Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

THE CHURCH IN SAMOA.
London Missionary Society's Work.

The work of the London Missionary Society among natives to Samoa was referred to yesterday, by the Rev. H. S.Perkins, treasurer of the Samoan mission and chaplain of the European Church at Apia, who passed through Fremantle on the steamer Balranald. After six months' deputation and lecture work to Great Britain, he is visiting Australia at the invitation of the Australian executive of the society. He will return to Samoa to November. 'The London Missionary Society has been established to Samoa for a century,'Mr. Perkins said, 'and at present 81 percent of the population are members of the Society. I always say that the Samoans are the aristocrats of the pacific. As far as can be known, they never have been cannibals. They have proved themselves very appreciative of the efforts of the society, which Is now in a very strong position. In the islands. The Samoan church has developed so well that it is practically self-supporting,and to recent years the Samoans have actually given an annual gift to the society for its work to other lands.' Before going to Samoa, where he has worked for 10 years, Mr. Perkins held charges to England, New Zealand, Hobart and Melbourne. During his ministry at the Memorial Church, Hobart, he went to the war with the Australian troops, and saw service to France and Belgium. On his return he was appointed senior chaplain for Tasmania, with the rank of colonel. Later, when transferred to Victoria, he held a similar rank to that State. Going to Samoa as a member of the staff of the London Missionary Society, he was for four yeas to charge of the two groups which comprise . American Samoa, after which he was transferred to Apia, Western Samoa (British), the geographical centre of the society's work In the islands, with 41 churches and 43 schools. There he is still stationed

The West Australian Wednesday 17 April 1935 page 23