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Robert Small (1826–1906)

from Methodist

Death has just removed another well-known figure from our midst in the person of Mr. Robert Small, of Willoughby. He was allowed to see a good old age, being 79 when called away. As Mr. Small had a large circle of friends and relatives in the Methodist Church, they will be glad for a brief obituary notice in The Methodist.

Before he came to Sydney some 30 years since, he was connected with the Ryde Circuit, and having a good voice he was useful as choir leader. While residing in the Bourke-street Circuit he became the first superintendent of the Cleveland-street Sunday school, then held in a private house; but the scholars soon increased, and then land was purchased, and a school building erected. This quickly proved too small, and the friends faced the grave responsibility of erecting a good substantial church, the foundation stone of which was laid by the late Dr. Gervase Smith, of the English Conference. Mr. Small was for years the acceptable and enthusiastic superintendent of this school until he returned to the Willoughby Circuit. Hundreds of our people have pleasant recollections of the Cleveland-street school and church. Having moved to Willoughby, Mr. Small became superintendent of the Holtermann-street school, where he put in a few years of good service, and the teachers sent a very handsome floral wreath to place on his coffin. For some years past Mr. Small has been feeling the weight of years, and on January 23 he passed quietly away, and was buried in the Gore Hill Cemetery, North Sydney. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. J. Marshall Brown, and the Rev. W. Halse Rogers prayed feelingly for the relatives and friends; then the large company gathered around the grave, and sang one of his favourite hymns: —

'Jesu, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.'

Original publication

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Citation details

'Small, Robert (1826–1906)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/small-robert-18853/text34300, accessed 9 September 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

5 September, 1826
Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

23 January, 1906 (aged 79)
Willoughby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

gangrene

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
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