As the time drew nigh for sailing, he talked a good + deal about the rapidly growing evil of the labour trade. He grew very + depressed one day, and spoke quite despondingly of the future prospects of + the Mission. He told us of one island, Vanua Lava, I think, where, a few + years ago, 300 men used to assemble on the beach to welcome him. Now, only + thirty or forty were left. He saw that if the trade went on at the same + rate as it had been doing for the last year or two, many islands would be + depopulated, and everywhere he must expect to meet with suspicion or open + ill will.' + </p> + <p> + 'The next morning the cloud had rolled away, and he was ready to go forth + in faith to do the work appointed him, leaving the result in God's hands. + We accompanied him to the boat on Friday morning. Bishop and Mrs. Cowie + came down, and one or two of the clergy, and his two English boys who were + to go with him. + </p> + <p> + 'It was a lovely morning. We rejoiced to see how much he had improved in + his health during his stay. He had been very good and tractable about + taking nourishment, and certainly looked and was all the better for + generous diet. He had almost grown stout, and walked upright and briskly. + Sir William parted with him on the beach, where we have had so many + partings; and I meant to do so too, but a friend had brought another boat, + and invited me to come, so I gladly went off to the "Southern Cross," + which was lying about half-a-mile off. The Cowies were very anxious to see + the vessel, and the Bishop showed them all about. I was anxious to go down + to his cabin, and arrange in safe nooks comforts for his use on the + voyage. In half an hour the vessel was ready to sail. One last grasp of + the hand, one loving smile, and we parted—never to meet again on + earth.' + </p> + <p> + So far this kind and much-loved friend! And to this I cannot but add an + extract from the letter she wrote to his sisters immediately after the + parting, since it adds another touch to the character now ripened:— + </p> + <p> + 'I think you are a little mistaken in your notion that your brother would + feel no interest in your home doings. He has quite passed out of that + early stage when the mind can dwell on nothing but its own sphere of work. + He takes a lively interest in all that is going on at home, specially in + Church matters, and came back quite refreshed from Bishop's Court with all + that Bishop Cowie had told him. + </p> + <p> + 'What he would really dread in England would be the being lionised, and + being compelled to speak and preach here, there, and everywhere. And yet + he would have no power to say nay. But the cold would shrivel him up, and + society—dinners, table talk—would bore him, and he would pine + for his warmth and his books. Not a bit the less does he dearly love you + all.' + </p> + <p> + The brother and sisters knew it, and forebore to harass him with + remonstrances, but resigned themselves to the knowledge that nothing would + bring him home save absolute disqualification for his mission. + </p> + <p> + His own last letter from Taurarua dwells upon the enjoyment of his + conversations with Sir William Martin and Bishop Cowie; and then goes into + details of a vision of obtaining young English boys to whom a good + education would be a boon, bringing them up at St. Barnabas, and then, if + they turned out fit for the Mission there, they would be prepared—if + not, they would have had the benefit of the schooling. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the 'Southern Cross,' with three of the clergy, had made the + voyage according to minute directions from the Bishop. Mr. Atkin made his + yearly visit to Bauro. He says:— + </p> + <p> + 'I hardly expected that when we came back we should have found the peace + still unbroken between Wango and Hane, but it is. Though not very good + friends, they are still at peace. In the chief's house I was presented + with a piece of pork, about two pounds, and a dish of tauma (their + favourite), a pudding made of yams, nuts, and cocoa-nut milk, and cooked + by steaming. Fortunately, good manners allowed me to take it away. Before + we left the village, it took two women to carry our provisions. A little + boy came back with us, to stay with Taki. The two boys who ought to have + come last year are very anxious to do so still. + </p> + <p> + 'July 12th.—We anchored the boat on the beach at Tawatana, and I + went into the oka (public house) to see the tauma prepared for the feast. + There were thirty-eight dishes. The largest, about four feet long, stood + nearly three feet high. I tried to lift one from the ground, but could + not; it must have been five hundredweight; the smallest daras held eighty + or a hundred pounds. I calculated that there was at least two tons. When + freshly made it is very good, but at these feasts it is always old and + sour, and dripping with cocoa-nut oil. The daras, or wooden bowls, into + which it is put, are almost always carved and inlaid with mother-of-pearl + shell. + </p> + <p> + 'There was a great crowd at the landing-place at Saa (Malanta) to meet us. + Nobody knew Wate at first, but he was soon recognised. The boat was pulled + up into a little river, and everything stealable taken out. We then went + up to the village, passing some women crying on the way; here, as at + Uleawa, crying seems to be the sign of joy, or welcome. Wate's father's + new house is the best I have seen in any of these islands. It has two + rooms; the drawing-room is about forty-five feet long by thirty wide, with + a roof projecting about six feet outside the wall at the end and four feet + at the eaves; the bed-room is about eighteen feet wide, so that the whole + roof covers about seventy feet by forty. Wate's father lives like a chief + of the olden time, with large property, but nothing of his own; all that + he has or gets goes as soon as he gets it to his retainers. + </p> + <p> + 'August 3rd.—Went to Heuru. The bwea began about ten o'clock. A bwea + means a stage, but the word is used as we speak of "the stage." There is a + stage in this case about three feet square, twenty feet from the ground, + walled in to three feet height on three sides, with a ladder of two stout + poles. On the bwea sit or stand two or three men, on either side having a + bag; visitors run up the ladder, put their money or porpoise teeth into + the bags if small, give it to the men if large; and, if their present is + worth it, make a speech a little way down the ladder. A party from a + village generally send up a spokesman, and when he has done go up in a + body and give their money. Taki was orator for Waiio, and I led the party + with my present of beads, which if red or white pass as money. The object + of a bwea is to get money, but it may only be held on proper occasions. + The occasion of this was the adoption of a Mara lad by the chief man at + Heuru; to get money to pay the lad's friends he held a bwea that all his + friends might help him. As he was a connection of Taki's, and Waiio is the + richest of the settlements, he got great spoils from thence.... At + Tawatana the young men put on petticoats of cocoa-nut leaves, and danced + their graceful "mao." I had only seen it before at Norfolk Island; it is + very pretty, but must be very difficult to learn; they say that not many + know it. At Nora they danced another most dirty dance: all the performers + were daubed from head to foot with mud, and wore masks covered with mud + and ashes; the aim of the dance, as far as I could see, was to ridicule + all sorts of infirmities and imbecilities, tottering, limping, staggering, + and reeling, but in time and order. One man had a basket of dripping mud + on his head which was streaming down his face and back all the time. A + great point is that the actors should not be recognised. Mr. Brooke was + likewise dropped at Florida. After this the rest of the party had gone on + to Mota, where George Sarawia was found working away well at his school, + plenty of attendants, and the whole place clean, well-ventilated, and + well-regulated. + </p> + <p> + A watch sent out as a present to Sarawia was a delight which he could + quite appreciate, and he had sent back very sensible right-minded letters. + Of Bishop Patteson's voyage the history is pieced together from two + letters, one to the sisters, the other to the Bishop of Lichfield. Neither + was begun till September, after which they make a tolerably full diary. + </p> + <p> + 'More than five weeks have passed since I left New Zealand, more than + three since I left Norfolk Island. Mr. Codrington and I reached Mota on + the morning of the eighth day after leaving Norfolk Island. I spent but + half an hour on shore with George Sarawia and his people; sailed across to + Aroa and Matlavo, where I landed eight or ten of our scholars; and came on + at once to the Solomon Islands. On Sunday morning (September 4) what joy + to find Mr. Atkin well and hearty! + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Brooke, who took up his abode at the village of Mboli, had with him + Dudley Lankana and Richard Maru, but they were a good deal absorbed by + their relations, and not so useful to him as had been hoped, though they + kept out of heathen habits, and remained constant to their intention of + returning. + </p> + <p> + '"Brooke," says the Bishop, "knows and speaks the one language of Anudha + very well, for there is but one language, with a few dialectical varieties + of course." + </p> + <p> + 'A nice little house was built for him at Mboli, which I have always + thought to be a very healthy place. + </p> + <p> + 'The coral grit and sand runs a long way in shore under cocoa-nut groves, + but there is no very dense undergrowth. The wind when easterly blows + freely along and is drawn rather upon the shore there. Two miles to + windward of Mboli is the good harbour of Sara, where the vessel anchored + with us. + </p> + <p> + 'Brooke's house was raised on poles, five feet from the ground; the floor + made of neat smooth bamboos, basket-worked. He had his table and two + benches, one easy cane chair, cork bed, boxes, harmonium, and plenty of + food. + </p> + <p> + 'Close to his house is the magnificent kiala, or boat house, about 180 + feet long, 42 high, and about as many feet broad, a really grand, imposing + place. Here Brooke, in surplice, with his little band, had his Sunday + services, singing hymns, and chanting Psalms, in parts, in the presence of + from 150 to 300, once nearly 400 people, to whom he spoke of course, + usually twice, making two sermonets. + </p> + <p> + 'The island is unlike any other; much more open, much less bush, but it is + not coral crag that crops out, but almost bare reddish rock, with but + little soil on it, and the population, which is large, finds it hard to + procure food. + </p> + <p> + 'Three brothers, Takua, Savai, and Dikea, are the principal men. Local + chiefs exercise some small authority in each village. Anudha, or Aunta, is + properly the name of a small island, for there is no one great mainland, + but many islands separated by very narrow salt-water creeks and rivers, + along which a skiff may be sculled. + </p> + <p> + 'Brooke has been over every part of it. His only difficulties arose from + jealousy on the part of Takua and Savai, who, living at Mboli, were very + wroth at his not being their tame Pakeha, at his asserting his + independence, his motive in coming to teach all, and make known to all + alike a common message. Especially they were indignant at his making up + small parties of boys from different parts of the island, as they of + course wanted to monopolise him, and through him the trade. He has + evidently been firm and friendly too, keeping his temper, yet speaking out + very plainly. The result, as far as bringing boys goes, is that we have + now thirteen on board, including Dudley and Richard, from six different + parts of the island. But so vexed was Takua, that he would not fulfil his + promise of sending his two little girls. + </p> + <p> + 'The fortnight spent in the Solomon Islands has been very fine; winds very + light, and very little rain. We have at length got Stephen Taroniara's + child, a little girl of about seven years old, Paraitaku, from the old + grandmother and aunts. So, thank God, she will be brought up as a + Christian child. She is a dear little thing. + </p> + <p> + 'This work of Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke in the easterly and more + north-westerly parts of the Solomon Islands respectively, is the nearest + approach that has yet been made to regular missionary operations there. + Our short visits in the "Southern Cross," or my short three to ten days' + visits on shore are all useful as preparing the way for something more. + But it is the quiet, lengthened staying for some months among these + islanders that gives opportunities for knowing them and their ways. They + do everything with endless talk and discussion about it; and it is only by + living with, and moving about constantly among them, that any hold can be + gained over them. I think that the Mission is now in a more hopeful state + than ever before in these islands. + </p> + <p> + 'Our parties of scholars are large. They trust quite little fellows with + us, and for any length of time. True, these little fellows cannot exercise + any influence for years to come; but if we take young men or lads of + sixteen or eighteen years old, it needs as many years to qualify them + (with heathen habits to be unlearned, and with the quickness of + apprehension of new teaching already gone) for being useful among their + people as would suffice for the arrival of these young children at mature + age.' + </p> + <p> + Three Tikopian giants had made a visit at Mota in the course of this year, + attracted by the fame of the hospitality and fertility of the place. + George Sarawia had got on well with them, and tried to keep them to meet + the Bishop, but one of them fell sick, and the others took him away. This + was hailed as a possible opening to those two curious isles, Oanuta and + Tikopia, in so far as the 'Southern Cross' work was concerned. The Bishop + continues, to his former Primate:— + </p> + <p> + 'On the whole, things seem to be going on favourably. The Banks Islanders + are very shy now of the vessels sent to carry off men to Fiji or + Queensland. They will find their way into the Solomon Islands soon. One, + indeed, a cutter, has taken about twenty men from Ulava. They were all + kept under hatches. We warn the people wherever we go. + </p> + <p> + 'The pressing question now is how to supply our young men and women, + married Christian couples, with proper occupations to prevent their + acquiescing in an indolent, useless, selfish life. + </p> + <p> + 'When their "education is finished," they have no profession, no need to + work to obtain a livelihood for themselves, wives, and children. They + can't all be clergymen, nor all even teachers in such a sense as to make + it a calling and occupation. + </p> + <p> + 'Some wants they have—houses fit for persons who like reading and + writing, a table, a bench, a window becomes necessary. Coral lime houses + would be good for them. They make and wear light clothing, they wash and + cook on new principles, &c.; but these wants are soon supplied. Only a + practical sense of the duty of helping others to know what they have been + taught will keep them from idleness and its consequences. And how few of + us, with no other safeguard against idleness, would be other than idle! + </p> + <p> + 'Some, I think, may be helped by being associated with us, and with their + friends of the Solomon Isles, New Hebrides, in spending some months on + shore, where they would soon acquire a fair knowledge of the language, and + might be of great use to less advanced friends. This would be a real work + for them. Just as Mission work is the safeguard of the settled Church, so + it must be the safeguard of these young native Churches. + </p> + <p> + 'No doubt the Missionary spirit infused into the Samoan and Karotongan + Churches kept them living and fruitful. I am trying to think upon these + points. + </p> + <p> + 'If the contrast be too violent between the Mission station with its daily + occupations and the island life, it becomes very difficult for the natives + to perpetuate the habits of the one amidst the circumstances of the other. + </p> + <p> + 'The habits acquired at Norfolk Island ought to be capable of being easily + transferred to the conditions of the Melanesian isles. + </p> + <p> + 'They ought, I think, to wear (in the hot summer and on week days) light + loose clothing, which could be worn at home; or clothing of the same shape + and fit (though perhaps of warm materials) might be worn. + </p> + <p> + 'The circumstances of the two places must be different, but we must + minimise the difference as much as possible. + </p> + <p> + 'I often think of the steady-going English family, with regular family + prayers, and attendance twice at Church on Sunday, and the same people + spending two months on the Continent. No opportunity is made for family + prayers before the table d'hôte breakfast; and at least one part of the + Sunday is spent in the Roman Catholic Cathedral, or in a different way + from the home use. And if this be so with good respectable folk among + ourselves, what must be the effect of altered circumstances on our + Melanesians? + </p> + <p> + 'It is not easy to keep up the devotional life on shore at home, or in the + islands, or on board ship with the same regularity. And where the convert + must be more dependent than we ought to be on external opportunities, the + difficulty is increased. So if the alteration be as little as possible, we + gain something, we make it easier to our scholars to perpetuate + uninterruptedly the Norfolk Island life. + </p> + <p> + 'To live with them and try to show them how, on their island, to keep up + the religious life unchanged amidst the changed outward circumstances is a + good way, but then we can't live among them very long, and our example is + so often faulty. + </p> + <p> + 'Curiously do these practical difficulties make us realise that there may + really be some benefit in artificial wants; and that probably the most + favourable situation for the development of the human character is a + climate where the necessaries of life are just sufficiently difficult of + production to require steady industry, and yet that nature should not be + so rigorous as to make living so hard a matter as to occupy the whole + attention, and dwarf the mental faculties.' + </p> + <p> + How remarkable, is the date of the following thoughts, almost like a + foreboding:— + </p> + <p> + 'September 19th, 10 A.M. (to the sisters).—We are drawing near Santa + Cruz, about 100 miles off. How my mind is filled with hopes, not unmingled + with anxiety. It is more than eleven years since we sought to make an + opening here, and as yet we have no scholar. Last year, I went ashore at a + large village called Taive, about seven miles from the scene of our + disaster. Many canoes came to us from that spot, and we stood in quite + close in the vessel, so that people swam off to us. + </p> + <p> + 'They are all fighting among the various villages and neighbouring islets + of the Reef Archipelago, twenty miles north of the main island. It is very + difficult what to do or how to try to make a beginning. God will open a + door in His own good time. Yet to see and seize on the opportunity when + given is difficult. How these things make one feel more than ever the need + of Divine guidance, the gift of the Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel and + ghostly strength. To human eyes it seems almost hopeless. Yet other + islanders were in a state almost as hopeless apparently. Only there is a + something about Santa Cruz which is probably very unreal and imaginary, + which seems to present unusual difficulties. In a few days, I may, by + God's goodness, be writing to you again about our visit to the group. And + if the time be come, may God grant us some opening, and grace to use it + aright! + </p> + <p> + 'At Piteni, Matama, Nupani, Analogo, I can talk somewhat to the people, + who are Polynesians, and speak a dialect connected with the Maori of New + Zealand. I think that the people of Indeni (the native name for Santa + Cruz) are also more than half Polynesians; but I don't know a single + sentence of their language properly. I can say nothing about it. They + destroy and distort their organs of pronunciation by excessive use of the + betel-nut and pepper leaf and lime, so that no word is articulately + pronounced. It is very hard to catch the sounds they make amidst the + hubbub on deck or the crowds on shore; yet I think that if we had two or + three lads quietly with us at Norfolk Island, we should soon make out + something. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't think I am depressed by this. I only feel troubled by the sense + that I frequently lose opportunities from indolence and other faults. I am + quite aware that we can do very little to bring about an introduction to + these islanders; and I fully believe that in some quite unexpected way, or + at all events in some way brought about independently of our efforts, a + work will be begun here some day, in the day when God sees it to be fit + and right. + </p> + <p> + (To the Bishop of Lichfield.) + </p> + <p> + 'September 27th.—Leaving Santa Cruz we came to this group from Ulava + with light fair winds; left Ulava on Saturday at 6 P.M., and sighted the + island, making the west side of Graciosa Bay on the next Wednesday; sea + quite smooth; thermometer reached 92 degrees. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday.—Very calm, but a light breeze took us into Nukapu. A canoe + came off, I made them understand that it was our day of rest, and that I + would visit them atainu (to-morrow), a curious word. I gave a few + presents, and we slowly sailed on. + </p> + <p> + 'Monday, 6 A.M.—Off Piteni, canoe off, went ashore, low tide, got + into a canoe, and so reached the beach, people well behaved, much talk of + taking lads, quite well understood. The speech is (you remember) very + Maori indeed. There were some nice lads, but no one came away. Four canoes + from Taumaho were here, and two Piteni men came back from Taumaho while I + was on shore. + </p> + <p> + 'At Nukapu at 2.30 P.M. High water, went in easily over the reef by a + short cut, not by our old winding narrow passage. I was greatly pleased by + the people asking me on board, "Where is Bisambe?" "Here I am." "No, no, + the Bisambe tuai (of old). Your mutua (father). Is he below? Why doesn't + he come up with some hatchets?" + </p> + <p> + 'So you see they remember you. A tall middle-aged man, Moto, said that he + was with us in the boat in 1859, and he and I remembered the one-eyed man + who piloted us. + </p> + <p> + 'I went here also into the houses. Here is a quaint place; many things, + not altogether idols, but uncanny, and feared by the people. Women danced + in my honour, people gave small presents, &c., but no volunteers. I + could talk with them with sufficient ease; and took my time, lying at my + ease on a good mat with cane pillow, Anaiteum fashion. I told them that + they had seen on board many little fellows from many islands; that they + need not fear to let their children go; that I could not spend time and + property in coming year by year and giving presents when they were + unwilling to listen to what I said, but they only made unreal promises, + put boys in the boat merely to take them out again, and so we went away + atrakoi.' + </p> + <p> + There is a little weariness of spirits—not of spirit—in the + contemporaneous words to the home party:— + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know what to write about this voyage. You have heard all about + tropical vegetation, Santa Cruz canoes, houses, customs, &c. If indeed + I could draw these fellows, among whom I was lying on a mat on Monday; if + you could see the fuzzy heads, stained white and red, the great shell + ornaments on the arms, the round plate of shell as big as a small dinner + plate hanging over the chest, the large holes in the lobes of the ears + rilled with perhaps fifteen or twenty rings of tortoise-shell hung on to + one another; the woven scarves and girdles stained yellow with turmeric + and stamped with a black pattern: then it would make a curious sight for + you; and your worthy brother, much at his ease, lying flat on his back on + two or three mats, talking to the people about his great wish to take away + some of the jolly little fellows to whom he was giving fish-hooks, would + no doubt be very "interesting." But really all this has become so + commonplace, that I can't write about it with any freshness. The volcano + in this group, Tenakulu, is now active, and was a fine sight at night, + though the eruption is not continuous as it was in 1859. + </p> + <p> + 'October 9th—Near Ambrym [to the Bishop]. Some people from Aruas, + the large western bay of Vanua Lava, had been taken by force to Queensland + or Fiji. The natives simply speak of "a ship of Sydney." + </p> + <p> + 'Wednesday.—Aroa and Matlavo. 'Henry Tagalana and Joanna and their + baby Elizabeth, William Pasvorang and Lydia, and six others, all baptized, + and four communicants among them, had spent five weeks on shore; a very + nice set. Six of them lived together at Aroa, had regular morning and + evening prayers, sang their hymns, and did what they could, talking to + their people. Codrington went over in a canoe, and spent four days with + them, much pleased. We brought three scholars for George from thence. + </p> + <p> + 'Thursday, Mota.—Codrington says the time is come, in his opinion, + for some steps to be taken to further the movement in Mota. Grown-up + people much changed, improved, some almost to be regarded as catechumens. + </p> + <p> + 'We left Mota, bringing all that were to come; indeed, we scarcely know + what it is nowadays to lose a boy or man—a great blessing. There had + been another visit of eleven canoes of Tikopians; friendly, though unable + to converse, and promising to return again in two months. + </p> + <p> + 'October 11th.—A topsail schooner in sight, between Ambrym and Paama—one + of those kidnapping vessels. I have any amount of (to me) conclusive + evidence of downright kidnapping. But I don't think I could prove any case + in a Sydney Court. They have no names painted on some of their vessels, + and the natives can't catch nor pronounce the names of the white men on + board. They describe their appearance accurately, and we have more than + suspicions about some of these fellows. + </p> + <p> + 'The planters in Queensland and Fiji, who create the demand for labourers, + say that they don't like the kidnapping any more than I do. They pay + occasionally from £6 to £12 for an "imported labourer," and they don't + want to have him put into their hands in a sullen irritable state of + mind.' + </p> + <p> + Touching at Nengone, the Bishop saw Mr. Creagh, who had recently visited + New Caledonia, whither Basset, the poor chief who had been banished to + Tahiti for refusing to receive a French priest, had been allowed to + return, on the Emperor Napoleon forbidding interference with Protestant + missionaries or their converts. + </p> + <p> + Wadrokala and his wife and child were brought away, making up a number of + 65 black passengers, besides the 60 scholars already at Norfolk Island. + The weather throughout the voyage had been unusually still, with frequent + calms, the sea with hardly any swell. And this had been very happy for the + Bishop; but he was less well than when he had left Taurarua, and was + unequal to attending the General Synod in New Zealand, far more so to + another campaign in Australia, though he cherished the design of going to + see after the condition of the labourers in Fiji. + </p> + <p> + He finishes his long letter to his former Primate:— + </p> + <p> + It is perhaps cowardly to say that I am thankful that I am not a clergyman + in England. I am not the man even in a small parish to stand up and fight + against so many many-headed monsters. I should give in, and shirk the + contest. The more I pray that you may have strength to endure it. I don't + think I was ever pugnacious in the way of controversy; and I am very very + thankful to be out of it.' + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the tone of the references to Church matters at home had become + increasingly cautious; and one long letter to Mrs. Martyn he actually tore + up, lest it should do harm. His feeling more and more was to wish for + patience and forbearance, and to deprecate violent words or hasty actions—looking + from his hermit life upon all the present distress more as a phase of + Church history that would develop into some form of good, and perhaps + hardly sensible of the urgency of the struggle and defence. For peace and + shelter from the strife of tongues was surely one of the compensating + blessings conferred on him. But, as all his companions agree, he was never + the same man again after his illness. There was a lower level of spirits + and of energy, a sensitiveness to annoyances, and an indisposition to + active exertion, which distressed him. + </p> + <p> + His day began as early as ever, and was mapped out as before, for classes + of all kinds, Hebrew and reading; but he seldom left his room, except for + Chapel and meals, being unable to take much out-door exercise. He did not + see so much of his elder scholars as before, chiefly because the very + large number of newer pupils made it necessary to employ them more + constantly; but he never failed to give each of them some instruction for + a short time every day, though with more effort, for indeed almost + everything had become a burthen to him. Mr. Codrington's photograph taken + at this time shows how much changed and aged he had become. The quiet in + which he now lived resulted in much letter-writing, taking up + correspondences that had slumbered in more busy times, as his mind flew + back to old friends: though, indeed, the letters given in the preceding + Memoir must not be taken by any means to represent the numbers he wrote. + When he speaks of sending thirty-five by one mail, perhaps only one or two + have come into my hands; and of those only such portions are of course + taken as illustrate his life, work, character, and opinions without + trenching on the reserve due to survivors. Thus multitudes of affectionate + letters, participating in the joys and sorrows of his brother, his cousins + and friends, can necessarily find no place here; though the idea of his + character is hardly complete without direct evidence of the unbroken or + more truly increasing sympathy he had with those whom he had not met for + sixteen years, and his love for his brother's wife and children whom he + had never seen. + </p> + <p> + Soon after his return to Norfolk Island came a packet with a three months' + accumulation of home despatches. He read and replied in his old + conversational way, with occasionally a revelation of his deep inner self:— + </p> + <p> + 'I have been thinking, dear old Fan, about your words, "there would be a + good deal to give and take if you came home for a time;" less perhaps now + than before I was somewhat tamed by my illness. I see more of the meaning + of that petition, "from all blindness of heart, from pride, vainglory, and + hypocrisy; and from all uncharitableness." + </p> + <p> + 'Alas! you don't know what a misspent life I looked back upon, never + losing hold, God be praised, of the sure belief in His promises of pardon + and acceptance in Christ. I certainly saw that a want of sympathy, an + indifference to the feelings of others, want of consideration, + selfishness, in short, lay at the bottom of very much that I mourned over. + </p> + <p> + 'There is one thing, that I don't mention as an excuse for a fault which + really does exist, but simply as a fact, viz., that being always, even + now, pressed for time, I write very abruptly, and so seem to be much more + positive and dogmatic than I hope, and really think, is the case. I don't + remember ever writing you a letter in which I was able to write but as I + would have talked out the matter under discussion in all its bearings. + This arises partly from impatience, my pen won't go fast enough; but as I + state shortly my opinion, without going through the reasons which lead me + to adopt it, no doubt much that I say seems to be without reason, and some + of it no doubt is.' + </p> + <p> + I need make no excuse for giving as much as possible of the correspondence + of these last few months, when—though the manner of his actual + departure was violent, there was already the shadow, as it were, of death + upon him. + </p> + <p> + To Sir J. T. Coleridge the letter was:— + </p> + <p> + 'December 9, 1870. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Uncle,—How long it is since I wrote to you!... And yet + it is true that I think more often of you than of anyone, except Jem, Joan + and Fan. In fact, your name meets me so often in one way or another—in + papers from England, and much more in books continually in use, that I + could not fail to think of you if I had not the true, deep love that + brings up the old familiar face and voice so often before my eyes.... + </p> + <p> + 'I wish I could talk with you, or rather hear you answer my many questions + on so many points. I get quite bewildered sometimes. It is hard to read + the signs of our times; so hard to see where charity ends and compromise + begins, where the old opinion is to be stoutly maintained, and where the + new mode of thought is to be accepted. I suppose there always was some + little difference among divines as to "fundamentals," and no ready-made + solution exists of each difficult question as it emerges. + </p> + <p> + 'There is reason for that being so, because it is part of our duty and + trial to exercise our own power of discretion and judgment. But so much + now seems to be left to individuals, and so little is accepted on + authority. In Church matters I have for years thought Synods to be the one + remedy. If men meet and talk over a difficulty, there is a probability of + men's understanding each other's motives, and thus preserving charity. If + one-twentieth part of a diocese insists upon certain observances which + nineteen-twentieths repudiate, it seems clear that the very small minority + is put out of court. Yet how often the small minority contains more salt + than the large majority! + </p> + <p> + 'I know indeed I am speaking honestly, that I am not worthy to understand + dear Mr. Keble on many points. "The secret of our Lord" is with such men, + and we fail to understand him, nous autres I mean, outside the sanctuary. + Yet there is, I must confess it to you, my dear uncle, a something about + his book on Eucharistic Adoration which has the character to me of foreign + rather than of English divinity. I don't want to be exclusive, far from + it. I don't want to be Anglican versus Primitive; but yet somehow, to me, + there is a something which belongs more to French or Italian than to + English character about some parts of the book. It is no doubt because I + can't see what to his eye was plain.' + </p> + <p> + [An account of the voyage follows as before given.] 'The islanders are + beginning to find out the true character of the many small vessels + cruising among them, taking away people to the plantations in Queensland, + Fiji, &c. So now force is substituted for deceit. Natives are enticed + on board under promises (by signs of course, for nowhere can they talk to + them) of presents, tempted down below into the hold to get tomahawks, + beads, biscuit, &c., then the hatches are clapped on, and they are + stolen away. I have to try and write a statement about it, which is the + last thing I can do properly.' + </p> + <p> + [Then the history of the weddings and baptisms.] 'There is another + pleasant feature to be noticed. The older scholars, almost all of whom are + Banks Islanders, talk and arrange among themselves plans for helping + natives of the islands. Thus Edward Wogale, of Mota, volunteers to go to + Anudha, 300 or 400 miles off, to stay there with his friend Charles + Sapinamba of that island, to aid him in working among his people. Edward + is older and knows more than Charles. They talk in Mota, but Edward will + soon have to speak the tongue of Anudha when living there. B—— + and his wife offer to go to Santa Maria, Robert Pantatun and his wife to + go to Matlavo, John Nonono to go to Savo, and Andrew Lalena also. This is + very comforting to me. It is bona fide giving up country and home. It is + indicative of a real desire to make known the Gospel to other lands. So + long as they will do this, so long I think we may have the blessed + assurance that God's Holy Spirit is indeed working in their hearts. Dear + fellows! It makes me very thankful. + </p> + <p> + 'My clerical staff is increased by a Mr. Jackson, long a friend and + supporter of the Mission.... + </p> + <p> + 'Atkin is a steady-going fellow, most conscientious, with a good + head-piece of his own, diligent and thoughtful rather than quick. He and + Bice read Hebrew daily with me, and they will have soon a very fair + knowledge of it. Joe Atkin knows his Greek Testament very fairly indeed: + Ellicott, Trench, Alford, Wordsworth and others are in use among us. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish you could see some of these little fellows. It is, I suppose, + natural that an old bachelor should have pleasure in young things about + him, ready-made substitutes for children of his own. I do like them. With + English children, save and except Pena, I never was at my ease, partly I + think from a worse than foolish self-consciousness about so ugly a fellow + not being acceptable to children. Anyhow, I don't feel shy with + Melanesians; and I do like the little things about me, even the babies + come to me away from almost anyone, chiefly, perhaps, because they are + acquainted at a very early age with a corner of my room where dwells a tin + of biscuits. + </p> + <p> + 'To this day I shut up and draw into my shell when any white specimen of + humanity looms in sight. How seldom do one's natural tastes coincide with + one's work. And I may be deceiving myself all along. It is true that I + have a very small acquaintance with men; not so very small an acquaintance + with men passed from this world who live in their books; and some living + authors I read—our English Commentators are almost all alive. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that I read too exclusively one class of books. I am not drawn + out of this particular kind of reading, which is alone really pleasant and + delightful to me, by meeting with persons who discuss other matters. So I + read divinity almost if not quite exclusively. I make dutiful efforts to + read a bit of history or poetry, but it won't do. My relaxation is in + reading some old favourite, Jackson, Hooker, Jeremy Taylor, &c. Not + that I know much about them, for my real studying time is occupied in + translating and teaching. And so I read these books, and others some + German, occasionally (but seldom) French: Reuss, for example, and Guizot. + And on the whole I read a fair amount of Hebrew; though even now it is + only the narrative books that I read, so to say, rapidly and with ease. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish some of our good Hebrew scholars were sound Poly- and Melanesian + scholars also. I believe it to be quite true that the mode of thought of a + South Sea islander resembles very closely that of a Semitic man. And their + state of mental knowledge or ignorance, too. It is certainly a mistake to + make the Hebrew language do the work of one of our elaborated European + languages, the products of thoughts and education and literary knowledge + which the Hebrew knew nothing of. A Hebrew grammar constructed on the + principle of a Greek or a Latin grammar is simply a huge anachronism. + </p> + <p> + 'How did the people of the time of Moses, or David, or Jeremiah think? is + the first question. How did they express their thoughts? is the second. + The grammar is but the mode adapted in speech for notifying and + communicating thoughts. That the Jew did not think, consequently did not + speak, like a European is self-evident. Where are we to find people, + children in thought, keenly alive to the outer world, impressible, + emotional, but devoid of the power of abstract thought, to whom long + involved processes of thought and long involved sentences of speech are + unknown? Consequently, the contrivances for stringing together dependent + clauses don't exist. Then some wiseacre of an 18th or 19th century German + writes a grammar on the assumption that a paulo-post-futurum is + necessarily to be provided for the unfortunate Israelite who thought and + talked child's language. Now, we Melanesians habitually think and speak + such languages. I assure you the Hebrew narrative viewed from the + Melanesian point of thought is wonderfully graphic and lifelike. The + English version is dull and lifeless in comparison. No modern Hebrew + scholar agrees with any other as to the mode of construing Hebrew. Anyone + makes anything out of those unfortunately misused tenses. Delitzsch, + Ewald, Gesenius, Perowne, Thrupp, Kay too, give no rule by which the + scholar is to know from the grammar whether the time is past, present, or + future, i.e., whether such and such a verse is a narrative of a past fact + or the prophecy of a future one. It is much a matter of exegesis; but + exegesis not based on grammar is worth very little. + </p> + <p> + 'Really the time is not inherent in the tense at all. But that is a strong + assertion, which I think I could prove, give me time and a power of + writing clearly. Sir William Martin is trying to prove it. + </p> + <p> + 'All languages of the South Seas are constructed on the same principle. We + say, "When I get there, it will be right." But all South Sea Islanders, "I + am there, and it is right." The time is given by something in the context + which indicates that the speaker's mind is in past, present, or future + time. "In the beginning God made" rightly, so, but not because the tense + gives the past sense, for the same tense very often can't have anything to + do with a past sense, but in the beginning indicates a past time. + </p> + <p> + 'The doctrine of the Vaw conversive is simply a figment of so-called + grammarians; language is not an artificial product, but a natural mode of + expressing ideas. + </p> + <p> + 'And if they assume that Hebrew has a perfect and imperfect, or past and + future (for the grammars use all kinds of names), why on earth should + people who have, on their showing, a past tense, use a clumsy contrivance + of turning a future tense into a past, and vice versa? + </p> + <p> + 'If people had remembered that language is not a trick invented and + contrived by scholars at their desks, but a natural gift, simple at first, + and elaborated by degrees, they could not have made such a mess. + </p> + <p> + 'The truth is, I think, that such a contrivance was devised to make Hebrew + do what European scholars decided it must do, these very men being + ignorant of languages in a simple uncivilised form. + </p> + <p> + 'But, my dear Uncle, what a prose! Only, as I think a good deal about it, + you will excuse it, I know. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it is time for the weddings! The Chapel looks so pretty, and (you + can't believe it) so do the girls, Emma, Eliza, and Minnie, to be married + to Edwin, Mulewasawasa, Thomas. The native name is a baptismal one, + nevertheless, and a good fellow he is, my head nurse in my illness. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't write about politics. Then comes the astounding news of this + fearful war. What am I to say to my Melanesians about it? Do these nations + believe in the Gospel of peace and goodwill? Is the Sermon on the Mount a + reality or not? Is such conduct a repudiation of Christianity or not? Are + nations less responsible than individuals? What possible justification is + there for this war? It is fearful, fearful on every ground. Oh, this + mighty belauded nineteenth-century civilisation! + </p> + <p> + 'Yet society has improved in some ways. Even war is not without its + accompaniment of religion. And it brings out kindly sympathy and + stimulates works of charity. But what a fearful responsibility lies upon + the cause of the war. It is hard to acquit Louis Napoleon of being really + the cause. + </p> + <p> + 'There would be great pleasure in seeing all the younger ones, not equal + of course to that of seeing you all; but as I get older in my ways and + habits, I think that my mind goes back more to the young ones. True, I + have a large family about me, 145 Melanesians here now. Yet there is the + want of community of thought on some subjects, and the difficulty of + perfectly easy communication with them. No Melanesian tongue is like + English to me. + </p> + <p> + 'I wrote a first sheet, but filled it up with mere stupid thoughts about + questions of the day, not worth sending. And this long letter, badly + written, too, will weary your eyes. + </p> + <p> + 'I must end. My kindest love to Aunt, Mary, and all. Always, my dearest + Uncle, + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving and grateful Nephew, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Two letters of December 12 follow; the first to Bishop Abraham. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Palmer's picture of the brides, at the last of the weddings the + Bishop so enjoyed, may be acceptable. It went to Mrs. Abraham by the same + opportunity:— + </p> + <p> + 'Three were married a short time before Christmas; they, with five others, + were baptized on Advent Sunday. They had been here about thirteen months, + and had got on very well during that time, improved in every way. I think + some of them are loveable girls, and it is pleasant to see them so happy + and at home here. + </p> + <p> + 'They were a queer-looking set when they first came, or I suppose I + thought them so. + </p> + <p> + 'I got some of the older girls to give them a good wash all over in warm + water, and then gave them the new clothes. They looked at me in such a + curious way. They had heard of me, "Palmer's wife," from the others, but + had not seen an Englishwoman before. A few days after they came, I ran + into their room with my hair down, and they exclaimed with wonder "We ura + ras" ("very good"), almost shouting, and then I told them to feel it, and + some kissed it with gentle reverence, as though it were something very + extraordinary. + </p> + <p> + 'They are very kind and obliging in doing anything I want. They have to be + looked after a good bit, but are very obedient. I did not imagine they + would give so little trouble. They are great chatterboxes, and very noisy, + but all in an innocent way. They seldom quarrel among themselves. I don't + think their feelings are so strong as those of the Maoris, either of love + or hate. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish you could have been present at the baptism. They looked so solemn, + and spoke out very distinctly. They wore white calico jackets, and the + Font was prettily decorated. The whole service was impressive, and not + less so our good Bishop's voice and manner. They looked very nice, and it + was amusing to see how they took it. Only one could I get to look in the + glass; and she said the flowers were too large: the other two only + submitted to being beautified.' + </p> + <p> + I return to the Bishop's correspondence:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: Fourth Sunday in Advent, 1870. + </p> + <p> + 'My dearest Joan,—I am choosing—a strange moment to write in. + It is 8.30 A.M., and in an hour I am going to the New Church, built by the + Pitcairners, to ordain Mr. C. Bice, Priest. I was up as usual early this + morning, and I am not well, and feeling queer, and having already read and + had Morning Chapel Service, I take now this means of quieting myself. You + see it is nearly three miles to the "town;" the service will be nearly + three hours; I don't quite know how I shall get through it. I thought of + having the service here; but our little Chapel won't hold even our + Melanesian party (80 out of 145) who attend public prayers, and of course + the islanders want to see, and it is good for them to see an ordination. + </p> + <p> + 'This is my first expedition to the town since I came from the islands, I + shall have a horse in case I am very tired, but I would rather walk all + the way if I can. + </p> + <p> + 'Just now I am headachy, and seedy too; but I think it is all coming right + again. I hope to have a bright happy Christmas. + </p> + <p> + 'After this day's Ordination we shall number one Bishop, six Priests, and + one Deacon. There are three or four Melanesians who ought soon to be + ordained; and if it is possible for me to spend two or three months this + next winter at Mota, I must read with George, and perhaps ordain him + Priest. It troubles me much that during all these summer months there can + be no administration of the Holy Communion, though there are six + communicants, besides George, now living for good at Mota. There will be + four or five next year taking up their abode at the neighbouring island of + Aroa. + </p> + <p> + 'Dear Joan! At such times as these, when one is engaged in a specially + solemn work, there is much heart-searching, and I can't tell you how my + conscience accuses me of such systematic selfishness during many long + years. I do see it now, though only in part. I mean, I see how I was all + along making self the centre, and neglecting all kinds of duties, social + and others, in consequence. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that self-consciousness, a terrible malady, is one's misfortune + as well as one's fault. But the want of any earnest effort at correcting a + fault is worse perhaps than the fault itself. And I feel such great, such + very great need for amendment here. This great fault brings its punishment + in part even now. I mean, there is a want of brightness, cheerfulness, + elasticity of mind about the conscious man or woman. He is prone to have + gloomy, narrow, sullen thoughts, to brood over fancied troubles and + difficulties; because, making everything refer to and depend on self, he + naturally can get none of that comfort which they enjoy whose minds + naturally turn upwards for help and light. + </p> + <p> + 'In this way I do suffer a good deal. My chariot-wheels often drag very + heavily. I am not often in what you may call good spirits. And yet I am + aware that I am writing now under the influence of a specially depressing + disorder, and that I may misinterpret my real state of mind. No one ought + to be happier, as far as advantages of employment in a good service, and + kindness of friends, &c., can contribute to make one happy. And, on + the whole, I know my life is a happy one. I am sure that I have a far + larger share of happiness than falls to the lot of most people. Only I do + feel very much the lack, almost the utter lack of just that grace which + was so characteristic of our dear Father, that simplicity and real + humility and truthfulness of character! + </p> + <p> + 'Well, one doesn't often say these things to another person! But it is a + relief to say them. I know the remedy quite well. It is a very simple case + for the doctor to deal with; but it costs the patient just everything + short of life, when you have to dig right down and cut out by the roots an + evil of a whole life standing. I assure you that it is hard work, because + these feelings of ours are such intangible, untractable things! It is hard + to lay hold of, and mould and direct them. + </p> + <p> + 'But I pray God that I may not willingly yield to these gloomy unloving + feelings. As often as I look out of myself upon Him, His love and + goodness, then I catch a bright gleam. I think that you will not suspect + me of being in a morbid state of mind. You will say, "Poor old fellow! he + was seedy and depressed when he wrote all that." And that's true, but not + the whole truth. I have much need of your prayers, indeed, for grace and + strength to correct faults of which I am conscious, to say nothing of + unknown sin. + </p> + <p> + 'The Ordination is over, a quiet solemn service. The new Church, which I + had not seen, is very creditable to the people, who built it themselves. + It is wooden, about thirty-six or thirty-eight feet high, will hold 500 + people well. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Nobbs preached a very good sermon. I got on very well. Singing very + good. Five Priests assisting in this little place! + </p> + <p> + 'Christmas Eve.—What a meaning one of my favourite hymns (xxxviii. + in "Book of Praise") has, when one thinks of this awful war, how hard to + realize the suffering and misery; the rage and exasperation; the pride and + exaltation! How hard to be thankful enough for the blessings of peace in + this little spot! + </p> + <p> + 'Our Chapel is beautifully decorated. A star at the east end over the word + Emmanuel, all in golden everlasting flame, with lilies and oleanders in + front of young Norfolk Island pines and evergreens. + </p> + <p> + 'Seven new Communicants to-morrow morning. And all things, God be praised, + happy and peaceful about us. All Christmas blessings and joys to you, dear + ones! + </p> + <p> + 'Christmas Day, 3 P.M.—Such a happy day! Such a solemn, quiet + service at 7 A.M., followed by a short joyous 11 A.M. service. Christmas + Hymn, one with words set to the tune for "Hark! the herald Angels sing." + </p> + <p> + 'You know we never have the Litany on Sundays, because everybody is in + Chapel twice a day, and we of course have it on Wednesday and Friday, and + every native Communion Sunday, i.e., every alternate Sunday; we have no + Communion Service at 11 A.M. as our Communicants have been in Chapel at + the 7 o'clock service; so to-day, the Lessons being short, the service, + including my short service, was over by 11.20. + </p> + <p> + 'Now we have a week's holiday, that is, no school; though I think it is + hard work, inasmuch as the preparing plans for school lessons, rearranging + classes, sketching out the work, is tiring to me. + </p> + <p> + 'Then I have such heaps of letters, which do worry me. But, on the other + hand, I get much quiet time for some reading, and I enjoy that more than + anything. Ten of our party were in Chapel at 11 A.M. with us for the first + time. You know that we don't allow everyone to come, but only those that + we believe to be aware of the meaning of Prayer, and who can read, and are + in a fair way to be Catechumens. All these ten will, I hope, be baptized + this summer. + </p> + <p> + 'We are obliged, seriously, to think of a proper Chapel. The present one + is 45 ft. by 19 ft. and too small. It is only a temporary oblong room; + very nice, because we have the crimson hangings, handsome sandal-wood + lectern, and some good carving. But we have to cram about eighty persons + into it, and on occasions (Baptisms and Confirmations, or at an + Ordination) when others come, we have no room. Mr. Codrington understands + these things well, and not only as an amateur archaeologist; he knows the + principle of building well in stone and wood. Especially useful in this + knowledge here, where we work up our own material to a great extent. Our + notion—his notion rather—is to have stone foundations and + solid stone buttresses to carry a light roof. Then the rest will be wood. + It ought to be about sixty feet by thirty, exclusive of chancel and apse. + When we get all the measurements carefully made, we shall send exact + accounts of the shape and size of the windows, and suggest subjects for + stained glass by Hardman, or whoever might now be the best man. I hope + that it won't cost very much, £perhaps 500. + </p> + <p> + December 21st.—We have not had a fine Christmas week, heavy rain and + hot winds. But the rain has done much good. The Norfolk Islanders have + much influenza, but we are at present quite free from it. + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday I spent two hours in training and putting to rights my + stephanotis, which now climbs over half my verandah. I have such Japanese + lilies making ready to put forth their splendours. Two or three azaleas + grow well. Rhododendrons won't grow well. My little pines grow well, and + are about seven feet high. It is very pleasant to see the growth of these + things when I return from the voyage. The "pottering about" the little + gardens, the park-like paddocks, with our sheep and cattle and horses, + gives me some exercise every day. I go about quietly, and very often by + myself, with a book. After thinking of all kinds of things and persons, I + think that my increased and increasing unwillingness to write is one proof + of my not being so strong or vigorous. I can't tell you what an effort it + is to me to write a business letter; and I almost dread a long effusion + from anyone, because, though I like reading it, I have the thought of the + labour of answering it in my mind. + </p> + <p> + 'Then again, I who used to be so very talkative, am taciturn now. + Occasionally, I victimize some unfortunate with a flow of language about + some point of divinity, or if I get a hearer on South Sea languages, I can + bore him with much satisfaction to myself. But I am so stupid about small + talk. I cannot make it. When I have to try with some Norfolk Islander, + e.g. it does weary me so! Mind, I don't despise it. But instead of being a + relaxation, it is of all things the hardest work to me. I am very dull in + that way, you know. And sometimes I think people must take me to be + sullen, for I never know how to keep the talk going. Then if I do talk, I + get upon some point that no one cares for, and bore everybody. So here, + too, I fall back on my own set of friends, who are most tolerant of my + idiosyncrasies, and on my Melanesians who don't notice them. + </p> + <p> + 'Your loving Brother, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. P.' + </h5> + <p> + In spite of this distaste for writing, a good many letters were sent forth + during the early months of 1871, most of them the final ones to each + correspondent. The next, to Miss Mackenzie, is a reply to one in which, by + Bishop Wilkinson's desire, she had sought for counsel regarding the Zulu + Mission, especially on questions that she knew by experience to be most + difficult, i.e., of inculcating Christian modesty, and likewise on the + qualifications of a native ministry:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: Jan. 26, 1871. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Miss Mackenzie,—In addition to a very long and interesting + letter of yours, I have a letter from my sister, who has just seen you at + Havant, so I must lose no more time in writing. + </p> + <p> + 'First, let me say that I am as sure as I can be of anything that I have + not registered, that I wrote to thank you for the prints long ago. Indeed, + all these many gifts of yours are specially valuable as having been once + the property of your brother, of whom it seems presumptuous for me to + speak, and as having actually been used in Mission work in so distant a + part of the world. + </p> + <p> + 'I need not say that "Thomas a Kempis," his sextant, and his pedometer, + are among my few real valuables. For the use of the prints, I can't say + much on my own knowledge. My classes are for the most part made up of lads + and young men, teachers, or preparing for Confirmation or Holy Communion; + one class, always of younger ones, being prepared for Baptism; and + sometimes youths, newcomers, when we have to take in hand a new language. + Those prints are not of much use, therefore, to my special classes. Most + of them have passed beyond the stage of being taught by pictures, though + they like to look at them. But Mrs. Palmer has been using them constantly + with the girls' classes, and so with the less advanced classes throughout + the school. + </p> + <p> + 'One difficulty will to the end be, that by the time we can talk freely to + our scholars, and they can understand their own language employed as a + vehicle for religious teaching, they are not sufficiently supplied with + books. True, we have translations of such parts of the Bible as quite + enable us to teach all that a Christian need know and do; but I often wish + for plenty of good useful little books on other subjects, and I don't see + my way to this. Our own press is always at work printing translations, + &c. It is not easy to write the proper kind of book in these + languages, and how are they to be printed? We haven't time to print them + here, and who is to correct the press elsewhere? The great fact in your + letter is the account of Bishop Wilkinson's Consecration. I am heartily + glad to hear of it, and I will send, if I can, now, if not, soon, an + enclosure to him for you to forward. I doubt if I can help him by any + means as to qualifications of candidates for Holy Orders, &c. Our work + is quite in a tentative state, and I am sometimes troubled to see that + this Mission is supposed to be in a more advanced state than is really the + case. + </p> + <p> + 'For example, the report of a man going ashore dressed as a Bishop with a + Bible in his hand to entice the natives away, assumes islands to be in a + state where the conventional man in white tie and black-tail coat preaches + to the natives. My costume, when I go ashore, is an old Crimean shirt, a + very ancient wide-awake. Not a syllable has in all probability ever been + written, except in our small note-books, of the language of the island. My + attention is turned to keeping the crowd in good-humour by a few simple + presents of fish-hooks, beads, &c. Only at Mota is there a resident + Christian; and even there, people who don't know what Mota was, and what a + Melanesian island, for the most part, alas! still is, would see nothing to + indicate a change for the better, except that the people are unarmed, and + would be friendly and confiding in their manner to a stranger. + </p> + <p> + 'I hardly know how to bring my Melanesian experience to bear upon + Zululand. The immorality, infanticide, superstition, &c., seem to be + as great in a Melanesian island as in any part of the heathen world. And + with our many languages, it is not possible for us to-know the "slang" of + the various islands. + </p> + <p> + 'We must be cheery about it all. Just see what the old writers, e.g. + Chrysostom, say about Christian (nominally) morals and manners at wedding + feasts, and generally. Impurity is the sin, par excellence, of all + unchristian people. Look at St. Paul's words to the Corinthians and + others. And we must not expect, though we must aim at, and hope, and pray + for much that we don't see yet. + </p> + <p> + 'What opportunity will Bishop Wilkinson have for testing the practical + teaching power and steady conduct of his converts? + </p> + <p> + 'Many of our Melanesians have their classes here, and we can form an + opinion of their available knowledge, how far they can reproduce what they + know, &c. We can see, too, whether they exercise any influence over + the younger ones. + </p> + <p> + 'Twelve (this season) are counted as sixth form, or monitors, or whatever + you please to call them. [Then ensues an account of the rotation of + industrial work, &c.] + </p> + <p> + 'The other day I was examining an Ysabel lad, not formally in school, but + he happened to be in my room, as they are always hanging about (as you + know). He knew much more than I expected: "Who taught you all this? I am + very well pleased." + </p> + <p> + '"Wogale," was the answer. + </p> + <p> + 'Edward Wogale is George Sarawai's own brother, volunteering now to go to + Anudha (Florida), near Ysabel Island. If I see that a young man (by his + written notes, little essays so to say, analysis of lessons) understands + what he has been taught; and if I see (by the proficiency of his pupils) + that he can reproduce and communicate this teaching to others, then one + part of the question of his fitness is answered. If he has been here for + years, always well conducted, and if when at home occasionally he has + always behaved well and resisted temptation; and perhaps I should add, if + he is respectably married, or about to be married, to a decent Christian + girl, then we may hope that the matter of moral fitness may be hopefully + settled. Assuming this, and thank God, I believe I may assume that it is + the case with several here now, as soon as a Deacon is required in any + place that he is willing to work in, I should not hesitate to ordain him; + but I can't specify exactly what his qualifications ought to be, because I + can't undertake to settle the difficult question of what constitutes + absolutely essential teaching for a Christian, i.e., the doctrine of + fundamentals. Practically one can settle it; and that quite as well as in + England, where there is, and must be any amount of inequality in the + attainments and earnestness of the candidates, and where no examination + can secure the fitness or even the mental capacity of the minister. + </p> + <p> + 'I say to myself, "Here is an island or a part of an island from which we + have had a good many scholars. Some married ones are going back to live + permanently. They are Christians, and some are Communicants. They wish to + do what they can to get the young ones about them for regular school and + to talk to the older people. They all have and can use their Prayer-books. + The people are friendly. Is there one among them of whom I can (humanly + speaking) feel sure that, by God's blessing, he will lead a good life + among them, and that he can and will teach them faithfully the elements of + Christian truth and practice? If we all agree that there is such a one, + why not ordain him?" + </p> + <p> + 'But I want to see people recognising the office of Deacon as something + very distinct indeed from that of the Priest. It is a very different + matter indeed, when we come to talk about candidates for Priest's orders. + </p> + <p> + 'Again, look at the missionary clergy of old times. No doubt in mediaeval + times so much stress was laid upon the mere perfunctory performance of the + ministerial act, as apart from careful teaching of the meaning and purport + of the act, that the mediaeval missionary is so far not a very safe model + for us to imitate. + </p> + <p> + 'But I suppose that multitudes of men did good work who could no more + comprehend nor write out the result of lessons that Edward, Henry, Edmund, + Robert and twenty others here are writing out, than our English peasant + can comprehend a learned theological treatise. + </p> + <p> + 'And we must consider the qualifications of one's native clergy in + relation to the work that they have to do. They have not to teach theology + to educated Christians, but to make known the elements of Gospel truth to + ignorant heathen people. If they can state clearly and forcibly the very + primary leading fundamental truths of the Gospel, and live as + simple-minded humble Christians, that is enough indeed. + </p> + <p> + 'Perhaps this is as likely to make the Bishop understand my notions on the + subject as any more detailed account of the course of instruction. I + really have not time to copy out some ten or twelve pages of some older + lad's note-book. I think you would be satisfied with their work. I don't + mean, of course, the mere writing, which is almost always excellent, but + there is a ready apprehension of the meaning of any point clearly put + before them, which is very satisfactory. I am now thinking of the twenty + or thirty best among our 145 scholars. This is a confused, almost + unintelligible scrawl; but I am busy, and not very fresh for work. + </p> + <p> + 'Yours very truly, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + A letter to Bishop Abraham was in hand at the same time, full of replies + to the information in one newly received from this much valued friend. + After deploring an attack of illness from which Mrs. Abraham had been + suffering, comes the remark— + </p> + <p> + 'You know what one always feels, that one can't be unhappy about good + people, whatever happens to them. I do so enjoy your talk about Church + works in England. It makes the modern phraseology intelligible. I know now + what is meant by "missions" and "missioners" and "retreats." + </p> + <p> + 'I was thinking lately of George Herbert at Hereford, as I read the four + sermons which Vaughan lately preached there, one on the Atonement, which I + liked very much indeed. The Cathedral has been beautifully restored, has + it not? Then, I think of you in York Minster on November 20, with that + good text from Psalm xcvi. I read your letter on Tuesday; on which day our + morning Psalms in Chapel are always chanted, xcv., xcvi., xcvii. The + application seems very natural, but to work out those applications is + difficult. The more I read sermons, and I read a good many, the more I + wonder how men can write them! + </p> + <p> + 'Mind, I will gladly pay Charley ten shillings a sermon, if he will copy + it out for me. It will do the boy good. Dear old Tutor used to fag me to + write copies of the Bishop's long New Zealand letters, as I wrote a decent + hand then. Don't I remember a long one from Anaiteum, and how I wondered + where on earth or sea Anaiteum could be! + </p> + <p> + 'I want to hear men talk on these matters (the Eucharistic question) who + represent the view that is least familiar to me. And then I feel, when it + comes to a point of Greek criticism, sad regret and almost remorse at my + old idleness and foolish waste of time when I might have made myself a + decent scholar. I cram up passages, instead of applying a scholarly habit + of mind to the examination of them. And now too, it is harder than ever to + correct bad habits of inattention, inaccuracy, &c. I am almost too + weary oftentimes to do my work anyhow, much less can I make an effort to + improve my way of doing it. But I must be content, thankful to get on + somehow or other, and to be able to teach the fellows something. + </p> + <p> + 'It is quite curious to see how often one is baffled in one's attempts to + put oneself en rapport with the Melanesian mind. If one can manage it, + they really show one that they know a good deal, not merely by heart, or + as matter of memory, that is worth little; but they show that they can + think. But often they seem utterly stupid and lost, and one is perplexed + to know what their difficulty can possibly be. One thing is clear, that + they have little faculty of generalization. As you know, they seldom have + a name for their island, but only names for each tiny headland, and bay, + and village. The name for the island you must learn from the inhabitants + of another island who view the one whose name you are seeking as one + because, being distant, it must appear to them in its oneness, not in its + many various parts. Just so, they find it very difficult to classify any + ideas under general heads. Ask for details, and you get a whole list of + them. Ask for general principles, and only a few can answer. + </p> + <p> + 'For example, it is not easy to make them see how all temptations to sin + were overcome in the three representative assaults made upon Him in the + wilderness; how love is the fulfilling of the Law; or how the violation of + one Commandment is the violation (of the principle) of all. + </p> + <p> + 'Then they have much difficulty (from shyness partly, and a want of + teaching when young) in expressing themselves. They really know much that + only skilful questioning, much more skilful than mine, can get out of + them. It wants—all teaching does—a man with lots of animal + spirits, health, pluck, vigour, &c. Every year I find it more + difficult.' + </p> + <p> + To another of the New Zealand friends who had returned to England there + was a letter on Jan. 31:— + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mr. Lloyd,—I must send you a line, though I have little to + say. And I should be very sorry if we did not correspond with some attempt + at regularity. + </p> + <p> + 'What can one think of long without the mind running off to France? What a + wonderful story it is! Only Old Testament language can describe it, only a + Prophet can moralise upon it. It is too dreadful in its suddenness and + extent. One fears that vice and luxury and ungodliness have destroyed + whatever of chivalry and patriotism there once was in the French + character. To think that this is the country of St. Louis and Bayard! The + Empire seems almost systematically to have completed the demoralisation of + the people. There is nothing left to appeal to, nothing on which to rally. + It is an awful thing to see such judgments passing before our very eyes. + So fearful a humiliation may do something yet for the French people, but I + dread even worse news. It nearly came the other day to a repetition of the + old Danton and Robespierre days. + </p> + <p> + 'Here we are going on happily.... I would give something to spend a quiet + Sunday with you in your old Church. How pleasant to have an old Church. + </p> + <p> + 'Always yours affectionately, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + My own last letter came at the same time:— + </p> + <p> + 'Norfolk Island: February 16th, 1871. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Cousin,—I must not leave your letter of last October + without an instalment of an answer, though this is only a chance + opportunity of sending letters by a whaler, and I have only ten minutes. + </p> + <p> + 'Your account of the Southampton Congress is a regular picture. I thinly I + can see the Bishops of Winton, Sarum, and Oxon; and all that you say by + way of comment on what is going off in the Church at home interests me + exceedingly. You can't think what a treat your letters are. + </p> + <p> + 'You see Mr. Codrington is the only one of my age, and (so to say) + education here, and so to commune with one who thinks much on these + matters, which of course have the deepest interest for me, is very + pleasant and useful. On this account I do so value the Bishop of + Salisbury's letters, and it is so very kind of him to write to me in the + midst of the overwhelming occupations of an English diocese. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't think you have mentioned Dr. Vaughan. I read his books with much + interest. He doesn't belong to the Keble theology; but he seems to me to + be a thoughtful, useful, and eminently practical writer. He seems to know + what men are thinking of, and to grapple with their difficulties. I am + pleased with a little book, by Canon Norris, "Key to the New Testament": + the work of a man who has read a good deal, and thought much. + </p> + <p> + 'He condenses into a 2s. 6d. book the work of years. + </p> + <p> + 'You are all alive now, trying to work up your parochial schools to + "efficiency" mark—rather you were doing so, for I think there was + only time allowed up to December 31, 1870. I hope that the efforts were + successful. At such times one wishes to see great noble gifts, men of + great riches giving their £10,000 to a common fund. Then I remember that + the claims and calls are so numerous in England, that very wealthy men can + hardly give in that way. + </p> + <p> + 'Certainly I am spared the temptation myself of seeing the luxury and + extravagance which must tempt one to feel hard and bitter, I should fear. + We go on quietly and happily. You know our school is large. Thank God, we + are all well, save dear old Fisher, who met with a sad boating accident + last week. A coil of the boat raft caught his ankle as the strain was + suddenly tightened by a rather heavy sea, and literally tore the front + part of his foot completely off, besides dislocating and fracturing the + ankle-bone. He bears the pain well, and he is doing very well; but there + may be latent tetanus, and I shall not feel easy for ten days more yet. + </p> + <p> + 'His smile was pleasant, and his grasp of the hand was an indication of + his faith and trust, as he answered my remark, "You know Fisher, He does + nothing without a reason: you remember our talk about the sparrows and the + hairs of our heads." + </p> + <p> + '"I know," was all he said; but the look was a whole volume.... + </p> + <p> + 'Your Charlotte is Fisher's wife, you know, and a worthy good creature she + is. Poor old Fisher, the first time I saw tears on his cheeks was when his + wife met him being carried up, and I took her to him. + </p> + <p> + 'The mail goes. Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + It may as well be here mentioned that Fisher Pantatun escaped tetanus, + lived to have his limb amputated by a medical man, who has since come to + reside at Norfolk Island, and that he has been further provided with a + wooden leg, to the extreme wonder and admiration of his countrymen at + Mota, where he has since joined the Christian community. + </p> + <p> + The home letter, finished the last, had been begun before the first, on + Feb. 11, 'My birthday,' as the Bishop writes, adding:—'How as time + goes on we think more and more of him and miss him. Especially now in + these times, with so many difficult questions distressing and perplexing + men, his wise calm judgment would have been such a strength and support. + You know I have all his letters since I left England, and he never missed + a mail. And now it is nearly ten years since he passed away from this + world. What would he say to us all? What would he think of all that has + taken place in the interval? Thank God, he would certainly rejoice in + seeing all his children loving each other more and more as they grow older + and learn from experience the blessedness and infrequency of such a + thoroughly united, happy set of brothers and sisters. Why, you have never + missed a single mail in all these sixteen years; and I know, in spite of + occasional differences of opinion, that there is really more than ever of + mutual love, and much more of mutual esteem than ever. There is no + blessing like this. And it is a special and unusual blessing. And surely, + next to God, we owe it to our dear parents, and perhaps especially to him + who was the one to live on as we grew up into men and women. What should I + have done out here without a perfect trust in you three, and without your + letters and loving remembrances in boxes, &c.? I fancy that I should + have broken down altogether, or else have hardened (more than I have + become) to the soft and restful influences of the home life. I see some + people really alone in these countries, really expatriated. Now I never + feel that; partly because I have your letters, partly because I have the + knowledge that, if ever I did have to go to England, I should find all the + old family love, only intensified and deepened. I can tell you that the + consciousness of all this is a great help, and carries one along famously. + And then the hope of meeting by-and-by and for ever!' + </p> + <p> + 'True to the kindred points of heaven and home.' Surely such loyalty of + heart, making a living influence of parents so long in their graves, has + been seldom, at least, put on record, though maybe it often and often has + existed. + </p> + <p> + Again, on March 8:—'Such a fit came over me yesterday of old + memories. I was reading a bit of Wordsworth (the poet). + </p> + <p> + I remembered dear dear Uncle Frank telling me how Wordsworth came over to + Ottery, and called on him, and how he felt so honoured; and so I felt on + thinking of him, and the old (pet) names, and most of all, of course, of + Father and Mother, I seemed to see them all with unusual clearness. Then I + read one of the two little notes I had from Mr. Keble, which live in my + "Christian Year," and so I went on dreaming and thinking. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, if by His mercy I may indeed be brought to the home where they + dwell! But as the power of keen enjoyment of this world was never mine, as + it is given to bright healthy creatures with eyes and teeth and limbs + sound and firm, so I try to remember dear Father's words, that "he did not + mean that he was fit to go because there was little that he cared to stop + here for." And I don't feel morbid like, only with a diminished capacity + for enjoying things here. Of the mere animal pleasures, eating and + drinking are a serious trouble. My eyes don't allow me to look about much, + and I walk with "unshowing eye turned towards the earth." I don't converse + with ease; there is the feeling of difficulty in framing words. I prefer + to be alone and silent. If I must talk, I like the English tongue least of + all. Melanesia doesn't have such combinations of consonants and harsh + sounds as our vernacular rejoices in. If I speak loud, as in preaching, I + am pretty clear still; but I can't read at all properly now without real + awkwardness. + </p> + <p> + 'I am delighted with Shairp's "Essays" that Pena sent me. He has the very + nature to make him capable of appreciating the best and most thoughtful + writers, especially those who have a thoughtful spirit of piety in them. + He gives me many a very happy quiet hour. I wish such a book had come in + my way while I was young. I more than ever regret that Mr. Keble's + "Praelectiones" was never translated into English. I am sure that I have + neglected poetry all my life for want of some guide to the appreciation + and criticism of it, and that I am the worse for it. If you don't use + Uncle Sam's "Biographia Literaria," and "Literary Remains," I should much + like to have them. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you, Fan, care to have any of my German books? I have, indeed, scarce + any but theological ones. But no one else reads German here, and I read + none but the divinity; and, indeed, I almost wish I had them in + translations, for the sake of the English type and paper. My eyes don't + like the German type at all. + </p> + <p> + 'Moreover, now (it was not so years ago), all that is worth reading in + their language is in a good serviceable English dress, and passed, + moreover, through the minds of clear English thinkers—and the + Germans are such wordy, clumsy, involved writers. A man need not be a + German scholar to be well acquainted with all useful German theology. + Döllinger is almost the only clear, plain writer I know among them. + Dorner, the great Lutheran divine, gives you about two pages and a half of + close print for a single sentence—awful work, worse than my + English!... But I know that if I read less, and thought more, it would be + better. Only it is such hard work thinking, and I am so lazy! I was amused + at hearing, through another lad, of Edward Wogale's remark, "This helping + in translation" (a revisal of the "Acts" in Mota) "is such hard work!" + "Yes, my boy, brain work takes it out of you." I wish I had Jem's power of + writing reports, condensing evidence into clear reliable statements. + Lawyers get that power; while we Clergymen are careless and inaccurate, + because, as old Lord Campbell said, "there is no reply to our sermons." + </p> + <p> + 'What would I give to have been well drilled in grammar, and made an + accurate scholar in old days! Ottery School and Eton didn't do much for me + in that way, though of course the fault was chiefly in myself. + </p> + <p> + 'But most of all, I think that I regret the real loss to us Eton boys of + the weekly help that Winchester, Rugby, and Harrow boys had from Moberly, + Arnold, and Vaughan in their sermons! I really think that might have + helped to keep us out of harm! + </p> + <p> + 'It is now 4.30 P.M., calm and hot. Such a tiger-lily on my table, and the + pretty delicate achimenes, and the stephanotis climbing up the verandah, + and a bignonia by its side, with honeysuckle all over the steps, and + jessamine all over the two water-tanks at the angle of the verandah. The + Melanesians have, I think, twenty-nine flower gardens, and they bring the + flowers, &c.—lots of flowers, and the oleanders are a sight! + Some azaleas are doing well, verbenas, hibiscus of all kinds. Roses and, + alas! clove carnations, and stocks, and many of the dear old cottage + things won't grow well. Scarlet passion flowers and splendid Japanese + lilies of perfect white or pink or spotted. The golden one I have not yet + dared to buy. They are most beautiful. I like both the red and the yellow + tritoma; we have both. But I don't think we have the perfume of the + English flowers, and I miss the clover and buttercup. And what would I + give for an old-fashioned cabbage rose, as big as a saucer, and for fresh + violets, which grow here but have little scent, and lilies of the valley! + Still more, fancy seeing a Devonshire bank in spring, with primroses and + daisies, or meadows with cowslip and clover and buttercups, and hearing + thrushes and blackbirds and larks and cuckoos, and seeing trout rise to + the flies on the water! There is much exaggeration in second-rate books + about tropical vegetation. You are really much better off than we are. No + trees equal English oaks, beeches, and elms, and chestnuts; and with very + little expense and some care, you have any flowers you like, growing out + of doors or in a greenhouse. You can make a warmer climate, and we can't a + colder one. But we have plenty to look at for all that. There, what a nice + hour I have spent in chatting with you!' + </p> + <p> + This same dreamy kind of 'chat,' full of the past, and of quiet meditation + over the present, reminding one of Bunyan's Pilgrims in the Land of + Beulah, continues at intervals through the sheets written while waiting + for the 'Southern Cross.' Here is a note (March 14) of the teaching:— + </p> + <p> + 'I am working at the Miracles with the second set, and I am able to + venture upon serious questions, viz. the connection between sin and + physical infirmity or sickness, the Demoniacs, the power of working + miracles as essential to the Second Adam, in whom the prerogative of the + Man (the ideal man according to the idea of his original condition) was + restored. Then we go pretty closely into detail on each miracle, and try + to work away till we reach a general principle or law. + </p> + <p> + 'With another class I am making a kind of Commentary on St. Luke. With a + third, trying to draw out in full the meaning of the Lord's Prayer. With a + fourth, Old Testament history. It is often very interesting; but, apart + from all sham, I am a very poor teacher. I can discourse, or talk with + equals, but I can't teach. So I don't do justice to these or any other + pupils I may chance to have. But they learn something among us all.' + </p> + <p> + He speaks of himself as being remarkably well and free from the + discomforts of illness during the months of March and April: and these + letters show perfect peace and serenity of spirit; but his silence and + inadequacy for 'small talk' were felt like depression or melancholy by + some of his white companions, and he always seemed to feel it difficult to + rouse himself. To sit and study his Hebrew Isaiah with Delitzsch's comment + was his chief pleasure; and on his birthday, April 1, Easter Eve, and the + ensuing holy days, he read over all his Father's letters to him, and + dwelt, in the remarks to his sisters, upon their wisdom and tenderness. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Codrington says: 'Before starting on the voyage he had confirmed some + candidates in the Church in town: on which occasion he seemed to rouse + himself with difficulty for the walk, and would go by himself; but he was + roused again by the service, and gave a spirited and eloquent address, and + came back, after a hearty meal and lively conversation, much refreshed in + mind and body. This was on Palm Sunday. On Easter Day he held his last + confirmation of three girls and two Solomon Island boys. + </p> + <p> + Then came the 'Southern Cross,' bringing with her from New Zealand a box + with numerous books and other treasures, the pillow that the old Bishop of + Exeter was leaning on when he died; a photograph, from the Bishop of + Salisbury, of his Cathedral, and among the gifts for the younger + Melanesians, a large Noah's ark, which elicited great shouts of delight. + </p> + <p> + 'Well! [after mentioning the articles in order] all these things, and + still more the thought of the pains taken and the many loving feelings + engaged in getting them together, will help me much during the coming + months. All the little unexpected things are so many little signs of the + care and love you always have for me, and that is more than their own + value, after all. I always feel it solemn to go off on these voyages. We + have had such mercies. Fisher is doing quite well, getting about on + crutches; and that is the only hospital case we have had during the whole + summer.' + </p> + <p> + Then follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'April 27th.—We start in a few hours (D.V.). The weather is better. + You have my thoughts and hopes and prayers. I am really pretty well: and + though often distressed by the thought of past sins and present ones, yet + I have a firm trust in God's mercy through Christ, and a reasonable hope + that the Holy Spirit is guiding and influencing me. What more can I say to + make you think contentedly and cheerfully about me? God bless you all!' + </p> + <p> + So the last voyage was begun. The plan was much the same as usual. On the + way to Mota, the Bishop landed on Whitsuntide Island, and there was told + that what the people called a 'thief ship' had carried off some of their + people. Star Island was found nearly depopulated. On May 16, the Bishop, + with Mr. Bice and their scholars, landed at Mota, and the 'Southern Cross' + went on with Mr. Brooke to Florida, where he found that the + 'Snatch-snatch' vessels, as they were there called, had carried off fifty + men. They had gone on board to trade, but were instantly clapped under + hatches, while tobacco and a hatchet were thrown to their friends in the + canoe. Some canoes had been upset by a noose from the vessel, then a gun + was fired, and while the natives tried to swim away, a boat was lowered, + which picked up the swimmers, and carried them off. One man named Lave, + who jumped overboard and escaped, had had two fingers held up to him, + which he supposed to mean two months, but which did mean two years. + </p> + <p> + It was plain that enticing having failed, violence was being resorted to; + and Mr. Brooke was left to an anxious sojourn, while Mr. Atkin returned to + Mota on his way to his own special charge at Bauro. He says, on June 9:— + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop had just come back from a week's journeying with William in + his boat. They had been to Santa Maria, Vanua Lava, and Saddle Island; the + weather was bad, but the Bishop, although he is tired, does not think he + is any the worse for his knocking about. He is not at all well; he is in + low spirits, and has lost almost all his energy. He said, while talking + about the deportation of islanders to Fiji, that he didn't know what was + to be done; all this time had been spent in preparing teachers qualified + to teach their own people, but now when the teachers were provided, all + the people were taken away. The extent to which the carrying off of the + natives has gone is startling. It certainly is time for us to think what + is to be done next. I do not think that it is an exaggerated estimate, + others would say it is under the mark, that one half the population of the + Banks Islands over ten years of age have been taken away. I am trying not + to expect anything about the Solomon Islands before we are there, but we + have heard that several vessels have cargoes from there. If the people + have escaped a little longer for their wildness, it will not be for long. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop still remained at Mota, while I went back to the Solomon + Islanders. The cliffs of Mota, and perhaps the intelligence of the people, + had comparatively protected it, though Port Patteson had become a station + of the "labour ships." The village of Kohimarama was not a + disappointment.' + </p> + <p> + Bishop Patteson proceeds:— + </p> + <p> + 'Things are very different. I think that we may, without danger, baptize a + great many infants and quite young children—so many parents are + actually seeking Christian teaching themselves, or willing to give their + children to be taught. I think that some adults, married men, may possibly + be baptized. I should think that not less than forty or fifty are daily + being taught twice a day, as a distinct set of Catechumens. Besides this, + some of the women seem to be in earnest. + </p> + <p> + 'About two hours and a half are spent daily by me with about twenty-three + grown-up men. They come, too, at all hours, in small parties, two or + three, to tell their thoughts and feelings, how they are beginning to + pray, what they say, what they wish and hope, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'There is more indication than I ever saw here before of a "movement," a + distinct advance, towards Christianity. The distinction between passively + listening to our teaching, and accepting it as God's Word and acting upon + it, seems to be clearly felt. I speak strongly and habitually about the + necessity of baptism. "He that believeth, and is baptized" &c. + Independently of the doctrinal truth about baptism, the call to the + heathen man to take some step, to enter into some engagement, to ally + himself with a body of Christian believers by some distinct act of his + own, needing careful preparation, &c., has a meaning and a value + incalculably great. + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, JESUS is to us all a source of pardon, light, and life, all these + treasures are in Him. But he distributes these gifts by His Spirit in His + appointed ways. You can't understand or receive the Gospel with a heart + clinging to your old ways. And you can't remake your hearts. He must do + it, and this is His way of doing it. You must be born again. You must be + made new men." + </p> + <p> + 'But why write all this, which is so commonplace? + </p> + <p> + 'I feel more than ever the need of very simple, very short services for + ignorant Catechumens. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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?' + </p> + <p> + 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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + '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.' + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + On the voyage he wrote to the Bishop of Lichfield:— + </p> + <p> + 'Off Tariko. Sloop: July 8, 1871. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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.] + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'We need this comfort. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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? + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'In the Solomon Isles a steamer has been at Savo and other places, trying + to get men. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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." + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'Next day at Leper's Island. Anchored a night off Wehurigi, the east end + of the high land, the centre part of the island. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'We must take our large parties from islands where there is as yet no + permanent teacher: Ambrym, Leper's Island, the Solomon Islands. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'This is all of Melanesia and myself; but you will like to have this + scrawl read to you. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'Your very affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + 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:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mota: July 31, 1871. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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." + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + '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. + </p> + <p> + 'It is 2 P.M., and I feel tired: the crowds are gone, though little + fellows are as usual sitting all round one. I tell them I can't talk; I + must sit quietly, with Charlotte Yonge's "Pupils of St. John the Divine." + Dear me, what advantage young folks have nowadays, though indeed the + dangers of these times far outweigh those of our young days. + </p> + <p> + 'I suppose Lightfoot's "Commentaries" hardly come in your way. They are + critical and learned on the Greek of St. Paul's Epistles. But there are + dissertations which may be read by the English reader. He seems to me to + be a very valuable man, well fitted by his learning, and moderation, and + impartiality, and uncontroversial temper to do much good. His sympathies + with the modern school of thought are, I fancy, beyond me. + </p> + <p> + 'There is no doubt that Matthew Arnold says much that is true of the + narrowness, bigotry, and jealous un-Christian temper of Puritanism; and I + suppose no one doubts that they do misrepresent the true doctrine of + Christianity, both by their exclusive devotion to one side only of the + teaching of the Bible, and by their misconception of their own favourite + portions of Scripture. The doctrine of the Atonement was never in ancient + times, I believe, drawn out in the form in which Luther, Calvin, Wesley, + and others have lately stated it. + </p> + <p> + 'The fact of the Atonement through the Death of Christ was always clearly + stated; the manner, the "why," the "how" man's Redemption and + Reconciliation to God is thus brought about, was not taught, if at all, + after the Protestant fashion. + </p> + <p> + 'Oxenham's "History of the Catholic Doctrine of the Atonement" is a + fairly-written statement of what was formerly held and taught. Such words + as "substitution," "satisfaction," with all the ideas introduced into the + subject from the use of illustrations, e.g. of criminals acquitted, debts + discharged, have perplexed it perhaps, rather than explained, what must be + beyond explanation. + </p> + <p> + 'The ultra-Calvinistic view becomes in the mind and language of the + hot-headed ignorant fanatic a denial of God's Unity. "The merciful Son + appeasing the wrath of the angry Father" is language which implies two + Wills, two Counsels in the Divine Mind (compare with this John iii. 16). + </p> + <p> + I suppose that an irreverent man, being partly disgusted with the popular + theology, having no scruples about putting aside Inspiration, &c., and + conceiving that he himself is an adequate representative of the nineteenth + century's intelligence, and that the nineteenth century's intelligence is + most profound and infallible, sets to work to demolish what is distasteful + to himself, and what the unerring criticism of the day rejects, correcting + St. Paul's mistakes, patronising him whenever he is fortunate enough to + receive the approbation of the great thinkers of our day, and so + constructs a vague "human" religion out of the Christianity which he + criticises, eliminating all that lies beyond the speculative range of the + mind, and that demands assent by its own authority as God's Revelation. I + don't know how to state briefly what I mean. + </p> + <p> + 'I think I can understand that this temper of mind is very prevalent in + England now, and that I can partly trace the growth of it. Moreover, I + feel that to ignore, despise, or denounce it, will do no good. + </p> + <p> + 'As a matter of fact, thousands of educated men are thinking on these + great matters as our fathers did not think of them. Simplicity of belief + is a great gift; but then the teaching submitted to such simple believers + ought to be true, otherwise the simple belief leads them into error. How + much that common Protestant writers and preachers teach is not true! + Perhaps some of their teaching is untrue absolutely, but it is certainly + untrue relatively, because they do not hold the "proportion of the faith," + and by excluding some truths and presenting others in an extravagant form + they distort the whole body of truth. + </p> + <p> + 'But when a man not only points out some of the popular errors, but claims + to correct St. Paul when he Judaizes, and to do a little judicious + Hellenizing for an inspired Apostle, one may well distrust the nineteenth + century tone and spirit. + </p> + <p> + 'I do really and seriously think that a great and reverently-minded man, + conscious of the limits of human reason—a man like Butler—would + find his true and proper task now in presenting Christian teaching in an + unconventional form, stripped of much error that the terms which we all + employ when speaking doctrine seem unavoidably to carry with them. + </p> + <p> + 'Such a man might ask, "What do you mean by your theory of Substitution, + Satisfaction, &c.?" "Where do you find it?" "Prove it logically from + the Bible." "Show that the early Church held it." + </p> + <p> + 'Butler, as you know, reproved the curiosity of men who sought to find out + the manner of the Atonement. "I do not find," he says, "that it is + declared in the Scriptures." He believed the fact, of course, as his very + soul's treasure. "Our ignorance," he says, "is the proper answer to such + enquiries." + </p> + <p> + 'At the same time, no one now can do, it seems, what another Butler might + do, viz., deal with the Bible as the best of the nineteenth-century men + wish to hear a divine deal with it. He would never make mere assertions. + He would never state as a proved truth, to be presented to a + congregation's acceptance, a statement or a doctrine which really equalled + only an opinion of Wesley or any other human teacher. He would never make + arbitrary quotations from Scripture, and try to prove points by illogical + reasoning, and unduly pressing texts which a more careful collation of + MSS. has shown to be at least doubtful. And by fairness and learning he + would win or conciliate right-minded men of the critical school. What + offends these men is the cool reckless way in which so many preachers make + the most audacious statements, wholly unsupported by any sound learning + and logical reasoning. A man makes a statement, quotes a text or two, + which he doesn't even know to be capable of at least one interpretation + different from that which he gives to it; and so the critical hearer is + disgusted, and no wonder. + </p> + <p> + 'One gain of this critical spirit is, that it makes all of us Clergy more + circumspect in what we say, and many a man looks at his Greek Testament + nowadays, and at a good Commentary too, before he ventures to quote a text + which formerly would have done duty in its English dress and passed muster + among an uncritical congregation. Nowadays every clergyman knows that + there are probably men in his congregation who know their Bible better + than he does, and as practical lawyers, men of business, &c., are more + than his match at an argument. It offends such men to have a + shallow-minded preacher taking for granted the very points that he ought + to prove, giving a sentence from some divine of his school as if it + settled the question without further reference even to the Bible. + </p> + <p> + 'This critical spirit becomes very easily captious; and a man needn't be + unbelieving because he doesn't like to be credulous. Campbell's book on + the Atonement is very hard, chiefly because the man writes such + unintelligible English. I think Shairp in his "Essays," gives a good + critique as far as it goes on the philosophical and religious manner of + our day. + </p> + <p> + 'Alexander Knox says somewhere in his correspondence with Bishop Jebb that + he couldn't understand the Protestant theory of Justification. And it does + seem to be often stated as if the terms employed in describing a mere + transaction could adequately convey the true power and meaning of a Divine + mystery. + </p> + <p> + 'But I only puzzle you, I dare say, and certainly I am liable to the + charge of not writing intelligible English. I can tell you I am glad + enough that I am not called on to preach on these subjects after the + fashion that a preacher in England must go to work. + </p> + <p> + 'It is a cool thing to say, but I do believe that what half our English + congregations want is just the plain simple teaching that our Melanesians + get, only the English congregations wouldn't stand it.' + </p> + <p> + A letter to Arthur Coleridge is of the same date:— + </p> + <p> + 'Mota Island: August 6, 1871— + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Arthur,—I have had a busy day, having baptized thirty-two + persons, of whom twenty-five are adults; and then the crowd, the incessant + talking, teaching, and the anxious feeling which attend any step of so + much importance as the Baptism from heathenism. Fourteen of the men are + married, two are elderly, several are middle-aged, five women are among + the number. I believe that God's spirit is indeed working in the hearts of + these people. Some twelve or thirteen years have passed, and only now have + I felt that I could take the step of baptizing the infants and young + children here, the parents promising that they shall be sent to school as + they grow up. About 200 young children have during the past month been + baptized: things seem hopeful. It is very happy work; and I get on pretty + well, often very tired, but that doesn't matter. + </p> + <p> + 'I could wish all my good friends were here, that those who have been + enabled to contribute to this end might see for themselves something of + the long hoped for beginning of a new state of things in this little + island. + </p> + <p> + 'August 11.—In a little more than a month 248 persons have been + baptized here, twenty-five of them adults, the rest infants and young + children. I am very sorry to think that I must leave them soon, for I + expect the "Southern Cross" in a few days; and I must go to the Solomon + Islands, from them to Santa Cruz Island, and so to Norfolk Island, calling + here on the way. Then I am off to the Fiji Islands for, I suppose, a month + or six weeks. There are some 6,000 or 7,000 white people there, and it is + assumed by them and the Church people in this part of the world that I + must be regarded as their Bishop. Very soon a separate Bishop ought to be + at work there, and I shall probably have to make some arrangement with the + settlers. Then, on the other hand, I want to look into the question of + South Sea Islanders who are taken to the Fiji plantations. + </p> + <p> + 'How far I can really examine into the matter, I hardly know. But many of + the settlers invite me to consider the matter with them. + </p> + <p> + 'I believe that for the most part the islanders receive good treatment + when on the plantations, but I know that many of them are taken away from + their islands by unfair means. + </p> + <p> + 'The settlers are only indirectly responsible for this. The traders and + sailing masters of the vessels who take away the islanders are the most + culpable. But the demand creates the supply. + </p> + <p> + 'Among all my multifarious occupations here, I have not much time for + reading; I am never alone night or day. I sleep on a table, with some + twelve or more fellows around me; and all day long people are about me, in + and out of school hours. But I have read, for the third time I think, + Lightfoot's "Galatians"—and I am looking forward to receiving his + book on the Ephesians. He doesn't lay himself out to do exactly the work + that Bishop Ellicott has done so excellently, and his dissertations are + perhaps the most valuable part of his work. He will gain the ear of the + men of this generation, rather than Ellicott; he sympathises more with + modern modes of thought, and is less rigid than Ellicott. But he seems + very firm on all the most essential and primary points, and I am indeed + thankful for such a man. I don't find much time for difficult reading; I + go on quietly, Hebrew, &c. I have many good books on both Old and New + Testaments, English and German, and some French, e.g. Keuss and Guizot. + </p> + <p> + 'I like to hear something of what this restless speculative scientific + generation is thinking and doing. But I can't read with much pleasure the + fragmentary review literature of the day. The "Cornhill" and that class of + books I can't stand, and sketchy writings. The best specimens of light + reading I have seen of late are Charlotte Yonge's "Pupils of St. John the + Divine," and Guizot's "St. Louis," excellent. + </p> + <p> + 'I did read, for it was put on board, Disraeli's novel. I was on my back + sea-sick for four days; what utter rubbish! clever nonsense! And I have + read Mr. Arnold's "St. Paul and Protestantism." He says some clever things + about the Puritan mind, no doubt. But what a painful book it is: can't he + see that he is reducing all that the spirit of a man must needs rest on to + the level of human criticism? simply eliminating from the writings of the + Apostles, and I suppose from the words of the Saviour, all that is + properly and strictly Divine.—[Then follows much that has been + before given.]—How [winding up thus] thankful I am that I am far + away from the noise and worry of this sceptical yet earnest age! + </p> + <p> + 'There is something hazy about your friend Davis's writings. I know some + of his publications, and sympathise to a very considerable extent with + him. But I can't be sure that I always understand him: that school has a + language of its own, and I am not so far initiated as to follow. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't understand Maurice, much as I respect him. It is simply wasting + my time and my brains to attempt to read him; he has great thoughts, and + he makes them intelligible to people less stupid than me, and many writers + whom I like and understand have taken their ideas from him; but I cannot + understand him. And I think many of his men have his faults. At least I am + so conceited as to think it is not all my fault. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you know two little books by Norris, Canon of Bristol, "Key to the + Gospel History," and a Manual on the Catechism? + </p> + <p> + 'They are well worth reading, indeed I should almost say studying, so as + to mould the teaching of your young ones upon them. + </p> + <p> + 'How you would be amused could you see the figures and scenes which + surround me here! To-day about 140 men, women, lads and girls are working + voluntarily here, clearing and fencing the gardens, and digging the holes + for the yams, and they do this to help us in the school; we have two pigs + killed, and give them a bit of a feast. The feeling is very friendly. A + sculptor might study them to great advantage, though clothing is becoming + common here now. Our thirty-four baptized adults and our sixteen or twenty + old scholars wear decent clothing, of course. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I must leave off. + </p> + <p> + 'I think very often of you, your wife and children, and, indeed, of you + all. It would be very nice to spend a few weeks with you, but I should not + get on well in your climate. + </p> + <p> + 'The heat seems to suit me better, and I am pretty well here. Indeed I am + better than I have been for more than a year, though I have a good deal of + discomfort. + </p> + <p> + 'Good-bye, dear Arthur. How often I think of your dear dear Father. + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate Cousin, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + To the sisters, the journal continues—recording, on August 14, the + Baptism of twelve men and women the day before, the Communion of sixteen + at 7 A.M., the presence of fifty-six baptized persons at morning service. + More than 100 were working away the ensuing day in preparing yam gardens + for Kohimarama, while two pigs were stewing in native ovens to feast them + afterwards; and the Bishop was planting cocoa-nut trees and sowing flower + seeds, or trying experiments with a machine for condensing water, in his + moments of relaxation, which were few, though he was fairly well, and very + happy, as no one can doubt on reading this:— + </p> + <p> + 'Lots of jolly little children, and many of them know me quite well and + are not a bit shy. They are often very sad-looking objects, and as they + don't get regularly washed, they often have large sores and abscesses, + poor little things. But there are many others—clean-skinned, reddish + brown, black-eyed, merry little souls among them. The colour of the people + is just what Titian and the Venetian painters delighted in, the colour of + their own weather-beaten Venetian boatmen, glowing warm rich colour. White + folks look as if they were bleached and had all the colour washed out of + them. + </p> + <p> + 'Some of the Solomon Islanders are black, and some of the New Hebrides + people glossy and smooth and strong-looking; but here you seldom see any + very dark people, and there are some who have the yellow, almost olive + complexion of the South European. Many of the women are tattooed from head + to foot, a regular network of a bluish inlaid pattern. It is not so common + with the men, rather I ought to say very unusual with them, though many + have their bodies marked pretty freely.' + </p> + <p> + On the 17th sixteen more adults were baptized, elderly men, whose sons had + been baptized in New Zealand coming in, and enemies resigning deadly + feuds. + </p> + <p> + The work in Mota is best summed up in this last letter to Bishop Abraham, + begun the day after what proved the final farewell to the flock there, for + the 'Southern Cross' came in on the 19th, and the last voyage was at once + commenced:— + </p> + <p> + "'Southern Cross": Sunday, August 20, 1871. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear dear Friends,—Yesterday the "Southern Cross" came to me at + Mota, twenty-seven days after leaving that island for Norfolk Island with + some fifty Melanesians on board under charge of Bice. + </p> + <p> + 'Into what a new world your many kind affectionate letters take me! And + how good it must be for me to be taught to think more than I, alas! + usually do, about the trials and sorrows of others. + </p> + <p> + 'I have had such a seven weeks at Mota, broken by a three weeks' course in + the New Hebrides, into two portions of three and four weeks. + </p> + <p> + 'Last year we said in our Report, that the time seemed to be come when we + should seek to move the people in Mota to do more than assent to the truth + of our words and the blessings promised in the Gospel, when we should urge + them to appropriate to themselves those blessings, by abandoning their + ignorant heathen ways, and embracing Christianity. + </p> + <p> + 'That time has come in the good Providence of God, in answer to His + all-prevailing Intercession, and hastened (who can doubt it?) by the + prayers of the faithful everywhere—your Whit-Sunday thoughts and + prayers, your daily thoughts and prayers, all contributing to bring about + a blessed change indeed in the little island. + </p> + <p> + 'In these two months I have baptized 289 persons in Mota, 231 children and + infants, seventeen of the lads and boys at Kohimarama, George Sarawia's + school, and forty-one grown and almost all married men and women. + </p> + <p> + 'I have tried to proceed cautiously and to act only when I had every human + probability of a personal conviction and sincere desire to embrace + Christian teaching and to lead a Christian life. I think the adult + candidates were all competently instructed in the great truths. + </p> + <p> + 'I feel satisfied of their earnestness, and I think it looks like a + stable, permanent work. Yet I need not tell you how my old text is ever in + my mind, "Thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged." Now more than ever are + your prayers needed for dear old George Sarawia and his infant Church. + </p> + <p> + 'I never had such an experience before. It is something quite new to me. + Classes regularly, morning and evening, and all day parties coming to talk + and ask questions, some bringing a wife or child, some a brother, some a + friend. We were 150 sleeping on the Mission premises, houses being put up + all round by people coming from a distance. + </p> + <p> + 'Scarce a moment's rest, but the work so interesting and absorbing, that I + could scarcely feel weariness. The weather for six out of the seven weeks + was very rainy and bad generally; but I am and was well, very well—not + very strong, yet walking to Gatava and back, five or six miles, on + slippery and wet paths, and schooling and talking all day. + </p> + <p> + 'The actual services were somewhat striking. The behaviour of the people + reverent and quiet during the infants' and children's baptisms; and + remarkably so during the baptisms of adults. + </p> + <p> + 'You can understand the drift of my teaching: trying to keep to the great + main truths, so as not to perplex their minds with a multiplicity of new + thoughts. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that I shall have to stay a few days at Mota on my return (D.V.) + from Solomon and Santa Cruz Islands, as there are still many Catechumens. + </p> + <p> + 'I am half disposed to ordain George Priest on my return (D.V.) Yet on the + whole I think it may be better to wait till another year. But I am + balancing considerations. Should any delay occur from my incapacity to go + to Mota, which I don't at all anticipate, it would be a serious thing to + leave such a work in the hands of a Deacon, e.g. ten communicants are + permanent dwellers now in Mota; and I really believe that George, though + not learned, is in all essentials quite a fit person to be ordained + Priest. This growth of the work, owing, no doubt, much to him, is a proof + of God's blessing on him. + </p> + <p> + 'I pray God that this may be a little gleam of light to cheer you, dear + friends, on your far more toilsome and darksome path. It is a little + indeed in one sense; yet to me, who know the insufficiency of the human + agency, it is a proof indeed that the Gospel is dunamis Theou eis + soterian. + </p> + <p> + 'I can hardly realize it all yet. It is good to be called away from it for + a month or two. I often wished that Codrington, Palmer, and the rest could + be with me: it seemed selfish to be witnessing by myself all this great + happiness—that almost visible victory over powers of darkness. + </p> + <p> + 'There is little excitement, no impulsive vehement outpouring of feeling. + People come and say, "I do see the evil of the old life; I do believe in + what you teach us. I feel in my heart new desires, new wishes, new hopes. + The old life has become hateful to me; the new life is full of joy. But it + is so mawa (weighty), I am afraid. What if after making these promises I + go back?" + </p> + <p> + "What do you doubt—God's power and love, or your own weakness?" + </p> + <p> + '"I don't doubt His power and love; but I am afraid." + </p> + <p> + '"Afraid of what?" '"Of falling away." + </p> + <p> + '"Doesn't He promise His help to those who need it?" + </p> + <p> + '"Yes, I know that." '"Do you pray?" + </p> + <p> + '"I don't know how to pray properly, but I and my wife say—God, make + our hearts light. Take away the darkness. We believe that you love us + because you sent JESUS to become a Man and die for us, but we can't + understand it all. Make us fit to be baptized." + </p> + <p> + '"If you really long to lead a new life, and pray to God to strengthen + you, come in faith, without doubting." + </p> + <p> + 'Evening by evening my school with the baptized men and women is the + saying by heart (at first sentence by sentence after me, now they know + them well) the General Confession, which they are taught to use in the + singular number, as a private prayer, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the + ten Commandments (a short version). They are learning the Te Deum. They + use a short prayer for grace to keep their baptismal vows. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that they know fairly well the simpler meaning of these various + compendiums of Prayer, Faith and Duty. But why enter into details? You + know all about it. And, indeed, you have all had your large share, so to + say, in bringing about this happy change. + </p> + <p> + 'And then I turn from all this little secluded work to the thoughts of + England and France, the Church at home, &c.... + </p> + <p> + 'I have now read the "Guardian's" account of the civil war in France. + There is nothing like it to be read of, except in the Old Testament + perhaps. It is like the taking of Jerusalem. + </p> + <p> + 'It is an awful thing! most awful! I never read anything like it. Will + they ever learn to be humble? I don't suppose that even now they admit + their sins to have brought this chastening on them. It is hard to say this + without indulging a Pharisaic spirit, but I don't mean to palliate our + national sins by exaggerating theirs. Yet I hardly think any mob but a + French or Irish mob could have done what these men did. + </p> + <p> + 'And what will be the result? Will it check the tendency to Republicanism? + Will Governments unite to put down the many-headed monster? Will they take + a lesson from the fate of Paris and France? Of course Republicanism is not + the same thing as Communism. But where are we to look for the good effects + of Republicanism? + </p> + <p> + 'August 22nd.—The seventh anniversary of dear Fisher's death. May + God grant us this year a blessing at Santa Cruz! + </p> + <p> + 'Your affectionate + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + The last letter to the beloved sister Fanny opened with the date of her + never-forgotten birthday, the 27th of August, though it was carried on + during the following weeks; and in the meantime Mr. Atkin, Stephen, Joseph + and the rest were called for from Wango, in Bauro, where they had had a + fairly peaceable stay, in spite of a visit from a labour traffic vessel, + called the 'Emma Bell,' with twenty-nine natives under hatches, and, alas! + on her way for more. After picking the Bauro party up, the Bishop wrote to + the elder Mr. Atkin:— + </p> + <p> + 'Wango Bay (at anchor): August 25, 1871. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mr. Atkin,—You may imagine my joy at finding Joe looking + really well when we reached this part of the world on the 23rd. I thought + him looking unwell when he spent an hour or two with me at Mota, about ten + weeks since, and I begged him to be careful, to use quinine freely, &c. + He is certainly looking now far better than he was then, and he says that + he feels quite well and strong. There is the more reason to be thankful + for this, because the weather has been very rough, and rain has been + falling continually. I had the same weather in the Banks Islands; scarcely + a day for weeks without heavy rain. Here the sandy soil soon becomes dry + again, it does not retain the moisture, and so far it has the advantage + over the very tenacious clayey soil of Mota. + </p> + <p> + 'Nearly all the time of the people here has been spent—wasted, + perhaps, we should say—in making preparations for a great feast: so + that Joe found it very hard to gain the attention of the people, when he + tried to point out to them better things to think of than pigs, native + money, tobacco and pipes. Such advance as has been made is rather in the + direction of gaining the confidence and good-will of the people all about, + and in becoming very popular among all the young folks. Nearly all the + young people would come away with him, if the elders would allow them to + do so. I have no doubt that much more has been really effected than is + apparent to us now. Words have been said that have not been lost, and seed + sown that will spring up some day. Just as at Mota, now, after some twelve + or thirteen years, we first see the result in the movement now going on + there, so it will be, by God's goodness, some day here. There at Mota the + good example of George Sarawia, the collective result of the teaching of + many years, and the steady conduct, with one exception, of the returned + scholars, have now been blessed by God to the conversion of many of the + people. We no longer hesitate to baptize infants and young children, for + the parents engage to send them to school when they grow up, and are + themselves receiving instruction in a really earnest spirit. + </p> + <p> + 'Many, too, of those who have for some time abandoned the old ways, but + yet did not distinctly accept the new teaching, have now felt the "power + of the Gospel;" and though many candidates are still under probation, and + I sought to act with caution, and to do all that lay in my power to make + them perceive the exceeding solemnity of being baptized, the weighty + promises, the great responsibility, yet I thought it right to baptize not + less than forty-one grown men and women, besides seventeen lads of + George's school, about whom there could be no hesitation. It has, indeed, + been a very remarkable season there. I spent seven weeks broken by a New + Hebrides trip of three weeks' duration into two periods of three and four + weeks. Bice was with me for the first three weeks; and with a good many of + our scholars turned into teachers here, we three (Bice, George, and I) + kept up very vigorous school: a continual talking, questioning, &c., + about religion, were always going on day and night. Many young children + and infants were baptized, about 240 in all + 41 + 17. + </p> + <p> + 'You will, I am sure, pray more than ever for George and all these + converts to Christianity, that they may be strengthened and guarded + against all evil, and live lives worthy of their profession. We hope to + spend two or three days there on our return (D.V.); and if so, Joe will + write you his impressions. Meanwhile, I tell him what I fully believe, + that no one hearty effort of his to benefit these poor people is thrown + away. Already they allow us to take boys, and perhaps this very day we may + go off with two young girls also. And all this will result in some great + change for the better some day. + </p> + <p> + 'You will want to hear a word about myself. I am much better, partly I + confess owing to the warmth of the climate, which certainly agrees with + me. I may feel less well as we draw by-and-by to the south once more. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't take strong exercise, and that is a privation. It did me good, + and I feel the want of it; but I am much better than I was a year or ten + months ago, and I do my work very fairly, and get about better than I + expected. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Atkin and Mary, and believe me to be + </p> + <p> + 'Your very sincere Friend, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + Mr. Brooke and Edward Wogale had had a far more trying sojourn at Florida. + </p> + <p> + 'Wogale suffered much from his eyes; and the labour ships were frequently + on the coast—all the three varieties: the fairly conducted one with + a Government agent on board; the "Snatch-snatch," which only inveigled, + but did not kill without necessity; and the "Kill-kill," which absolutely + came head-hunting. It was a dreary eleven weeks. + </p> + <p> + 'On July 11, a "Sydney vessel," as the natives called it, was on the west + of the island, and nine natives were reported to Mr Brooke as having been + killed, and with so much evidence that he had no doubt on the subject. + </p> + <p> + 'On the 13th Takua came to him to say the "Kill-kill" vessel had anchored + four miles off. What was he to do? + </p> + <p> + '"How was it you and Bisope came first, and then these slaughterers? Do + you send them?" + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Brooke advised them to remain on shore; but if the strangers landed + and wanted to kill or burn them, to fight for their lives. "Your words are + the words of a chief," said Takua. + </p> + <p> + 'This ship, however, sailed away; but on August 13 another came, much like + the "Southern Cross," and canoes went out to her, in one of them Dudley + Lankona. These returned safely, but without selling their fruit; and + Dudley related that the men said, "Bishop and Brooke were bad, but they + themselves were good, and had pipes and tobacco for those who would go + with them." + </p> + <p> + 'These, however, went away without doing them harm, only warning them that + another vessel which was becalmed near at hand was a "killer," and the + people were so uneasy about her that Mr. Brooke went on board, and was + taken by the captain for a maker of cocoa-nut oil. He was a Scotchman, + from Tanna, where he had settled, and was in search of labourers; a + good-natured friendly kind of person on the whole, though regarding + natives as creatures for capture. + </p> + <p> + '"If I get a chance to carry a lot of them off," he said, "I'll do it; but + killing is not my creed." + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Brooke hinted that the natives might attack him, and he pointed to + six muskets. "That's only a few of them. Let them come. We'll give it them + pretty strong." + </p> + <p> + 'He was rather taken aback when he found that he was talking to a + clergyman. "Well, wherever you go nowadays there's missionaries. Who would + have thought you'd got so far down?" + </p> + <p> + 'And he looked with regret at Mr. Brooke's party of natives in their + canoes, and observed, "Ah! my fine fellows, if your friend was not here + I'd have the whole lot of you: what a haul!" + </p> + <p> + 'He said the other ship was from Queensland, and had a Government agent on + board, of whom he spoke with evident awe. + </p> + <p> + 'On Mr. Brooke's return, Takua and Dikea were furbishing up old guns which + some incautious person on board the "Curacoa" had given them, and they + were disappointed to find that there could be no attack on the vessel.' + </p> + <p> + She, however, was scarcely gone before, at the other end of the island, + Vara, four out of five men were killed by a boat's crew. The survivor, + Sorova, told Mr. Brooke that he and one companion had gone out in one + canoe, and three more in another, to a vessel that lay near the shore. He + saw four blacks in her, as he thought Ysabel men. A white man came down + from the boat, and sat in the bow of Sorova's canoe, but presently stood + up and capsized both canoes, catching at Sorova's belt, which broke, and + the poor fellow was thus enabled to get away, and shelter himself under + the stern of the canoe, till he could strike out for land; but he saw a + boat come round from the other side of the ship, with four men—whether + whites or light-coloured islanders was not clear—but they proceeded + to beat his companions with oars, then to fall on them with tomahawks, and + finally cut off their heads, which were taken on board, and their bodies + thrown to the sharks. + </p> + <p> + These men evidently belonged to that lowest and most horrible class of + men-stealers, who propitiate the chiefs by assisting them in head-hunting. + </p> + <p> + Of course the island was full of rage, and on the 26th again another brig + was in sight. Spite of warning, desire to trade induced five men to put + off in a canoe. Two boats came down, and placed themselves on either side. + Mr. Brooke could not watch, but a fierce shout arose from the crowd on + shore, they rushed to the great canoe house, and a war fleet was launched, + Dikea standing up in the foremost, with a long ebony spear in his hand. + Fortunately they were too late: the boats were hauled up, and the brig + went off at full sail. Whether the five were killed or carried captive is + not clear. + </p> + <p> + The whole place was full of wailing. Revenge was all the cry. 'Let not + their pigs be killed,' said Takua; 'we will give them to Bisope, he shall + avenge us.' His brother Dikea broke out: 'My humour is bad because Bisope + does not take us about in his vessel to kill-kill these people!' + </p> + <p> + When, two days later, the 'Southern Cross' was unmistakeably in sight, + Takua said, 'Let Bisope only bring a man-of-war, and get me vengeance on + my adversaries, and I shall be exalted like—like—like our + Father above!' + </p> + <p> + The residence of Mr. Brooke in the island, and the testimony of their own + countrymen to the way of life in Norfolk Island, had taught the Floridians + to separate the Bishop from their foes; but it could scarcely be thus in + places where confidence in him had not been established. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop meanwhile wrote on:— + </p> + <p> + 'The New Zealand Bishops have sent me a kind letter, a round robin, urging + me to go to England; but they are ignorant of two things:— 1st, that + I am already much better; 2nd, that I should not derive the benefit + generally to my spirits, &c. from a visit to England as they would, + and take it for granted that I should do so. + </p> + <p> + 'They use only one other argument, viz., that I must rest after some + years' work. That is not so. I don't feel the pressure of work for a very + simple reason, viz., that I don't attempt to work as I used to do. + </p> + <p> + 'But just now, it is quite clear that I must not go, unless there were a + very obvious necessity for it. For, 1st, Mota needs all the help we can + give; 2nd, several Melanesians are coming on rapidly to the state when + they ought to be ordained; 3rd, we are about to start (D.V.) new stations + at Ambrym, Leper's Island, and Savo; 4th, the school is so large that we + want "all hands" to work it; 5th, I must go to Fiji, and watch both Fiji + and Queensland; 6th, after the 1872 voyage, we shall need, as I think, to + sell this vessel, and have another new one built in Auckland. The funds + will need careful nursing for this. But I will really not be foolish. If I + have a return of the bad symptoms, I will go to Dr. Goldsboro', and if he + advises it strongly, will go to England. + </p> + <p> + 'The deportation of natives is going on to a very great extent here, as in + the New Hebrides and Banks Islands. Means of all kinds are employed: + sinking canoes and capturing the natives, enticing men on board, and + getting them below, and then securing hatches and imprisoning them. + Natives are retaliating. Lately, two or three vessels have been taken and + all hands killed, besides boats' crews shot at continually. A man called + on me at Mota the other day, who said that five out of seven in the boat + were struck by arrows a few days before. The arrows were not poisoned, but + one man was very ill. It makes even our work rather hazardous, except + where we are thoroughly well known. I hear that a vessel has gone to Santa + Cruz, and I must be very cautious there, for there has been some + disturbance almost to a certainty. + </p> + <p> + 'Whatever regulations the Government of Queensland or the Consul of Fiji + may make, they can't restrain the traders from employing unlawful means to + get hold of the natives. And I know that many of these men are utterly + unscrupulous. But I can't get proofs that are sufficient to obtain a + verdict in a court of law. + </p> + <p> + 'Some islands are almost depopulated; and I dread the return of these + "labourers," when they are brought back. They bring guns and other things, + which enable them to carry out with impunity all kinds of rascality. They + learn nothing that can influence them for good. They are like squatters in + the bush, coming into the town to have their fling. These poor fellows + come back to run riot, steal men's wives, shoot, fight, and use their + newly acquired possessions to carry out more vigorously all heathen + practices. + </p> + <p> + 'September 3rd.—At anchor: Savo Island: Sunday. The experiment of + anchoring at Sara (Florida) and this place answers well. The decks were + crowded and crammed; but the people behaved very well, barring the picking + up of everything they could lay hands upon, as is natural to many persons + whose education has been neglected. + </p> + <p> + 'Yesterday I took Wadrokala (of Nengone) to the village here, where he is + to live with some of our old scholars from these parts, and try to begin a + good work among the people. He has four baptized friends, a married couple + being two, and three other very good lads, to start with. It was a long + and very hot walk. A year ago I could not have got through it. I was + tired, but not over-tired. + </p> + <p> + 'And now we have had Holy Communion; and this afternoon we take our party + on shore: Wadrokala's wife Carry, and Jemima, their daughter of eight or + nine. There is no fighting or quarrelling here now. I know all the people, + so I leave them with good hope.' + </p> + <p> + On the 7th, Joseph Atkin began a letter as follows:— + </p> + <p> + 'Our Bishop is much improved in health and strength. His stay at Mota has + put new life into him again; the whole island is becoming Christian. + </p> + <p> + 'The Bishop is now very strong and clear about establishing permanent + schools on the islands; I fear in almost too great a hurry. The great + requisite for a school is a native teacher; and generally, if not always, + a teacher ought, as George was at Mota, to be well supported by a little + band of native converts, who, if their teaching, in the common use of the + word, is not much, can, by their consistent lives, preach a continual + sermon, that all who see may understand. What is the use of preaching an + eloquent sermon on truth to a people who do not know what it means, or + purity of which they have never dreamt? Their ears take in the words, they + sound very pleasant, and they go away again to their sin; and the preacher + is surprised that they can do so. I do not forget the power of the Spirit + to change men's hearts, but do not expect the Holy Spirit to work with you + as He never worked with anyone else, but rather as He always has worked + with others.... If in looking into the history of Missions, you find no + heathen people has been even nominally and professionally Christianised + within, say, ten or fifteen years, why not be content to set to work to + try that the conversion of those to whom you are sent may be as thorough + and real as possible in that time, and not to fret at being unable to + hurry the work some years?'.... + </p> + <p> + This letter too was destined never to be finished, though it was continued + later, as will be seen. + </p> + <p> + The Bishop's next letter is dated— + </p> + <p> + 'September 16th.—Off the Santa Cruz group, some twenty miles + distant. To-morrow, being Sunday, we stay quietly some way off the + islands; and on Monday (D.V.) we go to Nukapu, and perhaps to Piteni too, + wind permitting. You can enter into my thoughts, how I pray God that if it + be His will, and if it be the appointed time, He may enable us in His own + way to begin some little work among these very wild but vigorous energetic + islanders. I am fully alive to the probability that some outrage has been + committed here by one or more vessels. The master of the vessel that Atkin + saw did not deny his intention of taking away from these or from any other + islands any men or boys he could induce to come on board. I am quite aware + that we may be exposed to considerable risk on this account. I trust that + all may be well; that if it be His will that any trouble should come upon + us, dear Joseph Atkin, his father and mother's only son, may be spared. + But I don't think there is very much cause for fear; first, because at + these small reef islands they know me pretty well, though they don't + understand as yet our object in coming to them, and they may very easily + connect us white people with the other white people who have been + ill-using them; second, last year I was on shore at Nukapu and Piteni for + some time, and I can talk somewhat with the people; third, I think that if + any violence has been used to the natives of the north face of the large + island, Santa Cruz, I shall hear of it from these inhabitants of the small + islets to the north, Nukapu, and Piteni, and so be forewarned. + </p> + <p> + 'If any violence has been used, it will make it impossible for us to go + thither now. It would simply be provoking retaliation. One must say, as + Newman of the New Dogma, that the progress of truth and religion is + delayed, no one can say how long. It is very sad. But the Evil One + everywhere and always stirs up opposition and hindrance to every attempt + to do good. And we are not so sorely tried in this way as many others.' + </p> + <p> + Contrary winds—or rather a calm, with such light wind as there was, + contrary—kept the vessel from approaching the island for four days + more, while the volcano made every night brilliant, and the untiring pen + ran on with affectionate responses to all that the last home packet had + contained, and then proceeded to public interests:— + </p> + <p> + 'Then the great matters you write about—the great social and + religious crisis in England now. Moreover, who can estimate the effect of + this German and French war upon the social state of Europe? Possibly a + temporary violent suppression in North Germany of Republican principles, a + reaction, an attempt to use the neutrality of England as a focus for + political agitation. And then the extravagant luxury side by side with + degrading poverty! It is a sad picture; and you who have to contemplate it + have many trials and troubles that are in one sense far away from me. + </p> + <p> + 'September 19th.—Here we are becalmed; for three days we have + scarcely made ten miles in the direction we want to go. It is not prudent + to go near the large island, unless we have a good breeze, and can get + away from the fleets of canoes if we see reason for so doing. We may have + one hundred and fifty canoes around us, and perhaps sixty or eighty strong + men on deck, as we had last year; and this year we have good reason for + fearing that labour vessels have been here. Many of the people here would + distinguish between us and them; but it is quite uncertain, for we can't + talk to the people of the large island, and can't therefore explain our + object in so doing. 'Yesterday, being becalmed, a large canoe, passing + (for there was occasionally a light air from the north) from Nupani to + Santa Cruz, came near us. It could not get away, and the "Southern Cross" + could not get near it. So we went to it in the boat. I can talk to these + Nupani people, and we had a pleasant visit. They knew my name directly, + and were quite at ease the moment they were satisfied it was the Bishop. + They will advertise us, I dare say, and say a good word for us, and we + gave them presents, &c. + </p> + <p> + 'I shall be thankful if this visit ends favourably, and oh! how thankful + if we obtain any lads. It seems so sad to leave this fine people year + after year in ignorance and darkness, but He knows and cares for them more + than we do. 'The sun is nearly vertical; thermometer 91°, and 88° at + night; I am lazy, but not otherwise affected by it, and spend my day + having some, about an hour's, school, and in writing and reading. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that the Education question has been more satisfactorily settled + than I dared to hope a year ago. A religious, as opposed to an irreligious + education has been advisedly chosen by the country, and denominationalism + (what a word!) as against secularism. Well, that's not much from a + Christian country; but it isn't the choice of an anti-Christian, or even + of a country indifferent to Christianity. + </p> + <p> + 'Mrs. Abraham and Pena have sent me Shairp's little book on "Religion and + Culture." It is capital; and if you knew the man you would not wonder at + his writing such sensible, thoughtful books. He is one of the most + "loveable" beings I ever knew. His good wholesome teaching is about the + best antidote I have seen to much of the poison circulating about in + magazines and alluring ignorant, unsound people with the specious name of + philosophy. And he is always fair, and credits his opponents with all that + can possibly be imagined to extenuate the injury they are doing by their + false and faithless teaching.' + </p> + <p> + Here the letter suddenly ceases. No doubt this last sentence had given the + last impulse towards addressing the old Balliol friend above named, now + Principal of St. Andrew's, in the following:— + </p> + <p> + '"Southern Cross" Mission Schooner, + </p> + <p> + 'In the Santa Cruz Group, S.W. Pacific: September 19. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Principal,—You won't remember my name, and it is not likely + that you can know anything about me, but I must write you a line and thank + you for writing your two books (for I have but two) on "Studies on Poetry + and Philosophy," and "Religion and Culture." + </p> + <p> + 'The "Moral Dynamic" and the latter book are indeed the very books I have + longed to see; books that one can put with confidence and satisfaction + into the hands of men, young and old, in these stirring and dangerous + times. + </p> + <p> + 'Then it did me good to be recalled to old scenes and to dream of old + faces. + </p> + <p> + 'I was almost a freshman when you came up to keep your M.A. term; and as I + knew some of the men you knew, you kindly, as I well remember, gave me the + benefit of it. As John Coleridge's cousin and the acquaintance of John + Keate, Cumin, Palmer, and dear James Eiddell, I came to know men whom + otherwise I could not have known, and of these how many there still are + that I have thought of and cared for ever since! + </p> + <p> + 'You must have thought of Riddell, dear James Riddell, when you wrote the + words in p. 76 of your book on "Religion and Culture": "We have known + such." Yes, there was indeed about him a beauty of character that is very + very rare. Sellar is in the north somewhere, I think I have seen Essays by + him on Lucretius. + </p> + <p> + 'I think that he is Professor at some University. I am ashamed to know so + little about him. Should you see him, pray remember me most kindly to him. + As year after year passes on, it is very pleasant to think there are men + on the other side of the world that I can with a certainty count upon as + friends. + </p> + <p> + 'I find it difficult to read much of what is worth reading nowadays, and I + have little taste for magazines, &c., I confess. + </p> + <p> + 'But I know enough of what is working in men's minds in Europe to be + heartily thankful for such thoughtful wholesome teaching as yours. + </p> + <p> + 'Indeed, you are doing a good work, and I pray God it may be abundantly + blessed. + </p> + <p> + 'I remain, my dear Friend, + </p> + <p> + 'Very sincerely yours, + </p> + <h5> + 'J. C. PATTESON.' + </h5> + <p> + This is the last letter apparently finished and signed! + </p> + <p> + To the Bishop of Lichfield the long journal-letter says:— + </p> + <p> + 'Tenakulu (the volcano) was fine last night, but not so fine as on that + night we saw it together. But it was very solemn to look at it, and think + how puny all man's works are in comparison with this little volcano. What + is all the bombardment of Paris to those masses of fire and hundreds of + tons of rock cast out into the sea? "If He do but touch the hills, they + shall smoke." + </p> + <p> + 'And now what will the next few days bring forth? It may be God's will + that the opening for the Gospel may be given to us now. Sometimes I feel + as if I were almost too importunate in my longings for some beginning + here; and I try not to be impatient, and to wait His good time, knowing + that it will come when it is the fulness of time. Then, again, I am + tempted to think, "If not soon, if not now, the trading vessels will make + it almost impossible, as men think, to obtain any opening here." But I am + on the whole hopeful, though sometimes faint-hearted. + </p> + <p> + 'To day's First Lesson has a good verse: Haggai, ii. 4;l and there is + Psalm xci. also.' + </p> + <p> + Then follows a good deal about further plans, and need of men; ending with + the decision that the present 'Southern Cross' ought to be sold, and that + a new one could be built at Auckland for £2,000, which the Bishop thought + he could obtain in New Zealand and Australia. + </p> + <p> + 'Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, + son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the + land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of + hosts.' + </p> + <p> + A much smaller additional vessel would be useful; and he merrily says:— + </p> + <p> + 'You don't know an amiable millionaire, with a nice quick yacht from 70 to + 120 tons, to be given away, and sent out to Auckland free of expense, I + suppose. + </p> + <p> + 'We must give up all idea of our Chapel for a time, but we can do without + it. And a vessel is necessary.' + </p> + <p> + The last of this letter is on Delitzsch and Biblical criticism, but too + much mixed up with other persons' private affairs for quotation. + </p> + <p> + Reading Hebrew with Mr. Atkin, or studying Isaiah alone, had been the + special recreation throughout the voyage. + </p> + <p> + His scholar Edward Wogale has given a touch of that last morning of the + 20th:— + </p> + <p> + 'And as we were going to that island where he died, but were still in the + open sea, he schooled us continually upon Luke ii. iii. up to vi., but he + left off with us with his death. And he preached to us continually at + Prayers in the morning, every day, and every evening on the Acts of the + Apostles, and he spoke as far as to the seventh chapter, and then we + reached that island. And he had spoken admirably and very strongly indeed + to us, about the death of Stephen, and then he went up ashore on that + island Nukapu.' + </p> + <p> + That island Nukapu lay with the blue waves breaking over the circling + reef, the white line of coral sand, the trees coming down to it; and in + the glowing sun of September 20, the equatorial midsummer eve, four canoes + were seen hovering about the reef, as the 'Southern Cross' tried to make + for the islet. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Brooke says that this lingering had seemed to intensify the Bishop's + prayer and anxiety for these poor people; and, thinking that the unusual + movements of the vessel puzzled the people in the canoes, and that they + might be afraid to approach, he desired that at 11.30 A.M. the boat should + be lowered, and entered it with Mr. Atkin, Stephen Taroniara, James + Minipa, and John Nonono. He sat in the stern sheets, and called back to + Mr. Brooke: 'Tell the captain I may have to go ashore.' Then he waited to + collect more things as presents to take on shore, and pulled towards the + canoes; But they did not come to meet the boat, and seemed undecided + whether to pull away or not. The people recognized the Bishop; and when he + offered to go on shore they assented, and the boat went on to a part of + the reef about two miles from the island, and there met two more canoes, + making six in all. The natives were very anxious that they should haul the + boat up on the reef, the tide being too low for her to cross it, but, when + this was not consented to, two men proposed to take the Bishop into their + boat. + </p> + <p> + It will be remembered that he had always found the entering one of their + canoes a sure way of disarming suspicion, and he at once complied. Mr. + Atkin afterwards said he thought he caught the word 'Tabu,' as if in + warning, and saw a basket with yams and other fruits presented; and those + acquainted with the customs of the Polynesians—the race to which + these islanders belonged—say that this is sometimes done that an + intended victim may unconsciously touch something tabu, and thus may + become a lawful subject for a blow, and someone may have tried to warn + him. + </p> + <p> + There was a delay of about twenty minutes; and then two canoes went with + the one containing the Bishop, the two chiefs, Moto and Taula, who had + before been so friendly to him, being in them. The tide was so low that it + was necessary to wade over the reef, and drag the canoes across to the + deeper lagoon within. The boat's crew could not follow; but they could see + the Bishop land on the beach, and there lost sight of him. + </p> + <p> + The boat had been about half-an-hour drifting about in company with the + canoes, and there had been some attempt at talk, when suddenly, at about + ten yards off, without any warning, a man stood up in one of them, and + calling out, 'Have you anything like this?' shot off one of the yard-long + arrows, and his companions in the other two canoes began shooting as + quickly as possible, calling out, as they aimed, 'This for New Zealand + man! This for Bauro man! This for Mota man!' The boat was pulled back + rapidly, and was soon out of range, but not before three out of the four + had been struck; James only escaped by throwing himself back on the seat, + while an arrow had nailed John's cap to his head, Mr. Atkin had one in his + left shoulder, and poor Stephen lay in the bottom of the boat, 'trussed,' + as Mr. Brooke described it, with six arrows in the chest and shoulders. + </p> + <p> + It was about two hours since they had left the ship when they reached it + again: and Mr. Atkin said, 'We are all hurt? as they were helped on board; + but no sooner had the arrow-head, formed of human bone, and acutely sharp, + been extracted, than he insisted on going back to find his Bishop. He + alone knew the way by which the reef could be crossed in the now rising + tide, so that his presence was necessary. Meantime Mr. Brooke extracted as + best he might the arrows from poor Stephen. + </p> + <p> + 'We two Bisope,' said the poor fellow, meaning that he shared the same + fate as the Bishop. + </p> + <p> + As Joseph Wate, a lad of fifteen, Mr. Atkin's Malanta godson and pupil, + wrote afterwards, 'Joe said to me and Sapi, "We are going to look for the + Bishop, are you two afraid?" + </p> + <p> + '"No, why should I be afraid?" + </p> + <p> + '"Very well, you two go and get food for yourselves, and bring a beaker + full of water for us all, for we shall have to lie on our oars a long time + to-day."' + </p> + <p> + The others who pulled the boat were Charles Sapinamba, a sailor, and Mr. + Bongarde, the mate, who carried a pistol, for the first time in the + records of the 'Southern Cross.' + </p> + <p> + They had long to wait till the tide was high enough to carry them across + the reef, and they could see people on shore, at whom they gazed anxiously + with a glass. + </p> + <p> + About half-past four it became possible to cross the reef, and then two + canoes rowed towards them: one cast off the other and went back; the + other, with a heap in the middle, drifted towards them, and they rowed + towards it. + </p> + <p> + 'But' (says Wate), 'when we came near we two were afraid, and I said to + Joe, "If there is a man inside to attack us, when he rises up, we shall + see him."' + </p> + <p> + Then the mate took up his pistol, but the sailor said, 'Those are the + Bishop's shoes.' + </p> + <p> + As they came up with it, and lifted the bundle wrapped in matting into the + boat, a shout or yell arose from the shore. Wate says four canoes put off + in pursuit; but the others think their only object was to secure the now + empty canoe as it drifted away. The boat came alongside, and two words + passed, 'The body!' Then it was lifted up, and laid across the skylight, + rolled in the native mat, which was secured at the head and feet. The + placid smile was still on the face; there was a palm leaf fastened over + the breast, and when the mat was opened there were five wounds, no more. + </p> + <p> + The strange mysterious beauty, as it may be called, of these circumstances + almost makes one feel as if this were the legend of a martyr of the + Primitive Church; but the fact is literally true, and can be interpreted, + though probably no account will ever be obtained from the actors in the + scene. + </p> + <p> + The wounds were, one evidently given with a club, which had shattered the + right side of the skull at the back, and probably was the first, and had + destroyed life instantly, and almost painlessly; another stroke of some + sharp weapon had cloven the top of the head; the body was also pierced in + one place; and there were two arrow wounds in the legs, but apparently not + shot at the living man, but stuck in after his fall, and after he had been + stripped, for the clothing was gone, all but the boots and socks. In the + front of the cocoa-nut palm, there were five knots made in the long + leaflets. All this is an almost certain indication that his death was the + vengeance for five of the natives. 'Blood for blood' is a sacred law, + almost of nature, wherever Christianity has not prevailed, and a whole + tribe is held responsible for the crime of one. Five men in Fiji are known + to have been stolen from Nukapu; and probably their families believed them + to have been killed, and believed themselves to be performing a sacred + duty when they dipped their weapons in the blood of the Bisope, whom they + did not know well enough to understand that he was their protector. Nay, + it is likely that there had been some such discussion as had saved him + before at Mai from suffering for Petere's death; and, indeed, one party + seem to have wished to keep him from landing, and to have thus solemnly + and reverently treated his body. + </p> + <p> + Even when the tidings came in the brief uncircumstantial telegram, there + were none of those who loved and revered him who did not feel that such + was the death he always looked for, and that he had willingly given his + life. There was peace in the thought even while hearts trembled with dread + of hearing of accompanying horrors; and when the full story arrived, + showing how far more painless his death had been than had he lived on to + suffer from his broken health, and how wonderfully the unconscious heathen + had marked him with emblems so sacred in our eyes, there was thankfulness + and joy even to the bereaved at home. + </p> + <p> + The sweet calm smile preached peace to the mourners who had lost his + guiding spirit, but they could not look on it long. The next morning, St. + Matthew's Day, the body of John Coleridge Patteson was committed to the + waters of the Pacific, his 'son after the faith,' Joseph Atkin, reading + the Burial Service. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Atkin afterwards wrote to his mother. He had written to his father the + day before; but the substance of his letter has been given in the + narrative:— + </p> + <p> + 'September 21, 1871. + </p> + <p> + 'My dear Mother,—We have had a terrible loss, such a blow that we + cannot at all realise it. Our Bishop is dead; killed by the natives at + Nukapu yesterday. We got the body, and buried it this morning. He was + alone on shore, and none of us saw it done. We were attacked in the boat + too, and Stephen so badly wounded that I am afraid there is small hope of + his recovery. John and I have arrow wounds, but not severe. Our poor boys + seem quite awe-stricken. Captain Jacobs is very much cut up. Brooke, + although not at all well, has quite devoted himself to the wounded, and so + has less time to think about it all. + </p> + <p> + 'It would only be selfish to wish him back. He has gone to his rest, + dying, as he lived, in his Master's service. + </p> + <p> + It seems a shocking way to die; but I can say from experience that it is + far more to hear of than to suffer. In whatever way so peaceful a life as + his is ended, his end is peace. There was no sign of fear or pain on his + face—just the look that he used to have when asleep, patient and a + little wearied. "What a stroke his death will be to hundreds!" What his + Mission will do without him, God only knows Who has taken him away. His + ways are not as our ways. Seeing people taken away, when, as we think, + they are almost necessary to do God's work on earth, makes one think that + we often think and talk too much about Christian work. What God requires + is Christian men. He does not need the work, only gives it to form or + perfect the character of the men whom He sends to do it. + </p> + <p> + 'Stephen is in great pain at times to-night; one of the arrows seems to + have entered his lungs, and it is broken in, too deep to be got out. John + is wounded in the right shoulder, I in the left. We are both maimed for + the time; but, if it were not for the fear of poison, the wounds would not + be worth noticing. I do not expect any bad consequences, but they are + possible. What would make me cling to life more than anything else is the + thought of you at home; but if it be God's will that I am to die, I know + He will enable you to bear it, and bring good for you out of it. + </p> + <p> + 'Saturday, 23rd.—We are all doing well. Stephen keeps up his + strength, sleeps well, and has no long attacks of pain. We have had good + breezes yesterday and to-day—very welcome it is, but the motion + makes writing too much labour. Brooke and Edward Wogale are both unwell—ague, + I believe, with both of them; and Brooke's nerves are upset. He has slept + most of to-day, and will probably be the better for it.'.... + </p> + <p> + His private journal adds:— + </p> + <p> + 'September 21st.—Buried the Bishop in the morning. The wounded all + doing well, but Stephen in pain occasionally. Calm day, passed over a reef + in the morning, about eighteen miles north of Nukapu, nine fathoms on it. + Thermometer ninety-one degrees yesterday and to-day. Began writing home at + night. Began reading Miss Yonge's "Chaplet of Pearls." + </p> + <p> + 'Friday, 22nd.—A light breeze came up in the evening, which + freshened through the night, and carried us past Tenakulu. Stephen doing + very well, had a good night, and has very little pain to-day. A breeze + through the day, much cooler. I am dressing my shoulder with brine. Read + some sermons of Vaughan's, preached at Doncaster during Passion Week. + </p> + <p> + 'Saturday, 23rd.—Breeze through the day. A few showers of rain. + Brooke and Wogale down with ague; gave Wogale ipecacuanha and quinine + afterwards. Read Mota prayers in evening. All wounds going on well. + Finished "Chaplet of Pearls," and wrote a little. + </p> + <p> + 'Sunday, 24th.—This morning the wind went round to N.E. and N. and + then died away. We were 55 miles W. of the Torres Islands at noon. Brooke + took English and Mota morning Prayers. I celebrated Holy Communion + afterwards. John came into cabin; I went out to Stephen. + </p> + <p> + 'Brooke and Wogale both better, but B—— quite weak.' + </p> + <p> + During that Celebration, while administering the Sacred Elements, Mr. + Atkin's tongue stumbled and hesitated over some of the words. + </p> + <p> + Then the Mota men looked at one another, and knew what would follow. + </p> + <p> + He knew it himself too, and called to Joseph Wate, his own special pupil, + saying (as the lad wrote to Mr. Atkin the elder), 'Stephen and I again are + going to follow the Bishop, and they of your country—! Who is to + speak to them?' + </p> + <p> + 'I do not know.' + </p> + <p> + Then he said again, 'It is all right. Don't grieve about it, because they + did not do this thing of themselves, but God allowed them to do it. It is + very good, because God would have it so, because He only looks after us, + and He understands about us, and now He wills to take away us two, and it + is well.' + </p> + <p> + There was much more for that strong young frame to undergo before the + vigorous life could depart. The loss was to be borne. The head of the + Mission, who had gone through long sickness, and lain at the gates of the + grave so long, died almost painlessly: his followers had deeply to drink + of the cup of agony. The night between the 26th and 27th was terrible, the + whole nervous system being jerked and strained to pieces, and he wandered + too much to send any message home; 'I lost my wits since they shot me,' he + said. Towards morning he almost leapt from his berth on the floor, crying + 'Good-bye.' + </p> + <p> + Mr. Brooke asked if he would have a little Sal volatile. + </p> + <p> + 'No.' + </p> + <p> + 'A little brandy?' + </p> + <p> + 'No.' + </p> + <p> + 'Do you want anything?' + </p> + <p> + 'I want nothing but to die.' + </p> + <p> + Those were his last words. He lay convulsed on a mattress on the floor for + about an hour longer, and was released on the morning of the 29th. + </p> + <p> + Stephen, with an arrow wound in the lungs, and several more of these + wounds in the chest, could hardly have lived, even without the terrible + tetanus. He had spent his time in reading his Mota Gospel and Prayer-book, + praying and speaking earnestly to the other men on board, before the full + agony came on. He was a tall, large, powerfully framed man; and the + struggles were violent before he too sank into rest on the morning of the + 28th, all the time most assiduously nursed by Joseph Wate. On St. + Michael's Day, these two teachers of poor Bauro received at the same time + their funeral at sea. + </p> + <p> + John Coleridge Patteson was forty-four years and a half old. + </p> + <p> + Joseph Atkin, twenty-nine. + </p> + <p> + Stephen Taroniara probably twenty-five—as he was about eighteen when + he joined the Mission in 1864. His little girl will be brought up at + Norfolk Island; his wife Tara, to whom he had been married only just + before his voyage, became consumptive, and died January, 1873, only twenty + minutes after her Baptism. As one of the scholars said, "Had the songs of + the angels for joy of her being made a child of God finished before they + were again singing to welcome her an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven?" + </p> + <p> + John Nonono showed no symptoms of tetanus, but was landed at Mota to + recover under more favourable circumstances than the crowded cabin could + afford. + </p> + <p> + Calms and baffling winds made the return to this island trying and + difficult, and Mota was not reached till the 4th of October. George + Sarawia was still perfectly satisfactory; and his community, on the whole, + going on hopefully. Want of provisions, which Mota could not supply, made + the stay very brief; and after obtaining the necessary supplies at Aurora, + the 'Southern Cross' brought her sad tidings to Norfolk Island on the + 17th. That day Mrs. Palmer wrote:— + </p> + <p> + 'On Monday afternoon, 15th, Mr. Codrington went for a ride to the other + side of the island, and there espied the schooner, eight miles off. He + rode home quickly, and soon the shouting and racing of the boys told us + that the vessel had come. They were all at arrowroot-making. Never, I + think, had the whole party, English and natives, seemed in higher spirits. + Mr. Bice walked to the settlement, to see if she was far in enough to land + that night; we asked him to call and tell us on his way home. + </p> + <p> + 'Next morning Mr. Bice rode down to see if it really was the schooner, and + was back to breakfast, all thinking we should soon see them come up. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice got their horses ready to ride down, and I + got the rooms ready, when, in an hour, a Norfolk Island boy rode up to say + the flag was half-mast high.' + </p> + <p> + 'We told the boys and girls something was wrong, to stop their joyous + shouting and laughing; and then I waited till Mr. Jackson returned, and + all he could say was, "Only Brooke has come!"' + </p> + <p> + What more shall I tell? Comments on such a life and such a death are + superfluous; and to repeat the testimonies of friends, outpourings of + grief, and utterances in sermons is but to weaken the impression of the + reality! + </p> + <p> + There is pain too in telling the further fate of Nukapu. H.M.S. 'Rosario,' + Commander Markham, then cruising in the Southern Pacific, touched at + Norfolk Island, and Captain Markham undertook at once to go to the island + and make enquiries. + </p> + <p> + A protest was drawn up and signed by all the members of the Mission + against any attempt to punish the natives for the murder; and Captain + Markham, a kind, humane, and conscientious man, as no one can doubt, + promised that nothing of the kind should be attempted. + </p> + <p> + But the natives could not but expect retaliation for what they had done. + There was no interpreter. They knew nothing of flags of truce; and when + they saw a boat approaching, full of white men, armed, what could they + apprehend but vengeance for 'Bisope'? So they discharged a volley of + arrows, and a sergeant of marines was killed. This was an attack on the + British flag, and it was severely chastised with British firearms. It is + very much to be doubted whether Nukapu will ever understand that her + natives were shot, not for killing the Bishop, but for firing on the + British flag. For the present the way is closed, and we can only echo + Fisher Young's sigh, 'Poor Santa Cruz people!' + </p> + <p> + Bishop Patteson's will bequeathed his whole inheritance to the Melanesian + Mission, and appointed that the senior Priest should take charge of it + until another Bishop should be chosen. + </p> + <p> + The Rev. Robert Codrington, therefore, took the management, though + refusing the Episcopate; and considering the peculiar qualifications + needful for a Melanesian Bishop, which can only be tested by actual + experiment on physical as well as moral and spiritual abilities, it has, + up to the present moment (May 1873), been thought better to leave the See + vacant, obtaining episcopal aid from the Bishop of Auckland. + </p> + <p> + But this implies no slackness nor falling off in the Mission. By God's + good providence, Coleridge Patteson had so matured his system that it + could work without him. Mr. Codrington and the other clergy make their + periodic voyages in the 'Southern Cross.' Kohimarama flourishes under + George Sarawia, who was ordained Priest at Auckland on St. Barnabas Day, + 1873. Bishop Cowie has paid a visit to Norfolk Island, and ordained as + Deacons, Edward Wogale, Robert Pantatun, Henry Tagalana, to work in Mota, + Santa Maria, and Ara. Joseph Wate remains the chief teacher of the lads + from Bauro; but there is much to be done before the work in that island + can be carried on. The people there seem peculiarly devoid of earnestness; + and it is remarkable that though they were among the first visited, and + their scholars the very earliest favourites, Stephen has been the only one + whose Christianity seems to have been substantial. But the sight of his + patient endurance had the same effect on those who were with him in the + ship as Walter Hotaswol's exhortations had had on himself, and several of + them began in earnest to prepare for Baptism. + </p> + <p> + The English staff of the Mission has been recruited by the Rev. John R. + Selwyn, and the Rev. John Still, as well as by Mr. Kenny from New Zealand. + And there is good hope that 'He who hath begun a good work will perform it + unto the day of the Lord.' + </p> + <p> + As to the crimes connected with the murder, the Queen herself directed the + attention of Parliament to it in her Speech at the commencement of the + Session of 1872. The Admiralty do what in them lies to keep watch over the + labour vessels by means of Queen's ships; and in Queensland, regulations + are made; in Fiji, the British Consul endeavours to examine the newly + arrived, whether they have been taken away by force. But it may be feared + that it will not be possible entirely to prevent atrocities over so wide a + range; though if, as Bishop Patteson suggested, all vessels unregistered, + and not committed to trustworthy masters, were liable to be seized and + confiscated, much of the shameless deceit and horrible skull-hunting would + be prevented. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the fittest conclusion to the Bishop's history will be the words + written by Henry Tagalana, translated literally by Mr. Codrington:— + </p> + <p> + 'As he taught, he confirmed his word with his good life among us, as we + all know; and also that he perfectly well helped anyone who might be + unhappy about anything, and spoke comfort to him about it; and about his + character and conduct, they are consistent with the law of God. He gave + the evidence of it in his practice, for he did nothing carelessly, lest he + should make anyone stumble and turn from the good way; and again he did + nothing to gain anything for himself alone, but he sought what he might + keep others with, and then he worked with it: and the reason was his + pitifulness and his love. And again, he did not despise anyone, nor reject + anyone with scorn; whether it were a white or a black person he thought + them all as one, and he loved them all alike.' + </p> + <p> + 'He loved them all alike!' That was the secret of John Coleridge + Patteson's history and his labours. + </p> + <p> + Need more be said of him? Surely the simple islander's summary of his + character is the honour he would prefer. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Life of John Coleridge Patteson, by +Charlotte M. 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