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troduction to Dr. Hoge, whose advice and influence he sought with reference to securing a settlement somewhere in the South. Mr. ( inthrie preached at the Second Presbyterian church twice and at the 1 ust church once, and was offered by Dr. Hoge a position as assis- tant for three months, with the understanding that if there was mutual satisfaction some permanent relationship would be entered into. In April, just before the three months' term as assistant came to an end, Mr. Guthrie was invited to Baltimore to preach at the First church, the pastorate of which Dr. Witherspoon had resigned to come here, and later he was extended a call at a salary of $5,000, the free use of a manse, and two months holiday every summer. The Second church here about the same time extended Mr. Guthrie a call to be- come co-pastor at a salary of $2,500 a year, and having become attached to the congregation and having a deep personal regard for Dr. Hoge, he decided to remain here, feeling perfectly satisfied, that this was the right thing for him to do.
The installation of Rev. Mr. Guthrie as co-pastor was to have taken place on Sunday afternoon, November 2oth, but Dr. Hoge's physicians felt that it would be unwise for him to attend the service, over which he had been appointed by Presbytery to preside, and it \\as postponed first, for a week, and then indefinitely.
DECLINE IN HIS HEALTH.
While Dr. Hoge's death was probably hastened by his recent ac- cident, in having an electric car to collide with and overturn his buggy, his strength had been failing for some time. For eighteen months he struggled heroically against incurable diseases, and no one but a man of his tremendous will power would have attempted to withstand their onslaught and continue at his daily task. It was often predicted by those who knew him, that the eminent divine would die in his pulpit. It was especially characteristic of him that during his long illness at the White Sulphur Springs last summer, it ,was not the pain he suffered that wrung a complaint from him, but the fact that he was losing precious time from his work, and he was wont to say that he would not mind his ailments if he could only be at his desk again.
As the shadows lengthened around him, what blessed memories must have filled his mind, what glories of brightness must have hal- lowed the retrospect of a life so gracious, devoted and true!
