Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/292

 282

after thus hesitating, Dr. Hoge began in a low, melodious, yet dis- tinct, 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 de- termined 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 con- gregation.

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 unremit- tedly than anyone I have ever known. He gave himself to the pub- lic, 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