The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-16
From the North Western Presbyterian.
THE PULPIT OF VIRGINIA.
BY REV. L. J. HALsEY, D. D.

B1 REV. IL. j. HADpE1, u. ~.
The pulpit of Virginia, during the
first quarter of the nineteenth century,
was distinguished, as it had been in the
preceding period, by band of noble
preachers and pastors who proclaimed,
the gospel with signal ability, sent their
influence far beyond the confines of the
State, and left an impression upon the
generation that followed which has lasted
till the present hour. 1t was but the
natural course of things that a ministry
trained under the personal instruction,
and inspired by the powerful example of
such preachers as Samuel Davies, James
Waddel, John Blair Smith, John Holt
Rice and Archibald Aloxander, should
be eloquent-delivering the great mes
sage with tongue of fire and heart
of love. Standing as they did in the
very pulpit of those great men, and ad-
dressing the very congregations who had
sat under their preaching and still re-
membered their holy ardor, the pastors
and preachers of Virginia at this later
period, were as a body remarkable for
their fervent evangelical spirit, their ele-
vation of character, and their eloquent
and successful ministrations. 1t would
be impossible, within the prescribed lin
its of this survey, to bring into view all
names worthy of honorable mention,
that adorned the fruitful period, or to
give anything like full and adequate
memorial even of those who may be taken
as illustrations. Prominent on the list
of distinguished names stand DR.. Will
liam Hill, of Winchester, Samuel Brown,
of New Providence, Drury Lacy, and
DR.. Moses Hoge, of Prince Edward, DIR.
Conrad Specie, of the Augusta church,
DR.. George A. Baxter, of Lexington,
John Blair Hoge, of Richmond, DR..
Benjamin H. Rice, of Petersburg, DR..
William S. Reed, of Lynchburg, and
DR.. John Matthews, of Sheperdstown.
REV. WILLIAM HILL, D. D.
DR.. William Hill was native of Vir-
ginia. He was born in 1859, and grad,
uated at Hampden Sidney College, in
1888, where he had been converted in
the great revival of that time, under
President Smith. Licensed to preach in
1870, he spent the first years of his
ministry in extended missionary labors
through his native State, which were fol-
lowed by important results. He then
settled in Berkeley county, where he
soon won high reputation as a COM
manding and efficient pulpit orator. In
the year 1900 he took charge of the
Presbyterian church at Winchester, where
his influence during long pastorate was
widely and powerfully felt. In 1884,
he resigned this charge; but after spend
ing few years in Prince Edward, and
then in Alexandria, he returned to Win
chester, where he died, in 1852, in the
eighty-fourth year of his age. At the
division of the church, in 1887, his con-
victions and sympathies were strong on
the New School side, and in defence of
it he took up his pen with much earnest
ness and vigor. "He was," says DR..
Gillett, ga man of fine appearance and
noble bearing, with clear and vigorous
intellect, Roman irmness, ardent, fear
less and enthusiastic-one who might
have stood as a model of Paul before
Felix, or of Luther at the Diet of
Worms He was so constituted that
he could not long remain neutral or in
active in any cause which had enlisted
mis- feelings, and won the convictions of
his Judgment.
DR.. Hill had all the elements of an
earnest, evangelical, impressive and pop
ular preacher. His strongly marked
and ardent nature could not fail to leave
lasting impression on all who came in
contact with him, or heard the gospel
from his lips. His whole character was
one of unusual energy and decision.-
When his plans and purposes were once
formed, he stood ready to carry them
out with unwavering steadfastness. These
qualities of mind and heart and will were
conspicuous in all his preaching, giving
to his utterances the weight of conscious
authority, and of positive assurance. He
preached as one who felt the truth in his
own soul, and gave it to others with
nothing less than "Thus saith the
Lord" DR.. Boyd, his successor at Win
chester, gives the following vivid portrai-
ture of his style of preaching:
ellis power as an extemporaneous
preacher was very remarkable. He had
not the learning, and the clear logical
reasoning of Rice, nor the chaste and
flowing style of Specie, nor the splendid
imagination of kirkpatrick. But there
was a combination of excellencies in his
preaching which made him great ia
vorite. His commanding person, his
clear and powerful voice, the vividness