John G. Paton Books: His Autobiography in Three Volumes and More
John Gibson Paton (1824–1907) was the Scottish missionary who buried his wife and baby on Tanna, escaped the island with his life, and later saw the island of Aniwa turn to Christ after he dug a well. He told his own story, and his brother James edited it. TheWay Library has all four books, free to read: the autobiography John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides in three volumes, and The Story of John G. Paton, a shorter version for young readers. For an overview of his life, see who was John G. Paton.
Where to start
Most readers should start with Volume 1. It has the chapters people remember: his father's prayers in the cottage closet, his Glasgow years, and his years of danger and grief on Tanna. It reads like an adventure story, and it's hard to put down.
After that, choose by what you want:
- To keep reading the whole story: Volume 2, then Volume 3.
- For children, a family read-aloud, or a shorter version: The Story of John G. Paton.
- For the famous well on Aniwa: Volume 2, Face to Face with Heathenism.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides
Paton wrote his autobiography at his brother's urging, and James Paton shaped it for the press. The first two parts came out together in 1889 and were reprinted again and again. A third part followed in 1898, carrying the story on through his travels in the 1890s.
Volume 1: Home, Glasgow and Tanna
Paton begins with his parents' cottage in Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire, and the closet where his father prayed. He tells of his hard road through school and college while working to pay his way, then of his ten years in the Glasgow City Mission and his call to the foreign field when no one else would go. He sails in 1858 and settles on Tanna, where he finds constant fighting, cannibalism and the strangling of widows. His wife and infant son die within months, told in Life and Death on Tanna. The later chapters, drawn from his letters and journals, record plots against his life, the blame laid on the missionaries for sickness and drought, the few who came to faith, and his escape in Farewell Scenes.
Looking up in unceasing prayer to our dear Lord Jesus, I left all in His hands, and felt immortal till my work was done.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides, Vol. 1, More Mission Leaves from Tanna
Volume 2: The Dayspring and Aniwa
After Tanna, Paton tours Australia raising money for a mission ship, and children's gifts help launch the Dayspring. He meets the Aborigines, goes home to Scotland, is chosen Moderator of his church, marries Margaret Whitecross and sails back. On Aniwa he faces armed chiefs and old customs, and he writes about the islanders' traditions of creation and the flood. The turning point is the sinking of the well: when fresh water rises through the coral, the old chief Namakei preaches about "rain from below" and the island casts away its idols. Later chapters tell of the first Aniwan book, the building of a church, the first communion, and pen-portraits of the converts, with letters from Mrs. Paton and a last visit to Britain.
I claimed Aniwa for Jesus, and by the Grace of God Aniwa now worships at the Saviour's feet.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides, Vol. 2, Settlement on Aniwa
Volume 3: Round the World for Jesus
The third part picks up twelve years later. In Round the World for Jesus, Paton travels through America, Britain and the colonies, speaking for the mission and pleading for laws to stop traders selling guns and strong drink to the islanders. The Home-Lands and the Islands tells the long story of a new Dayspring, his "Gideon's fleece" test of God's will, the founding of the John G. Paton Mission Fund, the loss of the ship, and the progress of the work on island after island. A reprinted magazine article at the start sketches the whole history of the New Hebrides mission.
Whatever trials have befallen me in my Earthly Pilgrimage, I have never had the trial of doubting that perhaps, after all, Jesus had made some mistake.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides, Vol. 3, The Home-Lands and the Islands
It has less danger than the first two volumes and more travel, giving and answered prayer. It's for readers who want to see how his work went on. Read Volume 3.
The Story of John G. Paton
In 1892 James Paton recast the first two parts for boys and girls, under the title The Story of John G. Paton; or, Thirty Years Among South Sea Cannibals. It's told in ninety-one short chapters, still in John's own voice, from the cottage home and his consecrated parents to the great bereavement on Tanna, the escape by canoe, the Dayspring, and the well on Aniwa. It closes with good news from Tanna in 1891.
My soul had a faith that God would open a spring for us; but side by side with this faith was a strange terror that the water would be salt.
The Story of John G. Paton, Rain from Below
The chapters are short enough to read one a night, which makes it a fine family book. Adults who want the story without the detail of the full volumes will enjoy it too. Read The Story of John G. Paton.
A note on these editions
These books were restored from old printings. Paton's style is the style of his day: long sentences, capital letters on words like Heathen and Mission, and frank descriptions of the islanders' practices before the gospel came. He writes with deep love for them, and he rejoices over every one who turns to Christ.
Why read Paton today
Paton's books show what it looks like to trust God when everything goes wrong, and they show the gospel changing people no one thought could be changed. Start with Volume 1. For his best lines in one place, see our collection of John G. Paton quotes, and for more books like his, see our list of the best missionary biographies. All four books are on the John Gibson Paton author page.