Boyd

Death of Rev. Robert Boyd

rE Rev. Robert Boyd, for many years a missionary at South West Bay, Malekula, New Hebrides, died on July 14, at Gatton, Queensland, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs.

Mcßoberts, His passing removes a notable land mark from the New Hebrides, with whose social and mission activities he had been intimately associated .since 1894. Persist ent weakness dogged his steps since his retirement in 1928, but, during the 34 years he spent on Malekula as a mission ary of the Victorian Presbyterian Church, he was zealous and untiring, and left behind him an honourable re cord of service.

Like many another pioneer who carried through hazardous achievements, Mr.

Boyd’s gifts were not conspicuous on the public platform, but his fellow-mission aries will always remember the wisdom and balance of judgment he displayed in the deliberations of the Mission Synod.

With his modest demeanour and quiet dignity, he was a well-known figure in Islands life, and played a memorable part in promoting the prosperity and development of the native race.

Mr. Boyd was first attracted to the New Hebrides by the wave of missionary enthusiasm that swept over Scotland, following the publication of the mission ary classic, the Autobiography of John G. Pa ton. As a fellow student at Glasgow University, Mr. Boyd had the Moderator of the Victorian Church, the Very Rev.

J. Noble MacKenzie, and both came under the influence of the venerable mission ary, Dr. John G, Paton, then at the height of his renown. The two men volunteered for service in the New Hebrides, and at the close of their college course, were appointed to the Is lands as missionaries of the Victorian Church, Mr. MacKenzie going to Santo and Mr. Boyd to Malekula. On the way through Sydney to the New Hebrides, Mr. Boyd met the lady who afterwards became his wife, and with whole-hearted devotion the two worked for the exten sion of Christianity in the New Hebrides.