MURDERED MISSIONARY

Evening Star, Issue 22638, 3 May 1937, Page 2

MURDERED MISSIONARY

EULOGIUM BY REV. A. STEVELY. Yesterday morning reference wa* 'made at the service in First Church to the death of the Rev. W. V. Milne, missionary in the New Hebrides. The Rev. Allen Stevely said: IS was with profound sorrow that wa received the tidings of the death o£ our beloved missionary. The manner of his death is a pain to all. Mr Milna was a devoted servant of God. Ha was a missionary born, having been cradled in the land where, for m» Master, ho made the supreme sacrw fice. His gracious, Christian spirit endeared him to all. As a missionary he was specially gifted; and being one of themselves, he made a special appeal to the hearts of the Islanders. To them he was friend and helper m every way. His death reminds us or a great word in the history of tha Christian Church—the word witness.’ An eminent thinker has said ‘ the true. Christian is the martyrIndeed the word witness is literally martyr. The price paid in the early days for being a witness was often martyrdom, and. so the two terms became synonymous.. Mr Mime was a faithful witness. His service was distinguished by the higher quality, and his life was radiant with the greater love whereby a man lays down his life for others. May the ancient saying still hold—‘ the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. May his death be a challenge to tna missionary zeal of the Church as hi* life of crowded labours was an inspiration. To his widow Mrs Mime, and the members of his family,. First Church joins with many others m ex-> tending warmest sympathy. The congregation stood m reverent silence as an expression of condolence.