Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954), Tuesday 15 February 1916, page 3


FIGRTING CLERsYMAN IDEAD.r The fun ral of the late Rev. .George Gladstone, of Nathalia,' tookl place on Monday, when .-'he 'remains were interred in the Eastern Cenietery, Geelong. -Deceased was .fornimerly a ~pfiest of the Church of England,. and had been stationed in'several parishes di the diocese of ,Melbourne previois :to hisgoing to Nathalia abotut 20 years ago; lie came prominently :before the public in 1597, when he preached several sermons of a- fiery character, desiouncing dancing and the drink evil,. Part of his then-congregation.petitioned the late Bishop Goe to have him removed, but as the congregation -was. divided nothing was done at that time. Later, when a new diocese was formed at Wangaratta, w'hich included Nathalia, Mr. Gladstone was again asked to resign, but he refused, an,-continued to hold services until a new minister arIrived, when he dissociated himselil from the Church of England and started a church -which he called the "Reformed Church of England,'" a large number of his fornair congregation following him. The church authorities petitioned the then Chief ,Secretary, Sir Alexander Peacock, to have his licence to celebrate marriages cmmcelled, but the request was-refused. :,Deceased's father and mother were brought from England by the late Mr. George Coppin, and were well known to theatre-goers in those days. The late Mr. Gladstone was an earnest and forcible preacher, and was of a very generous disposition. giving away all of his stipend to the poor aid foreign missions. ilis nother and his widow -survive hitm.