Albert Kent Langridge [1857-1938] & Frank H.L. Paton, John G. Paton. Later Years and Farewell

THE STORY OF THE "DAYSPRING" 119 sition to the New Dayspring project was displayed by so:me earnest friends of the Missio~, who considered it unwise to proceed with the new Mission vessel ; arguing that to continue the subsidy towards the maintenance of the Commercial Maritime Company's Service was more important, from the point of view of British interests in t):ie Group, and also that such a service was likely to be less expensive than the sole responsibility for a Mission vessel. So strongly did they feel in the matter that, in spite of the majority in favour of a neiW Mission ship, the minority persisted in their opposition, and this state of affairs caused the Missionary many an anxious hour and much heart burning.

It seems strange that a man: like John G. Paton, so utterly unselfish, and spending on the Mission every penny that he could save or control, should be persecuted. But so it was. Articles appeared in certain Nova Scotian and other papers, relating to what was described as " Dr. Paton's Phantom Ship," &c. The Missionary felt it necessary at last to bring the matter before the Victorian Committee, and in a public letter dated December the 4th, I 8 94, that Committee expressed unabated confidence in the Missionary, and declared that the scheme for the new Dayspring had their cordial approval, following as it did the lines laid down ten years previously, when the Missionary was commissioned to visit Great Britain, if possible to raise funds for this specific purpose.

In a private note sending a copy of this public expression of confidence, the Missionary said : " I hope this letter will be a sufficient reply to all the unjust statements that have been made. It is long ago since our dear Lord Jesus, said, ' If they perse-