The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-13
DR.. Hoge and the Call to the Presbyterian
Church in Nashville, Tenn.


had extended unanimous call to the Rev DR.
Hoge, of this city, to become their pastor and alsc
gave the action of the Second Presbyterian church
urging him to remain with them. After careful
consideration. DR.. Hoge announced to his congre
cation last Sabbath, in closing his sermon, thC
reasons that decided him to remain, decision a.
gratifying to them aud to large circle of Friends
in Virginia, as it was important to the interests
our Church in this section The concluding para
graphs of the sermon on the text, The law mad
uothiug perfect but the bringing in of better
hope did" were substantially as follows:
This my hearers is the great theme Of the goSpe
which we preach This is the ministers granc
message to men. This is the message [ have Ions
endeavored to deliver here. This is the messag,
which you, by your recent solemnly expressed
wishes, have urged me to continue to deliver il
this pulpit. Some of you have thought it strange
that could have seriously considered a PROPOSE
ton to remove me to another field OF labor. Ii l.
proper therefore to state some OF the reasons which
constrained me most carefully to examine into tn,
question. not of preference but of duty.
In the first place. the church TO which have
been invited is one of the largest and most impor
taut in connection with our General Assembly
1t was sufficiently attractive TO draw to its serVic,
one of the ablest and most beloved pastors, VIII,
ever filed pulpit in this city He was happy il
his labors there, and greatly blessed in his brie
ministry among that people. The remembrance o.
The kindness he received at their hands during hi
life, and which has been continued to his family
since his lamented death, has profoundly touched
all our hearts.
. 1t seemed to be marked providence too tha
! I should have been called to that Church By
unanimous vote; for in nearly every congregation
there are some who make factious opposition t,
the wishes of their brethren. There are Others
who place themselves In position of needlessly
harsh antagonism. because OF honest difference O
opinion There are others who affect consideration
Scruples, and who think 1t indicates high prncipl,
10 oppose what others propose; or who, through I
love of sngularity, are always In the minority, Oh
always stand alone, and who thus spoil the SeDti
ment and mar the beauty Of harmonious churct
action. These are the dead flies in the ointmen
of the apotbecary. But there were none to cas-
such chill upon the warmly expressed wishes o
their brethren in the church to which | have beer
invited | may also add that the affectionatel,
earnest and solemn manner in which the call wa
urged upon my acceptance, manner equal char
acterized by consideration aud delicacy, has gveI
me the most favorable impression Of the eldershiI
of that church.
8. And above all the importance of the church
ITSELF and the wide door OF usefulness it seemed [,
open to me- would have induced me unhesitatingl,
10 have accepted the call, but for other considera
lions connected with the position [ now occupy
First among the reasons for my peculiar attach
ment to this church, my first and only pastora
charge. | may mention, that here have not bull
on another mans foundation, but minister to
people who came to me because they preferred mt
to any other as their pastor. 0ne by one the,
have gathered round me because was their per
sonal choice. My position is not like that Of thos'
who have taken charge OF churches already organ
ized and where members remain, perhaps because
of old associations with the place and not through
any individual regard for the pastor. But here al
we're free to come who felt after trial that they
could be edited by my preaching, and all have
been as free to depart In case they chose to follow
another shepherd. This kind of affinity has mad,
this church very attractive to me, and has glveI
me a comfort in my work here, which | could mo-
feel among a people gathered by the labors Of
another Aud this is one Of the pleasant ties
which bind Us together
Another attraction is the almost perfect harmony
which has pervaded this church for many years
Another bond find in the favor Of the young mer
of this CITY, who have for SO many years continued
TO attend in such large numbers on my ministry
Another is the prospect of steady and healthfu
growth of the city In which God has cast our lot
and the probability that we shall soon need, not
only all the aborerS now In the field, but the add
ton of many more, to gather in the whitening and
ever widening harvest
And another weighty consideration with me i,
the recent action Of this church IN reference to the
call so kindly expressed and so feengly cOmmuni-
Gated to me- This expression of your opinion and
your wishes on the ject has greatly aided me in
deciding the question OF duty. Certainly whole
people can Judge more correctly of pastor fit
ness for continued usefulness among them than the
pastor can himself Falling as he does cOntinu.
ally below his own standard of what ministerial
Efficiency ought to be- he has seaSo of depression
In which he naturally concludes that the appreca-
ton of others Tor his abors must be at least as low
as his own. Therefore it is that their kind assur
auces of undated attachment and of desire for his
continuance among them, encourage andstrengthen
him. That it is the right and privilege OF church
to give such assurances TO pastor, when he Is
called away from them, Is question too plain to
need discussion. That right and privilege you
have chosen to exercise, and IN so doing you have
added another to the pleasant ties which bind me
to you.
II is proper in this connection also to add
that among the many letters L have received In
reference to this call from the city, and from dit
lerent parts Of the State and from other States,
there are two which have especially touched my
heart One was from the children OF the Sabbath
School, entreatng me not to leave them and giving
expression to their affection in the tenderest man
ner,-a letter which | greatly value because on
the love of the children of the Church, every pas
tor bases his hopes of future and long extended
usefulness. May the Heavenly Shepherd ever
defend and bless the dear lambs of this flock !
The other letter came from source quite unex-
pected and was therefore all the more welcome.
Il was from the Ulcers and operatives Of the
Richmond Tredegar Works. | was not aware that
so many of the men who signed that letter Of re
mOnstrance against my going away, knew me even
by nsae. But such an appeal, coming from per.
sons situated as many OF them are, has greatly
grati6ed me- Soms ct them are poor men with
large dependent families ~h2 10 times OF sickness
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