The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-10
DIR. HoGE,s VISIT TO ENGLAND.


The FucastIe (Val Express of Friday last
furnishes the following outlines OF the Key NJ. ID.
Hoge's address before the Synod OF Virginia,
which Was held few days since at Salem:
awe had the pleasure of attending the session
of this body at Salem last week; and whilst We
met manv learned Doctors and heard various dis
courses. there was nothing which excited gene
ral interest and attention as the simple narration
by Rev NJ d. Hoge of the res gests in his late
mission to Europe.
In plain narrative, unadorned by anything of
the thrilling eloquence with which be is accredi-
ted by general repute, he entertained the crowded
audience with the incidents of his voyage and sub
sequent business and special intercourse with va
rious associations and men of distinction in Lon
don and other places, for two hours, on Friday
morning. He stated briefly the purposes of his
mission and bis cordial reception and liberal treat
ment at Nassau How that on his arrival in Lon
don he was invited to appear before the Board Of
Publication (presided over by Lord Shaftesbury,)
who, after listening with profound interest to his
statement of our condition on this side of the wa
ter refused to sell any books, announcing their
determination to make him a magnificent donation
Of books suitable to the wants OF our soldiers
(mostly Bibles). This gift it Was subsequently
proposed, at the instance of some few Quaker Abo-
lrionists, members of the Board, to clog with GER
tain conditions of distributions to the slaves
This donation, as qualified, DR.. II. very prompt
j. notwithstanding them that we were better
qualified to provide for the spiritual wants of our
slaves, and at the same time, fully as much dis
posed to do so as they could be-that the best
way for them to contribute to the spiritual wants
OF our slaves to put the Bible into the hands
of the masters. That all slaves in this country,
who could use and desired to have copy of the
Scripture could always obtain it. The result was,
that the gift made absolute and unconditional
Besides the various contributions placed at his
disposal, he purchased to the amount of funds on
hand; amounting, in the aggregate, to larger
supply than we have ever been in possession of.
In response to enquiries to how the Christians
of England regarded the religious attitude of our
enemy? Doctor FL. asserts that it is universally
looked upon the greatest phenomenon OF the
times, that professed Christians of the North Can
adopt course of conduct SO at variance with the
teachings of their creed. That, whilst there are
no pro-slavery men in England, yet during stay
of ten months, he HAD met but single indlvld-
ual who did not ayow decided sympathy with the
cause of the South against the North In our ire
mendous struggle for existence,
We are grateful TO learn from DR. Ii. that con
trary to the assertions of Yankee papers aud COR
respondents, Spurgeon, the distinguished Baptist
revivalist is certainly now decided and severe in
his condemnation of the Yankee Government.
And likewise that the eminent historian, Tho
mas Carlisle, Is friendly To our cause; ana that the
old joker laughed immoderately at the mention Of
the mob, in New York, hanging the negroes to
tie iaup posts Two significant facts brought out
b. Dir; ii 5 observations, are that there is STILL
n tho wei-normed circles of England and Scot
land, a surprising degree OF ignorance as to the
conditions Of the slaves in the country; and that
the overthrow OF our Government has rendered
them immoderaLely attached to their own estab
lshment, aud hence opposed to any war measures
that may have the most distant bearing upon its
DermanengY