Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/460

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434 • ADELAIDE AND VICINITY Mr.H.D.ceii this biographical sketch must be mainly devoted. Although he started out in business at so voung an age, his studious disposition and earnest intention to improve his mind while other youths were at play caused him to become a man of superior parts. He conceived a love for mental and moral improvement, and this desire has not staled in the course of years. He became a well-read man, and one who took a serious view of life and its duties. He was also possessed of a talent for translating his opinions and his knowledge into clear language. While at Wallaroo he agitated to establish a weekly half-holiday, also for the limitation of the hours of daily labor ; and in these efforts he was successful. He was practically the founder of the former movement, which has since had effect in nearly every township in South Australia. He was also secretary of the organisation constituted to inaugurate the movement. In the records, also, of mechanics' institutes and literary societies in the Province, Mr. Cell's name is deserving of an honored place. With his earnestness of character, and in appreciation of the pleasures which he has derived in the study of literature, he seeks to popularise these elevating and improving institutions. He was an earnest advocate for the establishment of the Wallaroo Mechanics' Institute, and was one of its founders, as well as its first secretary. The benefits so apparent from these efforts in that district strengthened his purpose elsewhere, and, while at Robe, he took an active part in securing the erection of the present Mechanics' Institute there, of which he was the first .secretary. When he went to reside at Clenelg, Mr. Cell joined the literary society established in that town, the membership of which embraced some of the brightest minds of that seaside resort. He was for ten years president of this society. He has since rendered great assistance to similar organisations elsewhere. He was one of the founders of the South Australian Literary Societies' Union, which was established in 1882, and was for ten years associated with the executive in various capacities. He became President of the Union, and in 1886-7 was its Treasurer. He was for some time President, and afterwards A^ice-President, of the Clenelg Institute. F"or nearly a quarter of a century he has been identified with the Congregational Church at Clenelg, and with its Sunday-school as teacher or superintendent. He was for some time on the Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is an ardent follower of the noble fraternic) of P'reemasons, and has held office in the Grand Lodge for the past ten years, for nine of which he has been on the Board of General Purposes. He has filled the office of Grand Lecturer for three years, and that of Auditor for eight years. He was a Worshipful Master in the MacDonnell Lodge, and represents Victoria in the Grand Lodge. In 1886 he was elected to the Committee of the Adelaide Co-operative Society, and has assisted in the establishment of similar societies at Gawler, Penola, Wadnaminga, and Port Adelaide. He also assisted in founding the .South Australian Mutual .Stores. He was complimented for his business acumen during the financial crisis associated with the name of the Town and Country Bank. He was appointed to the investigating committee, and was chairman for three years. He largely influenced the successful settlement of affairs, and the establishment of the assets company in connection therewith. Not long after going to Clenelg to reside, Mr. Cell was elected, in 1879, to the Glenelg Council, a position which he held for five years, for two of which he occupied the