Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-28

cons OF the prophets, Dat OF the prophets
themselves. and Is. therefore. OF the
highest order, and has proven OF incalcu-
liable value 10 the pastors and through
them 60 the churches. il has grown
rapidly in recent years, and now numbers
more than thirty. Among It's members
are eloquent orators and faithful pastors;
scholars and poets; editors and authors;
professors and teachers, and all OF them
preachers OF the everlasting Gospel OF
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In
the name OF this honorable body bring
words OF esteem and affection, and say;
Long live, and God ever bless, the dis
tinguished and successful pastor OF the
Grace-Street Baptist church
WROTE a LETTER.
Rev. DR.. George Cooper. pastor OF the
First church here, was on the programme
TO congratulate DIR. Hatcher on sbehaif
| 81 the Richmond Bsptists. He was un-
| avoldaby called away. however, ana
wrote a letter as substitute for his al
dress. which was read.
After expressing his regret at his In
/ ability TO be present DIR. Cooper wrote:
| "The occasion means much 10 Richmond
| Baptlsts. Though Dr. Hatcher's has not
| been the longest pastorate in Richmond,
II has been most suspicious, and has been
| fraught with much good. Twenty year,
ago there were but nine churches IN
\ Richmond and Manchester. now there
are eighteen. and 90 the jealous. untiring
energy OF Dr. Hatcher several OF them
are attributable.
| In conclusion the letter refers touch
ingly TO DR.. Hatcher's generous and help
full sympathy. always cheerfully given,
and conveys to DIR. and Mrs. Hatcher the
hearty congratulations of the writer.
| Captain Frank w. Cunningham, upon
/ the conclusion Of the letter, sang very
sweetly only Remembered by What we
| Have Done"
FRIEND 70 THE FRIENDLEss.
Rev. DR.. r.. H. fit, associate editor
| OF the Religious Herald, extended ms
CONGRATULATIONS 10 DR.. Hatcher on behalf
Of the Virginia churches and pastors.
| '''rhe pleasant duly assigned ne by my
brethren is" he said. also a privilege
| Nowhere Is the friend whom we honor
/ tonight held In higher esteem or SIN
cerer respect than among the Virginia
pastors and churches, to whom ne mas
| been helpful In 50 many ways:I include
| in the designation Virginia pastors those
| who are now at work in the State and
| those who have lived here out are now
| forlorn wanderers and exiles in the
regions beyond. Some Of these pastors
have known the Doctor since the time
when, awkward and untamed, he came
| from rugged Bedford to Richmond Col
| lege. Some OF them came TO college with
| him, and were cye-witn -sses OF the pro-
| cess by which the angles were taken or,
| while others date their iirst acquaintance
with him from the day on which they
| wandered, friendless and forlo1n, into the
\ sacred precincts OF the college. For TINS
| latter class let me say special word.
| one of them-a distinguished exile--sald
TO me Few days ago in Washington:
1 trh Hatcher
me to his home in Richmond and tried
| 10 chase away my embarrassment lie
| probably never thinks Of IL, but pray
for him every day
| who docs not remember now friend
less how lonely, he was when he came
| an absolute stranger among some hun
! dreds Of strange youths Inc manifest
| disposition Of these young fellows to guy
| the n w-comer did not relieve the lOneli-
ness 1t is simple justice to say that
no man among Us has taken more pains
| to be kind in countless ways TO students
| for the ministry. And be II said TO his
| everlasting credit that II has never been
| necessary TO be brilliant or promising
| I'm order 10 secure his friendly offices.
| The dull plodding boy, If sober ana
| earnest, has always been sure OF one
friend in Richmond. Now. in the name
Of all these, the older pastors VINO have
known him from a lad, his contem-
| poraries who have marched on In the
same rank, and the younger men whom
he has known from youth, l bring the
heartiest congratulations on this auspi-
ciOus occasion.
IF. now. some skeptical person should
ask how this busy city pastor with null
hilarious outside duties. has entered In
any largely helpful way into the life
and work Of Virginia pastors l viii an
swer with simple story some seven
teen years ago a young licentiate, prac-
ticing on a Hanover church. felt anX-
ious to hold, under the most favorable
conditions possible, a series Of special
meetings. He was almost a stranger 10
Dr. Hatcher. SO h spent some weeks
in correspondence with others, and. fall
ing, came finally and almost hopelessly
to him. lie heard the plea, went out, and
held the meeting, with blessed results.
In that meeting young woman was
converted, who was afterwards baptiZed
by him. A little later on this hcentiate
was ordained, and with that event the
Doctor was mixed up. Further on, the
young woman came into the young
preachers life In a very pleasant, per-
manent, and influential way, and DR..
Hatcher introduced her. Later there
came a change in the pastorate, in which
the Doctor had a part. Some years fur
Their on the young minister and his
family went far away, and the Doctor
went with them, for no Other purpose
than to commend them TO the confidence
and affection Of the new charge. In these
years there came to this household two
sorrows-and naturally enough, the old
friend was the comforter.
"In like fashion our brother mas been
identified with many Of the younger min
listers OF the State.
For the churches what shall ! say?
Scarcely a county In the State into which
ne has not gone to hold meetings, TO as
sist i'm ordinations, in marriages, In fune-
rails in dedicatlons, TO attend associa-
lions. ministers and deacons' meetings,
Sunday school conventions. and the Ike.
"This sort of thing has been going on
for more than a quarter OF a century,
IL not with system with gularity and
perslstency, and 1t would be passing
strange IL there were no one here TO
sneak on behalf of these hundreds and
thousands OF Virginia Baptists who love
and honor him.
81 may not continue this agreeable re-
| cital of reasons why those for whom /
| speak feel a very tender interest In
| this occasion. ! bring you, my brother
the most cordial and brotherly saluta-
| tons. May many years Of ever-growing
usefulness, OF rNti-ei4idi bihB A"PP'HN'N
| be yours
A REAL LIVE MAY.
DR.. IL. A. Upper. vice-president Of the
| Board OF Trustees OF the Richmond Col
! lege, and president OF the Board OF Trus-
| tees Of the Woman's College, spoke on
| behalf OF the educational interests, whose
| active and useful friend DT. Hatcher has
/ long been. He said;
| "A New York paper says: II there IS
| one characteristic of southerners which
! surpasses their own intense individuality,
| IL IS hero worship a frst-class hero Is
either myth or dead man-gone TO
| glory! | rise 20 congratulate real, live
man, In the thick OF life's battle, dealing
| sturdy blows In the name Of our God,
| for education distinctly Christian.
Some one has said tina the oak Is an
| educated acorn. This is a good metaphor
/ & II imply that true education evolves
| from vital principle-character which Is
| strong. beautiful, symmetrical, and, like
the oak, holds It's head upward 10 catch
and reflect the glory OF the heavens.
"An study--geograph history, language,
| philosophy, science-should point 10 the
! central source Of truth. And no truth nor
fact can be inconsistent with that source.
! And what is the centre of the circle OF
| universal truth but the personal Truth
himself. from whom deductions may be
| made as the best test OF the truth and
/ tendency of knowledge derived, by Undue