Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-12
In HIS SOCIAL LIFE.
DIR. HATCHER DISCUSSES DIR. HOGE,
FROM THIS STANDPOINT.
4 VERY INTERESTING ADDRESS.
Some of the characteristics of the
Grent Preacher Pointed Ont by
FeIIow-Pastor of Long Service
His Family Ties.

one or the DeSt OF the very duH1lraDle
addresses made at the memorial service
held at the Second Presbyterian church
last Sunday afternoon was that OF Rev.
DR.. William h. Hatcher. whose theme
was "Dr. Hoge in His Social Life" DIR.
Hatcher spoke from the standpoint of a
lifelong friend of Dr. Hoge and fellow
pastor for nearly quarter of a century.
He said
In an attempt TO unveil before this au-
dence Dr. Hoge in his social life, it would
be manifestly Inappropriate to character
| lie him as a society man. This would rob
| him of his essential dignity and associ-
ate with him the glare of fine raiment.
the glitter Of Jewel. and the pomp OF con-
yentional ceremony. His social life was
| cast quite apart from the arena of self
display, and had I'm it no strain of festive
| reyelry. 1t is true that he was the en-
bodiment of genuine cheefulness. and
his being was ever respondent with sun
| light and love. but his life was sacred to
| duty. and was pervaded with lofty Sc
! robustness which could have no fellowship
with gayety or empty pleasures
Nor would il be allowable TO describe
| him as a familiar man. In large and
grateful sense, he was the paterfamilias
| of us all. and We were delighted always
| Ia accord
| gladliest hearing. Not one of us ever eX-
pected any unusual freedom on his part
| He walked aloft, and could not stoop to
| unseemly familiarity with any. Open ac-
| cessible and unprotected by exclusive
| ceremonies he always was, but he was
| panoplied in a self-respecting reserve. No
man dared to give him the familiar slap
! on his shoulder, or to attempt TO regale
| him with a common jest. He was hedged
| Tot AZ Inherent
! purity which afforded him stronger
guard than if his pavilion had stood in
| the centre of an encamping army. Free
| dom is sometimes unmannered, and is au-
| dacious in taking privileges. but 1t always
nailed and fled before his lordly presence.
| HIS METHODS HIGH AND CLEAN.
Nor would 1t fall pleasantly upon our
| ears TO hear him called popular. No wild
crowd ever shouted in his honor as he
| passed the street, and there was no mo-
| nent in his life when he was the idol
of the unthinking multitude. Floating
| and restless people saw nothing in him
that they should admire him. He was
never born TO trade in batteries and de-
| seconded TO no questionable devices to win
transient applause. Fine magnetism, rare
| and holy he had, and true skill ana
| diplomacy in dealing with his fellows
| He would go any length to save soul,
please a friend, or bless a suffering foe.
| But his methods Of influencing men were
| high and clean. He knew how TO inspire
| people with admiration for goodness and
reverence for greatness. When he touch
ed a human soul he instantly quckened
II with new aspirations and better pur-
noses. 1t is simple justice to say that
| he was too much loved and revered to
be popular. Not that he stood apart from
| the common people or that they did not
| believe him. Truly, the fond faith Of the
| poor in DR.. Hoge almost amounted to a
| religion.
| II is hardly necessary to say in this
| presence that the centre Of all social
| life is in the home. If men are true at
| home-truly true-then they cannot be
| false anywhere If men are false at home,
| then all social life with them is a crime.
| Dr. Hoge's domestic history is almost too
| holy for common men 10 read. When he
was a young man he loved and won a
woman, a woman worthy even of him,
| and became her husband according 10
Gods holy ordinance, founding a family
and receiving with virtuous joy the chill
! dren that God gave him. Long ago this
fair queen of his heart finished her earthly
tasks. and at the call of her Lord
went up to her celestial rest For third
of a century this king among men walked
! the earth a solitary figure. with no form
| at his side ard with no gentle hand grasp
/ ing his arm. and who can ever know the
elevation. the sanctity and beauty Of the
| life he lived during those isolated years
/ often fancied that his path lay out
| very near to the bOrder-line of that
! heavenly world into which the companion
of his soul had entered. and that their
! fellowship was never broken for a day.
| Death aid its worst to wreck him, but
! Il could never tear asunder those two
welded hearts. The sweetheart Of his
youth and the wife Of his strength was
the companion and comforter of his age.
And now they walk together in light.
GODS PRIESTESs TO HIM
But. Of course. he was mortal. and had
his wants. IT is much TO say that his
home remained to him. and there was
never a day that il was not lighted with
/ the loyalty, the amenities, and the devO-
tions Of his children. and what was one
/ of Gods mercles. EMBODIED i'm one Of
Gods mysteries. was that his hrst-born.
inherting her mothers grace and her
fathers genius 20 the eye of the world
a lifelong prisoner was indeed TO him
Gods priestess appointed 10 anoint him
with daily strength as ne went out to his
battles.
II is said that false men can have no
friends. and IL may. with equal truth. be
| said that true men cannot live without
| them. Even our Lord himself, needed
company. whether in the sorrow of the
garden. or the glory Of the mountain.
or in the tOrtures OF the cross. There
is i'm every soul an inner cOurt-a cham
! Der IN which selfhoOd undresses, its
wounds or displays its achievements. and
receives the ministries OF friendship.
There faith knows no doubt, perfect love
casts out fear and soul has communion
with soul. We know that Dr.. Hoge
guarded well the gate 10 this sanctuary
of his being. Only a few entered into
tho aecrecles of his life. Happy were
they who dwelled I'm the circle OF his
friendship, but yet happier they who
were blessed with the power 10 cheer and
gladden. his toisome life.
Dr.. HOge was a Presbyterian, and IN IS
NOT I'm the least out OF harmony with
this unusual occasion TO say that he was
an intense and decided Presbyterian.
He was I'm full accord with the doctrines,
government. and enterprises of his
| church. And one thing not one Of us
| heard him dO-that Is. To speak in terms
| of disbursement of the differences
which separated him from other denom-
nations He was 10 honest for that
But he did delight 10 meet his Christian
brethren of all names on the common
ground He loved 10 speak of that high
table-Iand of Gospel doctrine on which
may encamp all the true friends OF Cod,
l...,n faoathaV In frafarupl txiplpaSQ