The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-02-20
FoR FHE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAN.
aEMINISCENCES OF PRESBYTERIAN
MINISTERS.
BY AN OCTOGBNARIAN.
JOHN B. HOGE.
BY AN oCToGENARIAN
No. 88.


in Sheperdstown on the Potomac, was Presi
dent of Haupden Sidney College, and wa
equally respected in both these positions
After his removal to Prince Edward, tha
distinguished orator, John Randolph, became
one of his most ardent admirers. Three O
his sons were ministers. The eldest from
Columbus in Ohio, was pointed out to me a
distance at the General Assembly which il
, 1Sl7 ne. il Richmond. Fla sOn, named We
suppose after President Davies, was tall anG
spare. Before leaving the State ne minis
tered in Culpeper county. He was an in,
teresting preacher, and gentleman of taste
and refinement.
John Blair HOge, one of his sons, was an
eloquent preacher who died in Richmond in
middle life. His health was impaired, and
a voyage to Europe was recommended BY
medical advisers as the Hkeliest means Of
restoration. In the summer Of 1916 we saw
him Immediately after his return to Virginia
from his foreign tour. We soon perceived
that he had been observant in the course of
his travels. Though free from Ostentation,
his conversation about foreign objects was
highly interesting. The war of 1872 against
England was declared before he went. Our
naval victories led the English to treat
Americans with more respect than formerly,
for they had often been taunted with the
question, Who reads an American book?
ASince then John Bnll-Aas read quantity of
Ssr literature, and our divinity with conside-
fable relish. "But did no instance take
plses, 1 asked, "Of seeming, though not
&ntentiOnal disrespeet. Well" he re-
piled, " went out of my tracks to pay my
aevoirs to Adam Clarke, the Commentator,
and sent him my card; but he kept me wait
ing so long it occurred to me that he wished
to remain invisible" "0h," | remarked,
"He was in brown study about the Orangou-
tang that tempted Eve, or he was trying to
solve the problem, if there are no serpents in
Ireland how could one have ereps into Para
disc How long did he keep yOG waiting?"
"About three-fourths of an hour" "Qaite
as long, remarked, "As Richter was kept
when be went to see Goethe. But he ap-
peared ss last. Yes; jest as my staff
was taken to bid the family sdieu. Then he
appeared to be good humored Irishman.
He was a critic in the learned languages; !;
but in his criticisms made some huge mis-
takes.
1t has become so common a thing for our
ministers to cross the Atlantic that we have
almost ceased propounding questions about
foreign parts. OF late years we have heard
enough of the Abbeys Of England, Welsh val
leys, WestmOreland lakes and Irish pillars;
but at the date of which we write such OBJ
jects excited curiosity. Curiosity has been
fully satiated. "From France did you not
Outstrip the Jurs mountains, and descend to
Genoa who're lived the most intellectual of
the RefOrmers, though in action he fell be-
low Luther, Knox, and ZuiDglius ?" "Yes;
stood in the stone pulpit from which be
preached to his vast congregation. In the
Ology he was the Mount Blanc of Geneva,
and in humility kind Of Chamouni Vale.-
The scenery around Geneva is magnificent.
There is the Leman Lake and the Rhone
darsing through its azure waves, filed with
silver trout and golden perch and vineyards,
the clusters of which supply the tables of the
wealthy and invite the hook of the peasant.
There are the Lausanne hills, the Jura chain
Frightened by summer suns, and Mont Blanc
burdened with unmelted snow" True, l
remarked, "And it seems strange that the
enemies of Revelation should have desecrated
such hollow of the esrth by their presence.
Who we're they It may be asked. Vol
taire, Rosseau, GibbOn, the atheist Shelley,
and the dissoluse Byron. PandemOnium
would have suited them better than such a
Paradise.
In the summer of 1918, the writer was OF
his way to Bedford Springs. The Scotch
gentleman by whom he was accompanied
proposed that we should call at Martins
burg, the capital of Berkley county, anC
spend day or two with the subject of thi
paper. Agreed, said 1. mo PROPOSE
tion could have pleased me better; for wha
is the use of breaking our necks in gettiui
through this world p My Reverend frien
gave US a warm reception. Martinsburg
healthy tOwn-its people are genteel an
hOspitable, bat its streets are more rock
than We could have wished. A Sabbat
came. 1t was the day on which the paste
of Martinsburg church was to preach at hi
country church called Failing Waters"
place which attained to some nOtOriety in on
late war. The service was devOlved on th
writer, but We would have preferred tn
hearing of a luminous discourse from th
pastor of the church. Failing Waters
We liked the name. It kept US talkin
about the fall of Fyers, subject pleasing
my comIade. And We diVerged to the rocl
which gushed when stricken by the wand
Moses, and to the sounding of the mar
waters in the Apocalypse. Where is Il
man who feels no admiration in the presen
of a waterfall when the sun or moon h
given it bow of peace by the power of l
Aaction9 Retter that he should turn layy,