The antislavery movement driven by William Wilberforce also influenced Hale and he wanted to minister to the newly emancipated slaves, particularly in the West Indies, but was not encouraged to do so neither by his family nor by the missionary society working in that region.

The following year during a pastoral visit to Western Australia with Bishop Short he married Sabina, eldest daughter of John and Georgiana Molloy.

[8] In early 1850 Hale approached the Governor of South Australia proposing an institution for young Aborigines where they would live in one little community to learn practical skills in farming and domestic arts and to receive Christian teaching.

In March 1857, Hale returned to England with his family, where on 25 July 1857 he was consecrated as the first Bishop of Perth at the Lambeth Palace Chapel.

[13] Leaving his family in England, Hale returned to Western Australia on the convict ship Nile early in 1858, to take up office as Bishop of Perth.

When copies reached Perth before he returned from England, there was a storm of criticism in the local news media, claiming that Hale's report was "full of misrepresentations and errors".

In explaining his intentions to his friends Hale reminded them that "I have no hesitation in saying that a European population disregarding the welfare of the natives, whom it has displaced from their country, will not ensure God's blessing and therefore I do hope that the public generally will support the Mission at Albany.

He was reluctant to accept this new responsibility, since he was in his mid sixties and looking forward to retirement in a few years time, and did so only on the condition that he had the unanimous support of all the Australian bishops.

[24] There was a public farewell to Hale on 30 October 1875 at which an address from the congregation of St George's Cathedral and members of other Christian communions was read.

[25] Hale's ministry and influence in Western Australia had not been confined to the Anglican Church but involved active co-operation with other Christian groups in matters of common interest.

They were pleased that he was always ready to contend for the truth "as it is in Jesus, ..." They attributed the "truly evangelical and peaceful character of his episcopate to his true love for the Bible, the word of God; ...

[26] The bishop acknowledged each address, thanking "his dear friends" for their very kind words, sometimes suggesting that his own contribution was not as much as stated, other times reminding "his Sons and Daughters in the Lord Jesus Christ" to whom he had ministered, that "... my sole aim in my teaching has been to set forth faithfully and simply the blessed truths which are to be found in God's Holy Word".

He also referred to the "mutual kindness and good will which exists between members of the different religious bodies in this country who hold to those great Scriptural doctrines which were ... brought to light a second time at the period of the Reformation, and which are to us more precious than rubies".

The Western Australian Times' farewell editorial began with the words "We admire great men and give genius its due need of fame, but the good man gains not only our admiration but our hearts ... After outlining Hale's many contributions to the life of the colony the editorial concluded with the following commendation of Hale "He has shown us what a true christian pastor can do, and how the holding of a high and honoured office is not inconsistent with a brotherly bearing towards all, and that a helping hand and a kind word, go more to make up real christianity, than austere looks, and obstinate theories; and without disparagement of others, we fear we may say that 'take him all in all we'll never see his like again'.

"[29] The Perth Inquirer in its valedictory tribute commented "There are few individuals among the more conspicuous leaders of any religious community upon whom suspicion ....... has never breathed its taint.

[30] Hale not only left the people of Perth with much goodwill and positive memories of his ministry, he also presented to the church the bishop's house and grounds which were his own private property.

[33] In his first address to his new flock Hale made it clear that he had been brought to Queensland to deal with the problem of providing ministry to people in vast areas of country where there were no churches or clergymen.

[35] It was intended that each congregation in the diocese would contribute to the fund by passing on to the Diocesan Council the money received from weekly offerings on two Sundays every year.

Hale felt the concern of the present period of commercial depression, commenting "That which hinders the performance of good works and holds people back from making adequate offerings to God, is very rarely the real inability to give.

The hindrance arises in almost all cases from the want of a proper estimate of what is really owing to God, and from the weakness of men's faith ....... "[38] Twelve months after Hale had arrived in Brisbane what had been given to the fund so far was completely inadequate.

[45] The Bishop was farewelled on 19 March 1885 at a public gathering in the Exhibition Building, Bowen Hills by 700 to 800 people - Church of England, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Lutheran, Scandinavian, Primitive Methodist, Congregational and Baptist.

Hale responded "There are in existence here evils of fearful magnitude, .... which are threatening to eat into the very heart of the social and domestic happiness of this community.

"Your many acts of unostentatious charity, the ready help which you have always given to the promotion of evangelical religion, the generous sympathy which you have ever displayed in the cause of temperance, and the liberal and consistent spirit of Christianity which has characterised your Episcopate, have greatly endeared you to all classes of men among whom you have diligently laboured".