THE REV. S. GRIFFITH

Evening Post, Volume cxxiv, Issue 148, 20 December 1937, Page 13

THE REV. S. GRIFFITH

The death occurred suddenly yesterday at his residence, Mount Eden, Auckland, of the Rev. S. Griffith, a well-known Methodist minister. Mr. Griffith, who was 78 years of age, had to his credit a record of pioneering achievement in the service of his Church. Although on the retired list, he had reguiarly been doing supply work.

Mr. Griffith arrived in New Zealand from England in .1880 and. enrolled as a private student .at the Wesleyan College, conducted at the Three Kings by the late Rev. Thomas Buddie. In 1881 he was accepted as a candidate for the ministry and appointed as a conference .student, but was called upon later in the same year to act as a student supply .at Wellington. In 1882 he was appointed to his first circuit at Palmerston North, and after two years there became second minister in the Grafton circuit, being in charge of Parnell and Newmarket and places beyond. Transferred in 1.886 to Tauranga, he was involved in the aftermath of the Tarawera ' eruption, and was one of the officiating ministers at the funeral of the European victims, the Haszard family.

Then followed a period of 38 years' ministry in many parts of New Zealand, including Te Awamutu, Mahurangi, Franklin, Upper Thames, Mount Albert, Devonport, Christchurch, and Dunedin. In 1920, while in Dunedin, Mr. Griffith retired from circuit work and settled in Auckland. Beside ren-

dering service as a preacher when required, he engaged in various;' "con r nexional offices. For ten years he was secretary-manager of the - Methodist orphanages of Auckland, and for some" time he was treasurer of the Auckland Ministers' Association and a member of the board of directors of the British Sailors' Society. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Grffith celebrated their golden wedding less than two years ago.