Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-05
POLITICS AND FAIRS.
THE LATTER GIVE A PLEASING VA
RlETY TO THE FORMER.
Centennial Celebration OF tho winchester
Presbytcry-llpteresting History OF
DIR. fogc's Family.

SHEpHERpSTOWN.W w. VA, Scptem
Der 4--(Spocial) Politics and county fairs
are the subjects OF absorbing interest ir
this section at present. Now that VII
liam l.. Wilson. that fearless leader oi
Democracy. has received such an enthu-
slasuc denomination, the battle may bC
considered "a fairly begun But the
county fairs give a pleasing variety to
the political battle The farmers that
one day wrangle so fiercey over Camden
and anti-Cafndcn candidates. the next
will most amicably discuss the fine points
of big Berkshire hog, or the merits OF
gigantic fruits and vegetables.
Last week Berkeley orunty had her
Linwood fair. and next week Morgan's
Grove exhibition wakens up old Jeffer.
son county. Did you ever ATTEND counts
fair in the Lower Shenandoah Valley?
If YOU have not then your education is
incomplete. II is a dime Museum, colt
show. and farmers picnic all In one,
and attracts all Of every class from near
and far. Next week our quiet lii tie town
of 1850 inhabitants will have an influx of
population amounting to 1900 or H. 600.
drawn hither by the fair that the Cen
eral Assembly Of the State OF Virginia
nearly 80 years ago authorized 10 be
held in this place.
But this reference to the Antiquity OF
the place reminds me that things polti-
cal and agricultural will give place 10 the
religious the week after the fair.
The venerable Winchester Presbytery
Will celebrate IT'S centennial in the Pres
byterian church here with appropriate ex-
erciseS Wednesday. September the nth.
HIS BIRTHPLACE.
Among the eminent men that will take
part in this celebration Is your own Dr.
NJ. j. Hoge. whose reia alton to the church
at Shepherdstown and also to the Win
chester Presbytery viii be of interest TO
your readers. not only in Richmond. but
also all over the two VirginiaS for Shep-
9eristown is the birthplace OF. his father.
Rev. Samuel Davies Hoge. and the scene
or the laoors for twenty years of his hon
ored grandfather. DIR. Moses Hoge who
was also one Of the ministers that or
ganized Winchester Presbytery Just one
hundred years ago.
When the Indians still called the Poto-
mac the Cohongorooton. THE River of the
wild Goose" party Of thrifty Germans
from Pennsylvania crossed IL, and on it's
beautiful southern bank made the first
settlement in all the Valley Of Virginia,
and called ii New Mecklenburg. after their
DID home in the land of Luther.
10 YEARS AGO.
This was 10 years ago. and It could
not have been long afterwards that they
were followed by the sturdy Scotch-Irish.
with their love OF liberty and their Pres
bytorianism: for 100 years ago n Presby-
terrain congregation wors bipped at Shep- |
hcrlstoKn. to which tie name New |
MeckIenburg by this time Md given |
hot
connectct with Carlisle Presbytery, that |
Dr. Mostz Hogo. then young man. |
came. and by twenty years Of faithful |
labor built Up a strong churCh that has |
excrtcd a goVd and strong inf renee upon |
the community ever since. I)r. Moses
Ioge aftorwa IDS became president Of |
Hampden-sldue.S College, Virginia. He |
was the author az work called chris
tan Panoply." a yeply TO P2lnes Age OF
Reason. which was widely circulated ana
DID much TO counteract the infCeiity or
that day. He is oAued by one OF his bio
crlphcrs the wiasst ami meekest OF
men" and John Randolph, of Roanoke
said he was "the best Of orators
OPENING SERMON.
When the Presbyteyy Of Winchester was
Organized. in 1874 Dr. Moses Hoge
preached the opening sermon, and now
arte~ the revolution Of century. how |
pleasing and appropriate feature OF the
celebration it IS. that Dr. Moses
Il. Hogc should come To the home OF
his fathers childhood. and the scene OF
hs erandfather's early life and labors. 10
deliver the centennial address and preach
the centennial sermon.
Among other distinguished speakers that
have been invited TO take part in these H.
teresting exercises are DIR. J. Il. Graham,
moderator Of the Southern Presbyterian
General Assembly; DR.. II. NJ. White. or J
Winchester; Dr. John i. Scott, Of Florida;
pr. George Norcross. Of Carlisle Prcsby-
tory. Pennsylvania Or. James +. Smith,
editor OF the Central Presbyterian. OF |
your city. and Dr. II. z. Converse, editor
of the Christian Observer, Of Louisville, |
Ky. \ large number Of visitors from a
distance are expected to attend and
in these interesting services.