The Work that the Missionaries are doing. 127 
Mr. McDonald was the only one sent to open a new station, 
all the others going to those which had been occupied be- 
fore. 
Dr. Geddie was unable to attend the closing meetings of the 
session, through a sudden and very severe stroke of paralysis, 
which quite disabled him. He recovered a little before the 
vessel left on her second tour, but still was very much shaken 
and weak. 
During this session, too, a communion service was held in 
the native church, which was attended by about 300 natives. 
I was much struck with their neat appearance and quiet 
respectful behaviour during this service; and as I compared 
them with many of the natives on neighbouring islands, was 
more than ever convinced that the work which the missionaries 
are doing is a real and a permanent one. I had now been 
round the group, and had seen something of missionary life and 
doings—not, perhaps, of the real hard work of it, but still 
enough to enable me to entertain very decided opinions upon » 
this subject. What I have just stated is my conviction as re- 
gards the work that they are doing ; and as to themselves, I am 
also as strongly convinced that the missionaries make a very 
great sacrifice when they come to these islands ; that the work 
is to them one of toil and great discomfort, not to speak of 
danger ; that those who speak sneeringly of missionaries and 
their work, ascribing to them motives of personal gain, are very 
much in the wrong ; and that those persons are influenced, not 
by a desire to find out and express the truth, but by a bitter 
prejudice against everything Christian and philanthropic. 
This is the result of my experience so far, as regards the mis- 
sions carried on in the New Hebrides. 
Another event occurred whilst the Synod was holding its 
meetings, and that was the arrival in the harbour of a vessel 
having mails on board from the colonies. Those who are in 
