Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-06
HIS INTEREST IN EDUCATION.
DIR. McIIwnine DweIis Upon THIS
Pbnsc of DIR. HOge's Life.


Dr. McIIwaine DweIis Upon This
Phase of DIR. Hoge's Life.
Nowhere outside the circle of his imme-
date family and church will the death
OF this honored servant OF God be more
lamented and occasion deeper sense OF
loss than at Hampden-Sidney. lie was
born at this place during the presidency
of his grandfather and while his father
was a professor in the college in a build
ing still standing and in use. He was
graduated here with the highest honors
Of his class along with such men as
Hon. W. c. Darlington, Colonel Charles
s. Darlington, Judge +. ID. Irving, and
Rev. W. 4. Richardson, ID. ID. When still
a young man he was elected member Oh
the Board of Trustees-an office the du-
ties of which he punctually and regularly
filled throughout life being seldom absent
and often presiding over the deliberations
of the board. He was twice called 10 the
presidency of the college, position whlch
ne did not see his way clear to accept.
He never seemed 10 be in finer spirits
or to enjoy himself more than during our
annual commencements using every power
in public and in the, social circle to lend
eclat to the occasion and promote the
enjoyment of others He was a conspicu-
Gus figure at the last commencement and
made one Of the finest brief addresses OF
his life 10 the graduating class imme-
diately after they had received their di-
plomas SO accustomed We're the people
of Prince Edward TO hear him. and such
delight did they take in listening 10 his
charming utterances that for years, no
matter what other speakers were present.
they were wholly dissatisfied with the
exercises unless his voice had been heard
The common feeling was expressed some
I H. D. VrruE M
lady who had ridden twenty miles TO
see and hear him. as she had been ac-
customed to do, and has regularly done
since. when she said: This is no COM
mencement at all. DIR. Hoge is not here"
INTEREST IN EDUCATION.
The explanation of all this, besides the
| fact of his wonderful power OF speech
and his attractive grace as man, is to
/ be found in his deep devotion TO the
place, his pride in its history, his sympa-
| thy in its aspirations. and his thorough
| and absorbing belief in Christian educa-
| ton as auxiliary and essential to the
| real and permanent progress or the Chris
/ tan religion Or. Hoge was not only a
| Christian, gentleman, minister OF the
! Gospel, a scholar, and man Of the finest
culture but he was an educator. lie
| believed I'm IT, He distrusted that kind OF
religion which willingly remains in igno-
rance or willingly allows others TO con-
| tinue in this deplorable state. Imme-
| diately after graduation he was chosen
/ TO teach I'm the college. During the earlier
years of his ministry under the force or
| circumstances, he conducted In his own
| house a seminary for young ladies when
| gained high repute and at which many OF
| the finest women Of the land were trained.
/ He was for years a valued trustee Of
Union Theological Seminary, and had
much 10 do with the founding and sue
cess Of THE Home and School, at FREQ
| erfcksburg and of "Hoge Academy" at
| Blackstone. He was always in thorough
| sympathy with the young. He understood
| their possibilities and was anxious TO see
them make the most Of themselves, and in
order 20 do this, 10 afford them the best
opportunities for improvement. His SIN
| certify in the cause OF education was
| abundantly shown by his generosity In
| bestowing his time, his efforts and his
! money I'm its behalf. lie was not only a
benevolent but benefcent man, and gave
OF his means freely and 10 nothing more
| literally than TO the Christian educational
institutions. Hampden-Sidney has again
and again participated In his bounty. HC
| once spoke 10 his congregation In my
! presence almost I'm these identical words
| 81 have often thought that II / were sud
denly endowed with wealth, the hrst use
would make Of II, before attending tC
any other claim or even making provision
for the members of my own family,
would adequately endow Hampden-SidneI
College in order that II may be fully pre-
pared for the great work before it,
Few men In the country have had more
TO do with educational institutions thar
he or been more hOnOred by them. III
loved TO breathe their atmosphere anC
was refreshed i'm spirit by contact will
them Only i'm June last he remarked e
me that he did not know any one wh'
had attended more college commence
ments.
TOOK INTEREST IN THEM ALL
Besides Hampden-Sdney for the pas
fifty years. ne mentioned Randolph
Macon. Richmond College, the Universit.
of Virginia, Washington and Lee Uni
versity. the universities Of North Caro-
lima and Mississippi. Princeton, Yale
Harvard. oxford. in England. and the
added. many others in this country an
in Europe"
Perhaps no man in the Commonwealth
has been so identified with our hlghe
institutions by the delivery of lterar
addresses and special sermons on impor
tant occasions Many Of these have bee
published. either in volumes along wit
the addresses and sermons of other dis
tinguished gentlemen, or in pamphle
form. II gathered together in a separat
volume they would constitute valuabl
, contribution TO the literature Of the Souu
, and give an admirable picture OF IN
man OF letters and Of wide and accurat
culture: the devoted servant Of Cod IN
sympathetic mentor Of youth; the scrit
: widely instructed In all useful knowledg
bringing out of his treasures things ne
and old for the delectation and improve
( ment OF his fellow-men. 1t thus appear
p that few men have been more honore
2 I'm their generation by those whose r.
| coenition is the highest praise. and tna
none have more worthily responded
/ the calls made upon them. Early IN iif
7 he was thought worthy OF the degree 0
Doctor OF Divinity by his Alma Mater
He received the degree Of IL. d. fror
Washington and Lee University on IN
occasion Of It's centennial celebration !
1855 Princeton University honored tse
in selecting him for the degree OF ID.
from among all the ministers or IN
South two or three years since. when
ceased TO be the College Of New Jerse
and took on the form Of a university.
I.ARGE-HEARTED BROAD-MlNDEl
Or. Hoge was a large-hearted an
. broad-minded man. | cannot remember
time when did not know and honor hiI
when / was a boy my fathers hou'
was his home while he sojourned in m
; native place and throughout life n
friendship then formed was maintaint
unbroken He was a mourner az u
: grave. and took prominent part IN n
funeral services of both my father al