Another Pitcairner

Passes

Death of Mrs. Edwards In Nukualofa

THE passing of Mrs. Edwards, whose death occurred in Tonga on October 13, and who was buried the following day, severs another of those ties which link the present with the time when “George the Third was King,” and with that pic turesque incident of the South Seas, the mutiny of the “Bounty.”

The deceased lady, whose maiden name was Maria Young, was born at Pitcairn, 73 years ago, and was a direct descendant of Edward Young, one of the mutineers, and a midshipman on that ill-fated vessel.

A cousin of the departed lady was Rosa lind Amelia Young (Rosa), who wrote “The Story of Pitcairn Island” which, published in 1894, is still the most concise

and truthful history of the mutiny and its tragic aftermath, yet written. Rosa was gifted intellectually, and for years was school-mistress on the Island.

The subject of this brief memoir came to Tonga near the close of 1895, on the S.D.A. Mission schooner “Pitcairn,” with Pastor and Mrs. Butz, who founded the Adventist Mission in Tonga, and remained a member of their household until her marriage—some 30 years ago—to Mr.

Edwards (Ned), a trader at Folaha. Mr.

Edwards died some 12 years since, and for the past 15 years Mrs. Edwards had resided in Nukualofa. Pastor Butz and his wife were both expert at nursing, having qualified at the Battle Creek Sanitorium, and under their joint tuition Maria at tained a proficiency in that calling which has rarely been excelled, and which has been of inestimable benefit to Nukualofa.

A simple, impressive service was con ducted at the graveside by Mr. Hadfield, who is at present in charge of the Adven tist Mission, the favourite hymns of the deceased lady being exquisitely rendered by the Mission choir.

And so passed one whose skill and ser vice, whose help and assistance, has been given without stint, and to both Tongan and European, from the Queen in her palace to the humb lest inhabitant. She has been a veritable “Ministering Angel.”

A movement is be ing promoted to pro vide a headstone for her grave, whereon may be suitably in scribed her inestim able service to the community, and thus mark the last resting place of one of whom it may be truly writ ten, “In that she lived for others, she lived for God.”—A.C.

The late Mrs. Edwards and her grandchildren