Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-31
pEv MP pEyTON TT. HOGE.

REV. DIX. PE1 On IL. HUE
dent OF the board, Or. G.. w. Finley, Of
"a manuscript diary kept by Rev. John
Holt Rice, the founder of the seminary,
in the early years of his ministry.
Among the interesting exercises Of this
morning will be the presentation by Rev.
DIR. r. III. Hoge, with suitable remarks,
of a manuscript biography OF his great
grandfather the elder Moses Hoge, Pro-
lessor Of Theology in Hampden-Sidney
College in the early part of this century.
This valuable manuscript has been sump-
tuously bound i'm Yellum and gilt, ana
will take its place among the most Valua-
BILE of the manuscript treasures or the
institution, which already contains num-
her of priceless manuscripts, such as the
diary of Samuel Davies. the father OF
religious liberty in Virginia, whose prin-
ciples were advocated by his illustrlous
disciple, Patrick Henry and Afterwards
formulated by Thomas Jefferson. The
biography of DR.. Hoge will be accepted
for the seminary by DIR. Strickler. the
present Professor of Systematic Theology
DIR. PEYToN HOGEs LECTURE.
A very large audience gathered In
Watts Hall last night TO hear DR.. Pey-
ton Hoge's lecture on "The Palestine OF
To-Day"-an audience SO large as 10 EN-
phasize anew the necessity for the new
chapel now in contemplation.
The speaker began with description
of the seasons and climate or the Holy
Land, and the proper times OF visiting 1t,
the roads OF the country, and methods OIL
travel, including "a specially -graphic ac-
count Of the luxurious camping outfit Of
modern tourists. lie GIsc..-se,. ".,.. 1854.
discrimination the traits ot the upper
class Syrians the Bedouin OF the desert
whose hospitality he enjoyed; the re-
markable "Jaffrites" beyond the Jordan.
and the oppressed fellaheen descendants
Of tile ancient Canaanites.
LAND NOT SO STERILE.
The land itself is less sterill than usual
ly represented by the tour-day tourist.
some OF Ii being as fair 20 view as the
Valley OF Virginia. But rich or poor, the
strength OF Palestine, like that OF Swit-
zerland and Scotland, lay not In its
wealth, but in its men. In the develop
ment Of its ideal of righteousness It was
aided by its isolation. The explanation
Of Jerusalem's 400 years of life lies in the
fact that it became successfully the reli-
gious centre OF the three great monotheis-
tic religions OF the world-Judaism, Chris
tianity, and Mohammedauism In right
disagreement has made it what it now
is The bright feature in the present out
look is the growth OF the Jewish colonies.
These will eventually secure autonomy.
And doubtless that race which furnished
a prime minister 10 Pharaoh seventeen
centuries before Christ to Nebuchadnez-
Ear five centuries before Christ, and to
Victoria eighteen centuries after Christ.
will not lack the ability to give TO the
land the government it needs to make II
rejoice and blossom as the rose.
1t is often remarked that what the
visitor TO Palestine brings away with him
depends upon what he takes there with
him. This lecture made IL evident that
DIR. Hoge had taken with him practically
all that the best books on the subject
could give. His wide and discriminating
reading had prepared him To make accu-
rate and valuable observations. The lee
ture was that OF a scholar and thinker
II was rich ia reliable Information, and
was Illuminated throughout win ViVid ue'
scriptiye passages OF great beauty and
with many effective salles OF wit.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES To-
DAY.
The regular commencement exercises
viii be held in Watts Hall this morn
ing beginning at II o'clock In addition
90 The features above indicated. there VIII
he an address to the graduating class by
Rev. ]. W. Rosebro. ID. d., and the diplo'
mas will be presented by Dr. flnley, th'
nresIdent OF the Board of Trustees.