Abstract
IN the fulness of years, at the age of ninety-two, Dr. R. H. Codrington, the apostle of Melanesia, has passed away. After a distinguished Oxford career he became Fellow of Wadham; soon after, he joined Bishop Patteson and afterwards lived with Bishop Selwyn at Norfolk Island. After thhiy-two years' service in the Melanesiah mission he returned to England and became vicar of Wadhurst and Prebendary of Chichester. A friend who knew him well describes him as “the soundest of scholars, kindliest of teachers, most practical of saints, most genial and tolerant of friends.” He will be remembered as the first and greatest ethnologist and linguist who studied the people of Melanesia. His fame rests on two great books—“The Melanesian Language's,” and “The Melanesians, their Anthropology and Folk-lore,” published by the Oxford Press in 1855–1891. The former laid the foundation of the scientific knowledge of the speech of that region; the second is invaluable to the anthropologist as giving the first and fullest account of religious beliefs. Dr. Codrington was also the discoverer of the principle of Mana, which has played a leading part in the exploration of savage religion since he made it known to the world.
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Dr. R. H. Codrington. Nature 110, 425 (1922). https://doi.org/10.1038/110425a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/110425a0