Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-05
THE SCOTCH IRISH.
DIR. HoGE LECTURES BEFORE THE
A.P.v. A. ON THIS THEME.
THEIR PART In OUR HISTORY.
The Eminent Divine Discusses the
Characteristic Virtues of Our Fore
fathers, Their Training and Infu-
ence in Shaping Our Government.

intellectual treat, and listened TO an ad-
very instructive.
The lecture was the second one of a
series given annually under the auspices
Of the Association for the Preservation
of Virginia Antiquities. The distinguished
divine took for his subject THE Scotch
Irish; Their Characteristic Virtues; Their
Training. and Their Influence on the
Structure of Our Political Government"
The address was replete with historic in
formation. and the lecturer clothed in
beautiful language the incidents upon
which he touched during his discourse.
Despite the inclement weather, the hail
was filed with an appreclative and intel
lectual audience.
Mr. W. W. Henry introduced DR.. Hoge
in a few words. this formality being. of
course entirely unnecessary. though in
accordance with the custom usually
adopted on similar occasions.
DR.. Hoge. before taking up his theme,
said that though he was not Scotch
Irish himself he had the most profound
respect for those who were. He would
probably be called Scotch -Huguenot,"
he said. 81 would not for any conside
ration" he said, give to the Scotch-Irish
a monopoly of the credit for the establish
ment Of the great institutions under
which we live. There were others who
contributed their part to the develop
ment Of the institutions of this country"
On some future occasion DR.. HOge said
he would probably deliver an address on
the cavalier of Virginia. and then again
on the Huguenot element, and the part
taken by the latter in developing the In
stitutiOns of the country
NOBLE AND CONGENIAL THEME.
DR. Hoge begun his address proper by
saying that the subject upon which he
was going to speak was not one selected
by himself but was assigned TO him by
the committee that honOred him with the
invitation. The theme was a noble and
congenial one, and he hoped to gain
something by stating the order in which
he proposed to discuss il. His plan was.
first, 90 speak of the characteristic vir-
tues of the Scotch-Irsh; second, of the
peculiar training they received for the
work they were TO accomplish; and third.
their direct influence in shaping the civil
and religious institutions Of our country.
There is sometimes" SAID the speaker,
great pleasure and profit in these htstorl-
cal researches. 1t is only by such studies
who have been potent in shaping the
institutions of our own times. We thus
take a new interest in the men them
selves, and in the work they achieved;
and while we embalm their memories and
deeds in grateful recollection, we catch
the fire which yet lives in their ashes, and
We feel the inspiration which their great
example Of devotion to duty enhndles In
our hearts"
DIR. Hoge vlvidly pictured the progress
Of not Ion. a Gf
trast between the country OF to-day ana
that i'm which the Colonists lived prior to
1776; discussed at some length the Ques-
tion of whence we derived the institutions,
civil and religious, under which the
United States have made such progress
in population. weafth. and power; spoke
OF the Constitution, not as the fountain
out OF which streams OF liberty flow. but
the reservoir into which these little rills
had been running until IL finally over
flowed with waters to refresh and fer
tilize the land. and returning TO the ques
ton, What is the fountain from which
these streams originally issued?' said he
would answer, first. the Word of God
from which the true idea OF representative
government is derived; second. the great
reformation Of the sixteenth century
which awakened the world afreSh to a
recognition of the sacredness OF the de-
mands OF conscience, and las the third
influence which shaped the institutions of
received by the early emigrants To these
shores, and of the patriotic sages who
were most influential i'm framing our form
of government. This training was in the
school of conflict. it was the decipline en-
forced by that sternest of teachers-ad-
yersity: that development of the truest
and nobest manhood which comes from
patient. determined, rugged resistance to
civil and religious tyranny"
PROTEST AGAINST OPPRESSION.
'In Scotland" continued DR.. Hoge.
'under the reign of James VI declared
Europe }, and Charles L., and that
lecherous and treacherous King, Charles
H., when royal promises were made only
10 be broken. and solemn oaths taken
only to be violated; when courts Of high
commission were established armed with
inquisitOrial powers: when hOusehOlders
were required to give bond that their
families should not attend the services
of the Church endeared TO them by all
tha- was IcOst sacred in their traditions
and memory; when. TO enforce submis-
sion. torture was used TO eXtort confess
sion; when prisons We're filed with the
victims Of intolerance when soldiers
were quartered upon defenceess house
holders and restrained from no outrage,
then IL was that this great protest against
oppression found voice which will never
cease 10 sound while the sun shines and
Wa.eTs flow, and the heart of humanity
those who suffer for conscience's sake.
These protests took the form of cove
nants as they are called. Among the
Scotch-IrisE people, no phrase is better
or more widely understood than the
phrase Solemn League and Covenant
This was the document written on paroh-
ment in 1888, protesting against tyranny
i'm all it's forms, and pledging the signers
to maintain, at any cost, the inalenable
riggs which belong To manhood, not by
perm ssOn Of kings and concessions of
PaSiaments, but as the direct gift OF
God. Six thousand Scotchmen assembled
around old Gray Friars church. in Edn-
burgh and when the parchment contain
ing a declaration Of the peoples rights
and their determination TO defend them
was laid on a tombstone In the church.
yard which covered the ashes of one of
the old CaledOnian WORTHLESS, Ii was COW
cred with names. Then, because the ma
tiOn was waiting. the parchment was
enlarged by the addition of sheet after
sheet, that il might make circuit OF the
whole land. and everywhere receive the
signature of those who were ready to
bow the knee before God. and render
unto Caesar the things that are Caesars
but equally ready 10 resist until blood all
who sought to invade the sacred rights of
conscience and usurp the authority which
belongs alone to the Great Lord OF Con-
science. Such was this early proclama-
tion Of the great principles which have
fired the souls Of patriots I'm all ages and
all countries where liberty has been held
80 dear as to be worthy OF any sacrifice"
DR. HOge told OF the unexpected refuge
being providentially opened for the per-
secuted Scots in the North Of Ireland
where King James planted a Scotch
colony. who made the province Of Ulster
the garden of Ireland, which II has been
ever since. reviewed the hardships, re-
strictions. and impositions TO which the
Scotch-lrish colonists were subjected af-
ter nearly "A century of comparative peace
and quiet. and the arguments they ad-
vanccd, but 10 no avail. and continued:
Just then something occurred which
changed the very course of history. and