The name of John G Paton
(1824-1907) will ever be associated with the group of islands in
the South Seas, now known as Vanuatu, but then called the New
Hebrides. This choice Scottish Christian was enabled to engage in
heroic and fruitful missionary labours in one of the hardest and
darkest fields of service in the world. One of these islands was
Aniwa. There follows here part of his own most moving account of
the first Communion service there.
‘It was Sabbath, 24th
October 1869; and surely the Angels of God and the Church of the
Redeemed in Glory were amongst ‘the great cloud of witnesses’ who
eagerly ‘peered’ down upon the scene – when we sat around the
Lord’s Table and partook the memorials of His body and blood with
those few souls rescued out of the Heathen World ….
Solemn prayer was then
offered, and in the name of the Holy Trinity the Church of Christ
on Aniwa was formally constituted. I addressed them on the words
of the Holy Institution - 1 Corinthians 11:23 – and then, after
the prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration, administered the
Lord’s Supper …. And I think, if ever in all my earthly
experience, on that day I might truly add the blessed words –
‘Jesus in the midst’.
The whole Service
occupied nearly three hours. The Islanders looked on with a wonder
whose unwonted silence was almost painful to bear. Many were led
to inquire carefully about everything they saw, so new and
strange. For the first time the Dorcas Street Sabbath School
teachers’ gift from South Melbourne Presbyterian Church was put to
use – a new Communion Service of silver. They gave it in faith
that we would require it, and in such we received it. And now the
day had come and gone! For three years we had toiled and prayed
and taught for this. At the moment when I put the bread and wine
into those dark hands, once stained with the blood of Cannibalism,
but now stretched out to receive and partake the emblems and seals
of the Redeemer’s love, I had a foretaste of the joy of Glory that
well nigh broke my heart to pieces. I shall never taste a deeper
bliss, till I gaze on the glorified face of Jesus Himself.’
The full account may be
read in his autobiography,
John G Paton, Missionary
to the New Hebrides (pages 375f),
published by The Banner of Truth Trust.
