Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-02
THE H0GE- MEMORIAL.
rms HANDSOME CHURCH pEDI-
GATED ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
SERMON BY ITS NOBLE FOUNDER
slider Munce Reads an Interesting
Narrative and DIR. Hogc DcdicateS
tho House Of Worship Which
stands as a Monument 10 Him.

stands as a Monument 10 Him.
Horo-Mcmoral Presbyterian church
nc tasteful. commodious. and weu-an-
pointed house Of worship recently erect
O.. no Che corner OF Franklin and Nino-
t..ru streets, and which viii stand as
pa monument 20 the noble work OF the
minister whose name &c bears. was dodi.
c..cI sunday night
rho occasion was most suspicious IN
al respects. The weather was balnv
and thc Sky almost clcudlcss; the con-
vloucc Of arrangement and attractive
Appointments OF the church were a de-
u,a,fm revelation "a those who had not
visited the church before the services
were most Inspiring. and the attendance
vss very larse. Tho doors were opened
at o'clock. and in less than a half hour
Che building was filed, and the alsles
crowded with an earnest and interested
congregation. while large numbers. who
could not ind admission, turned rcluc-
family away.
Ths church. q description Of which
WIS given In Sundays Dispatch. is built
for Che congregation that has long wor-
shipped in Old-Market Han. and is the
outcome of the mission work begun at
tha, place 10y Dr. Hose. twelve years
aeo.
The exercises were presided over bv
tse Rev. James Z. Cook. the present be-
loved pastor Of the church. and ne was
assisted in these by Rev. Mr.. Chumlev
OF Westminster church. The choir of
the Second Presbyterian church were
present. and led the music and Mr.. c.
vs.. Thilow presided at the organ. The
narrative Of the founding of the mis-
sion and history of the church. and its
building. was read by Mr.. John S. Munce.
one ~ the elders Of the church and q
worker in tho mission from its COM
mencement. Rev. DIT. Hoge. who found
cd the mission, preached the dedication
sermon. and offered the dedicatory
prayer
AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE.
SIR Munce's narrative told Of the found
ire OF the mission by Or HOge in January,
4e>1, who was moved by q deep compass
sion for the temporal and spiritual dest-
tuition % the people I'm the neighbOrhood
~ Oid-Market Hail; of the great success
that attended the work from the start; OF
fla crowds that came TO the Sunday-night
VICES una loll several interesting incl
dents in connection with the wOrk-one OF
woman who told DR.. Hoge at the close
NJ sermon that It was the first religious
service ~ any kind she had ever attended.
te told or the founding Of the Sunday
school and the personal house-to-hOuse
visitation made in the neighbOrhoOd by
tne mission workers, OF Or. HOge's loyal
services 20 the poor and needy and sick
and dying in that community. and his
ready response 70 every call made on him.
Ile also paid a weil-deserved tribute TO
The members Of other denominations. who
nae worked with them, and said while es-
se-taliy q Presbyterian mission, no note
~ discord had ever been heard among the
workers.
llr 3lunce also spoke in kind and feeling
terms OF the former workers in the mis-
SION. who had passed away either 20 other
there's or labor OF 20 their eternal rest
I-e save history OF the church from the
causes that led 90 its organization through
i,s different pastorates. anod also gave
brief resume of the work Of the Building
Committee. and related how not one dollar
i'r fte building had been raised by any
outside means but all the money was q
direct glft from the subscribers 70 the
building fund. He told Of the changing o.
tle name OF the church from Old-Market
10 Hoge-Memorial. and Of DR. Hoge's
great reluctance % allow the change, say
ms II was the one thing I'm which the
church officers ana congregation had dis
regarded DE- Hogo's wishes in and re-
fused TO- do what he wanted. Mr. Munce
concluded by hoping for many years or
usefulness 90 the church opened that night.
DIR. HOGES FINE SERMON.
dr. H0ge's dedication sermon was an
exceptionally fine one. even for this great
preacher. His text was Psalms XVI, y;
Lord, ] have loved the habitatiOn OF thy
house ana the place where thine honor
"The hour so long anticipated by the
pastor and people of this church 10
come DR. Hoge began. "rheir WORK.
undertaken I'm faith and prayer, and prose-
."
brought 10 successful conclusion, and now
ly the favor of a good providence, on this
happy evening. we enter this completed
eilhce grateful for the privilege Of pre-
uting this Offering Of willing hands ana
loving hearts 10 Him for Whose service
j., was designed and to Whose glory 1t Is
I'D be dedicated. As we now look around
upon the interior of this building we see
how BE- harmonizes with the becoming eX-
terror and how the arrangement OF every
Iart Cf 30 gives promise of having secured
40 Tie material convenience and comfort
upon which the spiritual prohung OF the
people largely depends.
The people Of God have not always
Worshlpped in edifces built for religious
Worship. OFTEN they have gathered IN
caves and dens OF the earth, in secluded
mountain glens or in gloomy suDterranean
Dta.0mbs. lt is not the place Whlch
u.L.s worship acceptable; it is sincere,
spiritual worship that consecrates the
The first structure ever built by human
hands was not house TO dwell IN, nor
o., designed for religious service. IT was
Gu a.tar-the altar that Abel built on
which t0 offer a lamb in sacrifice, When
tl. patriarch Jacob was on mis- lonely
journey TO Padcn-Aram, we are tod thdt
at sht ne slept upon the ground, with
STONE for his pillow. and in "a vision ne
e. golden ladder, the top OF Whlcn
r...n.I 70 heaven. on which the angels or
Col -anded and descended. And jacob
"I his is none other but the house
Goa. This Is the gate Of Heaven NO
l.... lheu stood there hut the GROUND
.H- cons Grated by the presence or Je-
t..aa and Jacob called the name OF the
rc. Bethel. Bethel is "a tender name,
aN fruIug many sacred associations ana
lowed memories.
IL was thc forcrunncr Of an those houses
o. God. whether We call them temples,
l-theirals. churches. or chapels, Whicn
Dave been reared and dedicated 10 MS
worship for thirty-siz hundred years.
sometimes we sDlrituauze our expert
,-ces when God meets rs and gives us
tokens 10. DIS presence IN our times on
ROW as Won as JOY OF bereavement az
Wei as DE sins, ana we sing;
cont OF my stony grlofs
Bethel III. raise"
MORE THAN MONUMENTS.
The humblest spire that points 10
heaven suggests more than all the inouu-
uDlts reared 10 earthly fame ana BloIg'
l rOmir4a u- that having come from Hou'
h. only lu1 our true rest when we ~
turn 10 Him. 10 reminds MS that WOisnlp
D. me IrOfOunQeet need as wei as tic
chest privilege OF man; that hothih@
D.Nf into exercise such noble fcuohs,
a.I i.at worship Will be the apsoIDlus
l clitpt lrirf employment Of SAINTS ai'N