The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-13
TEE ELOQUENT DR.. H0GE.
Trlbute 10 The Power and Influence Of The
Great Divine.
EXTRACTS FROn TWO OF his SERMONS.
Tho Powerful Impression Made by Him on q
yIsitor to Richrnond-hGect Re
membranes of Virginia.
Editor Of The Times

women or your ~taLe anu CITY. No".N AN"
asno return of those cvil.ties is possible by
me. at least to thank you for your great kind
ness and TO pay an humble. but grateful
tribute TO citizen Of Richmond. to whom
owe more than 10 any living man. DR.. Moses
d. Hoge. Of the Second Presbyterian church.
Born myself in Scottish manse. | had
driftod far from the teachings OF my honored
father. and pardon me FOR saying to you, .
good church man. that amid all the wild and
random talk Of camp life nothing so sur
prsed and shocked me Gs 10 hear >lrginlans
talking with emphasis OF tho church and
sometimes using tho term dissenters IS ap-
piled o the Presbyterian Church. a could
yield something 10 the rather pretent Gus
claims OF the historic "EDiscopate." for was
born and reared in tho establishment in Scot
land, and everything else was there deemed
dissent.
Caring nothing FOR religion. but moved to
tho depths OF my being by eiOquencc' hrS'
came 20 hear Or. Hoge from curiosity ana Au-
mration for his rnre gifts as a rhetorlciaD' /
humbly trust the divine spirit changed by us
mystic power that vague admiration INTO rev
erence and trust. ana ali unworthy as an
cherish an assured hope that Will add as q
redeemed soul. another star TO tho crown
which the righteous Judge will give him IN
that day" ] write the words that If TINS
should meet his eye it may cheer, comfort
and strengthen him n his noble and arduous
work.
do not propose TO snsyze the elements
that constitute his UNI ne personality rom
life training in other and very diverse teidS
OF thought and study, am utterly incOmpc-
tent 90 weigh in the balance of right reason
his claims TO be profound scholar or great
theOlOgian This only ! know. he moves me
as no other man has ever q mo. and | have
heard the great pulpit oeators OF
Eur pc and America. I can but regard him
ms one Of tho master rhetOricans Of the world
This sounds eytrayagant TO the Richmond
public 10 whom he has talked three or four
times q week for nearly half a century. but so
be appears TO me. Originality is his most
striking attribute. No lover Of paradOxes
like Beecher, who preached true and evangel-
ical Christianity one week and refuted II
the next. Or. Hoge never leaves the logical
and sublime creed Of the Westminster di-
vines. but when he touches the dry bones of
that old theology. flesh and blood and life
clothe the skeleton. and a throbbing, healing.
loving human heart beats beneath the cold
ribs. Never like Iss.4+ does he Teyel IN
cheap historical illustrations and patent plati-
tudes-Dr. Hose always draws his inspiration
from the divine word-But comparisons are
odlOus. DR.. Ts..... the world reveres and
knows as an earnest. eloquent God fearing
preacher of righteousness, and his triple
plated rhetorical ware passes current for the
pure metal. and his gittering paste pleases
the great multitude as we'll as diamonds OF
the first water
May | give you brief sketch of the last
sermons heard from DR.. Hoge during my
recent visit 10 Richmond; On the first Sun
day in November his text was from the last
words of Joshua. chapter xxi, 43-45 verses
a. And the Lord gave unto israel all the
land which he swOre TO give unto their
fathers; and they possessed it. and dwelt
therein.
as. There failod not ought of any good
things which the Lord had spoken unto the
house of Israel oil came to pass
With rude hand may | attempt an out
line of this and his regular evening
sermon He began by painting with a
few master touches the far orient. cradle
of the race, of letters. arts and religion.
-Four heroic figures stood out boldly upon the
canvas. The subject OF the sermon having
been first clearly stated-"Isra Gods great
parable Eand object lesson; the rise history
and vlcsstudes Of his chosen people, and the
ultimate fulfilment of every promise made TO
the patrIarchs." The grand figures por-
trayed were Abraham. Moses. Joshua
and Christ. Can | ever fail to see
that sublime portrait drawn from life?
The old exile. rich but childless when the
Jehovah he worshipped met him on those
desert Syrian sands by the sea, and. pointing
10 the stars more numerous and luminous
with radiance never seen in colder chimes.
said TO the lonely, chlldless old man. Thy
Deed shall be more in number than the stars
and turning 10 the shelving beach of the en-
circling sea repeated, They. shall be more
numerous than the sands on the shore
And Abraham believed and it was counted
unto him for righteousness.
What prospect was there for the accom-
plishment of that Divine promise by any cal
culus of human probability!
Yet his faith never wavered and every lot |
and little was accomplished DR.. Hoge then
gave brief sketch of the most wonderful /
and dramatic scenes IN human story
The mission of Moses. HIS equip |
ment from the armory of Heaven for
the dehyerance of the chosen peonle !
Only Il slender rod yet omnipotence was |
IN It, The awIul plaques of Egypt the cross
ing OF the Red Sea; the forty years wander /
lug IN the desert; the sublime scenes |
OF Sinai, and ut last. the sight of |
tho land flowing with milk and honey; |
the wide sweep OF Its vine-clad hills /
from which the wandering lsraeltes had nj |
ready tasted the grapes OF schol and finally |
the gentle dismissal of Moses. when on lonely |
Nebo he received the traustiguriug touch 10y |
which he WAS translated 20 the ranks OF The |
crowned and glorlied. Then the mission of /
Joshua-the final possession of the promised /
iandA ITS complete conquest by this worn and /
weared hostile storming OF its walled cities /
IN winch dwelt the Arabs-the entire fulfil |
mont OF the promIse-their peaceful, happy /
rest all that God had sworn IN his covenant /
completely accomplished
Last comes the Christ the central fpure OF J
the universe. who established IA everlasting
Kingdom against which the gates OF he'll /
should never prevail. The fidelity Of God to |
his covenant and the results OF heroic nm
conquerabe faith were the practical lessons |
OF this great sermon.
THERE Is SORROW on THE SEA.
In the evening the text and announcement
OF the subject strikingy illustrated the versa
tlhty and original genius of the preacher
Jeremiah. xix 23-"Ihcre is sorrow on the
sea; II cannot be quiet lie began abruptly.
Il have no time TO waste on an elaborate ex-
ordium. have very solemn message 20 DO
liver.
All great poets. from Homer and Jere-
mlah to Shakespeare and Xennyson. have
adopted the sea "a the emblem of unrest The
tides that throo in its sad heart. moved by
unseen and mysterious agencies moved
the breakers that beat in melancholy mono
tone on desolate shores the troubled waters
that cannot rest the waves that seem SO aim
lessy TO invade the sands, the rehuent bill
lows that apparently fulfil no purpose as thew
recede and are lost IN the wide gray main.
moaning as they sweep the shore and moan !
ing as they retreat from their Intellectual adj /
vance; what an emblem OF the unrest md
sadness OF unbelicf-Oi the sorrow which fol- I
lows me loss o! hopes once cherished-whet
Typo Of the dreary philosophy OF nepation-
"a INC uesoiaie disbelief that strikes sorrow
oi Us Dest consolation that robs the grave of
a resurrection and substitutes for ~. infn-
49,. 49, VS. "n9 loving Father IN unintelNeent.