Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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This article ought to mention the valuable work in Theology done by Hampden- Sidney men in foreign lands, as, for example, by Dr. Phillip Francis Price, of China, in his three volumes in Chinese, Short Steps to C-reat Truths, and in his Chinese Dictionary and other publications. Such men are laying not only the evangelistic, but the literary and theological foundations upon which future enlightened and successful labors are to be built. The labors of Dr. William D. Reynolds, of Korea, are of the same kind, notably in his efficient service as one of the most influential and scholarly translators of both the Old and New Testaments into modern Korean. These are but samples of the service which the College, through her sons, is rendering all around the world to the cause of education, literature and evangelism. Cognate with all this is the influential contribution to correct thinking and sound religion made by the editors who apply to current questions the eternal standards, riot of the passing day, but of the unchanging Kingdom. Amongst these are to be rated that rare preacher, teacher and editor, Dr. John L. Kirkpatrick, who made the Southern Presbyterian a power by his editorial writing, Dr. W. T. Richardson who discussed well- nigh every possible theme of religious or moral interest during his many years as editor of the Central Presbyterian, and that brilliant editor who retired all too soon from this most important field, Dr. A. lVlcKelway, who made The Presbyterian Standard the most eagerly read of journals during the period that his strong, if somewhat caustic, pen enlivened its columns. If he left some wounds that smart, he had no readers that slept, and no issue of his journal was ever dull or dead. This is but an imperfect and partial survey and many other names ought to be chronicled with a star, not as a sign that they are dead, but that they are still shining with a steady radiance through the influence of remembered teachings or published works. Such names belong here as those of Drs. james Blythe, William Hill, Moses Waddel, Benjamin Montgomery, William S. White, Drury Lacy, Ferdinand Jacobs, C. XV. Dame, W. V. Wilson, William Stoddert, Richard Nlcllwaine, T. W. Hooper, James W. Shearer, M. L. Lacy, W. F. Bishop, VV, W. Woods, A. Smith, A. T. Graham, R. A. Walton, G. W. Bull, M. G. Woodworth, and many others, who are exerting influence through books, pamphlets, printed sermons, tracts or articles of more than ephemeral interest. ln fact, if all the contributions which Hampden-Sidney's sons have made to all the departments of theological science could be gathered together it would make a goodly library, in -which the careful student might linger long and lovingly and much to his enrichment and profit. Nor has this influence been confined to any one denomina- tion-three bishops of the Episcopal Church were nursed in learning by her motherly tuition, Bishops Atkinson, Penick and Gibson, and ministers of many evangelical denom- inations-Methodist, Baptist, Christian, Episcopal and others, delight to own her as their Alma Mater. The conclusion is not a forced or an uncertain one, therefore, that Hampden- Sidney's contribution to Theological Science has been a large and liberal one. Both 27

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Methodist paper in the world, Dr. James M. Buckley, of the New York Christian Advocate, happening to visit Richmond, heard Dr. Hoge one Sunday morning in his ordinary ministrations preach on Thou art a priest forever after the order of Nlelchizadeku and spent the afternoon writing back promptly to his paper the message, 'LI have to-day heard the greatest preacher in the world. It was not an unusual estimate for the at- tendants upon his ministry to form this opinion over and over again as they heard those sermons which for more than a half century he poured forth without any signs of exhaus- tion or symptoms of mental decay or spiritual decline. The volume of sermons entitled, The Perfection of Beauty, will explain this reputation to coming generations as they see illustrated in them the finished style, the perfect balance between form and matter, the symmetry and proportion of structure, the evangelical and scriptural flavor which made him the great preacher, but no printed page can reproduce the kindling eye, the face lit with a divine fire, the vibrant voice, the masterful gesture, the indescribable halo of genius which encircled him as beauty and power, poetry and truth, all marked in harmonious union, seemed to vie with each other in seeking to serve the purpose of this mighty master of assemblies. There ought to be gathered together from magazine and religious press and every available source other sermons to teach willing readers and to illustrate to succeeding preachers of later days this supreme art of preaching. It is a benediction that the skill and industry of his nephew, Dr. Peyton H. Hoge, has made his uncle's biography as he has written it a worthy embodiment of the noble preacher's life and genius. The limited literary product of the Richmond pastor, which all must lament, is considerably enlarged by the letters, speeches, and articles which find a place in this life, and yet the art of the biographer is amply shown in his own skilful presentation of the outward incidents and inner history of his great subject as well as in the admirable setting of the life in its complex relations to all the changing conditions of the eventful years from l8l9-l899. Wlention ought to be made of Dr. Daniel Baker, the flaming apostle and evangelist of the Southwest, the founder of Austin College, which is rendering so great a service to Church and State to-day, and the author of two volumes of sermons, which are too little known and which put him in the front rank of American preachers. Whole communities in the Southwest were revolutionized by his pentecostal preaching and some of the leading preachers and laymen in all the evangelical denominations in that vast region owe their religious life to his evangelistic labors. At least three great states-Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas--put Baker in the front in their estimate of the formative forces which saved these commonwealths for righteousness. The name of Dr. A. W. Pitzer must be chron- icled, for forty years pastor of the Central Church, Washington, D. C.: for many years Professor of Bible Study in Howard University, and author of Ecce Deus Homo, Christ, the Teacher of Men, and other valuable publications. The first of these is an incisive and suggestive book corrective of the fractional and naturalistic views of Prof. Seeley's famous work called Ecce Homo, and is in every way the equal of the Oxford professofs volume. 26

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directly and indirectly she has made generous gifts through her sons to this first and noblest of all the sciences, and for this reason many rise up to call her blessed. In fact, this is the most splendid service rendered by this historic and ancient seat of learning, which has ministered so efficiently in so many different ways. In peace and in war to statesmarvship, to commerce and business, to diplomacy, to letters and art, to science and linguistics, to philosophy and literature with a lavish hand her gifts have been bestowed. But perhaps her chief service has been in that noblest of all realms, where the highest interests all converge. After all, religion is the chief concern of mortals here below, and theology, which is the science of religion, is the queen of the sciences, and the institution which serves theology is serving at once the deepest and the best that is in man. This, too, is the prophecy and augury which tells of coming prosperity and in- creasing renown. The college which thus ministers at an altar so sacred and divine will have God and all good and instructed men as allies and confederates. This light which is thus set upon the candlestickf' representing the combined radiance of science and art, literature and religion will never be allowed to become dim, but will grow brighter and brighter until the coming of the perfect day, when with every aid which liberal endow- ments can secure and all the prestige which hosts of students can give, the bright light unchanged in native lustre shall only be lifted higher that it may shine the wider over a world which needs its benign and mellow radiance. THORNTON WHALING. 28