Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

​REV. A. C. PLANE PASSES
Fifty Years in Ministry A Man's Man
With the passing of Rev. A. C. Plane, superintendent minister of the Coorparoo Methodist circuit at his home the parsonage just before midnight ' the seal has been the picturesque career of a man's man. To some of his friends to whom he related tales of the Western Australian goldfields he was another "fighting parson." Though, not In his usual health for some time Mr. Plane attended to his church duties even to the day of his death which was typical of his fighting spirit, but he had a sudden seizure last evening and he passed away, at 11.45 p.m.

Mr. Plane had been a conspicuous figure in the Methodist Church in Queensland for many years, being transferred from Western Australia in 1905 after having spent his early ministry in that State since 1885. He had taken an active part in the work of the Church in its missions to the goldfield area. In the many circuits to which he was appointed in Queensland he made many friends. His circuits were Laidley, Townsvllle, Gympie, Maryborough Wesley, Valley, Sandgate, Annerley, and Coorparoo.

AT ANZAC.
During 1915 he was a chaplain In the Australian Infantry Forces and was at Anzac. At the last synod held in October be stated his intention of asking conference to make him a supernumerary as he was completing his 50th year in the ministry. Mr. Plane conducted the morning service in the Coonparoo church last Sunday, but he appeared to he distressed with the heat, his condition , occasioning sympathetic comment from members of the congregation. According to custom in the , case of ministers applying to become supernumeraries, an outline of Mr. Planes career was prepared and is published in the agenda for the Conference which will commence in Brisbane on February 26.

FIGHTING SPIRIT.
Anyone who knew Mr. Plane well may recall his experience in his early ministry on the Western Australian gold-fields. He was very disappointed at the casual reception which he received on his arrival in the West, but he was determined to win a congregation. It was customary for the miners to hold boxing competitions on certain afternoons and on one occasion when the field champion was calling for a challenger in the ring Mr. Plane was noticed among the spectators. Nobody seemed very anxious to match themselves against the champion, but the field medico who was standing alongside Mr. Plane, and who knew of his prowess as a boxer, urged him to step into the ring.

IN THE RING.
The ring-siders thought it was a great joke, and while they were calling out: "Let the parson try him on!" Mr. Plane stepped into the ring. As he did so a text occurred to him: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The text was running through his mind and he often jokingly remarked that he certainly carried it out to the very best of his ability, so much so in fact' that he was declared a good fellow by all and won a full congregation to his church the following Sunday. Mr. Plane contested the Brisbane Federal seat during the Great War but was defeated by Mr. W. F. F inlay son. He is survived by a widow, two sons, Messrs. Frederick (Melbourne), and Leslie Plane, and , two daughters, Mrs. Arthur Sharman and Miss Elvie Plane.