Cannibal Island: The Story of John G. Paton, by Winifred M Pearce

Cannibal Island: The Story of John G. Paton, by Winifred M Pearce. 1968 stapled softcover. 64 pages, good condition.

A weird missionary biography published by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, written to convert young readers who dig cannibals. John G. Paton was a missionary from Glasgow whose adventures and sorrows on the islands of the New Hebrides seem ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Focusing much of his attention on Tanna, an island of cannibal natives, Paton strove to reach the people with the Gospel and translate the Bible into their native language by dwelling among them and seeking to befriend them.

One of the greatest threats he faced while serving in Tanna was the loyalty the peoples had to their idols and spirit-gods. At one point, the Sacred Men of the island pronounced a curse on Paton and simply waited with all the people to watch him die. To their chagrin, however, Paton continued life in a healthy manner. “Seeing their agitation, Paton mocked [the Sacred Men who had cursed him] as Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. ‘Be quick!’ he cried. ‘Stir up your gods to help you! I am not killed yet. I am perfectly well!'” Eventually the people recognized that the curse had no effect upon Paton, because his God must be more powerful than their own. “‘Yes,’ said Paton, taking up their argument. ‘My God is stronger than your gods. He protected me and helped me, for He is the only living and true God. Your stone gods cannot hear prayers, but my God can. He will hear and answer you if you will give your hearts and lives to Him and serve Him only.'”