Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/271

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

'uilM. I). /%< 261

taut to Dr. Hoge, his chief charge being the Old-Market Hall Mission. No better choice could have been made. Mr. Turnbull became pastor of the Old-Market Hall Church, after its organization, and it flourished greatly under his care. Owing to impaired health, he was compelled to resign his charge, and Rev. James E. Cook, one of the young ministers who grew up in the Second Presbyterian Church, and who had just completed his theological course, was or- dained and installed as pastor of the Old-Market Hall Church.

DEVOTED TO THE CONFEDERACY SERVED IT IN EVERY WAY

POSSIBLE.

During the civil war Dr. Hoge was greatly interested and exer- cised in the welfare of the Confederate soldiers, temporal as w.ell as spiritual. He preached to them regularly every Sunday, and did loving pastoral work in the hospitals. Judge Farrar, in some remi- niscences written for the Dispatch several years ago, had this to say:

"During the war I was closely thrown with Dr. Hoge. The winter of 1862 was a period of disaster to the Confederate cause. My company was ordered to Richmond to recruit. Sickness pre- vailed in the camp, and almost every day some brave fellow was car- ried to his grave. We had but few comforts. The men were dispirited. I went to see Dr. Hoge and told him the condition of things. He did what he could for us. Without hesitation he con- sented to do so. Rain, hail, or shine, every Sunday night he was at his post, preaching and visiting the sick, giving words of comfort and encouragement. I say this: If the Confederate soldier ever had a friend, that friend was Dr. Hoge. The old veterans loved him. This love was beautifully illustrated at the meeting of Lee Camp, shortly before Dr. Hoge celebrated the golden anniversary of his pastorate. Before adjournment an old soldier arose and said : "Mr. Commander, I hear, that the people are going to give Dr. Hoge a public reception. Lee Camp ought to be there. Dr. Hoge is one of the best friends the soldier ever had. Why, last week he buried a man from the Soldiers' Home when the snow was up to his knees." The camp resolved at once to attend.

\VKXT ABROAD FOR BIBLES.

Dr. Hoge's most signal service during the war was in 1862, when he ran the blockade from Charleston and went to England by way of Nassau, Cuba, and St. Thomas to obtain Bibles and religious books for the Confederate army. Lord Shaftesbury, the president of the