THE above obituary notice, taken from the "Argus" of 26th May 1887, demands at least a brief comment in the columns of "The Church of England Messenger." Although, since the establishment of the Diocese of Ballarat, Mr. Hall's connection with the Diocese of Melbourne has ceased, he was at the same time one of the senior clergymen of the colony of Victoria. He had resided in the colony for nearly forty years. Born in Cumberland, England of a good yeoman stock, and educated at St. Bees' Grammar School, his career at Cambridge University was highly satisfactory. His name appeared in the class list of the final examination among the honourable company of Wranglers. Soon after, he was elected Fellow, and subsequently became Dean of his College.

On his marriage with his late wife - an aunt of the Venerable Archdeacon Edward Prest, and a schoolfellow of Mrs. Frances Perry - he came out to this colony to share in the pioneer work which had recently been entered upon by Bishop Charles Perry. After officiating for some time in Melbourne, he was appointed to Ballan, and became, we believe, the first Bush clergyman of the Diocese. His 'Parish' consisted of twelve 'Stations,' which he visited quarterly. But, unfortunately, while here, a difference of opinion on some questions connected with the working of the district arose between himself and his Diocesan, and the result was that Mr. Hall surrendered his licence, and betook himself to pastoral pursuits in the West Loddon district.

But he never forgot his sacred calling, and when he settled finally at Glenalbyn he erected, at his own expense, a small church on his estate, which served for many years as a religious centre to large numbers of the diggers who by that time had made their way to the neighbourhood. The famous Kingower Lead, which enjoyed the reputation of yielding the largest nuggets in the colony, adjoined Mr. Hall's property. Early in 1862, at the request of the Bishop, who could not but sympathise heartily with his old friend's evangelical labours, he again accepted a licence, and took charge of a district which included the goldfields of Kingower, Wedderburn, St. Arnaud, Jericho, Moliagul, and several other places where gold had been discovered. Under his zealous and self-denying ministrations, which involved frequent and weary journeys over very primitive roads, substantial Churches were eventually built at Moliagul, Jericho, (Wehla), Wedderburn, Kingower, and Bealiba; and, with the aid of one or more Readers, the services of the Church were extended over a wide area of country.

About the year 1866 he undertook the duties of the district of Northcote, near Melbourne. Here he remained for about a year, that his daughters might enjoy the advantage of finishing their education under better tuition than was obtainable up-country; but at the expiration of that time he returned to his home at Glenalbyn, and resumed his former course of life.

The years rolled by as he diligently fulfilled his duties, bringing many changes to the family at Glenalbyn. The son and daughters took up land on the Loddon, married, and made homes of their own; and some three or four years ago Mrs. Hall was called of God to 'rest from her labours.'

The infirmities of age crept by degrees on the stalwart frame of the 'Parson, as he was familiarly called by all among whom he had lived and worked so long. Now the end has come, and the Church in Victoria has lost a good man and true, one who, in his own quiet, sober, and modest way has done in his time as much - probably more - for the Kingdom of God in this land than some of those who have been called to fill the higher offices of the Church, and who have known little or nothing of the toil, weariness, and disappointment of clerical life on the diggings or in the bush.

Mr. Hall was not only an excellent mathematical scholar, but was well read in the older school of Anglican Theology, Above all, he was a modest, self-denying, godly man. During his ministry in the Kingower district he received nothing from the people among whom he worked so hard in the way of pecuniary remuneration. His only stipend was the annual grant made to him from the 'General Church Fund.' [We are speaking of the time before the formation of the Diocese of Ballarat.] He maintained his household chiefly by the labour of his hands, and oftentimes his patriarchal figure might be seen busily engaged among his stock, or in the duties of his farm, and visitors had to look closely to discern under the rough habiliments suited to his occupation the handsome features and pleasing countenance of the quondam 'Fellow of Clare.'

His sermons, though perhaps a little old-fashioned in form, were always carefully prepared, and well deserved the attention they received. In secular concerns, so high was the esteem in which he was held for manly good sense and business capacity, that for many years he was a member of the Korong Shire Council, and at least once was its President.

Men like Mr. Hall were the 'salt' of the colony in the unsettled and somewhat loose-living days of the goldfields era, and many a hearty young 'digger,' far away from home influences and associations, was kept straight, and found the truest of friends in the hospitable family of Glenalbyn. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were the 'helpers of very many,' and, not least, of more than one clergyman still in the colony, who look back on the almost parental affection, the kindly counsel, and warm welcome they received from Mr. and Mrs. Hall as one of the brightest memories of the earlier days of their ministry. Both are now at peace. "After life's fitful fever they sleep well," and "right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." - W.C.