A VETERAN MISSIONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19142, 7 October 1925, Page 12

A VETERAN MISSIONER.

DEATH OF REV. A. J. SMALL. GREAT WORK AMONG FIJIANS. [ITBOM OUB OWN cobbjsspondbnt.] SUVA, Sept. 29. The Rev. Arthur James Small, chairman of the Methodist Mission for the past 25 years, died yesterday after a long and painful illness. He was born in London in 1854 and went to New South Wales with his parents in 1863. After being educated a!; Wesley College he studied at Newing'ton, and was finally ordained in 1879. Within a week he had married Miss Emma Burrows, and sailed for Fiji in the eld mission brig, John Wesley. Landing at Levuka, the old capital, Mr. Small was at once appointed to the district of Bua on Vanua Levu. Here ho ministered for five years. Transferred to Viwa, near the heathen capital of Ban, he had a district about 100 miles long and his only means of transport was a rowing boat. In spite of all sorts of obstacles he established English services at the Colonial Sugar Company's mill at Rarawai, 100 mite, from his base, Here, too, h© established a small printing press and published a monthly native paper up to the time of his death. After 11 years Mr. Small was moved to Suva, and on the death of Rev. W. W. Lindsay, chairman of the Fiji Methodist Mission, he was honoured by the Australasian Board of Missions by being appointed to the position which hs held up to 1924, when he retired with the rank of hon. chairman, He became very ill, intermittently, but he settled down to write the history of Fiji. His great hope was that he would be spared to complete it, but it was not. to be, and the uncompleted manuscript is yet another witness to the splendid heroic spirit which carried him thrpugh many dangers arid much physical* suffering. Mr. Small was loved by all classes and sects and he will be much missed by all who wished a sterling friend and a fatherly adviser. There was a crowded congregation at the memorial service held to-day. *