Worker

Solomon Is. Mission

Mrs. Sprott, of Ysabel

A GUEST of honour at the October social gathering of the Pacific Islands Club in Sydney was Mrs. Emily Sprott, one of the senior members of the Melanesian Mission. Several old friends who had formerly resided in the Solomons were present to accord her a welcome.

Mrs. Sprott passed through Sydney on her way back to Ysabel after a year’s furlough spent in Europe. She visited Wellington, N.Z., as the guest of her late husband’s uncle, the former Bishop of Wellington (Dr. T. H. Sprott).

Mr. and Mrs. Sprott joined the Mis sion in 1916. The first three years in the Pacific were spent on Gela. In 1919, after repeated efforts to secure a change elsewhere for health’s sake, the Rev.

Rudolph Sprott died. His widow contin ued his work. A frail little woman, Mrs.

Sprott’s physique gives no indication of the indomitable spirit that has helped her to carry on all these years, and win the affection of the native people of Ysabel.

Shortly before her departure, last year, her home was ruined by a hurricane.

The house in which she dwelt was the gift of the women of the diocese of Lich field in England, who have never for gotten the link that was forged between them and Melanesia by Bishop George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, and later Bishop of Lichfield.

The dwelling was known as Lichfield House. With the hurricane came a pla gue of flying ants, and they completed

the devastation. By her own efforts Mrs.

Sprott has raised £2OO, the sum required to repair the house, which she collected lecturing in England.

Wise in the ways of the native people, and ever helpful towards their needs, both spiritual and physical, she is happy to return to Ysabel and continue with

what she has made her life’s work.

E.R.

Mrs. Emily Sprott.

—Photo.: May Moore, Sydney.