The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-08
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Note on the Biography in
McClintock and Strong's
Cyclop8dia.

MeSSrS. EditOrs,-It would be unrea-
sonable to expect perfect accuracy in so
comprehensive an undertaking as the in
valuable Cyclopedia of Rev. Messrs. Nc
Clintock and Strong, specially in the first
edition, and so, minor errata should not
be criticised harshly. To such, however,
the attention of the editors may be in
vited that in future editions these may
not recur.
In vol. ~ (H j, page 288, is an
article on Moses Hodge, D. D." and on
pages 292, 293, is. one on Moses Hoge,
D. D." 1t requires no familiarity with
Presbyterian Church history to see that
these articles are based on a common
subject, the Hodge" article differing
from the Hoge" article only in length
and the commission of much contained in
the latter. The Hodge" article is of
course misleading, but due simply to
oversight in the editor. An examination
of the two, somewhat further than their
titles, would have disclosed to him their
identity of subject What makes this the
more noteworthy is that both Hodge"
and Hoge" are credited to the same
writer, Prof. j. H. Warman, A. NJ, Lii
brarian of Drew Theological Seminary
(Methodist), who has perhaps fallen into
a mechanical method of preparation,
largely excusable by reason of the great
amount of work he has done for the Cy-
clopedia. The following gives evidence
of the same want of accuracy: In 1887,
the (Sic) Southern climate at Moorefeld
proving injurious to his health, he re-
moved to Shepherdstown" How much
more Southern" is Moorefeld than
Shepherdstown? DIR. Hoge doubtless,
had good reasons for this change, but l
venture the assertion they were not such
as this. The Hodge" article should be
omitted in future editions and the space
occupied by it devoted to fuller details
of the life and eminent services of DR..
Hoge
l note that Of the Presbyterian minis
tiers in this volume Prof Warman is re-
sponsible for the articles of William Hill,
Asa Hillyer, James Hoge, Moses Hoge,
Samuel D. Hoge, John P. Honey, John
HOWE, Humphrey Hunter, John Inglis,
Charles @. Jones. The same pen writes
most of the articles on EpiscopaIian, Con-
gregatiopal, Baptist, and Methodist min
isters-the last of course very properly.
1t may safely be said that two-thirds Of
the biography of the volume is by Prof
Warman
make no charge of inaccuracy save
in the articles on Dr. Moses Hoge, but
am at a loss to understand why one man
should have imposed upon him SO oner-
Gus duty as the correct recital of chief
events in the lives Of so large proper
ton of the ministry, of many of whom, it
may be conjectured, he knew nothing
personally. Why were not these sub
jects assigned to representative men in
their respective denominations? Why
was DR.. Hoge not given even to DR.. Chas
Hodge, DR.. r. d. Hitchcock, Dr. T. V.
Moore, or DR.. Philip Schaf who figure in
the list of contributors. Had such been
done, the errors noted would not have
been made. And in general it may be
said that the result would have been more
satisfactory to their respective churches
and to the Church at large as well. The
treatment would have been more sympa-
thetlc, more symmetrical, and space-limits
could have been utilized to greater adj
vantage.
/ would not imply charge Of secta-
rian bias, / have only to say that great
as Prof Warmans learning evidently is,
it is not absolutely encyclopaedia, and