The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-25

Or, Hatcher ranked among the FIRST
men OF Virginia, Born July Is. 1888,
in the county Of Bedford. Va. ne pass
ed his youth among those blue noun
tains whore were raised such preach
efs as Or. Jeter. the late Or. Daniel
West 1.-The golden-mouthern ora
tori, and a large number OF the
most distinguished ministers whom
Virginia ever produced, lie entered
Richmond college, and his native tall
ent and close application soon enabled
him to take rank among the best stu
dents In his class and 10 graduate 81
June, 1858, among the first.
In August. 1858, ne took charge Of
a very weak church In Manchester,
and, by faithful, judlcious and most
untirtng work he added 400 TO the
church. and made IT not only self
sustaining, but one OF the most eai-
c!ent In the State,
From Manchester Dr. Hatch.r
went in March, 1867, TO pastorate OF
7 the Franklin Square Baptist church.
/ Baltimore. He had a pleasant and
! successful year with this church. but
In October, 1868, ne returned to his
native state and took charge Of the
First Baptist church In Petersburg
! During his seven years PASTORAL
there Or. Hatcher refused number
OF most tempting calls to other pas
! torates, ana labored on in his chosen
neId, where ne added to the church
$50. and built UP the cause to IN
/ extent rarely equaled
A Remarkable Reyfyaiist,
Besides his labors in tho pastorate
Or. Hatcher has been "A remarkably
successful preacher In protracte
meetings, and several thousand per.
sons have professed conversion In
| connection with his labors. In 1875
ne accepted the pastorste of Grace
street church, IN Richmond He VIZ,
pastor at the Grace Street church ;e,-
about twenty eight years, and resfg,..
I'd that position to undertake q cam.
paiEn for Richmond college. .rhl,
campaign extended over five years
ana during this period sIo0. 600 WE.
lege
AT the conclusion OF this canpaip-n
thouEh he had many Invitations te =.
thlsr the pastorste, he chose rathfl
10 Keep himself free from regular en-
saKeHents of this sort Ii is pAr
maps true that the last four or nv,
years nave been the busiest In his lor,
ana active life. Some years ago ~
ORGANIZED and instituted the Forl
Union Military academy. This schoo
mas grown and flourished under hi
wise direction. and by HIS aboundtn,
energy and resourcefulness ne hal
eeen in constant demand all over III,
country Tor special services of ever,
sort. ef9leelistic, dedicatory. etc be
SPIT" MS active years, he has show,
remarkable vitality and capacity 10
hfduous and continuous labor
Made ID. ID. and LII. ID.
lhe denomination of which Ia :,
a beloved member bestowed upor
MN every honor and distinction pos
ribl" lie received the degree Of n
u. and LII. j. He was president foI
many Years Of the board OF trus
tees Of Richmond college. He ha!
been president for years past OF thu
board ~ trustees Of the orphanag.
al salem He WAS president of tn,
genera! associa ton for several years
Besides this. he has been a mernbeI
or innnmersble boards and commit
tees. lie WAS regarded az one of tn.
Wlssst 81 councillors. a singular!y yer.
satile and gifted man. Perhaps n,
man In Virginia has so large a per,
sonal acaua' ntance in the state ane
through the South.
For some years past his home hA
been at Fork Union, Va, and from
that point he has travelled in ever,
direction and all over the land, hold
ing special religious services, dedicat
ing meeting houses. making publ,
addresses and writing the nprightiies
communications for religious newspa
pers
\ Wen Known Writer.
pr Hatcher has also written
number OF charming and interesting
books. His autobiography. which
bears the pleasing and attractive It'll
OF Along the Trail Of Friendl.
Years" is one OF the most delight
full OF recent books. He has als'
written a very entertaining and alto
gethsr unsQwe sketch of tho fan.oul
49,. W :