Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-01

PROF. ROBERT HEATH DABNEY.
was slightly heterogeneous. A mild SEN
sation was produced at the close OF the
lecture by Rev. DR.. Moses ID. Hoge, VINO
protested against what he conceived TO
be a Misrepresentation OF some OF the
best men who had ever lived, and against
an attack on Calvinistic principles. The
situation was very awkward Tor some
time. but resolution of thanks 10 MI
Dabney for his able, eloquent. and in
structive address served to relieve the
tension. This was carried with enthusi-
asm. and in acknowledging the compli-
ment Professor Dabney replied quite
happily to the criticism Of DR.. Hoge.
INFLUENCE WIDELY DIFFUSED.
Professor Mcclure, in introducing the
orator, of the occasion, said he had been
deputed by the Society for the Preserva-
ton of Virginia Antiquities to act as
master of ceremonies, which office en-
tailed q twofold duty, first of all. to ex-
tend a hearty greeting to all present. and
then TO introduce the distinguished gen.
tleman who was to address them. He
took the opportunity to congratulate the
association on its choice Of a speaker;
and that speaker on the selection Of a sub
ject. This gentleman is of such merit"
he said, "as guarantees his modesty and
forbids dlation on his merits. AS for
the subject" he added, good wine needs
no bush," and without further speech he
presented Professor Dabney 10 the audi
ence.
Professor Dabnes was heartily APP
plauded. He said he appeared before
that distinguished body with not little
diffidence, for he was 10th to follow such
able orators as DR.. Hoge and Hon. Will
liam Writ Henry. Passing at once to the
consideration of his subject, he set the
lines of his address as indicated above.
The number of Huguenots in Virginia had
been small. he said, yet the influence had
been widely dffused, even as shoot may
be grated into a great tree, and Will
affect the whole fruit English depth
had been the basis Of the Virginia char
acter, yet it also contained spice of
French vivacity. The Virginia character,
he added, was English with differ
ence." Though the number of Huguenots
in Virginia had been small compared with
the English, the speaker had been as
tonished to find such large number of
French names eXtant, and to find to what
extent English families had intermarried
with their French neighbors. He men
toned a host of names of French origin,
which are more or less familiar to the
ear of every Nirginian. which, he said, he
had gathered from Bishop Meade's work
on the Virginia Huguenots, from Mr. X.
A. Brooks valuable monograph, and by
the assistance of DR.. Michaux. The
Huguenots had married early and often,
according TO the records, and had been
prolific to a remarkable degree; thus their
blood had become almost universally diff
fused by intermarriage. He quoted many
names i'm support of this statement, and
also many facts. Out of fourteen Vir-
ginjans on the University faculty, eight
had Huguenot blood in their veins.
The Huguenots he said. were, first of
air Protestants; secondly, Calvinistic
Protestants. and. thirdly. Frenchmen. 1T
was great mistake to suppose that they
were solely religious in their nature.
IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
Professor Dabney sketched the religious
situation in Europe in Medieval times,
and the domination of the Cathohc
Church. The cause OF the Protestant
revolution had been, not that there was
greater despotism or corruption IN the
Church than there had been previously
hut because Of the abuse OF indui-
pencies. and the public conscience and
intellect would no longer submit TO ex-
ternal rule. The age of faith had gone,
he asserted, and the age of reason mad
begun. He spoke at length along inns
line. and then turning TO the revolution
he said il was a mighty scope, rebellion
of moral, conscientious men. lie did moi
draw an attractive picture OF Martin
Luther. and reverting to the Huguenots'
said they were Protestants of the Cal
vinistic type. Calvin had n mind
of marvellous scope, entirely with
out I.uther's coarseness lie had
heen called the Aristotle of the Reforma-
tion Hell fire and predestination were
the most prominent themes In the Cal
whistle doctrine. The sect was Hereby
intolerant. he said, and this spirit man
Tested itself in the Huguenots OF France.
He smoke of the iconoclastic barbarism
of the Calvinists. of the savage moDs
which demolished churches, desecrateo
graves. and murdered priests long before
g Bartholomew's Day. He sketched
the history OF this spirit down 10 the re-
vocation of the Edict OF Nantes, when
the Huguenots fed from France. Many
Of them found refuge on the shores of
the Young Commonwealth OF Virginia.
Thev were men who had suffered every
thing rather than stain their souls with
a lie. Among the earliest Huguenot set
tiers. however. there were some ac-
cused OF laziness, libertinage. robbery.
and trickery. Tho old turbulent and
factional spirit manifested itself. How
eyed much might be said in palliation of
their faults, the Huguenot settlers were
fulIy worthy, of their adopted home. He
dwelt upon the French influence on the
government and religion. and of the
French character. The Virginians he
reiterated. were English. with differ
ence. they were more fiery. ardent. and
imnetuous than the English, ans he
asked whether the vivacity In the vir-
ginian nature was not due to the HUI
euenot blood. He spoke of the charac-
teristics exemplified in several noted Vir-
sinians, whose names were unmistaka-
bly, of French origin-of Captain Latane.
General Maury, DIR. Hoge. Bishop Latane.
and lastly. of the late Rev. Robert l..
pabney. his own kinsmau. Professor