Rev Charles Lane (1823 - 1910) Wesleyan Methodist minister. The Observer 15 January 1910, p.36: The Rev. Charles Lane, better known In South Australian Methodism as "Father" Lane, died at his residence, Dorset Cottage, Magill, on Saturday, at the advanced age of 88 years. The deceased clergyman attended the Methodist Conference in 1900 —the year of his jubilee as a minister--and was accorded a vote of congratulation. Mr. Lane was born in Dorset, and be associated himself with the Congregational Sunday school at an early age, and when 16 years old took a practical part in religious matters. Then he removed to another town and joined the Methodist Church. In 1855 a request for a number of energetic Christian workers came from Australia, and 10 were sent out in the ship Walmer Castle, among the number Mr. Lane. He was received into the Victoria ministry in the following year, and received his first - charge at Ballarat. He proved a successful preacher in the early days of the Victorian goldfields, and accomplished much valuable work. He was impressive in the pulpit, humorous on. the platform, and welcome everywhere. About 1878 he wag transferred to the South Australian Conference, and from that time until being placed on the supernumerary list in 1889. he laboured in all the most important circuits. He was President of the Wesley an Conference in 1886, and displayed conspicuous ability in fulfilling the important duties associated with that office. He had resided at Magill for 17 years, and up to the time of his death had evinced a deep interest in work to which he had devoted .the best years of his life. Sepia toned carte de visite: seated studio portrait of the Rev. Charles LaneRev Chas Lanerev charles lane, methodist, minister, south australia

In 1885, at the instigation of James Oddie, the Government reserved three acres (about 1.2 hectares) for an observatory in Cobden Street, Mount Pleasant, originally known as the Ballarat School of Mines Observatory. In March 1886 a committee was appointed for the care, protection and management of the reserve. Captain Baker, a retired sea captain, was invited to become the first Superintendent of the Ballarat Observatory. Six colour photographs of the stained glass windows in the Ballarat Observatory. The first stained glass window was installed from around 1915-16, and were probably associated with John Brittain. By 1929 sixteen stained glass windows had been installed. most the work of Ballarat craftsman W.J. Robson.stained glass windows, sebastopol cambrian society, welsh, ballarat city council, ballarat teachers' college, ballarat local preachers methodist centenary, independent order of ordfellows ballarat, ballarat freemasons, freemasons, masonic, architecture, mount pleasant, john brittain

The Independant order of Rechabites "Hope of Australia Tent No. 109" was formed in Harcourt in July 1869 and celebrated its centenary in 1969. With a strong -minded core of Methodists and members of the Church of Christ the group provided moral leadership and social framework to a wide area for a long time. At first they met in a small hall but, the lodge having inflamed partisan passions, the hall was deliberately burnt down in 1877. Undeterred the Lodge rebuilt the hall in the same year and thus provided the only district public hall. The Hall was sold by the lodge in 1937.; The Independent order of Rechabites, a temperance and social organsiation, was particularly strong in the Harcourt, Barkers Creek district, due to the high proportion of Methodists in the population, a demographic phenomenon resulting from the courage, prevalence and influence of Wesleyan lay preachers on the Mount Alexander Goldfields. Ribbon/collar sashes,white, with red longitudinal stripe (Chief Ruler & Deputy Ruler only) and red border, red machine embroidery, angle stitched at lower front to form a fitted collar."CHIEF RULER"," DEPUTY RULER", "TREASURER", "GUARDIAN", "LEVITE" plus IOR triangle - "Truth, Fortitude, Justice" plus three heraldic shields with background foliage, Plus "Independant Order of Rechabites" plus a further decorative sheild surmounting a swage-like motto " Peace & Plenty the reward of Temperance" and "Rechabites Salford Unity" all in red on white background

Ill, p.274.The personal story of the man, of his teen-age beginnings as a preacher; of how today he draws and moves such vast audiences; of those, foremost among them Ruth Bell Graham, his wife, who play leading parts in his work. It is also the story ... firsthand, of Billy Graham's Crusades and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.christianity, billy graham