John Hunt Pioneer Missionary to Fiji

John Hunt [1811-1848] was a Methodist missionary to Fiji.

Hunt arrived in Fiji with his wife in 1839… His main task with Bible translation; he completed the New Testament and had begun the work on translating the Old Testament before his untimely death from dysentery. He was a person of deep religious feeling whose beauty of character and total devotion made a strong impact on the Fijians, even when they did not accept his faith. He respected the Fijian culture and learned to know it well, recognizing both its bad and good qualities. He worked to develop forms of worship that made use of Fijian cultural styles. [Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, p.311]

My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing a copy of this book for scanning. This title is in the public domain.

Joseph Nettleton [1835-1914], John Hunt. Pioneer Missionary and Saint. London: Charles H. Kelly, [1906]. Hbk. pp.124. [Click to download the complete book in PDF]

Contents

1. “In the Days of Thy Youth”
2. The Ernest Student and Missionary-Designate
3. First Impressions of Fiji and the Fijians
4. The Translator-in-Chief of the Holy Scriptures
5. Somosomo; or, Reasonable Expectation Disappointed
6. Viwa: Revivals and Native Pastors
7. Entire Sanctification
8. “In Journeyings Oft”
9. Early and Triumphant Death
10. Testimonies to Character and Usefulness

Preface

I count it a great honour to have been requested to write the life of John Hunt for the ‘Library of Missionary Biography.’ I entered into his labours, and was a debtor to him as a pioneer. I landed first on Viwa after leaving England in 1860, and went straight from the ship’s boat to his grave. There under the palm-trees, on bended knees, I consecrated myself to carry on the work which he commenced with so much heroism and devotion. I used the textbooks in the college for training native pastors which he had prepared. The aromatic saintliness of his life fell like a benediction upon me. I was a better man, and more efficient as a missionary, for the influence of his life and the inspiration of his work. [Continue reading]