OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 2 June 1925, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR F. SPRATT. The passing of Mr Fred Spratt removes a noted Christian worker. Mr Spratt was born at Exeter in 1857. hen about 19 years of age to London and was closely identified with the I.M.C.A. in its early days when Sir George Williams, its founder, was the active and inspiring leader. In his early twenties Mr Spratt joined the ranks of the Salvation Army and personally knew General and Mrs Booth. He opened up work for the Army in different parts of England and Scotland, notably in Lancashire and Banffshire. | BanS? became the centre of a far-reach-ing and widespread revival among the fishermen and people of the district. In the early 80's of last century he was associated with Major Pollard in opening work in many towns in the South Island. In Christchurch the meetings were held in the old Gaiety Theatre, which stood on the site now occupied by Warner's Hotel. In those days he was editor of the New Zealand edition of the "War Cry." Ho married Miss Elizabeth Campbell Orr, eldest daughter of the lnt-e Mrs William Orr, formerly of Annandale, Ayrshire, but then resident in Christchurch. Later Mr Spratt took charge of tho Army work in the North Island with headquarters in Auckland. Fr<sm New Zealand he went to Australia and opened up branches in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and conducted many notable campaigns. He resigned from the Salvation Army and came to Christchurch in 1897, since when he had carried on business as a land agent till four years ago, when he retired. During tho whole period his interest in Christian work never slackened. - He devoted himself mainly to tho work of the Sydenham Gospel Mission, and .the Friday midday Gospel meeting in the Square, which ho attended for 17 years without a break. During his recent illness he had testimonies from those who had been profoundly influenced by those meetings. He was always at the service of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches as a lay-preacher. For five years he was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, . New Brighton. He was keenly interested in jthe work of temperance reform, and was a supporter of the New Zealand Alliance. One of his chief characteristics was his capacity for making friends. He thought of tho individual rather than of the mass. He is survived by a widow, three sons and throe daughters, viz., Mr F. C. Spratt (Hawera), Messrs \V. J. and A. 11. Spratt (Christchurch), Miss A. O. Spratt (New Brighton), Mrs O. J. Begg (Dunedin), and Mrs E. D. Sincock (Avonside).

Mr Robert Currie, who died at Tapanui last week, was a vetoran of the American Civil War, throughout which he served in the Federal Navy, and was present at tho taking of Fort Fisher, Wilmington. A native of Arran, Scotland, he came to New Zealand in the ship City of Dunedin in 1849, and became well known in. Port Chalmers and other parts of the Dominion.