Paul White (missionary)
Encyclopedia
Paul Hamilton Hume White (26 February 1910 – 21 December 1992) was an Australian missionary, evangelist, radio program host and author.
. After studying medicine at the University of Sydney
, he married Mary Bellingham and together they travelled to Tanganyika
(now part of Tanzania
) as Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries in 1938, where White established a hospital at Mvumi Mission
which soon replaced Kilimatinde
as the main medical centre of the CMS mission in Tanganyika.
White succeeded Dr Cyril Wallace as the medical secretary of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in 1939. He wrote his first book, Doctor of Tanganyika, which is factual and contains many photographs taken by White himself, to illustrate how missionary work was carried out under such primitive settings, with the local Chigogo people. In 1941 after only two years in missionary work White had to return to Australia
due to his wife's illness.
On the way home, he developed a boil in, to use his own words, 'a place which caused me to take a pillow, cut a hole in it, and sit very carefully (!)' Unable to take part in the shipboard entertainment he started to write. From this came the book Jungle Doctor, the first in an extensive series bearing the same name.
and depict African folklore and missionary adventure. Many of White's stories include moral teaching. The Jungle Doctor series consists of 29 books, including four co-authored with David Britten. They tell of surgical operations in the wild using the most basic equipment and the very colourful people of Africa, including his friend Daudi (David) Matama, and quite often striking against the village witchdoctors who relied on black magic
to gain power. Several stories are tales of good winning against evil.
Although seeming to be an account of his life, the books are mostly fictitious, although they incorporate much of his own and others experiences as well as many of the people of all races he encountered in his missionary work. Indeed it has been said that 'if Paul experienced all the happenings in the books, he would have needed three lifetimes'! Original editions were illustrated by Graham Wade
, who also produced Jungle Doctor comic strips. White then authored six 'Fable' books, in the form of the traditional African 'round the fire' storytelling, incorporating Christian moral lessons. They are Jungle Doctor's Fables, Jungle Doctor's Tug of War, Jungle Doctor's Monkey Tales, Jungle Doctor's Hippo Happenings, Jungle Doctor's Rhino Rumblings and Jungle Doctor Meets Mongoose.
. White also continued to practice medicine on a part-time basis right up until his death.
Early life and missionary work
White was born in Bowral, New South WalesBowral, New South Wales
-Attractions:Bowral is perhaps the best known of the towns and villages of the Southern Highlands, and in recent years has become the commercial centre of the Wingecarribee Shire. Bowral is known for its boutiques, antique stores, gourmet restaurants, and rich coffee culture.Bowral is home to the...
. After studying medicine at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, he married Mary Bellingham and together they travelled to Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
(now part of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
) as Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries in 1938, where White established a hospital at Mvumi Mission
Mvumi Mission
Mvumi Mission is an administrative ward in the Dodoma Rural district of the Dodoma Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 13,216.-External links:*...
which soon replaced Kilimatinde
Kilimatinde
Kilimatinde is a village in the Singida region of Tanzania....
as the main medical centre of the CMS mission in Tanganyika.
White succeeded Dr Cyril Wallace as the medical secretary of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in 1939. He wrote his first book, Doctor of Tanganyika, which is factual and contains many photographs taken by White himself, to illustrate how missionary work was carried out under such primitive settings, with the local Chigogo people. In 1941 after only two years in missionary work White had to return to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
due to his wife's illness.
On the way home, he developed a boil in, to use his own words, 'a place which caused me to take a pillow, cut a hole in it, and sit very carefully (!)' Unable to take part in the shipboard entertainment he started to write. From this came the book Jungle Doctor, the first in an extensive series bearing the same name.
Published work
Following his return to Australia, White went on to write the rest of his Jungle Doctor books, which have been translated into more than 80 languages. At the same time he began his Jungle Doctor radio program, which continued for 25 years. His books are based in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and depict African folklore and missionary adventure. Many of White's stories include moral teaching. The Jungle Doctor series consists of 29 books, including four co-authored with David Britten. They tell of surgical operations in the wild using the most basic equipment and the very colourful people of Africa, including his friend Daudi (David) Matama, and quite often striking against the village witchdoctors who relied on black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
to gain power. Several stories are tales of good winning against evil.
Although seeming to be an account of his life, the books are mostly fictitious, although they incorporate much of his own and others experiences as well as many of the people of all races he encountered in his missionary work. Indeed it has been said that 'if Paul experienced all the happenings in the books, he would have needed three lifetimes'! Original editions were illustrated by Graham Wade
Graham Wade
Graham Wade was an Australian Christian cartoonist, film maker and communicator. He was best known for his illustrations for Dr. Paul White's Jungle Doctor series.Graham went on to form Pilgrim International, a Christian-based media company....
, who also produced Jungle Doctor comic strips. White then authored six 'Fable' books, in the form of the traditional African 'round the fire' storytelling, incorporating Christian moral lessons. They are Jungle Doctor's Fables, Jungle Doctor's Tug of War, Jungle Doctor's Monkey Tales, Jungle Doctor's Hippo Happenings, Jungle Doctor's Rhino Rumblings and Jungle Doctor Meets Mongoose.
Other work
As well as pioneering Christian media in the form of both radio and television in Australia, White was active in student evangelism and is credited with revitalising evangelical Christian student groups in Australia after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. White also continued to practice medicine on a part-time basis right up until his death.
Death
White died on 21 December 1992, aged 82. He is buried at St. Simon & St. Jude Anglican church in Bowral.Jungle Doctor Series
- Jungle Doctor (1942)
- Jungle Doctor on Safari (1943)
- Jungle Doctor Operates (1944)
- Jungle Doctor Attacks Witchcraft (1947)
- Jungle Doctor's Enemies (c1950)
- Jungle Doctor Meets a Lion (c1950)
- Jungle Doctor to the Rescue (1951)
- Jungle Doctor's Casebook (1952)
- Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind (1952)
- Eyes on Jungle Doctor (1953)
- Jungle Doctor Looks for Trouble (1953)
- Jungle Doctor Goes West (1954)
- Jungle Doctor Stings a Scorpion (1955)
- Jungle Doctor Hunts Big Game (1956)
- Jungle Doctor on the Hop (c1957)
- Jungle Doctor's Crooked Dealings (1959)
- Jungle Doctor Spots a Leopard (1963)
- Jungle Doctor Pulls a Leg (1964)
- Jungle Doctor Sees Red (c1968)
Jungle Doctor's Fables Series
- Jungle Doctor's Fables (1955)
- Jungle Doctor's Monkey Tales (1957)
- Jungle Doctor's Tug-of-War (1958)
- Jungle Doctor's Hippo Happenings (1966)
- Jungle Doctor's Rhino Rumblings (1974?)
- Jungle Doctor Meets Mongoose (1974)
Jungle Doctor Picture Fables Series (Illustrated by Peter Oram)
- Donkey Wisdom (1973)
- Famous Monkey Last Words (1973)
- Monkey in a Lion's Skin (1973)
- Reflections of Hippo (1973)
- The Cool Pool (1975)
- The Monkey and the Eggs (1975)
- Monkey Crosses the Equator (1975)
- Sweet and Sour Hippo (1975)
- Yacobo in Slippery Places
The Ranford Series (in collaboration with Dr. David Britten)
- The Ranford Mystery Miler (1960)
- Ructions at Ranford (c1961)
- Ranford Goes Fishing (1962)
- Ranford in Flames (1965)
With Clifford Warne
- The great escape (1981)
- Simon's lucky day (1981)
- The daredevils (1981)
- The rescue squad (1981)
- How to read the Bible aloud (1983)
- How to hold an audience without a rope (1982)
Other Works
- Medical Man or Medicine Man?
- I. V. F. Invites a General (1948)
- What's happening to mother? : understanding about birth (1976)
- What's happened to Auntie Jean? : understanding about death (1976)
- Get moving! : motivation for living (1976)
- Alias jungle doctor : an autobiography (1977)
- Uproar at Radford (1989)
- Radford's big race (1989)
- Doctor of Tanganyika (1941)
- Jungle Doctor's Progress (1962)
- Jungle Doctor's Panorama (1962)
- Jungle doctor's safari from fear : an African adventure (c1984)
Further reading
- Paul White, Alias Jungle Doctor: An Autobiography (1977)
- John Stott, People My Teachers, Chapter 10: Paul White, Australian Jungle Doctor (2005)
- Megan Vaughan, Curing Their Ills: Colonial Power and African Illness (1991)