Canon Tomlinson

Pioneer Missionary’s Death In Papua

CANON Samuel Tomlinson died at Dogura. Papua, on April 26, from bronchial pneumonia in his 81st year.

He was one of the veteran missionaries of the Anglican Church, and a pioneer of missionary work in Papua. • He landed in Papua on October 11, 1891, and joined the mission as a car penter. In 1898 he was ordained by Bishop Stonewigg, and with his wife he witnessed the growth of Christianity from the first beach service to the build ing of Papua’s first cathedral, which is now nearing completion.

The main part of his ministry was spent at Mukawa, on Cape Vogel. While there he translated the Bible into the Mukawan language, and, in recognition of this memorable feat, he was made a life governor of the British and Foreign Bible Society and a Fellow of the Aus tralian College of Theology. He was made a Canon of St. Peter and St. Paul’s, Dogura, by Bishop Newton about 1927.

When Canon Tomlinson and his wife settled on the then savage north-east coast there were no other whites, and in the first open-air service at Wedau Beach, Bartle Bay, the congregation consisted of semi-hostile natives, to whom the first lesson of Christianity was delivered mainly by gesticulation.

Canon Tomlinson retired about three

years ago. Since then he and his wife have lived on a hilltop which overlooks Wedau Beach, Bartle Bay, near Dogura.

Recently, when a missionary became ill and had to forsake his post, Canon Tom linson, though in his 81st year, took his place. It is believed that this brought on his last illness.