Death Comes To Sam

Angarau

IN September PIM there was a snapshot of the Rev. John F.

Goldie, pioneer Methodist mis sionary of the Solomon Islands, and Sam Angarau, 80-year-old, whjte bearded Solomon Islander who

played his own part in establishing a mission station in New Georgia 50 years ago.

Now news comes from Roviana of the death of Sam Angarau.

Sam was a young man, living on the north-west coast of Guadalcanal in the 90’s when he agreed to go to Fiji to work on the sugar planta tions. He was impressed by the

work of the Methodist Mission Fiji and asked a European mi sionary if it were not possible extend the work to the Solomor The missionary wrote to tl Australian Methodist conferen every year for six years — un permission was granted.

In 1902 the first pione Methodist missionaries and Sai established themselves at Zom Island just off the present Rovia] anchorage. For many years the men and their wives labour under great difficulties. Sa preached in New Georgia. Ganoni and Vella LaVella in those days.

When the Methodist Mission w re-established at Munda after t 1942-45 war, Sam, his wife Rach and a son, Sam Junr., remained i Zonga Island where many peoi camped until homes and garde were made on the mainland.

The Rev. A. H. Hall of t Methodist Mission in BSI recenl related how the boys dug Sar grave on a little rise where Ss had camped nearly 50 years ago one of Mr. Goldie’s party. I\ Hall read the burial service and 1 college boys, in clean white calicc and white shirts, sang “ There” and laid Sam to rest, fc feet down in solid coral.

Young Sam Angarau has entei the mission college to train for t native ministry and will carry his father’s, name into the comi decades.—A.J.S.