Some of his public speeches.
On his return from
England,
Dr. Hoge delivered an address at an anniversary of the
Virginia Bible Society, in St. Paul's Church, to one of the largest audiences ever assembled in that spacious building.
By invitation of the Virginia Legislature,
Dr. Hoge delivered an oration at the unveiling of the
Jackson statue, by
Foley, presented by English gentlemen to
Virginia, in October, 1875.
The ceremony took place on the
Capitol Square, where there had gathered an immense throng of people, and the scenes and incidents of the memorable day are yet fresh in the minds of hundreds of
Virginians who were present.
It was a grand and imposing scene.
A great assembly of brave men and fair women gathered around the pedestal.
In the full blaze of the mid-day sun, the orator faced the surging multitude.
With the touch of a master hand, he outlined the wonderful achievements of the great commander who had filled the world with admiration.
Portraying the characteristics of the unique life of the
Christian hero, in closing the faithful picture, one could almost see the dying soldier as he looked beyond the dark, chill flood to his home and rest in the peaceful land.
Over the river, now a heavenly guest,
Under the shade of the trees forever at rest.
Fresh in the memory of many will be
Dr. Hoge's address at the
Second Church, in
Richmond, on the occasion of the reinterment of the remains of
Jefferson Davis.
With an abiding conviction of the justice of the
South's cause, and an intense admiration for the heroic devotion of
Mr. Davis, he spoke in no uncertain tone; yet the address was characterized by such perfect taste, glowing with such lofty sentiments of patriotism, that one never heard of an adverse criticism, even from the bitterest enemies of the
Confederacy's Chief Executive.
At the commencement at Washington and Lee University about
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1867 he was the orator of the occasion.
It was a memorable event, being the first time that
General Lee had presided.
With matchless grace and dignity he introduced the speaker.
A vast audience of representative people from all parts of the country was present.
Dr. Hoge was in splendid mental trim, and for more than an hour he held the great assembly spellbound with the witchery of his resistless power.
One who was reporting that speech for a Richmond paper says of it: ‘I followed the speaker for awhile with my notes, but gave up the undertaking.
I looked around, the other reporters had dropped their pencils.
I said to one of them: “Why don't you report the speech?”
He replied: “ I can't report the surging of a mountain torrent.”
’
One of the most attractive efforts of
Dr. Hoge was in 1876, at the centennial celebration of Hampden-Sidney College.
He was on his old tramping-ground, amid the friends of his boyhood.
He gave the reminiscences of the old college.
The address was intensely interesting, sparkling, glowing, and facetious.
He related a great many amusing things.
In speaking of the changes he told how old
Mr. Ritchie, of the Enquirer, had announced in his paper as a startling piece of news that a steamboat was approaching
Richmond at a wonderful rate of speed—seven miles an hour, up stream.
He said in old times, when the General Assembly of the
Church met in
Philadelphia,
Dr. Alexander was always sent as a delegate from his presbytery, because he was the only member of that body who knew the way.
