Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-03
a PLEASANT AFFAIR.
Golden Wedding Of Dr. benjamin smith
Dr. Hoge's Address.

Golden wedding Of Dr. Benjamin smith
Dr. Hoge's Address,
Correspondence OF tho Richmond Dispnicol
H,MrDEN-SmSEY.
Prince EDWARD COUNTY
November ! 1889.
II il not often that one has the opportu.
nity 10 witness a golden wedding. stu
more infrcquentiy is 1t the privilege OF q
couple TO celebrate one. The people on
Hampden-Sidncy have lately enjoyed the
one OF these pleasures. and tho yoncIa-
ble nr. BENJAMIN 81. Smith and his hon
ored c0nsorf the other. On the night of
the 8ist OF October 1889, 10y the serene
light of o soft autumral moon, a. great
audience. including the students OF DOM
the Union Theological Seminary ana
HamDden-SiGncy College and an entire
gallery OF colored people, gathered IN the
seminary chapel TO pay the tribute or ther
respect and venerGtlon and 20 tender then
alcc;i0nate greeting % the aged celenraltS.
Another rare and refined eradication was
that If listening NJ the same time 70 the
accents Of q golden mouth. Dr. NJ. y;
Uoge. Of Richmond, who had been invited
to preside and make an address appropriate
to ihcintcrcsting occasion, though engaged
elsewhere. somewhat unexpectedly made
MS appearance early ia the afternoon
and when the congregation had asselAb!cn
in the evening. the Rev. Or. Is. VI. smith
and Mrs. Smith sitting at the rght Oh tho
platform, Dr. Hpgc, escorted lh'o INC
chapel bv Professor Alexander, introduced
the exercises by saving TINT II had been ms
GOOD fortune TO be present AT FIVE golden
wedilnoSn IN his lifetime, three 81 thclp
those of ministers 90 the Gospel. lie sara
IL Yves happy surprise 10 him TO he able
10 be here tonight as he had an ciIahd
which should have taken him TO New YORK
TODAY. but he had concluded to come to
Prince Edward instead for two reasou~-
fret. because the rcgcrod friends whom
thov had come 10 honor might not nave
another golden wedding fifty years hence
and If they did be- might then nave some
enpagemcuts elsewhere.
40 said on his arrival this afternoon,
finding that these exercises were 20 nave
been held i'm tine porlors of the Professor
house. whose rooms were by no means as
LARGE MS his heart. he had taken the liberty
of su0ccctiuc that the services should take
place n the seminary chapel. where there
wa, room for all ana especially for the stu-
dents 0f the college, whom Lee was glau 90
SEQ present. Il was an event IN winch me
rhOle community was interested ne
friends OF the bonored Professor IN tlcl-
ln0nd and al over the State wore IN luI
srnpathv with the event, and tins feeling
wa, manifest in the large assembly now
Gathered on 50 short notice III TINS
chapel.
Ihe students Of the college would never
forget TINS scene, aud the moral lnpIes-
sion produced by II would bc to them q Per
lnautnt memory and an incentive TO noble
fudeavor when they saw now Ntucra nle
wears and virtues were hcnore0, by the
public tribute paid 90 worth and distln-
euished service. lie hoped that many OF
thom would live to celebrate their golden
weddings.
Having made these Introductory re-
MARKS Or. Ii0re requested the WnClo an-
diouco o. unite in singing Addison hymn,
commencing
"Whcn an thy merces, o, my Goi
Ny rising soul surveys"
which Was sung by tho congregation stand
iug. with much tcryOr and unammIty,
after which he made the following ad-
dress:
Nv Dear Doctor AM Mrs smith,-Your friends
who e li the chapel tonight viii avail themselves
presently In yoIr own parl.rs oil iAc oppC.t o.
nfyof giving y0u their individual cOngratuia-
tiuus on this memorable anniversary bul they
desire that one voice should dr5t give expression
O. their united ss-urauccs OF regard anu II
what say is mt upon record they hope II may
hereafter CRAFTY yon 90 iend II when OH SPOKEN
words OF gre ting she'll have diol away ~ si-
Ieuce II 1 an maize The CnAnnci o. tl's con-
/ graduation IL g. not because can give you any
moro fcr'lug expression ~ their EOol "'he3
/ than could others hero present, but because
I hevo known you longer Gnl nm related 10 you
I by ties that are peculiar ana personal
Whom fifty years arJ you Wero uni ed IN mar
4 rage you were then in the bright spfineime ot
l'e-a spring shat Was followed by long anu
p DesutifGl summer. and that vas s1cce'ded 10y an
autumn stiu richer ia al the precious fruits OF
the Divine favor. Through these three sea sons
/ YOU hnvO pa5std q, nut here the analogy between
tfe and tho year fails IN tho lat ina your al-
D ttrrel mil 40 uH q "A
/ for y0ur autumn VIII last until 10 s'fuy NETS
/ into hiissful and amending season IN INC chine
/ "where happier bowers ulan Ldens hioom am
+ whore in tOyfW reGuiol You Will together m
4 herit the rest AMI peace OF the Paradise d God.
since tie fret year Of the htiy which have
7 Dassed since You commenced llir together YOU
/ have seen ere ~ change -rhgnges In the Church.
/ Ia the country, IN 'le world, but mere Is one
1 change you EaFs never seen.
Tonight you can testify, as you never couid
/ before, 10 the abiding care ana ioyo OF one VINO
/ is the same yesterday. today and forever
and with lcyout thauHulnes yol can declare
| that IN tho midst OF the yicss,udes which cha
ractori1o all else A" his loving Kindness changes
I not
la your half century o. married life, IN TIE
J multitude OF mcrc.cs which have crowned your
/ days, yoa have nai your s0rrows. But We ma g
/ known something OF the patience, tho fortitude'
/ and the submission with wlll1h you nave bofpe
/ Your crosses, and have sseu bow the trial ~
/ your faitn, Ike gold purified in the fire, has re-
I suited ia q larger usetulness 60 others, az You
have grown IN conformity 10 Chrlat through lel-
/ lOWsbip in His su1cringa.
And now that this anniversary has come
7 which como, 20 70 few-marKing tho termination
OF half a century ID which yOl have shared life 8
I toys and sOrroWs together ana grown III strength
( ana love because 81 your united experience ana
service first a. pastor an1 pastors Wie. Il an as
/ professor aud pIotcs -ur's Wife. you nnd NoGrscu
/ surrounded by n great company of loving friends
/ who come 90 give YOU THIS renewed assurance 81
+ their affection and 20 unite their hearts In the
/ prayer that 80 Iona a. GOD spares you lie
would make each succeeding year brighter by
/ the light 81 Hls counteuance, ana more blessed
+ BY the communications OF His grace until the
time shall como when you Will md the happy
I union Of this life removed AL pcrpeiuG.ee IN
/ tho place where you will be forever with one
F smother and with tho Lord
After this address a most tervent and ap-
propriate prayer was offered by the Rev.
Professor W. W. Moore, ID. D., and the
benediction was pronounced By the Rev.
a. c. Alexander. u. d.. whercupOn the in
yited guests. about hundred in number,
repaired to ID. Smiths house to eXchanso
greetings and to ENJOY his abundant hos