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John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides: An Autobiography (1889)

by John G. Paton

4.48 of 5 stars 4.48 · rating details · 209 ratings · 36 reviews

This is the moving autobiography of the heroic Scot missionary, John G. Paton, who introduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the cannibalistic inhabitants of the New Hebrides in the mid-nineteenth century.

Paperback , 408 pages

Published November 1st 2007 by Kessinger Publishing (first published 1898)

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Sep 26, 2012 Johanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Absolutely everyone!

This was one of the most amazing books I have ever read! I can't imagine reading it and not being strongly impressed by the truth and wonder of God's providence. Besides being very encouraging, I found this book to be very rebuking(in a good way). It shows how little most of us Christians in America today know about true suffering for Christ. John Paton's stories of his missionary experience in the New Hebrides are an amazing recount of God's awesome workings and providences, it is full of inspi ...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Crazycalvinist O'flaherty marked it as to-read · review of another edition

This volume is an a multi-volume originally published in 3 separate volumes. I have just finished the first part, volume one, and its quite a remarkable story of God preserving His own, and of someone living with utter dependance for every day alive on God's keeping him from being killed and eaten alive by heathen canibals.
It reads a litle like an adventure story, except it is true, yet almost seems beyond belief, it is so incredible what he survived and how the Lord kept him alive and comparati ...more

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Jan 08, 2008 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a great autobiography! Can't say enough. A man goes to preach the gospel to the cannibals on one of the islands in the South Pacific in the 1800's just 19 years after two other missionaries were eaten for trying to do the same. He is alone and threatened every day but trusts in the Lord for help.

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May 12, 2010 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best autobiography I've ever read. John G. Paton writes in such a way that his autobiography reads more like a thrilling adventure story because of the amazing way God moves through this faithful follower of Christ. I have put this autobiography on my "You've-gotta-read-this" list.

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Jun 04, 2015 Andy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In this amazing autobiography, John Paton describes his upbringing in Scotland, his success in ministry in London, and his dangerous work among the natives of the New Hebrides Islands. The stories of the events of his life are amazingly detailed and powerful, as they demonstrate his faith in God and his care for the lost. As these events happened in the second half of the nineteenth century, it provides a great insight into the history of England and its relationship with the church and mission ...more

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May 26, 2014 Alysa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vanuatu

(Note: I read the 5th edition of volume 1, published about 1890, and ending with Paton's departure from Tanna.)

I should note, first, that I am an anthropologist and that I do fieldwork on the islands of Vanuatu (previously New Hebrides), including some of the islands where JG Paton served as a missionary. I read this book to gain a better understanding of the early colonial history of the archipelago, especially the role of missionaries in the development of the islands to their present state.

De (Note: I read the 5th edition of volume 1, published about 1890, and ending with Paton's departure from Tanna.)

I should note, first, that I am an anthropologist and that I do fieldwork on the islands of Vanuatu (previously New Hebrides), including some of the islands where JG Paton served as a missionary. I read this book to gain a better understanding of the early colonial history of the archipelago, especially the role of missionaries in the development of the islands to their present state.

Despite the fact that the subtitle of the book is 'Missionary to the New Hebrides', Paton spends quite a large chunk of the book describing his work before he ever left Scotland. I understand giving background to how he ended up in the South Pacific, but I wasn't sure the literary purpose of spending so many pages describing work before the time of the title. (A thought: Perhaps he was trying to draw parallels between the 'barbaric' city dwellers of Scotland and the 'savage' islanders of the New Hebrides?) Once his story brought him to the South Pacific, it was interesting to read about places I've visited 150 years later, and hear the stories of names I've seen on buildings and roads. It was also interesting to draw parallels between the cultures of the New Hebrides of Paton's era and of the Vanuatu I've experienced (noteably, Paton describes the Tannese as being strongly reliant upon spiritual guidelines, while now Tanna is the stronghold for a local cargo cult called the John Frum Movement—perhaps this is a strong societal preference for joining with those who provide potential for greatest social benefit and resource gain).

Paton's writing style is very engaging, making it easy to read through his memoirs. I found that the book was much more pleasurable to read than I initially expected! ...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: Every Christian

Shelves: anti-trafficking , biographical , christian-life , ethnography , favorites , missionary-bio , missions , non-fictional , orphans , south-pacific , translation , e-book

I finished reading this incredibly story months ago and yet it is still very... present. It's as if I'm still trying to internalize and process what I read--it is just so incredible! It easily moved up into the top tier of my favorite books. It's really that great.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. It was free on Kindle (free is good), I love reading missionary biographies, and I had stalled out on another book (also free on Kindle and also a missionary-related book, go figure!). But reall ...more

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Nov 17, 2014 Wendy Sparkes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: around-the-world-in-365-days , biography , buried-treasure-tbr-pile , kindle-free , new-authors-2013 , non-fiction-challenge

What a heart for the Lord this missionary had!

John G. Paton served among the Cannibals of the New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu) from 1857 (aged 33) to 1887 sharing the love of Jesus despite many difficult & dangerous situations. He also was key in getting the Missionary ship the Dayspring established to help support the missionaries serving on those islands of the South Seas.

The style of writing is obviously of the 1800s, & although I found it more difficult to read on occasions, it wa ...more

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Oct 29, 2013 Scott Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John G. Paton spent his life telling two stories. First, he told the story of God's bringing salvation to sinners through the death and resurrection of His Son. But he also told the story of how God used him and other missionaries to bring a little heaven to earth as the gospel of Jesus Christ took root among the violent and pagan people of the New Hebrides. In his autobiography, as Paton tells the latter, the prior story of God's redeeming grace is ever in view. The result is a book as God-glor John G. Paton spent his life telling two stories. First, he told the story of God's bringing salvation to sinners through the death and resurrection of His Son. But he also told the story of how God used him and other missionaries to bring a little heaven to earth as the gospel of Jesus Christ took root among the violent and pagan people of the New Hebrides. In his autobiography, as Paton tells the latter, the prior story of God's redeeming grace is ever in view. The result is a book as God-glorifying and edifying as it is full of human drama and excitement.

John G. Paton (1824-1907) was born in Scotland into a poor but happy, and deeply devout, Christian family. As a young man ministering in Glasgow as a city missionary, he heard the "the wail of the perishing Heathen in the South Seas" and was thus compelled, in obedience to God's call, to pursue foreign missionary service in the South Pacific. In 1858, Paton, with his wife Mary Ann, left Scotland for the New Hebrides, being sent there by the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland.

The New Hebrides, now named Vanuatu, are a collection of some 30 islands, then populated by mostly unreached tribes. Missionaries had enjoyed some success on one island, Aneityum, but the gospel had not penetrated far beyond that. In fact, in 1839 two missionaries from the London Missionary Society, upon landing on the island of Erromanga, were immediately clubbed to death and eaten. Not exactly a Macedonian call - "come over and help us" (Acts 16:9)!

Indeed, the extreme danger of death finally forced Paton to leave his first mission outpost on the island of Tanna (pictured above) in 1862. He had been there four years, had buried his wife and son there, and left with little visible fruit from his gospel labors. Later, however, Paton would go on to see the grace of God transform the entire island of Aniwa as the people there embraced the good news of Christ.

It is this power of the gospel that so impressed me as I read Paton's book. He paints a graphic portrait of a people without the light of God's Word - idolatrous, savage, vengeful, superstitious, cruel, sad, and hopeless. Yet through the faithful preaching of Christ, and Paton's loving service among the islanders, an amazing change took place. People began to forsake their sinful customs (for example, polygamy and interminable blood feuds), to worship the Lord, to keep the Sabbath, to read and learn God's Word, and to order their families and society in its light. Every Christian can be encouraged from Paton's story of the power of God not only to save sinners from sin and death, but to transform lives in the process.

The extraordinary nature of the man himself also struck me. Paton seems to have been a man not only of great courage and vision, and a minister whose labors were uncommonly blessed by God, but a man who was utterly given over to one all-consuming purpose and passion in life: to make Christ known to the people of the New Hebrides. When I didn't feel puny in comparison, I was inspired to seek God's grace that I might have this same laser-like focus so evident in Paton and best expressed by the Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do" (Phil. 3:13).

Paton is a master storyteller. At the beginning, his description of his parents, and especially of his father's great piety and tender love for him, is beautiful and moving. His stories of danger and adventure - so many as to be almost unbelievable! - are captivating. He also entertains, often with self-deprecating charm, in his more humorous recollections. Throughout, Paton writes with great pathos, and with an elegant but powerful simplicity. For example, here he describes the change that took place on Aniwa after one its chiefs converted to Christ:

The old Chief led them in prayer - a strange, dark, groping prayer, with streaks of Heathenism colouring every thought and sentence; but still a heart-breaking prayer, as the cry of a soul once Cannibal, but now being thrilled through and through with the first conscious pulsations of the Christ-Spirit throbbing into the words - "Father, Father; our Father."

When these poor creatures began to wear a bit of calico or a kilt, it was an outward sign of a change, though yet far from civilization. And when they began to look up and pray to One whom they called "Father our Father," though they might be far, very far, from the type of Christian that dubs itself "respectable," my heart broke over them in tears of joy; and nothing will ever persuade me that there was not a Divine Heart in the Heavens rejoicing too. (pg. 325)

I also found Paton's eventual fame fascinating. He not only became a household name throughout the Protestant Christian world (he writes how Spurgeon, with "genial humor", saluted him as "the King of the Cannibals!"), but even held audiences with the rich and powerful, including the U.S. President. It's hard to imagine a missionary today enjoying such celebrity status. I suppose the closest thing in my lifetime is the fame of Mother Theresa, though she is more famous for helping the poor generally than for being an evangelist for Christ.

After having read the book, I only wish it could be reworked a bit to round out Paton's story and update it for people today. Paton tells many, many stories - almost too many! - but next to nothing about his family or personal life (no mention of ten kids!). I understand the letters written by his second wife, Margaret Paton, help fill in that gap (see Margaret Paton - Letters from the South Seas). And much of the book is taken up with his fund-raising travels throughout the world. His details of how many pounds this church or that person contributed gets tedious after a while. Ideally, a biographer would combine the best of John Paton's autobiographical material, preserving Paton's own words, with information from other sources to make one single, readable book on his life and work. It's a story that needs to be told and heard today, because it is a testimony of what incredible things God will do through his people when we faithfully seek to make Christ known to others. ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Suzannah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is a magnificent book. Paton writes engagingly and well. His hair-raising adventures--both in the New Hebrides and in the more "civilised" lands of Scotland and Australia--drag you in, often with white-knuckle tension. His later account of the evangelisation and transformation of the Aniwan cannibals is thrilling in a different, more uplifting way. Meanwhile his personality shines through saintly and kind, but uncompromisingly, tenaciously courageous with an added helping of what can only be ...more

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Sep 20, 2010 Daniel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an incredible read. What a story! It's riveting - especially the first half. It's action packed. John Paton was a missionary to modern day Vanuatu. He lived for 5 years on an island of cannibals while enduring life threatening situations almost daily. It was his custom to run in-between warring tribes in order to stop the violence. He frequently succeeded. He would preach to and reason with the savage heathens even while they were trying to kill each other (or him).

I found it especially ...more

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Dec 19, 2014 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history , theology-sermons , reformers , favorites

Read at least three times. Oh, how inspiring is this man's faith and humility!! I love the story. Reminds me that "yea, tho I walk in the valley of the shadow of death," the One Who created me, sustains me yet. Powerful book.

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Aug 03, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: south-asia

The compassion and courage of this pioneer missionary is inspirational. That his efforts for the sake of Christ were so dramatically effective among the Aniwa (New Hebrides) people is astonishing. The major change occured in the relationships among the people of that small island, from living in fear and focused on revenge and death at all times to kindness and fellowship--in the span of one decade! The stories of the individual lives John Paton encountered are the heart of this book and help th ...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Jimmy Reagan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Perhaps the best biography I’ve ever read! It is hard to fathom following the Lord with all he faced among the cannibals in the South Seas Islands. He had a thousand opportunities to quit serving the Lord and never did. When he had to guard the grave of his wife to keep the natives from digging up her body to eat it, you feel like quitting for him. He was betrayed often, his work collapsed over and over, and good results were elusive for such a long time. Finally, he perseveres to see the Lord h ...more

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Jun 30, 2014 Becky Hintz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A classic missionary autobiography. This book has it all--The childhood home that shaped Paton's unwavering devotion to Christ, the early preparation for overseas ministry, danger and adventure and intrigue among the cannibals, profound loss and disappointments and perseverance, wild success in a second attempt, and finally, many years of support-raising to continue the mission. May we never forget that the "exciting parts" are impossible without this last, more mundane chapter of the story.

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Feb 19, 2015 Joyce added it · review of another edition

Shelves: missions

Read this as a child/teen. Would love to reread.

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May 04, 2010 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Eyre had the opportunity of a lifetime, to marry a missionary, travel and die of one disease or another. John Paton's Autobiographical account of mission work in the New Hebrides takes the reader back to ritualistic ancient cultures and their thirst for blood. The relent work of the mission was unending.
Offering the notes / letters/ writings by his wife who did pass away with fever, I could vividly see her flour and the native wearing a kilt. This is all that I can say, you should read this ...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Kevin Winner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have yet to read a book, apart from the Bible, that has inspired and revived my spirit more to follow the call of Christ. Seeing this man in action and in faith pursuing the salvation of others and enduring the trials that come along with that will motivate you to live more faithfully in pursuit of Christ. Paton not only has a heart for the New Hebrides, but also for those who read his writings, and that is apparent through this book.

A must read for anyone interested in missions!

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May 15, 2015 Rudi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is book everyone looking for encouragement in their walk with the Lord needs to read.
Two major lessons:
1). God who calls is the one who enables those whom He calls. God gives the fruit on the labour of his servants, even if it takes scores of years.
2). The commitment of those who answers the call is invaluable - something dearly missing in modern day society.
I fully recommend the book. Actually, one needs to read it at least once a year.

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Jan 10, 2014 Luke Burgess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

The beginning of this book which records the impact of Mr. Paton's father upon his life should be required for any Christian father. I have read and reread that particular passage on many occasions. The book as a whole is one of the best biographies I've ever read. It conveys a life of faith, and a evangelistic passion and courage that comes from it. Great from many perspectives.

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Dec 31, 2014 Lee Gerrietts rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was profound for me to see the zeal and love a man had for the Gospel and missions to the heathens. I highly recommend reading this autobiography. At a minimum listen to John Piper'stalk or biographical sketch of John G Paton.

In particular he love for his father and their relationship has had a lasting impact on me.

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May 19, 2012 Tom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography

The life this man led and what he went through in his service to Christ was incredible. Paton was a true pioneer in carrying the gospel to the darkest parts of the world. God blessed him by using him to change hearts and also by calling him to suffer.

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Jan 06, 2010 Andy Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history , missions

We you think you have it bad, pick up this book and find out about a missionary to the cannibals. Awesome book on perseverence and God protection. Slow read and detailed but incredible stories of how God changed the hearts and lives of man-eating people.

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Sep 16, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a life of service! John Paton has shared the remarkable story of his life as a missionary in the 1800's to the natives of the New Hebrides. Told very humbly and honestly, this book is an inspiration to follow God's call and see His hand at work.

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Jun 20, 2015 Josh Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Absolutely brilliant, packed with great humour.
Enough to go back to not just for illustrations, or personal enjoyment, but as help to carry on in challenge and adversity.

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Nov 14, 2014 John Yelverton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was one of the most touching and beautiful autobiographies that I have ever read. The hardships that this man endured, while never losing his faith, is truly remarkable.

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Feb 22, 2011 Cherie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John G. Paton chronicles his years of laboring in missions, seeing God's hand move to provide in amazing ways and change the hearts of entire heathen tribes.

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Feb 10, 2013 Justin Orman rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the seminal lives in the Christian missionary movement. Alongside Taylor and Judson in my favorite missionary biographies.

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Nov 10, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story of how God used this guy is amazing. It's free from Amazon on Kindle so go read it yourself! His faith=wow.

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Apr 04, 2014 Elisha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was impressing and astonishing on how the indians came to church after believing in God and repenting.

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“Beautiful was it to mark how the poorest began to improve in personal appearance immediately after they came to our Class; how they gradually got shoes and one bit of clothing after another, to enable them to attend our other Meetings, and then to go to Church; and, above all, how eagerly they sought to bring others with them, taking a deep personal interest in all the work of the Mission. Long after they themselves could appear in excellent dress, many of them still continued to attend in their working clothes, and to bring other and poorer girls with them to that Morning Class, and thereby helped to improve and elevate their companions. My delight in that Bible Class was among the purest joys in all my life, and the results were amongst the most certain and precious of all my Ministry.” — 0 likes

“as I had only once to die, I was content to leave the time and place and means in the hand of God” — 0 likes

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