The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-20
Address of Rev. DIR. Hoge at 8
Funeral of Judge Robert Oul
Second Presbyterian Church, Sunt
Afternoon December 18th 1882


city at % o'clock P NJ. on Sunday last A
great concourse of people were assembled to do
honor to the memory of the illustrous deceased.
The services were conducted by the Rev. DR..
Hoge, assisted by the Rev. DR.. Peterkin and
the Rev. DIR. J. L NJ. Curry. The following is
a report of the remarks made by DR.. Hoge on
the occasion:
Were a total stranger to this city, ignorant of
all that had occurred in it during the past week,
row to enter this church, he could not look
around him for single moment without being
impressed by the fact that some event of more
than ordinary interest was now absorbing the
minds and affecting the hearts of our people.
This vast assembly, so hushed and STILL these
badges of mourning, these tears, not only of be-
reaved relatives, but of bereaved community
would tell him in language more impressive
than words, that today we all together consti-
tute one household, smitten of God and afflicted
and needing consolation.
1t is not true that out of the abundance of the
heart ready utterance always comes. There
are times when the very fullness of emotion
makes silence more natural than speech. When
men stand in the presence of appalling danger
their words are few. In the midst of over
whelming sorrow they are dumb. al opened
not my mouth because thou didst it." When
God makes some soul-subdung manifestation of
himself, he seems to say, e" Be still, and know
that | am God"
Ny friends, l am troubled. Outside the circle
of the immediate family, am the most bereaved
the chief mourner. When l look upon this
great sorrowing assembly, and then remember
whose dust it is that this coffin encloses, feel
like asking you to permit me to leave this pull
PIT and take my m"re appropriate place among
those who weep beneath it. Lord send me
help from the sanctuary, and strengthen me out
of Zion"
1t is not my custom to make funeral addresses.
II | deviate from this now, it is because of the
assurance | have received that there is a pent
up feeling in the whole community that de-
mands some expression, and that such expires
sion would be a relief even to those most nearly
touched by this bereavement. | shall have
your sympathy while I attempt to give vent to
these struggling emotions, and all the more, if
what | say is not so much tribute to the man
the friend, the brother, for whom we mourn, as
to the grace of God which was magnifed in his
life and in his death.
The child of eminently pious parents, never
even in the days when the gay world with its
enticements, its ambitions and its pleasures
most possessed him, did he wholly forget the
example the prayers, and the instructions of
those who consecrated him to God at his birth
In carly lfo he chose the profession which he
preferred to all Others save one, which in later
LIE he ranked above it, and his choice was
noble one. /" Our human laws" saws modern
writer are but copies more or less perfect, of
the eternal laws, as far as we can read them F"
Law has been called the perfection of reason
1t is the visible impersonation of Justice the
tangible embodiment of right 1t touches Sc
ciety at every point; guards property life and
character; 1t curbs license, protects the feeble
honors good faith, circumvents fraud, and binds
the turbulent In chains. 1t secures social order,
shields domestic happiness, and makes national
prosperity possible. Such was the noble pre-
fession of his choice.
How well he discharged the duties of his high
calling, with what fearlessness, with what fdel-
ity, with what success, will be told in another
place; and honored Will be the man who, at the
command of bench and bar, will place on record
for the instruction of the profession in all coming
time an adequate tribute to Judge Robert Ould
as an instructive illustration of what distinction
may be won when genius, learning, industry
and personal honor are the constituent elements
Of success and the sure guarantees OF the emf
nence which Will be accorded to one who pos-
sesses these characteristics by all the legal ribu-
mails of this Commonwealth.
But, my friends to-day our concern is not
with the laurels of earth, or the monuments
which genius erects for itself but with the in
terests which pertain to a higher life and with
the Judgments which belong to higher tribunal.
The most pathetoroE the ancient prophets on
a certain occasion, exclaimed, How is the
strong staff broken and the beautiful rod.
Manly, physical strength and the falrest crea-
tlons of human intellect are fraIl at best and
evanescent. :" Thy rod. thy staff " cried one of
the greatest American statesman in diving hour
that is what want" The staff of the Lord
our Shepherd alOna is strong. His rod. like
that Of Aaron, is the only one that buds and
bears perennial blossoms All other depend
ences are but as the frail web that the spider
weaves across a chasm. All the glory of man
is but the flower Of the grass. All the post
humous honors, won by human toll and talent.
bring no Joy to the heart which lies still and
chill IN the coffin, and all the music of the
worlds applause cannot penetrate the dull cold
ear of death. The honor which God confers on
those who serve him, and the glory to which he
summons the redeemed soul, alone are enduring
and satisfying. 1t is only the sweet remem-
braace OF what Gods grace did for my departed
friend and brother that gives me comfort TODAY
and this remembrance alone gives me strength
to pay this tribute of tender affection 1t is not
OF the lurst that ! would speak, eminent as he
was IN his profession, nor Of the man. attractive
as he was by his virtues, but of the Christian.
the servant OF Christ. and for His sake the SER
want of the Church He loved
l cannot better refer to the great and event
ful change in his life-a change that gave a
new direction to his whole future-than in his
own words. On Christmas day, 1870 he sent
me as keepsake a volume recently published
by distinguished divine. In the round clear
| hand which he wrote, he covered the whole of
the first Ay-leaf Of the book with an inscription.
the first sentence Of which was this I desire
to record in this Christmas offering the fact
the suprprnpst in nv bfa-tbat met oro -,oo-