Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-28

/ ..gh
| referred TO the forty-fve years IN Whiio;n
! Dr. Hoge has preached from one puipl'ji
| and his gospel has the same chaIl,i,shi ~, a nL al'
after this long time the people stiil hooA
20 hear him.
RKv. DIR. KERR.
Rev. Pevton II. Hoge. j. d.. introduced
Rev. DR.. II. J.. Kerr as the renresehVa'i'o
| Of the Southern Presbyterian Chnrcb.
This speaker declared that DIR. HoSe was
loved by oil the LOG, 900 souls IN the oogVnJI oJ
ern Presbyterian Church. He has Iaiseu
| the standard of pulpit effort ana n~A@ ~
raised the respect and influence Oh tho
ministry in the sentiment OF the peoP,e.
| He has made II easier for the preachers ~
| do their work because he has made tne
name of n Christian minister honorable IN
this great Commonwealth and far oe-
vond it. He has done MS good work
bv his preaching, by MS e9hseI-
vatism. bv the life he has hyed,
which has been for hall century
in the public eye unchallenged ana unIe- n
buked even by the carping woriu. nv
! General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church has been glad to have Dr. Hoge occ
cupy the ModerGtors chair IN hne OF
such succession as Palmer, rum
mer. Dabney. Stuart. Robinson, ana
others. DR.. Kerr closed his speech as
follows: There are some practical Things
for this great occasion. FIRST; fOr al lhe
ministers ana HieWDtIS VI VI. bN'N
PRESBYTERIAN Church TO pray that our De
loved friend may long be spared TO us;
that his star undimmed may shine on past
the serni-centennal and far into the future'
and when we make this prayer let all the
people Of every denomination say Amen!
Dr. Hoge's Address.
When DR.. Kerr had concluded all eyes
were turned toward DR.. HOge, who quietly
arose from his seat on one corner OF the
stage and walked 10 the table arranged
for the speakers. He clasped his hands he
hind him and carefully surveyed the
audience for several seconds. he spoke as
follows:
II is difficult TO find words in which TO
express I be cOmminglpd emotions awaken
ed by this anniversary.
First of all, / trust my most tervent
feeling is gratitude to God for sparlng me
10 this hour; gratitude tor permitting
me 10 serve Him so long in the ministry OK
the Gospel: gratitude for the unbrOken
harmony which has existed between my
people and myself and for the unity ana
peace which have made their relations Ia
each other SO delightful. The blessings
and the benefits which ltfrOm such con-
cord hayo been so happily portrayed IN tne
different addresses of the evening that we
have had fresh andinspiritnH impression
| Of the beauty Of the psalm whose opening
the listening heart Behold. how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together IN unity"
Next. | desire most afectionatelv TO re-
ciprocate the assurances Of regard and
confidence expressed III the resolutions Oh
the Presbyterian Pastors Association.
made all tie more welcome to me because
drafted by the brother IN charge of
the church which was colony from my
own. and read 20 this audience by my coll
leapue at the Old-Market Hail. who ~ now
conducting that enterprise with signal sue
! cess
Dr. Hoge then paid q warm and affec-
tiOnate tribute to Governor Mckinney,
and proceeded as follows:
And what response can j make 70 the
cordial and loving words spoken by my
revered and honored brethren who
have come from their near or distant
homes to honor this occasion with thelr
presence and TO lay me under obligations |
! can never repay or express, so moved am 1
by their generous approyalf
THE CONGREGATIONS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE.
II might he supposed that such addresses
| AS we have heard tonight, reflete with
commendatiOn and encouragement, would
fill my heart only with emotions exultant
and Joyous, but who does not know that
| in the midst Of scenes fullest OF gladness
/
| strange sadness, Ike solemn refrain
running through jubilant song!
When remember that Of the sixty-three
members composing the church with
which commenced my ministry but two
are with IA tonight: when / remember
that those to whom ] have preached since
that year, now numbered with the de
parted, would form larger congregation
than this vast assembly; when | recall 10
] 4 60 baf IVA I'M a. a
the religious thought. to shape the Chris
tian principles. and TO develop the spiritual
life of that great multitude, the remem-
| brance Of the imperfect manner IN which
discharged that solemn trust and the con-
yiction that | might have been far moro
helpful TO those who are now beyond tho
reach of earthly influence had preached
more faithfully, moro tendcrlv, more
lovingly, admonlshes me that II tins IS an
hour for Joy il Is also an hour for penitence
and tears.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW DILIGENCE.
So. too. while listening TO the kind words
which have been spoken with regard 10
my life and labors, have been conscious
that they were descriptive rather OF what
ought to have been and might have been,
and none can better understand and APP
preciate my meaning than these very
brethren when ! say that | am more hum
!
mendation, and that the best use | can
now make of their approval Is to derive
from il a stimulus hereafter To follow with
more afiectiOnate fidelity IN the footsteps
of nv Lord and to serve the people 10
whom minister with new diligence and
devotion.
In this am encouraged by the convic-
ton that with whatever CONSCIENTIOUS
study and honest work can prosecute my
coming labor | shall be sustained III the
future as have been in the past by the co
operation of the earnest men and noble
women Of nay charge.
LOVING FIDELITY.
No pastor was ever blessed with more
loyal church, and 90 far az its enterprises
have been successful the result has been
mainly due TO the ready sympathy and
persistent activity of its members. and |
avail myself of this great opportunity OF
bearing this public testimony TO the LOVING
fidelity and consecrated devotion OF my
people-a fidelity, devotion that has
never faltered or wayered, but has been
as undeviatingly fixed and true rs the
pointers of the splendid constellation that
tonight with fingers of radiant light and
beauty point steadily TO the pole.
But no church, however organized and
equipped, if isolated from ITS sister
churches, or if antagonistlc to them, can
accomplish any Wldcspreau anu PcIHducHI
good in the community.
GOOD WILL OF ALL DENOMINATIONS.
And here, too. find another element
and explanation of whatever OF service my
church has rendered TO the material. the
intellectual. and the spiritual welfare OF
IL has had the good will Of all denomina-
tions-most notably and unmistakably
fhoir lipHaSt rpUarIS
And this leads me to ask III conclusion
what is the real meaning and true signih-
cance of this splendid throng In the Acade-
my of Music tonight
1t Is not TO make one man the oDJect OF
temporary attention; it is not to honor a
particular church-it is 20 illustrate the
beauty of Christian charity. the happiness
which comes from Christian concord.
, II there is anything more characteristic
than another of the times We live IN IL Is
the fact that while there was never more
denominational zeal and activity than now
associated with il there is determlnatlon
to bring to the front the real unitg which
binds all the branches of the Christian
, family together ID one harmonious and nap,
py brotherhood. There Is an uprising ana
advancing tidal wave of Gospel charity;