288 Southern Historical S'otvV///
man turns to some blessing to the community in which he lives and dies!
Only yesterday a gentleman made a contribution of $10 to the Citizens' Relief Association, and gave a peculiar, and yet such a happy, reason for it. He said when he first learned of Dr. Hoge's death he laid aside $10 to purchase flowers to lay as his simple tribute of admiration and affection upon the grave of the departed noble- man. Later, he heard that Dr. Hoge had requested that no flow- ers be used, and that his wish would be respected. Then he bethought himself what to do with the $10. He concluded that no disposition of it would be so pleasing to Dr. Hoge friend of the poor, the widow, and orphan, and servant of the orphan's God if he could know of it, as to have it given to the poor of Richmond. No disposition of it would be in such consonance with the life of this good man, and in such harmony with the chords of gentle piety of his heart, which vibrated into loving action when the poor stood at his door empty handed and pleaded to be filled.
So the flowers for Dr. Hoge's grave will be strewn among the living poor.
WHERE HE FIRST PREACHED.
A special to the Dispatch from Pamplin City says :
The announcement of the death of Dr. Hoge, the beloved minister, recalls the fact that his first sermon as an ordained minister of the Gospel was preached in Walker's church, near this place, then an old weather-beaten building, with a central aisle dividing the sexes, as was the custom at that time.
On his return 'from Lynchburg, whither he had gone on horseback to receive his "license" from presbytery to preach, he stopped on a Saturday afternoon at the house of a friend to spend the night and ensuing Sabbath. The next day he accompanied the family to church. A revival was in progress, conducted by Rev. William Taylor, of Buckingham, a very popular minister of the Baptist denom- ination. The church was crowded with people, who had come to hear their favorite minister, and sectarian feeling in that day was very strong.
Under these circumstances Dr. Hoge was invited into the pulpit, and accepted an invitation to preach. As he went into the pulpit, an old lady was overheard to remark, " It is just like Brother Taylor to invite that stripling to preach at such a time as this."
The sun of Dr. Hoge's career, afterwards so bright and lustrous,
