Preacher, man and friend.
One of the strongest points about Dr. Hoge as a preacher was that, whilst a fine scholar, and a faithful student in the preparation of his discourses, he did not shut himself up in his study or cut himself off from contact with his fellow-men, either in their business pursuits or social enjoyments. He felt that the best way to help in lifting fallen humanity was that of the Master, ‘who went about doing [281] good;’ and hence he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and was frequent in attendance at its meetings, and was also a conspicuous figure at nearly every public and private entertainment given in the city. He was a man of great public spirit, lending his influence and presence to any and every measure instituted in the community for the advancement of good or the suppression of vice, and was ever ready with his talents, time and purse to contribute to the promotion of the public weal. He thus, in earnest desire and in sympathetic contact, saw many phases of character, and could realize contingent want as might no other minister of the Gospel, who followed beaten paths. And Dr. Hoge had the faculty of using these experiences in his sermons with marvelous tact and taste. He was really a born leader of men. He knew how to harmonize and tranquilize the conflicting elements with which he was brought in contact, as well, if not better, than any other man I have ever known, and this characteristic may doubtless account, in a great degree, for a fact which he often referred to with pride and pleasure: That, in the more than fifty years pastorate of one church, there was never a disturbing element or wrangling of any kind in that church. His taste of manner and expression was even more wonderful, if possible, than his tact in guiding and controlling men. I never heard him say or knew him to do anything in the pulpit that was not almost rigidly clerical, and his taste of expression far surpassed that of any speaker I ever heard. I have heard this remarked on frequently by some of the best scholars and critics in this country, and it has been a common thing to hear it said of him that he always said the right thing, at the right time and in the right way. He had the best command of language of any man that I ever heard, and could express the most delicate shades of meaning with a fidelity and aptness that was simply wonderful. I cannot better illustrate the impression made by his preaching on those who were competent to judge, than by relating what was told of himself by a distinguished preacher, in a distant city, who had invited Dr. Hoge to preach for him. He said that when Dr. Hoge arose in the pulpit, and (as was his wont) looked over the congregation, looking first in front of him, then on one side and finally on the other, he thought to himself: ‘Jones, that man is sick; you will have to preach to-day.’ That [282] after thus hesitating, Dr. Hoge began in a low, melodious, yet distinct, tone, which could be heard in the remotest corner of the church, and after proceeding about five minutes, the visited said to himself: ‘Jones, you will not have to preach to-day;’ and after listening fifteen minutes, he said to himself: ‘Jones, you never did preach in your life!’ Dr. Hoge really loved to preach, and could do so with more ease than any one I ever heard. He often preached three sermons a day, after he had almost attained the age of four score years. I have heard him say that he was sermonizing nearly all the time, and he was certainly the readiest and ripest man in his line that I ever knew. A striking illustration of this occurred whilst he was on a visit to Baltimore, not many years ago. He was stopping at the Rennert Hotel, and as he was alone and it was Wednesday evening, he determined to go to the nearest church to the appointed service. It was a Methodist church; the services had commenced. The minister had not only risen to preach but had announced his text; when some one went to him and said that Dr. Hoge was in the congregation. The preacher then invided Dr. Hoge to sit with him in the pulpit. This request Dr. Hoge, in courtesy, was constrained to accept. The preacher then said: ‘The Reverend Dr. Hoge, of Richmond, is present, and he will confer a great favor on me and my people if he will preach for us to-night,’ and turning to Dr. Hoge, he pressed him to do so. Dr. Hoge was, of course, totally unprepared for such an exigency, but nevertheless, he acceded to the request. Taking for his text that given out by the pastor of the church, he delivered, as has been stated to me, one of the very best sermons ever heard in Baltimore. Within my knowledge, in several instances, when speakers for special and important occasions have been unavoidably absent, he has been asked to supply their places and I never knew him to fail in the slightest degree in any expected requirement. He was a great worker, and although of such advanced age, and of physique, seemingly so frail, he could yet by evidence in dutiful performance and general presence, endure more, and more unremittedly than any one I have ever known. He gave himself to the public, and was at work practically all the time, for general weal. I have heard him say, that too often he had not the time at his [283] command to begin preparation for his regular Sunday sermons, until after 10 o'clock the Saturday night preceding, and that he had to go from his study to his pulpit on Sunday morning, without having been able to take a moment of rest the night before. A qualification of Dr. Hoge has been referred to—his quenchless zeal in good works—his remarkable will-power. In instance it is apposite to present a statement from the eminent surgeon and physician, Dr. Hunter McGuire, whose intimate association with Dr. Hoge is so well known. In a conversation of the writer with Dr. McGuire, occurring during the last illness of Dr. Hoge, Dr. McGuire stated that so severe had been the shock sustained by the feeble and frail tenement of the mighty spirit, that he could not hope for Dr. Hoge to recover, and he added, that the patient himself did not cherish this delusion. At the White Sulphur last summer, when Dr. Hoge experienced so prostrating a visitation, and when his whole system was so gravely involved in threatening complications of disorder, that everybody was painfully apprehensive, ‘Dr. Hoge did not give up,’ said Dr. McGuire. One day he cheerfully remarked to his anxious physician, ‘Doctor, I am going to get up again’ and ‘I'll yet ride Lucille (his favorite old mare), all around your place,’--referring to a country place near the city, owned by Dr. McGuire. He was a man of marvellous will-power, and this, with his sweetly sympathetic heart, sustained to a degree of accomplishment, that but few even aspire to. As to this exemplification, of all sacrifice of self in undertaking doubtful or tributary performance, the Editor would fain bear testimony. In the trying heat of August, in making preparation for the interment, but recently, of an endeared connection, and a member of Dr. Hoge's congregation, he conferred with the pastor as to the hour for service and subsequent interment. Something of preparation had been interposed by undertaker and brick mason. The admirable pastor simply said, ‘before the sun sinks, it will be found the most trying time of the day, but I am thinking only of those who will attend, I will go.’ The plea was inexpressibly touching. The hour was made later—and everything went well. But, to resume the extracts from the loving tribute of Judge Christian—he states as to the fixed fidelity of Dr. Hoge, to principle, right and controlling associations:Dr. Hoge was in sentiment an intense Southerner. He believed that the Southern Confederacy [284] was justified in the position taken by it in the War between the States; and, whilst he never obtruded his views about this, or any other political matter, on the public, he never swerved one iota from his opinion on this question, or hesitated to express it on proper occasion. There was scarcely a Confederate demonstration in Richmond, for which he was not called upon to offer invocation or to take a prominent part, and whatever he said on such occasions, was in every instance pronounced by those who heard them as matchless gems of happiest utterance. He loved the Veterans of the Confederacy and would never allow any one else to officiate at the burial of those who died at the Soldiers Home, when he was able to do so.He was for a score of years or more a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Historical Society, and his zeal was constant in behalf of its interests and the fulfilment of its justly reverent objects. Of him, the now aged Chairman of the Executive Committee, the oldest surviving Major-General of the Confederate Army, but whose life-long animus holds with his heart-beat-General Dabney H. Maury, writes to Judge Christian recently from Peoria, Illinois, where he is on a visit to his son:
I have just heard of the death of Dr. M. D. Hoge, our friend and associate in the work of the Southern Historical Society. It has been a source of manly pride to me, that from the first [institution of the Society, in May, 1869], I was associated with the great Dr. [B. M.] Palmer, of New Orleans, and have been since, continuously with Dr. Hoge in the worthy work of our Southern Historical Society; and feel that when our children and our children's children point to that proud record, they will rise up and bless us. Much has been done righteously and effectively to its end. High courage is the very foundation of high and noble manhood. Dr. Hoge had courage of the highest order. All our good people will mourn his absence from our noble community. He was worthy of the highest place in it. Had he been a soldier,, he would have been a brave soldier—a great general—as he was a brave man, and dared do what became a brave and good Christian gentleman. I hope and know that our people will honor his memory, as they loved and honored him when alive.The following may be embodied as additionally illustrative: [285]
The passage alluded to is:
