Hi All Obituary of Samuel Evans ROWE Samuel Evans ROWE was born at Midsomer Norton, in Somersetshire, on Sept. 2nd, 1834. He was the son of the Rev. Samuel ROWE, and was educated at Woodhouse Grove. After a few years, spent partly in business and partly in teaching, he began to preach. In 1857, he was accepted as a candidate for the ministry and entered Didsbury College, but had to leave almost immediately to take his first appointment. Possessed of mental powers of no ordinary kind, he rapidly rose to a position of his rank in the ministry. He travelled in several important circuits in England. After he had been Secretary of the Cornwall District for three years, he was, in 1874, appointed Chairman of the Exeter District. When at Clapton, he was requested by the Missionary Committee to go to South Africa. The call was responded to; and, in 1880, he was appointed to Pietermaritzburg, where he laboured for thirteen years with much acceptance. Later, he spent two years in Native work; and , in 1895, was appointed to the Harrismith English Circuit. In 1886, he was elected Chairman of the Natal District, which position he occupied till 1895. In 1890, he was President of the South African Conference. In 1896, he received permission to visit England for a year, and was appointed one of the Representatives of the South African Conference to the Yearly Conference, at which he was elected a member of the Legal Hundred, an honour which he was permitted to enjoy for a very brief period. As a preacher, he possessed the expository gift in a very high degree, was a lucid reasoned, and was exact in the choice of words. His sermons, delivered without notes, were evangelical, full of point, suggestiveness and originality, and were often attended with mighty spiritual power. As superintendent of a Circuit, he was judicious and capable. As a pastor, he was tender and sympathetic, especially in cases of sickness and bereavement. As a colleque, he was frank and brotherly. As a friend, he was pre-eminently faithful. In the official positions to which he was appointed from time to time, he justified the choice of the Conference, by the manner in which he performed his work. As President, he discharged the duties devolving upon him with great ability. As Chairman, he was faithful, impartial and kind, he was highly esteemed and trusted, and had the joy of seeing the district flourish during his term of office. He took a great interest in the Native work, and was regarded with affection and confidence by the Native people. Throughout the whole district his loss was sincerely regretted, and most of all by those who knew him best. He took a leading part in the legislation and general business of the South African Conference, and was one of its first Assistant Secretaries. His intimate knowledge of the laws and usages of Methodism in England enabled him to render in various ways invaluable service. His death came unexpectedly. Whilst returning to resume his labours in this country, he was seized with paralysis, on the 2nd July; and, two days later, when still on board the s.s. "Tantallon Castle," which was lying at Algoa Bay, he fell on sleep, in the sixty-third year of his age, and the fortieth of his ministry. From; Minutes of the Sixteenth Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of SA, 1898 Transcribed by Darryl Allwright P O Box 166 Grahamstown 6140 Cell: 076-091-2764