Google
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project
to make the world's books discoverable online.
It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.
Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the
publisher to a library and finally to you.
Usage guidelines
Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:
+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.
+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.
+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.
+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.
About Google Book Search
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web
at|http: //books .google .com/I
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
PRBSENTKD BY
THK AUTHOR
iiyGoot^lc
.HSl,
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
WIl.l.IAU E. HATCHRH
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
V:'ILL1AM E. HATCI ii K
D. D„ LL D., L H. l>
A BIOGRAPHY
BY HIS SON
ELDRIDCE B. HATCHER
r C. HiLi PUHnini On., RmwifD. V> .
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
William e. Hatcher
D. D, LL D, L H D.
A BIOGRAPHY
BY HIS SON
ELDRIDGE B. HATCHER
V. C. Bu Pmnne Ob.,1
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
TOUT WIfB
ANNA DENSON HATCHER
WHO BT BXR HOPKrOL INTSBEffT AND COOPBRATION
IN HT WOBE or warnNQ this biooraph;
OBEATLT CHSEB8D ME IN Hr UBOSS
-t D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
FOREWORD
This book aims to give a picture of a aoul. It vill dissfipoint
thoee who aie seeking a chromcle of all the travels, acts and
words of William E. Hatcher; but to thoee who deare to view
the man behind the deeds it opeDs its pages. It is the portrait
of a -penoa rather than the record of a career. The richeet
treasures in human lives are hidden beneath the surface, and
few things are more interesting than the trtuts and character-
istics, the struggles and triumphs of a soul. The author has
endeavored to select thoee incidents from the life of William
E. Hatcher which flash light upon his unique personality and
unveil him to the reader.
Events apparently trivial often make startling revelations.
Plutarch, in his Life of Alexander the Great, says:
"It must be borne in mind that my design is not to write
historiee but lives. And the most glorious exploits do not
always furnish us with the clearest discoveries of virtues or
vices in mesi; sometimes a matter of less moment, an oc-
preesion or a jest, informs us better of their characters and
inclinations, than the most famous sieges, the greatest arma-
ments, or the bloodiest battles whatsoever."
298465
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
To the many friends who have sent letters and aneodotee
for use in tins volume the author begs leave here to return hia
hearty thanks. From Dr. Hatcher's own booka, "Life of J. B.
Jeter," "The Pastor and the Sunday School," "John Jasper,"
and "Along the Trail of the Friendly Years," he has made
many quotaticms. Fnnn The Rdigioua Herald and the Di»-
patch of Richmond, Va., and the Baptiet World of Louisville,
Ky., he has made copious extracts. He has also quoted from
the (Standard of Chicago, the BapHat Courier of South Caro-
lina and posmbly other papers and of them he wishes here
to make grateful mention.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
AlHXaTBY AMD CmiJ>B0OS 1-11
CHAPTER II.
1&1S-1864.
SCBOCO. DaTB and CoNVKBSION.— TEACmNQ SCBOOL.— DicmioM
ToPmucB 12-18
CHAPTER III.
Four Ykabs AT RicHiioin) Ccufoi 19-29
CHAPTER IV.
185S-1861.
Fnta Ykah or Manchestir Pastorate 30-39
CHAPTER V.
1861-1866.
Tbb Crm. War. — Marriage. — Revival Exfxribnos . . . 4(Mil
CHAPTER TI.
1866-1867.
Thr Stboogle LmxfiS 62-60
CHAPTER VII.
1897-1868.
BAumtoBB Pastorate.— Lecfurk on the Damcb 70-76
CHAPTER VIII.
1868-1872.
Petersbcro.~Prrsi8tent Dsni. in Seruom Making and in
InsRABT CoKPOsmoH.— Inisbbbt ih Bots 77-88
CHAPTER IX.
U72-1876.
Thb Mmmcooai MoTRUKiR.'-TaE AmbvulSce Cokpb.— Vkclk
Saivta's Vibtt.— Tb» Botb' Mxrino SB-lOl
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER X.
1876-1876.
Richmond.— fiiCHUOMD Coumoe Addrbbb. — Botb' HeniMa.—
DiALoacBB : 102-112
CHAPTER XI.
1876-1877.
AMTTBiNaPDurrExFUiiBKCXS.— HcHORAMD Wit 113-121
CHAPTER XII.
1877-^1878.
Imtbbest in Youno PweACHBaa.— Pasiokal VrairiHa.— Cabbtdii-
MESs IN PaxPAvinQ PoBuc Addbxssss.— Dailt Schkdulk . 12thl37
CHAPTER XIII.
1S76-18S0.
Bai/tdiosi Visit. — Fokdnebb for Gamxb.— Hospitautt.—
Addhxss on Db. Jctsb 138-151
CHAPTER XIV.
RiPARTBB. — Call to Lohsville 162-163
CHAPTER XV.
18S1.
HiB SuHDATB. — PRXACBUfQ. — Pttblic Pravxbb 164-173
CHAPTER XVI.
1882.
Editob Rxuqioub Hebaij). — In thb Sociai. Cistxx. — Teb
Cakavan,— The Baptistb 174-184
CHAPTER XVII.
Pastobal Vibitb and Pastokal Ezpbbe?«7eb. — Tbd to Tsxab
AND Mejoco.— Dkath or thb Twins.— The Cabatan . . .186-194
CHAPTER XVIII.
I8S3.
Cottaob roB CouNTBT Pabtob.-^A Cnr Pabtoratb.— Conven-
tion AT Baiatmobb.— On thb Wing. — "Alono thB Baftot
liHBB" 196-2U
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIX.
-D. L. MooDT.— ViBira to thb Cohntbi.— Gbahleb
H. Phatt.— AmiNO Simmma .206-319
CHAPTER XX.
1886-1886.
Edttokul CoRBBSPOKDENca.— CuLPiPEB Mkktinos.— Wbxklt
I^miifl.^YoDKO Men in His Hohb.— Lbciubb Tbips.— The
Fbibkd or CouHTBT Chubches 220-233
CHAPTER XXI.
Chubcb Tboublxs. — CouxcnoN in His Chubch.— Tsb Cele-
BBARD Cl Huu«R Case 234-2S3
CBAFTESXXII.
1887.
Air EvBHTTDi. Fkater Mebtino.— Sbvbbal Weeks' Revival
CAMFAiflN.— CoBBECHNa HiB Ohildrbn's Dicnotr.— 3uxdat
ScBBDVLB.— "Lm or j. B. Jsteb" 263-266
CHAPTER XXIII.
1887-1888.
LoTE lOR Bediobd. — "LiFB (» J. B. Jbter" Cbiticubd.— Dbivino
Ovbb the Bov.— GENinHEKESS.— Obkhnautt 267-279
CHAPTER XXIV.
Trip to Eubofb. — Pbebidxnt or the Ginebal Absociation. —
BApnsT CoHaBEBs 280-393
CHAPTER XX\'.
188».
Church Dedications.— Taxino CoujccnoNS.— Cokvbmtiom at
Memphis. — iNnuENCE in Southern Baptdit Cohvbmtion. —
The Chestkbpiels Meetimo 303-906
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVI.
1889-1891.
TiUFe 10 CBEffrEBnxLD.— Pbacettl SoLtmoM or Cbiircb
Tbocbisb. — EonoRLU. durtciBUB. — New BmunMO. —
Intkbxbt in Plain Peoplx.— PnriNa Hoxos Upon OrHxsa.—
KiNDMISa TO YODNO PitEACBKBS 307-32S
CHAPTER XXVII.
1891-1892.
EmcBiNQ New BuiLDiNa.— Hcinurr,— Bkokin Fexendbbip. —
Wake Forest Revival. — CHEaTEHFiELD.— His New Bor . . 326-345
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Flatino Quoits . — "Uncle David" . — The Youno Fmoplm . —
BxRiioM Bbore Sotithehn Baptist Contention. — Dedicatioiv
or TBB New Ghace Stkebt Church BmLDiNO.— Moodt Meet-
iNoa 346-364
CHAPTER XXIX.
1894-1896.
Y. M. C. A. CoujcnoN.— Eaogrness to Win. — Christian Union.
— Richmond Coluob. — Topical Notes. — Pdbchabb or Howe
AT Fork Union.— Chicago Address 366-378
CHAPTER XXX.
A Shockino Disaster. — Arduous Buiu>iMa Caupaiok. — Revival
Mebtino in Granville, Obio 379-398
CHAPTER XXXI.
1897.
Address ON THE "£xFKRiiiZNTAi.£TiDBNCE8 0FCHBisTiANTnt". —
TsouQHTf-ULNXBS OP Othebs.— Varibd Journeys and Lasobs.
—Revival Meeiinqs at Toudo, Ohio.— Exaltation or the
Supernatural 399-413
CHAPTER XXXII.
1898.
Dr. C. C. Meador.— The WHTTsnr Controterbt.- The Bai^
Tiers 414-433
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXin.
IBSS-1900.
Puams KM iMPBOTraxHT.— Fbkac&ebb' Hocu Pabtt.— Fork
Unas AcuuMY Stakikd.— Sickness.— Tbb Kovxl.— Vabud
LuoM 434-451
CHAPTER XXXIV.
1900-1902.
Hn Cmmei Bor.— Colbman M .— DuticjvnoN or Bia New
BniLiUMO.— AccEPTANCZ or THK RicHuoKD CoLLEGB Cau..—
BiBiaitA'noiT. — Eddcational Work. — Lettkbb to Chiij>sem. —
BocxOTUXB Cakpaiok 452-497
CHAPTER XXXV.
HlB GSANDCHILDBBK.— SUNDAI SCHOOL LBCrniua.— VlBBATIUTT.
— Thf Cahpaion roR Bmbtol.— CewBniAo RaninoN.— Pati-
VNCsWiTHEtoTS.— Saq(tJosefb,Mo.— EDrroaiAi,PAiiA<a&AFHB 468-486
CHAPTER XXXVI.
1903-1905.
Wkloohino GsANDrATHKR. — CouNTBT Pwarix. — Thk Louistiuji
SnoKABT. — TBiauTEs to Dbs. McI>dnau> akd Mbadok. —
CouMcwtov roB TBB SsinMABT.— CoNvaNTioN at Kansas Cttt 487-600
CHAPTER XXXVII.
1905-1907.
iMTBODDcnio Nbw Pabtobb .— Acadbut Oxxaos.— Rblahom to
XHB AcADBHT. — DiBA^«iNTiixNT8. — Old Aob, — Stbekuoos
AcnviTi. — Wbiohtes Witb Mant Bukdems. — Battuho With
601-617
CHAPTER XXJiyill.
1907.
Wbitiho His New Book. — Biogbapbt.— Ox/Oatx
X«croBB8.— DBUKXATiifa Cbabactbs.— WoBXiNa at Hior
Pbusubb. — AsDBEse AT Indianapoub on "Thi Makino or
THB Akbrican QBNiuniAH" 518-636
CHAPTER XXXIX.
1908.
ftbRDfOB tx EnTAv Placb, Baltdiobx; Fkahxun Coujua,
Jjn>.; Tbehont Texpu, Boston, and Gmxiatb Univebbitt,
N. Y. — CONVENTION AT Hot Spbinos.— Varded Aerrmaa. —
Railroad Aocidbnt.— "John Jabpbb" S87-600
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XL.
1908-1909.
With thk Academy Boys.— Thx Acadeut and thb CoioftnnTT.—
Characteb Traihino.— "Gkacb Stbbzt" Annitkbsakt.—
RxMunecENCxs .-^Manifold Tbifb and Labors.— Ah Foko'b
GbADDATION.— MONUKBNM. — A PERSONAL SERHON.—PliBSONAL
CHARACTKRiancs 661-S86
CHAPTER XLI.
ISIO.
fo'BiouB SiCKNzsa AT Fort Wayxe, Ins. — Article on "Tbe
Grippe". — Clothes. — I^nxR to Dr. C. H. Ryland. — Skucf-
IHO THE Title.— "Aix>NO thk Trail op the Friendly Ybabs".—
Mjcsbaoeb Aboot Hib Nbw Book 686-611
CHAPTER XLII.
1910-1911.
Gaueb With the Grandchildiibn. — Continttxd Tbibtites to hib
Book. — Interebt in People. — Cacoht in a Hotel Fire. —
blukfiei.d 612-640
CHAPTER XUII.
1911.
CoNTiNTouB AciTvniEa. — Meetingb at Pocomoxe. — Address at
Meredith Coileoe. — Baptist World Alliance. — Corrbbfond-
ENCE. — His ENEmafi.— Baltdiore Statx Mibbion Banqcbt.—
Addbebb Bkfobe Couxoe Trdsizeb.— Opmaeu.— Old Aos . 641-666
CHAPTER XLIV.
1912.
Labors in Flobida. — Campaign fob the Oranobburo School.—
Farewell Mebtino With Ah Fono.— Labors in South Caro-
lina .-Working While it is Day.— His Portrait Unveiud . 667-484
CHAPTER XLV.
1912.
Bust Hire and Tbebb.— Address at Judoe Witt's Funeral. —
Thb Gbandchildrbh.~-A Crowded Wixk. — Hafpt Days at
Cabeby.- The End 686-696
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
WnuAM E. Hatcher. Fmtispiece
Carkbt Chubcb, Eiiai.AND, where are the tombs of the Hatcher
family of the 16th Century 4
Tbk BiBTHEi^oE AND BoTHOOD HouK OF WajJAM E. Hatches . . 6
WauAM E. Hatchsr, at age of 30 62
Mas. Woxiiii E. Hatcheb 78
WiluahE. Hatchbb, stageof aboutSS 88
The Grack Sraiacr Baftibt Church, Richuond, Va 102
Tsa RicBitoND HOHB, 608 W. Grace Street 146
WuLUM E. Haichrh 308
The Kew Grace Street BAPnar CHimcH 326
The Grace Street Baftibt Chcrch, after the fire 382
WiujAU E. Hatcher 434
Grace Street Baptist Chcrch Rebuilt 438
Grandfather and Viroinia 440
GBAMDFATOZa AND WiLLIAU 466
Carebt Hail, the Fork Union Hokk 482
William E. Hatcher 4S4
WiuJAM E. Hatcheb 524
At the Albemarlk Asbocution 680
Grakdfatheb and Anna S92
Fork Union Miutart Acadehi 618
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
ANCESTRT AND CHILDHOOD
1834-184S
"William, are you very fond of sweet potatoes?" asked the
father.
"Yes."
"Come, let's go out to the patch and see how they are
getting along." TUb invitation to the potato patch was given
by an old farmer, Mr. Henry Hatcher, to his thirteen year old
hoy, William E., about sixty-seven years ago at their moun-
tain home in Bedford County, Va. WilHam had seemed
reluctant to doing any work on the farm and his father was
seeking to cure him of his apparent laziness.
They reached the patch and the father began to pull up the
weeds from around the vines, and in a few momenta he called
out in a bright tone: "William, come and help me get this
grass out of the way."
William joined in the grass pulling but in no happy mood
and BOOD be said to his father in a determined manner:
"I have come to the conclusion that God does not intend
for me to work in the dirt."
The words cut the father as with a knife. Without losing
his temper and with a gentle touch of satire he sorrowfully
replied: "I begin to think, my son, that that is true and I
have been studying why God made you at all and I have come
to the conclusion that he created you to starve as a warning
for all idle boys that may come on later."
"No; I hope not," said William. "I hope that I will always
have enough to eat, but I do not think that I will have to dig
it out of the ground."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
2 ANCESTRY
A Bhadow passed across the old man's face and he said no
more. This positive — almost rebellious — speech of the boy
was the outcropping of a trait that dwelt also in the father, for
we are told that the old gentleman "had a will and a way of his
own" and that while his spirit was not stonny, nor harsh, yet
when he said a thing "all interrogation points were taken
down and the thing was settled."
In fact, this spirit of protest which we find in William at
the potato patch, seems to have traveled down to him from
his ancestors through several generations; for in 1652 we find
it breaking out in another William Hatcher in the Virginia
House of Bui^eases. This William Hatcher arose one day and
withstood the Speaker of the House to his face by exclaiming:
"The mouth of this house is an atheist, a blasphemer and a
devil!" For this inflammatory mduigence, Mr. Hatcher was
forced to apologize to the Speaker and, after payii^ a heavy
fine, was dismissed. But he was evidently an important
factor in the public councils of the Colony, for he was after-
wards re-elected and served as a member at two later sessions.
This defiant old progenitor was the fir^t of the Hatchers to
set foot on American soil and was styled "William the Emi-
grant." He was once presented by the grand jury for not
attending the services of the established church, — such at-
tendance at that time being required by the mother country.
If, as Sacred Writ informs us, man is bom to trouble as the
sparks fly upward, no less did this Mr. William Hatcher seem
bom for conflict with the existing order. "Every great man
is a non-conformist" says Emerson and while we are not pre-
pared to claim for Air. Hatcher a place among the great, we
can safely pronounce him a non-conformist.
When next we hear of him he is involved in the famous
"Bacon's ReI)ellion," which was aimed at the English govern-
ment, and which was called by the historian Bancroft, "the
early harbinger of American Nationality." This uprising
occurred on the neck of lan<l on which Mr. William Hatcher
bved. In that movement he was an active factor, and for
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ANCESTRY 3
the pleasure of indulge his revolutionary tendences he was
commauded to pay ten thousand pounds of tobacco. But
mercy interposed — because of Mr. Hatcher's age — and he was
let down to a lower figure and hogs were substituted for to-
bacco,— the fine being 8,000 pounds of pork, which he was to
furnish to "His Majesty's soldiers." When this writer recalls
the av^^on to swine meat which clung to the WiUiam E.
Hatcher who is the subject of this memoir, he begins to wtmder
if William did not recave from his rugged old forefather some-
thmg else besides his defiant, independent spirit.
It is said that "every individual is an omnibus in which all
his ancestors ride." We can not call the roll of all the forbeais
of the youthful William -^d yet it is fitting that we at least
take note of his distinguished lineage. Many people shy off
from genealogies and we do not forget the saying of the old
philosopher, Fiiaedms, many centuries ago, that "it ia indeed
a glorious thing to be well descended, but the glory belongs
to our ancestors." It is no wish of this writer to deck the
youthful Wilham in glory borrowed from his progenit(H«; and
yet it is well that we turn our gaze towards those whose blood,
several centuries afterwards, traveled in his vcdua.
The home of the Hatchers in Ei^laud was at Careby in
Linc(^nshire, and inscriptions on the quaint tombs in the
Careby Churchyard and the records in the community testify
to the high rank held by the Hatchers as early as the 16th
centuiy. On one of the tombs we find this inscription, dat«d
1564:
"Here is interred the raoaina of Sir Hatcher of the
andent family of Hatchera, for many generations the lords of
this manor."
Some of the Hatchers foi^ht in Cromwell's army, — among
theax Sir Thomas Hatcher, a member of Parliamrait, who
because of his championship of Cromwell's cause was included
in the list of "traitors" mentioned in Newcastles' Proclama-
tioD of the 17th of January, 1643. This same Sir Thomas
Hatcher was, with Sir Harry Vane, and other CommissionerB
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
4 CHILDHOOD
seat to Scotland "to treat of a nearer unicm and confederacy
with the Scottish nation and to help frame the famouB Solemn
League and Covotant, which was adopted by Parliament
Sept. 17th, 1640." But we are now getting dangerously near
to rulera, and if we become entangled in such high places we
might be tompted to forget the little mountain lad in Bedford,
who must henceforth — for us — ^hold the center of the stage.
The journey back from Careby England, to Bedford County,
Vi^pnia, however, is a long one and in returning to the boy
William let us pause at William's grandfather, Jeremiah
Hatoher, for he possessed two shining traito which seem to
have found their way into William's soul. One was a passion
for preaching and the other was a passion for helpfulness.
This Jeremiah Hatcher was a man of considerable means and,
after bdng pastor in Chesterfield County, he settled in Bedford
and preached the gospel throughout a large section of the
country without financial reward. He erected a church build-
ing at his own expense for the people which was known far
and wide as "Hatcher's Meeting House" and his religious
work, done simply for the love of the work and of the people,
wrought a signal transformation in that portion of the country.
This man had three grandsons who became preachers;
William E. Hatcher, Harvey Hatcher, and Jeremiah B. Jeter,
all of whom were bom in the same "shed room" at the (dd
Hatcher Homestead.
When William was four years old the brightest star in his
sky went out. His mother died. She was a Presbyterian, was
"fair and cultured" and William was said to resemble her.
Into her room that day they carried him to look upon her
silent form and next he remembered going with the procesmon
out under the cherry tree where they put her body in the
ground.
The burial is over, the mourning fri^ids have scattered to
their homes, — maybe one or two put their hands tenderiy on
the head of little William, or pos^bly kissed him as he looked
with his big eyea on the people and on the new made red dirt
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
3|
i
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
CHILDHOOD S
under which tbey had put his mother and understood not what
it meant. When the little fellow turned back to the house he
dreamed not of the lonely days ahead of him. His mother had
spoit her last hours in praying that he might become a preacher,
but she was gone and who now would care what became of this
four year old motherless boy.
There eits the father — a ru^ed old farmer — fifty-four years
old, but today — ^the day of the funeral — he looks older than
ever. Yonder are the children, three half brothers, two half
sisters, and his own brother Harvey, and all of them older than
William. His father was not a profesang christian, but was
a r^;u]ar attendant upon the church; he loved his Bible and
was highly respected in his community. He had one marked
tnut and that was his devotion to his baby boy. Every night
William slept in his father's bed and in the day he was carried
in his fathers arms..
The grass came upaa the new grave; the cherry tree grew
older and the months and even the years moved by, but while
they brought many birthdays to William they brought him
few pleasures.
One day old "Father Harris", pastor of Mount Hermon
Church, rode up to the home and spent the night. On the
ne3rt morning little William was sitting by the window in the
parlor. Breakfast was announced and as the venerable minister
was walking from the bed room through the parlor to the
dining room his eye fell upon the boy at the window and he
noticed that he was absorbed in a book. He turned out of
bis way, walked up to the youthful reader laid his hand gently
upon his head and in a very mellow, gracious tone said: "My
boy I hope God will call you to preach the gospel." Already
William had been informed that his grandfathers on his motber'a
and ott his father's aide were both Baptist preachers and that
his mother had spent her last breath in praying that God would
make "William and Harvey" preachers.
An accidfoit hi^pened to William that left its life mark upon
his soul as well as upon his body. Out on the farm one day
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
6 CHILDHOOD
they were cutting stripe of wood — or splits as they called
tiiem — on which to hang the meats and he was standing by
looking on.
"Pa" said he "I want to see if I can't make a split."
The indulgent old father handed over the knife and wood
and the boy went vigorously to work, when the knife slipped
and buried itself in his toider hand. A few days after that
his sister Margaret set out on a winter's day on a visit to her
married sister, fifteen miles distant, and WilUam was mounted
upon a second horse to accomp'any her and bring her horse
back. All went well on the outward journey. On the return
however, he had to lead the other horse; the cut place on his
hand pulled open and he caught cold in the hand and for
nearly fifteen miles the pain increased. It opened a dark
chapter in the lad's life. For two months he said he almost
died with pain. The boy's sufferings and moans threw the
household, especially the old father, into a panic. What
could be done? Medical attrition in that neighborhood was
of the rudest kind. One day a young fellow visiting at the
home took a glance at the injured hand and called out boast-
fully: "If you send for my father he'll cure that in a few days,"
Alas, the su^estion was adopted and the father, who was
something of a quack, was sent for. He tinkered with the
hand and did it great damage.
For two months he kept his throbbing hand on a pillow and
for two years he carried It in a slii^. One day a gentleman
hearing of hia sufTerii^ came over and, as the father told him
about Wilham's experiences, he said: "That boy has suffered
four deaths." It was his left hand. A bone had sought to
work ita way towards the cut place but it worked in the wrong
direction. The httle hand was drawn together and while it
did not become misshapen in any disfiguring way, yet it was
hindered in its growth and carried forever afterwards the ngns
of ita racking e:q>eri^ce.
Ah, those were torturing days and wedts for him. How
oftcm he muat have held his hand and looked out into the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
CHILDHOOD • 7
future wondering if relief would ever, ever come. While
otheT boya were romping over the hills and shouting in happy
glee he was groaning and crying in ptun. After two years —
and how long they must have seemed — ^his hand healed, after a
fashion, and came out of the sling. No one understood
it then, but^those months of suffering through which William
passed kindled sympathies within him that were destined to
play a large part in his future career.
His home nestled amid the mountains with the Pealcs of
Otter looming in the distance; "The Peaks" were spoken of as
one mountain. "It looked bo high and blue" he said "that
I thought I could climb to Heaven on it." lliere were a few
slaves on thff plantation to serve the family and the home
was one of comfort and req)ectability but life was simple and
rude. Mail was received only once a week and he said that
he did not know that up to his seventeenth year he had for
himself as much a^ five dollars.
It must also be mentioned that he was frail, sickly and sensi-
tive. The spirit of independence that had broken out in the
conversation with his father about the weeds still lay within
him. For example he hated for a boy to get an advant^^
over him. He was once given one of his big brother Henry's
suits to wear. He presented a ludicrous spectacle in the ill-
fitting and well-worn garments. His soul stormed in revolt
as Henry seemed to enjoy the sight and he informed him that
the time would come when he, Henry, would be glad to. wear
his cast oft clothed, — a prophecy which was fulfilled in later
years much to the hilarious merriment of all the household,
except Hoiry,
He wanted no one to triumph over him and even as a boy be
had signal success in m^nt^ning his supremacy. On one
occaaon he was out in the woods with his big brother Harvey,
and — as was generally the case on such hunting expeditions, —
Harvey wielded the gun while WilUam carried the game.
Harvey was an expert with the gun and William had no taste '
nor skill in that direction and the big brother naturally con-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
8 , CHILDHOOD
mdffl^d it a waste of time and anununition for William to be
ludng the weapon.
"Harvey let me take a shot" called out William that day as
they stood before a tall tree in the top of which a squirrel had
neatly curled himself up amid the leaves and at which Harvey
had fired several shots without effect.
"Oh, you could'nt hit him" swd Harvey with awful disdain
as he loaded for another shot which also proved ineffectual.
"Let me try" pleaded William a second time. The brother
with increased contempt hooted at the idea of his hitting such
a distant mark but finally, after several failures to bring down
the game, he reluctantly remarked, "If I miss him this time *
I will let you shoot once just to keep you quiet."
Away went the shot but the squirrel remained untouched.
Hastily the gun was loaded and handed to William with in-
structions to hurry and be over with it. William lifted the
gun, looked far away up into the tail tree at the place where
the squirrel was said to be, pointed the weapon at the ^wt and
pulled the tri^^r. Bang went the gun; there was a rustle of
the leaves at the top and down came the squirrel tumbLng
at their feet.
Every Saturday William went to Chilton's mill with the
com and one day the owner of the mill s^d to him: "William,
come and have dinner with me." He went and ever after that
he was glad to go because of the many fine books which were
there to read. He found himself attracted to the young man
in chaige of the mill — C. C Meador, — and these two souls
were drawn together in a friendship that was broken only by
death. Thereafter Saturday was his red letter day, for it
meant "books and Meador."
As a boy in the mountains with no mother to love him, hav-
ing to battle against sickness and loneliness, blamed by some
for his supposed indolence, with his own brother Harvey much
bigger than himself and temperamentally very different from
him, he seemed to be put on the defenuve and while it did not
make him sulky, or sore, or disagreeable, yet it made him sensi-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHILDHOOD 9
tive. He said "I fwrly died for i^predation. I did not know
what was the matter, but I suffered unutterably for the want
of a mother, for an intelligent sympathy, for some one who
could mark my little sorrows, dress my little wounds, wipe off
my tears when I cried and kiss me when I went to bed."
"I really believe" aud he "that I never forgot one apprecia-
tive or commendatory word spoken to me during my twyhood.
I craved the good will of others. There was an old gtoitieman
to whose house I aometimee had to go, — Mr. Joseph Bees,
by name ... He could tell me things tJiat I did not
know and that drew me to him. He had a strun of cordiality of
sympathy which I always felt when in ccHitact with him. He
believed in me, compUmented me on little things apd startled
me by little predictions as to my future." How agreeable it
would be if this old ndghbor had only written down for us what
it was that he saw in the boy William on which he had based his
predictions.
We have already discovered that William was a boy with
dedsion of character, eagerness for knowledge, capacity for -
friradship, an unwilliogness to bemg triumphed over, a sen^'
tiveness and a patience under prolonged and terrible suffering.
Even the incident at the potato patch hints at something more
about William than his resolute spirit. It suggests that at
that early date he felt that God had aomething for him to do
in the world.
"I was a great knitter" he stud "and swept the floor and set
the table, etc. After my asters all married I kept bouse for
my three brothers and my father. There was then no lady in
the house. I carried the keys. I began this at twelve years of
age". A cheerless picture in this — a mountain home without
wife, mother or sister. When his sister married and left the home
he s^d "I cried my eyes out about it."
One day the family was thrown into a happy flutter by the
announcement that "Cou£dn Jerry" was coming. Dr. Jeremiah
B. Jeter, tall and patriarchal, was then pastor of the First
Baptist Church of Richmond, Va., and the leading BapUst
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
10 CHILDHOOD -
minister of the state, if not of the South. The coming of this
eminent kinsman always marked an epoch with the family.
The old father would take a new lease on life in these visits
from "CousiQ Jerry" and his dormant powers seemed to awake
in the presence of his gifted relative.
One afternoon Dr. Jeter and the father started acro^ the
yard to walk over to "Cousin Tom's" on a visit and William
followed them. After the visit and on their return homewards
as they were getting over a rail fence that lay across their
path they paused and rem^ed seated on the t«p of the fence.
William picked up a soft rock, sat down in one of the comers
of the fence and with bis "knife and a piece of clay began to
carve out a book. In a few minutes Dr. Jeter said:
"How are your children getting along?"
"Very well, indeed; all of them are doing well,— that is,"
and here his voice hesitated and dropped a little "all of them
except one."
"Which child can this one be?" wondered William,
The father took up each of his children by name beginning
with the oldest and coming down the line. William listened
eagerly and his boyish heart began to dame with fury that one
of the children should be causing his father trouble. He listened
for the name of the guilty one, determined to wreck his venge-
ance upon him. Down the list came the father giving high
praise to each one until only Harvey and William were left.
"And so Harvey, my own brother, is the villain" said William
to himself, but to his consternation, Harvey like the other
children was commended.
"As to William, my youngest, — " he s^d in a tender, sad-
dened tone, "he gives me more concern and unhappiness than
all my other children together and I tremble for his future."
A small tornado of shame and confusion was raging in the
fence comer. "Is it possible?" exclaimed the Doctor in pained
surprise. "Ah, I am sony Indeed to hear it. Too bad; too
bad," and then in a solemn way he asked "Is he vicious?"
That word "vicious" made the boy in the fence comer jump
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHILDHOOD 11
as if he had been shot. It was a bnutd new word to him and as
pronounced by the Doctor it seemed loaded with all the evils
of the lower regions. Tremblingly he wuted for hia father's
reply and the Hghts flamed out once more for him as his father
answered: "Why No; he ia not vicious; he is the most aSectioD-
ste of all my children and would never get out of sight of me
if he could help it."
"What ia the matter with him?" the Doctor inquired.
"He ia of no account upon the earth tor work" "said the
father." "He hates any kind of work in the dirt and says that
he does not believe that God has made him to work in the dirt,"
"What does he do? How doea he spend his time?"
"Why he:doea nothing but read; it is books when he gets up,
books all day and books at night; he knows every book on the
plantation by heart." The Doctor was greatly relieved, end the
^ght of the old father, so grief stricken about the studious habits
of the boy William, caused him to break mto a hearty laugh.
"Is that all?" he exclaimed. "It may be that the Lord has
made him that way sure enough; there are many things for
people to do besides work on the farm and, while I am sorry
that he has such an averaion to it, I am glad to know that he is
not rebellious nor wicked nor bard to man^e. Give him an
education and that will be worth more to him than $20,000."
A new day dawned for William. Not long after the conversa-
tion at the fence he was sent to a classical achool in the neighbor-
hood which to hia imagination suggested a paradise. He sfud
that one reason why he Uked to talk to the owner of the mill
was because he knew ao many things. It was startling to note
the hunger and respect that William had for knowledge. He
thought that the world was filled with wonderful things to be
known and he longed to know them.
"The wish to know — that endless thirst
Stjll urged me onward with desire
Insatiate to explore, to inquire."
He had a poor opinion of the boy that rattled away with
foohsh talk, but he Uked a boy who would "talk sense."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SCHOOL DAYS AND CONVERSION. TEACHINO SCHOOL.
DECtStON TO PKKACH
1848-1854
It was a mountain-top day for Mm when he walked off that
first morning to school. The teacher's name was Mr, E. W.
Horseley, a graduate of the Vii^nia Military Institute. Every
afternoon while returning home from school William would
study his lessons for the next day, often stopping on the way
for that purpose, and frequently knowing half his lessons upon
his arrival at borne. Every morning he would be waked up
by his father two hours before day and there before the blaziDg
light of a big fire be would tug and toil over his lessons. Misang
a lesson filled him with shame; but the approval of his father,
he said, was more to him than medals of gold. He knew that
he had wounded the old man by his reluctance to working on
the farm and it was his delight now to brii^ him pleasure by
doing well in his classes. His teacher filled him with a love for
Latiii and before he left school he did not lack much of being
able to repeat the Latin Grammar bodily from b^iinuing to end.
"William" sfud an old gentleman in the neighborhood to
him one day "I wish that my boys loved to go to school as
much as you do."
William said that it had not occurred to him that his affec-
tion for his school had anything noteworthy in it but the
gentleman's remark brought him to realise that he did indeed
love his school. But he bad a cravii^ for something else
beddes knowledge; he had a craving for religion. When a very
Small boy at the old Mount Hermon church something took
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS 13
place that seemed to touch the deepest chords in hia soul. A
revival was in progress and he was sitting back in the crowd
watching the proceedings with curious gaie when suddenly
he saw His sister come down the aisle to his cousin Henry, —
"a biggish, rough boy" — and in a most toider mann^ invite
him to go with her to the front seat. Hairy, with his streaming
tears, went and little William saw it all and knew that rel^on
waa at the bottom of it and he thoi^ht that reli^on was the
biggest thing in the world, and that he wanted it too, but he
understood sJmost nothing about it. The news went forth
that Henry was converted, and \miiam felt that he too would
like to be converted but it seemed a thing impossible. He
was only ten years old and so he locked up these timid desires
in his heart and kept on his narrow little pathway.
Several years had now passed since the Mount Hennon
meetings and he had become a school boy, but the yearning for
"reHgjon" had never entirely left him.
One day he heard news that gave him a fluttering of heart.
He was told that meetings were soon to comm^ice at Mount
Hermtm. He felt that he would give all that he had if he could
uily become converted, but there seemed no hope for a timid,
ignorant lad like him. He kept on at school, but every day
both going and coming, he would turn aside from the road, and
between the crooked roots of a big oak tree be would bow
himself down and tell God about his troubles.
On Friday afternoon he ran home as if the house was a£re
and that night after supper he went to Mount Hermon, — ^went
alone — ^two miles of the journey being through an unbroken
forest. The preachers, the crowd of people, the thrilling songs
and the sinueis pressing to the front bench hdd his attention;
but he sat helpless, — ^when to his amasement a fine old gentle-
man. Dr. Falls, came down the aisle to him and in a singularly
kind manner invited Mm to go with him to the front. William
wmt and was surprised at his coohiess when he reached the
front bench. No light came into his soul and much discouraged
he wmded his long and lonely way back to his home. He went
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
14 RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS
the next day, but nothing occured to bring him comfort and he
faced the prospect of another solituy tramp homewards that
evening, but his venerable friend Dr. Falls who lived near the
church said to him: "William, c<Hne home with me to supper."
That invitation meant much for William. It meant his return
to the church that night. He went. The party at Dr. Falls'
home that evoiing, however, was too gay for the boy to linger
there and he started to church soon after supper, the moon
lighting his path across the field. On his way he heard foot-
steps behind him and was overtaken by a kipsman, Mr. Munroe
Hatcher, who opaied up the subject of religion to him. The
boy listened and answered his questiona in trembling fashicm.
The man, who himself had been recently converted after a
notoriously wicked hfe, sought to explfun to William what it
meant to beUeve in Christ " I have heard people tfJk about
having ffuth, but I don't believe I can understand it" WiUiam
said almost in a tone of despair. Suddaily the man stopped in
the road and, looking towards the sky, he pointed his finger
upwards and said: "Do you see that hmb up yonder?" The
troubled boy lifted his gaze and there, far above him, he
saw the hmb of a giant oak stretching itaelf across the road.
How high it seemed to William's eyeal
"Suppose you were on that limb; you would be afr^d to
jump oft, would'nt you?"
The boy shuddered as he thought of it and s^d:
"Yes, indeed."
"Look again" he said. "Suppose you were on that limb and
I were to call to you and teU you to jump off that I would
catch you; would you jump?"
"No, indeed" said WiUiam very decidedly.
"But, why not? If I were to promise you that I would
certainly catch you and that you would not "be hurt, why
wouldn't you jump?"
"Because I would'nt think you would have the strength to
catch me."
"Ah, that is it exactly" he replied "You would not believe
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CONVERSION 15
that I could do it. That is unbelief. You would lack futh in
me,"
There flashed into William's mind a funt idea of what it
meant to doubt Christ, and he felt a little guilty for seeming
to doubt Christ.
"But look at that limb again" he said with a new vigor in
his tone. "Suppose now that you were on that lim1>— look
up at it."
Once more the boy turned his heavy anxious eyes towards
the limb and it seemed to tower higher than ever.
"Suppose you were up there and Jesus Christ was to come
right here and you should know that it wa» he and he should
Uft both his hands towards you and should call to you 'William,
let go the hmb and fall and I will catch you,' would you do it?"
How the question stirred his soul. He did not make quick
reply. He faced fully the question: "Would I let go if Christ
were to tell me he would catch me." As he thought of Christ
the Son of God making him such an offer he felt with all his
heart that he would let go. He knew that he would. He
even began to wish that he was up on the limb and could show
Christ that he would, and so he answered in glad tone.
"Yes, I would."
"Why would you?" the friend asked.
"Because if he should say he would catch me I beheve that
he would."
"In other words, you would have faith in him" the old man
eagerly replied.
Slowly the light began to break into the boy's mind. The
old man went on to tell him that he would let go the Hmb
because he had faith in Christ, and "so Christ says you must
let go your sins and all your earthly hopes for salvation, and
fall into his arms and he will catch you and save you." We
need not protract the story except to say that William went
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
16 TEACHING SCHOOL
into the church and resolved that he would not leave the
building until he settled the question as to whether he would
trust himaelf to Chribt to save him; and right there that night
he settled it. He saw his brother Heniy sitting in another part
of the church and he pushed hia way over to him, squeezed
into the bench by him, put his hand on his shoulder and leaning
as far up towards his ear as he could get, whispered : ' 'Brother
Henry, I can trust the Savior." It was late that night when
Henry and William reached home; the house had long been
wrapped in slumber, but Henry tip-toed into the old father's
room went to his bed, gently awoke him and stud :
"Father, great news tonight; your baby boy came into the
kingdom of God."
A day or so later, the father said to him: "My Son, if you
are thinking of joining the church I suggest that you read your
New Testament before taking any public step."
William had always declared that he expected to be a
Presbyterian in memory of his mother who was a Presbyterian.
His kins-people on his father's side were Baptiste. He went
to the New Testament and one day he announced that he
had decided to be baptized and joia the Baptist Church. A few
days later, as the multitude gathered at the beautiful Otter
Creek, and as old Father Harris led the candidates down into
the water, one of that happy number was William. He at-
tended some cottage prayer meetings and to his over-mastering
d^ight his words to an unsaved young man led him to Christ,
It was hia first taste of aoul winning and a fire was then kindled
in hia heart that never went out.
He now faced a crisis. He had completed his course in the
n^ghborhood schools, was seventeen years of age, and was
prepared by his studies to enter College — but alas, his father
bad not the means to send him. He determined to earn the
money and at the age of seventeen he went to the home of his
married aister at the foot of the Peaks of Otter to teach school.
He thus writes:
"My brother Henry went with me; we traveled on horseback
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DECISION TO PREACH 17
carrying my little stock of goods in very ordinary saddle bags.
I am sure I did not cany as much as two doUars with me and
although I was then seventeen years and four months old I
do not believe that I had had as much as five dollars in all my
life put together. I had suffered greviously during the past
summer with eczema and it troubled me all the winter long.
During that winter I occupied a little log cabin in the yard and
did quite an amount of reading, — though as a fact, I had
nothing to read by in the way of light except fire light, light-
wood not being found in that neighborhood."
In addition to his regular school he organized what he called
a "School of Manners" in which he taught bis pupils "how to
enter a parlor," "how to sit in a chair," "how to use the knife
and fork in eating" and other such feats of social skill. He
became keenly interested also in a community Debating
Society, and here he probably had his first experience in
grappling with others in debate.
But this young teacher had a trouble within his own breast
that his pupils knew not of. A question was knocking at bis
soul for an answer — the question as to whether he ought to
alter the Gospel ministry. He had as a boy seemed very
positive that God did not intend for him to be a farmer. His
mother's dying prayer was that he should be a preacher; old
Father Harris had startled him one day with the same sug-
gestion, and in other ways the subject had g^ed his atten-
tion. The question had been disturbing him so long and was
now Bo persistent in its appeal that one night — misty and
dismal though it was — he put on his hat and went out into the
darkness and pushed bis way up a near-by hill determined
that he would remain on the hill until the question was settled.
There, under a cheny tree, the dying prayer of her whose
dust was sleeping under another cherry tree was answered and
her boy there decided to devote himself to the gospel ministry.
His decision to preach, however, did not fling him precipi-
tately into the active ministry. Between him and his chosen
life's work there stood the CoU^e, and between him and the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
18 TEACHING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
College were several hundred dollars which he must earn;
and so when his little school closed he moved around to the
other side of the mountain where he was engaged to teach
another school for the next twelve months. At this time he
wore a glove on his crippled hand. At the end of the Besaion he
returned to his home with his earnings, — ^which were not
sufficient, however, to unlock the College gate. Although hia
soul cried out for the high education, he turned once more to
teaching in order to increase his financial store. He undertook
a private school in Mont^mery County, writing at the same
time a letter of inquiry to Dr. Ryland, President of Richmond
College, regarding the College; but the passing weeks brought
him no reply.
In the meantime something happened in his school. He
was compelled to whip one of his obstreporous pupils and that
night the big father lunged into William's room and demanded
an explanation. William told him that the proper discipline
of the school required the whipping and then informed the
fuming parent that if he was dissatisfied he could settle
with him and their relations would cease. The suggestion was
accepted and thereupon William packed up and departed,
sleeping that night at a neighbor's.
Next morning he stopped at the Post Office on his way to
the depot, and was handed a letter which proved to be from
Dr. Ryland. The letter swd in substance, "Come on to
lUchmond College."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FOUR 7BABS AT BICBUOND OOLLBQK
1864-1858
Upon bis arrival at home he was greeted by the news that his
brother Harvey had also decided to enter the ministry and
soon it was agreed that William should divide his funds with
Harvey and that together they should enter Richmond College.
A happy day was that for William. For twenty years he
had been a country youth and had played his little part within
the circle of the mountains. But now the portal swings open
and he is to enter the great world out«de. His passion for
knowledge, — so rampant and aggressive — ^is at last to be
rewarded and he ia to become a student in a great institution
and a comrade with ambitious, brilliaDt young men.
As William and bis brother were speeding along on the tr^
that was taking them to the College at Bichmond William said :
"Harvey, my feeling of greenness and outlandishness, as I
think of the CoU^e, is overwhelming and I know we will cut a
Sony figure before those brilliant, highly advanced students."
"I expect you are right, William."
"I know we will furnish them amusement and be the tai^t
for their jokes" continued William "but I do have one wish
and that is that we will not be the worst of the lot."
"Vain wish" Harvey rephed laughing.
"I think" continued William "that if we can only find just
one student who is unquestionably a bigger fool than we are I
will rest easier."
"You are becoming scared too soon. I am not troubled.
19
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
20 RICHMOND COLLEGE
Those fellows do not wony me, and what care I for their
polish and their big learning. They have had their chance and
we bave'nt. They will have to take ue at what we are/' and
Harvey grew defiant as lie spoke.
But defiauOe did not suit William's mood at that mommt.
He finally said:
"Harvey."
"What is it?"
"If the fool killer does come around the Coll^fe after we
get there, it will go a long way towards reconcilii^ me to n^
dreadful fate if I can only witness the execution of one fool
greater than I am, before my time comes."
At sunset these two mountain boys alighted at the depot in
Richmond, and engaged the driver of a street wagon to carry
them and thar trunks to the College for twenty-five cents
apiece. Each one sat upon his trunk in the wagon and in such
state and pomp they drove in upon the College campus.
"A somewhatt oldish student" spying these two country
youths took them in* hand at once, showed them where they
could get their supper, found a room where they could sleep
and all the while kept talking to them in quite a knowing and
fatherly way. William was overwhelmed with gratitude and
said to others afterwards that he loved the fellow on the spot.
But that night after William and Harvey had gone to bed
William said softly:
"Harvey."
"What is it?" mumbled the older brother.
"I solemnly believe that if the fool killer comes along to-
night that you and I will have two chances to one so far as our
kind benefactor who took us in hand <hi our arrival this evening
is concerned." William's jest about bis greenness had in it
no mock modesty. His own stock of learning seemed to him
so small that he thought that if he could hold his tongue he
would at least not make a fool of himself with the students.
He expected to be thrilled by the fine talk of bright pupils.
His thirst was for knowledge. There were great books to be
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RICHMOND COLLEGE 21
studied; great teachers from whom be could learn and gifted
students with whom he could associate, and that constituted
the i^oiy of the Collie for him.
He and Harvey on Sunday rec^ved company and William
sud they v, ere wild with coacdt to find how well they were being
ccmadered by the students. He said that be felt dwarfed by
the superior genius of some of the young men in CoU^e that
year, and they taught him "that there was a long chasm
between mediocrity and genius."
Hie capacity for friendship manifested itself during this
Brst session, bis soul becoming knit to that of a student named
Charles H. Ryland and the unioix thus formed continued
imbroken to the end of life.
There was another studmt there with whom be fonned a
life long friendship. He was a simple-hearted, unpretentious,
country youth, but at thdr first meeting WiUiam knew that
he would like him and at every meetJi^ the liking grew, grew
soUdly and rapidly. And though William was slow in letting
down the bars, yet they were gradually all taken down and
it came to pass that a second friendship was formed — this
time with John R. Bagby, which proved in some respects to
be the atrot^est, most lasting and most affectionate of his life.
He was discriminating in his estimate of bis Ck>ll^e mates.
There was one student, who afterwards became a distinguished
minister, who seemed to excite William's aversion and indigna-
tion to whom he aaid: "I do not like your actions, or your
manners; they are offensive to me."
Even regarding one of the high officials of the College whom
he respected he said: "If I had superintended the making of the
old gentleman I would have omitted' several things." William's
decisioa of character expressed itself strongly in his likes and
dislikes. He stud in later years to the venerable official that
in his stud^it days he admired him and reverenced him but
that there were times when bis admiration was not in working
order.
If he did not like a tbmg his instinct for improvement would
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
22 RICHMOND COLLEGE
spring into action. There was a Literary Society in the College
which he joined but he soon found himself discontented. It
lacked snap and force and he said so, and he and Charley
Ryland and W. S. Penick decided that conditions would be
bettered by the organization of another Society. They thought
that the two would stimulate each other and a higher standard
of excellence be maintained. Accordingly the three young
men decided to launch the new organization at the opening
of the second season.
This was done, young Ryland suggesting its name, — "Philolo-
^an" and William suggesting W. S. Penick as its first preadent.
"I think" "said Charles Ryland referring to the new Society,
"that more than any other single person he [Wilham E. Hatcher]
shaped its early life and gave it popularity in the College."
The following letter was written recently by a lady who was
a student in those days in the Richmond Female Institute.
She thus describes the young Bedford student, Mr. William
Hatcher:
"He said of himself in his inimitable style that he started to
College aa a verdant country youth fearing the fool killer
would seize him before be reached Richmond. But the faculty
welcomed him as a lad of unusual promise. They placed him
in the front rank and kept him on the roll of honor during
his College career. Like many freshmen he took the role of
cynic and woman hater. Perhaps he thought he could pursue
his studies better under this guise. He was handsome and
witty, BO that "the girls" of that period who are the grand-
mothers and great grandmothers of today — or, of yesterday —
were anxious- to make his acquaintance. But he resolutely
declined all invitations and always expressed his contempt for
the fair sex when as collie orator he had an opportunity to
express his views. He declared that he could forgave their
ignorance of literature if they knew anything of domestic
science; but that while they read nothing more uplifting than
Godey's Lady's book, they marveled how the apples ever got
into the dumplings. I do not use quotation marks because his
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RICHMOND COLLEGE 23
langiuage was better than my memory. These remarks were
listeied to by the senior class of the Richmond Female Insti-
tute, yomig ladies whose professors were proud of their way of
reciting Butler's Analogy, Virgil, and Mathanatics. Of course
they yearned for revenge,"
He heard that a young pastor from Baltimore, Rev. George
B. Taylor, would deUver an alumni address before the College.
The thought oi a young minister speaking under such con-
ditions fired his imagination and kindled his desire to hear
him. He heard him, — ^the subject of the address being 'The
Thinker."
He afterwards wrote; "I did not meet the alumni orator on
the occasion but I saw men and women shaking hands with
him in a pleased way, and I knew that he hit the nail on the
head. I joined the student gang as they plodded out and
despaired of ever doing anything like that."
He himself made a striking address in July 1856. It was
before the Grace Street Baptist Sunday School in Richmond
where he bad been invited to make a fourth of July E^}eech.
The manuscript has been found among bla papers and was
written with scrupulous neatness. The sheets are sewed
together and enclosed within a blue wrapper, on the back of
which are written — or rather pen printed with ornamental
border, — ^the words:
"Delivered before the
"Grace Street Sabbath School
"July 4th 1856
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
Not a word is erased nor a line altered in the manuscript, and
its whole appearance shows that it is the final product of much
preparation. Even at this early period he had begun the
practice of careful rewritings of his public discourses. His
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
24 FIRST EFFORTS AT PREACHING
addreea predicts the coming war between the North and the
South. He chose as his subject, "The influence oi Politics upon
the country's youth", and among other things he said: "Present
conditions indicate the overthrow of our country It seems
that our nation wishes to exhaust the vitality of the Union
by bleeding her at every vein by party weapons and by tearing
her asunder . . ." He then tells them tliat he speaks not
as a Southerner to justify the South but "to exhort the South
to show a spirit of tolerance and patience befitting the solemn
poffition which we occupy." Civil War would be worse, he
declared, than fordgn war with England.
"Let England come. She can not inflict upon ub half the
mischief that must result from Civil war. . . . Civil War
in the Unionlll Oh my countrymen and my GodI ....
"I never gaze into the calm eye of a promising boy without
sighing: 'How like lambs for the slaughter'
"Little boys, don't be politicians. . . . Your country calls
you to be patriots. Your God calls you to be christians."
In his first efforts at preaching, however, William had much
to discourage him. He had had no homJIetical instruction.
His first attempt seems to have been made durii^ his vaca-
tion in Bedford and after his first year in College. He watt
over to a nearby house where a young man was holding a
series of meetings. The preacher laid hold of him and put
him up for a sermon. After the performance, as William was
walking away in the dark, he heard an old fellow say to some
one "I dun got a fa'r night's sleep while that feller was talkin' "
The remark sent him on his way in a crumpled and shattered
condition. A stinging blow of that nature always withered
hint. Some yotmg men could make ludicrous spectacles of
themselves and suffer collapse and yet shake it o£F with a
laugh, but not so with William. He fought hard to avoid
such disasters but when they came it was not in lus nature to
make light of them.
It is true that we have no record of these early failurea
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FIRST EFFORTS AT PREACHING 25
except Mte recitals of his own pen and his failures may have
seemed greater to him than to others. He related that the
president of the Ck>llege used to send the young ministerial
students to preach at one of the Colored Baptist churches
of the dty. Some said he sent them that they might practice
on the colored hearers. "He sent me once" said ^lliam
"and the way in which I tried the people effectually cut me
off from any further practice on my part."
He was ^ven another opportunity at a Mission and he
esid: "My text and I had a misunderstanding at the start and
were never on speaking terms afterwards." It was during
his second summer vacation that a kind hearted old kinsman
at whose house be was visiting sud: "William I want you to
stay over Sunday and preach and let me see what you can
do." William did not fancy the mode of invitation for he did not
feel that he had any preaching wares to be putting on exhibi-
tion but he preached. "It was forty years" he said "before
I was invited to that pulpit ^ain."
But the tide soon turned. During this same Summer a
message came to him one day from old Father Harris telling
him that a meeting was to begin at Sjick Spring Church on
the next Sunday and as the old pastor could not be present on
the opening day, he asked William to preach for him. With
a fluttering of heart he consented and set about his prepara-
tion. He swd: "I conned over my text, walked it in the woods,
combed out the tallies of my tiioughts, went on my knees
about it and then with many dreads and with enough awkward-
ness to enliven a circus I went to the appointment." He
preached from the text; "Come unto me ail ye that labor and
are heavy laden and I will give you rest" and he s^d that as he
preached, the fires in his own heart seemed to kindle; his
text opened before him with a new and heavenly richness
and his soul feasted and reveled in it as he gave it out to his
As he was jogging homewards after the service an old gentle-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
26 FIRST EFFORTS AT PREACHING
man, a deacon of the church, stately and dignified rode up
beside him in the road and said :
"I must have you for dinner today" and then later on he
SEud — and William noticed that the old gentleman's voice
choked as he spoke:
"How I wish my boyB could have gotten into the church
today and could have heard you. I think they could not have
resisted it,"
His words fell hke music upon the young preachers
ears. Nothing like it had he ever heard before. But another
surprise awaited him. A second geatlem&n soon joined thern,
in their ride, — William's old teacher.
"Who is to conduct these meetings?" the teacher asked
but the other did not seem to know. Whereupon the teacher
who was a Methodist, said: "If you could get this boy, my old
school boy, to do the preaching and be would tell that story
as he told it today we would have a great revival." It is not
known what "that stoiy" was which so impressed the old
teacher but it was this plan of telling one great story in a
sermon that took root in his ministry and bore rich fruit in his
subsequent hfe.
On Tuesday morning, to his overwhelming surpnse, he
received a request from the old pastor that he would come
back to Suck Spiing Church and help him in the meetings.
He responded to the request and preached day by day in
meetings that became memorable in that section of the country.
"It was as sweet as the grapes of eschol" he said "it had
in it the very wines of the celestial kingdom and put a new
light on life and a new peace in my heart."
The following narrative of an incident that oocured in the
meetings shows hia habit of taking note of ludicrous situations
in the midst of aolenm surroundings.
"It runed one night" he said "shutting in a restless hound.
At the close of my sermon I called on a brother to make a
special prayer. It was a brother who bad a voice sepulchral
in his depths and mountainous in its elevations. He began
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HUMOROUS INCIDENTS IN MEETINGS 27
under ground, resembling somewhat a bumble bee in a barrel,
or the solemn rumble of a wind in a cellar. Every sentence
gave new strength and swell to hie voice until there was some
solicitude felt about the roof. Not long after he began hla
prayer I, who was kneeling in the pulpit, heard a most piteous
and piercing whine behind me.' For a time I felt entirely too
devout to investigate the trouble but I found that every time
the praying brother climbed a new note higher in his prayer
this dismal noise behind me and right at my feet also grew
in strength until I felt constriuned to look around.
"It was the immense hound and the extraordinary vocal
ocercises which were going on at the foot of the pulpit steps
were evidently getting upon his nerves. The prayer was
affecting the hound very seriously and I made a sort of calcula-
tion based on my acquaintance with the ascending scale of
Brother Lee's vocal power in prayer with the result that I con-
cluded that if the dog rose in his vocal excitement correspond-
ii^ly with the brother that the church would hear a mountain
howl that would be most unfriendly to our revival."
His ability to see humorous features that might be lurking
about an incident appeared in one of his visits to hear Dr.
Jeter preach at Grace Street Church. Doctor Jeter was
comparing the glory of the christian to the distinctions of
earth and William thus writes regarding the sermon:
"He was in the preaching humor and was towering in his
passionate eloquence. Rising to the climax and with his voice
at the highest pitch he exclaimed:
" 'I would rather be a christian than to have the wealth of the
Rothchilds; I would rather be a christian than to be the presi-
dent of these United States; I would rather be a christian than
to wear the crown of England and — I would rather be a christian
(here he was very high) than to — than to be (here he began to
shake and fall) rather be a christian I say, — than than to be —
than I say to be — Jidiua Caesar.'
"Why he lu^ed in the tyrannical Caesar at this point I
never knew. He may have thought that he would meet the
exigencieB of the case inasmuch as the imperial Caesar is
reputed to be useful in stopping a crack to keep the wind away.
I suspected that he brought in the blood-thirsty old Roman in a
spirit of vexation and as a curt way of expressing contempt for
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
28 COLLEGE REVIVAL
His passion for souls that had been kindled in hia Suck
Spring meetingB burned within him at College. He set his
heart upon having a great revival of religion among the students
and it was characteristic of him th&t when once he had set
for himself a high task hia soul would flame with the purpoee
to accompUsh it. His prayers and efforts were rewarded and
a revival broke out among the students. Meetings vers held
every day "and nearly every student was brought to Christ"
says Rev. W. J. Shipman, one of the students. "He (William
E. Hatcher) was the prime mover in this revival and tiirough
his efforts it was kept up. He was the leader and he was the
one who led Joe Turner to the Saviour. William E. Hatcher
was prominent in every religious movement in the Coll^
while he was there." The meetings wrought a spintual up-
heaval in the College. "They produced a remarkable effect
upon Collie life" said Dr. Ryland and in later years William
writes: "The memories of that revival would fill a book and
rarely do they ever come back without opening the fountains
of my soul."
One Wednesday night he attended a prayer meeting at
the Grace Street church and hia little trip brought to him a
new and life-long friend. He writes regarding Rev. Geo. B.
Taylor:
"Just before my graduation I was one night at the Grace
Street Church prayer meeting and found this young minister
present with bis bride, they being then on a visit to his parents.
How modestly proud he was as he presented that fair treasure
of his aoul to his o|d church friends and was met with joyous
congratulations on every side. It is a choice memory to me
that in some way he singled me out and said a few words not a
bit patronizing, but so simple and ofThand that it marked an
epoch in my life. I went out with a new glow in me — a feeling
of comradeship with men as the poadble thing to come."
Rev. W. J. Shipman says in a letter concemii^ William E.
Hatcher that he "was con^dered a student of superior intellect."
Dr. Willingbam who knew him later in hfe Bud "be had the
brightest mind of any man I ever knew."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRADUATION 29
"Rev. Wm. E. Hatcher's course at Richmond Collie (says
the Herald quoting from "The True Index") was a brilliant
one, closing with a graduating address which electrified the
audience and sent many of them home with the sage reflection
"That young nkan will make his mark."
This reference to his graduating address brings us to the
end of his Collie career. "When he made his graduatu^
addreea at the Commencemwit" writes Dr. Richer "he captured
the audience as no other graduate had done and stepped into
enviable prominence." The subject of his address was "The
Graduate." He emerged from College with his field of labor
already chosen. He had accepted a call from the Baptist
Church in Manchester — a town on the other «de of the river.
Against this shabby town he had picked up a violent prejudice.
In describing his feelings about the place before he had even
thought of going there he sfud : ' 'When I was in a mood to make
bad wishes against anybody I wished that they might have to
hve in Manchester."
After the College Commencement he spent a month with
hifl father at the home in Bedford. The father was then in his
76th year. William writes:
"We were much together and yet, blame me if you will, not
s word passed about my pastorate and not a word as to bis
reli^ous belief or his mental attitude towWs the scriptures.
At times I had twinges of self reproach and f^t a wondering
sense of responmbility; but somehow I could not get my Ups
to frame the words."
Such reluctance to speaking to other members of the family
about th^ reli^ous condition seems to have been a Hatcher
trait. Dr. Jeter said that his mother — ^who was a sister of
William's father, — never spoke to him about b^i^ a christian
and yet he sud he always felt that she was praying for him.
William bade his father and family good bye, closed his Bedford
visit and hurried to Manchesto*, there to b^;in his career as
pastor.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER IV
FIRST nUM or UANCHEBTBIt FABTORATB
1858-1861
The town of Manchester seemed like a blot upon the map;
and, as for the church, it lacked almost everything except a
big indebtedness.
The church building was only partially completed. |7,000
worth of work had been done upon it, but only $1,500 had been
raised to pay for this work. In addition to this, the church
membership was demoralized and scattered.
Bow came this popular young minister to link himself with
such a "foriom hope"? ITie Preddent of the Collie thought
he had committed a blunder.
"The awe inspiring president of the College ripped me up
without mercy for accepting the call, assured me that the
worst disasters were ahead of me and distinctly hinted to me
that my greatness consisted in my folly. Not even his relentless
upbraidings awoke in me one doubt as to my duty to take up
my work in Manchester."
With this conviction he entered upon his pastorate. It
was only a basement room in which his church could meet
and work and there on the first Sunday in August 1858 he
preached his first sermon, — ^preached it, as he said, "to a lot
of well behaved ^mpty benches". The aght of the Uttle
woe-be^ne handful at hia first service sent a chill through his
soul. The next Sunday was hke unto the first, — and his
efforts seemed a mockery. He was young, had never had a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MANCHESTER PASTORATE 31
church before and knew next to nothing about pastoral work.
He realized that he had a crisis on his hands and he said he
felt that nothing but a miracle could save the day.
"That week I took myself out for a private interview" he
said "and myself and I went over the situation and agreed that
it was grira and that my incompetence was grimmer. We
finally got together — that is, I and myself — and passed one
resolution to the effect that we would go in with both hands
and both feet, with heart and soul, day and night, praying all
the time and would work one sohd year though it should be
on empty benches, though there was not a conversion, not a
vidble tear, not a sign nor symptom of interest or progress
during all that time."
Friday night was the time for his weekly prayer meeting
and when he entered the room he was surprised to find such
a goodly attendance and during the service, — Oh, wonder of
wonders — a young woman was converted, — gloriously con-
verted while he was speaking. He read" the fact at once in her
radiant face and streaming tears. It melted all hearts but
it was merely the be^nning. On Sunday the pastor preached
with a new fervor, and others came forward to tell of thdr
faith in Christ. A revival sprang up that stirred his church
and the town, meetings were held night by night and the
membership grew from 35 to more than a hundred.
He next turned his attention to the $5,500 debt restii^
upon the church and in a rapid, ^gressive campugn he raised
the entire amount.
The auditorium of the church was still unfinished and
another campaign, therefore, was set on foot and in a short
while the building was completed and pastor and people
moved up into their new and larger church quarters.
After these months of strain he hurried away to his beloved
Bedford, — ^in the midst of winter. He felt that he ought to
speak to bis old father about his soul and about bis preparation
for the other^'worldijfor^up to this time neverja^word to the
old man about his_reIigiou8 conditicoi had ever passed his Ups.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
32 HIS FATHER'S TESTIMONY
He went and precious days he had with hia father, but the
last day had come and the one subject above all others had
not heen mentioned in any of thar conversationfl. The rest
of the story is told by William. :
"I felt so much the pain of the long drawn out silence between
us. I was to leave early one morning; it was mid-winter, and
the weather was rough, and the station was fully eight miles
away, and my father shocked the family by announcing that
he would take me to the station. It did not seem to be a
prudent thing, for by this time he was in bis 8eventy<»xth
year and walked with a weakening step. But he had a will
and a way of his own which, while rugged and decided, was
not stormy nor harsh — only, when he said it all interrelation
points were taken down, and the thing was settled.
"I recall the morning that we moved out along the old lane,
and how unusually sober and taciturn be seemed to be; but
after we turned into the main road, he said:
" 'I was anxious to come with you because I have something
to say to you.'
"He told me then, with no sign of fear, but with some tender
symptoms of emotional sorrow, that he felt that Ms strength
was fast going and that I seemed so set upon my work that
he really doubted whether he would ever see me agtun, and
that he did not want a final separation until he had made a
statement.
" 'I have never talked with you, my son,' he said, veiy
soberly, 'about my own religious outlook. Perhaps you have
thought it strange that I did not, but felt that I ought to have
trusted you more.'
" 'No, father,' I said, 'there has been a fellowship between
us. I cannot say that I know the secrets of your heart, but
in some way I have had an abounding faith in you. I have
sometimes chided myself that I did not talk with you, but I
always justified myself by the thought that you knew me, and
I knew you.'
"He seemed delighted. He brightened up gloriously, and
seemed to feel that he was put on a better footing, and th«a his
long voiceless faith told its story. He said that in the long,
far back past he was stricken with conviction, felt the need of a
Saviour's mercy, and that while out in the farm where bis
servants were working be found his trust in God, and was made
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS FATHER'S TESTTMONY 33
to rejoice in the hope of eternal life. He spoke of it as a distinct,
deci^ve, and unquestionable experience, and from that dated
his christian life. He s^d that at Brst he was so startled and so
stricken with a sense of weakness that he did not tell it, and
that silence became the mood of his new experience. He totd
me tiao that at the time he much desired to go into the church,
but that there was a grievous feud raging in the church at the
time, and he felt that it would not help him spiritually to get
into the atmosphere of the wrangling. I could but respect lum
for shrinking away from such an unhealthy church atmosphere,
and in my later life I have had occasion to question whether
it was desirable that a young christian should be flung into the
hostile winds of a church strife. I know that my heart filled
with unutterable sympathy for the loneliness of his christian
life, filled with a feeling that it was better to tie shut out than
shut in with a church life that could not nourish and protect
"I can hardly recall the things that were said at that point
in our conversation, but I do know that in that morning ride
we found God's time for our talk. I had intended to speak to
him that morning, had my heart fully set upon doing so, but
it was far better for him to take the initiative part, and it was
the blessing of my life time to hear him with such brief, common
words, and with such rising ardors tell of the peace which he
had had in God, of the joy that he had had in prayer, and of the
sustaining hope that tlien filled him, and of his readiness to go
hence whenever his Saviour beckoned him to come. It was
plain, old-time religious talk, straight out of his heart, broken
a littie by emotion and maybe with some of its grammar not
in its best form; but it was a testimony that has been part of
the heritage of this world to me. It was a light that broke out
at eventide for him and for me in the freshness of the morning,
"'But there is one thing I ought to tell you,' he said, 'and
tiiat is that in reviewing my religious course, I am not satisfied.
I never lost my faith, I never lost my peace, but I lost much
by not coming out. I lost baptism, I lost fellowship with the
good people in the church. I lost my christian influence, and
I feel deeply and will probably feel forever that I lost much in
the other world by not doing better in this.'
'"The sun glowed with a heaven bom luster on the Bedford
bills as we had ih&t memorable, that delicious conversation.
It put songs in my soul, and wtule I saw the moisture on his
eyelids when he ^oolc hands and I bounded on the train, I
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
34 MANCHESTER
went my way rejoicing. I had what I had longed for. My
father had spoken, and I was satisfied. Only three brief
months fled away, and the tidings, too slow in coming, reached
me that the end had come, and I saw him no more."
Two great religious gatherings were held in Richmond
during May uid June. The first was the Southern Baptist
Convention composed of representative Baptist ministers and
laymen from all the Southern states. He had never looked
upon this large body. He thus describes his first ught of the dis-
tinguished Dr. Richard Fuller. It occurred on the opening
night of the Convention.
"I found myself on that lower platform fearfully jammed up
agwnst a rugged old gentleman with a touseled head, obstnidve
features and an eye of diamond splendor and my distinct
impression was that he was a well-to-do cattle merchant from
the mountains. So far as my position would allow I listened
with interest to several becoming little speeches setting forth
the claims of Dr. Richard Fuller of Baltimore for the premdency.
At once I favored his election for it would enable me to see
him — he at that time being the most eminent pulpit orator in
the South. He was chosen without opposition and my surprise
can be imagined when I say that when they summoned the
Doctor to the platform to assume the gavel, my oppressive
mountaineer, who was fast exhausting my breath, turned out
to be the veritable Dr. Fuller. I had private as well as public
reasons for rejoicing in his election."
In the next month occurred the gathering of the Viipnia
Baptista in their General Association. This body met in the
city of Richmond and one day during its sessions the youthful
pastor from Manchester was called to the front to tell of the
wonderful blessings that had come upon his church.
The person who infiuenced him most lai^ely was Dr. J. B.
Jeter. Durii^ the summer he labored with the Doctor in
revival meetings. This aged minister was of noble, com-
ipunding personality with high mental and spiritual ^ts
and his young cousin seemed to imbibe much of the best
that was in the old xma. But this did not obscure William's
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MEETINGS IN AMELIA AND STAUNTON 35
seoae of the ludicrous — even in the revival meetings. The
meetings were in Amelia county. He s^d:
"Almost every morning Dr. Jeter, when looking over his
manuacripts and selecting his sermon for the day, would refer
rather complacently to his sermon on "The Brazen Serpent."
It was evidently ooe of bis favorites. It had done valuable
execution in his Maaters service elsewhere and he was fond of
preaching it. He spoke of it to me so often that I said to him
more than once: "Bring him out; give us your 'Brazen Serpent'
today." But he did not do so. He saved that for his last, and
as I bad never heard it I supposed it would be his best. But
it proved an unlucky day for the brazen serpent. The Doctor
did not break down but his manner was painfully stilted and
his delivery fri^d and feebla Apparently the sermon pro-
duced no effect. I was a little slow in getting out to the dinner
table in the yard and when I reached there I found him already
on hand and devouring his dinner with a gusto in no degree
abated by the disaster of the morning. He met me as I walked
up and with a grim and comical twinkle in his eye said: 'Well
after all my brazen serpent proved a flash in the pan.'
"As I was booked for a sermon that afternoon and waa very
anxious to put him in aa a substitute I was bold enough to say'
to him:
" 'I admit that the Brazen Serpent did not go well but you
ought to preach again before leaving the community and I want
you to preach this afternoon.'
" 'Ah; I may go from bad to worse' he said in melancholy tone
and yet with the smile not yet faded from his face and theo
after a little reflection he ventured:
" 'Well I will take a turn in the bushes and will see if I can
beat up another sermon.'
"He preached that afternoon on 'The Woman that was a
innner' and it was a sermon of irresistible power."
It was during this same Summer that there awoke within
him an aspiration to use bis pen for the pubhc press and the
pubUc benefit. It came about in this way. Rev, George B.
Taylor, who -has already been referred to in these pages 88
having twice crossed the path of the youthful William — each
time with happy effect — , was at this time pastor of the Stauntrai
Baptist Church and invited his friend William K. Hatcher to
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
36 LITERAHY AMBITION
aid him in meetings at his church. Mr. Hatcher w^t and
writes concerning his delightful viat. His words may well be
studied for they indicate some of the ideals that were Uien
forming in his soul. Regarding Mr. Taylor's invitation he
writes:
"With ill-concealed rapture I accepted the call and in due
season I went. As I look back and measure the motive of my
going I have to say that my longing for companionship with
him play^ no small part. I felt that there was a rich treasure
in him for me. He knew ao much that I knew not and knew
it in such a way as I was eager to learn. ... He stirred me
by iiis luminous talk about books. Then, too, he was growing
fast aa a writer and by my contact with him, rather than by any
words of bis, I found myself inflamed with a new ambition to
put my pen to use in a literary and reh^ous way. . . . How
my soul reveled in himl He put a storm of new thoughts
flowii^ over my head and heart and the influence of it aerer
went out."
The most fflgniScant words m the above communication
are those referring to liis ambition to use his pen for the public
service. It is not his love of writing to which he refeni for
that literary aspiration seems to have been in him from child-
hood. "The love of compoffltion" says he "was inherent in
me and the thought that I might see at some time some pro-
duction from my pen burned aa a flame in my soul in my
youthful days." Such a desire has glowed in many a soul.
Byron writes in pl^ul fashion:
"Us pleasant sure to see one's name in print.
A book's a book although there's nothii^ in it."
Mr. Hatcher naturally loved to build up sentences. "We
have great respect" he writes "for the man who writes from
a genuine passion for composition." His Staunton visit
seemed to awake in him an ambition to use his poi for higher
purposes than his own gratification. He resolved tb use it — as
be expresses it — "in a literary and religious way". Hoiceforth
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BUSY PASTOR 37
bis pen was destined to become an instrumeot of cheer and
blessing to thousands and thousands of readers.
He had had no home of his own up to this time but the coming
of his widdwed sister with her h^py hearted daughter linked
than together in a house keeping arrangement that provided
a home for the three under veiy delightful conditions.
But the young pastor had a task that sorely tested bis
leadership. His church membership, instead of being a homo-
geneous body, was a conglomeration.
"Our choir leader was turned out for habitual cruelty to his
wife. Our clerk was found to be spending many of his nights
at the card table. Our senior deacon who collected the money
for my salary had his drunken sprees much more regularly
than he paid me my salary and the most prominent woman of
the church had almost infinite genius for breeding disorders."
It was not long, however, before the Baptist Church re-
sembled a bee hive in activity. Every night the lights burned
brightly in the building and the young pastor was on hand
with some sacred device for attracting the young people,
satisfying thdr social aspirations, disciplining them in Bible
study and enlisting them in Christian service.
He taught a Sinfpng Class on Thursday nights and on
Sundays be was the ch<Mr leader as well aa the preacher. His
friend, John R. Bagby, still a student at the College, and
bimself a muacian would come over and help him with his
music and t<^ther they would often take up a new soi^
book and sing it through at one time. A Debating Society
among bis young people was organized which became quite
famous in .the town and which received frequent noUce in the
Rictmumd p^wrs. As for the devotion of the m^nbers, a
lady writes: "A number of tbem seldom drew thdr pay on
Saturday night that they did not buy something to send to
tbdr pastor."
But already one of the most powerful forces within his
soul had b^un to manifest itself, — his love for boys. All
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
38 WORK WITH BOYS
classes of people gained his interest and for them he would
make sacrifices, but he would go the farthest length for boys, —
especially those whose lot was narrow and lonely. He had
them in his home, in his study, in his walks. Often he would
have them spend a night, or a week, — sometimes to stay
indefinitely, as in the case of Harvey Nunually and others.
Dr. C. V. Waugh, of Florida, now an honored minister, was
one of these boys and he writes:
"No mortal can ever know what he was to me. ... I love
him next to my own dear mother. He showed me my life's
work and helped me in so many ways to get ready for it. ■ . .
As long as I live I shall incarnate him in me all I can."
The dght of a boy touched the deepest Eiprings of his
sympathy. Why was this? He writes:
"Possibly it was the hardships of my boyhood, my loneli-
ness without a mother, my bothers about an education, the
perplexities of my religious struggles and withal some heavenly
suggestion unheard but powerfully felt, that kindled from the
beginning of my ministry a pecuhar interest in boys. My
consciousness of it was in revivals and every boy that evinced
decided interest in reli^on instantly grappled me."
He organized a Boy's Meeting which became a bright spot
in the life of many a neglected lad.
His second Summer arrived and again he hied himself
away to the country, — this time to hold a scries of revival
meetings at the Fine Creek Church with Rev. P. S. Henson.
"William E. Hatcher and P. S. Henson were both distinguished
preachers at that early day" writes Dr. Geo. W. Hyde. "They
were both exceedingly popular. These noble preachers held
forth to great audiences for about ten days." Some happy
sequels were to follow from these meetings.
A bit of news reached him one day in Manchester that filled
his sky with blackness. It was his first experience of the kind
and he thought that the end of his ministry had come.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STARTLED BY A RUMOE 39
"For a time I never dreamed that I could outlive it," be
writes. "A big, rugged fellow turned the rumor into the street
that he had seen me in one of the most disorderly bar rooms in
Richmond and in my simplicity I believed that everybody
would believe it and I had hours of entirely unnecessary
anguish about it, although I knew that I had never crossed the
threshold of a bar room. The rumor dissolved and I survived
and I b^an to le&m that, as a rule, slander will cure itself if
you will only give it time."
From that day he seems to have adopted the policy of
ignoring his slanderers — resolving that while be would look
after tus character, hia reputation he would leave in the bands
of God and of his friends.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER V
THE CIVIL VAR. HARRUaE. REVIVAL EXPERIENCES.
1861-1866
But the little squalls that had shaken his pastoral skiff
were but funt breezes compared with the tempest that was
gathering over his head. War between the North and the
South seemed imminent. This young pastor had lused his
wanun^ in his address at the Grace Street Sunday School
three or four years previously. For months he had detected
the mutterings of the coming storm and he knew Richmond
would be the center of it and as he stood at the head of his
little flock he often trembled and cast anxious glances out
into the future.
The news came that South Carolina and other states had
severed their connection with the United States Government.
The North called such action rebelUon. The whole country
was growing restless and the days arrived for Virginia to
cast her vote either in favor of seceding from the Union, or
ag^nst it. The Memorable "Seceaaon Convention" assembled
in Richmond, and the eyes of the South were turned thither
awaiting the verdict. Mr. Hatcher hurried over with anxious
steps to the Capitol and was in the jam and surge of the gallery
crowd on that eventful day. He saw the Convention — saw
the final, mighty effort to avert the spht from the Union —
and then he heard the Convention's fateful deci^n for, —
Secession, and a few days later he saw the war cloud burst
upon Richmond. "Ah what was it" says he "of battle, of
tragedy, of victory, or suffering, or destitution, or wreck that
I did not see during those pregnant and historic years."
40
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE TRAGEDIES OF WAR 41
An entirely new situation now confronted him. His church
work of the past three years, so eminently fruitful, seemed in
danger of being torn up by the roots. The men were being
hurried into the army, the women were busy with sewing and
other preparations for their departii^ husbands and sons;
and tiie dominant thought was not religion, but war. In the
meantime, the multitudes were flocking into Richmond which
soon became the headquarters of the Southern anny and
of the new Southern government, and Manchester had to
accommodate the overflow and to serve as a tramping ground
and the youi^ pastor found himself caught in the maelstrom
of new and bewildering taska. Not only did his agitat«d
members, and the constant stream of strangers in his con-
gregation, demand his attenUon; not only did he seek to main-
tain some semblence of church work, but the woimded ones
in the hospitals, the sorrowing ones in the community, had to
be visited and nunistered to and the final words had to be
spoken over the dead.- The booming of the cannon around
Richmond and the continuous passing of the soldiers through
the town kept the people excited and often idle and reckless.
He lived rapidly during these fri^tful days and tragedies
were his constant companions. For example, he tells of a
bright, beautiful boy in Bedford, who had been converted in
his Suck Springs meetings and who just before the war had
informed Mr. Hatcher of bis decision to prepare himself for
the nunistry. "He furly shouted at the sight of me" says
Mr. Hatcher "drew me from the slu^^sh train and breathed
to me the story which burned as a fire in his heart." And
then came the tragedyl The war blast rai^ throi^ the
state; this youth responded, fell a victim to measles in the
trenches around Bichmond, "died ingloriously in the hospital"
and to the Manchester pastor came the harrowing experience
of following the yomig man's body to his Bedford home and
seeking to give comfort where the light of the family had
gone out. Simply one specimen was this of the desolations
that were ploughing his heart month by month.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
42 THE DAYS OF WAR
The people were beipnub^ to feel the pinch of the war. It
looked as if everything had to go to Uie soldiers, and the folks
at home lived on a scrimpy margiin.
"There were no schools, no factories, no new buildings, no
furniture stores, no dry goods stores, few places for buying
plows, or wagons, or carriages. What we had was wearing out
and 'twas hard to find any more, even if we had money to buy
them with.
"The women attended no new Spring Openings and heard
of no such thing as bargain counters. ... I knew one
pastor who said he was welt acquainted with every bonnet and
hat in his congregation and that there was scarcely one that
he had not known for several years. They might be changed,
re-dyed, or trimmed up in new colors, but they lingered all
through the war."
The war had ita compensations, however. In November
1862 a glorious revival broke upon his church and ran its
course for many weeks, continuing through Christmas and
far mto January, the Herald of January 8th, 1863 reporting
"There have been 115 professions of convermona at the
Manchester Baptist Church and the meeting is still in progress."
"The first time this writer's attention was called to Rev.
W. E. Hatcher," writes Mr. Jeffries of Warrenton "was when
he was in co-operation with Rev. J. Wm, Jones, John A.
Broadus, A. E. Dickinson, Dr. Doj^ett and others in their
religious work with the Confederate soldiers when they were
near to Richmond. . . ."
It is interesting to note how frequently his revival campugns
with other ministers would be attended with some amusing
experience. There seemed to be in his nature something that
reacted from a too prolonged, serious str^. In fact the
solemn seems to lie along the border of the comical and if it
is an easy passage from a tear to a smile it is also true that
in many of his str^ning evangelistic seasons he would see
somethii^ odd, or ludicrous.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE PASTOR IN LOVE 43
He went to the assistance of a young ministerial friend in
the country, — to aid him in revival meetii^ at his church.
He threv himself ard«itiy into the campaign and the meeting
started off well. But there was trouble brewing.
"A dulness clutched the situation. You could feel it. It
grew on apace until it scared me to preach — in fact I could not
preach. My sermons dragged and lumbered and gave out
neither beat nor light. I told the pastor that either I had lost
my religioD, or someone else had. But in my heart I was
suffering. It cut me to the marrow in my bones to see things
ful so. My sleep forsook my eyehds, and I made an August
night forty hours long with my groanings. Dayhght found
me red of eye, full of fidgets and set an finding out something.
I found it.
"The pastor was a College mate and we were chums. As
a rule my chums are like popes and kings — infallible to me.
I had no reproach for my chum, though he did strain me by
his lack of fervor in the meeting. He was too congenial with a
fulure to suit my standards, and more so now because he
was not always that way. But still I do not believe that I
suspected him. One afternoon another man preached —
preached forcibly and with effect. I sat in the comer near the
pulpit, and the pastor was in the pulpit. When I looked at
the man preaching I had the pastor in the line of my vision.
I saw that he was not listening to the sermon. It got on to me
hard as I saw his wilful inattention and I was distressed but
not in an accusing mood.
"After awhile I saw that his gaze went often along a line
which led to a certain window seat over on the ladies' side.
His look was most absorbed and was attended with smiles —
very tender and meaningful smiles. Candor forces me to say
that I did not follow th^t line along which the pastor's en-
chanted glances sped so steadily — not until the congr^ation
was ^nging the doxology. Then I looked and I saw a sight a
very fair sight indeed, but a sight which told a story. It was
upon a young woman with black eyes and cheeks of rose that
the young pastor had been gazing to the absolute n^lect of
the sermon. It was a case of too much sweetheart for him to
be wrapped in revival flames.
"The spirit of the reformer was upon me. I invited the
offender to a stroll down by the milldam, and throttled him,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
44 A EIFT IN THE CLOUD
cruahing him as best I could Trith my fierce accusationa. He
denied quite vaguely and largely, but in as guilty a way as you
ever saw. He did, however, admit that he was an adorer of the
young woman and with that he dropped all of hia defences,
except that he thought it due to himself to say that the young
woman in question was the jewel of all creation and that his
thoughts were running her way. I grew authoritative and
said things. On general principles I granted that love was
beautiful and marriage honorable entirely, but that for a young
preacher to allow himself to be enmeshed in a revival meeting
and jerked into a love scrape was unseemly and alnful. I
expressed a purpose to take the next boat but be flew wild
i^ainst it. Finally, I compromised to the point of agreeing
that if he would blow the matter out of mind, pledge himself
to give his attention wholly to the meeting and covenant not
to say anything in the remotest way to the girl until the meeting
was over, I would remain. To this he agreed,— in rather an
impenitent spirit I must admit.
"After this Eigreement we strolled to the house where the
young damsel lived, and the pastor clandestinely communicated
with the young lady and asked to see her in the parlor alone,
at once. He related to her the whole matter including hia
pledge made to me, and then added: "I wish to say to you that
I fully intended to propose marriage to you this day but, this
being rendered impossible by my pledge, I wish to notify you
that as soon as the meeting closes I fully intend to court you."
"The meeting dropped to an early demise, and in five months
the couple were living in matrimonial bliss on six hundred a
year, Confederate money, valued at two cents and a half in
gold to the dollar. They did well, but they killed that meeting."
In the Summer of 1864 there appeared a rift in the cloud
for the young pastor. While attending an Asaociaticot in
Buckingham County he was introduced to a young lady from
Fork Union, — Miss Virginia Snead— a recent graduate from
the Albemarle Female Institute. She, with a party of young
people, had driven over to the meetings. In the company
was Mr. Pumphrey Seay who had known Mr. Hatcher at
College, and during the intermission he brought the Manchester
pastor up to the dinner table and presented him to Miss
Snead. That afternoon Mr. Hatcher preached in the church.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A RIFT IN THE CLOUD 45
The buildup; was crowded and Miss Snead sat on the back
baicb where the noises coming from the loud talking out in
the yard made it difficult for those in the rear to heiir, but she
found herself making earnest effort to catch the words of the
preacher. His text was "God is iove" and "every word seemed
f^pealii^. At that time he was slim and weighed about 140
pounds. His hair was aubum of a reddish tint; his eye was
his beet feature. In the discusaons he was oft^i called out
to give his views and flashes of humor would break forth in
his t^illfa and addresses."
The fur vidtor from Fork Union attracted him and in a
few weeks he found himself at Fork Union attending the
Albemarle Association and was Kitertfuned at the home of
Mr. George H. Snead, the father of his recent acqufuntance.
At the invitation of the pastor he held revival meetings
at the Fork Church. "He was a great favorite. All were
eager to entertain him. Crowds of young people went to
tspead the evenii^ where he went."
While holding the meetings at Fork Union he stayed much at
the home of Miss Snead, but he was very guarded in his move-
ments. Already he had spoken to her the fateful words and
received her affirmative response, but they were anxious to
ke^ their engagesnent from being bruited around in the
community to the injury of the meetings. He talked to the
other members of the company each evening rather than to
her and yet he wrote her a letter every night. The secret
was kept until after the meetings were over and the announce-
ment was then made of the approaching marriage on December
22nd.
In one of his letters to his fiancee he writes as follows:
"Manchesteii, Va., November 10, 1864.
"Dear Jennie, — 'nme is unfolding startling scenes in my
domestic drama. Four months ago I could hardly have
imagined that aught could disturb the profound current of
family quiet. Change in its wide spread ravages seemed
willing to pass my home untouched. But we are touched.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
46 LETTER TO BIS FIANCEE
Love has struck a blow at us and we are, as huntsmen say,
Sushed. Lest I should bewilder you by such a frightful pre-
amble, I'll explain.
"There is no need that I should apprize you of the fact that
your humble servant has fallen an untimely, if not unwilijng,
victim of love. I am, like Jonah, fairly caught, but pray that
I may not like him be thrown overboard. It is not, however, of
myself that I wish just now to write. Here is the point.: . ."
After writing of certain suggested housekeeping plans he
thus continues.
"Let us think of each other — often and earnestly let us pray
for each otlier. If God permits our union I pray that it may
be for his glory. We can make each other very happy, or very
miserable, just as we choose. All of our future is before us.
Can we spend it without a harsh word, or an unkindly thought?
"Our feelings, hopes and plans must be one. No earthly
object is to come between us. Errors will crop out now and
then. With gentle sympathy, mingled with true candor, we
must seek to extract them. I deny the blindness of true love.
If it be blind, I am a stranger to it. It can not be so, for true
love is founded on true appreciation of character and has the
sanction of taste and judgment. It is quick to see faults in
its object and, if conscientious, is anxious to correct them. But
if it is quick of eye it is also tender of heart and slow of speech.
Its voice of chidings is as gentle as its breathings of devotion
and love. You will be my pride, I revel in the happmesB of
my love and, if not a christian, would gloat over the woes of my
enemies. Now I pray for them."
The remainder of this letter is lost. The letter was written
in pencil on very plfun, yellow p^ier such as was used in those
war-ridden days; the hand-writing is natural and pl^. At
the time ot making his avowal of love he said to her that she
would be to him "the first and only one," and yet he asked
that she would not hinder him in doing his duty as a minister
and not come between him and his God. The motto which
be selected for the wedding ring was characteristic;
"Heaven smiles and claims us."
It was a merry and distinguished group that met Mr. Hatcher
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS MARRIAGE 47
one aftemooD in Bichmond at the Packet wharf about the
21flt of December, 1864, to accompany him on the boat to
Fluvanna to take part in the wedding festivities. This
company included the following ministers: J. B. Jeter, Charles
H. Rylaud, A. B. Woodfin, John R. Bagby and Harvey Hatcher,
Rev. Geo. W. Hyde, who expected to join the party at Dover,
writes:
"When the night came for me to meet the canal boat at Dover
I was sick in bed. I lay and heard the horn of the man, who
rode the canal boat's horses, as he blew and blew and blew for a
long time. My heart ached and my eyes filled with teats over
tiie diaappointm^t; but I could not join that happy wedding
party of our dear friends that night on their way to Fluvanna
county."
Brightly shone the sun on the httle village of Fork Union
on Dec. 22nd, and even grim war seemed to withdraw its pall
while Dr. J. B. Jeter and the pastor, Rev. W. A. Whit«scarver,
sealed the happy vows.
The Southern "blockade" prevented a wedding tour and
the people of the community seemed to vie with one another
in thar congratulations and hospitalities as the wedding party
wNit from home to home. The Manchester church was
of course on tiptoe of expectancy ready with a happy welcome
to greet tiieir pastor and his bride.
The war played curious pranks. For example, the Con-
federate money was already rapidly depreciating and Mr.
Hatcher in describmg his purchases before his marriage said :
"My ambition flamed up to the extent of giving my bride a
watch and I went to the beat jeweler in Richmond so far as I
knew and found that he had only three watches in stock; one
was new and it was ravishing to look at but its price mounted
far out of my sight and I had to choose between the other two,
both of which were second hand. I took the smallest and gave
ax hundred dollars for it but I can testify that it never respected
its owner and after a day or two refused to take any note of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
48 THE FALL OF RICHMOND
"They trumped up a skeletonian reception ob the day that
the bridal party reached my home and the only fact — whit^
was probably the only fat fact — I remember was that the
turkey which constituted the pre-eminent luxury of the day
cost forty-six dollars and we were proud to get it at that."
But what of the war?
The climax was near at hand and it meant crushing sorrows
for Mr. Hatcher and his young bride. For nearly four stressful
years he had kept his flag of hope unfurled before his people.
During the past weeks however distressing news had trickled
in from the "front," but even yet he and those around him did
not deeptur. The long thin lines of Lee'a army were still
stretched around Peteraburg, not far away, but this was all
that stood between Richmond and the enemy. In a few days
the crash of doom was beard.
It was Sunday April 2nd, and "a fairer day never blessed
the earth," writes Mr. Hatcher. In company with others he
was standing in his church yard. A man was seen hurrying
towards them and as be came in front of the church he called
out: "Bad news from Petersburg; Lee's lines wero broken
today and his army is reported in full retreat; Richmond to
be evacuated tonight." With this announcement flung at
the churoh yard group the man quickly disappeared.
"Instant blackness" said Mr. Hatcher "covered the earth.
A pain, as of death, shot through my heart and in that dread
moment I knew that our cause was lost."
The company in the churah yard vanished and Mr. Hatcher
turned his steps towards Bichmond and what a spectacle
there met his eye, — ^wagons, carts and carriages filling up with
furniture, merehandise and articles innumerable. Panic ruled
the hour and Richmond seemed to be emptying itself of all
of its most sacred treasures and preparii^ for its bitter flight.
"My walk back to Manchester" he said "withered me into
old i^. It was simply one colossal coUapse. I was a man with
out a country, without a hope and almost without God m
the world."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FACING A CRISIS 49
Hie own town, as he returned to it, presented a dght equally
as sickening; and as for that night which followed — he said
the story of it could never be told, with its weeping women,
its riotous negroes and its hurrying columns of the retreating
army. Next morning the torch was applied to Richmond and he
withessed the fiames as they were fanned into a conflagration.
In the meantime, the Northern army b^an its rush into
Richmond, and in Manchester the negroes and lawless whites
began their mad camiva!.
The young pastor faced a crias. His army was gone, — fast
hurrying southwards — and he suddenly found himself in strange
and threatening surroundings. What should be do? He
called for a meeting of the town Council. It was composed
largely of old men. He reminded them of the necessity of
something being done immediately to stem the tide of anarchy
and to set up some form of order in the town. The old men
seemed dazed and helpless. He and one of the town "Fathers"
were selected to viat Richmond at once to seek from the North- ,
em officials in the city some soldiers as a guard for Manchester.
Down the street, through the surging mobs, hurried the
young pastor with his associate and in a short while they had
picked their way over to Richmond and made known their
request to one of the Generals whose army had already taken
possession of the city.
The General, who was angry at the burning by the Con-
federates of the city with many of its treasures, frowned at
them and called out gruffly:
"Why did you set this city on fire? You want soldiers for
Manchester and I have not enough soldiers for my own pur-
poses here in Richmond."
Mr. Hatcher in respectful tone s^d: "Inasmuch General aa
I do not live in Richmond I hardly see how I can be held
responfflble for the fire, and, be^des, what I am looking for now
is somebody that will keep my own town from b^ng set on
fire."
A faint smile lighted the grim face and, later on, a company
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
60 A TILT WITH THE OTHER SIDE
of ne^ro soldiers were Been tramping towards Manchester
and the situation improved.
It seemed that he was destined to have tilts with the Gener-
als on the other ^de, — these encounters, however, drawing no
blood and usually tenniiiating with a touch of good humor.
One day he approached the officer in chaise of the Manchester
troops regarding some wounded soldiers that were being cared
for in the Baptist Church:
"Why don't you take the oath of allegiance [to the U. S.
Government] and help me to restore order to this town?"
asked the general in commanding tone. "You can help me
keep order. Your government is in flight, your army in retreat.
There is no hope for your cause." The man's manner seemed
almost threatening and the pastor was put on his mettle.
"I will have to admit general" he said respectfully "that
the outlook for my cause is gloomy indeed but it is my cause.
I have been identified with the Confederacy from its beginning
and while its situation is exceedingly distressing its government
still exists and its armies are still in the fields. I would find
a blush crimsoning my cheek if I forsook my colors in the
presence of the enemy, and I confess that I would be utterly
ashamed for it to go abroad to our army, or to our people, that I
had made haste to take the oath. I would lose the good will
of those who are more than hfe to me. I must wait the final
issue and if that is the downfall of the Confederacy then I
shall have no government, no country, no citizenship and no
protection. That will be the time for me to decide what to do
about the oath of allegiance."
"I must have a right warm little speech"; says Mr. Hatcher,
"at least my heart got loose and ran flaming into my words and
and some how I found myself gloriously indifferent to what
he might think of my little oration. He looked at me with
changing color and when I ended he still looked.
" 'I'll be dogged if I don't believe you are right,' he said with
great feeling. 'And I believe it is best for you to wait.'
"It almost precipitated a scene. His cordial words kindled
within me a sense of brotherhood.
" 'And now general' I added 'I think I may take the liberty of
saying t« you that if I can be of any service to you and you feel
disposed to trust me you will find me at your command. I
desire good order and peace as truly as you do.' "
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE END OF THE WAR 81
" 'Well sir, I can trust you and we will work tt^ether,' said he.
"From that moment, I suffered no disturbance on the part of
the Federal troops."
This inddent, while characteristic in many ways, reveals
(Mie of Mr. Hatcher's cardinal truts, and that was his fondness
for putting all his dealings with men on the brotherhood
baas. Whenever a man was thrown with him, no matter how
widely their tastes and habits and position might vary,
Mr. Hatcher would soon find in the other man "a brother."
He always probed for that spot in men; be seemed to know
where it was located and when he found it he carried on his
n^otiatioQB with that part of the man.
After Richmond's evacuation there followed, in a few days,
the surrender of Lee's army and the utter collapse of the
Southern Confederacy.
He writes:
"When the end came, the star of southern hope went down
in blackest night. The days which followed were so full of
bitterness and despair that many of the older people, stripped
of strength and fortune, sank broken hearted to their graves.
In almost every fanuly graveyard there was a soldier's grave;
sometimes it was the father, sometimes the brother, and some-
times the husband. Many sat down amid tlie ruins of the
lost cause penniless and dejected and felt that there could be
no future for them."
But not so, the young pastor. He faced the chaotic ritua-
tion with grim but bouyant purpose and his qualities of con-
structive leadership were put to severe teat, as regarded not
Goly his dismembered church but also his wretched town.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE STBCCK3LE LETTBB8
1866-1867
The condition of Manchester depressed and well-nigh ex-
asperated him. Its streets and houses were shabby, the town
was governed — or rather misgoverned — by a Board of Trustees,
nearly all of them old men, and neglect and indifference stalked
aloi^ the public ways. His instinct for improvement sprang
into action and he yearned to bring about a change.
In one of the factories of the town was an orphan boy who
longed for an education and in whom Mr. Hatcher had become
greatly interested. One day Mr. H. K. Ellyson, who had
recently started up the Richmond Dispatch, sent a message
over to Mr. Hatcher asking him to lend his aid in increaaog
the circulation of the paper in Manchester. Mr. Hatcher
saw that the request gave to him the double opportunity of
aiding his factory boy and also of striking at the evil conditions
in the town and so he said to Mr. EUyson that if he would
employ his little factory friend as his Manchester carrier for
his paper that he would try to quicken the circulation by
writing some Manchester letters.
He adopted a novel plan. He decided to take the place of
a factory girl; — that is he would write for the Dispatch a
series of letters about Manchester, just as if be were a girl
working in one of the Manchester factories and agning, not
her own name, but writing under the nom de plume of
"Struggle." He determined that in writing these Struggle
letters he would seek to awaken the town from its drowsry state
in the nmtter^fjts 'streets, houses, factories, etc.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 53
On Jan. 27tb the first letter from Struggle appeared in the
Dispatch and wlj^en the Manchester people opened their
BJchmond paper they saw the letter on the first page, parts of
which read aa follows:
"Manchester, Va., January 25th.
"Mb. Editor, — I am nothing but an bumble factory girl
but a mighty ambition struggles in my soul. From my girl-
hood I have felt a desire to be a newspaper writer. . . .
Once I lived in the country, — alas my country home. We
call«l it Chestnut Lawn, it was a happy home. — (go back
ye gushing tears). A stranger has the place now. . . .
"A new notion flashed into my brain today. I have con-
cluded to address you this letter respectfully asking (no disgrace
for me) the privilege of writing for the Dispatch. Will you
accept me? Why not? Don't despise me (as some do) becau.se
I am compelled to earn my bread by working in a cotton
factory. If you allow me to write for you I shall have many
things to say about factories and factory life.
"Manchester is a remarkable place. We have remarkable
houses, remarkable streets andj remarkables generally. Six
commentaries could be written on this charming town. \ou
shall hear of Manchester very freely if I write for you. Things
don't move here in all respects to suit my girlish notions and it
would ease me greatly to write under an assumed nama anrl
abuse some "persons, places and things" as my grammar wwd
to say. In fact, I am a woman and think for myself, never
hedtating to express my opinion. Some girls in the factory are
mad with me for my speeches. I care not. What suits me, i
praise; what annoys, I condemn.
"If you want me to write, publish this as a sort of introduction
and when I get a candle and paper I will write more. As it
would make me unpleasantly notorious to have my name known,
I ask to be known under the name of
"Struggle."
The sleepy town rubbed its eyes and b^an to wonder who
the factory pri was and what" she intended publishing about
Manchester. In the factories the question ran from lip to lip:
"Who is this Stru^Ie?" and many were the questions and
jests that were bandied back and forth about the new factory
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
54 STRUGGLE LETTERS
star in the liter&iy heavens. Each morning the people -nutcbed
for the second letter. It appeared in the Dispatch of Jan. 31st.
"Manchester, Va., Saturday night.
"Mr Editor, — ^Do you remember the first time you ever saw
your own writing in print? When you read it did you not ex-
perience the most delightful sensation. . . ."
She then describes ber amdous tossing during the nigbt and
her rapture on seeing her letter in print next morning. She
thus continues:
"It is astonishing to witness the excitement which the appear-
ance of my last letter baa already produced. In the factory it is
the theme of much talk. One girl, noted for the thickness of her
lips and the redness of her hair, was greatly exercised on the
subject. She expressed herself thus: 'Dont talk to me; I
know what that gal is after; she is trying to get somebody to
marry her.' I laughed aloud and heartily at her, for I sup-
posed she referred to what I said about the celebrated mis-
sionary. . . . Many factory people think that heaven
consists in f;ctting out of the factory by marrying. 1 know a
few girls who were doing well enough before they married;
some of them have now to support their husbands and then
furnish them their whiskey besides. . . .
Mr. Editor did you ever see a boss? If you never did I want
to describe one (my own) to you.
"Struggle.
"P. S. — In my next I shall en!ight«n the public in regard to
the streets of Manchester."
This letter unloosed the tongues of the town, — especially
in the factory. When three days later the newsboy began to
cry on the street: "Richmond Dispatch, Letter from Struggle,"
there were eager hands to reach for the paper — much to the
delight of the ambitious newsboy.
"Manchester, Va., Thursday nigbt.
"Mr Editor, — When I lived in the country I knew an old
farmer who had eight sons, to each of whom he gave the name
of a Roman general. There were Julius Caesar, Coriolanus,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
' STRUGGLE LETTERS 55
Tiberius Gracchus and half a dozen more, with names equally
as impoffli^. The old gentleman was immensely proud of
these names. Not ao with the boys. They mortally hated them
and selected the drollest nicknames for themselves that could
be found. In time their real names were, by most people,
entirely forgotten.
"The streets of Manchester forcibly remind me of the old
fanner and his boys. Somebody — to fame unknown — once
upon a time did give to these elongated mud holes some very
fanciful names. . . . Strangely enough the names of these
streets, as far aa I know, are rarely, used. If you ask one where
he lives, he never gives the name of the street, but unless his
residence happens to be on the Main Street (which, by the way,
is Hull Street) he will describe his location. Folks live in "Mor-
gan's Row" in "Mark's old field" and "Around Sizer's Comer,"
but aobody dreams of living on a street which actually has a
name. What these streets — so called — are intended for is a
mystery to me. , . .
I boldly assert that there is not a road this dde of Danville
(I used to go to school there) as impassable for wagons or
walkers as are the streets (except Hull) of this dilapidated town," '
After giving a description of the manner in which certain
streets have been dug up and certain streets been allowed to
lie in wretched neglect, she continues;
"I wish we did have some town officers. I must stop. It is
neariy midnight and factory people have to rise before day.
You see what little time I have. I get home after eight o'clock
at night and have to leave before seven in the morning. Isn't
this night work outrageous. Very shortly I will let you hear
from me in full on this subject.
"Struggle.
"P. S. — I have read this to mother and she objects to my
sending it. She says it is too rough; do as you please about
publishing it. I mean no harm for I love Manchester. . . .''
On the next morning a communication appeared in The
Dispatch attacking the Struggle letters and was signed "Citi-
sen." Among other things "Citieen" said:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
56 STRUGGLE LETTEES
"Her statements in r^ard to the names and state of our
streets are likely to do harm. Who would think of investing
or settlii^ here, under the light of her startling revelations?
it is earnestly hoped that none will be misled by this fair young
scribbler".
The editor subjoins the following comment:
" 'Citizen' is ui^allant. As a lady can not hold him "per-
sonally responsible" for his offensive language he should have
been exceedingly guarded in Ms expressions, but we have an
idea that Struggle is able to cope with him with pen or tongue
(this latter woman's chief weapon, offensive and defensive) and
so we let him have his say. If he repent not his indiscretion
ere long, then we are no prophet".
The situation grows lively and the little newsboy thinks
that times are booming. The sentiment c^ the people re-
garding the Struggle Letters was much divided, — some de-
claring them outrageous, many others simply enjoying the
fun, while still others hoped that the letters would awaken
the town from its slumber. The interest in the letters was not
bounded by the limits of Manchester, but prevailed in Rich-
mond and in many places out in the state.
A letter appeared in the Dispatch signed "F«r Play" which
took the side of Stru^le and closed as follows:
"One word with regard to the fact in the case. I have been I
living here for many a long year and I really do not know the
names of half a dozen street in the place. Struggle is right:
they are seldom called by their name and the wretched con-
dition they are in is ten times worse than she represents them
to be.
"Fair Play."
There was no one who enjoyed the storm more than the
young preacher who had caused it. Wherever Mr. Hatcher
went he encountered, — as, indeed, nearly everybody else
did, — the clatter about the Struggle letters. On the streets
and in his visitJng many of his conversations had the letters
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 57
of the factory girl as their theme and he plunged into the
discussions of the publications as eagerly as did any one else.
"Mr. Hatcher" said some one to him one day. "Who do
you think is writing those Struggle letters? Do you think
it is really a factory girl?"
"There are some things about the letters" replied Mr.
Hatcher "that sound very much like the talk of a factory girl;
but then there are other features of the letters that wear the
mark ot a man correspondent. The fact is I often think they
arewritten by some man. What do you think about it?''
A conmiunicatioD appeared on Feb. 6th which took the side
of Struggle. It was signed "Push On."
Mr. Hatcher was particularly desirous that the Struggle let-
ters should bring about a better condition for the factory girls.
An important announcement appeared in the Dispatch of
Feb. 7th as follows:
"Affairs in Manchester.
"We have secured the services of a reliable reporter for
Manchester and in the future the cttisens of that quiet, pleasant
little town may rely on being kept thoroughly posted in all
matters of importance. . . ."
This was the first step towards better things for Manchester.
It was Improvement Number 1.
On the next day, Feb., 8th, the early cry of the Manchester
newsboy announced another letter from Struggle. The people
had been eager for it inasmuch aa she had declared that she
would express herself about the factories.
"Manchester, Saturday night.
"Mr. Editor, — I promised in my last letter to express my
opinion very soon concerning the rule of these factories re-
quiring their employees during nearly half the year to work
until eight o'clock at niglit. As I have finished my ironing and
mending earlier than usual to night I will consume the last
sheet of my paper in protesting against the barbarity of tbis
rule. ... If the oppressed do not cry for mercy how shall
they find relief. . . ."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
58 STRUGGLE LETTERS
She then draws a vivid picture of the evils of the night work
and continues:
"Ah well, if we die, few weep; no bella are tolled, stock
holders smile, as before, at growing dividends and pause not to
ask whose life was taken to make them rich, and our places are
soon filled.
"I am not through but the bell sounds midnight and mother
commands me to rest.
* "Struggle.
"P. S, — Well, as you see, this letter was written on Saturday
night. Little brother has had a bad cold as well as bad shoes
and mother would not allow me to .send him out until the
weather moderated. Please send me all the papers for the week,
as I have not seen one since last Saturday. I could sometimes
borrow a copy of the Dispatch, but I am afraid to do it lest I
should get questioned too closely."
The Dispatch of Feb., 9th contained the following item in
the "Richmond Local" colunm:
"Personal, — We announce .with regret that Miss Struggle,
our Manchester correspondent, had an unfortunate fall on
Wednesday night on returning home from the factory, by which
she sprained her right arm. The editor received a message from
her on yesterday saying that her injuries were slight, but such
as made it painful for her to write. She wishes us to say that
in her next letter she will express her opinion of the article
ragned "Citizen." Let it come for we are waiting anxiously
for it."
In the letters which Struggle received were several offers
of marriage. She had stated that she sent her letters over to
the Dispatch by her little brother and it was amusing indeed
to note the devices which were employed to discover the
little fellow in his tramps across the bridge. In this same
issue of Feb., 10th, under the head of "Manchester Affairs,"
occurs the following item from the reporter:
"The condition of that street (name unknown) that leads up
from the office of Dr. Chiles to the African church is terrible
in the extreme and that section of the town near Vaden's old
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 59
factory will compare favorably with Five Pointa or any other
abominable locaJity. . . . What the people want is a
live Board of Trustees and not muinmies and wooden men
.... We are requested by a friend — a tax payer — to
aak to whom do the Board of Trustees report or have they ever
reported aa yet any account of their Btewardship.
Ah, that Board of Town Trustees. The Municipal election
occurs in the Spring and Mr. Hatcher hopes that Uiat election
day will prove the day of destiny for Manchester, when that
Board will be neatly dropped into oblivion or at least into re-
tirement and a new regime be inaugurated
His hands were of course buE^ in his pastoral labors. His
PhilologiaD Debating Society, his ^nging School and his in-
numerable plans for enlisting the young and developing his
church all made heavy drafts upon his time and strength.
"Richmond Dispatch, February 13th.
"Manchester on the James, February 10, 1866.
"Messbrs. Editors, — ... On reading the paper this
morning (the Dispatch of course) I notice that my silent friend
Struggle has met with an accident. I certainly sympathize
with her and trust that ere Iwig she may be able to wield the
pen again.
'Tush On."
Certain suburbs of Eichmond express their grievances in
the liHspatcfa, each referring to Stni^^.
The next letter from Struggle, which is largely a reply to
"Citaeen" concludes as follows:
"P. S. — My arm, though stiff yet, is n4)idly improving.
Would you hke for me in my next to give you some account of
the changes by which I was brought from Chestnut Lawn to
the factory?"
The editor adds:
"Struggts will excuse us for calling her attention to her
volubility — woman's reputed failing — and to the idea (also
a woman's) that personal beauty is a neceesaiy qualification for
admittance to good society."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
60 STRUGGLE LETTERS
Struggle's next letter throws the tovm into laughter, —
though many squirm under her lampoon. Already the de-
crepit town counci! has become the target for many a jest
and they are resenting it — some of them quite furiously.
"Manchester, Thursday.
"Messeiis Editors, — Frankness compels the admission that
the temper in which I now find myself is not the moat aimable.
For several days mother has been suffering with unusual pains.
That her sickness has been induced by the condition of the house
in which we live is to my mind perfectly clear. . . .
"We would promptly seek another place but a wholesome
remembran* that the frying pan is not to be lightly exchanged
for the fire effectually restrains us.
"Manchester's houses (my present subject) are a peculiar
institution. Their like has never been seen before and humanity
fathers the hope that their like may never be seen again.
"There is a story among the neighbors here that Manchester
was built during Noah's flood. This curious behef runs thus:
they say that when the waters of the flood spread over the
world many of the bouses of Asia, owing to the compactness
of their stnicture and the lightness of their material, were
borne up by the swelling waters. They safely outrode the
frightful storm and during the time were floated half round the
earth. When the flood abated these houses were flung pell
meil upon this hill by the receding waters.
"Several things lead me to regard this singular story as not
altogether without foundation- . . .
"Let us see: Here iS'a residence with its end towards the
street. . . . Out there in the lot are those celebrated brick
rows whose dingy walls and blackened roofs bring to memory the
"Deserted Village". What a pity Mr. Pickwick did not visit
Manchester. . . . The Manchester homes are bhssfully
ignorant of the benefits of paint. ... An old man told
mother last Sunday that many of the houses in Manchester had
not been painted since V^e war of '76. This I suppose is true.
. . . We have an association here known as the 'Water
Scoopers' whose members make fortunes in the wet season by
removing water from overflown cellars. . . . The Man-
chester homes have also a pleasant way of leaking in bad
weather. This is thought to be a great advantage inasmuch
as it furnishes a new method of scouring; besides it serves to
show the various uses to which buckets and pans can be appUed.
"STauooLs,"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 61
Two startling, but joyful, announcements appeard in the
IM^Mitch of March 5th under the head of Manchester Affairs.
Nothi;ig like it had been seen in the Dispatch for many a day;
io fact it is doubtful whether just its like had ever been seen in
.Uiat paper:
"Makchestsb Ajtairs.
"The Chief of Police has had the street hands very busy
lately and has succeeded in improving wonderfully the appear-
ance of some of the streets and is still at work.
"To the infinite pleasure of operatives night work has been
suspended in the Manchester cotton and woolen mills and
with all due deference to the stockholders we trust they will
never be lit up again, as twelve or fourteen h«urs' work per day
is not only injurious to the mind and body but contrary to
ri^t and the progressive spirit of civilization."
Mr. Hatcher was happy but not satisfied.
But the Spring election for Town Trustees was approaching.
In tlie same issue containing the above two notices appeared
another letter from Struggle on "The Windeaters" of Manches-
ter,— those men who live on air, not having any visible means
of support, men who lounge on the street comers and around
bar rooms, getting home late at night and getting up late in
the morning and c^>eaking insultingly to the girls on the
street. Struggle said these windeaters had red noses, and red
eyes and looked as if they had been crying. Struggle then
takes a crack at the Town Trustees by saying:
"In oldai times, as I once read, mourners were regularly
hired to perform at funerals. Had these "eaters" prevailed
in those days they would have been useful. As it is now I see
a use for them. If a trustee should die there would be some red
eyes at his burial; — ^provided always that the "eaters" were
present — otherwise there would be no red eyes there".
Struggle then proceeds to tell how these "eaters" annoy the
ladies on the streets:
"On Saturdays as we go homewards these agreeable gen-
Uemen form in knots and take us in as we pass. They say the
most ^reeable and pretty compliments in our hearing. One
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
63 STRUGGLE LETTERS
will flay: 'Howd'y to you my Spinning Jenny'. Another ex-
claims in graceful tones: 'Go it beauties, supper is ready' and
yet a third, still more refined cries: 'Make way for the cotton
grinders.' Is not all this delicious. . .
"Strcoolb."
The Dispatch of March 8th tells of the o^anieation in
Manchester of a Building Fund Association which, the paper
said, it was hoped would be a benefit not only to the stock-
holders but to the town as well.
The windeating loafers on the streets seemed to have
vanished. At least Struggle m her next letter of Mardi 17th
says:
"My letter about the windeat^v produced consequences
that I did not anticipate. As soon as it appeared they dis-
appeared most mysteriously. Little brother heard a gentleman
say that a special train loaded with th«se genUemen left on the
Danville road last week for the South.
"This must be true. ... A young man was seen on last
Wednesday to walk down Main Street with a card pinned on
his coat tail bearing ccmspiciously the inscripti<Hi "A Wind-
eater." Little brother happened to be at the depot when his
attention was called to it. The language which he used when
he discovered the card was so shockingly profane that my
virtuous young relative declined wisely to repeat it. He stated
distinctly that he was no windeater, . . ."
Struggle closed this letter with the surprising announcement
that she would attend the concert at the Methodist church
on the next Friday night and would give a report of it. She
was true to her word. She went and in her letter of March 24th
she gave a recital of the proceedings that was humorous in the
extreme. Struggle thought that the Methodist church building
showed signs of neglect and failed in its appearance to add to
the good looks of the town and so she proceeded to ease her
mind. Only a part of her spicy letter can here be given:
"Manchesteb, Monday night.
"A boy remarked in the factory some weeks ago that the
sin^ng class at the Methodist church had sung the roof off the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
STRUGGLE LETTEES 63
house. . . At the time I supposed that he only meant to
be witty at the expense of the truth. My knowledge of
acoustics forbade my lending the smallest credit to the assertion.
Kow, since I attended the concert on Friday night, I am ready
to believe that the boy told the truth, — partially at least.
"The wall of the church was horribly defaced by water which
had evidently found an inlet through the roof. My opinion is
that during the rehearsal of the class on some occasion of un-
wonted inspiration the room became so charged with melody
that the roof was rent. If such be the fact it furnishes a moat
affecting illustration of the power of music. . . . Nor
need we longer doubt the familiar assertion that music .hath
charms to soothe the savage, split a roof and, — summarily
demolish a cabbage. . . .
"As the class sang the roof off, it seems simple justice to require
them to sing it on again. This they can easily do. While they are
in the roofing business it would be well to extend their labors to
the church at which I heard the temperance speech. That also
is in a leaky condition as indeed is every other bouse in this
highly civiliBcd town."
"What will this reckless Struggle attack next?" wondered
the people. A critic seemed to be at large in the town and
nobody knew where the lightning would strike next.
"DiapATCH, March 26th. (Communicated)
". . . The leaky conditions of the churches will probably
remain as they have been until the next concert. Then we
promise Struggle a dozen tickets. . . ."
"Dispatch, March 30th. Manchester Iteus.
"The Streets,— The streets and by-ways of Manchester are
now in very good condition. Mill Street has been well paved
and a great many other improvements arc being carried on.
"By order of the sheriff the election for trustees of Manchester
as announced will take place on Monday April 2.3rd. Let our
people take notice and be well prepared to vote discreetly and
wisely for men who will labor for the advancement of Man-
chester and the welfare of its whole people.
"The Election of Trustees, In view of the near ap-
proach of the election for Trustees every man Is advised to pay
his town taxes. The amount is small and the right to vote may
be questioned when they are not paid. . . . There is some
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
64 STRUGGLE LETTERS
talk of a large importation of outside voters but we believe that
if the men of Manchester will only be true to tliemselves and to
each other they can carry the town in spite of all outside in-
fluences."
The fight is on and Mr. Hatcher's ardent hope is that a new
and progressive Board of Trustees will be elected.
"Dispatch, April 14th. Manchester Items.
Condition op the Town, — Our worthy Chief of Police and
his assistants have been very industrious lately and have put
the town generally in good order. We trust they will relax
no effort to place the town in a cleanly condition. . . .
"Dispatch, April 16th. Manchester Items.
Let no one who has the interest of this town at heart f^l to
pay his taxes and secure himself the right to suffrage in the
approaching election for Trustees, — an election fraught with
matters of more interest than any that has occured for many
years.
"Richmond Times, April 16th. From Manchester Reporter.
We are pleased to note that the town Hall has been greatly
improved, whitewashed and punted and now presents quite
a creditable appearance.
Some one in this issue of the Times, in order to perpetrate a
jokeon Struggle, published anoticeof her death and thus wrote
her obituary calling her Angelina Seraphina Struggle.
Mr. Hatcher received at about this time a call to the pastorate
of the Franklin Square Church of Baltimore, a much larger
and more attractive field than his own, but Manchester's claims
upon him at that time seemed to him imperious and he de-
clined the call.
Stn^gle saw the notice of her demise and in her letter in
the Dispatch of April 23rd she said:
"I see no wit in the obituary. . . . There is one comfort
left me. I have lived to read my own obituary and, paradoxical
as it may seem, to enjoy the benefits of a posthumous fame."
The day of destiny for Manchester has arrived. It is
Mcmday^April 23rd. — Mection Day. The people of the town
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 65
are to choose their Board of Trusteea and there is a sharp
contest between the old officials and a reform ticket.
On the next day the Dispatch contained the following
aunoimcement :
"Election in Manchester, — ^The annual election for a
Board of Trustees took place in Manchester yesterday and
resulted in the success of the reform ticket."
There was music in that announcement for Struggle. The
earthquake had come and a new regime was the result.
The first meeting of the new Board marked an epoch in the
life of the town as it held its session in pyblic and passed resolu-
tions looking to many improvements, such as the establish-
ment of a Market House, one or two Free Schools, a Board of
Health, etc. Struggle knew that the battle was not yet over.
She had her ^e on those new officials and they were aware of it.
In her letter of April 30th she tella the story of the death of
the old Board of Trusteea whose terms of office had ended at
midnight on Monday night.
"Thursday night.
"Manchester ia in teara, A great sorrow lies upon the public
heart. For some time it haa been whispered that the health
of our Board of Trustees was failing. . . ,
"During last week a decided change for the worse was ob-
servable in the condition of the Board. Accordingly a celebrated
physician Dr."In no cence" was engaged to undertake the case.
He recommended a heavy dose of filed iron (ch) to be given
with the greatest dispatch.
"At eight o'clock it was whispered about that the Board was
dying. No language can picture the sensation produced by this
announcement. The very sky wrapped its face in storm. The
thunders rattled and rolled as if Jupiter was hastily evacuating
Mount Olympus. The winds as if furloughed by Aeolus sighed
and whistled in the strangest manner. .The lightning, taking
advantage of the suspension of municipal rule, pounced relen1>
iessly upon a aurburban stable and utterly destroyed it. The
streets ran wild with water and woe. . , . Everything
joined to echo a thousand times the mournful story: 'The Iq-
viabte fathers are dying.'
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
66 STRUGGLE LETTERS
"Just as the sun after stealing a sly peep from behind the
lofty bank of a cloud was dipping his golden footsteps in the
mystic seas of the West the tidings sad and painful went out:
'The Board has breathed its last,' Oh; grief. . . .
"The committee very properly decided that the body should
lie in state at the Town Hall during Tuesday. While there
several relatives and friends came and took leave of the pre-
cious remains.
"The hour fittingly chosen for the burial was midnight. . .
The body was silently placed in a certain cart very dear to the
Board in its life time and the prdcession, thus formed, slowly
moved away. Just then the moon passed behind a cloud. The
police and various other appurtenances wept aloud, the com-
mittee of seven joined hands and the clock struck twelve. . .
TTie services were then beautifully closed by a band of min-
strels that chanted that original, appropriate dii^e: 'Rest in ,
peace and sin no more.' "
"Dispatch, May 10th. Manchester Apfaibs.
"We believe that it is in contemplation to rwse the taxes;
but no one can object when they know it is to be expended in
improving and beautifying our little town which, however
homely, is the garden spot of the world to us.
Stru^Ie now turns her attention to the new Board and gives
them a portion of her mind, suggesting lines of improvements
for them to adopt. In beginning her letter she can not resist
the temptation to take a dig at the old Board of Trustees, even
while it is in its grave.
"Manchester, Monday night.
"Happily for the cause of civilization our old Board of
Trustees has gone to the grave. In reviewing its official course
it is a peculiar comfort that we are entirely free from all dis-
agreeable debts of gratitude and will not be burdened in the
least with the memory of its virtues. . . .
"The new Board, wreathed with the chaplets of popular favor
and with the banner of reform waving above it, is now upon the
stage. . . . It is to be hoped that they are not so unduly
elated by their recent honors as to be unable to listen to sound
advice."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRUGGLE LETTERS 67
Stn^gle thea proceeds to set forth ber ideas. She protests
against the professional gamblers that infest the place and also
the drinking shops. In ui^ng that a certain nuisance be re-
moved she says:
"I allude to a certain soap factory which stands in one of the
most thickly populated sections of our beautiful town. I
declare that I have sometimes been ready in passing it to
reproach nature for bestowing upon me the common gift of an
olfactory nerve. I am told that peraons residing in the neigh-
borhood of that factory have intensely Roman noses purely
as a result of holding them so much. Oh, gentlemen of the
Boardj help. ... I appeal to your common scents to
decide whether it ought not to be done."
She published two other letters, — one on May 25th on the
experiences of a poor girl in her efforts to dress properly, and one
on June 2nd on "Gamblers in Manchester."
"Dispatch, June 20th. Manchester Ait-airs.
"From being a place of no note, Manchester has lately as-
sumed a position of some little magnititude among the towns
of our mother state.
The reporter for the Richmond Times attacked Struggle
and in her letter of July she replied in spicy and witty fashion.
In her letter of July 28th she takes the city of Richmond in
band, criticizing her for her proud and scornful manner towards
Manchester. "Richmond . . . reminds me of a girl who,
poorly raised, by a stroke of good fortune becomes the petted
wife of some rich and stupid old bachelor. She decks herself
in all the extremes of fashionable folly, assumes lofty flaunting
airs and hastens to forget the humihty of her origin."
Thus Stn^gle opens fire upon her vain neighbor across the
James.
Bven yet 8tru|^le is not satisfied. Her next letter beg^ by
saying:
"Manchester reminds me of a young dwarf with a broken
back and a grey head."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
68 STRUGGLE LETTEHS
She then proceeds to mention certun defects in the people
of the town; — certain respects in which they fall far below
the mark. She says they lack enterprise; that only a small
portion of the children are b^ng educated and very few of ita
young men aspiring to profesaonal life and thus she goes on
in the hope of shaming them out of thdr sloth and inflaming
them with new ambitions.
The letters worked a revolutjon. The town became dia-
Batiafied with itself and b^!;an to brush its sbaggling locks
and to deck itself in clean and attractive attire. It had indeed
caught a fresh ambition and entered upon a new career.
In a revival meeting during Qie Summer at the H<q>^ul
Church in Louisa County Mr. Hatcher showed his gift for
touchii^ the vital spot in men and in this case the results
were unspeakably rich. In the meetings at the country church
there was a very bright young man who had refused to be a
christian. Mr. Hatcher walked to him in the church <me day,
leaned over to him and in a brief conversation sud, "I believe
that the reason you will not become a christian is because
you are afraid you will have to preach." The young man
almost collapsed under the thrust and admitted the truth of
the charge. Mr. Hatcher, seeing that only heroic treatment
would meet the case, put the two following alternatives before
the recalcitrant young man. He asked him to read upon his
knees that night at his home the 51st Psalm and then on the
spot either decide for Christ or else write in his Bible "Resolved
that I will never, never become a christian" and then throw
his Bible in the fire. The youth accepted the challenge. On
the next day he came out and made his pubhc confesmon of
Christ and a few weeks later Mr. Hatcher heard an early
knock at day break at his Manchester door and there stood
this same young man, who said: "I came to tell you good by;
I am on my way to the Theological S^ninary at Greenville
to study for the ministiy."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CALL TO BALTIMORE 69
But this was only the first chapter in a stoiy that had many
happy sequels some of which will be told later.
It ia interesting to note how quickly Mr. Hatcher adjusted
himself to the new dtuation created by the victory of the North
over the South. He emptied his heart at once of its enmities
against the North, classed himself as an American and held
himself ready to give a brother's grasp to any one from the other
side who entertained a similar fraternal feeling. Some one writes
that soon after the war Mr. Hatcher "went to Philadelphia
and eaktering a building where a group of ministers were con-
veraing he advanced with outstretched arm and open palm
saying: 'The war is over — now lets shake hands.' "
He had drunk the bitter dregs of defeat — as his Southern
brethrai had done — and the experience nearly killed him;
but his face was now towards the future and he embraced
every opportunity that came to him for rebinding once more
the two torn and bleeding sections.
A second call from the Franklin Square Church of Baltimore
was successful and in its issue of Feb. 7th the Reli^ous Herald
(A Richmond contained the following:
"Rev. Wm. E. Hatcher on last Sunday resigned the pastoral
care of the Baptist Church in Manchester, having accepted a
call from the Franklin Square Baptist Church Baltimore. We
congratulate our Maryland friends believing that brother
Hatcher will be a power among them as he has been for some
years among us."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER VII
BALTIMOUE PASTORATE. LECTURE ON THE DANCE
1867-1868
It was a hazardous step which this young preacher was
taking in uprooting himself from his native state where he
was gaining such a good foothold and transplanting himself
in another state whose religious conditions were vastly dif-
ferent from those which he was leaving in Virginia. He had,
however, lived a life of stress and turmoil in Manchester. His
members, with a few exceptions, trod the humbler walks of
life, many of them working in the factories. In Baltimore
he found a membership in which there was both wealth and
culture, and many royal homes into which he delighted to go.
In the size of membership, the prominence of the church and
the social privileges afforded, the Baltimore pastorate was
much superior to the pastorate which he had left; but on the
other hand, Baltimore was a CathoUo stronghold, the Franklin
Square church was badly located and the church itself had
been sorely shaken and torn by issues connected with the
Civil War. Be^dcs, the Baptists were one of the weakest
denominations in the city; but in spite of unfavorable con-
ditions he plunged enthusiastically into his new work and
was very happy in it, Virginia seemed to have retwned a
part interest in his services, however, and was frequently calling
him back for some form of ministerial service. The Warrenton
Church claimed him for revival meetings where he found a
new friend, Rev, H. H. Wyer, another one of those noble,
kindred spirits to whom his soul became knit in an unbroken
friendship.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BALTIMORE PASTORATE 71
He brought with him from Manchester a bright attractive
boy, Harvey Nmmally, who lived in bis home in Baltimore.
During the Summer Rev. Geoige B. Taylor, hia soul's
beloved, paid him a visit of several days and he tells of two
of their indulgences. One day they made a mutual agreement
that each would criticize the other; that they would first
take time for reflection and then fire off their indictments.
"It fell to my lot" writes Mr. Hatcher "to begin 'the butch-
ery,' and I raked up everything that I could think of against
him and bore down upon him with unsparing candor, though
to my loving eyes he was full of nobleness. He took my
criticisms in excellent part and chatged me with not doing him
justice — not by reason of my severity, but on account of my
'weak-eyed partiahty.' When his turn came to dissect me he
ignobly fied from his task. The strife for once threatened to
grow sharp between us as I charged him with not doing me
fairly. He laughed a most disarming laugh and said be was
color-blind, in part at least, and could not see the faults of
friends.
"Dr. Taylor suffered much from vocal weakness, or rather
from speaking in a higher key than nature designed should
be used. My partial study of voice-culture enabled me to
make him aware of his mistake. Kia eagerness to correct
the error was most interesting and was in line with his vital
pasdon to do his best in everything. We spent many hours
in making the correction effective in his case and by Ids patience
he achieved a really unusual victory and he wrote a remarkable
article in the pubUc press in which it was made clear that he
had studied the matter to the bottom and bad won by using
his unple information."
He had been warned before comii^ to Baltimore to beware
of the great and colossal Dr. Bichard Fuller, pastor of the
Seventh Church, who was said to be not only inaccessible to
young preachers but often cold and unsympathetic towards
them. To one of these doleful counselors he bluntly replied:
"Well I do not expect to sleep with Dr. Fuller and I shall not
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
72 LECTURE ON THE DANCE
Kipect anything of turn that he does not choose to do for me."
He also added that he felt himself a young colt with no deare
"to be yoked with the great American lion of America." But
he had many pleasant experiences with the old Doctor. There
was nothing so interesting to him as a human being and when
the particular himian was such a king among men as Dr.
Fuller he f^rly reveled in the contact. He tells of a visit that
the Doctor paid him soon after coming to Baltimore, — a
visit which, he says "had in it so much of a man and was bo
ccHirtly, BO delicate, bo free from patronage and eo rich in
brotherly cheer that I could have gone out on the hills and
shouted all by myself."
It was at this time that he prepared a lecture which at-
tained sudden and wide popularity, — a lecture which traveled
up and down Virginia for several years. Many were the
church debts that it helped to pay: many, the women's so-
cieties and missionary bands whose treasury it helped to
swell. The subject of the lecture was: "The Advantages of
the Modem Dance" and its treatment showed humor, wit
and satire.
Dr. J. C. Hiden, probably one of the ablest literary critics
among the Baptists in that day writes;
"If anybody in Portsmouth did not hear Rev. Wm. E.
Hatcher's lecture in the Court Street Baptist church recently
then he missed a specimen of genuine satire. We have seen
very little true satire in this country; and all imitations or af-
fectations of it are especially disagreeable. But we must confess
that the satire which we enjoyed on that occasion is very much
to our taste. It differed essentiaily from Juvenal's fierce in-
vective in which we can not see much satire; and from the mis-
anthropic spleen of Swift which makes us sorry for the satirist
who has worked himself up into such a rage. It is such a picture
of the extravagances, the caprices, the somersaults, the airs
and the graces of would be fashionable dancers as must attract
attention wherever delivered. It is worth a whole volume
of sermons against worldly amusements and we think is more
effective than all the sermons against dancing that we have ever
heard with all the tracts, essays and newspaper articles thrown
in so as to make weight.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LECTURE ON THE DANCE 73
"The audience was the largest that we have seen here on any
simiUr occasion and was entertained from beginning to end."
Hia lecture, in waging war agwnst the modem dance, sur-
prised the audience by it« mode of attack. It declared that
tile advantages of the dance accrued to the Doctors — in the
ailments that it produced in its victims; to the Merchants — in
the lavish expenditures of attire and eatables which it neces-
atated ; and to all lovers of democracy by the breaking down
of all social distinctions and the jumbling together on a level
of all the dancers. He began by saying:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, — So far as I know I am the first
man to venture upon an American platform as the friend and
champion of the Dance, . , ."
After speaking of the opposition raised against the indulgence
he continues: ,
"The pulpit has burled its solemn anathemas agunst it.
Churches have deliberated, resolved and legislated and some-
times have seized the nimble footed lovers of the Dance and
compelled them to execute the celebrated back step movement
by which they were shuffled from the visible church into the
populous country of the heathen and the pubhcan.
"Hard hearted fathers, fastidious mothers and dyspeptic
guardians have, in at least a million of cases, resorted to threats,
bribes, bolts and bars to preserve these giddy responsibilities
from its supposed contwninations. Books, magazines and
papers have poured forth flood-like over the earth for the express
puipose of showing the abstract sinfulness of shaking one's
feet.
"Against this array of leagued opposition I do most boldly
and defiantly set my face, I mean that the Goddess of the
Dance, so long the victim of oppression and injustice, shall
find in me a deliverer. . . ."
After painting the difference between "the Dance" and
"Dancing," he mentions the things that every Dance must
have:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
74 LECTURE ON THE DANCE
"FirBt it must have a place.
"Second, it muBt have a time. It is sufficient for me to eay
that its chosen, if not iis only time, is night, and that, with
greatest possible modesty, it asks for all night or at least as
much of it ae remains after the perfonuance begins.
"Third, it must have Music. . . . Anything from a
first-claaa Band to a dilapidated banjo will be acceptable. Can-
dor, however, compels me to say that of ail inatnimenta respected
in the romping kingdom of the Dance, Jack Dowdy's fiddle is
the favorite. Its first premonitory creak ravishes every ear and
quickens every tongue and starts every toe.
"Fourth, the Dance must have men and women, . . ,
"I submit as my first proposition in favor of the Dance
that it is lughly beneficial to the medical profession."
He then declares that doctors, — ^whom he calls administra-
tors of "castor oil, ipecac and calomel" — must have a Iwing,
that their expenses are heavy and they must therefore have
money, their business must in some way be stimulated and
he thus proceeds to tell how it can be done.
"Gather up all the young people; let the young men cram
themselves into tight boots and tight pants and tight collars —
and to make the picture true to nature — let them be tight gen-
erally; let the girls dress themselves as tightly and as lightly and
as slightly as possible; send for the indispensable Mr. Dowdy
and require them to begin at eight o'clock and skip, hop, whirl
and leap all night long, — except one hour at midnight which
is to be employed in crowding their delicate little stomachs
with such delicious poisons as frozen lemonade, French candy
and fruit cake. Let the dance occur in a room that is close and
hot. Dismiss the party just in time for them to come in contact
with the damp chill air of the early morning in returning home.
"This plan acts like magic. Its results are not always rapid
but inevitable. Sure as the night was made for sleep; sure as
over exertion is more injurious in the night than in the day,
sure as raw air is fatal to a relaxed system, so sure will these
nocturnal revelries make work for the doctor. His harvest
may not come in a day, but come it will in the Neuralgia, Bron-
chitis, Rheumatism, Dyspepsia, Catarrah, Pneumonia and
Consumption of the dancer.
"I announce as my second proposition that the dance is
the patron of Commerce.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LECTURE ON THE DANCE 75
In speaking of the preparations of dreaa for the dance he
says:
"The young men must have their white vests, cropped-
tailed coats, fancy pants, new gloves, plastic boots of requisite
slippers. Their moustaches must be trimmed, rubbed, dyed
and twisted and their hair must be shampooned, cut and spht
open behind. The' old bachelor, or widower, must be taken
through the identical process with the addition of dye for the
hair and sometimes dead hair for the head, perfume for the
breath, braces for the shoulder and cotton for the toes."
He passes next to the attire and adommenta of the young
ladies, — but the above will give an idea of the plan and style
of the lecture which closes with the following:
"If, however, you desire a sound body, a full purse, select, safe
and refined associations, a pohtenees which springs from modesty
and intell^ence and a piety undwarfed by the foul air of
doubtful endulgence then I do say with kindly but mightiest
emphasis that you must never, never, never dance."
"What a time we had that night" writes Rev. S. M. Provence
who heard the lecture at the First Church Richmond in 1867.
"From that time I have heard you whenever I could."
He delivered the lecture in Richmond in 1868 and a secular
piqier of Feb. 6th, 1868, after describing it as a "perfect kaleido-
scope of wit and humor, satire and sarcasm, interwoven with
gri^hic and life-like portraitures," added "The proceeds of
the lecture here were devoted to the ministenal students of
lUcbmond CoUege and to the Dorcas Society of the Leigh
Street Church."
He discovered that he had left a large part of his heart in
Vu^^nia when one day his door bell rang and a committee from
the first Church of Petersbui^, Virginia were ushered in and
sou^t to capture him for their church. He thus describes his
feelings upon the occadon:
"A Virginian is a stark fool to everybody except to Vir-
ginians. Other people may feel as they please but only a Viiv
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
76 CALL TO PETERSBURG
ginian knows how a Vir^boiaa feels.. I bad fooled myself to
death in believing that I was happy out of Virgima but the
spirit of about twelve generations of Virginians lay Bullea aad
restless within me. It gave me time to enjoy my delusions for
a season but when the gateway of the Old DoninJoa fiew open
and I saw the track clear and straight before me I felt tiiat
the millennium was at band. All this may sound Like idiotic
prattle to an outsider but let him rave. He doesn't understand
it at all."
In a short while the tidings went forth that the Franklin
Square pastor had accepted the Petersburg call.
He says "I walked the mountain heights of rapture." Not
that his Baltimore pastorate had not brought him rich jojrs,
nor that his work bad not been amply rewarded, but 'N^rgmia
was the place where he was to work out his destiny and the
fact seemed to break like a revelatitm upon him. What he
wrote about Dr. Jeter seems to ^ply equally well to himself:
"An invisible hand guides our steps, call it what we will
There is a subtle force which dominates our life and determines
our course. It is stronger than our caprices and mightier than
our purposes. It shifts us from our chosen track and thrusts
us into atuations of which in advance we could never have
dreamed.
He had at this time two children, — Eldridge, his first bom,
who was nearly three year? old and his daughter, May, who
was a few months old.
"My life was very h^py in Baltimore" writes his wife.
"It was a beautiful city and choice friendshms were formed
there which it hurt me grievously to sever. I was coming to
love it more and more."
Some <Mie, writing regarding his Commeocemait address,
during this Smnmer, at the Roanoke Femide Institute in
Virginia, said "Dr. W. E. Hatcher, gave the piece derenstance
of the bill of fare — unique, picturesque, humorous, impressve.
But you know him."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER VIII.
FBTEBaBURG. PERSISTENT DRILL IN SERMON MAKING AND IN
LITE&ASr COMPOemON. INTEREST IN BOYS.
In going from Baltimore to Petersbui^ he went from a city
of over 200,000 to a city of less than 20,000. Petersburg, about
20 miles from Richmond, was a quiet, conservative city, but
filled with choice people and delightful homes, the First Baptist
church having in it some of the finest families of the
city.
From the b^inning his heart was set upon having a great re-
vival for his church, and in the Spring his efforts bore fruit
in a rich revival. For eight or nine weeks the meetings con-
tinued, services being held evety night, he himself doing the
preaching. The entire city was stirred, many of the stores
being closed during the afternoon services.
"On Sunday," aays a writer in the Herald of June 3rd, "I
witnessed the most important scene that has ever taken place in
the Rret Baptist Church of this city [Petersburg]. Sixty three
were given the right hand of fellowship and the attendance
at the Communion was the largest ever witnessed in this
city."
At tlus time his soul flamed with an ambition to make
great sermons and he went into sijecial training. It was in
Petersbui^ that he formed Ms sermonic and literary style.
His study was up in the tall tower of the church. How grim
and dai^ it looked to me at nights! With its tortuous, un-
Ugfated st^rway and its gloomy heights it was, to my boyish
imagiaatjwi, the place where the booger men and aasasans
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
78 FORMING LITERARY HABITS
were lurking in the Bhadows to pounce upon my Papa as he
came down those many windit^ steps fr<mi his study and out
into the open six so very late at night. My only thought
about the study was: "How brave is my Papa to go up there
every night by himself." But I did not understand. It was
there that he was foi^g his homiletical habits utd drilling
his pen for its future tasks.
"How I would hate" said his wife "to see him get up from
supper table every night to go to his study, there to stay until
nearly midmght and leave me so lonely at home and yet I
knew it was for the best and I did not complfun."
Let it be remembered that he came to wield a pen which
Dr. F. C. McConnell said "charmed and instructed the whole
world. . . . That facile pen, trenchant aa plea^g, shall
never be equalled, certainly within many generations" aa.d
Dr. John Clifford of London, who is very probably the leading
Baptist minister in Europe, told an American visitor in London
that he read everything he saw from the pen of "W. E. H."
Scores and probably hundreds told William E. Hateher the
same thing.
"Of all those arts in which the wise excel,
Nature's chief masterpiece is writing w^l."
His method of work was frequent rewritings of sermons and
addresses. He said that he wrote one address over twenty
times. It was this ceaseless, remorseless tugging at his aea.-
tences and paragraphs that gave him Ms final mastery over
his pen. In composing his sentences he would seem to chal-
lenge every word. All that troup of infirm, worn-out words
and phrases that wait at the door of every writer and do ser-
vice on all occasions he had no welcome for. He simply
would not use them, unless he found that there were no better
ones to be had. He would hold the truth glowii^ before his
mind while he rapidly searched right and left, high and low,
for just that word or group of words that would best flash forth
th« truth bdore the reader. And then after he had put the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HR8. WILLIAM E. HATCBER
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
FORMING LITERARY HABITS 79
truth on paper, he would still prune and resh^ie its sen-
tesicea.
It is reported that Cicero studied hard and labored to "biii^
his sentences to the hij^est polish" always insisting upon the
opportunity for ample in«paration before he delivered a public
discourse. He found himself however engaged to deliver an
address before the Assembly on a certain occasion and the
hour for the address drew near when he was far from being
ready. At this moment one of his servants brought him the
announcement that the meeting of the Assembly had been
postponed for a day and be was bo overjoyed at this news
that he gave the slave his life's freedom.
Blessed is the man who is ready when his task comes and such
readinesB is the result of grinding drill and toil in secret.
"True ease in writing comes from art not chance
As those move easiest who have learned to dance."
Men differ in thdr methods for attaining the bluest style
in writing. "Voltaire always had lyii^ on his table the petite
Careme of Massillon and the tragedies of Racine — the former
to fix his taste for prose composition and the latter for poetry."
From the early centuries comes a gleam of counsel from Long-
inus who says:
"Think how Homer would have described it; bow Plato
would have imaged it and bow Demosthenes would have
expressed it. . . and you have a standard which will raise
you up to the dignity of any thii^ that human gemns can
aspire to."
We are not' admitted into the literary or homiletical work-
shop of the Petersbui^ pastor and yet he does drop some faints
as to his methods.
"A noble thought" says he "may sicken for lack of vigorous
expression. Trim, polish and refine every paragraph, sharpen
every sentence to the keenest edge and let each word bear part
in giving body to thought."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
80 FORMING LITERARY HABITS
He shrank from loading his sentences with uaeleea luggage.
He declared war against adjectives and branded them ae his
enemy. They swarmed about his pen and with fairest pro-
mises clamored for enlistment. He had in his earher days
yielded to their channs but his productions had suffered ship-
wreck at their hands. For a fresh, lustrous adjective he had hi^
respect. He kept his scouts ever busy searchii^ for such and
when found they met a bounding welcome.
"We admire adjectives" he writes "They are the fringes and
ruffles on the vesture of thought,— somewhat useful and greatly
ornamental. Young mothers have been known to smother
their babies with a profusion of dress; but even that is not so
distressing as the sight of a youthful genius crushing his
ideas beneath a mountain of comparatives and superlatives,"
It was this daily drill which not only gave him his literary
style but which enabled bira, in the long stretch of hrs later
Ufe, to compose with such ease on the platform or in the pulpit.
A gifted woman writes:
"Dr. Hatcher possessed a wonderful vocabulary. I always
devoured everjthirg he wrote. Sometimes I s^d: 'He must
have an edition de luxe of Webster Unabridged'. No one knew
better than he how to couple words which Oliver Wendell
Holmes said 'had loved each other from the cradle upwards,' '*
The Herald of that day says:
"Brother Hatcher of the First Baptist Church Petersburg
teaches a Bible class of twenty five men in the Sunday School
and also has charge of a class in an afternoon mission school.
He meets a class of one hundred once a week to whom he gives
instruction in vocal music." After leaving Petersburg he
never taught in the Sunday School.
Two weeks later this paper stated "The First Baptist Church
of Petersbun;, Va. . . pays the pastor $1,800 and is pro-
posing to increase it to $2,000, The salary is paid quarterly
in advance."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"THE MTJRDEHESS AND HER DAUGHTER"81
I find among his papers the manuscript of a sermon ap-
parently prepared at about this time. It shows the usual
marks of care in preparation; the sheets are stitched to-
gether. The sermon is entitled "The Murderess and her
daughter" and thus begins:
"The chronicles of the world can show no blacker page than
that which contains the history of the Herods. Their name is
rank with infamy."
He thus describes the entrance and the dance of Salome:
"But Hush; 'Stand back' the entering herald cries. 'Stand
back' he cries yet louder, for the party, flushed with wine and
mad with revehy, are slow to hear. 'Stand back', he ohouts in
tones of thunder 'and let the Princess of beauty do honor to
our kii^.'
"Wide open, ea by mt^c, springs the door amid strains of
music and, like aftury queen, bounds forward the elastic and fas-
cinating dancer, Salome. She trips— she glides — she spina — she
circles— she whirls — she leaps — she swims. A thing of un-
earthly beauty glittering, flashing and enchanting she floats
about the royal parlor, now here, now there, now yonder —
everywhere, although her task performed she droops in charm-
ii^ weariness at the feet of Herod to catch his admiration and
rewards.
"Her request is granted."
The sermon closes with the description of the bloody climax.
His next door neighbor was a family whose members belonged
to his church. He had recraitly told them a ghost story of some
medical students in the darkness of the night stealing from a
grave yard the body of a big negro. He told how they brought
the dead body secretly to the Medical college, lugged it to the
cellar door and with a long and careful swing hurled it through
the door and over into the darkness and depths of the cellar
and to their horror, as the big body struck the bottom of the
cellar, it gave a loud and sudden groan. That groan was the
shock and chmax of the story.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
82 THE WEIRD STORY
One Sunday night during the summer he was ratting on
his porch after returning from church. In a little while he
became aware tliat the high porch of his next door neighbor
was filled with people and that one of the ladies of the family
was telling the above mentioned ghost story. She was taking
her time uid was describing minutely the decision of the
students to go out some night in search of a body. He
knew what was coming. He slipped to the back of hla house
and came quietly around under the high porch of his neighbor
where be crouched and listened. The lady was foiling ahead
with the story and was standing and gesticulating to make
her narrative more vivid. She came near the chmax as she
said : ' 'the young men came to the cellar door with the big black
body and they began to swing the body so as to gjve it a mo-
mentum and they swung it out and down into the darkness
and when the body struck the ground the body said" — and jurt
as she reached that point and before she could utter the next
word, Mr. Hatcher under the porch gave forth a most pro-
di^ous and dismal groan that fairly woke the echoes on the
porch. Miss - ■ ■ - - dropped in their midst, as if struck down
by the ghost himself, and terror took full charge of the situation.
In the meantime, Mr. Hatcher, barely able to smother the
storm of laughter that was threatening him, managed to get
himself quickly away and a few minutes later down the street
from the direction of his church he came whistling a tune and
looking the picture of innocence.
"Oh, Mr. Hatcher" they cried from the porch "Come here
quick" and he hastened to the front gate whither they all
rushed from the porch. "Oh Mr. Hatcher let me tell you" they
began, several talking at <Hice and immediately they proceeded
to lay before him in all its ghastliness their experience of the
last few minutes, to all of which their pastor listened with the
most childlike interest,"
Whether he dispelled thdr illuraon that night, or on the
morrow, my recollection breaks down at this point and the
reader must put his imagination on duty for the reet. But
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GIVING A BOY A TRIP 83
I do know he had rolUcking times with thetn ofterwiurds when
he would request Miss to tell him the story about
that midnight haul from the graveyard."
To have seen him at his best during these days one should
have caught him on a trip with a boy. One day, for example,
he rang the door bell of one of his members and called out to
the mother: "Tell Charley to have his valise packed and him-
self ready at the 7:30 trwn Tuesday morning if he wants to go
with me to the Portsmouth Association for a three day's
trip." The mother's eyes as well as lips, gave forth her glad
respcmse as, after a few other words, Dr. Hatcher hurried away.
Great news she would have for Charley — "A trip with Dr.
Hatcher." What talks of preparation the family had that day.
Plain people they were and little Charles was a sprightly well
behaved lad. But he had hardly had a bright visit anywhere
in all his days. Other boys had told him of their trips. Of
course he was ready on Tuesday and the father had him
at the depot in good time.
AndsuchatripitwasforCharley. Howfine itwastojumpon
the train and go ghding along out of Petersburg; he was intro-
duced to preachers on the train and nobody had ever done that
for him before — and then the ride from the country station to
the church and the big wide country how glorious it was — and
it looked as if Dr. Hatcher was thinking more about him than
he was about himself — and it seemed that nearly everybody who
spoke to Dr. Hatcher also spoke to him — and the Association —
welt, the speeches in the church got a httle tiresome and he was
so glad that Dr. Hatcher after the service introduced him to
seven other boys — and then the dinner oa the tables in the
yard with its clucken and ham and pies taxd cake — and Dr.
Hatcher, although he was all the time shakit^ hands and talk-
ing to people, yet seemed determined that the boy should have
something of all the good thii^s that came around as he would
tell the women about his Petersburg boy that he had brought
along — and that made them so kind— and after that second
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
84 GIVING A BOY A TRIP
Bervice it looked as if so many people wanted Dr. Hatcher to
go home with them that night — and that ride from the church
behind those fine horses — and those boys at the house where
they went and Dr. Hatcher makii^ Mm run out with them and
have a good time and that big orchard of apples — and those
grapes — and the fine supper and the nice room that Dr.Hatcher
and he slept in and then, next day, the ride to the church and —
Oh, but didn't he hate to leave it all and go back to Petersburg
but Dr. Hatcher said he would take him agEun some time —
and what times he had at home telling and telling and telling
of his "big trip with Dr. Hatcher".
Does any one doubt that the sparkling eyes of that boy, his
happy talk, and comradeship put youth and bouyaney into
the heart of Dr. Hatcher as he sought not only to give the boy
a trip about which he could talk and dream for months to come,
but also to drop into his heart helpful and inspiring influences?
That boy from that day had an open mind and heart for the
pastor.
One day he was in a brother pastor's home when this pas-
tor told him of the poor health of one of his little boys. "Let
him go with me on my trip to the mountains" said Dr. Hatcher.
He went and upon his return showed marked improvement.
He has often spoken of the happy hours spent with Dr. Hatcher.
He hved to fill some of the high offices in the state. He toved
to take a boy — a lonely boy, a boy with a hard, barren life —
and give him a gloriously happy time.
It was during his Petersbui^ pastorate that he held a meet-
ing at the Tucker Swamp church where he had an interesting
experience with a country boy. This boy, Walter P Hines,
now a Southern pastor, thus tells the story:
"About two years after my converaon I heard on a Monday
morning that Dr. Hatcher was at old Tucker Swamp church
in a meetii^. Nothing would do but that I must go to the
meetii^ that very day. With my father's consent I saddled
old Fanny, the gray mare, and went off in a swift gallop for
the church. The hour was late and I thought if I went around
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HAPPY WITH BOYS 85
the road I should mias the morning sermon, so I put out down
the mlroad track, it being a short cut to the church. The
section boss, Mr. Jim Holland, saw me and manned his band-
car and put out after me. After a chase he overtook me and
informed me that it was against the law to ride on the track
and be would have to arrest me. But I left the track and took
to the woods and made my way out to the road. When I
returned home I went to the section boss and apologized, and
he smiled and told me not to do that again because it wa'^
dangerous.
"After a hard ride I reached the church, hitched old Fanny
to a tree and got in the house in time to hear the text announced.
So soon BB the audience was dismissed I rushed up to Dr.
Hatcher and he took me in his arms. I am sure I was the
happiest boy in that church.
"I spent three happy days with Dr. Hatcher, going to the
home in which he was entertained at night, and 5ien reluct-
antly turned old Fanny's head towards home. In my young
heart my father was fint and Dr. Hatcher next. Often in my
home I^. Hatcher urged my father to make every sacrifice
necessary to educate me."
"He was always the boys' beloved companion and inspira-
tional friend," says Dr. C. T. Hemdon, "He possessed the
power to breathe into them the purest and best manhood. No
youtji ever came in touch with Dr. Hatcher but that he was
shown the beauty and might of pure and cultivated man-
hood."
One day there waa a knock at his study door and a boy about
fourte^i years of age walked in. The boy in later years in
telling about hia viat says: "Dr. Hatcher wheeled around in
bis chiur and took me on his knee and with his arm around me
said: 'Tell me your trouble my boy!'. He got my confidence
at once and I would have told him anything then. He bap-
tized me on the next Sunday night". That boy's name was
Hugh and he is today Dr. Hugh C. Smith, pastor at Bedford
City and Cl^k of the Baptist General Assodation of Vii^
ginia.
Hundreds of boys he took with him on a walk, or a ride, or
a trip to a dedicaticm, an Association, a lecture, or a protracted
meeting. It was this that kept the fountains of his own life
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
86 INFLUENCING BOYS
fresh and sparkling. He caught the boy's spirit. He took
their point of view. He felt the thrill of their radiant natures and
refreshed his tired soul by drinking from their spontaneous Ufe.
He took me with him to Richmond one day and on the train
he su^^ested that I sit by the window on one side of the car and
he would sit by the window on the opposite side and that we
would both count the houses on our respective adea to see
which one would count the largest number of houses. A
gentleman said to me recently: "Dr. Hatcher could be a boy
with boys and he could be a man with men."
He went to Caroline county to marry a couple. Among the
visitors at that wedding was a boy who today is an honored
B^tist minister, — Dr. Andrew Broaddus who thus writes re-
garding himself and Dr. Hatcher:
"It was at a wedding where music and mirth prevailed. A
young preacher present quietly passed his arm around a timid
boy and drawing him to his side spoke a few, tender words to
him about his soul. The memory of those words will abide
with me through the coming years."
How many hundreds of such timid boys were drawn to this
preacher's side and made to feel that there was a great heart
interested in them and heard words that followed them through
all the years.
Bev. Robert H. Winfree in a published address said: "If I
were a sculptor, and could put into granite what was the
crowning glory of Dr. Hatcher's life I would carve in granite
his strong and manly form holdii^ out a helping hand to a
struggling youth and lifting him into power and usefulness."
He himself writes:
"I have known boys— lovely beautiful boys — fair hfured,
bright browed, with rich joyous laughter— with love beaming
out of their eyes — with boyish honor written on their faces-
reared in the nursery of motherly love — trmned to prayer,
charity and virtue — full of modesty, gentleness and worldly
excellences :
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
IN WEST VIRGINIA 87
"And, Oh sorrow! I have seen those boys fall. In temptation's
hour they have become the victims of diimkemieaa, debauchery
gaming or 9ome other ^n. What a melancholy tr^iaformatioa.
A few brief years at most of sinful indulgence withered all that
was lovely about them and changed the once innocent and
lovely boy into a blighted, wicked, debased, foul-mouthed
blackhearted, demonieed monster."
It was the picture of such a poanble doom that drove him
to the rescue of the young lives around him. His Petersburg
pastorate was not marked by heavy thunder nor dazeling
lightnii^, but was rather after the fashion of the quiet,
steady stars. He was the beloved pastor of a church that was
rich in spiritual and social gifts and in denominational ac-
tivities. He kept his finger on every department of Sunday
School and church work and in the city nearly every man
was his friend. His eye swept the circle of the surrounding
counties and their churches were frequently calling him to their
aid for sermons, addresses, lectures or revival meetings.
He attended the West Virginia Baptist State Association
and while there he preached on Sunday morning. In com-
pany with a large group of ministers he si>ent that night in one
of the homes of the city where two of the ministers began an
argument over the question as to whether animals bad any
mind or not.
"They do have minds" said Mr. Solomon "and I can prove it.
A friend of mine had a pet crow which, like all crows, would
steal things and hide them away. It soon learned to watch
and see if any one was looking before it committed a theft
and when caught it would show in its face signs of remorse."
Dr. Hatcher, who up to this time had said notiiing remarked:
"Brother Solomon, that is most remarkable. Does it not
only prove that the crow has an intellectual but also a moral
nature, — a consciraice and that he is a sinner and ought to
have the gospel preached to him." At that Mr. Solomon fiew
into a rage and said: "I did not mean to turn this discussion
into ridicule" "Oh, No" repUed Dr. Hatcher "Neither did I.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
88 THE CROW AND THE DOG STORIES
Let me tell you of a very reli^ouB dog which a friend of mine
owned. This dc^ was a regular attendant at church and seemed
to enjoy religious aervieea very much. There was an old
deacon in that church, however, who had no sympathy with
the camne species and turned the devout dog out. One morn-
ing, this dog, which had been driven from the sanctuary,
sat on the door steps looking into the church most wistfully
showii^ evident signs of religious persecution in its face; but
he kept one eye on the deacon and one eye on his master
until the deacon became E^>sorbed in the sermon and then he
shpped in quietly and sat down by his master and enjoyed
the woiship. At the close of the sermon the pastor called on
the deacon to pray and the dog jumped up and indignantly
walked out."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
CHAPTER IX
tee ueuorul movement. the ambulance corps. uncle
banta's vibit. the boys' UEETINQ.
In 1872 the Virginia Baptists inaugurated a memorable
movement. Their College at Richmond had been abnost
wrecked by the war and it was decided to wage a campaign
through the state for raising $100,000 — a vast sum in those
days — for the reUef of the College. Dr. Hatcher sprang into
the undertaking with the fire and dash of a school boy, and
went from point to point through the state. "It was one of
the most electric and resistless movements that the eyes of
Virpnia Baptists had ever seen," he writes. "Dr. J. L. Bur-
rows, one of our imperial chieft^na, was put at the head of the
forces and with boundless enei^ and never wavering courage
he ted us. . . .We of the pastorate and some of the spell
binders of the pew got up mighty speeches and we fairly shook
the state." His church gave him to the memorial campaign
from November until the following Jime, Sundays excepted.
"Dr. Hatcher of Petersburg" sdd a secular paper "poured
forth one solemn storm of eloquence at the Portsmouth Asso-
ciation." In his swing around the state he ^icountered varied
experiences. One of them not only had its amuEong side, but
it showed his skill in handling an obdurate old dtizen who
was in his audience:
"I was engaged to present the college matter to a prominent
country church in Tidewater Virfplnia. News came Uiat a cer-
tain brother, usually most friendly with me, was nursing a
well-articulated grudge against the college and might take it
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
90 THE MEMORIAL CAMPAIGN
out on me when I came for the collection. When I alighted
at the front of the church I saw this brother standing apart,
gloom and battle clouding his visage. I went out of my way
to greet him and got the chill of the graveyard as my reward.
I almost felt the point of lu8 rapier in my flesh, but I had
bu^esa ahead, and went on into the church. He entered the -
house also, and by every step and attitude proclaimed liimself a
wofully abused and wretched man. He took hia seat near
the pulpit and maliciously turned his back on me. I saw
pain in the face of the saints and a wanton grin among the
Gentiles. My address that momii^ touched Baptist history
and doctrine. It was full of interest to the great bulk of Bap-
tist people present. My irate brother, who -bad turned his
back to me, faced the coi^regation and could see that his
feeling was not shared by others. He was quite a pronounced
Baptist, and now and then some strain of my talk would stir
him and he would peep around without thinking. Others
marked it and smiled, and then he would draw back and re-
sume his defiant ur. It went on as an odd by-play until I
threw out some fragment of truth quite f^eeable to him. He
hstcned eagerly and, glancing around, saw several brethren
in tears. Instantly he broke into weepii^ and suddenly wheel-
ing about, he faced me the rest of the time and looked as if
newly converted, as I verily believe he was. The atmospheric
sentiment of the congregation dissolved his antagonisms and
brought him in. At the close of the sermon he gave a handsome
offering for the college fund. Moreover, he went to the great
memorial meeting in 1873 in Richmond as a delegate, and the
following September entered his son in Richmond College as a
student. There was a conquering and assimilating spirit in
that glorious campaign."
An imperial service was held at the College in connection
with the cimipajgn. It was called the Memorial Service in
memory of ttie heroic Baptist forefathers who had not only
made possible the College, but in the Colonial days had
founded the Denomination in the state. From all over Virginia
came the Baptist ministers and laymen and the exercises were
held on the College campus where seats had been temporarily
constructed for the multitude. Virginia Baptists have seldom
witnessed such a day as that. Dr. J. L. M. Curry, was the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DR. J. L. M. CURRY 91
orator and Dr Hatcher writes a description of the occaaion
and his words show the ardor and fire with which his own
soul was burning. It was characteristic of him to dedicate
his whole heart to an enterprise when once he had championed
it and on that Memorial Day no one was more sympathetic
or enthusiastic than he. His portrait of Dr. Curry reSects
bis own spirit. "The rusty old lock," which he mentions, came
from the Culpeper Jail where James Ireland, a heroic Baptist
preacher, had been imprisoned for his faith in the Colonial
days. But let him paint the picture:
"Curry was in his prime then — in person kingly and beau-
tiful. His hair was barely touched with alver as it rioted over
his brow. His voice, in spite of cruel misuse, was mighty as a
warrior's trumpet and with all thought of politics out of him
in those days, he was instinct with high religious convictiona
and loaded with a mighty message for the Baptist brotherhood
massed before him in such multitude on that high day.
"Ah, how he towered aa he told it. It had a rich, a gladsome
soimd. There was no note in it at all ajar. The people did
about everthing that was allowable on such an occasion to
express their pride and rapture. They sometimes laughed,
sometimes cried, sometimes spoke in their uncontrollable
excitement, sometimes burst into fragmentary praises, or
ejaculatory prayers, sometimes grasped hands and swapped
fellowship without ceremony and sometimes they seemed to do
all these things, and several others besides, all at the same
time.
"When Dr. Curry drew out the rusty old lock of Ireland's
palace at Culpeper (as the famous old minister called his
prison) and turned its key until its grating note smote the
public ear I thought the tent would have to go. A cri^s was
at hand — the crowd stood up in forgetful intensity and suited
and cried and fairly melted under the orator's peroration. The
Baptists were enjoying their independence that day. They
had s new taste of liberty and life was at high tide.
"It would warm the old hearts to call the roll of those who
were on hand that day. The chiefs of the tribes were on hand."
That Memorial camptugn marked the dawning of a new career
for Richmond College and today she stands unsurpassed among
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
92 LETTER TO DR. J. A. CHAMBLISS
the Colleges of the South. He held revivtil meetings ia the Fall
at the Second Church in Richmond and afterwards wrote the
following chatty letter to Dr. J. A. Chamblias who had been
pastor of that same Second Church :
"Dec. 23rd, 1873.
"Why, my dear Cham:
"Howdy! How do you do? How is Mrs. Cham? little
Chams, all well? Any new Chams at your house? Certainly
am proud to meet you. You took as jolly as if folks had been
sending you Christmas gobblers, fruit cake and cigars.
"Have been thinking of you very often of late. Couldn't
help it. Been assisting in a meeting at the Second Church in
Richmond and to save my life I couldn't prevent them from
saying all manner of pretty things about you. When the
sisters undertook to regale me with a first class compliment they
would say: 'You remind us so much of Mr. Chambliss.' I
slyly intimated to them that the comparison was not flattering
to mc— which caused them to roll their eyes and wonder if
insanity ran in my family.
"Hospitality flung open the front gate and gave me the fat
of the land. I fear that I grew far faster in gout than in grace
during my four weeks stay over there. The brethren who pull
's ears as a mere pastime did not cross me. Old
man ventured on one solitary occaMon to try the
lancet of his asthmatic satire on me. In anticipation of such
an event I had l(ud in a double charge of hot shot. He fied
at the first fire, but I pursued and captured lum and from
that time he was my most wilhng slave.
"Owing to an accumulation of visiting brethren in my study
I have written not quite as dignified and interesting a letter
as I had had it in my bosom to write.
"Yours
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
It was during his Petersburg pastorate that he and a few
other young pastors formed a device for reducing the conceit
of the self assertive preachers at the Southern Baptist Con-
vention. It came about in this way. The President of the
Convention, Dr. P. H. Mell, was a parliamentary specialist.
U was his book on parliamentary tactics by which the CoD-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE AMBULANCE CORPS 93
vraitioiL was governed sad be of course bad every item of tbe
rules at his fingers' ends, and it meant tbe day of doom for tbe
man who clashed with him on a "point of order."
But there were those who rashly encountered Mm on the
floor of the Convention, men who thought that they knew
parliamentary law as well as Dr. Mell and that, as for Dr.
Mell "the shrewd and overbearii^ maker of the new par-
liamentary tactics, they could ^ve him lessons and a good start
and then leave him in the lurch in a fair fight." These con-
flicts between the parliamentary champion and his opponents
oft^i took place on tbe floor of the Convention and in nearly
every case "the brother on the floor" would be ruled "out of
order" by the preadent, and would drop into bis seat a crumpled
and defeated contestant. "A few of us of tbe younger set"
says Dr. Hatcher "were observers of the pretty little colliaions."
It occured to this little coterie, of which Dr. Hatcher seemed
to be the f otmder and leader, that an Ambulance Corps' ought
to be provided to take care of those who were unhorsed and
wounded in their conflicts with the parliamentary president
"and bo" says Dr. Hatcher "we organized a Society for the
"Amehoration of the Squashed and Squelched". Of course
the squashed and squelched were those who had encountered
the master of tactics on the parhamentary field and had fallen
beneath the strokes of his spear. It became gradually known
that this "Ambulance Corps" kept thdr eye ever on the field
of battle and were ready to rush to the aid (?) of any one who
should be "knocked down" or worsted in any of his appear-
ances before tbe Convention. For example, at one of the
sesaons a del^ate told tbe members of tbe Corps that their
method was brilliant. He joked about their "taking down"
the self inflated preacher and congratulated tbem on the good
work tbey were doing.
"We accepted bis congratulations with lofty reserve" says
Dr. Hatcher "rebuking him for treating a matter so grave in
a fashion bo trivial and told him that he ought to consider
himsdf lest he also be crushed beneath the wheels of the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
94 THE AMBULANCE COEPS
parliamentary en(pne. He laughed defiance in our faces and
declared that he would never be found among the victims."
They came to the last day of the Convention and Dr. Hatcher
and another member of the Corps found themselves atting
behind this same self confident brother, who arose and said, in
"Brother Moderator I desire to offer a resolution to the
e£fect that the thanks of this Convention be returned to the
rtulroads and steamboats for reduced fares in the transpor-
tation of delegates of this Convention."
"The brother will reduce his resolution to writing" com-
manded the president. Down the brother sat and went to
work on his resolution feeling at the same time that he ought
to have written his resolution before offering it. But that was
merely a skin scratch compared with the blow that came from
a delegate who arose and said :
"Brother Moderator, that resolution is proper enough in
its place but while I regard a railroad as one of the great bless-
ings of the age and I think a steamboat is a joy forever yet
I doubt whether the railroad or the steamboat could appre-
ciate a vote of thanks from this Convention."
"It hit the author of the resolution" says Dr. Hatcher "some-
where in the region of the solar plexus,"
"Put him down and send an order to the Ambulance Corps:"
whispered the president of the Corps to the secretary. "What
is that you said?" asked the perturbed brother who turned
around with his question to the two officials of the Corps.
In a very haughty and almost tragical mamier the president
of the "Corps" replied:
"I must very reluctantly inform you that the secretary was
ordered to put you down."
"Put me down where?" he protestii^ly asked. "There is
nothing the matter with me. I am not hurt." In a slow,
deliberate manner the officials sfud to him: "We advise you
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE AMBULANCE CORPS 95
not to talk for there are some veiy serious symptoms in your
case. We have already ordered the Ambulance Corps to take
you in chMtje."
"His frankness was admirable" says Dr. Hatcher "He stated
that it would stick to him forever if it went abroad that he
had made a fool of himself and had fallen into the hands of the
AmeUoration Corps. It was said that he never got on his
feet after that, though he attended the Convention for years
afterwards."
LucUcrous experiences attended the labors of this group of
salva^ benefactors and without doubt they caused many a
"swelling aspirant" to think twice before jumping to his feet.
The dread of becoming a passenger in the Am^bulance wagon
prevailed widely among the delegates.
"There were really no ofEcers and no organization" says
Dr. Hatcher. "There were not more than five or ax youi^
men in any way connected with it. . It was an "in-
tangible and unlocated Association. It was understood that
when any one of us was assailed we could simply hold still,
if we preferred or we could assume any relation to the move-
meat that we desired". This "odd and unscheduled" Society
played its part for five years and then, after serving its
purpose, it was said to have dissolved, — or rather it would
have dissolved but for the fact that it did not have sufficient
coherency to permit a dissolution. It had done its work, the
secretary was dischai^ed and they met no more.
In one of the meetings of hia Petersburg church during his
absence on one occasion a prominent member arose and said
regarding the heavy financial burden then restii^ upon the
church : "I do not know what we will do unless we get a cheaper
pastor." When on his return, he heard of this public remark
made in his absence it struck him a keen blow and m.ade Iiim
indignant and he immediately sfud to his church, that if brother
's remarks reflected the sentiment of the church his
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
96 SANTA'S VISIT
resignation was ready to be put in tbeir haiida. This brought
the church quickly to its feet to repudiate the view expressed
by the brother and to assure him of their loyalty and thus what
threatened to become a storm passed off as a mere ripple and
the stream of church work flowed peacefully along.
One morning, while I was walking through the upstairs hall,
I met my father who said to me — almost in a whisper "You
have another Edster."
It startled me, but it gradually came to my undeistandlng
that little Kate Jeter had arrived and that she had taken her name
from Mrs. Dr. Jeter, whom we called "Cousin Kate." Two
other daughters had been bom to him, — Virpnia Mabel in
Baltimore and Orie Latham in Petersburg — and a few months
before his departure from Petersbui^, a second son was bom, —
David Steel.
Already his love of games was manifesting itself. Often
would he play croquet in the yard of Dr. Hartman, and of the
Kobertsona, and in our home dominoes was very popular with
him. I remember playing with him one night until one o'clock —
in the wee small hours — and in every game he was e^er to
beat.
Christmas was a time of jollification at our house and he
was always the Mf^a Pars in its festivities. He arranged
with Santa Claus to reach our home on Christmas Eve and
we children noticed particularly that he taid Santa seemed to
be on extra good terms with each other. At the approach of
Christmas he would always get for us some immense paper
bags, — My! how big they seemedl These bags were to hold the
presents from Uncle Santa. They would be opened wide and
set up in a row against the wall in the front hall where the old
gentleman from the Polar r^ons ea^ly could see them when he
entered the front door. Into these bi^ he would empty the
presents for the children.
How happy father was in it all as he arranged the bags
and got us ready for the anticipated arrival of Uncle Santa at
raght o'clock that night. A short while before eight we would
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SANTA ARRIVE6 97
be rounded up in the front pailor and pvea solemn wamii^
about our quiet behavior while old Santa was filling the bags
in the hall. What jumping around and what rattling, gleeful
chatter we bad as we wuted tn the parlor for the wonderful
arrival!
"What was that at the door?" — Ah, it was the front door bell
and our hearts stopped still.
"There he is — ^Unde Santa!" said father to us. "Now perfect
quiet and let each one remain right here and I will go out and
meet the old gentleman."
"Ah, but didn't we hold opra our ears to listen, thouf^ we
oould hardly hold our hearts from jumping on the outude of US.
We oould hear father open the door and thea say in loud cheery
tones: "Why Uncle Santa; how are you? Do walk right in; a
thousand welcomes to you." Of course we did not see Uncle
Santa. It would have m.eant untold woes and disasters for us
if we had looked through that k^ hole. But we heard him
plainly as he talked in a high-pitched, thin voice. It is true that
the vfNce at one or two, places, when it would drop down, soun-
ded just a little wee bit like father's voice but of course we could
not expect Uncle Santa's voice to be entirely unlike every other
VMce in the world. In a high, thin voice Uncle Santa would say,
panting a little as if he was out of breath;" "Well, I thought
<mce I might not get here — so many places — so many young
ones. And bow are the children?" My! how we did jump and
tmnble when he asked that.
"Are th^ all well?" "Oh yes" said the father "they are in
tip top health.,'
"And how have they behaved since I was here last Christ-
mas?"— ^What a fearful question — we thought.
"Oh they are fine children Uncle Santa; they ^ro too noisy
sometimes and sometimes they jump the track of good be-
havior but I think they are sorry and are going to try to rub
out and start afresh and I think Santa that they are about
the finest children on the globe."
"Ab, that is good news" he said "and here are scone things
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
98 HANDING OUT THE PRESENTS
I h&ve brought with' me all the way from the f rozm land of
icicles and they are for the children — (Violent heart jumpings
in the parlor).
"Here are the thinga for Eldridge" — (roaring cataracts and
internal convulsicHiB of the first bom in the parlor). Father
called out:
"Here is Eldridge's bag, Uncle Santa."
"Hne are the presentsfor May" — said Santa (another mighty
commotion).
"Right here ia her bag, Uncle Santa — how kind it is in you
to brii^ these beautiful things from the far away land of
blizzards."
"These are for One" said Uncle Santa — (Exdtement in the
parlor impossible of suppresedon.)
"Here is the bag for Orie" called out father.
"And now lets see — there is another — Yea, yes, here it ia —
for Kate and it goes into this bf^ I suppose" — (conditions in
the parlor worse than ever) "But I must be going; thousands
of homes are still waiting for me."
"I wish you could stay with us Uncte Santa,"
"Impossiblel Give my love to the children and tell tliem
that if they want to see me next Christmas they must be the
best children on the deck." Uncle Santa hurried away: we
know he did for did we not hear the door open and then shut
with a bang, — but that was all we cUd hear for the parlor door
was then flung wide op^i and such scampering for those bags
and such 'eager diving in to thdr oontoits and such happy
shouts over the discoveries — and the happiest one in the entire
party was the father — who evidently believed with the childrai:
Eji.' *;^ ,"At Chri8tn)as'''play ' and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year."
We find him next making a dash into South Carolina vi«t-
it^' Charleston where he delivered two sermons and a lecture.
"You know it was a treat" said a writer in the Herald, "Every-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SERMON THEMES 99
body knows it who has ever met Hatcher." After speaking
of the "matchless" sermon on Gideon he continued:
"Monday night he dehvered his famous lecture on 'The
Advantages of the Modem Dance.' The house was crowded
and such a time as we had. I am sure he never delivered that
lecture with more perfect success. He spoke fully for an hour
and a half — but apparently everybody waa wilting to at
another hour if he would only keep on with his irresistibly
humorous though 'squelching' satire. But socially also,
the visit of my friend and brother was a joy to be tasted through
many a day to come. And not only for me, but — witness the
number of bouquets and souvenirs of different kinds with
delicate cards attached which came bo bis addresst"
Very few manuscripia remun of the sermons which he
preached in Peteraburg. The following are some of those few
which have been preserved.
Jan. 4th, 1874^"Building Altars for God." 2 Sam.24:25.
Feb. lst,1874 — "Bowi:^ in the House of Rimmon." 2 Kings
5:18.
March 2nd, 1874 — "Brii^ing the Paralytic to Je8u8."Mark
2:3.
Nov. 28th, 1874— "Eatii^ at the Ku^'s Table." 2 Sam.
9: 7, 8.
Nov. 28th, 1874— "Paul's Viaon at Corinth." Acts 18«,10.
Jan. 10th, 1875— "False Piety". 1 Sam. 15:13,14.
Jan. 10th, 1875— "David and Goliath." 1 Sam 1737.
Jan. 15th, 1875— "Nathan's B«proof of David." 2 Sam 12:7.
Jan. 31, 1875— "The GenUe Conqueror." Matt. 12:20.
The Petersbui^ climate played havoc with his health in the
Summer of 1874 and he was ordered off to the Springs. He wait
to the White Sulphur Springs. Col. George L. Peyton, the
proprietor of the Springs was exceedingly fond of him and
frequently ui^ed him to visit the Springs as his gueet.
He and his wife in December celebrated the tenth anniver-
sary of their marriage by having at their home a "Tin Wedding."
Heaps and loads of tin were brought into the house on that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
100 THE BOYS MEETINGS
ooeaatHi. Oae of the ladies sent Mn. Hatcher s slk drees (rf
the color of tiu to we&r at the wedding. The children were
very happy over the big tin barrel which was packed with cut
loi^ sugar. It was tin in the front parlor and tin in the
back parlor; tin in the hall and tin in the dining room; tin to
the l^t of us and tin to the right of ua, — tin, tin piled every-
where,— even the Catholic priest being <Hie of the tin bearMs
uid many were tiie months that sped by before the last reomast
of that avalanche of tin was obliterated from our home.
He had hia Boys Meetings every Sunday afternoon in which
he made large use of'Dialogues". The dialogues were writt^i
by himaelt. They were breesy in style, serious as well as
humorous, and treated of live subjects. The boys were trained
by him. I r^nember oos day that a message came from him in
lUchmond for his dialogue boys to be sent over to Richmond at
once, — ^that they were to give an evming's entertunm^it at
the First Baptist Church. What a panic of ddight we were
thrown into by the uinouncementl What hurryii^ on of
Sunday clothes and what jubilant expectancy was ours as we
set out for Richmond. It was a State Sunday School A»-
Bodation and Dr. Hatcher had been asked to take charge d
the Friday evening's pn^p-amme and he decided to bring "his
boys" over for the occasion.
No time was gf^ea us in Petosburg that ixy for bruahii^
up on our pieces for we scarcely had time to brush up our hair
or our clothes. We received the hurried message and had
to jump for t^e train in what seemed to me a very abort time
but probably the exhilaration of that trip gave double quick-
ness to our memories and put us «l our mettle. At any rate
there was no break down in our Richmond performancee, or if
such there was, history has mercifully left it out. The
church was filled to overflowing and we came back to Peters-
burg to tell of "the trip of our Uvea,"
A few weeks later I noticed a strange occurr^ee in the
ehurdi service one Sunday morning. The con^pregation seamed
tobeattadudwithaD^dunieof weepiag. I understood it not.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CLOSES fETEESBURG PASTORATE 101
but later, out in the church yard, one of the gmtiemen luud
to me — posedbty in reply to my oiquiry regarding the red and
tearful eyes — "Your father ia goiiq; to leave Fetereburg. He
has accepted a call to Richmond."
Hia Petersburg pastorate had been eminently prosperous
and the devotion of the membership to him had never been
greater than at that time but when the door swung open to the
larger pastorate in the Ca{Htal dty — ^that of the Grace Street
Baptist Church — he felt that there he must do his next work.
When his name was bdng conadered by the Grace Street
Church committee Dr. Jeter in speaking about him stud to
them: "He will never make a flash in the pan."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER X.
RICHUOMD, RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS. BOYS HEETTINO'
DIALOOUBS.
His removal to Richmond lifted his minietry to a higher and
broader platform, Richmond, at that time, being the chief city
of the South. His first sermon in his new field was preached
on the last Sunday in May. The location of the church was
ideal, though the structure was old and without many con-
He tells how he came to be called to Grace Street:
"I came to this church under peculiar circumstances. My
predecessor had reigned some time before under factional
pressure and his re^gnation had been accepted. There was,
however, an ill-suppressed mutterof discontent as to the situation
and when the committee appointed to recommend a pastor
brot^t in my name my predecessor was nominated also by
a member of the church and when the vote came I was in-
gloriously left in the lurch; but the pastor re-elect felt con-
strained to decline the call and my name was presented again
and I received all the votes except one. The lonely voter was
one of the regenerated oddities of the human race."
He th^i tells how this recalcitrant brother gradually came
to be his lover and champion. This facUonal element was in
the church when he came but they seemed friendly to him and
jomed with the other members in giving him a bright, royal
welcome.
Immediately after entering upon his work at Grace Street
he found himself in such feeble health that he had to betake
himself to the mountains. This was a great disappointment
.D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRACE STREET
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
COLLEGE ADDRESS 103
to him. He had left Petersburg with malaria in his system
and it threatened to put him hors de combat. Before leavit^
for the iprings he showed his platform skill in a very playful
and popular address at the Richmond Collie Commencement.
"First of alt" says the Herald in reporting the address "he
congratulated the students, one and all, upon their spotless
and irreproachable conduct during the last nine months. They
had not broken a rule, nor uttered an evil word, nor marked
a wall, nor rung a bell, nor joined in a callathump, nor tor-
tured a gawky new-comer, nor ducked a professor, nor cheated
at an examination, nor invaded a strawberry gaiden, nor had
been out at night, nor had had ima^nary headaches, nor
borrowed money, nor written poetry, nor done any other ill-
mannered, or immoral thing. He sud that they hsd not done
these things — at least, he had not heard of their doing them.
True, he had not interviewed the faculty on the subject for he
thought his congratulations could be as cordial and unqualified
without such interview. And even if some busy and venomous
tongue had whispered of irregularities and errors he could
hardly believe the rumor, after gazing at them that night,
looking so erect and serene, so innocent and lovely, so strong
and happy. But even if some of them had yielded to the
temptation be still congratulated them that they had gone no
further astray and that they would now have opportimity to
gather their scattered virtues and fortify against the dangers
of next sesaon.
"In the next place, he congratulated them all on .the result
of the examinations, no matter what the results had been.
To the suceessful he spoke earnest words of approval, but
exhorted them not to imagine that they now had the world
in a sling and that the sun would cease to shine if Viey were
suddenly to die.
"Some of them had failed through their own fault, and he
congratulated them that they had no honors which they did
not deserve and which would prove hurtful if thus bestowed.
But he made to this class an exhortation so practical that we
fpve it m full:
" 'Do the correct thing about your f^lure. Don't try to
whitewfl^ the case. Don't administer chloroform to your
father or mother. Don't say you were sick. Don't say you had
too many ticketa. Don't lay it on tiie profeesors. Don't call
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
104 COLLEGE ADDRESS
it a miafottune. Above all, don't ascribe it to your genius,
and sneer at your more succeed] comrades. Tliere was no
genius in it except the evit genius of indifference. Tell bow it
was — tell that it was the resistleas fascination of lUchmond
giria — tell tbat you spent too much time in airing your best
clothes on Grace and Franklin Street — ^tell how you were too
food of IMckens, or baseball, or whatever it was. If you have
pluck and vim to do better next session, ask your father to
gjve you another chance and come back in September and next
June you will be here to share the honors of your Alma Mater.
But if you really lack the energy and purpose for a new start
in a vigorous pace — if failure cleaves to your bones — then ^ve
my compliments to your honored and unhappy father, and
tell him that my advice to him is to buy one of P. H. Starke's
new improved plows and elect you presdent of it,"
"The speaker th^i spoke words of earnest sympathy and
good cbe^ to those who had failed through no fault of thur
own and said :
" 'God bless you, my boy I recall my ill-chosen word. You
have not fuled. You missed the distinction, but you got the
discipline. Life is always short, but long enough for a steady
resolute spirit to win success. I congratulate you that there
is an opoii track before you and your past experience will
enable you to run it.'
"He then congratulated the students, in ^)propiiate words,
on the close of ^e session and their return to their homes and
• gave them some facetious counsel about their country sweet-
hearts and aa his address, he said, would be incomplete without
some grave advice, he concluded with these three points:
" '1. Don't be in too great a huiry to get married.
" '2 Work for the College. She is your mother. She is not
perfect but it is not for a son to tell a mother's faults.
" '3. Be men,
"The above, mes^re outline ^ves some imperfect idea of Dr.
Hatcher's admirable address. Hia blended humor, wit, satire
and pathos brought down the house in loud applause and de-
lighted the audience who pronounced it a splendid specimen
of a College speech."
He decided to accept the hospitality of Col. George Peyton,
the big souled and fun loving proprietor of the White Sulphur
Sivinga, where he had enjoyed a visil on the preceding Summer.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
NEVER FORGETTING FACES 105
Hb arrival at the Springs on this Summer was enlivened by
a humoTOUB incident of his own devising. It dated back to the
previous Summer wben he was at these Sprii^ and when the
resident phyacian of the Springs, Dr. M , boasted often
to Dr. Hatcher and Col. Peyton of his ability to remember
faces; "In tact" said Dr. M "I never foi^ a face."
They spent many hours in happy chat and the Doctor did not
ful at different times to ring the changes on his unfailing
talent for rect^puzing old acquaintances. That was in the
Summer of 1874.
On the next Summer when Dr. Hatcher arrived at the
^rii^ be was pven a cordial greetiiMS by Ck»l. Peyton.
"How is our friend Dr. M ?" asked Dr. Hatcher.
"Unusually well" replied the Colonel "and it will do him good
to meet you again."
"Is he still rect^niEing old acqutuntsnoea?" The Colonel
brolce into a laugh as he said: "Ah you rranember that do you?
Well he surely will not dare not to rect^piiise you after hie
boasting of last Summer."
"Suppose, Colonel, we put, our heads together and put the
old gentlemen to a good test." B£ud Dr. Hatcher. After a
brief council of war the plot was Iwd. Dr. Hatcher was bimdled
up in a big overcoat, the lai^e collar was turned up and pulled
around the ears and mouth and the slouch hat pulled down
well over the forehead. Slowly they walked over to the old
Doctor's of&ce.
"Come in gentlemen" he called out as he opened his door.
"How are you Colonel Peyton; have a chair."
"Doctor" said the Colonel "Here ia a friend of mine — (Great
coughing and clearing of throat on the part of the closely butr
toned up friend) — a friend of mine, Major John Cutting from
Arkansas who seema to be much afflicted with some trouble"
— (ctHitinued and increasing coughing by the friend as if it was
accompanied with great pain.)
"Oh, is that so?" said the Doctor somewhat nervously; "Too
bad. What seems to be your trouble, Major — what did you
say the n«me was Colonel?
"Major Cutting." "Oh, yes, pardon me Major; I cannot
alwaya remend>er names, but a face I never forget, never."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
106 RETURN TO RICHMOND
(Violent coughing on the part of the Major aa he ventured
to speak)— "Eh — Doo-tor-I-de — (coughii^) You see (coughing)
— my condition Doctor — eb — eh what do you think of me?"
"Doctor," spoke up the Colonel, "I think I'll ask you to pause
just one moment; I want to introduce an old friend to you — I
want you to meet our old friend" and here the patient strtughtr
cned up, the coat collar was turned down and the hat Uft^ —
"Dr. WilUam E. Hatcher."
He returned from the Springs strong and eager for the work
in his new pastorate. The presence of Dr. J. B. Jeter in his
church was worth to him scores of ordinary members. He
always sat in the middle aisle not far from the front.
"He rarely ever failed to be present at both services on
Sunday and at the prayer meeting on Wednesday night unless
on duty somewhere else. He was a magnificent hearer open
eyed, upright and eager. His smile, hia glistening eyes, his
unconscious bows, his falling tears and beating breast were
signals of cheer and support."
As in Petersbut^, so in Richmond, he seemed to feel that
his pastorate would not be properly launched until a great
revival had come upon the church. He prayed and worked
towards that end and in November the meeting began and
for ten wedts they continued witli the pastor doing the preaching.
The wonderful nature of the meetings is seen from the fc^-
lowing statement from Dr. Jeter in the Herald: "In a forty
years re^dence in the city, though we have known more
general revivals, we have not seen a more pervamve and power-
ful work of grace in any one congregation. . . It is fair
to estimate that 250 persons have made a profession of re-
l>entance."
His Boys' Meeting soon began to loom into large proportions.
These meetings were not only entertaining and instructive
for the boys, but the boys were enlisted in rumng money for
church improvements. It was in lUchmond, be said, that
his work with the boys "rose to its full height ... I had
found my inheritance at last — banks and tides and storms of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BOYB' MEETING 107
boys." Who of all the boys that attended those meetings can
ever forget them? No sooner was the Sunday dinner eaten than
off to the church would dash the boys. In front of the church
door they gathered and surged in happy chatter until the ar^
rival of tiie pastor who usually came up with a squad that had
accumulated around him as he came down the street. The
door was opened and in they scampered, piling into the benches
in lively clatter and taking unlimited time is getting settled
in thdr seai«. What bustle and life was therel The air seemed
vibrant with energy. How the boys did sii^ and what eager-
eyed attention they gave to whoever got on the platform, —
that is provided he put in his speech gumption and eaap. The
boys could not be kept from the meetings. Attractive though
their homes might be yet on Sunday afternoon there was a
magnet that pulled them out of their homes and around to
Grace Street.
Playmates might whistle at their front gates or ring their
door bells for a visit on Sunday afternoon but these youthful
callers were ^ther wheeled into line for Grace Street Chiu%b, or
else the visit was sidetracked for another occasion. That Boy's
meeting was the bright particular spot for them after dinner
on Sunday.
"The moth^is said that they could hardly hold the boys
until th^ got their dinner and that, you know, is a well ni^
incredible £ing to say about a normal boy" writes Dr. Hatcher.
There was an oi^anist and a chorister to lead the boys in
their ain^ng and it was roaring mumc that they would have.
Sometimes there were solos by popular visiting singers. Oft-
times the boys gave aolos or duets or quartettes. Speakers
innimierable — many of them distinguished — were mustered
into service for a speech to the boys.
A prominent educator, — a Methodist — said recraitly "I am
one of Dr. Hatcher's boys. My mother did not know what to do
witJi me oa Sunday afternoons. Our neighbor's son asked
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
108 TRAINING THE BOYS
me to go with him to Grace Street. I went and continued to
go for three years. I love the manory of Dr. Hatcher."
In many parts of. the world to-day are ministers whose
hearts kindle at the recollection of those meetings. For
otample Rev. T. V. McCall says:
"Somehow I feel that of all the boys who came under Dr.
Hatcher's infiuence in old Grace Street Church I must have
profited most. He trained me in the Boys Meeting."
Of oourse he sought to put spice and sparkle in the meetingB.
There was a freedom and spontaneity in the exerdsee, and ottesa.
a ripple of fun would break over tiie proceedings, though ii^
reverence, or unseonly levity was never permitted. For
rumple one afternoon <me of the boya — Jeter Jones — when
the roll had been called, said: "Dr. Hatcher we have exactly
99 boya present. If we had only one more boy we would have
one hundred."
"Here is Clarkson" said Dr. Hatcher as he pointed to a tad
of great altitude. If we will cut him in two we will have the
one hundred. A storm of lav^htn broke uixm the boys as
they looked at Clarkson and yet the bantering of Clarkson was
in such jovial, kindly vein that he j^nned in the joke and laughed
with the others.
He trwned them in rumng m^mey, one of their methods
h&ng that of securing htmorary members, each of whom
should pt^ ten cents per month.
The boys were drilled in public speaking and once a year they
would have their public anniversary in the church auditorium.
The boys would be in full charge of the programme, — one
actii^ BB presiding officer, another delivering the address of
welcome and many of them taking part in the dialogues, Dr.
Hatcher having writtm all the pieces and having truned the
boys. It was sud that these celebrations by the boys unearthed
many members who had not been at church for a long time and
whom nothing else oould attract. At one of these celebrations
a boy came out on the platform, advanced to the front,
started to make his bow, when he stepped back and looked
D.qit.zeaOvGO(^lc
BOYS' ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS 109
around in a daaed fashion. Another boy approached him and
dananded to know why he waa standii^ there Looking so
scared.
"You'd be scared too" he replied "if you saw ghosts in l^e
audience as I do. I see members of the church here tonight
who I thought had been dead for years and yet here they are
toni^t."
One of these "ghost" members, upon meeting him one day
said: "Dr. Hatcher, I do not like the outuda of our
church."
"Yes" he replied "and you dont seem to like the inside
ather."
Let us, in ima^nation, look in upon one of these annual
celebralioDS by the boys. The building was usually crammed
with people, — on the Boor and in the galleries. At the ap-
pcnnted moment out steps a boy upon the high, broad pulpit
platform, and in bud tones calls out:
"Ladies and goitlemen": and then follows a five minutes
Address of Welcome after which he announces, "The next
item on the programme is a dialogue on 'What we are going
to be' by George, Leon, James, Jeter and others.' "
He steps back to his seat at the rear of the pulpit while every
eye is fixed on the aide door. Out oomes "George" who moves
to the front of the platform saying with a shout: "Hurrah for
mel I feel as happy as Julius Caesarl"
"You do?" said another boy who had come on the platform
from the other door; "You make such a racket I thought you
bad swallowed a cyclone and it was toying to work out at
your mouth."
Oeoige — "Well, I sm rather noisy tonight, but I cant help
it. I feel h^)py in my bones. A big thing happened at our
house to-day."
Leon — ^"What was itT Did your mother whip your father;
or did you have scalloped monkey for dinnerf'
George — "Father informed me that I might quit school and
go to work. Aint that gloriouBt"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
110 - DIALOGUES
Enter James
Jamea — "What do you mean? Are you goii^ to gjve up your
chauce for an education? You are a very slim pattern for a
business man. What are you gcHog to be?"
Enter Jeter
Jetei^— "Going to be? I tell you what I am going to be; I
am goii^ to be a doctor."
Geoi^e. — "A doctorl I wouldn't be any doctor, forever
looldng in folk's mouths, cuttii^ open boils, smelling measles,
getting up all times of night, and may-be killing people. I am
going to be a merchant, and keep ready-made clothes."
Leon. — "You say you are? I hope you will sew the buttons
on your clothes so they won't drop off the first time you sneeze.
It seems to me that the ready-made clothes sold in this town
were taken off some old mummy, for they are rotten and ready
to come to pieces."
James. — "I woulon't be any merchant— ^specially dryrcoods
merchant — bothering with smirking, grinning clerks, and tor-
mented by those street-walking women who spend th^r time
in lookii^ at things they iiave not got any money to buy. I
shall hang out my shingle as a lawyer."
George. — "Lawyer, indeed! I scorn the very idea of being a
lawyer. It gives me a swimming in the head to see one of these
little petty-fog^g jack-l^s strutting along the street as if the
sun and stars belonged to Mm. I always feel as if he was hoping
that I would steal a sheep or rob a bank so be could have a
chance to make some money out of me."
ErUer Tom.
Jeter. — "Come in, brother, we are talkii^ about what we are
going to be."
Tom. — "What you are going to be? I think I will be a car-
penter and build houses."
James. — "You wouldn't catch me b^ng a carpenter —
mashing my thumb-nails, falling off scaffolds, quarreling with
plasterers and painters, worried by ladies about hangii^ doors
and mending gates, and being abused all the time about not
finishing houses in the time promised."
Leon. — "It seems to me boys that this is a very important
question as to what we are going to be."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DIALOGUES 111
And thua the diali^ue proceeds. Nat smi^ the dialt^ue
around to the truth that the first thii^ (or a boy to decide to
be is that be will be a man, a useful christian man and that his
busDesB, whatever it may be, should be managed for the glory
of God.
The rehearsals for the dialogues were signally interesting.
Dr. Hatcher would have the boys come to hia study, or his
house and he would seek to pummel them into shape. Some
would talk too fast and some too slow : some too loud and far
more, too low. His corrections and criticisms were made with
a pleasant badinage and, through it all, the boys and Dr. Hatcher
had happy times together. On one occason there was a dia-
l(^e on "Speaking in Public" in which a boy, — right out on
the platform before the audience — was tai^t how to make a
speech. In this dialogue several boys met on the platform,
and tried to induce one of th&i number to deljver an address to
the audience. The boy refused to do so, but they belabored
him with ai^;ument8 in favor of bis leamii:^ to speak in public
and when he finally consented they set to Work at once to
teach him the following speech:
"You'd scarce expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage.
And if I chance to fall below
Demosthenes and Cicero;
View me not with a critic's eye,
But pass my imperfections by."
They had a rough time making him say it. He would be^
with; "You'd scarce suspect." He would say: "cricket's eye"
instead of "critic's eye." Thus they kept at it until finally,
when they had knocked him into shape, they marched him
to the front of the platform; he made his bow and sud hia
speech without a hitch. Of course such experiences with the
boys gave the pastor a mighty grip on them. They were
often invited to other churches to EOi^ and to deliver their
dialogues.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
H2 LOVE FOR BOYS
"It waa estimated that durii^ its life time over $10,000
passed through the treasury of thdr society and on one oo-
cacdon the church finding itself in a strut borrowed quite a sum
of money from the boys."
If the meetings were a foimtain of life for him they were more
than that for the boys. For twenty ax yean that Society
was rec^ving into its embrace hundreds of boys, and inspiring
them with its ennobling influOicee. But his love for boys
burned in his heart not merely on Sunday afternoons but on
every day and a large portion of bia life was spent with some
boy near at hand.
Many men have told of some word spoken by Iiim that set
the lights gleaming m thdr youi^ life which never went out.
"Perhaps, after all," writes Dr. Prestridge "his main ser-
vice for God in the world has been the inspiration and help
wtuch he has ^ven to la:^ numbers of hoya and young men."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XI.
1876-1877
AUUSINQ PtTLPtT EXPE:RIBI4CE3. HUMOR AMD WIT.
He invites bia royal friend, Dr. Thos. H. Pritchard of Raleigh
N. C, to be his guest at the meetii^ in Richmond of the South-
on BaptJst Convention and he extends his invitation in Uie
following, playful manner:
"Richmond, Va., April 11, 1876.
- 'Mt Deab Thoicas:
"I write for the compound purpose of saying that you are a
scholar and several other things.
"I wish that I had the genius of Mr. Jno. G. Williams, the
cheerfulness of Mrs. Lewis, the dignity of Mrs. Vass, the big
house and yet bigger soul of Mrs. Heck, the financial sagacity
of Captain Williamson and the fine clothes and universal
rascality of , and then I would take dl Raleigh as my
guest at the Convention. But having nothing except my wife
and children, my poverty and my debts, my pride and my sins,
together with a small house and nothing to eat, I cannot do it.
There is, however, for Raleigh's noble sake one thing that I
would be glad to do — if "Barkis is willin" — and that is to
share the reigning destitution of my obscure hovel with you
during that meeting. It is a strun upon your friend^p
which I am ashamed to make and if you think the sacrifice too
great I will excuse you— with a sob. To exist on half rations
and eat out of a broken plate at such a time will be a trial
to you and if you cfm do better then I say (with another aob)
by all means do it.
"If however you would condescend to abate your metro*
poUtan majesty to the extent of fon^;ing on the borders of
starvation and be willing to rest your refined corpus on a
113
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
114 A 'TOMBLE FROM THE PULPIT
bed of straw then you can Bay to your admiring friends that
during the convention they can find you at 507 W. Grace
Street.
"I count myself a small fiah in these Richmond waters and
in this I have the melancholy satisfaction of believing that
I am not alone in my opinion. I wish you were here, but why
should a minnow be ambitious to fill the river with homy
heads. He might get himself swallowed.
"Elaton is booming in Petersburg still. He has a roaring
meeting and is about to break his net in his heavy drags.
"N. B. Excuse my piscatorial illustrations. It is the season
for shad.
"I have just come in from a fifty four miles buggy drive to
Charles City county. I went to lecture at a country church
and made S50.25; the church took just $50.25 of the money and
gave me the rest.
"Yours, Wm. E. Hatcher."
He had an amuang e^>erience with Dr. Pritcbard in his
Ralegh church.
"It occured at an old time revival meeting, with services
held in the basement room, the pulpit confflsted of a platform
without rajl and steps at each mde, the interest was intense
and the great room was crowded. The pastor, well rounded
and big of soul, occupied a cane bottomed chur on the platform
back of where I stood to spefUi. Having his chair slightly
tilted and de^rii^ to get a httle nearer be let bis chwr down
as he supposed on its front legs. Unluckily the outside leg missed
the fioor. Hearing a noise behind me I unconsciously turned
just in time to see the preacher and the chair roU down the
steps and land in a hopeless jumble on the floor. My first
impulse, a very innocent one, was to break into laughter. By
hard stni^le I held in, which was more than was done by the
congregation and especially by the preacher's wife for there
was quite a ripple swept the audience. I was helped in restrain-
ii^; myself by the fact that a most venerable and even dis-
tinguished old gentleman sat with his elbow on the bench In
front of me, his face resting in his hands which also con-
tained his handkerchief. His solemn eir and stately posture
rebuked my impulse to laugh. I felt reverence for a man so
far above Uie temptation which was so strong in me. All the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A MISPLACED GESTUEE U5
time however, a laugh waa strong in him and after awhile,
with his handkerchief crammed tight in his mouth and hie
dignity in total wreck, he broke into one of the most discordant,
uproarious, uncontrollable peals of laughter that one would
hear in a life time. Things had to have th^r way, though I
laughed not.
A real laugh may be impriaoned, but it will be heard from.
I closed the sermon. Obtusely enough, I called on the pastor
to pray. 1 knelt placing my face in my hand upon the seat
of the pew. The agony of that moment will not be forgotten.
I shut my Ups and pressed them into my hands and prayed that
I might die or hold in. With the Amen of the pastor I sprang
to my feet, broke all records in the brevity of my benediction
and had histerics for the first and only time in my life. I laughed
straight through two hours and again and agun during the
mgbt, I waked up with new convulsions."
He had. aootlier experienoe while preaching that sorely
strvned his lifflbUitiee. Dr. A. E. Dickinson was seated upon
the pulpit at ^e time but sleep overcame the Doctor and his
head fell somewhat backwards and he fuled before dropping
to sleep, to dose his mouth, or perchance, it fell opai after be
had fallen asle^. Dr. Hatoher dunng his preaching, brought
his hand down upon ^e pulpit and there it lay as he proceeded
with his sermon, — at least he thought it still lay on the
pulpit, but he had shifted bis poaticm — sidewise and very near
to Dr. Dickinson. He dedded to make a vigorous gesture;
he lifted his hand high in the air with the purpose of bringing
it down upon the pulpit in a big oratorical plui^e. Down
it came and landed — not upon the pulpit — but alas upon the
open mouth of his slumbering nrighbor on the platform. He
said he felt distinctly the print of Dr. Dickinson's teeth.
When he was waUdng around the church that night after
the service he encountered Dr. Dickinson who sud to him with
i^arent and wdl justified ferodousness: "Look here Hatcher;
you grand rascal, you came near knocking every tooth out
of my mouth."
The fact must be mentioned that a shadow appeared at
this time in bis pastoral sky. The old faction in the church
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
116 FACTIONAL TROUBLES
which he had hoped bad melted out of ezisteDoe b^an to
revive and Uft up its head. He thus writee:
"I fotmd in the church a faction. — a faction ranall, solid and
fractious to the point of war. It was on the fence when I got
there and lit on my ade and sampled me, amply ooddlinz and
feasting and flatteiing me duiing the time. I put in all my
arte in the way of conciliation and had enough stupid vanity
to think that I was bom for such a time as ttiat but before I
got through with it I almost wished that I bad not been bom
at all."
He tells why the faction turned agunst him:
"They had certun cheiiahed crochets which they demred
my aid in transmuting into church laws and there were also
certain influential members in the church who, in their judgment,
were altogether too active in governmental matters. More
than all I was gradually developing individual characteristics,
lines of policies and conmiitting business blunders that they
felt it was of the utmost importance that they should supervise,
correct or quietly exterminate.
"Soon the blaat of their hostile trumpet gave forth ite shriek.
The war was on and for nearly ten years my feet trod the
thorny path."
From this time forth he is to show his capadty for dealing
with those who irritated, or opposed him. Out in the world's arena
men who are ill-treated by others can either fight or leave their
opponent to his fate, but a pastor with hostile members can
nether fight nor ignore. He must be a kindly shepherd to
the tmfriendly and to the obstructioniste.
The manuscript of a Commencement address which he
delivered in June of this year, 1876, at the Albermaile Female
Institute bears the marks of his thorot^ preparation. His
subject was "The School ^l at home." Only a few parsgr^hs
oi the speech can be quoted here:
"I knew a girl that went away to school for a session and
when she returned she made all manner of fun of her freckled,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WIT AND HCMOR 117
red-hiured, fanner cousin and then when near the dark border
line of thirty she married him.
"2. Let her avoid the affectation of learning. Pedantry in a
young man is a trial and if I ever get hanged for deliberate
murder it will be for killing in cold blood one of these literary
upstarts who wears long hair, cultivates a pale brow, forgets
to tie his shoes, puts on his coat wrong side out, reads German
poetiy in bed all night, talks in words of sesquipedalian lon^-
tude and is in short a bom and incurable fool. To save my
soul 1 can conceive of no design in his creation except to be the
husband of a pedantic woman — the only pumshment that ia
severe enough for him."
In clocdng he urged them to "throw the matchless drapery
of piety around a tr^ned mind and a busy and useful life."
At the meeting of the Baptist General Aaaodation in June
he favored abolishing the Sunday School Board because he
thought it was dead, but some Uiought differently and ao he
said in his speech: "I consider the Board dead, but to prove the
fact unmistakably to those who think that it still has tife
I propose that we keep the body out until neict June and then
buiy it." He seems to have been in a bright mood in the meet-
ings for we read that in his speech on Ministerial Education
"Dr. Batcher went on t^ some length in veins of humor and
hapi^ hite which cannot be caught and put on paper" and that
same month we read that at the Richmond Collie Commence-
mcait "Dr. W. E. Hatcher, in a speech full of wit and wisdom
presented the Steel medal."
No delineation of his character is complete without a reference
to his humor and wit. "Htunor" says Carlyle "has been justly
regarded as the finest perfection of poetic genius." This pays
high tribute to humor but it does not de&ne it. Lowell seems
to speak truly when he says "humor is the perception of the
incongruous." In other words the humorist is the man who
sees things in their odd relations and shows thran to others.
Dr. Hatcher when asked regarding his own humor eaii:
"If there is anything in me that has to do with humor it can
hardly be inherent and at best is nothing more than a very
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
1:18 HUMOR AND FUN
' limited capacity for discovering the humors of outside ntuations.
There is no enginery within me for manufacturing humoi and
if it is at all proper to mention humor and me the same day, it
must be because I have a scant and unlocated gift for discover-
ing those conjunctions in human afFairs which titulate the
people and call forth their laughter. This I say not at ail aa an
expert but as a man who does not live in right of the humorous
side of mundane affairs."
"The first time I ever saw Dr. Hatcher" eaya Rev. Peyton
Little "I was attii^ by him at the ■ Association
near the front. A diacussioa had been dragging itself alcn^ and
when the vote was called for two persona voted 'Aye' and one
big fellow thundered out gruffly, 'No.' Dr. Hatcher turned to
me, a boy sitting by him, and said TVo eyes and one nose;
and the nose bigger than the eyes.'
He eschewed stock jokes. His humor was bom of Uie
occasion and leaped from his lips apparently without ^ort on
his part. "His spirit of fun and humor" aaya Dr. Chartes
Hemdon" flowed with the abundance and r^reshmoit <A a
clear sparkling spring" and Dr. Hudnall declared tliat it
was "spontaneous, irrepressible and inexhaustible."
He had a horror of lugging in a j<^e simply that the joke
might be put on dress parade or to advertise his skill as a
joke maker. His humor was an after-thought, or an inmdent
and often sprang upon tiie scene while he was intent on some
important mission. He once wrote:
"I utterly abhor fun for fun's sake, except in dealing with
children. To please them, to give them jolly surprises, to hear
their rippling laughter, I have always been ready to mng a song,
act a charade, play a prank or even crack a joke, but I fall out
with myself utterly when I have been betrayed into exhibiting
myself in a burlesquing or ludicrous way for grown up people.
When I do intentionally make people laugh it is always with
a serious purpose. If I have a collection to take and my crowd
is restive, unresponsive or in any way hard to handle I may
purposely bring on a laugh. Not, however, by a stock story,
or any old expedient laid away for such purposes, but by some
F^ayful commentary on the immediate situation."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HUMOR 119
He WBB at a country church at a busineas meeting one day
when the members were discussing the advisability of moving
the church building out on the road.
There were two of the members who were violently opposed
to the movement and with solemn wa^^ing of their heads they
declared "Brethren; I tell you, you had better not press this
matter of moving this building. If you do I warn you it will
split the church". Dr. Hatcher who was an interested visitor
and friend of the church and who strongly favored moving the
building arose and said:
"Brethren, Brother and Brother ■
Clare that the presang of this matter will split the church. I
think you need not be alarmed on that point. The fact is the
devil has been trying to split this church for many yeare and
all that he has ever been able to do has been to knock oEf a few
splinters."
I gathered the idea in some way that his early reading of
Dickens stimulated, or discovered for him to Bome extent,
his humorous propensities. At any rate I know that he reveled
in that author in lus youthful days. His humor would break
out in the social circle, in his public addresses and some-
timee even in his sermtHia, — ^but always as incidental to the
nuun proceeding. It would ripple and sparkle and, as related
to the drift of his speech, it would seem inevitable. Truly has
aome (me called faomor the "saving sense", for by his use of it he
saved many a mtuation — ^in public meetings and in the social
drcle — from disaster and it was his ability to see the bright and
humorous ^de <A situations that carried him through many a
strain. The great writers seem fond of giving high praise to
"humor". Ckileridge dedares that men of hamor are always
in some iegree men ci genius and TennyBon says:
"I: dare not tefi how high I rate faumor, which is generally most
fruitful in the highest and most solemn human spirits. Dante
is full of it; Cervantes and almost all the greatest men have been
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
120 WIT
pregnant with this glorious power. You will find it even in the
gospel of Christ,."
But with his humor was linked his wit. Wit seems to be
strictly a product of the intellect while humor "iaauea not more
from head than heart and issues not in laughter but in smiles."
Dr. Sam Johnson declares that "wit is a discovery of occult
resemblances in things apparently unlike." Humor perceives
things in th^r odd relations. Wit brings to light things that
are alike — but which to the superficial eye seem to have no
likeness whatever. For example here are two objects, or ideas,
lying vimble to the casual ^e and apparently with no similarity
between tiiem, when lo, a speaker with keen gaze looks under-
neath them, sees further down than the other observers and per-
ceives some common and striking features binding them tt^ether
and he flashes these resemblances upon the observer and he is
called a mt. "Wit is the flower of the imagination" and truly
it requires imagination to build up hidden resemblances and
paint them so that others can easily see them. "Wit and humor"
says Cervantes "belong to genius alone." Dr. Hatcher's wit
would flash and sometimes would cut like a knife.
At one of the Convraitions he began to take a collection for
some worthy cause. A preacher interrupted him by calling out:
"Dr. Hatcher; I also have a very needy object for which an
offering ought to be made. It is for the X . I suggest
that you combine that with yours and take the two together."
"I hardly think we had better attempt that now; let ua
&u8h one at a time" said Dr. Hatcher who then proceeded
with his call for subscriptions. In a few minutes the brother
called out agun "Dr. Hatcher — I think we had better combine
these two objects. If you will do this I will give five dollars
and there are others around me who will do the same. Why
not combine the two?" "I think we had better continue as we
have started" sud Dr. Hatcher and the collection made another
start and was moving well when the irrepressible brother inter-
rupted again.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WIT AND HUMOR 121
"Dr. Hatcher, I think you are making a mistake. I feel
siire you will get more — if — "
"Dr. Hatcher" called out a man "why don't you knock that
fellow's brains out."
"I would if I only knew where to hit him" quickly replied
Dr. Hatcher.
Some one has thus compared wit and humor: "Wit, bright,
rapid and blasting as the lightning, flashes, strikes and van-
iebes in an instant; humor warm and all embracing as the
sunshine bathes its objects in a general and abiding
Ught."
It was in the social circle that his wit and humor found th^r
moat delightful expression. "I was present at a dinner" sud
Dr. P .T. Hale "in Richmond when the host became so con-
vulsed with laughter at one of Dr. Hatcher's stories that he
was compelled to leave the room, choking with uncontrollable
merriment". Hia humorous stories, like his pulpit illustraUons,
were in nearly every case the recital of incidents in hia own
He was mortally afr^d of being dubbed a fun maker. Even
aa A boy he had scant pity for the youth who in company
sought to be funny. He once referred to those people who
"are forever trying to say funny things. They load them-
selves with anecdotes. They study mimicry. They watch for
the ludicrous ude of things."
Dr. P. T. Hale says that at the Southern Baptist Convention
in Waco, Texas "Dr. C announced that Dr. William E.
Hatcher of Virginia the greatest wit in the Convention would
immediately preach in a neighboring church. Dr. Hatcher
declined to leave the building until Dr. C had changed
the wording of his announcement and simply spoke of him as a
minister of Christ." Dr. Hale adds: "Hemight have surpassed
Mark Twun as an author of humorous works. On the con-
trary he desired to be known simply as a preacher of the Gospel
of Christ."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
122 BEING FUNNY
"Nothing is more loathesome" says Dr. Hatcher "than the
trade of the fun maker. The professional jester is a bore. We
get drowsy in the company of a man who is constantly seeking
to make us laugh. We enjoy Mark Twain in a paragraph but
we despise him in a book. A single proverb of Josh Billings
tickles us to the core but a stiing of them becomes stale and
sickening to us. He who in trying to do some worthy act
says a bright thing and surprises us into a laugh has our
respect and gratitude; but if he opens on us with his picked
jests and pointless puns with the idea that he can convulse
us with laughter we get mad on the spot. We refuse to be
used for any such purpose.
"1. We must not be funny at the e^^pense of sacred things.
"2. We must not be funny at the expense of decency.
"3. We must not be funny at the expense of charity.
"4. We must not permit our fun to run to excess."
Amid his presang duties be wrote a letter to Mr. R. B.
Garrett on the "Call to the Ministry." Mr. Garrett — ^now Dr.
R. B. Garrett the honored pastor of the Court Street Church in
Portsmouth, Va. — ^in sending the letter for use in this biography
says:
"This letter from your father was the first counsel I ever had
in helping me to decide on my life's work and it had much to do
with my decision. It is so clear and stroi^ that it might help
others who are struggling as I was."
"Richmond, Va., Sept. 26th, 1876.
"Mn. R. B. Garrbt-t,
"My Dear Bro:
"It is not easy to define a call to the ministry, but I say g«ier-
ally that it is a persua^on that God has chosen us to preach the
Gospel. We may have many doubts about it — feel too feeble
for so mighty a work and be oppressed with a sense of our own
inefficiency and yet with all this have a conviction abiding
and deeping that we must preach. In some cases there is a
feeling of duty without any desire to preach; in others there is
a de«re to preach without a satisfactory sense of duty and in
others yet there is the double sense of duty and desire. Some
men are driven into the ministry under tbe whip of conscience
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CALL TO THE MINISTRY 123
and at the expense of cheriBhed worldly purposes; others are
floated into it on the current of their love and zeal for Christ.
The former preach because they must; the latter because they
would. Where this desire to preach exists, it must spring from
a proper motive — that is, not from a selfish ambition but from
a wish to glorify God. If a young man desires to devote himself
to the service of the Lord and feela convinced after prayerful
iiivestigati(m that he can be more useful by preaching than in
any other way then I would say that he is called to preach.
"I beUeve in a call to the ministry — a divine call; but not
that it is sent under startling or miraculous circumstances.
It is the call of the Spirit of God in the heart, not audible not
Buddeoly given but gently and gradually staqiping the impress
of duty upon the soul.
"This call to duty is made manifest to us in different ways —
to some by such consciousness of duty as cannot be questioned;
to others by a restless anxiety which weans them from other
things and slowly turns them to their work; to others by outfflde
influences such as the opinions and counsels of brethren. It
happens often, though not always, that others will discover a
young man's suitableness for the ministry before he sees it
himself.
"There are certain actual qualities which a man who is to
preach should have and witJiout which he need not think
himself chosen for the work. He must have a capacity and
fondness for study — an aptness to teach and some talent for
public speaking, ^ough he will not always be the best judge
about these gifts, but should seek counsel from others. He
must not feel that he is good, for none of us are good but he must
have real faith in Jesus, warm zeal for his glory, tender love
for human souls and a readiness to consecrate his heart and
hands to the work of God.
"I must not judge for you in this matter. It is a question
between you and your Savior and you must settle it. If I were
to judge from your letter I would say that God ia working on
your heart to bring you into the ministry. Is not this your
conviction on the subject. If you feel so then I counsel you to
turn aside from other matters and prepare for your life's work.
I pray that God will guide you into the way of duty. I will be
happy to hear from you af^ain.
"Your brother in Jesus
"W. E. Hatcher."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
124 SERMONS PREACHED
On Nov. 26tb of this year he preached on 'The FeUowship
of Christ's Sufferings. Fhilippians 3:10. I. The Fellowship
of Christ. II. The Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings. III. The
Knowledge of this Fellowship." On Dec. 30th he preached cm
"Christ's Wibiessea. Acts 1:8. I. The Issue, — the Reaur-
rection of Christ. II. "Die Court. III. The Character of the
Witnesses". His days were crowded with toil and often with
travel into different parte of the state.
D.qit.zeaOv"GoOt^lc
CHAPTER XII.
1877-1878.
INTEREST IN YOUNO PREACHERS. PASTORAL VISITINQ. CAREFUL-
NEBS IN PREPARING PUBLIC ADDRESSES. DAILY BCHEDCLE.
Bichmond College occupied a large place in bis miniBtiy.
A new student would not be on the Campus long without
leaming that down at the Grace Street Church was a pastor
who was not <m]y a great friend to the College boys but also
a preacher whom the students dehghted to hear. The minis-
terial students eqwdally turned to him for sympathy and
counsd and flocked to his preaching.
"When I first went to Richmond College a green country boy"
says Dr. J, J. Taylor "he was very kind to me. Through all
the succeeding years. ... in many ways I have made
him my ideal."
"The second year I was in Richmond Colle^ writes Rev. J.
J. Wicker "a man from down South was accused of cheating
on exanunation. It was a dark time for him and there was an
agitated inquiry as to his guilt or innocence. He was finally
expelled. Now this young man happened to be a ministerial
student and the cloud over his hfe seemed to shut out every
ray of hope. A number of yoimg men were gathered together
discussing the case and wtmdering if anything could be done
for him.
"They finally reached a concluraon with out any leader in the
discusaon. It seemed to break upon them all at once that
there was one man in Richmond who would help a man w1k>
was wounded and m distress and they smd with one accord
'There is one man who we know will help him and that man is
Dr. WiOiam E. Hatcher' and he did. The young man has arisen
agfun and ia one of the most devoted pastors in a far Southern
State."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
126 DEALING WITH YOUNG MEN
He waa preaideiit of the Education Board at the Coll^^, —
a Board which fuded young preachers in thur education at
the Collie and this fact brought him into helpful relations
with nearly tSl the miiusterial students. In writing of Dr.
Hatcher's kindness to him at the be^nning of his College
career Dr. M. L. Wood sa]^: "In my examination before the
Education Board of which you know he waa preadent for ao
long, he frightened me greatly by asking me to parse the
sentence 'The horse ran down the hill and broke the chaise.' "
I heard him tell of an amu^ng mcident that occured one day
at a meeting of the Board. One of the students was being ques*
tioned aa to his miniaterial call when one of the members of the
Board — a member of the Faculty — aaid in somewhat solenm,
earnest tones: "My young brother do you feel that you can say
with the Apostie Paul: 'I'll be damned if I do not preach the
gospel?' " It is hardly surprising that the young brother's
answer was seriously interrupted by the explonon of lai^ter
that broke upon the head of the innocent and starUed profes-
sor. It is hoped that the candidate convinced the Board of
his sense of obligation to preach even though he was not able
to express his purpose in the language si^geeted by the pro-
fessor.
Dr. Hatcher's helpfulness to young men did not atop witii
Bichmond College or Richmond Qty.
Rev. W. H. Baylor writes:
"When I was a boy of eleven years Dr. Wm E.. Hatcher
of Richmond, Va., came into our home and singled me out as
his favorite. Putting his hand on my head, he said, 'This boy
is going to be a preacher.' During this and several subsemient
vifflts I waa constantly with him, and he would talk to me wMUt
preaching. Through him, God called me into the miniBtry."
It waa my privilege recentiy to preach for Mr. Baylor and I
can never forget the burning intensty with which he told hia
congregation of what Dr. Hatcher had been to him. His heart
poured itself out in a fulness of affectionate appreciation that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
YOUNG PEEACHBBS 127
Btartlad me and that gave me a new realUation of how deeply
and profoundly his influence could be wrought into young men.
"No man of my acquaintAnce" awd Rev. R. P. Rixey "has
touched more deeply my life in all things spiritual than Dr.
William E. Hatcher." His passon for helpfulness seemed a
second nature with him. In the case of young preachers the
recollection of his own stumblings and struggles at the gateway
of bis ministry seemed to kindle his heart into sympatiiy for
tiiem. "One of tiie finest things about him" says Dr. Geo. B.
Taylor "was his love and fellowship for his youngs brethren in
the ministry." His helpfulness did not wear the garb of com-
pliments nor mere aimiable and friendly words. Hia eye would
strike for the ceoiter of the young man's needs and possibilities.
Sometimes it was a fatherly criticism that was needed, — or even
reproof; sometimes a tender inquiry about his history or con-
(£tion, ofttimes a word of light and cheer and inspiration. For
the young fellow who clung to his v^n conceit or the youth who
insisted on being a fool or a crank he stood dumb-founded and
would sometimes turn away in despfur.
There were few Summers in his life from this time forth that
he did not find himself in the North speaking at some denomi-
nation^ gathering, or preaching in one of the churches. In
May he spoke in Boston and also at the Baptist Anniver-
saries in Providence.
He welcomed his Summer vacation because it meant for him
the chance to take to the woods, — ^not for frolic with gun or fish-
ing rod, nor for cultivating the acquuntance of hammocks or
the green grass, but for tJie hardest and the most fascinating toil
to him — ^that of holding protracted meetii^ with the country
churches, and attending country district Associations.
"We bless the Lord" he sud "for ten thousand things and
one of the most delightful of them is that we do not have to
rest during August. The seaside is lovely, the Springs charming,
the mountains sublime, the country cousins famous for domes-
tic comfort« and sweet welcome, but better far than this is
the fellowship and rapture of the Aesodation and the saving
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
128 PASTORAL VISITING
glorious revival. We were put in cold storage in former years
with ft view to the preservation of our pastoral parts but when
we were taken out and shipped home in September the autum-
nal heats played wreck with our newly acquired tender-
Some men love the country for the beauties of nature, but
the most attractive eight the country could afford him was its
people — BO ample, so open hearted, ao responsive and so true.
Every Fall after tus return to Bicbmond from his summer
travels be would be^ Ida "grand round" of vinting when he
would seek to call upon every family of his church. It meant
a continuoufl tramp, day by day, rii^h^ door bells and en-
countering experiences that were sometjmee as rough as tbey
were varied. But the charm of it was that he sprang to it
with a happy bound and a joyful relish. Concerning the
pastoral visit be writes:
"Here are two ministers, both pastors. One of them has a
crotchet against the pastoral visit. He declares that it is a
waste of existence to go poddering after vapid old women,
cajoling heartless misers, or effervescing over unsoaped children.
He contends that it interferes with his sermon, retards his
intellectual pursuits and takes the edge off his genius. It
irritates him to go, depresses him to get there, and worries
him to know what to say when he arrives.
"The other man is not so. To begin with he loves people —
loves them by nature and by grace — loves his own especially —
loves to see them — enjoys talking to them — grieves to tear
away from them.
"Now start these two men forth to pay the visit. The first
goes like the oft mentioned "scourged slave." He starts in a
fret, dreads the meeting, grows dull and awkward as he enters,
drags in the talk, embarrasses the lady, and leaves as if escaping
from a burning ship. Write it at the top of your journal that
a visit like that will unsettle a pastor if repeated twice. Some
iiastors may be dislodged for not visiting, but the man will
ose his place sooner or later on account of his visits. A grudging
visit wilt electioneer against a pastor.
"But take the otiier man — let him go out on his vidt.
They will know his knock or his rii^. Mother and children
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PASTORAL VISITING 129
will come tumblii^ and dashing out to meet him with a wel-
coming smile. At ^ght of him happy talk will begin to run.
First pleasantries will flutter like lighting birds and then serious
thii^B — the church, the home troubles, the absent children,
and the kingdom of God will all get a mention — the Bible will
be opened— a tender prayer, and then the good man is gone.
No, not exactly gone: he is followed out into the hall, all talking
as they go, encounters a loving hold-up at the door and a fire
of kindly words rattle after him as he goes rapidly away. Ah,
no; he never goes away. His light shines there day and night.
The aroma of his visit lingers in the house. When the good
man comes home at night, all of it is gone over again, and each
member of the household grips more tightly into the life of the
pastor. That is a visit which cements the union and makes
it easy and delightful for the pastor to stay as long as he will.
"Ye, proud and high-stalkmg men, who scoff at the visit,
take a word of counsel. It may do you good. If you are averse
to personal contact with your people, if you shrink from com-
panionship with them, if you hate the visit, then get ready to
move. You cannot stay unless you visit, and if you hate the
visit which you make, keep your grip-sack packed and be ready
upon notice to move on. The end is near at hand."
It would have been impossible to say which held a higher
place with him. — the pastoral visit or the sermon. He said
on one occaaon: "The sermon and the visit are twins, inhei^
ently congenial and complementary one of the other."
At the end of the year on Dec. 30th he preached on the
"The unchanging God" (Mai. 3; 6,). He b^an by saying, "We
stand to-d&y on the crumbling edge of the old year"; and
he spoke of God as changeless in b^ng, character and
piurpose.
One of his marked truts waa his respect for his public en-
gagements. He was invited to speak at the ordination of a
young minister, Rev. C. H. Nash at the High Hills Church in
Sussex county. He accepted the invitation; but did he wait
until he took the train for the ordination and then hastily
fling together certam vagrant thoughts? He might have done
so. It was a ample country congregation at the little High
Hills chiuvh and, wil^ hia crowded life, why should he not
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
130 ADDRESS AT ORDINATION
have qiuckly improvised a suitable speech for mich an occa-
^oa?
But No. That address was a public trust. A young man was
to be formally set apart to the work of the Gospel ministry and
he had been asked to deliver the "Charge" to the young
minister as he stood on the threshold of his ministry. It was
certtunly no trifling event in the life of Mr. Nash. Dr. Hatcher
decided that he would seek to make it a memorable event not
only in the career of that young man but also of that community.
Nearly all his papers were destroyed by fire but among those
that were in another building at the time of the fire two manu-
scripts of the above address have been found, written in very
neat and careful manner and if these two manuscripts bearing
such marks of completeness have been found it suggests that
there were probably other papers representing work which was
prehihinary to the above. It shows that he had not yet flung
afflde his practice of rewriting and of hard labor upon his lite-
rary productions. Such drill of course consumed much of his
tJme in his busy life but it paid him amply in the future and
enabled him during the later years to speak off-hand xad write
with a fluency and literary charm that would have been impos-
Edble without this early grind and toil.
I quote a few paragraphs from the address:
"My Beloved Brother : I am commis^oned by my brethren
of the Presbytery to assure you of their confidence and affection
and to charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to
wear worthily the ministerial office with which you are, to-day,
formally invested
"It is fearful to be a young preacher — to be good looHi^ —
to have sparkling fancy and ready speech — to be popular and
to be coimted a success. There are weak men and silly women
to spoil and wreck young preachers.
"It has never been my misfortime to be popular but let me
say I have had my enthusiastic admirers — that blew my
trumpet on the outer wall— that said I could beat them all and
hui^ entranced on all that fell from my lips — until something
fell that they did not like and then they fell — fell away, and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AHOESEANDBUGGY 131
some of them fell on me and if God had been as foi^etful of me
as they were they would have made me fall and fall to rise no
"When a preacher be^ns to think more highly of himself than
he ought he begins to be a fool and if you will give him time he
will prove it.
"Thus far I have never killed a man and humbly pray that
such a bloody necessity may never fall on me but if I had to do
it and oould pick my man I think I should imbrue my hands in
the blood of one of these ministerial puffs — the swelling coxcomb
that struts the pulpit as a stage and preaches to show himself.
"If the greatest of alt preachers counted himself less than
the least of all the scunts and mourned all his days over his sins
and imperfections; if indeed Jesus Christ himself was 'meek
and lowly in heart' what opinion does it become us to have of
ourselves."
"If a man cant keep out of debt let him keep out of the
pulpit."
"If you ever make a man you must court solitude."
"They only move the world whom the world cannot move."
One day a horse and buggy arrived at his front gate. The
buggy was new and the horse was a stranger in those parts and
they both proved to be a gift from the Grace Street church
to their pastor. The horse was small and black and was given
the name of "Grace", Dr. Hatcher saying that as the street
on which he lived was Grace and his Church was the Grace
Street Church and that now as his horse bore the same name
he hoped that she would indeed prove a means of Grace to him.
She did her part nobly as the pastor's assistant though she
varied the exercises one day. In her haste to reach the depot
with Dr. Hatcher and Dr. John William Jones (of large build)
in the buggy with myself jammed in between she did not cal-
culate well the incline of the street; she went dashing around
another vehicle that was approaching us; our bug^ gave a
circling swing and over and down the incline towards the
gutter went the buggy with Dr. Jones on the upper dde of the
human pile and Grace lying meekly on her side.
Saturday afternoon was Ms time for taking a "spin into the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
132. IN HIS STUDY
country"— behind Grace — and nearly always he would pick
up one of the BJchmoud pastors for his traveling companion
and with few exceptions this companion would be his beloved
McDonald while between th^r knees sat a happy little "scrap
of a chap" — ^the son of the driver who would listen with e^er
enjoyment to thar familiar chats.
He would reach his study each morning about nine or nine-
thirty o'clock and to him that room was a haven of delight
and yet no busy pastor ever threw open his study door with a
gladder welcome for the visitor than did he. He had no tricks
for quickly disposing of the long winded brother. Notiiiug
was so interesting to him as people and be gave them a royal
hearing.
"I tried several times" said his wife "to get him to have cer^
tdn hours to see visitors, but he would always say; 'No; my
door must always stand open lest someone be turned away
whom I ought to help' He said his best rest came by going out
into the country every Friday or Saturday,"
His open door policy sometimes brought him hopeless
interruption but even in such cases he would often extract
some gleams of humor. One morning just as he was gettii^
well settled in bis work in came a visitor.
"He was a strapping buriy fellow in the bloom of youth and
would have weighed well nigh 200 pounds. He informed us
that he was a blacksmith by trade but had determined to bid
adieu to the anvil and try his fortune as a book agent. He
pleasantly hinted at the greatness of our reputation and in-
fluence and requested us to 'prescribe' for the 'Light of all
Nations'. We told him modestly that the influence of our
name was a myth and that financially we were trembling over
the abyss. We asked him to excuse us but his brow already
beaded with perspiration grew grim with dissatisfaction.
"He told us that he never expected to meet such a repulse
at our hands. He said that our name would bring many pur-
chasers to bis side and that if we refused to give it the conse-
quences would be bad for him. Once more we asked him to
excuse us but he said the book was cheap, — less than four
dollars if we would take the book with the paper board binding
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DAILY SCHEDULE 133
and he really thought that we might spend that much just to
encourage a young man. We told him that we were fond of
young mm and delighted to see them encouraged. We begged
him to be encourf^ed in an independent way and not to look
entirely to us for it. We suggested that we could not quite
afford to spend four dollars for a book that we did not need
even though in doing so we might add to his encouragement.
He looked at us in a confused and bitter way and said 'Then
you mean to say that you will not prescribe'. We begged him'
to feet friendly to us, not to cherish revenge and not to fall out
with the world. He said it was bard to bear and that he knew
not where to go next but that he would strive to meet his
troubles as became a man and so we parted, or at least we
thought we had parted; but when he got to the door he paused
and sorrowfully asked: 'Is your mind made up not to prescribe'.
We told him that our intellectual machinery was a little dis-
jointed but that as far as we understood the case we thought
it was a foregone concluaon that we would not prescribe and
then the stairway f^rly trembled beneath his sluggish tread
as he went out."
At 11:30 he would close his study, go across the street to his
bug^ which Uncle Davy, the Sexton, would always have ready
for him tied at the accustomed tree and "Grace" would
go trotting off with him on his visiting rounds which would
usually last until three o'clock when he would arrive at home
in time for his ten minutes nap on the couch in the sitting
room, where his sleeping would often, though not always,
advertise its prepress by vigorous snoring. That nap was a
miracle worker. He could fall asleep almost immediately
upon closing his eyes and at the end he would arise with mind
and body rejuvenated. "BlesMi^ light on him that invented
sleep" aays Cervantes "It covers a roan all over, — thoughts
and all like a cloak." Happily has sleep been styled "nature's
soft nurse." Dr. John A. Broadus used to tell the story of Dr.
Smith and another professor at the Univer^ty of Vii^nia
being seated one day in a room together engaged in some literary
empl(^ment when one of them exclaimed with a «gh as he
found himself nodding over his work: "Oh myl I am such a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
134 DAILY SCHEDULE
sleepy head and I have so much important labor yet ahead of
me."
The other professor clapped lus hands quite vigorously.,
"What is that for?" asked the other. "Why I am so glad that
you do fall to sleep for now I know that you will never kill
yourself working." Dr. Hatcher would often come into the
house greatly fatigued and it was undoubtedly his ability to
drop into a quick slumber that enabled him to keep his vitaUty
at high level and that postponed the date of his death. Old
Dr. Sam Johnson said "I never take a nap after dinner except
when I have had a bad night and then the Jiap takes me."
Dr. Hatcher's naps always seemed to "take him" though they
very rarely waited ufttil after dinner before poundng upon him.
Sometimes he would return home by two o'clock and call
for his wife who would go to his desk and for an hour act as his
amanuensis as he walked up and down the room dictating some
address or article for a newspaper or letters to people. In the
meantime the children were piling in from school and the
dinner bell would rally the family aroimd the table in the
dining room at 3:15 o'clock.
In the afternoon he would take his recreation, which generally
meant a game of croquet at the College.
After supper, — what would it be? — a prayer meeting — or
a church meeting — or a deacons meeting, — or a Society meet-
ing— or some social gathering — or posably a lecture on Church
Hill — or a sermon at Venable Street — or an address at Pine
Street — or an ordination sermon at the Second Church — Who
can recount the uncountable engagements that block the way
of a city pastor from his supper to his slumbers. A "City
Pastor's Evenings" — what a story they would tell. As a rule
he would return home at night about 9:30 or 10 P. M. for a
two hour's toil at his desk by the window in the front second
story room. Here he would write while the family were
gathered around the fire and offtimes the group was enlarged
by the presence of viHtors who had "dropped in" after the
meeting or who were spending the evening. It was amid such
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DAILY SCHEDULE 135
clatter that he would do ias writing; white they talked his pen
would be busily picking it« way across the page and every now
and then be would interject a question, or some side remark
into the conversation, thus showing that if his eye was fol-
lowing his pen, his ear was following the talk. His mind was
alert to what was going on around him. "But Doctor" one
of the viators would say "how can you write in the midst of
our noise?" "I like it" he would say "talk on; it helps me to
think. It is when you stop talking that I stop." Such self
control was one of his hard won victories. Often in company
with boys or grown people, he would call out to them: "Talk",
or "Tell me something" and he would listen keenly and with
appredatJon.
His late working hours at night made him also a late riser, —
though he generally reached his study between 9 and 9 :30 every
morning. One morning a carpenter, one of his members, came
to fix one of the closets in the bed room. He arrived at about
eight o'clock and was informed that it was too early for him to
do the work, that Dr. Hatcher was not awake. "What; not
awake yet?" he said with an almost horrified expression.
"No" siud Mrs. Hatcher. "You must remember you work in
the day and he works much in the night," and she might have
added "as well as in the day."
Until he was an old man be usually averaged eight hours
sleep. It ought to be mentioned that his first act each morning
was to call for the "Richmond Di9patch"which he would read
in bed. A few years later it was bis custom, after reading his
morning paper, to give the signal to his two youi^est daughters
Elizabeth and Edith and they would come bouncing in for a
fruit feast in bed. Many were the mornings that I would run
down to Phillips' store to buy a b(^ of fruit for the three
feasters. What chattering and discussing they would have and
what stories they would tell as they made the bananas and
peaches disappear until the first bell would bring thdr happy
clatter to an end and summon them out of bed and off to their
dresidi:^ and a few minutes later the rattle in the dining room
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
136 DAILY SCHEDULE
would announce the arrivAl of tile family for breakfast. Of course
his schedule for the day often suffered shipwreck under the
storms of duties that raged uxiund him. Trips out of the city,
funerals and other engagements would frequently play havoc
with his daily programme and sometimes the calls for bis services
would be so numerous that he would be bewildered in choo»ng
between them.
"I was often told in my callow days" said he "that there
could be no possible conQict of duties and I believed it and am
trying to believe it yet. Possibly somewhere in the unfathomed
underground there ia a central Btation into which all duties
run, arriving on time and never causing delays and never having
collisions. But when these claims tumble out in scores and
rush upon the startled and overtaxed pastor they ^ve no note
of harmony. Thai riot and clash are the storm center of his
existence.
"Before his head leaves his pillow in the morning his books,
letters, funerals, visits, sermons unmade, company, dinners,
duns, bc^ars, broken gates, marketing,— Ah, things innumer-
able and unconceived assail him with demoniacal fury.
"Now as far as pos^ble he must with the best intention
schedule his life to meet all reasonable demands and upon every
performance there must be the stamp of thoroughness and
fidelity. The only dispomtion to be made of a duty is to do it
well and on time and say nothing about it."
The Herald in its report of the meeting of the Portsmouth
Association in June said: "Dr. W. E. Hatcher stated that he was
endeavoring to secure work for the young men of Richmond
Collie and wished to bear from the ministers present during
the session,"
He writes on June 19th to his wife who was at Old Point:
"My Dear Jemnjb:
"The most that I can say of yesterday is that it was a most
tremendously rainy day. The morning was spent in my study
with Dunnaway. At 12 M I went to the Aiumni meeting and
was the third time made president; had a quiet dinner with
the children. At dinner I got a card saying that BettJe would
be over at 3 1-2 o'clock. I jumped in the buggy and put off to
the depot where I found her.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTERS TO HIS WIFE 137
"The children are getting on well. They are to have a black-
berry roll today and a clucken pie. Whiteley (a Methodist
Minister) is to dine with us.
"Yours
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
On the 22nd he writes agtun to his wife:
"Mt DBAS Jennie:
"This is Saturday morning and I am far behind in my pre-
paration for to-morrow. "Mis. HaJlowell gave the children a
"breaking up party." They invited Kate, but she had "nothing
to wear" as she said. Matters at home move on better than I
expected. Orie is attentive, energetic and thoughtful and Nancy
does far better than I expected. Kate is quiet and seems the
most contented of all. Eldridge is as wild and romping as pos-
sible but very obUgii^. He does all that I tell him and very
cheerfully— except when he foi^ets it. Give my warm regards
to the friends who are with you. Tell old sister T that
it is reported that she was figuring very handsomely in the ball
room on Thursday night but I am sure that she will do the
correct thing in all respecta."
He writes on September 13th to his wife:
"DffiAR Jennie:
"I am quietly at work. For some cause there was not a
quorum of deacons and hence no meeting. I have approached
some few on the subject of reducing my salary and they think
it will be necessary.
"My people are unusually cordial with me and my purpose
is to work my best this season and in every way advance the
interests of the church, I find myself in for a lecture in New
Kent and am bothered about it. It is Tuesday 17th.
"I have two of my folks to bury to-day, one this morning —
one now. "Yours
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XIII.
BALTIUORE VISIT. FONDNESS FOR OAHES. HOSPITALrTy.
ADDRESS ON DR. JBTER.
In January of this year, 1879, he held at the Eutaw Place
church in Baltimore a revival meeting which was rich m spirit-
ual fruit but the outatandii^ feature of the viat for him was hia
meeting with Mr. Moody, the world renowned evangelist.
Nothing was ever so interesting to Mm as a human b^ng and
when the particular "human" whom he was to meet was such a
personality as the above preacher it meant a high day for him.
He saw deeply into men and what he saw in Mr. Moody
thrilled and delighted him. Concemii^ Mr. Moody he said:
"On the night of my arrival. Dr. Kerfoot told me that
several ministers were to meet Mr. Moody privately the next
momii^, and that he had arranged for me to be in the company.
This, of course, was a ddightful surprise and privilege to me.
There were about a dozen, possibly a few more, ministers
present, having been assembled in a quiet room at the Y. M. C.
A. Hall. Asking for silence, Moody said, in substance: 'My
brethren, I called you here because I need you. I find my
strength small in this city. My spirit is bound, and I cannot
rise, I brought you here to ask you to pray for me. Pray
that I may have liberty and do my work in Baltimore.' By a
common impulse, all sank to their knees, and for a time, of
which not one took note, there was constant crying. One ^ter
another led, until each one had prayed aloud, some possibly
more than once. It was a fervent and thrilling meeting, but I
recall no prayer except that offered by Moody. That was
burned into the very tissue of my bdi^ — a revelation of the
138
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BALTIMORE MEETINGS 139
most earnest man that I had ever touched and, after the
service ceased, I almost imt^ned that Moody had really been
glorified. He shook Baltimore that winter."
Soon after his return to Bichmond he 9fud to his wife: "Eutaw
Place Church gave me $200 and I shall use it for fixing up a
"preachers' room in the house." He made a rule about the
room that no one — be he king or pope — except a preacher or a
preacher's wife should ever tdeep in that room. This became
as the law of the Medea and Persians, — which could not be
broken But we will let him tell of his Baltimore visit. The fol-
lowing letter which he wrote to his cherished friend. Dr. Thomaa
Pritchard of Haleigh was published in the Recorder and in the
Herald:
"I am just a few days out of Baltimore after a stay and work
there of three weeks. It was one of the most debgbtful of the
many bright and happy experiences that God has given me in
this world.
"One more thing about myself. When I left Baltimore I
found a J200 check in my hand given me by the Eutaw Place
brethren. It somewhat embarrafffled me, almost as much as the
want of such a treasure has sometimes done. The money
seemed a sacred thii^ — a part of the sentiment and glory that
had invested my soul during my viat. After reflection I resolved
that it should not be spent for casual or comjnon things. I
took it and furnished my rear parlor as a 'preacher's room.'
As long as I hve and am able that room shaU be for a restii^
place for the Lord's angels and a remembrance of Baltimore.
We are now busy in arranging all the ornaments and trimmings
that we can afford for rendering it cosy, inviting and beautiful.
When finished I must dedicate it and greatly wish 'my own
friends' might be present to take part in the hospitable exer-
cises. It is to be known as 'Eutaw Place'. I could have no
greater joy in it all than to have you to be the first to sleep in
It.
"I saw the Baltimore preachers. - Williams grows to be
venerable for want of some older man to do that for him. Ker-
foot is a bundle of nervous fury and if he explodes his fury
i^unst anything it has to go. . . .
"Dr. Franklin Wilson is one of Heaven's best. I look at
him and blush that I am not a better man.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
140 LOVE FOE GAMES
"Moody impressed me to the very bottom of my nature.
He is a man of God. He is honest, gentle and wise — three
elements almost making a man perfect."
The room back of the parlor was selected for the preachers'
room and with its new equipment was transformed into the
most beautiful room in the house. All its furnishings and
decorations, as far as pos^ble, were of blue and after awhile
it came to be known in the family as the "Blue Boom". When
the room was completed it was publicly dedicated, Rev. Dr.
T. T. Eaton of Petersburg making the dedicatory speech
There was one saving clause in his straining life. It was
his love of games. His nature clamored for them and never
ceased its clamor during his life. If we burrow down into
his soul for an explanation of his fondness for games we find
it, I believe, in his love of contest and of victory. The instinct
for games seems univeraal and during the centuries has ex-
pressed itself in many forms, national as well as individual.
For games that have in them simply the "play" element — so
congenial and attractive to children he cared nothing. It was
the clash and struggle in games that attracted him. He was
the child's friend but he would never romp and frolic with them
in any meaningless noises or movements. He could not play
games with them in that sense. But in games of encounter
where brain and daring were called into play he was ready at
first call and the hours in such games which he Q>ent with
children — espedally in his later life — ^would if counted run up
into surprisingly high figures.
His love for contest showed itself often in his intercourse
with men. He did not like for people blandly to agree with
him. He enjoyed the bristle of a controversy. Conflict rather
than GompUance on the part of another waked his powers to
their best
His favorite game was Croquet and everybody knew that
if Dr. Hatcher was wanted in the afternoon he could be found
at Rictimond College on the Croquet ground. He entered
into the contest mth an ardor that would do credit to a baae-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CROQUET 141
b&ll enthusiast of today. During the game he would be oblivious
of the outside world. All his mental forces were concentrated
on the struggle; he wanted victory. He threw himself into the
game with a perfect abandon, suffered anxieties and disap-
pointments when defeat threatened him, pressed his antagonist
harder than ever and shouted his glee when victory perched
upon bis banners. How often after a struning game that had .
kept him alternating between hope and fear up to the very end,
but which closed with a stroke that gave him the victory, bis
long teusim would pve way to exultation and bia happy
shouts could be beard from one end of the campus to the other
and everybody when they heard it knew what it meant. "Dr.
Hatcher has won" they would say.
For a year or more Prof. Harris' yard was the play ground.
Every afternoon my father and I would drive to the College
for the game. As we entered Prof. Harris' yard and came mider
his study window my father would cry out "Harris" "Harris"
and out from the window would come the reply "All right —
in a moment." The professor's papers would be liud adde and
soon the contest would begin and for an hour or two we would
be at it. Back and forth the tide of battle would swing, for
Prof. Harris and Dr. Hatcher were croquet raqjerts, — not ao
much in the ample art of being able to send the ball strught
to the desired mark but in the more important matter of
planning and plotting for victory. Sometimes dark would
overtake us in the game but it was regarded not. Handerchiefs
were hung on the wickets and were held over the balls. Dark-
ness would settle on the yard but still each dde pushed on
in the hope of being the winner while a light of some kind was
held over the tai^et; — and when the end came it was a shouting
climax.
Ofttimes the games were played out on the College campus.
His croquet plajdng with the students linked itself helpfully
into their hves.
The games often drew spectators who became interested
in wfttching Dr, Hatcher not only in his plays but in bis enjoy-
. D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
142 CROQUET
ments and in his disiqipouitmeatf, in his groans and in his
shouts. He was so real, so truly himself that he was naturally
interesting and instructive. Kev. H. W. Williams, an old
Bichmond Coll^;e student and now an honored pastor in
Georfpa thus wrote in the Herald regarding Dr. Hatcher on the
Croquet groimd:
"Soon after my anival at Bichmond College I met the man
who had inspired the ambition which had brought me there.
It was on the croquet grounds of the campus and we engf^ed in
a game together. This was the first of many games we played
together. In my ear is ringing to-day with perfect distinctness
the voice of Dr. Hatcher as he many times stood beneath my
window calling: 'Williams, Williams, come out of there and
lets have a game.' My Ufe was considerably influenced by
things that happened on those grounds when Dr. Hatcher
was playii^. I remember hearing him say one time: 'No man
ought to be permitted to preach who will cheat in a game of
croquet.' Some years afterwards he told me of his votii^
agfuust the election of a man to an important podtion because
he remembered that he used to dieat in that game on the
College campus. I am sure that my Ufe is different from what
it would have be^ if I had never engaged with Dr. W. E.
Hatcher in those games." Another student Rev. J. W. Wildman
writes: "I was inclined to neglect exercise and necessary play.
But almost every afternoon when he [Dr. Hatcher] had at-
tended to presong pastor^ work he drove out to the
College to play croquet with Prof. Harris. His example
coupled with the vast amount of church work which he did
was a convincii^ argument as to the value of recreation."
Later on in his hfe another game seemed to win first place
in his favor, — ^the game of quoits. The probable reason was
that croquet required so much bending of the body that as he
iq)proached old age he found it earner to adjust himself to the
game of quoits. "I was pitching quoits with your father" writes
Dr. W, W. Everts of Boston "the stakes were far apart. A
ringer was very r^re. His opponent pitched a horse shoe. As
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ALREADY ENGAGED 143
it started Dr. H&tcher said: 'I have an impre88i(Hi that this
will be a ringer.' And it was."
He delivered the Commencement address before the Female
College in Greenville S. C. and m bis opening remarks drew an
amusing picture. He began by announcing that everytime
he delivered a final address before a Female College he was
filled with a sickening sense of ffulure.
"Why such an unhappy fate should always pursue me at
such a time is quickly expluned," he said. "In my early
manhood my nervous system got a shock from which it has
never recovered. From my youth I have had extravagant
admiration for Female Colleges. They seemed enchanted
ground and I fanded that within their claaac domain dwelt
all the gendus, innoc^ice, beauty and glory of womanhood. I
nursed the manly purpose that if ever I spread my sail to the
matrimonial wave some gifted and scholarly young sister from
a Female Institute should go with me. My youthful ardor
soon turned to adoration and directed itself ^funst a certain
bright-eyed charmer — ^in my eye the fairest of all God's making
and in her eye as I too fondly fancied shone ineffable love for me.
"The time was Sunday night and the scene of the truedy
was the parlor of a Fetnale School. Though I had her done
and though my address was prepared and committed, when the
crisis came my address stuck inextricably in my throat and I
broke ruinously down before I got in sight of my best poetic
quotations ujKin which I mainly depended for brining her to
terms.
"To her credit be it said that by her blushing and decorous
heatation she helped me to an avowal. I think I can say as a
reUgious man that I harbor no bitter feelings against her but
I can never forget that gleam of coquettish villainy in her eye
when after my hps had told their tender secret she informed
me that she was already engaged. Tumbling myself in
clumsy desperation from the parlor to the street and shrinking
away into a forsaken part of the town I almost forgot my loss
of the girl in my overwhelming shame in having broken down
in my address. From that night I have had a powerful coa.-
viction that delivering final addresses (and my first was my
final) at Female institutes is at best an uncertain business.
There always creeps over me the bewildering feeUng that I am
about to pop the quesUon to an entire College of young women
and Uiat their inevitable reply will be 'dready engaged.' "
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
144 THE EDUCATED WOMAN
Hia subject was the "Educated Woman." He declared that
the educated wotnaQ was a modem institution. "The Greek
ideal was beauty of form ; the Roman was that of service. Even
the woman of Israel, the noblest of early times, received only
an incidental reli^ous culture."
He declared that woman "sees truth with the heart. She
feeb her way to her conclusions."
He then raised the question as to why woman should be
educated if it is her heart rather than her mind that guides
her and "she darts to her concludons on the wings of intuition
and believes in ita divinity?"
He ^ves two reasons in reply :
"1. A woman's intuitions are partly mental and grow better
by cultivation. 2. The specific value of intellectu^ education
is to make a woman examine her premises — both to make her
more accurate and to prepare her to teach."
"After all education is not to find a new sphere for a woman
but to fit her better for the old one. A woman is pretty sure
to think that to change a 1x)ok for a broom is not in the line of
promotion."
"The mistakes of life spring uther from ignorance or perver-
sity."
"The finest cookery book in the country was written by thfe
most literary woman that Virpnia has produced for a half
century, Marion Harland. . . . The young woman who can
not help her mother set the table, count the spoons, sew a
button on her brother's clothes, fry a steak, bake a pudding,
grind the coffee, feed the fowls or water the flowers is not
educated. She must put her higher knowledge in use in the
plain and humble-work of the home and the church."
In August he takes a long leap. Far out into the mountuns
of Southwest Va. he goes to attend the meeting of the Lebanon
Association, to apeak for the Education Board and to meet
the Baptists in that picturesque, mountain country. In writing
about his visit he said: "The first thing I did and the principal
thing I did in Bristol was to fall in love with brother N. C.
Baldwin."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEATH OF DR. JETER 145
His viat must have carried much Bunshiue and cheer for the
Lebanon saints for one of them wrote in the Herald:
"The Education Board sent among us a man whose kind,
open, christian face makes you love ham even before you feel
the warm grasp of his brotherly hand. Of course I mean its
president^ Dr. William E. Hatcher."
Public collections had become a sort of second nature with
the Grace Street church. On appointed days there were of-
ferings taken at the morning service for Foreign Mis^ons, for
Home Missions, for State Missions and bo on; and on each
occasion he would invariably preach on the subject for the
day and seek to kindle his hearers, into lai^e generosity for the
Board. During this Fall season he preached a series of Sunday
night sermons on "The Women of the New Testament." They
attracted large audiences.
He steps through the gateway of "1880" little dreaming
of the events which the year held in store for him. On Febru-
ary 18th Dr. Jeremiah B. Jeter ^ed and his death left a large
gap in Dr. Hatcher's life. The impress of Dr. Jeter's character
on him was' very marked.
"How can I speak of him?" stud Dr. Hatcher a few months
later. "I am reminded that when I. was a motherless boy on
my old father's knee and he sought to enkindle within my soul
high aspirations he would point to the example and character
of this man of God. Most keenly I feel that I am not in any-
thing what he was, nor yet what I would be, but it is meet that
I say that next to my Savior's grace for any good in me or
good done by me I am most indebted to him.
"Who coidd have ever dreamed that the rude Bedford boy,
that set out sixty years ago as a Baptist preacher would close
bis life in the midst of such <^stinction and grief? On the day
of his burial I was imprisoned in my chamber of sickness and
was denied even the tearful pleasure of following his dust
to his silent home. But as the cortege passed my gate I quit
my bed and with my wet face pressed f^ainst the window pane
gazed at the hearse as it bore Mm away to the cemetery.
"There came back to me the memory of his first entrance
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
146 BUILDING A HOME
into Richmond. Tbrai an awkward, untutored youth, clad in
homespun, covered with dust, astride his weary horse and
carrying in his saddle bags all his earthly store. Thus he came
then, but now he was going out of the city, not to come back
again. What a change. Then a stranger in a strange dty, but
now he was goii^ out escorted by a great and weeping host."
A few days after the death of Dr. Jeter, Dr. Hatcher hfted
himself up from his sick bed and saiA to his wife. "Jennie,
I am going to build me a house." His wife thought he was out
of his head,— inasmuch aa fever would often make him delirious.
"How is that?" she asked "What do you mean? You have
no money."
"I will have $1000 come due this Summer from the insurance
money. We can break up housekeepii^ and board more cheaply
than we can now live. If we can save (500 this Summer we
are safe."
"I saw that he waa sane" said his wife. "I made up my mind
to help lum to do it. We saved $500 that Summer and next
year I taught muse at Mrs. Hallowell's school, — clotlung
myself and the children. The house, costing $3500, was built
and in three years was paid for."
This was the bouse at 608 W. Grace Street, about midway
between the church and the Collie and six or seven blocks
from each. Here he lived during the remainder of his pastorate.
Multitudes were destined to cross its threshold and many were
the happy scenes to be enacted within its walls.
The third story front room was made the "prophets' cham-
ber" or the "Blue Room" and it was a long and noble ministerial
procesmon that tramped its way up the stairs and slept within
its sacred precincte. Many were the mornings when I would
pound on the door and announce to the sleeping "prophet"
that it was "time to get up" and "breakfast will be ready in a
few minutes."
Christian hospitality was the spirit of the home. It was for
him and his wife "open house" all the year round. He
would pick up preachers on the streets and in meetings, and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY 147
bring them home with him. He would find them packed
away in hotels And would ferret them out and bring them to
the welcome and joy of his house, — ^to the restful cosy quiet
of the Blue Boom. In his early married life Ms wife stud to
him oae day when he was ^ving her money for marketing:
"You give me too much each day for our small family"
to which he replied:
"I always want to ffve enough for you to have somethimg
extra at meals so that there will always be somethij^ for
vintors" and the rule about the "extras" lasted to the end.
His wife never knew when he would bring in a guest. Often
he would come home late for a meal and would come marching
into the dining room with the dinner already well under way
and moat of it out at nght and he would caU out to his attendant
friend as he would hear the rattle of the knives and forks back
in the dinii^ room : "Come aa back ; I expect they have eaten up
everything on the plantatJcoi but we will try our fortunes
together" — or some such playful ^iression as that. An extra
plate and seat were quickly forth coming and also an extra
dinner and to this was added a warm and happy welcome. Re-
garding his guests the hospitable motto of the home seemed to
"Come in the evening or come in the morning
Come when you're looked for or come without warning."
As for the special "dinners" and "breakfasts" and "suppers"
at which he gathered his friends they were multitudinous.
Thousands of dollars were spent that could be charged only to
the "hospitality" account. The other members of the family
had their own invited guests and he took equal pleasure in
them.
"The Lord ^ves to me because I give to him" he said to
his wife one day when the subject of thdr laige expenditures
for entertwnment was being discussed. Gueste were ever
coming and going.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
148 SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARIES
"Blest that abode where want and pain despair
And every stranger finda a vacant chair.
Bleat be those feasts with simple plenty crowned
Where all the ruddy family around
Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail
Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale
Or press the bashful stranger to his food
And learn the luxury of doing good."
His gatherings of preachers around his table brought some
choice experiences. On such occasions there were two visitors
whom he always sought to keep on the outdde — Glumness
and Dulness.
At the Sunday School Anniversaries Dr. Hatcher always
presented the prizes and he kept the audience which generally
overflowed the building in happiest good humor. Instead of
having all the prisw winners grouped around him at once to
receive their rewards he Would call them out from the audience
one by one and as each would march to the front he would not
only have a bright word for him but would keep up a contin-
uous rapid-fire of pleasantries and humorous sallies. The Rich-
mond Dispatch, in reportii^ one of the celebrations, said of
Dr. Hatcher: "his playful hits were greeted by roars of
laughter."
He was presentii^ prizes for punctual attendance and among
the prize winners was an old man Mr. Henry — - — — , about 75
years of age, hump backed and dckly. When Dr. Hatcher
came to his name he said:
"And here is a prize for another little boy and if little Henry .
will come forward I will be happy to present to the
little fellow his prize."
Far back in the audience the old man pushed his way out of
the pew and started up the fusle. His asthma was making him
pant and blow in lively fashion.
"Come on little Henry" called out Dr. Hatcher. "Come right
up here my little man". The old man's march up the aJsle
brought down the house with roars of laughter and no one
seemed to enjoy it more than the aforesmd 75 year old Henry.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ADDRESS ON DR. JETER 149
In May he attended the meeting of the Southern Baptist
Convention at Lexii^ton Ky. He spoke on Foreign Missions.
There were at this time some thomB in his pillow. The
"disturbing element" in his church were still on his track
and their arrows often struck him. It was the old faction and
they gave him a world of trouble.
"He knew how to wait upon the Lord" says his wife. "Often
at this time his fbmily thought that he ought not to suffer so
much indignity — that he ought to give up the church; but his
reply would be: 'Wait, wait; I can never retreat. I was not
bom to shirk trouble. Wait for deliverance. It will come.' "
One of the greatest pubHc occasions of his life was the meet-
ing in Petersburg of the General Association in June when he
delivered the memorial address on Dr. Jeter.
He describes the scene:
"The handsome auditorium was fittingly decorated. A vast
congregation, including several hundred Baptist ministers,
many distinguished laymen and not a few chief women of the
state, filled the house to overflowing. On the platform were
assembled the old preachers — dear old men of God who had
long been associated with Dr. Jeter in christian labors. A
truly heavenly spirit, sad and yet delightful, pervaded the
assembly. It was one of those unique, impressive, wonderful
occasions which could never be repeated and cannot be fully
appreciated by those who did not witness it. It was the re-
markable spectacle of the Virginia Baptists in solemn assembly,
lamenting the loss and honoring the memory of the most
illustrious man that God had ever given them."
He was at his best that night and a memorable occasion it
proved to be. I was present uid, while I was too young to
estimate fully the address, yet, I well remember the remarkable
impression it produced on the audience and the enthusiastic
appreciation it awakened. I was caught in the jam of the
aisles at the close of the service and from every lip as the people
looked into each other's happy faces leaped the words "Oh,
what a great address." "It was wonderful!" "Wasn't it glor-
D.qit.zeaOv'GoOt^lc
150 ADDRESS ON DR. JKTER
iouB?" He had lifted them to the hraght of Jeter's ideals, and,
at the close, lie had pointed to Jeter's glorified spirit ascending
the aides; and when the speaker ended and the congregation
was dismissed and as they surged around the pulpit platform
and in the lusles, gracing each other's hands there was a light
on their faces that seemed as if it might have come from the
other world. I, a boy, saw it and felt the thrill of it and the
impresdon made upon my mind, as I was jostled and squeezed
in the erowded fusle, was, "My papa haa made a wcmderful
speech tonight." In referring to this address the Herald swd:
"This splendid address, for vigor of thought and maturity
of expression, was one of the best ^>eeches ever delivered before
the General ABsociation. None ever produced a profounder
The address, too long to be presented here, closed with the
following words:
"He died splendidly — in all his ripened, glorious prime. He
did not crumble into decay, nor shrivel into imbetality. Dia-
ease did not waste and age did not shatter him; but, like the
imperial leader of Israel, he came to Pisgab with eye undimmed
and strength unabated. I count his death pre-eminently happy.
In the BtillnesB of the winler night, when his hour came to go
his loving father put his finger upon the enginery of his heart —
that heart which had been beating, beating, beating for nearly
eighty years and beating always highest for his father's honor.
He felt the solemn touch and the vast machineiy of his life
trembled, groaned, creaked and shivered; but only for a moment
and then standing suddenly still, his glad spirit was out and
gone, upward and away in its celestial flight. It was a trans-
lation in its BuddennesB and an ascension in its triumph and
glory.
"When he left the world, — Ah but he has not left it. I
do not say, for I do not know, that his q>irit yet remains with
us. Perhaps it is so. But I do know that the light of his life
will not go out. The track thro^^ space along which he as-
cended to his eternal home will always be Iimainoue. I have
fancied, if indeed it is a fancy, that when the gate of pearl
was opened for hirr to enter, truant beams of the heavenly
glory broke out and are now at la^e on the earth.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ADDRESS ON DR. JETER 151
"Wh&t a happy moment when his spirit crossed the river and
saw the great cityl What floods of rapture swept over his soul
when he heard the peal of the heavenly mufdc and saw the
face of his redeemer! What a greeting his old comrades gave
him, — ^BroaduB, Poindexter, Taylor and Fuller! What a
moment when he and Witt met in their eternal reunioni Joy
upon joy when he saw ^ain the spirit of his glorified mother.
If he could be happy amid the dianges and sorrows of this
worid, I wonder what Ms feelings were when he touched the
pavement of the heavenly Jerusalem. If on the December
morning, he shouted as he emerged from the baptismal waters
I wonder what he said at his coronation."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XIV
1880-1881
REPARTEE. CALL TO LOUISVILLE.
During the Summer be began the erecti<Hi of hia own home
and also the remodeling of his church building,
"I went to a long but very hannonious church meeting at
night" he writes his wife on Jidy 14th. "The furious brother was
absent and everything went beautifully and what is very rare
I went home and had a glorious sleep. . . . The church
decided during repairs to close at night but gave me no vacation.
I think that they forgot It but possibly they may not want me
to be away during the Summer. Of course I must go a part
of the time."
He hied himself away to the mountains, going far up into
Nelson county to wd Rev. S. P. Huff in a protracted meeting
at his country church. He carried a fifteen year old lad with
him, and one day Mr. Huff was driving them along the road
in his rockaway and the boy was using his rubber "gravel
shooter" banging away at objects on the road side.
Soon they came in sight of some cows drowsily grazing on a
slope, probably 125 feet, or more, from the road, and from the
neck of each cow was swin^ng a bell.
"Hit the bell on that cow and I will give you a quarter"
called out Dr. Hatcher singling out one of the cows. The offer
made the boy jump and put him on his mettle. He leaned
forward, pulled back the rubber, took eager aim and sent the
pebble sin^g through the tur with nervous expectancy.
A "tjng-a-ling" from the bell brought a laughing shout of ap-
152
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
IN A COUNTRY HOME 153
{Hxnral from Dr. Hatcher and hia companitHi and a feeling of
triumph and a quarter to the highly privileged lad bedde them.
I wmt with him to the Association where a char-
acteristic incident occured. It was the afternoon of the first
day and delegates were beii^ ass^ed to their homes where
they were to be entertained. My father and I were out in the
church yard and an old farmer, with a rugged face and simple
garb, approached us and sud: "Dr. Hatcher, I want you to go
home with me ton^ht. I live several miles down the creek
but if you can put up with my living, I'll be mighty glad to
have you come."
The old fellow's general appearance indicated very plain
Uvii^ and I confess I did not draw any bright pictures of our
prospective entertainment for the night. In the meantime
other gentlemen came up with their invitations. "Doctor
Hatcher," stud one, "I want you as my guest to-night," and
yet another, "Doctor, I have come for you; my wife said I must
certainly brii^ Dr. Hatcher home with me tonight."
As these men of finer garb and appearance added their
invitations I saw the old fanner from down the creek, with a
disappomted look on his face, shrink back, — or was almost
crowded back — by the gathering group. I shall never forget
the surprised and delighted look that came to the old man as
Dr. Hatcher Sfud: "I am going with my old friend over there."
He, of course, expressed his appreciation of the other invitations.
I think he must have seen the disappointment in the kindly
face, — at any rate he went; and the vifdt: — it turned out as
such visits usually turned out for him. Great times he had
with his happy hearted old host; other preachers were included
in the list of guests and among them all none were happier
than Dr. Hatcher though his happiness was upset for a few
moments on the next morning. Several ministers were in the
room tc^ether. Dr. Hatcher was lying in bed, and one of the
nunistera ran to his bed, and in a spirit of fun b^sn to shake
him very violoitiy, saying: "H^gho, Hatcher; wake upl wake
up; Why d<mt you get up" or some sudi words as these.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
154 CAPABLE OF ANGER
But he <Ud not like such ffuuiliarity and rough handlii^.
In f&ct he eeemed to resent it and with a good deal of fire he
retorted:
"Stop that, I do not like it at all and you must not take
such liberties."
It startled me, for it was rare, indeed, that I ever heard such
outbursts from him. His irritation soon passed away, however,
like the mist of the momiii^, but for the moment his anger
suffered an explo^on and it made pliun to all the observers in
that room that morning that whatever jocularities they might
wish to indulge in with the Doctor they had better not include
in their list an early morning jostle in bed.
On another oceadon his anger at a brother — a minister I
think — rose to a pitch of fury. He and others had ascended a
tall mountain and were standing upon an immense rocky
level at the summit and were enjoying the splendid view.
The great rock lifted itself high at the top of a precipice.
As they were standing several yards from the edge of the table
rock, one of the number, a big, burly brother, picked up Dr.
Hatcher in his arms and started on a dash with him towards the
e%e of that precipice in a threatening manner, but in a spirit
of mischievous fun. It infuriated Dr. Hatcher.
He was partly frightened by being hurried so predpitat«!y
to the mountfun top edge but even more he was indignant at
such ruthless handlii^ by the brother. He manned to wrest
himself from his grasp and delivered himself of a volcanic
discourse to the brother aforesaid.
"Beware the fury of a patient man."
A minister, one day, greatly exasperated, used violent lan-
guage. An Elder said "Dominie, you should restrain your tem-
per." "Restrain my temper; I'd have you Imow, Sir, I restrun
more temper in five minutes than you do in five years."
He was aroused when any one sought to take advantage
of him, whether in the social circle, in pubhc assemblies or in
any kind of phydcal handling. He had in him a spirit of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REPARTEE 165
retaliation that resented an attack. In the matter of physical
encounters he was especially sen«tive, because of his crippled
hand, which practically put him hors de combat.
There were occasons when one would seek to make a spec-
tacle of him by putting him in an awkward portion. With
reference to such cases he add:
"My instinct for retaliation always came into play. It
sometimes sprang into the arena without granting me one
moment for forethought. The man who hit me, I hit — ^not
always wisely and not always wittily, though possibly I might
be candid enough to say that if I had any success in public
collisions with others, it was in the way of repartee and in speak-
ing thus frankly I cannot acquit myself of an unseemly love of
victory. It really seemed to me that in these unexpected
passages at arms my answer was invariably bom of the attack.
It seemed to be waiting there for my use and hardly seemed
the product of my own thought."
I>urii^ his earlier ministry he was attending the
AsBOciatitm and one night he and several other ministers were
entertained at the same home. Rev, Reuben J , an old
and highly revered pastor, whose religion was of the serious
cast, was one of the number. Mr. Hatcher and several other
young preachers found themselves in the same room that night
with brother Reuben who had already retired and the younger
ministers thought that he was asleep. They were in a jovial
frame and were indulging in some merry jokes. All at imce,
brother Reuben slowly lifted his head from his pillow and
mournfully drawled out: "What is this I hear; ministers of the
goi^ of OUT Lord Jesus Christ, in attendance upon a reli^ous
Aaaociati<m, and here indulg^ii^ in such boisterous uid worldly
levity."
Witik that doleful pronouncement his head went back upon
the pillow Mid there ensued an awful alence and, as the young
preachers began to feel the awkwardness of the ^tuation, Mr.
Hatcher, said: "Brother Moderator, I move that the solemn
came in at the wrong time."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
156 REPARTEE
The spell was broken and the other jokers declared after-
wards that they h^led William E. as their benefactor. Brother
Reuben then passed into the land of Nod.
He had a pleasant little encounter one morning in the pastor's
conference in Bichmond with Dr. H , Every Sunday,
in Dr. H 's choir gallery, at the rear of the pulpit,
stood a German professor of Musdc who, with his comet, led
the congregation in the singing.
At the Conference that morning the preachers were making
rei>ortB. One of them said:
"I beard Dr. Hatcher preach on yesterday and I greatly
enjoyed his sermon. It began quietly and simply but it grew
lai^er and larger to the end. It reminded me of a horn."
"A brass hom" blurted out Dr. H in a gruff and
drawling voice and a sly twinkle in hia eye, and with a burst
of laughter from the Conference.
"Yes" retorted Dr. Hatcher "and I blew my own hom; I did
not have to hire a big fat Dutchman to stand up in my choir
and blow it for me."
During the summer it was announced that he would preach
in a certmn mount^n village. A few hours before the service
he was approached by a lady, who was a member of another
Denomination, who sought an introduction to him.
"Dr. Hatcher" she stud in a confidential, but peremptory,
tone "I have a special request to make of you."
He bowed his prettiest to the lady and begged her to announce
her derarea.
"We are goii^ to have a concert at our church tonight, and I
want to ask that you will begin your sermon as quickly as you
posably can, and that you will preach just as short a sermon
as you can, and then ask the congregation to come around to
the concert at our church."
The Herald, in tellii^ of this incident, said: "It is reported
that the sermon was unusually long."
He appeared in one of his happiest roles when speaking at
District Associations. He seemed always ready and his speeches
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ENTERING THE NEW AUDITORIUM 157
had in them a spice and sparkle that made him very popular.
The Richmond Dispatch stud that whenever he arose to speak
there "came upon every face a look of satisfaction which seemed
to say, 'Now we shall have it.' "
In hia travels he crossed the track of a certain .Baptist
preacher of that day who was befpunit^ to take dips into the
"political waters," — to the regret of his ministerial brethren.
One night Dr. Hatcher preached at Court House
from the text, "And Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and
pitched his tent towards Sodom." At one place in the sermon,
he said, "Brethren, it has been suggested that Lot was a ruler
in Sodom, but I do not believe it. Lot got down low, lower
than the very dogs, but I do not beheve that he ever dabbled
in politics." The above mentioned preacher was one of his
listeners.
On Nov. 2l8t he and his Grace Street people entered their
church auditorium which had been refurnished and beautified.
It was bis custom to make much of special days in his church
"A warm and happy greeting to you all" he smd in his
opening words. "Brethren beloved, saints of this church, I
give you a pastor's coi^atulation as you return to the Lord's
house. Come in ye biased of the Lord rich and poor, old and
young; come in to the place which your own generous love
has renovated and beautified as the dwelling place of the Most
High. . . . For many days some of you have longed to
see what your eyes now behold and you are happy."
The skies smiled brightly upon pastor and people and they
little thought that in a few days he would receive a letter that
would mark an epoch in his life. He received a call about
Dec. 13th from the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville,
Ky., at that time probably the most commanding pastorate
in the South. The letter closed as follows;
"We are informed of the devotion of your church in BJchmond
to you and the opposition you will have to contend with if
you are inclined to accept the call; but we believe the good
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
158 THE CALL TO LOUISVILLE
of the Baptist denomination requires your acceptance and that
you yourself will be blessed in making the Bacii&ce of any
personal attachment and comforts for the time being and that
in the near future you will thank God that you made the
movement.
"At any event, we hope that you will make us a visit at any
early date. Youre in Christian love
Junius Caldwell
Arthur Peter
Wm. Moses
John B. McFerran
Mason W. Sherrill
W. B. CaldweU
Wm. Harrison
John H. Weller
Deacons of the Church."
This letter struck him a heavy blow. It confronted bim
with the question as to whether the reminder of his life's
work should have its headquartera in Vir^nia, or in the Middle
West. No other pastorate in the entire country could have
appealed to him as strongly as did that one. In Louisville
was located the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where
were gathered for truning two or three hundred young min-
isters from different parts of the world. It is not surprising
that the call startled and bewildered him.
He stood at the parting of the ways. On the one hand lay
the wide field in the Middle West, while, on the other, lay his
own State, where he had built up his ministry and estabtished
his influence. In the meantime the news of the Louisville call
took wings and met him wherever he went. Friends on the
street and in the social circle assured him of thdr devotion
and th^r earnest hope that he would not go. By almost every
m^l came letters, some of them lining up on the fdde of Loui»-
ville and others making a plea for BJchmond. Dr. M. B.
Wharton, a former pastor of the Walnut Street Church, wrote;
"Think well before you decline. It is in my increment, par
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE CALL TO LOUISVILLE 159
excellence, the pastorate of the Southern Baptist Convention,
especially Eonce the Semmary has been located there."
His lifelong friend, Dr. A. E. Owen, writes:
"You are among the foremost men, if not the foremost man,
in the General Association of 'Virpnia. If you go there ia no one
who could exactly fill your place.
"And yet though it costs me a pang to write it I would say,
'Go'. Louisville is now, and is destined to be still more bo,
a Baptist center &nd your inBuence would go out all over the
South and into portions of the North.
"But, at last, this is a matter between you and your Savior,
I will quote here a sentence that you wrote to me when I
sought your advice in regard to coming here. You said 'Send
your tel^rams to Heaven.' I can but repeat the injunctioQ."
Dr. Andrew Broadus, Jr., writes him that Virginia Baptist
ministers have never done well in the West, Dr, R. M. Dudley,
preadent of Georgetown College, writes:
"Louisville is more than ever destined to become a commer-
cial center for the Southwest, . . Here (at Louisville) you
have an opportunity to plant your self at the very source of
power and make your influence felt far and near."
In our home the rafpng question was, "will we go to Louis-
ville or not?" and many ni^ts, — and far into the late hours —
I sat aroimd the fire in the mtting room listening to him and my
mother talldng over the mtuation.
His new home at 608 West Grace Street had just been com-
pleted and entered. When the call came the pictures were then
resting on the floor against the walls waiting to be hm^ and
there they stood, while the Louisville matter hung fire. "If we
go to Louisville I will not need to hang the pictures" said my
mother one day and the rumor sped to the Walnut Street
ladies in Louisville that Dr. Hatcher's wife had said that if
Dr. Hatcher went to Louisville she would never hang another
picture. *
His Chtirch awaited his verdict while they crowded him
with their appeals that he would not leave them. Not all of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
160 THE CALL TO LOXHSVILLE
his members however, joined in this appeal. "The mifriendly
few" were still ^ving him trouble and his family thought that
the factional bother in the church was a stroi^ reason why he
should get from under the Grace Street strain and accept the
call to Louisville.
Christmas came and still the question hung unanswered.
His friend, Dr. J. R. Bagby, writes him: "I d<Htt think the
College would rally from the blow your leaving would gpve it
for iffQ years. Already, I have heard one mo«ier say, 'If Dr.
Hatcher is going away I don't tbinkmy boy can go to Richmond
College.' "
Upon a repeated invitation from the Walnut Street Church
he visited Louisville, leaving Richmond im Jan. 6th. Among
the members of the Walnut Street Church were Drs. John A.
Broadus, and Baal Manly of the TheoIo(pcaI Seminary. He
preached for the Church on Jan. 9th on "Jacob," a sermon
which he had preached on the previous Sunday to bis own
church and which became one of his most popular character
While in Louisville he received from his deacons in Bichmond
an appeal to him that he would not leave Grace Street. This
appeal, however, was not mgned by all the deacons. One of
the absentees was unable to be present at the meeting. "The
others, who were abs^it, I am not advised as to the reason"
vrites Deacon Browne. "The resolutions were adopted un-
animously and cordially. Dont decide the matter until your
return."
He returned to XUchmond, but made no announcement
upon his arrival. At home we kept him busy telling us about
his visit and his pictures sometimes made our mouths water
for liOuisville.
Louisville presses its plea. Mr Junius Caldwell writes him
from Louisville:
"You are often inquired about most anxiously once you
left and there is but one tone to the questiooi 'Have you beard
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE CALL TO LOUISVILLE 161
from Brother Hatcher?' and that is followed by words of
emphaedB 'Oh; I do hope he will come.' We have not heard a
word from you ance you were here."
Mr. Caldwell then goes on to say that the church would
either ^ve him $1000 for moving expenses or that they would —
if he would prefer it — ^be glad to give him an amoimt which he
thought would meet his probable expenses. He then continues:
"We are remembering you in our prayer meettags. Brother
Hatcher, my heart gets so full of your coming and of the work
which I thmk God has for you to do here that heart throbs
and tears almost overwhelm me. Do not disappoint us by
declining our call."
For over a month the suspense continued. Letters eune from
different parts of Virginia urging him to remain at Grace
Street. He stated, the latter part of January, that he would
annotmce, on the next Stmday, bis decision regarding the
Louisville call. No one knew what it would be and anxiety
sat upon the faces of the congr^ation as they gathered on
that day. He preached the sermon but their ears were waiting
for something else. When the sermon reached its close be
Bud, in substance:
"As you know, for many weeks I have held under anxious
conraderation a call to the pastorate of the Walnut Street
Baptist Church of Louisville. I have after long and earnest
and prayerful deliberation decided to decline the call."
The suspense was over and the str^ was ended. One of the
members arose and said: "Brethren and sisters; to our grekt
joy our pastor has declined the flattering call from Louisville
and decided to remtun as our pastor. I think it would be a
fitting thing for the church and congregation assembled to
express now their happiness over his deu^on and also their
purpose to sustain him in his future work and that we do this
by extendii^ to him our hand of brotherly greeting."
Out. from the choir rang the hymn "Blest be the tie that
binds" and up the usies poured the congr^ation and for a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
162 THE CALL TO LOUISVILLE
half hour the people thronged about the pulpit, grasping the
pastor's band, beaming at him thdr lore and mingling their
songs, their tears and their smiles in happy confusion.
Not all the men joined in that ovation at the first. One
deacon held back and many eyes were on him. After awhile,
he followed the others and moved up the aisle imd extended
bis hand to the pastor. Thus the list was made complete and
the response was unanimous.
"Dr. Hatcher" amd Mrs. Taylor after it was all over and
the congr^ation was melting away "I am going to take Mrs.
Hatcher home in my bu^y."
"Yes; take her" he rephed with a smile "she has cried bo
much here this morning that she is not fit to walk along the
street."
He srait his letter of declination to Deacon Junius Caldwell,
with whom he had had the correspondence in connection with
the call, and he inclosed the following personal letter to him:
"RtCHUOMD, Jan. 30th, 1881.
"My Dbab Bro. Junius;
"Almost persuaded — but, after all constrained to say that
I cannot come. I did my best to see my way to Lomsville;
my heart yearned for you and I was ready to come, but at the
last I had to decline.
You and McFerran will despise me, I fear, but I mean to
love you, both, all my days. I cannot have the honor of beii^
the pastor of Walnut Street, but I can love and honor the church
as long as my life lasts. Here is the fatal letter. It coat my
anguish to pen it, but I had to do it.
Write me a Hne saying that in your warm eoul there is com-
pasaon even for me and I will love you better then ever. I
know you can find a better man and that is my consolatitm.
"Tell Mrs. C that I will ever cherish the memory of her
sisterly kindness.
"Hastily yours,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE CALL TO LOUISVILLE 163
On the next Tuesday evening bis door bell rang and, to his
surprise, in came a flood of people — bis Grace Street members —
who wisbed to express tb^r grateful joy to tbeir paator and his
wife over bia recent dedsion to remun with tbem. Col. T. J.
Evana made a speech to the pastor on behalf of the members,
in which he said: "All over Vu^inia men, women and children
are delighted to know that Dr. Hatcher will not leave his native
state where his influence is unsurpassed by any minister in the
denomination to which he belongs." The-glad outburst on the
part of his church was to him a bright omen. He felt that in
deciding agunat Louisville he bad practically decided against
all other fields and had committed himself to Bichmond for the
remunder of his life and with this conviction he took up his
pastoral duties with a new and eager grasp.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTEE XV.
1881.
HIS 8CNDAY8. PREACHING. PUBLIC FKAYERS.
His Sundays were his mountain-top days. He greeted its
morning light with a song and bounded out of bed ea^r to
meet ite many tasks. When we children began to scamper off
to Sunday School about nine o'clock we would generally leave
him walking up and down the sitting room "studying his
sermon" and, yet, calling out his cheery "good bye" to us aa we
passed through the room, or through the hall. Most fre-
quently, in the open weather, we would leave him walking on
the front porch and as a goodly procession of his Grace Street
people filed by his gate every Sunday morning, enroute to
Sunday School, he had to divide his time between reviewing
his sermon and bowing his "good morning" to his own fiock,
as well as to nearly every other passer by. Each one received
his greeting and, frequently, some friendly word attached
thereto. This breezy touch with the people at the gateway of
his Sabbaths seemed to refresh and quicken him. In fact,
folks were interesting to him always and everywhere. About
ten o'clock he would start for the church; about 10-25 he would
come into the Sunday School and his entrance kindled many
an eye. He would usually come as the entire school was as-
semblii^ for its closing service and his walk up the Eusle was
alow and punctuated with greetings and hand shakes along the
way. Faces would hght up as different ones reached for his
hand and received bis salutation.
But up stairs in the auditorium; — Ah, there he stuped
up<Hi bis throne. There be stood in the presence of his pei^le
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
VISITING PREACHERS 165
and of the gre&t oongregstion; and his mommg audience waa
a ught to behold, — radiant, eager eyed, full of love for tlieir
pastor.
He was so real, so bereft of self consciousness, so devout and
so joyously worshipful that his spirit was conta^ous and up-
lifting, and he was interesting from the moment he enterad
the pulpit. The sight of his congr^atlon fired his heart and the
privilege of preaching was for him a taste of heaven. His soul
hterally plunged into the service with exultant ri^^ture and
reveled in ite^ features of song and prayer, of scripture and
sermon.
Richmond was a way-station between the North and South,
and Grace Street was a rendevous for many of Richmond's
distinguished travelers. Oftei would he lay hold of a visiting
minister and press him into service for a sermon. He was a very
sympathetic Ustener. I have often seen his face fairly beam
with delight as he sat on the pulpit intently listening to some
viMtii^ preacher's sermons that did not seem to impress the con-
gr^ation deeply, but which would find respondve chords in
his heart and elicit bis grateful appreciation. I remember a
minister from the West being picked out of his congregation
one morning by him. A stranger he was, but the pastor's eye
summed him up and he decided that he could safely cq>en the
gates of his pulpit to him. He preached and the pastor was
filled with happiness over his sermon. The congregation may,
or may not, have felt the same as he did. At any rate nothing
would do for the pastor but that the viator — a Mr. Cameron,
I think, — should preach again that evening and the evening
sermon put the pastor agun on the hilltops of pleasure.
Dr. C. H. Dodd, now of Germantown, Fenn,. who later came
to be one of Dr. Hatcher's dearly loved friends, had in his
church in one of his former pastorates a man who traveled into
the South every winter, "He would always go to bear Dr.
Hatcber'when he would stop in Richmond" said Dr. Dodd.
"That seemed to be one of the important events of liis Southern
trip, and he would always come to me and give me Dr. Hatcher's
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
166 HIS SUNDAY SERVICES
sennons and, in this way, even before I formed Dr. Hatcher's^
acquaintance, I came to know him and to receive impresadons
of his greatness." All classes were represented in his audience.
There were the poor, those of moderate income and there were
also those highly favored, not merely in worldly goods, but
also in intelligence and culture. His eastern usle was known
as the "literary aisle," Here sat Drs., A. B. Brown, H. H.
Harris, Col. Thos. J. Evans and others. He generally brought
someone home with him to dinner on Sundays and as some of
the children generally had guests, the Sunday table presented
a lively scene and the most enthusiastic one in the party was
the gentleman at the foot of the table.
But "time's up" would soon sound from his lips at the
dinner table, £uid off to the Boy's Meeting we would go. After
the meetings, he was ^ther hidden away in his study for work
on his night's sermon, — that is after the disappearance from
the study of the clump of boys who usually followed him from
the meeting, or else, he would jump in his bu^y and whip
up "Grace" in the direction of some other church in the
city.
Sometimes supper would be picked up at one of the near by
homes of his members and then came the night service, —
not usually as largely attended as that of the momii^,^-aDd
yet the night service held high rank in the life of his church.
There were so many special occa^ons. Anniversary services
and the like, that were held at night that there was not much
lowering of the tide in these second services. "608 W. Grace"
genendly had some droppers in on Sunday nights after church.
The girls could, as a rule, be depended on to provide for the
back parlor a chattering bunch of beaux and up stfurs the "older
folks" came together; Dr. Hatcher would settle into an
easy chair and tell the others to "talk on" and the genial chit-
chat would ripple along; the visitors would, after a while,
disperse and the Sunday paper would be brought to him. "My
Sunday is over now" he would say "and I will read the paper."
Thus his Sundays would go trooping by and golden days they
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PREACHING 167
were for him and for multitudes of others who walked with
him in the way.
The crowning joy of hia life waa preaching. He was so
grateful to God for having chosen him to be a preacher that
he s^d: "I thank him now and will thank him when I reach
the throne and will thank him forever more." To the end of
his days it seemed to hurt him if a Sunday passed when he
could not preach.
He used nather manuscript, nor notes, in the pulpit, He
was very deliberate in the beginiung and his first sentences
were crisp and striking. These opening sentences, so carefully
constructed, were harbingers of good things to come. Havii^
thus gained the ear of the audience at the commencement he
would carry them with him to the end. His sermons generally
worked their way to a climax. His own bouI seemed to grow
and climb with his sermon. It fed itself on the bread of life
which he was giving to others and, when he would come to the
end, he would be standing on the heights, and hia audience
would be with him. "The Sights on which he took his hearers,
as he started towards heaven in his preaching, seemed to me
Uttle short of translation. As I write I hunger to hear him"
writes B«v. J. V. Diddnson. In the beginning of the sermon his
appeal was purely to the intellect and his opening words wfere
given ample time for grappling the minds of the congregation.
His voice, while often a little husky, was so rich in sympathy
and character that it immediately commanded a respectful
hearing. When he would, in preaching, appeal to his audi-
ence, umng the word "Brethren", the word would have in it
a wealth of meaning. When he would arise in a Conven-
tion and call out "Brother Mod-e-ra^tor" the two words would
roll out with a certain melody and individuality that would
compel attention and win a favorable hearing. It is not easy
to describe his voice, but it seemed to say to the listener that
if he would only give heed that it had much that was valuable
to be heard. His preaching was textual. Instead of selecting
subjects to preach about he selected texts and he gathered all
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
168 TREATMENT OF A TEXT
of the sennon out of the text. What he stud of Dr. Jeter's
preaching was true of his own, viz: — he literally picked his
text to pieces and gave it to the people. Regardii^ the text,
he says to young preachers:
"Do not take it as a thing to hang your wobbling and variant '
thoughts upon. Do not make a base of it from which yon can
sprint in every direction and then dash back at certun turns
merely to touch it; also, do not make it a vase in which to
stick the gaudy flowers of your rhetoric. Do not preach on
your text as if you were trying to batter it into the ground nor
about it as if you were besiegii^ it to open its barred gateway,
nor from it as if you were havii^ a tai^et practice with the
text as the bull's eye which you hope perchance sometimes
to hit.
"Quietly unlock the text and walk into it, as into a store room,
and get out the best of its contents and come out with them to
the people, — something for each one in his season. Do that,
brother, and that will be preaching.
"We often hear one preacher ask another how he treated a
certain text. That was a very delicate question to ask most
preachers. . . It is really hard to treat a text id a gen-
tlemanly way. It IB a great temptatiom to take advantage
of it. Often we are more anxious to put things into a text than
to get tbii^ out of it. Whenever a preacher gets to a point
where he will let a text talk and he will listen he is very hable
to make a good sennon."
He would in his preaching generally mention the var3nng
views of commentators about a passage and then would give
bis own view and I know one boy who used to Usten eagerly,
each Sunday, for these differ^it interpretaUons and who would
always think that the preacher's interpretation was nearer
the mark than that of any of the others.
He was never violent in his gestures and he had a horror
of "ranting" or "yelUng" in the pulpit. There was in his de-
livery a poise and self mastery that prevented such madness,
and yet, as his heart would catch fire from his sermon, his
whole being would be aglow and his voice would ring out with
passionate earnestness. But such outbursts were not spasmodic;
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PREACHING 169
but were usually the breaking of a storm that had been
gatherii^ during bis sermon.
He rarely went ahead of his hearers in the expression of his
emotions. There would be times, however, when he would
set free the fire that was in Ms soul, and his words would blaze
with paaaon. He thus writes:
"It is fatal to a public speaker's success to be too much
carried away with his subject. We have known men whose
emotions were easily moved and could not speak without being
overmastered by their feelings. It was impossible for them to
command the respect of an audience. ... It rarely adds
to his effectiveness to cry and yet there must be about him
those agns of restrained passion which make the people feel
that if he were to cry it would be a cyclone. The world
reveres the man with unused resources.
"Of course times come when all that is in a man must be put
out. There are great battles when reinforcements must be
called from every quarter, when the last reserve must be thrown
to the front and when the supreme struggle for the victory is to
be made."
In picturing a preacher throwing all his reserves to the front
in a final attack he says :
"Let his charmed soul be turned loose; let his voice roar
like the cataract, let his nerves tingle and bum with contagious
fire. Let all the light of his mind and heart break forth, let
his eyes ffow hke rivers, let his face be as red as the sun and
let him, like the French Emperor, call out his Imperial Guard,
charge with resistless fury and sweep the field with victory."
Ofttimes such climaxes in his sermons would gather about
an illustration; at uiy rate it was rare that his sermon did not
contain at some pivotal point in the discourse a story, and usually
it was only one and that gathered from his own experience.
This page out of his own experience was generally the sermon's
masterpiece and seemed bom for that particular occasion.
He might be hurried in the other parts of the discourse
but never with the story. There he played the artist and who,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
170 CHARACTER SERMONS
that ever heard him pfunt those pictures would not testify
to their beauty "and power.
For the stock anecdotes be had a horror and his Ups would
not touch them. Of such anecdotes he said, "They, like David,
have served their generation and should fall on sleep." His
own ministry teemed with rich incidents and they swarmed
about him for his use.
His character sermoas were his best. Dr. John A. Broadus,
president of the Southern Baptist Theolo^cal Seminary said
to his class in Homiletics, "Dr. Hatcher ought to publish a
volume of his sermons on Bible characters; it would be the most
unique thing in Senuonology."
He could analyze a person and could paint his picture with
startling vividness. The Bible characters lived before his own
mind and in his preaching he simply pulled aside the curtain
that his audience might see what he saw. But he was not so
much the portrait ptunter that stood off asldng his audience
to look upon a picture; he was rather the intimate companion
that brought into your presence one of his friends and before
you knew it you were listening to that person talk.
"He would take a Bible character, or scene, or miracle and
go to talking about it just as if it were true," says Rev. J. E.
Cook.
"You almost take off your h&t as he introduces you to Martha.
You be^ to scrape off the mud and shout as you get out of the
horrible pit. You will know Joseph the secret disciple the rest
of eternity."
Dr. P. T. Hale writes:
"I remember hearing him once, in Washington City, preach
on "Martha of Bethany". Years before, I had visited the
town of Bethany, but I could not then refJize that Martha and
Mary and Lazarus bad ever been there, but I saw them all
during that wonderful sermon, while Dr. Hatcher described
their home. I could see the eager face of Martha, as she looked
out of the window, and I saw Jesus coming with His disciples
to her home for dinner! I could see the fluttering robe of the
Master as He drew near the home of these cherit^ed friends."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PREACHING 171
In his ch&r&cter sermonB he would usually select, not the
^ktire life of the individual, but simply some crucial inddent
in his life. In his notable sermon on Lot he chose the act of
Lot in pitching hia tent towards Sodom and his sermon
hinged on the words "towards Sodom."
The text was "And Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and
pitched his tent towards Sodom." It was not in wicked Sodom
that Lot moved with hia family— Oh never! The mere sug-
gestion of such a move would have been to Lot an insult. His
new home was planted in the "cities of the plain." "Very true"
said the preacher "but it was (otoords Sodom." The climax came
in the picture of the doom of Sodom, the piteous efforts of
Lot to save his family, the hasty flight, the burning city, the
tragic death of his wife and his own disastrous end.
"William EHdridge Hatcher, taken all in all, easily stands in
the front rank of J^erican Baptist preachers."
These words were written in the "Chicago Standard" by Rev
H. T. Louthan — but of himself Dr. Hatcher wrote:
"Oh why do not men preach. What is the matter with us.
I take up the lament of Jeter, one of the greater men of the
South, 'O that I could preach; I cannot preach; I have never
preached; my heart fuls me leat I quit the earth without ever
preaching a worthy sermon.' "
His public prayers were unique. I was always impressed with
the maim^ in which he used his mind in Iub prayers. Of course
they had fervor, because his hearty interest in t^e entire service,
the sennon, the hymns, etc., kept the fire burning in bis soul from
b^^nning to end, but, while his heart was glowii^ with feeling,
his mind was equally active and his prayers were vibrant with
thought. He carried his people and their burdens on his briun
as well as on his heart, and iiis public petitions were mental
atructures. He had, one morning, in his service a distinguished
vimtor, Dr. Henry G. Weston, preandent of Crozer Seminary,
who, many years afterwards, wrote him r^arding bis visit:
"May I tell you what it was that gave you such a place in
my heart?
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
172 PtJBLIC PRAYERS
"Tw&aty years or more b^ I spent a Sunday in Bichmond.
In the morning service I attended your church. I do not
remember your text, or your sermon; ^ut I was greatly struck
by your prayer. It was a model prayer for a pastor to offer as
he leads the devotions of his church, I have been accustomed
to refer to it as such. I had heard of you as the mo^ infiuential
pastor in Richmond. That prayer explained to me why you
held that position. As a prayer in that place and at that time
it was simply perfect. ... In that prayer of youra I saw
what kind of pastor you were, what you were to your people
and what your people were to you."
"Yours gratefully
"Henry G. Weston."
Ckmoemii^; diort prayeis he thus expressed himself:
"No, we don't like that dther. Dont tike i^at? We dont like
anybody to ask a brother to offer a word of prayer. To ask a
man to say a hasty word to the Lord belittles prayer. If you
want a man to offer a short prayer then pick out a short-pray^
man. If the time is limited excuse the long winded brother for
that occasicm or else take your own medicine and do the short
prayer yourself. When a brother asks us to make a short
prayer we get seared at once lest we go beyond his nodon
of shortness and we feel that the congregation is watchii^ us
to see how long we will take. It gets to be a habit with some
preachers to ask for brief prayers or 'a word of prayer'. We do
not like it. At the same time, dear long winded suppliants,
take not this as a vindication of you."
He made his Sunday services entertuning. There was a
bouyancy and joy in the exercises. One of his members, Mr.
J. D. C , in speakii^; of the church services, says, "I
never knew what he would do or say next. He kept me on tiie
lookout for what was comi:^. He was intensely interestii^."
It was not that he had various schemes for attracting hia
coi^r^ation; but he was so real, so free from self consciousness,
so fresh and spontaneous in his direction of the pubhc service,
that he naturally kept his audience awake and on the qui vive.
The above named gentleman Mr. C , when he
began comii^ to the church, used to ait up in the ^de gallery,
at the end just over the pulpit, and therefore at the longest
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
INTERESTING SERVICES 173
distance from the pulpit. Dr. Hatcher said to him in his later
years, wh^i he had become an active member and was always
at the front in the services, "Jim, I had to preach you all
the way down that gallery and then down the sturs and then
up the usle here to the front, before I could get you where I
wanted you." He had a habit while seated in the pulpit of
lettii^ his eyes run over his audience as if he was gettii^ ac-
quunted with them individually and by the time he arose to
preach he knew pretty well whom he had before him. Such a
peraonal interest in his people followed him out of his pulpit
as well as into it. To the above mentioned member he jocularly
said: "Jim, you are mighty mean, but I like you because of
the man that I think you may become." He came to cherish
this gentleman — now a very useful layman — and also his wife,
as among his beloved friends.
He had scant patience with dulness in a reli^ous meeting.
For example, one Sunday afternoon, the latter part of March,
he went over to Manchester to attend a Missionary meeting.
Dr. McDonald was expected to speak, but failed to appear.
"Brother McDonald is not present" droned out the churman
and a solemn disappointment struck the audience. "I do not
know why Brother McDonald is not present, but he is not
here, and we are all very sorry that he is not here."
"Brother Chiurman" s^d Dr. Hatcher ridng in tus seat and
speaking with a little fire in his voice, "I dedre to prefer charges
agfunst Dr. McDonald because of his absence this afternoon
and to ask that he be summoned to appear before the next
meeting of this Society to show cause why he should not be
prosecuted for failing to appear at this meeting. Let me add
this, Mr. Chairman, and that is that I am willing, when the
the case comes up before the Society, to act as prosecuting
attorney."
The solenm crust of the meeting was broken, the audience
put in good humor and the current of the meeting rij^Ied
along in brighter fashion.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XVI.
1882.
EDITOR RELIQIOU9 HERALD. IN THE SOCUL CIRCLE.
THE CARAVAN. THE BAPTI3Ta.
He went, during the Summer, out among the mountains
of Southweat '^i^pnia and, amoi^ other things, he spoke on
Education at the Lebanon Afisociation. Out in the crowd that
day was a boy who, many years afterwards, thua wrote in the
Herald regarding that Association;
"Dr. Hatcher made a speech about Richmond College that
awakened in me a demre and purpose to go to that institution. ■
Ah that time I was not prepared to enter College and there
were no apparent means for carrying out my purpose. . .The
impression of that speech and thelon^g it awakened never
left me for a day."
The result was that the boy found his way to Richmond
College. "Soon after my arrival at Richmond College" he
writes "I met the man who had inspired the ambition which
had brought me there."
This youth, H. W. Williams, now an honored Baptist pastor
in one of the Southern states, has already been mentjoned in
these pages in connection with Dr. Hateher's croquet playing
at the College.
He received, in November, a call lo the pastorate of the
First Baptist Church of Greenville S. C. In fact in the following
years of his life he rec^ved many calls to attractive portions,
but Richmond]|,held him fast. Eajly in 1882 he received an
invitation that opened to him a wide door of opportunity. He
174
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE RELIGIOUS HERALD 175
was asked to become one of the editors of the Religious Herald,
the Baptist state paper of Virginia. The prospect attracted
him and when at his church meeting he asked the consent of
his church to his undertaking this extra work he sud:
"I am now forty eight years of age; I mourn to think that
so much of my life has passed and that so little has been
accomplished. I know not how much of my life remans, but
I do have an overmastering desire to put into these remaining
years as much service for my Master as possible."
I remonber nothing else he s^d that night about the Herald
work except the above paragraph, which startled me at the
time by the manner in which it was said. I went home from the
meeting saying to myself, "My father is surely anxious to
hurry up and get in all the work he possibly can before he dies."
The circle of his influence was now greatly widened and there
were hundreds and probably thousands who watched eagerly
for his writings week by week.
"A more facile pen, or a more fertile brain than his we do not
know among our Southern Baptist preachers," said the Bap-
tist Courier in speaking of him. It also added "If there is a
more racy and more piquant religious editor we have not yet
made his acquaintance."
He aimed to spend sometime at the Herald office every day.
This office was, to a certain extent, Baptist headquarters for
Richmond and here, day by day, he was brought in touch with
Baptists from different parts of the country; all mamier of
subjects and questions were fired at him for his columns. For
example one lady sent the request, "Ask Dr. Hatoher if he
would advise me to send my children to a dancii^ school."
He published the question and added his reply, which was as
follows:
"Well sister, that depends on several things. If your mtun
idea is to fit them for worldly pleasure and inake them popular
with fashionable people, we would think it dearable for you to
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
176 RESIGNATION OF DR. MCDONALD
have them t&ught dancii^. They would feel very awkward in
Bucb society unless their feet had been properly educated.
Then, it may be that you would find it easier to educate the
heels than the heads of your children. Besides, if you would
have them truned to dance and then they should become fond
of it, as they probably would, you would find that it would be a
great advantage in the way of preventing them from b^i^
troubled in mind on the subject of reli^on.
"But, poBMbly you might some day wish to have them become
christianB and join the church. If you think you would ever feel
this way about it then in the name of the Lord we beg you Dot
to put them into the hands of some empty headed dancing
master. A dancing Baptist is a burden to the church and a
grief to the pastor and rarely helps the cause except by waltzing
back into the world."
He suffered a stunnii^ blow in the redgnation Of Dr. Henry
McDonald and his removal from Kichmond. Like twin souls
they had been linked in royal fellowship for several years. There
seemed to be love in his very pronunciation of the word,
"M-«.-D-o-n-a-l-d" The cares and ills of earth might crowd
their path but they would fling them to the winds and revel in
each other's company. To take 'McDonald' in bis buggy for
a ride into the country, on a Saturday afternoon, was medicine,
and a feast. What cared tbey for the world's rude shocks as
they turned "Grace's" head towards Manchester and Chester-
field, cracked the whip and went spinning across the James
river bridge and — as they went — telling out thar bothers, re-
counting their joys, their plans and their hopes for this life, —
and sometimes for the life to come. "His departure is bitterness
to me" he writes "for it tears me asunder from one who for
years has been the keeper of my soul's secrets and my counselor"
Be it remembered that in addition to bis pastored, editorial
and general Denominational work in Richmond he was con-
stantly "on the run" in Virginia and often in other states.
Nearly every Sunmier he supplied churches in New York. It
was at this time that he spoke at the Social Union in New York
and preached in Brooklyn.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
POPULARITY IN THE NORTH 177
A New York writer, in the National Baptist, says:
"Dr. Hatcher, of Richmond, is the new sensation. He came
unheralded and, at our Social Union, made a charming speech
full of facte, good sense and mother ^t. He preached in
Brooklyn and since then several of our strongest
churches are ef^er to secure him as a supply."
He took part in an important discussion at the Southern
Baptist Convention in Greenville in May. There was a contest
between the cities of Marion and Atlanta and the question at
issue was as to whether the Home Mission Board should be
moved from Marion to Atlanta. Dr. Hatcher favored Atlanta
and in his speech he said "Marion may be a good place to raise
children in but if the Home Mission Board proposes to do bud-
ness for the Lord it ought to be moved to a city like Atlanta."
"There were other speeches on both rades" says Dr. E. E.
Folk, "but I think that the speech of Dr. Hatcher, more than
that of any other one, determined the large majority by which
the Convention voted to move the Bcuird from Marion to
Atlanta."
In the social circle he was usually the central figure. "Noth-
ing ^tasperates people more"Baid Dr. Johnson "than superior
brilliancy of one in conversation. They seem pleased at the
time, but th^r envy makee them curse him in their hearts."
That was true in Dr. Johnson's literary circle where he roared
like a lion and ruled Uke a kii^. Goldsmith, Garrick and the
others in that famous coterie acknowledged the brilliant sway
of the old Philosopher but he knew full well what it meant for
some of them to applaud him in his dashes of wit and curse
him afterwards in their envy. But on the other hand Oliver
Wmdell Holmes was the charm of the social circle as well as its
shinii^ centre.
Dr. Hatcher was an illustration of the fact that one could be
a favcnite in a social group and a beloved companion at the
same time. He did not seek prominence when thrown with
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
178 IN THE SOCIAL CIRCLE
others, but there was in him a sunny dispodtion and a jovial
spirit, and his conversation had such an ori^ality and sparkle
in it that the members of the circle generally found themselves
Uatening when he spoke. "The art of talldng" says Dr. Holmes
"is one of the fine arts, — ^the noblest, the most important and
the most difficult." It was rare that Dr. Hatcher talked sinyily
to be interesting and he did not give the impresmon of aiming at
effect. "Those were feasting hours for me" said a young
preacher referring to certain times when he sat in a social group
in a home in which Dr. Hatcher was visiting.
Dr. M. B. Wharton refers to conversations that several of
us enjoyed in his room in Norfolk with Dr. Hatcher as one of
the group.
"O what a time we hadi He was the autocrat and we listened,
we laughed, sometimes we yelled. It was good for the health
of all; more beneficial in its results than a Summer vacation,
if it could only have been kept up long enough. We were so
sorry when he had to leave. Going about my work I have
frequently yet to stop and laugh at his jokes and the way he
told them. I want him to write a book of his experiences. It
would be the best selling book I know of. He has a v^ of
humor sfi rich as it is rare."
Notwithstandii^ the remark of Mr. Humphrey Wagstaff
that the life of man is too short for a story teller, Dr. Hatcher
would often tell a story, but, — mark it well reader — it was not
the threadbare tale, nor the stock anecdote, nor was he fike
those conversationalists which Collins says remind him of
band organs;^"Wehave heard all their tunes." His stories were
nearly always plucked fresh from his own experience and it
was in telling them that he played the artist. His stories were
pictures with as few strokes as posnble. He frequently criti-
dsed certwn conversationaUsts for th«r tedious drawing out
of thdr illustrations and for allowing their listeners to antici-
pate them.
It is in conversation, more than in public addresses, that the
real man is seen. That indefinable something, which we call
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
IN THE SOCIAL CIRCLE 179
magnetism, belonged to Dr. Hatcher and it made men draw
their chairs around his close enough to hear when he began to
talk. But he was also a good listener. I remember going with
hJT" one evening during his later life into a home with several
invited guests and where the parents had told their son that
Dr. Hatcher waa one of the great conversationalists of the day
and that a rich treat was in store for him. Among the guests
were two much youi^er preachers, who held the center of the
stage durii^ most of the evenii^, keeping up an animated
colloquy, while Dr. Hatcher gave quiet attention with only
ocoaaon incuiaona into the conversation.
A brilliant conversationaUst is difficult to find. "With thee
converdii^, 1 forget all time" says Milton, and Longfellow
declares "a ongle conversation across the table with a wise
man is better than ten years of study of books."
Dr. Hatcher by his patJent drill had guned such a mastery
of words that, not only in public addresses and in literary pro-
ductions, but in ordinary conversation he tised words that clung
to the memory. I Iiave been startled rince his death by the
number of people who remember things he sfud in casual talks
with them. Whenever at this day I meet one who be^ns to
speak of him it seems that nearly always the person says "I re-
member that the first time I ever met Dr. Hatcher he s^d' ' — and
then follows some remark of his that had so impressed the hearer
at the time by it« brightness, or good sense, or humor, or quaint-
ness, that it liad stuck fast io his mind.
A simple and recent illustration of this may here be men-
tioned: At a dining a few days ago a lady, to whom I had
been mtroduced, said: "The first time I met Dr. Hatcher, he
asked me if I was married, and when I told him 'No,' he said,
'Well, there is some blockhead walkii^ around over the earth.' "
Concerning Edmund Byrke Dr. Johnson swd that no man of
sense could meet him under a gateway to avoid a shower without
being convinced that he was the very first man of En^and.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
180 THE CARAVAN
"If he should go into a etAble and talk a few minutes with the
hostlers about horsea they would say, 'We have had an extra-
ordinary man here." "Goldsmith wrote like an angel and
talked like poor Poll." Dr. Johnson waa such a belligerent
talker that he brooked no rival; "if his pistol missed fire he
knocked down hia antagonist with the butt of it." Old Thomas
Carlyle, as a conversationalist, was built very much on the
same pattern. He would not only object and question and
contradict, but, ofttimes, with his loud tones and vehement
maouer, would bear down all opposition before him.
During the next Summer Dr. Hatcher gathered a party of
Baptist preachers and laymen for a journey by private con-
veyance across the mountains into Southwest Vir^nia to a
remote sectJon, where the Baptists were scattered and weak.
He styled the party "The Caravan" and they went to attend
the New Lebanon Association. "The Caravan" swd he. . .
"moved out of Glade Spring on the morning of the 23rd of
Ai^ust and turned its face towards the far away bills of Russell"
A jovial party it was as it jolted and laughed its way over the
mountains, and their happy chats and swelling music b^ht-
ened the ride and left their echoes in the vales. At one o'clock
the horses were reined in and the travelers alighted in a grove
of sugar maples.
"A kind old bachelor farmer, Mr. Robert Cummings, had
compas^on on the jaded travelers" swd Dr. Hatcher "and
brought out chairs, glasses and milk and there on the shaded
lawn we had a happy picnic."
The moat interesting aght to him, however, waa the old
man himself, — living alone there in the mountains. He en-
gaged him in conversation, thereby bringing out the fact that
he was unmarried. "Wifeless and alone, the dear old man was"
said Dr. Hatcher "and the bare su^estion of matrimony
crimsoned his cheek with blushes, but the memory of hia hand-
some treatment of the Caravan will henceforth seal my lips,
when I am tempted to cut at the crustmess of old bachelors,
Ae the golden tints of the setting sun were dying into early
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE NEW LEBANON 181
twilight the Caravan swept down the long rocky hills and found
itself in Lebanon."
This visit of the "Brethren from the East" at the New
Lebanon marked an epoch with the httle mountain Association.
Happy hours of fellowship were spent, sermons and addresses
delivered by these brethren and a warm invitation ext^ided to
the New Lebanon brethren to come to the General Association
in BJchmond on the next November and be the guests of
the BJchmond Baptists. But this was not all. Aa the salaries
of the pastors in that mountain section were wofully meager,
arrangements were made for paying their expenses to the
Richmond Convention on the next Fall. Dr Hatcher wrote
in the Herald regarding the Association:
"The Metropolis [Richmond] may look for a stalwart dele-
gation from the New Lebanon and I now bespeak for them
entertainment as cordial and cheerful as that which they have
so nobly extended to the brethren from the East. The New
Lebanon Caravan must have good quarters when it reaches
Richmond."
He was in his element in that moimtfun Association as he
was seeking to make the visit of the Caravan cheering and
helpful to the New Lebanon brethren. Dr. C, L. Cocke wrote
that Dr. Hatcher's sermons and addresses "excited great en-
thu^asm." He sought to strengthen the tie between the Bap-
tists of the Southwest and those of the other section of the
state and in this hope he was not disappointed. This desire to
brii^ the Baptists of different sections to know and love each
other better showed itself also in his attitude towards Ma north-
ern Baptists brethren. It has already been told in these pages how
quick he was to extend the hand of Christian fellowship to his
Northern brethren after the Civil War, with all its bitterness, had
closed. Often in his home he would extend warm-hearted
hospitality to northern visitors in Richmond. On one oc-
casion— ^it roust have been a few years before this time — a
large New England Baptist Excuraon was run into the South. ,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
182 THE BAPTISTS
They stopped over in Richmond and were givm a wdoome
service at the First Baptist Church. The front seata in the
church were reserved for the visitors, in number between sevaify-
five and one himdred. A wonderfully cordial greeting was
accorded to the visitors who expressed their grateful delight
but probably the most striking picture m the sc^ie was that
of Dr. Hatcher standing on the lower platform after one of the
Northern brethren had expressed his amasement and pleasure
at the christian welcome which they were receiving. Dr.
Hatcher lifted his hand in emphatic gesture saying to the New
England brethren in front of him : "If you are surprised at this
demonstration of christian love tor you, our brethren of the
North, let me say to you that there is not a section of Virginia
where you could not be given a amilar expresson of frater-
nity."
One fact that kindled his interest in the people at that as-
sociation in Southwest Virginia was that they were Baptiste.
It is very true that he joined forces with every Protestant de-
nomination and huled their members as his brethren in Christ.
But for his Baptist people, — especially if they were isolated and
beset by hardships and condemned to severe struggling, — he
had a special place in Ms heart. -
"One thing we may be sure of" he once said "the future will
be peopled with Baptists. If the enginery of the past has failed
to exterminate the Baptists in their weakness, now that they
are a great host and the old enginery is out of order, their
worst enemies can hardly expect their extermination.
"Baptists are bound to live; they are on the programme of
the ages and must be on hand to answer. The fact is they
have a large contract on hand. — unfinished business — and they
must stay over and attend to it.
With such an ambition about his denomination he put honor
everwhere upon his Baptist brethren. These country Baptists
touched his heart, — especially their old preachers. He paid
them, at this time, a loving tribute, in the Herald, beginning
with the words:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE OLD PREACHERS 183
"The plain old preacher ia always seen at the District Asso-
ciation."
After writing in kindly fashion about the old man, he thus
continues:
"In a few fleetii^ years his Redeemer will take him home.
Do not tread on him, nor push him coldly aside. When he
oomes give him the best seat; hear him with the best attention
and sladden hia old age with every possible deed of brightnesa
and love."
At one of the Associations this Summer, the followii^ ind-
dent as told by him occured:
"The other day we heard the plEun old man make a speech
at his Association. It was a ru^ed, noisy, stormy speech, —
but it was the best the dear old saint could do. It had the
one sanctifying merit of thorough earnestness. We confess fre
were touched by the spell of his power and forgot the blemishes
that so palpably marked his effort. By accident our eye fell
on a young man, — a prim and starched Collegian, — who has it
in mind to be a minister and we were wounded to find him in a
convulsion of merriment and laughter. He saw nothii^ in the
old brother's tender and earnest manner to attract and move
him."
This paragraph in the Herald had a curious sequel several
month afterwards. One day a young preacher approached
him and said in a somewhat angry tone:
"Dr. Hatcher, you wrote something against me in the
Herald wMch I felt was a personal attack on me."
"Do tell me what it was, my young brother."
"That article you wrote about the young minister whom you
saw laughing at the speech which an old preacher was making."
"Well, did you laugh at the old preacher?"
"Yes, I did, but I meant no harm by it; and beudes I do
not think you ought to have made a public example of me m that
way."
After telling of the above conversation, Dr. Hatcher thus
concluded, "We had only to say to the angry Collegian that
he was not the man to whom we referred."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
184 DYING AS A BEAST
He loved young preachers but to the old he extended tever-
eutial aad affectionate treatment. If the roll could be called
of the old preachers in Virginia who were brought in touch with
him during their later years, I believe their testimony would be
unanimous that in William E. Hatcher they found a kindly and
filial consideration that made them often lean upon him and
that always made him a welcome visitor for them in Asaocia-
tional gatherings, in their home circles, or wherever they might
meet.
One day, during the Summer while riding on the cars, "a
hard cold faced man, with a cuttii^, bitter voice" came across
the car and sat down by him and drew him into a chat. He was
always glad of a neighborly conversation, while traveling on
the trfun, but the look and manner of this man repelled him.
"I have lived on four continents, "sud he, with an fur of
bravado "and I have seen the world on every side and I have
found that there is no honor among men and no virtue among
women."
"May I ask what is your reU^ous belief?" ventured Dr.
Hatcher.
"I believe that the Bible is a fraud and that there is nothing
beyond the grave."
"Do you expect.to perish at death as a common beast?"
"Yea."
"Ah well" replied Dr. Hatcher "If you expect to die as a
beast, I cannot find fault if you live as a beast and if you think
men and women are as soulless as a brute I cannot see why you
should ever have supposed that there could be any honor
among menor virtue in women."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XVII
1882-1883.
PASTORAL TiaiTS AND PASTOHAL EXPERIENCES. TRIP TO TEXAS
AND MEXICO. DEATB OP THE TWIN3. THE CABAVAN.
Oq his retum, each Fall, from his Summer rovings he seemed
to leap to his pastoral tasks with a new enthusiaBm. "Capital
days are these for pastoral visiting" he writes on Oct. 5th. "It
is indeed a luxury to be abroad in this bracing Autumnal air."
He ^ves in another place a breezy sketch of scmie of bis trials
' in pastoral visiting :
"We know what it is to bang and rattle and wut at the front
door and after so long a time ta have the woman open the door
and say with a light laugh that she heard the noise but thought
it was Carlos which is one of the smartest dogs in the world
trying to get in to the house. We know what it is to stand at
the front gate with a big-tooth old growler on the inade and
the woman cry out from the second story window, 'Why dont
you come in. I hardly think the dog will bite.' We know what
it is to come into the parlor and have a little black terrier get
under our chair, bark and nibble at our calves while the woman
of the house says, 'Why, Tip; why dont you stop, you are real
bad today.' AU this and more of hardship and cruelty we have
borne in the discharge of pastoral duty and we are willing to
stand the ills which the future may bring, but there is one depth
of degradation to which we will not go. Women may have
their pet dogs if they will. They may bring them into the
parlor and we will be silent. They may hold them in their
laps and hug and kiss them as they choose and we will be quiet.
They may take their canine darlmgs with them on the streets
and even to church and we will be tranquil and sober. But
we draw the line deep and sharp on pet dogs. We will not
186
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
186 DR. W. W. LANDRUM
descend to the depths of c&joUng and careesiug a pet dog. On
that point we are fixed. Pet doge are epoiled, conc^twl and
ever prone to excessive self assertion. They look upon human
people as creatures deagned to wait upon and provide for
them. They always think they are superior to their own and
some serious persons declare that in exceptional cases they have
a good ground for thinking so. We will pet children, admire
new houses and new furniture and rave appropriately over
pictures and flowers. We will hear the oldest daughter play all
of her exerdses on the piano and hsten to young John repeat
his pretty httle speech which his m^den aunt taught him. We
will at the risk of dyspepsia eat the jelly, taste the fruit cake
and stfun our fingers with home made candy. Indeed we are
io for the war and are willing to go as far as the next man in
making it bright and agreeable to the fastidious and exacting
siiintB of the earth, but there is a limit at which we put our
foot down and defy all of the dog worshippers of the earth to
shake ua. Be it known that when the Lord called ua to preach
he did not mention the petting of pet dogs as one of our official
duties."
A new friend came into his life at this time, — Dr. W. W.
Landrum — who became Dr. McDonald's successor at the
Second Baptist Church.
A Welcome Service was ^ven Dr. Landrum, at which Dr.
Hatcher deUvered an address to the new pastor, which was not
only published but awakened con^derable comment. "On hear-
ing it," said Dr. Landrum, "I determined to accep tit and live
by it. . . It ought to have been published in a book. "The
address began with the words:
"In coming from Ai^usta to Richmond you have changed
your field, but not your work."
He closed as follows:
"You must pardon me for saying that it is with something
of sadness that I see you take the place held for five years by my
ever cherished and beloved McDonald. What a blessed and
helpful friend he was to me. My soul has wept tears of blood
at his going from me and I have not been able to pass this
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SOCUL ELEMENT 187
church once he went -without finding a cloud of sorrow gathering
over my heart. But, my brother, I open my arms to you and
BO far as I can I am ready to help you."
His speaking engagementa were varied. A Convention at
this time secured him for a twenty minutes speech. The
president announced: "We will now have an address by Dr. W.
E. Hatcher, on The social element in Christianity.' "
Coming to the front. Dr. Hatcher began :
"Mirabile DictuI What a colossal theme! I have the social
element in me, but I cannot prove it by becoming familiar
with this far-epreading topic within the fleeting period of
twenty minutes and I most meekly implore our grave president
not to dock me for the time already spent in annoimcing what
I am to talk about. I must commit my frail bark to the un-
rertain seas, bidding adieu to illustrations and punctuation
marks, steering straight for the main point and not knowing
what moment I may fall beneath the blow of imfriendly fate."
Regarding the social element he said: "It is in Christianity,
but it is not ChriBtianity. The Social element is the servant
of the King. It is the porter-girl who serves at the gato. She
may deck herself in bright adorning and serve wi£ winning
courtesiee, but we must see that strangers do not come to court
the maid rather than honor the king."
In February he spoke at the Baptist Congress in Lynchburg
and made an amunng comment on a speech by Dr. J. W. M.
W a who had said that preachers ought to put more
variety in their order of exenuses in thwr Sunday services
and by such changes in the programmee fool the devil. Dr.
Hateher, after remarking that a good nap in church was better
than beii^ kept awake by the jiggling antice of a sensational
preacher then took up the Doctor's sugxestion about outwit-
ting the devil and said that while there were many hard things ,
that might be siud against His Satanic Majesty, yet th^ surely
must admit one thing and that was that the devil was no fool.
The manner in which he made this last remark brought down
the house.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
18« THE WRONG TROUSERS
A new auit of clothes was presented to him by his ladies.
Mrs. B. B. Van Buren, who was president of the organization
that presented him with the suit, says:
"On the Sunday after Dr. Hatcher had received the suit
I was mttJi^ in a pew with Mrs. T , a member of the
society, who had been active in raiai^ the money for the pas-
toral gift and she naturally felt great interest in it. When Dr.
Hatcher came into the pulpit that morning he had on the new
coat but he wore trousers of a different make. She began to
twist and frown and seemed restless and uncomfortable and
indignanUy whispered to me:
" 'Just look at Dr. Hatcher; I dont believe he has on the
trousers of our new suit.' No sooner was the service ended
than this lady, who was a devoted friend and admirer of her
pastor, hurried up to the pulpit platform where the pastor was
busy shaking hands. She stood there in the group of people
eyeing him so curiously — especially the lower half of h'TP —
that he drew back and began to eye her saying 'Well, what
are you scanning me so closely for? What is the trouble?'
She answered with a show of impatience: 'Why, Doctor, you
have not got on our trousers.' 'Your trousers?' he replied
with a burst of surprise. 'Mercy alive woman and do the very
trousers that I wear belong to you?' "
During the Winter and Spring much of his time was occu-
pied in speaking, writing, attending conferences, committee
meetings, etc., and alt this was in addition to his mul-
titudinous pastoral duties. A trip to Waco, Texas, in May,
to the Southern Baptist Convention made a sunny break in his
crowded life. One day in the Convention Dr. arose
and Bud in substance: "Bro. Moderator, I move that it be
declared the rule of this Convention that no collection shall be
taken at the meetings of this Convention."
Dr. Hatcher arose to oppose the motion and Dr. E. E. Folk
thus describes the incident:
"It was late at night when Dr. Hatcher got the floor in
oppomtion to the res<)lution, but he held every member of the
Convention in his seat until the close of his speech. In all my
life I think I have never heard a speech quite so full of wit and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TEXAS AND MEXICO 189
humor and ridicule and sarcasm. The Convention was con-
stantly convulsed with laughter and completely converted to
his vay of thinking. At the conclu»on of his speech, the senti-
ment of the Convention was evidently so overwhelming in
oppootion to the resolution that Dr. N arose and
asked to withdraw it. This triimiph of oratory was all the
more remarkable because Dr. Hatcher was in the wroi^, as
every one since, includii^ himself, has come to recognize."
His Waco visit added a bright new chapter to his life and also
put Mexico on hia programme.
From Waco he went with an excursion party of delegates,
into Mexico and upon his return to Richmond he wrote about
his journey and his pen must have been in playful mood.
"Be it known to all swelling tourists" he writes "that we have
had a mild case of foreign travel. True, we did not go far,
nor Ertay long, nor see very much, nor get much ori^nal matter
out of the Mencans. But this matters little. We have been
abroad. We crossed the Rio Grande and tasted the rapture
of seeing another country. It makes us feel expansive; it
lifts us out of the untraveled herd and gives us a name and a
rank among the great. No more will we sit, a wild-eyed simple-
ton, to admire the pompous urs of the man who has been. If
we cannot cream our public addresses with 'When I was in
Rome,' we can at least, hereafter, say with lofty majesty,
'Difring my somewhat extended sojourn in Monterey,' and
we fancy that that will m^htily thrill the popular ear."
The Texas-Mexico trip was of a vari^^ted hue, and, as he
Biud, "the bitter mingled with the sweet and trials jostled with
our pleasures." For example, he wore a beaver hat, — but let
him tell of the tragedy:
"It was a new hat; a costly beaver laid in for Waco; — the
climax of fashion and fondly prized. That hat and Dr. Chaplin
undertook to occupy the same seat in the car at the same
moment. When we reached the scene Chaplin was serene but
the hat was invinble. A crumbled wreck was our headgear
for the rest of the way. But we never blamed the hat."
Other disasters were lurking for him on Mexican soil, one of
which was his arrest by a Mexican ofBcer.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
190 DEATH OF ELSIE
"But the crifflH of our misfortunes came" said he "when we
fell a victim in the hands of the Mexican law with the tawny
dwarf of a Mexican soldier escorting ub through a public
market. The ground of our abridged liberty was an ^eged
crookedness on our part in the purchase of a twenty five cent
basket. We are pleased to report that we confronted our
accuser and retired from the scene of the conflict with our
basket swii^ing in peaceful triumph at our side. This did not
prevent those venerable knights of the pencil, Col. Lawton of
the Index and Dr. Caperton of the Western Recorder from
laugbii^ mightily at us In our calamity. Nor did it clip the
pinions of the fast fiying rumor that a Richmond editor had
been before a Monterey court,— which same thing was happily
untrue. We give it as our experience that it is a perilous thing
for a man to buy baskets in an unknown tongue. We bought
one and do not wish to increase our stock."
At bis ^gbth pastoral anniversary in May hia diurch mem-
bership was announced as being 928. He had at this time
eight children — Eldridge, May, One, Kate, Elizabeth, Edith
and the twins, Brantly and Elde, who were just one year
old.
The Summer brought a cutting sorrow for him. He had
many hopes wr^ped up in little Brantly and Elme, With the
Summer's beat came rackness and finally the little invalids
were hurried off to the mountains, but at New Market, in
Nelson County, they were stopped and the father was sent for.
"At the dawn of Saturday morning" he writes "we found one
dead, another extremely low and the rest stricken and crushed.
Truly, a day of deep shadow that one might pray to foi^t.
And yet it must abide in our memory, not only because hal-
lowed by a sacred sorrow, but because brightened by the beau-
tiful deeds of others."
It was a mournful journey that he made to Richmond where,
in Hollywood, by lantern light, and accompanied by Dra.
Landrum, Hawthorne and Shipman, the little body of Elme
was buried. Sad of heart, he turned his face towards the
mountfun to resume his Sununer travels.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEATH OF BRANTLY 191
He met a gentleman with whom he was destined to be linked
in royal friendBhip, Judge Jonathan Haralson and the meeting
place was the Blue Sldge SpiingB. They were together for
several days at the Springs and he seemed hke a boy with a new
treasure. They played ten pins, took walks and spent many
hours in conversation.
He was still indulging golden dreams about Uttle Brantly, — '
about his developement into boyhood and youth. But a bitter
grief was in store for him. He thus writes:
"That night we slept in Liberty — No we did not sleep but
through the weary ni^t we lay with a new wound in our heart,
askit^; for a helping smile from a chastening father. Another
light on our path had gone out — another sweet hope was dead
and in the gray dawn of the morning we quit Bedford with
scarcely a thought of all that it contains of all that is precious
to us. A- day's lone journeying, and at eventide we stood beside
the tiny white coffin in wluch our baby was asleep,"
At the side of Elsie, in Hollywood, they laid Brantly.
He must bury bis sorrow in his work and so in a short wliile
he turns his face again towards the mountains.
The reader remembers the journey of the "Caravan" of the
previous Summer when Dr. Hatcher and a party of preachers
and laymen traveled into the mounting of Southwest Virginia
to carry greetings to their brethren of the Lebanon As-
Bodation. It had been detnded to repeat the experiment and to
organize a larger Caravan for the present Summer. Among
those who joined the party were Drs. J. L. M. Curry, E. C.
Dargan, C. L. Cocke, A. E. Owen and others, and it must have
produced a little sensation in that Lebanon Association when
these brethren from other portions of the state drove into thdr
midst.
From Glade Spring he writes to his wife on Aug 17th:
"I am now in J. R. Harrison's study and Dr. is
preachii^ in the church very near to me. He is raving like a
madman. His voice is broken and he is ranting his life out of
iiyGoot^lc
192 THE CARAVAN
him. D has been doing some moet violent ranting also
and even S has been on a snort and much to bis own
regret. He says that he is going to cultivate a cooler maimer.
I am grieved and shocked by the useless and graUng vehemence
of our speakers. It is not the way to preach the gospel."
During the Association Dr. Hatcher preached and, at the
close, an old sister expressed her elation over the sermon by
indulging in a shout. Some of the delegates of the Caravan
thought they discovered some humor in the episode and
gave the following accoimt of it:
"After Dr. Hatcher's sermon a collection was taken and the
collectors reported that when the hat was passed to the lady
who bad m&de so much noise over the sermon she gave not a
penny."
The Caravan considered this a great joke on Doctor Hatcher
who rephed:
"If it could be shown that the woman had any money and
refused to give, the caee would be suggestively melancholy,
but it may have been that she had not even two mites."
Sunday marked the end of their stay at the Association.
"After preaching on Sunday morning" he writes "we set
our faces eastward ahd after a crushing drive we reached
Abii^don several hours in the night. Near the edge of the town
and beneath the gleaming stars we came 'to a mournful pause —
shook hands and adjourned the Caravan. Its broken fragmoits
scattered away in the deep darkness, each going his own chosen
path. In company with Owen and Kincannon we caught a pasa-
mg train and at midnight were in Bristol.
"Adieu, adieu to the Caravan of 1883. It is numbered with
the happy thii^ that were. Even now ita members are scat-
tered afar and will not all meet again beneath the silver mi^iles.
But are there not trees, on some far off pifun, where we shall
meet agiun? Amen, so let it be."
To his wife he writes, "I was never so sad as I have been nnce
Brantly's death. I did not love him any more than I did £lae
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JUDGE HARALSON 193
but I had hopes of raising him. My heart has been Bore." He
returned to the Blue Bidge Springs for a few days and renewed
his friendsbip with judge Haralson, concerning whom he writes
in the Herald:
"God has given us many kind and loving friends and we can
not cease to be mteful for them but we have not one in all the
earth whom we love with a more clinging and trustful friend-
ship than the Hon. Jon. Haralson of Selma, Alabama. He
pleased us even unto vanity when he told us that he had been
watching the trams every day for a week in the hope of pulhng
us off the cars as we came back from our mountain rambles.
Not in appearance, but in voice, movement, spirit and general
loveliness of character, he constantly reminds us of that other
jewel of our heart. Dr. Henry McDonald. If the Judge will
move to Virginia the Herald will nominate him for Gover-
He attended the Valley Assodation at the Mill Creek church
in Botetourt County and here he had a little experience with
a mountain boy that meant much for the boy. This lad's name
was Robert Dc^an, who, at this writing, is pastor of the
Puiton Avenue Baptist Church of Baltimore City. On a
Summer's day in 1883, in company with a few friends, he walked
across the mountain to attend for the first time a Baptist
Association. It was & great occasion for him and he thus
describes his visit:
"Dr. Hatcher fairly charmed me by his eloquence and
sparkling witticisms as he spoke in behalf of the Religious
Herald [of which he was one of the editors.] I think I gave him
my last dollar on a subscription to the Herald as I was anxious
to read anything that such a man would write.
"After the adjournment we had gathered at a little ndlroad
station near by. I was anxious to hear these learned men talk,
so I stood at a respectful distance hstening to the conversation
which was interspersed with amusing jokes.
"While thus engaged, Dr. Hatcher left his companions, came
to me and said: 'Boy, what is your name?' I was abashed and
flattered that this great man should speak to me or take any
notice of me. In a kind and gentle voice he asked me many
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
194 INSPIRING A MOUNTAIN BOY
questions which I tried to answer to my best sdvaDtsge. As the
trun rolled up he took me by the hand, looked kind^ into my
face and said: 'I am your friend and can help you in securing
an education if you need me.' Then placing his baud t^iderly
on my shoulder he said 'Boy, I hope God mR make a preacher
of you some day.'
"ThoBc words sounded to me like a prayer. They awakened
in my soul a latent hope of something of which I bad scarcely
dared to dream before. The weight of ihat band sent an im-
pulse into my young hf e that has remained throughout the pass-
ing years. I was the happiest boy alive when about one year
later, I wrote my name in the matriculation books at Roanoke
College."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XVm.
COTTAOB roa OOUNntT PASTOE. a CITT PAffTOBATE. CONTENTION
AT BALTmOSB. OK TBB WING. "ALOKQ THE BAPTIST LINEs"
His vacation aeason, — so full of lights and shadows — melts
away and he finds himself in Bicfamond at the gateway of
another pastoral year. He preaches on "A Strike for Strangers"
using the text in Matthew 22:9: "Go ye into the parting of the
highways and as many as ye find bid to the marriage feast."
He set his heart upon securing a home for a comitiy pastor
whom he knew was strugglii^ upon a meager salary. He
wrote as follows in the Herald of Sept. 20th.
"Here is a pathetic item which we beg that all cold and nar-
row people will not read. They will not enjoy it and we prefer
that they will jump over it and try the next paragraph.
"There is a certain Baptist preacher in Virginia who sur-
rendered at Appomattox Court House with General Lee in
1865, after four years in the war, and who came home ragged
and without a penny in his pocket. From that day he has
been a country pastor, str\^gling along on a small salary —
barely enoi^ to keep him above the waves of debt."
He theff proceeds to m^e an appeal for funds to purchase a
Cottage for the pastor.
Every few weeks thereafter he would drop into his columns a
little jotting about the "Cottage", and the result was that the
^^>eal was heard, the contributions flowed in and at this date,
Nov. 20th, 1914, this same preacher, — now too ^ed and infirm
for the wori£ of the pastorate which he last winter re^pied —
195
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
196 THE METROPOLITAN PASTORATE
is «tiU living in the same "Cottage" which sprang into He and
beauty through the kind efforts of hia friemd, Dr. Hatcher.
Once more it must be mentioned that the "disturbing
element" in his church were still on his track and tb^r
opposition would often be discussed around our fanuly
fireside, after the children were in bed — though I know one
child who often lingered aroimd the hearth stone and with
youthful indignation beard father and mother talk about the
But be seemed confident that God had his work in hand.
His life at this 1»me was crowded with tasks of preaching,
visiting, lecturing, dedicatii^ churches, attending committee
and Board meetings, — but how vain to attempt to catalogue
all his goings and all his labors. He thus refers to the whirl
and rush of a city pastorate :
"There is something in the glare, conspicuity and glamour
of a metropoUtan pastorate, but, Oh, the fret, the strain, the
death of it all."
He is sounding an alarm to those young preachers who
despise the small and unshowy pastorates and chafe and strug-
gle for the prominent city churches:
"These high place&"Baid he "are never wisely sought. They
are tolerable only when they seek the man and even when they
are held by an overstr^n and lost by a breakdown. . . .
Do not clamor for the bights; they are cold and shppery. If
they need you up there they will call down for you and then
you may go up, but do not be caught waiting at the bottom."
"Now churches are institutions Once it was
a sennon or two, on Sunday, a tew calls during the week, but
now it is services, committeea, societies, clubs, entertainments,
culture or literary classes, missions, charities, or what not
almost every night. To guard, foster and develope these is the
complicated care of the pastor. . . . His duties, Uke the
merdes of God, are renewed unto him every morning and
pursue him every night in his dreams.
"The day for the long haired, isolated, wild eyed preacher is
past. It requires a real human being to be a preacher in these
D.qit'.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS SUNNY NATURE 197
"Gentlemen beware of that invisible jury which will ever have
your case in hand and is liable to bring in its verdict any mght
while you are asleep and you may wake up next morning to
receive your fate,"
NotwithBtanding his heavy stnuns his cheerfubiess never
foraook him. His simny nature showed itself in his counten-
ance, his conversation and in his varied activities. I remember
that (mce, when as a boy driving with him in the bu^y, and
mymind was dwelling on the subject of "happiness" I asked
him. "Pope,, are you perfectly happy?" "Happy?" he sud,
S8 if be was hardly acquainted with the word. "Why my hap-
pinees comes from my work. If I am doing that, I am happy."
His words and his manner of uttering then dropped a new idea
into the mind of the boy at his ade who up to that time had
never thought of "work" and "happiness" as living together
on such close terms. Says Carlyle "The only happiness a
brave man ever troubled himself with asking much about was
happiness enough to get his work done." Carlyle went at his
tasks with grim ferocity, but, alas, he had not the christian
hope to light his pathway as he toiled. It was said of Cromwell
however that "hope shone like a fiery pillar in him when it had
gone out in all others." The sun of Dr. Hatcher's happiness
rarely sank below the horizon.
"Away with those fellows who go howling through life and
all the while pasong for birds of Paradise", says Beecher . "He
that cannot laugh and be gay should look to himself." It was
this same preacher who said that some people go through life
as a band of muMc passes down the street flin^ng melody and
gladness on all sides. One of Dr. Hatcher's members wrote
him "The very sight of you on the street at times when I have
been burdened with care has been a blesmng to me."
He drew happiness not only from his work, but he seemed
to find it everywhere: "I have often said" he remarked "that
my life has been a succesdon of pleasant surprises." His jovial
joints brightened hia home. It was about this time that he had
■evBral Richmond College students living in his home and the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
198 FAILING ON A SERMON
genial fun around the table mingled vith his words of sobers
ness and counsel. One of the young men, Rev. P. G. Elsom,
in speaking of how Dr. Hatcher helped him by hia "cheerful-
ness" sfud: "He could bring a smile to a tombstone. He gath-
ered preachers often at his home and the merriment be would
create was a feast to ua boys." Dr, C. H. Dodd happily de-
scribed him as "The man who inade the years his friend."
The following editorial jotting from his pen seems to indicate
that one of his sermons at this time had a narrow escape from
shipwreck:
"It is ea^ to fail on a thoroughly prepared sermon. A head-
ache, or a cryii^ child, or a drowsy deacon, or a sultry morning,
or a cold house, or an overheated bouse, or an empty house,
or a bad liver, or a sleepless Saturday night, or a hoarse voice,
or a giumblii^ tooth, or too much breakfast, or a hitch in the
sin^ng, or a squad of giggling young people in the gallery, or a
ffunting woman, or a rattling window, or a few ostentatiously
late comers, or a blundering sexton, or an unmanageable cravat,
or the ringing of the fire bells, or a thunder storm, or sevenil
other things, needless now to enumerate, may leap in upon the
poor vessel of clay and knock the very marrow out of his sermon.
In such cases let preachers have common sense and they may
rise superior to such annoyances."
He delivered an address at the Social Union in Baltimore
on April 10th on "The Soutiiem Baptist Ccmvention", and one
month later in that same city, he attended the meetii^ of this
Convention where we find him engaged in his favorite practice
of lifting a brother over a rough place.
"At the conclusion of the evening service, Dr. W. E, Hatcher
asked that a collection be taken to enable brother Langley to
build a house of worship on his mission field in Florida; it was
done and a iiandsome sum rwsed."
He also spoke in the Baltimore Convention on "The Church
Buildii^ Fund" and Dr. Edward Bright, the editor of the New
York Examiner, wrote that the address was "as fine a specimen
of terse and vigorous English as he had ever heard."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TAFFY 199
Dr. Bret's visit to the ConventioD had an amuaing sequel.
It provoked a little editorial tilt between Dr. L and
Dr. Hatcher, which came about as follows:
Dr. Bright was an eminent Baptist layman from the North
and consequently the Convention in Baltimore accorded him
an exceedingly fraternal welcome. The cordiality of the wel-
come touched bis heart and his response was couched in warm,
kindly tonea.
There was one gentleman however, — Dr. L , editor
of the J and M , a Northern publication, —
who, as he read the account of the fraternal incident, thought
that Dr. Bright's response to the Convention was "overdone," —
at any rate he said in his paper that Dr. Bright, in his speech
to the Southern brethren, was feeding them on taffy.
Dr. Hatcher read the comment and he made the following
response in the Herald:
"Dr. L intimates that Dr. Bright fed the Southern
Baptists on "taffy",
"Taffy! Let u8 pause for reflection. What is taffy? Unluckily
the word is not in our copy of Webster's Unabridged and so we
are left at a disadvantage in deciding exactiy what Dr. L
is talking about. We happen to mow that taffy is a con-
fectioner's term and means molasses candy. Does Dr. L
mean that i)r. Bright came down to Baltimore with his pockets
loaded with molasses candy and scattered it around among
Southern Baptists. Dr. Bright did not do it. We asked
"Langley [the Virginia correspondent of Dr. Bright's paper]
if Dr. Bright gave him any molasses candy and he smacked
his lips significantly and said that be did not. If Dr. Bright
did not give Langley any then he did not have any. That is
perfectly clear to any rational mind. So the theory of Dr.
Bright having had molasses candy concealed about his person
tumbles to the ground.
"But another point. When Dr. L charges that Dr.
Bright fed Southern Baptists on taffy that is equal to saying
tiiat we poor Southern simpletons unsuspectingly swallowed
the saccharine dose. Does he mean that Southern Baptists are
fond of flattery, or else that we have not sense to know when
s man is flatt^ing us. Come, now, this matter is growing
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
200 NINTH ANNIVERSARY
serious. Dr. L swings a two edged sword which,
while aimed at Dr. Bright, pierces us. Before he knows it he
will hurt somebody.
"We beg Dr. L not to be rough on Dr. Bright. He
may not be successful in running so good a paper as the J
and M , but he is a christifm brother, and we must be
kind to him- Taffy may not be a first class luxury but it is
sweeter than vinegar,"
Upon his return from the Convention he celebrated his
ninth pastoral anniversary and Rev. G. F. Williams thus
describes the manner in which he spent the day:
"Dr. Hatcher preached his anniversary sermon in the morn-
ing and received floral and other tributes of the affection and
good wishes of his people. After dinner he visited among them
till three o'clock; he then attended the annual meeting of his
church, to be gratified by the showing of remarkable progress
in most departments of their church work. At five o'clock he
conducted a funeral service. At eight o'clock he preached for
the Fulton Baptist Church on the opposite side of the city
from his home; at ten o'clock he reached his home and did
important writing for two hours before retiring.
"Dr. Hatcher has grown a trifle grey and this is not to be
wondered at if his Sundays genersJly are as busy as bis an-
niversary day."
His craving for the refreshment of country air and country
people shows itself in the following:
"It was just MX o'clock on Friday afternoon of last week
that we rapped at the door of our saintly and excellent ^ster,
Mrs. Sarah Sydnor of Hanover County. We drove out on the
purely selfish errand of basking beneath the shade of her kingly
oaks, breathing the pure air, escaping the remorseless heats of
the city and having a quiet evening in her lovely home.
"Oh, what a bright eyed and gladsome welcome she gave us.
How rich and ready was her hospitality. To her and that
matchless domestic philosopher, Miss Francis, we make our
most grateful obeisance."
Here is a vivid little picture of one of the multitudinous
experiences that befell him as he went to and fro over the
ooOntry:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MOUNTAINEERS 201
"On oor way to the Potomac AflBotnation" he writes: "we
stq>ped from the New York trtun at eleven and a half o'clock
at night and there stood beneath the gas light the towering
form of O. F. Flippo, Jr. He had come out at that drowsy hour
to take charge of this begrimed pilgrim. Upon reaching the
parsonage, we found the old gentleman — that is, the senior
Oscar — ^with his head out at the second Etory window shouting
with charming vociferousnesB, 'Come in brother; come in and
up. Glad, glad to see you.'
"What was yet more amazing, he escorted us to the supper
room and forced us to partake of a rich mid-night festival.
Flippo's house is a happy retreat for a hut^ry man — but not
so attractive a place for a sleepy man — ^for who can sleep when
he has Flippo at his best to t^k to him. We had a pleasant
visit, but, even at the risk of loEOi^ FUppo's favor, we boldly
declare that we did not have as happy a visit bb we might have
had and would have had if Mrs. Flippo had been at home. Her
prtuse, as a pastor's wife, is on many Ups and it was a sore regret
that we did not see her."
After preaching in New York he attended the Albemarle
Assodation in Amherst County and in a complimentary
letter in the Herald about the Amherst people he referred to
them as "stalwart mountaineers". They resented the name
"mountaineer," as applied to themselves, and Dr. Hatcher,
upon hearing of it, repUed in the Herald :
"A brother told us that some of the Amherst people were
offended with us because we spoke of them as "mountaineers."
Instead of begging their pardon we will make one remark. We
have never had much to boast of in connection with our own
history; not noble ancestry, nor wealth, nor genius, nor fame,
but one thing we have ever loved to boast of and that is that we
were bom in the motmtains of Virginia. We count it an honor
that we are a mountfuneer and never weary of upbraiding our
ftieods who were so unaccountably foolish as to be bora in the
fiat lowlands of Virginia. As & fact we esteem our visit to
Amherst as among the most charming incidents of our Summer
campaign and we would indeed be a monster of ingratitude
if we had written one word to wound those who treated us
with such delightful consideration."
From point to point in the state he dashed but there was
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
202 ALONG THE BAPTIST LINES
one little visit, only a few moments in loigUi, that stood out
in a class by itself. It was a stop that he made at the mountain
stream in Bedford in which, as a boy, he was baptized.
"At ^ght o'clock that morning" he wrote "in company with
brother M. C. Jadd, we left Liberty in an open carriage and
as we sped along the old familiar road our memory was bu^
with the events of other days and our eyes were feastii^ upon
the ever shifting scene of beauty that spread before us, The
day was faultle^y bright and refreshing and the hills of old
Bedford were never decked in fairer robes of loveliness than on
ttiat morning. As we crossed Otter Creek — within a few steps
of the spot where in our boyhood we were buried in baptisn
with our Kedeemer — ^we could not resist the impulse to alight
from the carriage and dip our brow once more in its clear and
placid current. Ah, that ht^jpy baptismal day. Can we ever
forget it."
Thus his Summer days passed by and September found him
again in Richmond. The scattered family came trooping back,
the children were equipped for school and '608 W. Grace' was
open once more for foumness.
His Summer rambles always strengthened the tie between the
country people and his own church in Bichmond, and his
sermons and addresses during the Summer generally resulted
in requests to him for return visitB in the Fall or Winter months.
He wrote every week in the Herald one or two columns of
paragraphs under the heading, "Along the Bi^tist Lines."
These paragraphs told of Baptist happenings in the state .
While he aimed to make his news items interesting for all readers
yet he gave the preference to those items that would cheer, or
stimulate, the workers "along the Baptist lines." He delighted
to mngle out pastors who were toiling in lonely places, or were
tug^ng at difficult tasks with but little reward, and bring
them into his columns with words of love and praise. His com-
ments never dropped into flattery, nor fulsome praise, and he
sought to pay tributes only to those who merited them.
But here and there a reader would become disgruntled. A
gentleman wrote him a letter which ran aubstaatially as follows:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SHOT-GUN POLICY 203
"Dear Db. Hatchbb:
"You fill your columns with too much prtaae of preachers.
You give UB only one dde of the atuation. You overdo the
matter and ought not to praise so many people."
Dr. Hatcher accepted the chsllepge and announced in the
Herald of Oct. 30th that he would discontinue his pnuse of the
brethren and would in the future seek to gather gloomy items
for his columns. He told of the critical letter which he had
rec^ved, asked the public to send him only dark and doleful
tidings. How did the experiment work?
He answered this question in the Herald of Nov. 6th :
"After duly nerving our mind up to the shot-gun policy and
getting on the war punt we sat down to report all ^e crashes
collisons and etplo^ons up and down the Baptist lines. But,
as we dipped our pen in fire and began our deadly buoness,
trouble set in upon us like a tornado from every quarter. We
could not make any headway. Everybody seemed to turn
agunst us. Our bloodiest items perished on our hands.
"First of all, we made a savage drive at Dr. Pollard, be^n-
ning our item thus;
" 'A perverse world will gloat in demonical rapture to hear
that the pastor of Leigh Street church [Dr. Pollard] is in very
bad health and happily growii^ worse eveiy day' — when in
walked Pollard with the ^ow of health upon his face. So that
paragraph faded out.
"Then we fancied that we had mortal aim upon another of the
Richmond pastors and were shaping our thoughts thus; 'We'
hasten with savage joy to record the fact that brother so and
BO made a total and unmitigated break-down in his last Sunday
night's sermon and is now on the jagged borders of despair:
when in came a brother who had heard the sermon and declared
that it was truly a masterly sermon. Away went another item,
"Next, we thought we had a safe case on brother J. M. Pilcher
of Petersburg which was to go thus; 'We are pleased to say that
brother J. M. Pilcher ia suffering with a wounded thumb, which
is steadily growing worse and worse, much to the satisfaction
of a gainsaying world' when in strode the identical Pilcher,
serenSy announdng that his finger was on the highway to
recovery. Thereupon item No.3 ranished. Despuring of
findii^ such news as we had promised in Richmond, we turned
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
204 A GOOD-NATURED BANTER
to our mountainous pile of correspondence but it gave UB no
consolation. Not a paragrapb of the sulphurous sort could ve
pick up. One man was jubilantly reporting a great revival in
hJB church, another was telling of the conversion of Mb son.
In short we had not a dot of bad news and we did have budgets
of juicy and cheery items. What could we dot We had no
means for starting an establishment for the manufacture oi
dreadful tidings. We could only publish such things as were
sent us. Such being the state of the case, we are constrained
to withdraw the promise of last week and do as we have always
done."
One day he and Dr. , a promment minister of Qte
Disciples denomination were in a store together and Dr.
called out sayii^:
"Dr. Hatcher, ^ve me a good text for next Sunday. I have
been so busy that I have not had time to find a one.
"I have a text that would be particularly suitable for you"
rephed Dr. Hatcher. 'Here it is: — 'Ye blind guides which
strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.' "
"That's a very good text" said Dr. "but why do
you say it is specially a good text for me?"
"Because you have swallowed "A Campbell" replied Dr.
Hatcher, with a good natured smile.
It was his custom every Christmas day to visit Um aged
and the poor of his congregation.
He was walking aloi^ the street in Richmond <Hie day whoi
a merchant — a gentleman with whom he maintained very frigidly
relations and often indulged in bantering pleasantries — drove
up to the curb atone in his buggy and called out: "Doctor, jump
in and I'll i^ve you a ride the rest of the way," to which Doc-
tor Hatcher replied as he cwtinued his steps, scarcely looking
up:
"No, I thank you; I'm in a hurry."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XIX
VSIENDHHIP. b. L. MOODY. VISITS TO THE OOONTRY. CHAaLHB
H. PRATT. AIDINQ STUDENTS
1884-1885
One of the donuiuat truta of his life was bis pasfflon for
friendship. It was not merely his love that be bad for men
as his brothera, but there waa a select circle to whom ^e doors
of hia heart were flung mde open and all that he had was theirs.
"In every aoul" he wrote "there is an inner court — ^tbe temple
where selfhood unv^ itself and invites the entrance of friend-
ship. There f uth knows no doubt, love casta out fear and soul
holds fellowship with soul." He had no patience with the
motto "treat a friend as if he might become your enemy" His
career cannot be understood without appreciating what a large
factor in bis life were his friendships. It was in that sacred
realm that his soul was seen at its best and its worst; there, the
true William E. Hatcher stood forth as nowhere else and his
friends looked him Uuough and through and saw him as he
was. There be some, in this day, who discount friendship,
and the public press recently has dropped ai^gestions about
modem ccsiditions making impossible the friendships of older
di^a. Let us not lose our friendships. "True friendship
betweoi man and man" said a wise writer "is infimte and
immortal" and truly has it been styled "the sweetener of
hfe."
He had certain friends to whom he became linked in his
eariy ministry and to them he clui^ with undying devotion
to the ead. Anumg these were Charles H. Ryland, John R.
Ba^, H. H. Wyer, A. E. Owen and others. He had later
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
206 FRIENDSHIP
Mendships with Henry McDonald, W. W. Landrum, T. H.
Pritchard, Robert H. Wmfiee— but it is vun to attempt to
call the toll.
To tear such friendships, as he had with tliese men and others,
out of his life would have been to mangle his ^tire ministry. He
carried l^em in his heart, lived upon thar love, entwined much
of his life around them and drew rich inspiration inan
thdr fellowship. His soul was built for friendship; it had to
. have it and would have died without it.
When he heard that his friend John R. Bagby had been
wounded in the army he set forth to find him and after untold
difficulties in locating and reaching him he found Mm so weak
and helpless that he not only had to shuffle him aboard jolting
cars and uncomfortable conveyances but he had to carry him
on his back for a considerable distance, before he could get him
to his own home where for many weeks he nursed him back
through the different stages of his recovery.
One of Ms richest friendships was that with Dr. Henry
McDontdd. He tells how this friendsMp began at the South-
ern Baptist Convention in Richmond in 1878. He heard Dr.
McDonald make a speech and he says regarding it:
"Candidly speakii^, it was not Ms form, features, argument,
eloquence,— notMng audible, nor visible, that attracted me. The
joy of the hour to me was the discovery of a man. Back of all else
was a personality, so simple, so stately, so tender and so win-
some, that I surrendered on the spot. He touched certain chorda
of my being that had never been swept before. New foimtains
of joy opened in my soul. Without introduction, or apology,
he entered into my life, into the inner court of my being without
knocking at the door, without sending in his card. He was
in liefore I knew it and strangely enough, a room all furnished
and ready, awaited Ms coming.
I knew him instantly, about as well as I ever knew Mm
afterwards."
Side by side they labored as pastors in Richmond for several
years until Dr. McDonald moved to Atlanta. "His departure
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FRIENDSHIP 207
from lUchmood" sud Dr. Hatcher "was like a burial to me.
It did not break our bcmds, but it separated us and the isolation
'which he left behind was an oppresaon. . . S^aration
made no difference. We met in after timea, just as we parted,
and began just where we left off. Our wr&n^ea were Incessant
and while they rattled, they never strained, our bonds." It
was just about this time that he and Dr. McDonald met one
day in the Summer at the Baptist headquarters m New York.
He thus draws the picture:
"While chatting with these brethren, in came that ever
beloved friend of my heart, Dr. Henry McDonald. I did not
salute him with a kiss, though I have seen two cases of mascuhne
kissing during my visit; but I attested my affection for Mc-
Donald by a spontaneous and warmly reciprocated embrace.
We had nearly six hours t^^ether — hours of untold comfort
and strength to me. We loitered aloi^ the streets rode the
cars, crossed the ferries, pretended t« see the sights, but to me
the sght of McDonald's face was a vision of beauty that made
New York stale and insipid."
At a later time he tells of another littie reunion witii this
same -friend:
"We were mtting in our study, last Friday in a rather sombre
frame of mind; the past looked unsatisfactory and even the
future took on a cerulean tint. We were on the murky edge of
melancholy and felt that life consisted of bla,sted hopes and a
few gray hturs. There then was a rap at the door and in sprang
our beloved McDonald of Georgia. He had been holding
a meeting at Wake Forest College and had with his excellent
ge<%raphic accuracy, decided that the shortest route from North
Carolina to Georgia was by the way of Richmond. He was in
magnificent health, cherry and radiant, full of hope and a
panacea for all our sorrows. He reported the conversion of
twenty Wake Forest students, chatted brightly for half an
hour about the good things of the kingdom, and then departed,
but the charm of his spirit abode with us and we were on the
mountun top for the rest of the day."
Many of bis friendships, hke that with Dr. McDonald,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
208 FRIENDSHIP
seemed to open upon him suddenly. "Procure not friends in
haste and, when thou hast a friend, part not with him in haste' '
says Solon the lawgiver ; a wise rule, without doubt, for him who
sets forth to find a friend. But in Dr. Hatcher's case his
choicest friendships seemed to find him and broke ui>on him
as a revelation. "The moment of finding a fellow creature"
says George EUot is often as full of mingled doubt and ex-
ultation as the moment of finding an idea." In his moment
of finding his friends, however, there was the exultation without
the doubt. He raised no interrelation points over his friend-
ships. He cared not for the counBeli "before you make a
friend eat a bushel of salt with him." Verily let many bushels
of salt be eaten first, if the friendship is to be of the man's
making. But he seemed to wfdt for his friendships to hepn.
It is true that he did not force hb friendships, nor did he over-
work them. He gave them ample mar{pn to operate naturally
and spontaneously. He speaks, somewhere, about youthful
friendships meeting an untimely death by high pressure and
over indulgence. But such cautious treatment of his friend-
ships implies reverence rather than suspicion, or distrust.
His friendships, however, suffered some tragedies, — ^not
merely in painful separations, but, sometimes, in estrangements
and treachery. For example, he writes me, at this time, about
a man who, in his early ministry, was one of his dearest friends —
a layman whom he had helped, in many ways, to make a man
of himself. After many years the old friend had broken the
tie and drifted out of his reach, although he still was living in
Bicbmond. The man's son had just gone to wreck in financial
matters in the business world and in writing me about it he says :
"It cut me to the quick. Ah, I think how his father did and
I can hardly wonder that went crooked. His father
was my bosom friend and he forsook me and that for reasons
I could never make out. I love him yet, but I do not know the
road back to his heart."
He had another friend — a splendid christian woman of
Bichmond — but in a certain stressful period she, by her heated
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FRIENDSHIP 209
words, greatly strained the friendly tie aad he, in kindly words
warned her to be careful, saying "Friendship is a delicate
treasure and if you deal with it too roi^ly it may break."
"Friendship" says Landor "is a vase which, when it is flawed
by heat, or violence, or accident, may as well be broken at once;
it can never be trusted afterwards." "False men. never have
friends" said Dr. Hatcher "but true men cannot live without
them. Out Lord needed company in the solitude of the garden
and in the raptures of the mountain viaon."
He received a Christmas token from his choice friend, Rev.
H. H. Wyer. Whenever he would start on a journey into any
part of northern Vii^inia he would begin to think of "Wyer"
and be^ to wonder if he could not put Warrenton on his
schedule and thus get a a^t of him. He pays him a tribute
in the Herald:
"When from his aick room at Warrenton Va. H. H, Wyer
salt us a Christmas token of remembrance he little knew how
it would touch our heart into freshness, life and love. Ah,
these old friends — friends of the morning hours of life — friends
tested by changing years and blinding sorrows—friends whose
circles are ever narrowing and coming closer and closer to-
gether— friends with the deepening snows on their beard —
how we love them. Oh, how we love them! There is muac
in th^r names, pathos in their voices and an ever growing charm
in thdr presence. Dear, ack, Wyer, we are with you in spirit,
day by day and night by night. That is right, old fellow; pull
up and hold on. Earth witii you gone from it could never be so
bright again."
"His love for his friends" sfud Dr. C. H. Hemdon "was,
while changeless and steadfast as the stars, as ardent and
intense as a school boy's."
As this narrative of his life advances it will unfold his happy
experiences with these men whom he loved above all others.
"I have an invitation" he writes me "to go to California
in August to hold a meeting, with all my expraises paid. It
comes from Frank Dixtm at Oakland. I am thinking of ac-
cepting. Dr. C. E. Taylor promises to go with me. Must I go?
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
210 D. L. MOODY
(It sewnfl to me that I wrote you this before — or if not to you,
to some other nice and confidential friend.)"
The year 1885 opened with a bright event for liim, — the
arrival of the great preacher, D. L. Moody, for evai^ehstjc
meetings in Richmond. He hailed his comiii^ with dehgbt
aud threw himself into the campaign with enthu^aam. A
touching incident occured at the opening service, which he
loved to tell. The newspapers had reported, before Mr.
Moody's arrival in Bichmond, that he had in former years
spoken very harsh words about the South. He heard of it and
wrote to the committee, of which Dr. Hatcher waa a member,
suggesting that his viat to Bichmond be abandoned, but the
coQunittee would not hear of it.
He came, but at this first Sunday morning service, he felt a
chill in the air. "He was evidently embarrassed" sud Dr.
Hatcher "and spoke with constraint and uneaHnesa. Just
as the service was about to close he descended from his elevated
stand and walked to tbe front of the choir platform and made
a speech. 'Friends of Bichmond' he sfud* 'you have been
readii^ about me lately aud I fear you have not a good feeling
for me. I do not think I stud the things against the South
with which I am chained; but I am an awful fool and have
8(ud many foolish thii^ in my day. If I ever did say anything
against the South I am sorry for it and ask you to forgive me.'
"Instantly a ripple of t^iplause commenced and swelled
into a thundering roar. Moody bowed his head, tears -wen
in his eyes and he had the heart of Bichmond."
Moody was his joy and the meetings clfumed him day
and night.
He tells of an experience he had with Mr. Moody in con-
nection with the "Inquiry Boom", Boarding at the same hotel
with Mr. Moody was a man of an unsavory reputation and yet
he "carried loads of sanctity about him and fastened cm to the
great evangeUst with imscrupulous eagerness." One aftemo<ai,
in the inquirer's meeting, Mr. Moody su^ested thia individual
as beu% well suited^to^take down the names of the inquirers
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D. L. MOODY 211
who had come into the room for counsel and help. Dr. Hatcher
knew in a flash that such selection would be a mistake.
"I ventured to suggest to Mr. Moody" he said "that he
would leave that to be settled later on and with his character-
istic snap he said the thing ought to be done at once. I sug^
gested that it ought to be put mto the hands of a committee,
but he declared, brusquely enough, that there was no use for
all that machinery. I nominat«I another man and then he
turned on me and asked what was the matter with me any
way and broke into a laugh. When the meeting was over he
said 'I want to thank you for what you did.' But I told him that
I felt that I owed him an apology and was afrtud th&t he would
be offended. He put his mouth to my ear and siud "What is
the matter with him?' I told him that it was not worth teUing
but that of all the men in Blchmond he was the most unsuited
to be secretary of the inquiry room. Then, with a charming
candor, he said that with the great pressure which was upon
him, he was exceedingly liable to make mistakes and s^d to
me that be hoped I would watch him and help him so far as I
could.
"I know I have not told this matter in such a way
that it can be appreciated. His honesty was so luminous,
so candid, so modest, so thorough that it subdues me to tears.
It showed me that he had no use for himself, no sensitiveness
about himself, no feeling about himself except to do the thing
that ought to be done in the way that would do the most
good."
Dr. Hatcher was.requested to make a farewell address to Mr,
Moody at the end of the meetings, assuring him of t^e love
and gratitude of the Bichmond people. Durii^ the last
service he told Mr. Moody of the task that had been laid upon
him.
"Please don't do it" sud Mr. Moody "I ai^reciate it all, but
it makes me feel like a fool when folks get to hurrahing over me."
"My speech" said Dr. Hatcher "did not come to pass."
It was a varied procesmon of characters that tramped th^
way to his study door. He draws a picture of one of them;
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
212 THE BOOK AGENT
"We can stand a book ^.gent provided he is of the masculine
denomination. We are not afraid of him. He is a man and so
are we in a small way and we have our rights
"But when she comes — then is the winter of our diacont^it.
We bow to the storm and have no remarks to submit. She
is a woman and has the advantage of us. She has seen better
days and has a tear in her eye. She belongs to an old family
and swam in luxury in her youth.
"She came the other day. How glib and rattling she wasi
She had us before we knew it. She had us sitting as erect as a
sunbeam in July and meekly nodding assent to her sage obser-
vations. We neither moved hand, nor foot, and, as for talking,
we had no chance. She talked fast and she talked long and she
talked all the time. After regalii^ us with the grandeur of het
ancestry, the pleasures of her childhood and the surpassing
excellences of her book she touched us up; she did it hand-
somely; she expatiated on the potency of our influence, the
value of our personal signature and the well known warmth
and kindness of our heart. Greatness, she hinted, always had
a tear on its cheek for the struggling and unfortunate and there
we were — a dumb and foolish victim to the spell. Time came
and went, but she went on and on and on. We felt fatigued
and lonesome and wondered how it would end. Finally she
descended from her circumlocutory flight and lit in the region
of business. The atmosphere became commercial and it was
a question of dollars and cents. She had a book for sale and
desired to sell us a copy. It ceased to be a question of ancestry
and the poetry and pruse all faded away. The spell was broken
and all we had to do was to say whether or not we would buy
the book.
"We did it as well as we could — we spoke in a bright and
respectful tone — we even thanked her for her visit — we paid
a tnbute to her brilliant conversational gifts—we wished her
high fortune and a golden future and we expressed regret that
it had to be so. How her whole aspect changed. She patted
her foot with petulance, her face flushed, she breathed wildly
and swept angrily away.
"And yet, truly, we felt sorry for her. It hurirus to think of
her hard lot and- her desperate devices to stem the tide of
adverse fortune. We would have boi^t her book except that
we could not conscientiously pay an exorbitant price for a use-
less article."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MOTHER LINDA 213
A miitisterial student from the Collie was in his study one
day and Dr. Hatcher was talking about a certtun city pastor
in the state. He seemed worried by the brother's peculiarities
and he suddenly and impatiently exclaimed regarding the
minister and yet with a suggestion of humor:
"Psychologically, he's a monstroaty; theologically, he's a
heretic and practdcJEtlly he's an anarchist."
It was rare that a week passed without finding him traveling
into some section of the state for a lecture, a dedication, a
revival campaign, or a service of some kind. He went, the
latter part of March, into the mountains of Augusta county
to take part in a dedication and an ordination service at the
Greenville church. He draws a vivid picture of his arrival
at the Peyton home and of the greeting which he received from
old Mr. Peyton:
"There he was, stretched on his lounge — I mean brother
Wm. H. Peyton — a victim of some grievous foot trouble; and,
as I out-ran all the rest and rushed— unannounced upon turn
in his chamber he sprang up and took me to his arms. I could
not help it — the tears would, in spite of me, roll out; but I
played the hypocrite and hid them from him. Oh, the precious
old brotherl For just twenty five years I had carried him in my
heart; but I never loved him before so much as t did that night.
Four nights I rested beneath Ms roof. Sweet restful ni^ts,
mthout a care or pain — petted and pampered, chided and up-
braided by Mother Linda. We talked of the past; we read the
word of Christ together; we sang the hymns, the old and new,
we knelt at the same altar where, in the far off ante bellum, we
used to bow; we asked our father to spare us for other meetinga
on the eartii and communed wonderingly about that other
meeting out on the green hills far away beyond this scene of
strife and death."
As was his custom on such trips he carried a boy with him.
"In my pilgrimage" says he "I had as my fellow traveler,
Master John Garland Pollard, son of Dr. Jolm Pollard, pastor
of the Leigh Street Church. When we started he was frail and
noTOUS and carried his box of quinine with him but the aght
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
214 FORGETTING THE HOSTESS
of the mountains, the racking rides over the hills, the ri<di milk
and l^e pure crisp lur, put tiie rose tints on his young cheek.
When, on Wednesday morning, we bowed adieu to the Green-
ville folks and the tnun whistled away with us, the eyes of the
Bichmond boy grew very mtnst and he said with s rueful face:
'Oh, I am BO sorry to have to leave' and that was the way I
felt."
The boy of that trip is the present Attorn^ General of the
State.
His rural journeys brought^ him some ludicrous, as well
as sentimental, episodes. For example, a few weeks after the
Greenville visit, he went out into the country to preach and
was delightfully entertained at supper in one of the homes
of the community, — the ladies of the home making themselves
particularly agreeable, vieii^ with each other in minist^ing
to his comfort. After supper he hurried to the church, ahead
of the others and began the service. Shortly afterwards the
family arrived and found seats, but he observed them not.
"After the service" wrote Dr. Hatcher "we undertook to
play the agreeable and began to shake hands with the saints
and to chat around to the best of our ability. Presently we
found a strikingly good looking ^ster in front of us and holding
out our hand we expressed a wish to form her acquintance. A
vicious titter rattled through the crowd and the sister looked a
little scornful. We asked what it all meant and found to our
undoing that the lady in question was the one 'who gave us our
supper'. We spent a good part of the night in trying to e^Ifun
how it happened, but we cannot say that our transgression will
ever be forgiven."
The New York Sun, a few days later, copied the above
narrative and Dr. Eatoher thus remarked:
"The editor [of the New York Sun] seems to think it was
very funny. Perhaps it was, but it did not seem so to us, nor
the sister."
His many rambles through the state, did not bring him uni-
versal fame, — as is seen from an incident which occured at
thiq time:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
STRAYING OFF 215
"We have knocked around in the country adjacent to
Richmond very extensively. There is not a road which we
have not travded again and again and not a church wtucb we
have not visited and not a neighborhood into which we have
not gone. In our concdt, we had concluded that we were one
of the well imown brethren, — at least within a small compaaa.
"Imagine how our- plumes dropped to the dust the other
evening when, upon being introduced to a quite pleasant
looking old Baptist lady, she curiously eyed us from head to
foot and innocently inquired if we were a 'station preacher in
Richmond'; and there sat Thomhill, a gleeful wine88 of our
downfall and what oould we say. A blank sense of our obscurity
struck ua dumb."
He maintained very pleasant relations with his Methodist
brethren and often engaged in pleasant banter with them.
He was in a group of persons on one occa^on in which there
were one or two persons by the name of Hatcher who were
Methodists.
One of the Methodist Hatchers called out to him: "Dr.
Hatcher how did you and the other Hatchers who are Bapliste
happen to stray off?"
"Stray off?" Sfud Dr. Hatcher "You'd better ask how you
strayed off. There were Hatchers in this county before
John Wesley was bom."
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Richmond College,
one of the gentlemen present arose, and sud:
"Brother moderator, I move that when this Board awards
the degree of "D. D." to a minister and that minister does
not think enough of the Collie to come to tiie Commence-
ment to receive the. degree, that the bctioQ of the Board be
declared null and void."
"But brother Moderator," said Judge H 'Suppose
this Board awards the "D. D." degree to a minister and that
minister starts to the College Commencemeait to receive the
d^p-ee and he takes the tram in time to attend the commence-
ment, but the train happens to be delayed and he hurries on,
however, as rapidly as he can, jumps on the trolley after reaching
the Richinond depot and the trolley jumps off and causes another
delay and after several such delays the man reaches the College
grounds, rushes into the buildii^, but, alas, misses the Com-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
216 MR. CHARLES PRATT
mencement exercises: where is that fellow?' Has he got the
two "D's" or one "D or what is he?"
"I think" spoke up Dr. Hatcher "that he is two "D's"
irith a dash between."
One of the bright features of his Sunday services was the
presence of visitoTs from other sections of the 'countiy. One
Sunday morning during the Spring be noticed in his congrega-
tion an elderly, plain, but interesting looking gentleman. After
the service had aided he greeted the visitor who gave his
name as Mr. Pratt. Of course he fell a victim to Dr. Hatcher's
ho^itable clutches and had to go home with him to dinner.
Well do I remember the sensatitm created among us children
that day wheal in some way we learned that the old gentleman —
who I first took to be a successful farmer from one of the Vir-
ginia counties — waa worth several millions of dollars. What a
stretching of eyes in the direction of the multi-miUioniure
and a shower of winks at each other we endulged in around the
table. We gazed at the visitor, as if the seven wonders of the
world had suddenly been transported to 608 W. Grace Street
and had taken up their abode in the quiet looking old man at
our dde.
Even we youngsters, however, could see that he had wonder-
ful eyes and when he talked along in his dmple way he spoke
as if he had tons of other things back in his head that he might
say if he wanted to.
But dinner is over and of course Dr. Hatcher must have his
distinguished visitor see his Boys Meeting. He was none other
than Mr. Charles Pratt, the founder of the Pratt Institute and
the well-known Baptist philanthropist of Brooklyn and New
York. Dr. Hatcher probably informed him that his vimt to
Bichmond would be a f ulure If he did not see the Boys Meeting
and so, in a few minutes, they put out for the church.
The sight of such a large number of laughing, bright-eyed
boys seemed to stir the old man. The sinfpng, — it almost
threatened to lift him off his feet and the other exer(nses intei^
ested him immoisely. The boys had to have a speech from
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LEAVING THE HERALD 217
that Tudtor; they generally chaif;ed that aa the price of ad-
mia^on: — though they aaw to it that he was not n^ected
when the collecUon was taken up. He consented to speak and
what goldem words of practical wisdom he gave us in a quiet,
unpretentious talk.
"Well boys" he began "I was called on to speak to you very
unexpectedly and know not what to say to you. I a^ed your
pastor to givevne a subject and he playfully suggested that I
tell you how to make money. But no, no; that is too mean a
thing to talk about on Sunday. And yet money is a good
thing and it is well to study the art of "xaking and using money.
"A gentleman asked me the other day how much I was wortJi.
I replied that I was rich, — rich beyond the power of computa^
tion. I told him that I had a happy home with a lovii^ wife
and eight children — mx of them boys — and that these were
my jewels."
Then he talked along for perht^s ten of fifteen minutes
and the boys gave him great attention. It was an interesting
day and an acquaintance was b^un that was veiy delightfully
continued.
Soon after his return to Richmond from the Southern Baptist
Convention he sevCTed his connection with the Beligjous
Herald. This editorial task, was heavy and, with his pas-
toral and other activities, was well nigh crushing. It was
not the day of stenographers and typewritera— *t least in any
large sense — and the two or Uiree columns each week were the
labor of his own pen, — except when he dictated to his wife or
children at home.
"I have frequentiy remarked to our friends that you looked
tired and worn and I was afraid that the burden laid upon you
was greater than you could bear" writes a gentleman re-
ferring to his many duties. He did at times look "tired
and worn" but such was not hia normal appearance.
In bis Tenth Anniversary sermon, in May, he speaks of his
pastorate of the church as having been "the heaviest care of
my life."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
218 "DR. HATCHER'S FOUR BOYS"
"Many times" said he "I have stf^gered beneath the load
and, in my moments of depresdon aud embarrassment, I have
felt as if I sighed for release. But the hand of God has held
me. I have not stwd for bread, nor honor nor necessity. Other
and richer and easier fields have sought me and my life was
bound up with this church. There have been times when I
began to think I must go, but Providence has fixed it other-
wise."
He might have added that at that time there were those in
the church that were adding much to the heaviness of his load, -
but he thus continued:
"I think I can truly say that my heart knows nothing but
kindness and good will for all the members of this churoi. I
love all and hate none. I would help all and hurt none."
He took upon himself the financial support of four ministerial
students-in addition to those whom he was already helping.
These four young men — not Vir^nians — had come to the CoU^e
expecting to receive ^d from the Education Board. "We can-
not hdp you with our funds if you are not from Virginia" eiud
the Board to them. "We are not permitted to do so." It
was a dark day for the young men, but Dr. Hatcher came to
their rescue. "They seemed to be so bitterly disappointed"
he said "and, withal, were so bright and promising, that we
could not bear the thought of sending them away and then
what? Well, this overtaxed scribe assumed the burden of these
young mrai's support at the College, trusting that somewhere
in the great out^de world there would rise up generous friends
to help me."
This was in the Fall of 1884. Next Summer we find him
still carrying the burden of these "four preachers boys, "and
seeking to secure aid for them for the next session. The Herald
correspondent draws a picture of him as he was pleading for
them at an Associati^m.
"The last thing we saw in the church was Dr. Hatcher taking
a collection for "his boys" (supplemental to the one he had
taken in the yard during recess) from two brethren not expecting
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
OIL FOR THE RESTLESS WAVES 219
to be present next day and the last we heard at the depot, as the
cars were rolling up, was a call from Dr. Hatcher (utting in the
carriage that was conveyii^ him to his home) for a collection
from ttiat crowd on the platform for "my boys".
He had a gjft for quietii^ etorms that would arise in As-
sociational meetings. Sometimes the discussions would become
tangled, or even a little sharp, and he seemed always to have
his oil can ready for the restless waves.
It was not often that he attended an association that he
did not take up a collection to cud some stniggUi^ interest.
For example, during the Summer, he rtdsed JIOOO for the
Mountain Plain church at the close of revival meetings, and
at the Shenandoah Association, "Dr. Hatcher engineered a
collection for Winchester and raised $295.50."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lC-
CHAPTER XX
BDITORUL C0RRB8P0NDEMCE. CDLFEFER UEETINQS. WBEKLT
LETTERS. YOUNO HEN IN HIS HOKE. LECTURE TRIPS.
THE FRIEND OF CX)DNTHY CHURCHES
His editorial pen was growing reatless' and consequently,
when at this time he received an invitation to be contributiDg
editor of the Baltimore Baptist — the Baptist state pi^r of
Maryland — ^he sent them his acceptance and, in a short -wiale,
he found himself addressing, each week, a wide drcle of Vii^
ginia readers.
Among the congratulations that came to the paper for having
secured Dr. Hatcher as correspondent was one from Rev.
Geoi^ Vanderlip, closing with the words
"One blast upon his bugle bom
Were worth a thousand men."
Dr. Bwley, of the "Biblical Recorder," pronounced him
"the most gifted and popular editor in the South." Every
week the mful had to carry his editorial paragraphs for the
Baltimore Baptist. He generally composed these writings
at his home. The Baltimore tnun passed by our house and
many were the evenii^ that I heard him call "Eldridge, take
this letter for the Baltimore Baptist" and that meant that I
must keep on the lookout for the northern train which would
stop at the Elba up-town station at our back gate. We could
easily hear the ^igine bell as the train crept up Belvidere
Street, and I could wfut until it reached Grace Street and them
220
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BALTIMORE BAPTIST 221
hurry through the rear gate and be in time to hand in the
letter at the miul car. He waa wliipped to and fro by bo many
duties and suffered so many interruptions, that he sometimes
found himself near the last day for sending his weekly matter
for the paper with the matter still unwritten, and on such
occaaons he would hurry home and, with my mother, or some
one, as his amanuensis, he would drive ahead for an hour or two
"before the train comes" and frequently he would add the
final words and eeal the letter, with the enipne bell over on
Franklin Street announcing its approach, and with his words
"Uiere's the train; hurry now my lad."
I rarely in these later days see the long northern train pulling
its winding way across Grace Street towards Elba that I do
not think of the father at his desk, by the window, hiurying
his pen "along the Baptist Unes" and the boy hastening through
the back gate and bangjng on the door of the mail car in order
that the important letter might be in the first mail, next morn-
ing, in Baltimore. He wrote during these years frequently
and, for awhile, r^ularly for the New York Examiner and many
of the runs for the mail car were in the interest of the New York
periodical.
"Dr. W. K Hatcher will begin revival meetings next Sunday
at the Ilrst Baptist Church" was ihe announcement that
traveled the streets of Ciilpeper about the middle of November.
The day arrived and Dr. Hatcher was at his [xist and the
campaign b^an. His preaching during the first week of the
meetings seined to produce no effect. The people listened
req>ectfuUy and then went home. "The amdety waa oppres-
ave" he siud. He prayed and preached and worked but the
campaign seemed destined to meet disaster.
"At length" wrote he "the cloud broke. For several days
the men stood in serried ranks and apparently immoveable.
Th^ packed the galleries almost to suffocation. There they
sat, or stood, solemn, silent and unshaken. But Monday night
th^r ranks b^an to waver and several of thdr leaders came
over the line. From that time the work waa easy. Night after
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
222 THE CULPEPER MEETINGS
night, men and boys poured down out of the gallery and pushed
their way up to the pulpit to make thdr confession of Christ,
Oh, it was glorious. It has been the most powerful and yet
most quiet work of grace that I have ever witnessed.
"The town is rin^g with hallelujahs. It was a new raght for
Culpeper for whiskey barrels to be rolling out of the bar rooms
with tii»r contents emptying into the gutters and yet that was
one of the results of the wonderful meetings just closed."
"Culpeper has never before felt nor witnessed such a deep and
all pervasive religious awakening as this" wrote the pastor, Dr.
C. F. James, in the Rehgious Herald "The news has spread
throughout the region round about and the brethren are coming
up to Culpeper as the tribes went up to Jerusalem. I cannot
be^n to describe the meeting. It is the most remarkable work
of grace that I ever saw. FrEUse God from whom all bles^ngs
Such experiences put Dr. Hatcher on the mountub top. He
returned to his church with the echoes of the revival sngiiig
in hia heart and his own people felt the thrill of the meetings as
he told to them the story.
In the early months of 1886 he and his wife wrote tlie Life
of Dr. A. B. Brown, — his wife contributing much the lai^er
portion of the work. She had been a pupil of Dr. Brown, who
in his last years had been the brilliant professor of Bn^lish
in Richmond College and also one of Dr. Hatcher's most val-
uable members in the Grace Street Church. He wrote the
chapter in the "Brown" book on "The Country Pastor",
He was elected president of the Baptist Congress which met,
in the first part of March, at Danville, Va.
One of hia most highly prized friends was Dr. J. L. M. Cuny,
at that time United States Embassador to Spwn, — ^who,
he said, "had a head that would adorn any crown on earth."
"Unitbd States Legation,
"Madrid, Spain, 7 March, 1886.
"Dear Bro. Hatcher:
"The last Herald I recdved said that illness kept you from
the Pastors Conference. I know what a privation tiiat must
have been to you Emd a greater one to them. I fear you have
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DR. J. L. M. CURRY 223
been overtaxing your powers, or that the excessive labors
of last and foimer years are be^imiiig to tell on you. I warned
you before I left and I send my protest aeain over the waters.
You and Harris do too much and your uves are too valuable
to be wasted
"If old Grace Street Church would liberate you for mx months
with a full purse and send you along with Landrum, I might
meet you in France and be your guide and companion for a few
days.
"I miss very much, too, those friendly confidential talks Ve
used to have and would rather take with you and Cbarhe [C.
H.] Ryland another jaunt to "brother Davy's" than to see
Alhambra, or the Vatican. It may cheer you, if you are still
sick, for me to say you have done me much, very much good
in my Uf e and I think of you with grateful affection, with deep
earnest love. I picked up my pen just to say that and having
said it I close.
"Mrs. Curry begs to send loving remembrance to you and
Mrs. Hatcher. I join, of course most heartily and include the
childrrai. "Affectionately
"J. L. M. Curry."
The vifflt of Rev. Dr. F. M. Ellis of Baltimore to his home
and his church at this time was to him a happy event and
opened the door to a friendship that bound them together
for the rest of their days. On Saturday, during the visit, he
took Dr. Ellis in company with Drs. L and P down
the river on a fishing excur^on. Dr. Hatcher on a fistung frolic
presented an incongruity. He was a lover of certain games but
the sporting el^nent, so rampant in his brother Havery, seemed
to have been nitirely left out of him. Walton declares that
good fisbenuan are like poets, bom not made. In Dr. Hatcher's
case neither nature nor art inclined him towards angling and
it is a proof of his love of good fellowship that he became a
member of the fishing party. "It was an off day with the fish"
he awd "and P was the only man who interfered with the
domestic quiet of the minnows. > He claimed to be the here
of the occasion and that honor was voted to him with the
understandii^ that the occaaou was a ffulure."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
224 A RED FACED VISITOE
It was a motley throng tlist crossed his daily pathj — as is
seen from the following two incidents:
"When a broad breasted, muscular, red-faced man, with a
soiled collar and a breath befouled with whiskey, comes into our
study and tells us how much his mother loves us and how popular
we are in his section of the country and how everybody is dying
to see us and bow much he always likes to hear us preach and
how successful he had been in busness and then closes his
discoui^e with a pathetic request that we will lend him two
dollars we grow a trifle crabbed and begin to think that, after
all, there may be more in the Darwinian theory than a great
many people think. At the same time we do not lend him the
two dollars. That is fixed. We believe in helping the poor
and conmder lendii^ money a christian virtue but the man who
gets our two dollars must at least have the right kind of breath."
"He stormed like a volcano and his wrath was at white heat-
He fell upon us and told us witJi vigorous indignation how bad
he thougjit we were. We enjoyed it. We always respect an
honestly mad man. His wrath is a token of his sincenty.
There was somethii^ so charming in his realness and candor
that we almost forgot that we were the target at which the
blows were directed. When he finished we simply explEuned to
him how it all happened, the storm cloud broke and the genial
sunlight was on his brow agfun.
"If we must get angry let us do it hotly and courageously.
Iiet us blaze like a furnace and go for the object of our anger
at once. In this way we may finish up the business in a dngle
day and the setting day sun will not see the war cloud on our
brow."
He wired Ins beloved friend, Dr. H. H. Wyer, that Bichmond
College had confered ui>on him the degree of Doctor of Divini^.
Dr. Wyer's r^ly was as follows:
"I received the telegram with your name signed to it con-
gratulating, me on the honor recently confeired on me by
Richmond Collie. There was a storm coming up at the time
the boy handed me on the street the telegram and if the light-
ning had struck in ten feet of me I could not have been more
grow older I cling more closdy to the friends of my
surprised.
'^I8
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WEEKLY LETTERS 225
earlier life. God has indeed blessed me with some of the traeet
and best. At the head of the liat stands my beloved W. E, H.
It is more than twenty five years ^ce we were first thrown
intimately together and all that time I have had for you an
earnest afTection, which has never known let, doud, or biad-
rance.
"Yours Sincerely
"H. H. Wyer."
"Last Thursday" he writes "the Taylors, George the First
and Geoi^ the second, gladdened our abode with their pres-
ence and with them came a lot of their friends. It was a
picnic of the best Etort, to ua at least. We have many earthly
pleasures, — not one of which we deserve, — but we incline to
the opinion that our joy never touches the flood except when
we can gather a band of Baptist preachers around our dinner
tt^le. We have never yet found a class of men who could so
fully command our love and confidence."
In October I went to Chesterfield County to teach in an
Academy, — an event which started a procession of weekly
letters to me, from him and from my mother, that continued,
with but little interruption, to the end of his life. These
letters, carefully stored away, constituted for me an accumu-
lating and sacred treasure pile. I cannot remember when the
thought first came to me that I would write his biography, but,
as his life loomed hi^er and higher before me, the thought
grew into a consuming ambition. My heart would leap at the
prospect of putting such a life before the world and I began
keeping, not only all his letters, but nearly all the pf^rs contain-
ing the products of his pen. He knew near the end of his life
that I expected to writo his biography, but he newly always
tried to laugh out of court any suggestion that his life might be
w(»th writing or that anything he did was worth recordii^
and, even at that late date, I never dared to ask him to keep
cofnes of hie letters for such a puipose, — and he never did.
He settled upon Sunday ni^t as the time for writing to me.
His first act upon reaching home from the night service would
be to read the Sunday paper, which was always put in its place
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
226 COLLEGE SCRAGS
by Me desk at the window in the front second story bed room,
which was also the family sitting room. After reading the
paper he would say "Well, I miist write to Eldridge and away
would go hia pen,~his letters avera^ng about eight pagee in
length. They were written with his own hand and at the end
of days of heavy strain and toil and would recite first the evente
of the Sabbath just closing.
He evidently had a small ocean of duties surrounding him
as he penned the following warning in the "Baltunore Baptist."
"Whereas the vacation of this humble scribe is now at an ead
and whereas his pastoral duties will claim every hour of his time,
therefore resolved that no man, woman, child, beast of the field,
bird of the ^r, fish of the sea, nor any other Uving thing on,
or under, the earth, no Baptist preacher, or any other person,
place, or thing, shall ask at his hands any outside service from
this time forth until the first of August 1887. The motion has
been unanimously adopted and the meetii^ is adjourned."
In his first letter to me wlucb here follows he speaks of
"Collie Scrags". On Sunday aftemoima and evenings the
back parlor would resound with the laughter and clatter of the
yoimg folks, among whom would frequently be Coll^^ atud^its
who were calling upon his daughtere and about whom he often
joked the girls calling them "Collie Scrags". The names of
his daughters in the order of thw' ages were, May, One, Kate,
lizEie and Edith.
"Richmond, Va., Oct. 3rd, 1886.
"My Dear Eldridoe:
"Sunday night this is. We are just from church. Fine day
we had — lai^e crowds and I enjoyed preaching. May has
been very sick and I expect she will have to go to the country
again. She and Kate have run quite a living trade in College
Scrags today. Kate seems to be quite a toast.
"I am anxious to hear how your school opens. ... If
your school is not full I may be able to send you one or two
more. If you take a boy as your room mate be car^uI in your
selection.
"I hope you went to Sunday School today. Take hold and
do your best for the church. "Yours,
"W. E. H."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HELPING YOXJNG MEN 227
His setxHid letter follows quicidy upon the heels of bis first
ODe and, Lo, it tells of another happpy burden which bis
shoulders have t^en. It is a young man, hungry for College,
bunting to preach the gospel, but utterly lacking the means.
"Come into my home" Sfud Dr. Hatcher to him "I will find some
w^ in which you can help me and in this way you can earn
your board." The young man is now a useful pastor in one of
the Southern states. Here is a letter from the grat^ul mother
of the young man to Dr. Hatcher:
"Mt Dear Fsibnd:
"I am bound to burden you again with the scratch of my pen.
You have so recently done us another and still another act of
kindness and I cannot let it appear unappreciated. . . Ob;
that we could show in some way how deeply we do feel it. As
it is I can only aay 'The Lord bless you.' I wonder if those boys
will ever make the meu we would like for them to be.
"Sometimes I feel like shouting; sometimes I feel like weep-
ing."
"Hundreds of young men in the ministry" writes Dr. W. W.
Landrum "were asasted by William E. Hatcher in financial
ways. Assemble them in front of Grace Street church, and they
will outnumber the noble corps of cadete that drills on the
campus of Fork Uniou Military Academy, which he loved so
weU."
"Richmond, Va., Oct. 6th, 1886.
"Mt Dmr E:
"Things may not go agree^ly, always, but you keep cool and
wait.
"You must cultivate pleasant social relations with the
people. Do some vi^ting and be attenlave and friendly.
Iiearn to love people.
"C mil board with us. Why this is I will fully
explain later. I am helping tum at College and can do it
better this way. '
"Youra, Wm. E. Hatcher."
This practice of taking some (me in his home for the help that
he could ^ve him was a life long habit with him. His wife
said "At one time it WM the daughter of a coimtiy pastor whom
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
228 HELPING BOYS
he tobk into bis Kotn^, that she might have an education, givii^
her her board and other help. There was seldom a period in
bis Me, t^ter be became a pastor, that he did not have m his
home Bome boy, or girl, until they went dut to CoHege, or
underti5ok #ork for themselves. He kept some boy m his
hotfse, in Manchester, all during his IHe there
almost living there. This last named one he helped financially
and socially until he became a cashier and at the last turned
against him." It was indeed a melancholy fact that not all t^e
boys whom he helped reached the top of the ladder. Some
disappointed him, some proved unworthy of his help and some
were ui^ateful. But these facts seemed not to discur^;e
nor check him in his beloved task of helpfuhiess.
"It is another's fault, if he be ungrateful" says Seneca "but
it is mine if I do not give."
Rev. P. G. Elsom, now a well known and very useful evange-
list, writes:
"Dr. Hatcher took me in Ms delightful home 608 W. Grace St.
Bichmond, Va. when I was a student at Richmond College.
God alone knows the influence of this christian home on ray
life and ministry. The love I have today for evangelistic work
dates back to Dr. Hatcher's bome, when I breathed that at-
mosphere of his love for soul winning."
No one can appreciate bis ministry, during his Grace Street
pastorate, without understanding that almost every week,or
two, lie was out in the state, "lecturing" chiefly at countiy
and town churches. These lectures were generally accompanied
by an admisdon fee at the door and by "refresbmants" served
by the good ladies of the church at the close of bis performance.
All over the state were the country churches strug^ing with
th^ financial burdens and oftimes the lady workers, restless
because tb^r gifts were so inadequate, would say "Let us get
Dr. Batcher for a lecture" and tbey generally were successful
in tiieir plea.
There were always people who would decry such schemes for
money raiong as the ladies pursued with tbeir refreshments and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
COOKING STOVE APOSTASY 229
oyster suppers after the lecture. The newspspera dubbed it
the "Cooking Stave Aposta^' and he had his critics at hifi
heels. He writes in the Baptist Woild :
"No, we are no champion of festive methods of raisdng money
for christian purposes. If the men will fill the Lord's chest
with money, we will keep quiet about feasts, bazaars, carnivals,
etc,. But it puts an angry heat in our total anatomy to bear ihe
jaundiced and superpious utter their scourging sneers f^ainst
those who undertake to make money for the Lord by selling
oysters and cream. To us such twaddle, though veiled under
the guise of imusual sanctity, is most preposterous and cruel,.
"We have a friend who sells hay, mill-feed and flour. It is
his buaness bo sell and he prospers in it and he g^vea a tenth
of his profits to religious purposes. He is praised for his marked
liberality and is called a prince in Isreal,.
"The man's wife keeps house. But she is president of a prl's
misEPonary sodety and teaches girls to make r^ular offerings
for spreading the gospel. It often comes to pass that the good
woman feels sad that she gets so little money for various pur-
poses and she loi^^ for more. Once a year she bakes cake,
makes jelly and cream and prepares some choice oysters, coSee,
etc., and gets some of her chnstian sisters to hdp her. The
girls get flowers, make candy and bring products of their fingers'
skill and all th^e are exposed for sale. Friends come in and
buy these UiingB— and for what? Who gets the money? Not
the women; not the girls. They do it all and pve it all, — not
one tenth, but all — to the kingdom of God and yet behold:
There be some denounce the sacred trading of the woman as
if it were a sacrilege. Away with the jprumbling. She hath
done what she could."
Regarding his lecture trips he writes:
"Sometimes I paid my own fare, gave all the income of tlie
lecture to the suffering church and had a day of deficious f<j-
iowship with the httle band of christian workers.
"As a rule they would pay my expenses which were calculated
with skillful accuracy so as to avoid ^ving me too little and
now and then I would be surprised to find some actual oom-
pensatjon in the little wad of greenbacks which would be
thrust into my hands as I was startup oa my return."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
230 LECTURES
"Be not disturbed, ye gentle and generous Chriatian women"
he writes at another time "go right along with your valiant
struggle to advEuice the Lord'a kingdom. Do not hesitate to
sell strawberries or aprons or fruit-cake. Sell at good market
E rices, sell good artjeles, sell to saint and sinner and even to
utatics if they are not too dyspeptic to digest such allowable
delicacies. God be with you."
The largest burden on his heart was the needy churches
through the state.
For example, here are two letters, — ^written, one on the 25th
and the other on the 27th — ^which happened to be found among
his papers. They are merely specimens of hundreds of nmilar
appeals that Socked in his mail. The first is from a pastor
in Campbell county:
"Dear Dr. Hatcher:
"Could you not arrange to come up here and dedicate a nice
Dew house of worship for us Baptists? It is finished, painted
wid ready for use. We will leave the time entirely with you
but the sooner the better. I would like for you to come above
all others for I do not believe there is a minister in the Umted
States who could do the work for the Baptist Cause that you
might do in three of four days. . . ."
The second letter is from a pastor in lower Virginia:
"My Dear Doctor:
"We lay the first brick on our new church tomorrow. Our
working capital is not S500. Yet we feel that we must begin.
I write to ask of you a favor that you will agree to champion
our cause at the General Association next Fail and also at the
Portsmouth Association. A word or two in the Herald might
help also. I know that I have no claim upon you for these aids
except brotherly kindness; still I feel that I owe it to my breth-
ren to ask you. If I could see you in person and have a talk
with you sJxtut what our people did in two and a half years
previous to the burning of the church I think our claim would
in many respect take the precedence of others. . . Please
^ve me your advice about coming to Richmond during the
Summer."
Imafpne letters like these comii^ upon him every week.
What a strun on his sympathies and what a pull on his heart
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HELPING THE COUNTRY CHURCH 231
strii^. Each pastor who wrote thought he had a supreniely
urgent need and each seemed to feel that if he could get Dr.
Hatcher euUsted in his behalf that he had made a long stride
towards victory. His soul often melted within him at the
thought of these struggling pastors. He hui^red to go to thdr
aid; and he went — ^went often when many of hia members
thought he ought not to go — often when his friends and some
times when hia family thought he ought not to go — but he
went — to the undying joy of many a struggling country church
and pastor.
"No man in the past half century" writes Dr. C. H, Hemdon
"has rendered such conspicuous, unselfish and useful service
among the country churches in Virginia as Dr. Hatcher has
done. . . He went all over the state, dedicating churches,
holding meetings delivering addresses and lectures. The most
obscure and feeble church could secure his services as readily
as the strong and prominent pulpit. Indeed his joy seemed to
be to give his stretch to the weak churches."
It would frequently h^ipen that members of his church
would call at o\ir house to see him while he was out of the city
and sometimes their countenances, if not their hps, would
say "What; gone again?"
One of bis beloved deacons thought that he ought to reform
his pastor in the matter of his goings but he soon found that
his labors of love in that direction were in vain. Often when
calling for Dr. Hatcher and learning from "sister Hatcher"
that the Doctor was out at some country church preaching
or lecturing he would shake his head as if he feared that his
pastor was defying providence and brii^ng disaster upon him-
self and his church.
"My deacons" said he "used to sit up with my case wondering
whether I was beyond redemption, now and then sending one
of their number to labor with me. He generally Mided his
interview by apologizing for his intrusion stoutly maintaining
that he believed that the indications of Providence were on my
dde. . . When I began my Richmond pastorate I told my
D.qit.zeaOvGoQt^lc
232 "GOING AWAY TOO OFTEN"
church at the time of my installation that the cry of the churches
for my help rang for me like the voice of God and that they
might as well understuid that they would have trouble with me
on ^at score, as long as they held on to me."
He was taUdi^ one day to his Sunday School missionary
Vivian McEenuon, about the comfort it gave him to drop his
burdens and run out to the home of one of his friends in the
country near Richmond and there, under the trees, make his
aennon for Sunday, and thus he Continued:
"I can do better thinking and working in that quiet place'
Of course I do not tell everybody every time I go. I would
not steal away. I would not be pastor of a church, if I had to
sneak away from them; but I do not go all around every time
publishing the fact of my d^arture."
He made the last remark with a smile, and then added:
"The other day I told David to hitch up my bu^y. I
jumped in and started for the depot to take a trip into the
country. As I was driving rapidly down the street what should
I see coming around the comer but the head of a horse that
I well knew, and right in front of me hove in sigbt my bdoved
deacon F in his bugey^.
" 'You going away, Doctorr he asked somewhat mournfully.
" 'Yes' I replied.
" 'Will you be here Simday?' he asked.
" 'I expect to be. If I should not be here I will have someone
in my place; but it is my definite purpose now to be on hand.'
" 'Well, Doctor' said he 'this is becoming aerious. You go
away so often.'
" 'F ' said I almost sternly 'I am going out there
under the trees to study my sermon and g«t my sdf in better
shape for Sunday. You go bade home and attend to your
family and be a good man. I warn you if you follow me around
and seek to stop me on my trips I will brii^ you up before tiie
church meeting and turn you out,' and then Dr. Hatcher
added with a smile 'F looked as sober as if he had
been to a funeral.' "
Ofttimes objections would be heard from his members about
his frequent trips out into the state for lectures and protracted
meetings. But the "going" and the "helping" fever was in him
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE FRIEND OF COUNTRY CHURCHES 233
80 strongly that he had to go and he felt sure that in the long
run his church would not be the loaer.
"When 1 was a etudent at Richmond Collie" writes Dr.
J. J, Wicker, "I had two churches in Carohne County. One
of these churches, Mt. Horeb, needed a new church building.
The people were all poor and the congregation small, but we
stroked along and got the building half finished and under
cover so we could worship within its humble walls. We needed
help. The Dover Association met that year at Cool Spring
Church in Hanover County. We wrote Dr. Hatcher and asked
him if he would come out and lecture, the lecture to take place
the day after the Association. Of course he would come. He
never turned down an opportunity to help the needy if it was
possible for him to help. Wednesday night, during the As-
sociation, Dr. Hatcher returned to Grace Street Church of
which he was pastor to conduct his prayer meeting. Grace
Street church had a hard and fast rule about taking collections
for outffide calls, but if there was ever a man who knew how to
flank the enemy's movements in a church that man was Wil-
ham E. Hatcher. He lectured at my church, Mt. Horeb. The
whole country turned out to hear him. We had dinner on the
ground and when we rounded up the cash Dr. Hatcher pulled
out a handkerchief full of greenbacks and silver and said 'Add
this to the pile. I got it from my folks for you on Wednesday
night.' We count^ it, $58.00 and when we started to pay
him for his services he smd 'No; it has been a great joy to be
with you.' "
Regarding his atw^Lces he said "My peoi^ came. . .to
welcome me after my prolonged absences by telling me that
I alw^^ brought them bottles of the old wine of the Kingdom
when I came back from the gospel feasts of the o^her churches.
. . . In some unexpltuncd and bles.sed way my soul would
get chained with a mes.sage — ^heaven must have given it to
me — ^wbiph was the very bread of life to the thronging crowds
which never failed to meet oie. Their welcoming smile, their
eager hand grasp and even their chidings made my pastorate
a song whose enriching notes seemed full of the world unseen."
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
CHAPTER XXI
1886-1887
CHUSCH TBODBLES. COLLBCTIONS IN HIS CaUhOS. TBE CRLB*
BRATBD CL HUKDER CABE.
He added a Mexican to his list of beneficiaries. He was
studying at the Louisville Seminary and dedred to eame to Rich-
mond College to prepare himself for the ministry, with a view
to doing misaonary work in his own country. He wrote to
Dr. Hatcher, who finally agreed to undertake to "see him
through". On the Sunday after his arrival, he put him up for
a speech in the Sunday school and he wrote me:
"The Mexican made a speech and captured everybody. He
is a bright fellow.
"Your absence is a great loss to me and I miss you far more
than 1 would like to say. But it is a kind providence which
opened a place for you so near home so you can come often and
in this way harden us for that separation which must come
inevitably after awhile. . , I am greatly taxed this week.
I lecture at Collie on Thursday and epeak at Social Union
that night. I am at work on Dr. Jeter's life. These, with my
editorial work and my sermons and my visiting, crowd me to
the liigbest point."
At this time the "diaturbing element" in tiie church was
^ving him much trouble. "Your Papa and I both bad a sort
of restless night" writes my mother on Oct., 29th, and then,
after telling of some of the worries caused by certain members,
she adds: "X is a thorn in the flesh of hia paator . .
Your Papa writes every night on tiie Jeter book."
aS4
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PARLIAMENTARY LAW 235
"Richmond, Va., Nov. 5th, 1886.
"Mt Dk4E E:
"The inTitation to preade at the Bfq>tist Congreee (in
Baltimore) was an amasing surpriae to me as I am au^ a poor
stick for such a busoess, but honors are empty and I think not.
much of them."
He r^arded himself as hopelessly incapable of mastering
the parliamantary art.
"For my humble part" says he "I make bold to say that
Parliamentary Law, while having its value, never suited me.
In some way my mind shut up its windows and barricaded its
doors when ever there was a parliamentary tangle. Its cease-
less clatter about amendments, substitutes, previous questions,
and other such contradicting bothers invariably vexed my
mind and bred offensive dbnfufflon."
On one occamon, in some religious gathering — probab^ a
(^strict Assodation — he was called to the chair to pretdde
temporarily. A littie oonfumon in the discusraon aro«e; a
di^utatious brotiier began to make a point of order in some-
what blustering fashion. Dr. Hatcher reported the inddent
somewhat as follows: "For the life of me and with my crude
little stock of parliamentary knowledge, I did not know who was
right, in the contention, but I drew up a resolution with myself
that the belligerent delegate was in the wrong and I so an-
ttounced. I had no ground for my dec^on ezcefit the cut of
the brother's eye and the crack of his voice, but I determined
that I would hold grimly to my dedm<m that he was out of order.
I cannot tell how I managed to weather the storm but it
seemed as one of the proofs of a special providence for the
ignorant that I came to the end with my deinmoQ m, perfect
shape and my colors flying."
My mother, in her next letter, refers to the "Philistines,"
which, being interpreted, means those particular members
in the church who yrere opposing and worrying the pastor, and
had been dmng this, more or less continuously, for nearly
ten years. During this long period he had been working under
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
236 CHURCH TROUBLES
the sting and laeh of these factional influmces. I well re-
member how, as a boy, after hearing father and mother talk
aromid the fire at night about these diBturbers and after sedng
the anxiety that it caused him, I would boil with fury agunst
the recalcitrants. It weighed on my mind and on Sundays
during the time that my father was preaching my mind would
be employed chiefly in wondering how the eenaon was strik-
ing the b^^erents.
My mother's letter to me of Nov. lOtii, ran as follows:
"You know I wrote you that the Philistines had heea at
work. C seems to be the tool of ihe party. They
have tried their hand on Mr. A , with what success
I know not. He talks freely to your Papa and Beems friendly
but I have my suspicions. . . . The situation is un-
pleasant and gives us trouble. We do not talk — try to be quiet
and trustful — ^whether there will be any outcome from it we
cannot tell.
"Last Sunday your Papa preached on the text, 'He shall ^ve
his angels charge over thee.' I never heard him preach better.
He seemed to have power given him to speak the truths of the
gospel. He said only those had the body guard of angels to
attend them who walked in the way of the Lord, — none other
need flatter themselves that they would have a celestial guajd
to prevent their dashing their feet against stones. He seemed
to be almost in^ired said he enjoyed preaching more than
usual. Rev. John Bagby came last night and Dr. Owen will
arrive tonight."
In writing about the Baptist Congress, at the Eutaw Place
Church in Baltimore, over which he presided, he said "My
duties as president, were, like my honors, very light." In
Miother place he touches up his Baltimore visit in playful
fashion. He calls it "a festival of delight" and then adds:
"It is true that when they perched us up behind the floral
barricade at the Eutaw Place pulpit and we essayed the awk-
ward role of speaker of the House we felt that Nature, or some-
body else, had committed a blunder in putting us there, but
when we could quit the meeting, slip atross tiie square and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHURCH TROUBLES 237
take refuge in the happy home of brother Eugene Levering
and when the Baltimore Baptists swarmed around and gave
us old time handshakes and when we went to Baptist head-
quarters and saw Wharton, Barron, Weishampel and Wood-
ward and when we went to the Social Union and saw the Bap-
tist crowd and sat by the beloved Hiram Woods at the banquet
table and were so lovingly greeted by the 'old Shepherd,'
EUis, Rowland, Dixon and the rest we fdt that it was good to
be there. This is a breath-taking sentence but it takes a big
sentence to tell the glories that belong to the brother who takes
a visit to Baltimore. We return thanks to all concerned and
love them better than ever before."
My mother writes dn NoT'.22nd:
"In the midat of the wickedness o^ some of the members the
Lord seems to be blessing him with the ear of the people. I
sometimes wish that his friends would stop telling him what
the party say. He says it will not hurt hSn for them
to tell falsehwds on him — but it worries me, as it does him.
When I tell him to follow up their stories and confront them
he aays 'No that would make a fuss. Whenever I take it out
of the Lord's hands and attempt to manage it I know not what
will come. Let it rest where it is.^ I dont know but what that
might be the Lord's plan however — to apply the kidfe and cut
out the sore.
"Some of the members are more enthuraastic over him than
ever. He has the heart of all the best of the church. . . We
are well and I feel that I ought not to let trifles worry; never-
theless it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. We have more
need to ask grace for little cares than for greater ones."
"Wh«i a man does you a mean, malicious trick and that
without provocation, what do you do?"
To this questjon he replied: "Well we first get hot, and thai
we walk out in the back yard and let the wind blow on us
until we get cool. What do you do brother?"
But, while his pastorate had its irritating features, yet his
church, as a whole, was the joy of his life. They rallied about
him with affection and enthosasm and, more and more, came
to do his bidding.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
/
23S GENEROSITY OF GRACE STREET
Churches in these days often smack their lips at th«r shrewd-
neaa in locking the gate against any out side public coUectiwu
that are not authorised by the church. But not so, at that
time, with Grace Street Church. Dr. Hatcher's collections
in his church for needy causes were so bright and hearty that
they became an attraction. Verily Grace Street Church became
the tramping ground for all manner of worthy t^pe^ from
pastors and other men with special burdoui. Was Grace Street
impoverished by this? Were the members stampeded by such
frequent cries for help and did the public take to the woods,
at the sound of the bcggan? Verily No. The churoh grew
as the result of lier greatheartedneas. Alas, tor the scary and
narrow prudence of many churches. They may lock their
doors but, in so doii^, they shut out not only many needy
cases, but also many of the richest experiences that a churoh
can have. The struggling countiy churches of Virginia knew
that th^r a^hcation for aid would rec^ve a friendly Teepanao
from Dr. Hatcher. In fact, from other states the cries for
help would often oome. For example, on Sunday Nov. 28tfa,
he wrote me:
"J. M. Pilcher preached for ua thia morning and th«i took
his collection. Tonight I preached on Baptism to a house
neariy full and then brother Stakeley of CharlesttHi talked
about the earthquake and pulled \i8 on another collection."
Many were the "pulls" ttiat were made on old Grace Street
and every pull bro^ht some treasure. Many were the Sund^a
on which the congregation would see some plain looldng
preacher walk out on the pulpit with the pastor. During the
service he would probably ofiFer a prayer or read the Scriptures.
The congregation would surmise that "somethii^ was coming."
After the sermon Dr. Hatcher would address the congr^ation
Bomewhat as follows:
"Brethren, this is brother I wish you
would tell me what I shall do with him. He has dedgns against
you. He is pastor of a httle church out here in the bushes, in
Page county, and his people are worshipping in the public
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHURCH COLLECTIONS 239
school house, aad his congregation is tvnce as large as the house
and he wants a church building, but I told him that you were
{Wverty enshrined and to go back home and not expect to have
a church building like other churches; but he has'nt gone."
"How many members have you brother?" he would say turn-
ing to his tremblii^ visitor:
"Six^ Seven,"
"Tell them about it in four minutes and half."
With desperate earnestness the brother would pour out his
words in those four and a half minutes!
"Well brother " he would say when tie visitor
cloflad "I take it back. You must not go home until you get
that house. You take your stand down there by the table at the
close of the service. Here are five dollarB — but whether you
will get any more — at any rate you stand down at liie fnmt
and be ready to shake hands with any of my members who
come around, and you keep one hand open, while you shake
frith the other. Let us stand now and sing heartily the Doxo-
It^y, Priuse God from whom all blesmngs flow."
The brother from Page would walk down to the front and
his crowded pocket soon told the rest of the story.
During the earlier years of his pastorate the door was barred
ag^nst such collections. He said:
"I was applied to find also that no collection could be
taken in the church except by vote of the church in its
monthly buednesa meeting. The cordiality with which I
abhorr^ that trick of Satan, I deem to this day highly
creditable to my character, though I was not conspicuously
courageous in waging battle against it. But I can truly
say that never Jesuit, nor juggler, ever schemed more tricks
for avoiding that rule than I did. We suspended it, forgot it,
postponed it, tried to amend it, made appeals for money, told
them it was unlawful for them to hand it in, but that there was
a table in front of the pulpit and that it would hold money if
it were laid upon it, or that ushers had good hearts and lai^
hands and could be trusted. I brought missonaries there
unexpectedly and they told their story and made thwr appeals
and I, with the neateet style of ministerial hypocrisy, told of the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
240 COUNTRY PEOPLE
infallible and unavoidable rule and then juggled with the crowd
and the misfflonaries went away regrettjng that there could be
no coUeciion, but with their pockets bul^ng with money. One
night when it nuned and the strict constructionists were nursing
thar rheumatism at home we punctured that rule ami it went
up in tJiiu air, an offering I hope unto the Lord."
"Friday night" he writes me "1 went with C&tlett np to his
church in Caroline and lectured yesterday, I feel deeply for
the country pec^le. They have a hard struggle and are very
poor. You will find out much more about country folks than
you ever knew and will learn to love them. They are simple
hearted and more real than town folks. I never weary of going
into their homes. They are helped by sympathy and it wiU
help lyou to sympathize with them. I am very happy in my
pastoral labors. We have had today a swarm of College Scrags.
Kate brought Fanny Jones with her from church and they had
a high time with the feUows,"
On Dec. 3rd my mother in writing to church work aays:
"It is the best panacea for all the ills of life of which we seem
to have had our share lately. I hope for better times though
I sometimes feel that the skies will never be any brighter here."
His next letter shows that he kept in touch with the matri
monial prospects of his niece, Nettie. '
"Richmond, Va., Dec. 5th, 1886.
"My DsiE E:
"It fleema hardly fiur to select Sunday night — my dullest
moment tor writii^ to you. But it is my time of leisure.
"Nettie's W glory shone in upon her the last week
and said Us love sick poetry to her in the regular orthodox
way. She is here tonight and near me as I write. She has not
yet uttered the word of final doom, but she is in a yielding
frame of mind. He is to come again and by that time I think
she will be ready to crown him the king of her heart.
"The interest in CI is very intense. Everybody
seems sorry for him and there is much hope that his sentence
may be commuted. But I see but faint chance for him. I
have never believed that the Governor would interfere. I
have not seen him for several weeks."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 241
The meoticm of the name "Ct " opens up one of the
darkest tragedies that Virspnia had known once the Civil War,
and, with this tragedy, Dr. Hatcher became pwnfully linked.
The drowned body of a young woman, — aoaa to become a
mother — ^was found floating in the city reservoir and on the
face of the young woman were 'Several bruises. SuBpidon
pointed to a promiEong young lawyer, Mr. T. J, CI of
county as the murderer. The arrest of Mr. CI
whipped the state into excitement. The day for the trial
arrived and the bright lights of the Virginia bar were arrayed
against each other and at the end the verdict was "Guilty".
Instead of pouring oil on the popular a^tation the verdict
served rather to lash it into much greater turbulence and to
divide the public into two camps, — opposite in opiniwi re-
garding the prisioner. Discusfflon of the verdict ruled the
hour at nearly every country store, street comer and family
fireside throughout the state; in fact it penetrated widely
into neighboring states.
Dec. 10th was the date set for the execution and on Dec.
7th, the Governor, on being importuned for a reprieve for
the prisoner, said."
"I would like to see- the spiritual counselor of the prisoner."
"Send for Dr. Hatcher" said the prisoner when informed of
the Governor's request.
Dr. Hatcher weet — three days before the day for the exe-
cution. The public were at once on tip toe of curiomty as to
whether the prisones- would make a confes^on to Dr. Hatcher.
"I saw the priscmer" wrote my father to me "very soon after
he received the news that the Governor had gone against him.
He was much d^ressed— far more than I ever saw him. He
felt that his last hope was gone and when I prayed with him he
wept. He said : 'I hope I am ready for death, but one does not
like to face these things so suddenly.'
"The Bichmond Dispatch" s^d next morning:
"As Dr. Hatcher came out of CI 's room he looked
very, very sad. He declined to say anything to the newspaper
reporters.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
242 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
"No" Sfud he "I would rather not. I dont know that the
prisoner would like it."
"So saying, he politely bowed himself off."
■ On that some day Dr. Hatcher presented to the Governor
the request for a reprieve for the prisoner. The request was
granted and he had the great satisfaction of aunoundng to the
prisoner that bis execution had been postponed until Jan. 14th.
December ilk to Jan. litkf More than a month of suspoise for
the prisoner, of excitement for the pubhc, of frantic appeals
for pardon and of racking strain and toil for Dr. Hatcher.
My mother writes on Dec, 9th:
"Your Pa has had a busy time this week — mainly at-
tending to CI .
"Everybody seems anziouB to hear about the case and
about your Pa's connection with it. - They stop him and make
all sorte of inquiries about it. When he went to see CI
Tuesday he says he looked more embarrassed than he had
seen hirn before."
The Richmond Dispatch of Dee. 11th aSaid:
"A rumor was widespread in the city yesterday that CI
had made a confession to Rev. Dr. William E. Hatcher, who
was in the jcul t^ see him".
On all sides the idea seemed to spring up that CI had
given some dark secret to Dr. Hatcher. It is difficult for the
reader to realize the intense excitement that then prevailed
throughout Virginia and even in other states. For example
Dr. Hatcher received the following letter from Washington :
"House op EEPRBSENTATrvBS U. S.
"Washinoton, D. C.
"Dear Bro. :
"Do all in your power to get CI to confess — and
make it public. Already public opinion is against you and
when it once downs a man he is gone. The papers seem to infer
that you try to keep his crime a secret. For the love of God
check this, as soon as possible."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 243
The reporters were voraciouB, and the public generally were
cl&morouB for Dr. Hatcher to tell the happenings in the j ul room.
Th«r strained curioaty almost demanded it, and hie self
control and courage were now put to severest test. He deter-
mined that the pubhc clamor and criticism should not drive
him mto the public press with the secrets of the prison cell,
and the pubhc seemed equally determined to extract the secrets
from him. His relation to the unfortunate man put upon him
one of the most delicat« and bewildering tasks that he had ever
faced. He determined to be the judge of what he would tell
the public and to choose his own time for giving information.
And BO he moved ahead, undisturbed by insistent appeals
often smiling at the frenzied importunities of the reporters who
peppered him with their questions at his house, his study and
on the streets and yet whom he always kept in good humor by
his playful obstinacy. It was one of his marked characteristics
that he would not allow himself to be dr^ooned into hasty,
impulfflve action. He did not blame the public for being in-
terested and curious, regarding hia intercourse with CI .
He knew that he was leamii^ things that they had a right to
know and that the world ought to know, and that were more
interesting than they ever imagined. But be decided that
when he did tell them it would not be by fitful little squibs
e^ven every day to reporters, to be served to the public in
sensational phrases. His sacred experiences in that prison
cell deserved more respectful treatment than that and he
resolved that when he did speak it would be in words that the
people would never fot^et.
He wrote to me, at this time, as follows:
"I see that you share the popular anxiety about CI .
It is the one absorbing topic in Bichmond and many persons
say that they cannot think or dream of anything else.
"My connection with the case haa given me a troublesome
and unpleasant notoriety. The reporters swarm around me and
seek to extract every possible item from me. They get nothing
and seemed sorely vexed by my stubborn taciturnity. . ,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
i
244 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
"As for the matter of a confession — the one absorbing topic
ot curioaty — I think it is best to be silent. You would be
amused to see how I am besieged, even by strangeis and friends
on the subject. From every quarter I bear that I am discussed
with ahnost as much ctfficent as if I were the principal actor.
Only here and there I am blamed for my sympathy with him.
This, of course, ^vea me no trouble. I feel the delicacy of
my portion and need wisdom. I am anxious to be fwthful
in my efforts to help the poor soul to prepare for its
flight.
"I have written thus fully because I thought you would long
to hear. I have said nothing that you may not repeat to others,
if you have occa^on to do so. I wiH viat him two or three times
this week and if anythii^ should occur of interest and proper
to repeat I will write agun."
One day in the prisoner's cell a tr^c scene was enacted.
Dr. Hatcher said to the prisoner in a kindly tone and yet with
finnness:
"I feel that I must say several things to you:
"The last act in your sad career is drawing to a speedy end.
Nothing can now be done for you, and I beg you to turn from
any further hope of release, and prepare to enter tJbiat ^emity
which is at hand.
"I do not know whether you are innocent, or guilty, but
with you that is a simple question. If you are innocent it is
a joyful fact for you — but even your innocence will not save
you. Your hope must be built not upon your innocence erf
this charge, but on Christ the Son of God.
"But the evidence against you is very strong. Three tri-
bunals have practically pronounced you guilty. If you are
guilty, your guilt is terrible and you dare not hope for mercy
if you appear before God's Judgment Bar with your unconfessed
guilt upon you. But you must consider that a mere confession
will not save you. If guilty of this crime, you cannot be saved
without confession and your confession must be voluntary
and not forced out of you by fear of the gallows; but it is also
true that, even with your confession, you cannot be saved
except through your faith in Christ as your redeemer."
"Now let me say" continued Dr. Hatcher "I will accept any
statement you make to me as to your guilt, or innocence, as
final, and I shall act upon it."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 246
"I am not guilty, Dr. Hatcher. I am innocent of the blood
of lillian M ," said CI .
"If you make tiiOb statement to cover the whole case" re-
plied Dr. Hatcher "then I accept it and will treat you ac-
cordingly."
CI alao added:
"I have never had much hope of deliverance unce the ver-
dict of the jury, but I have felt it my duty to fight against
the shame and cruelty of the gallows, and besides the love of
life is very natural."
On Dec. 15th my mother wrote me:
"People are craey to hear whether 01 will confess
or not, and seem determined to try to drive your Fa into
talking about it."
In a letter to me of Dec. 19th, he sud:
"Tonight I preached on 'Confesaon' which put the crowds
to BpeciUating about CI . It seems that ^ I do is
watched with a keen and eager curiosity. I discussed the
elements of a good confession and the people could easily see
what my notions of an acceptable confesKon were.
"CI is terribly excited about the watch key. He
says that Joel has stated a falsehood about it. I know not
what to think about it. I told him not to set his' hope on any
earthly thing. I see no chance for him except in such extra-
ordinary Providences as rarely come."
The tide of sentiment in favor of the prisoner seemed to be
riamg. Mr. Edgar Allan, one of lUchmond's most brilliant
lawyers, became interested in the case, declaring "More people
beheve him innocoit today thaa ever before." He intimated
that witnesses had been suborned.
Dr. Hatcher found himself between two forces. The courts
pointed to the prisoner's guilt and execution, while the pris-
oner hinuelf, whose friend he was seeking to be, was pleading
an opposite course. He had to pursue a path, marked by
reE^>ect for justice and truth, on the one hand, and on the other
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
246 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
band by ^sympathy for the prisoaer, who was leaning upon
As the fateful day, Jan. 14th, drew near, everybody seemed
to be expecting something startling to happen.
On Jan. 9th., five days before the date set for the execution,
he wrote me :
"There is no hope that I can see for CI and I think
that he has pretty well ^ven up. He seemed more flushed
and excited yesterday, than I ever saw him before. He excited
my deepest pity. He could not talk so placidly as usual, and I
felt a suspicion that he was less emphatic in asserting his
innocence, than heretofore. He said: 'if the worst comes to the
worst I am anxious to avoid everything sensational at my
execution, I have made my statement in my book and I shul
have nothing more to say.' But this may all b^ changed. He has
now to turn his face away from the world and look squarely
at death and eternity. When he ceases to deal with the en-
grossing and tantalizing schemes for his escape from his doom
and finds no lingering gleam of hope, he may not be able to hold
up. If he is guilty, it will be hanl for him to meet death with
the damning secret in his soul.
"And yet he is in a fearful dilema. He cannot confess with-
out bringing the blackest suspicions about his family. If the
watch-key was his, then brother and aunt are guilty of perjury,
for they swore that it was not. They would be liable to arrest.
Then, too, his book would go for nothing.
"I have not even yet surrendered all hope of his innocence.
But I am very doubtful. 1 have not sought to drive him to a
confession. This I could not do, except on the assumption
of his guilt, and that in the face of his professed innocence.
Besides, I think a coerced confesaon is worthless.
"The case is extremely perplexing to me. It has crushed
me into a painful depression. At one moment, I fear that he is
guilty and will die with a lie on his lips; the next, I think tiiOt
he inay be innocent and I fear that it will be a judicial murder,
and sometimes I imagine that the terror of death will wring
a confession from him when it will do him no good.
"I seem to myself a very feeble and incompetent counselor,
not to have advanced further with his case. But I have advised
with other men and they say that my course has been right.
I have sought to be faithful with him and cannot see that I can
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 247
have much occaffion for reproach when it is over. What I have
written must prove unsatiafactory and bewildering to you. I
send it because you will expect something and not because I
am anxious to write about it."
"You muat wfut imtil next Sunday night, and then I will
^ve you Hie end of the dreadful matter."
The fight to save the ptison^a life was redoubled. An
f4>peal waa sent to ihe members of the L^uslature.
"The r^wrters have a notion" eaid the Dispatch "that Dr.
Hatcher knows sontething which would be inteoaely interesting
to the public if he would oaly let it out." In Lynchburg
a poll was taken and 70 persons, out of 100, thought that
CI oi^t not to be hung, but that his sentence ought
to be commuted. It was announced that three jurors who
c<mdemned CI now favored his sentence being com-
muted and would agn a petition to that effect.
Only one day remained. One o'clock, on the next day,
Fridi^ waa the time set for the hanging. On Thursday night,
with the pressure becoming so heavy, Dr. Hatcher decided to
make another effort with the Governor. He called upon him
and laid before him an ^plication for a further reprieve, but
no answer was ^ven that night. "Your father found the Goveiv
nor saturated with a belief in his guilt" said my mother. The
hours of that night dragged with leaden feet for Dr. Hatcher
aa wdl as for the prisoner. Next morning, after breakfast,
he set out for the prison to await the events of that direful
day, for he had promised that if the prisoner was to be hung,
he would go to the scaffold with him. As he walked to the
Jail, he decided that he would surest to the prisoner that he
take with him to the scaffold the prayer: "Lord Jesus receive
nqr spirit." He reached the Jul and the little group in the
priaoner's room showed suppressed excitemoit. The attorney
was at the Capitol, busy with his final appeal to the Qov^nor.
The execution was to take place at 1 o'clock. Dr. Hatcher
read one of the Psahns to the prisoner and CI stopped
him and said:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
248 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
"Dr. Hatcher, I have had but one prayer on my lips today
and that is, 'Lord Jeaus receive my spirit.' " "That is the very
prayer" s^d Dr. Hatcher "that I hfid decided to suggest that
you take with you to the end." After the reading Dr. Hatcher
led in prayer.
In the meantime, the strain of suspense, as they wfuted
to hear from the Qovemor, became almost iotoletable.
Dr. Hatcher had pres^ited his plea to the GoTOTior cm Uie
night before and Mr. Cramp and others were presni^ ^e E4>peal
up(m him in that last hour. At about twelve o'clock, Mr. Crump
was seen approaching the door. Instant silence fell upcMi the
little company and, as the attorney entered, he annotmced that
the Governor had refused to interfere in any way with the
executitm. The prisoner's "knees trembled and almost smote
each other. That was the terrible moment for him." Dr.
Hatcher and the prisoner, in those next awful momenta, w«re
left alone. As sotn as the last person had moved out and tiie
door was eloaed, the two knelt in prayer. When they arose
to their feet. Dr. Hatcho- turned. to the prisoner and sud to
bim in aa kindly a tone as he could:
"All ear^y hope is now passed and death is at hand. I sup-
pose this will be the last moment you and I will be alone and
if there is anything you dedre to say to me it must be s^d at
once."
"No; Doctor, I have nothing to say. My statentmt must
stand as I gave it."
"I want to say to you, Dr. Hatcher" he continued "that the
Bible has been a great comfort to me and I would certainly
have broken down but for its promises. My trust for the
future is in Jesus Christ and I have no fear beyond death."
At 12:30 o'clock, while CI was dressing for the
scaffcrfd. Dr. Hatcher stepped outside and engaged in conver-
sation with Mr. Crump. "The faces of both of them" said the
Dispatch "betrayed excitement, which they stru^led to
repress and hide." After a few minutes, Mr. Crump left.
Then commenced the march to the scaffold. The big heavy
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 249
door awung open and the party slowly filed out of the room, —
Sergeant Mason in the lead. Sergeant Smith and CI—
n«xt, with Dr. Hatcher and Sergeant Allen, behind them.
With measured treed they moved down the passage to the
top of the stairs, where they were joined by four police officers.
Down, down the two fiights of steps they walked and, aa they
began their descent, the throngs outdde the Jul caught dgfat
of the prisoner and the hills resounded with their wild shouta.
They reached the bottom of the scaffold and then began to
ascend the sixteen scaffold steps. It must have been a weary
climb for more than one of tiiat party. They reached the
platform and CI walked to the trap door and stood
over it. Dr. Hatcher walked to the right comer of the plat-
form to the front of CI who looked very solemn.
Absolute stillness prevailed. Sei^eant Smith drew forth a
p^>er and read the death warrant. When he finished, he
said to the prisoner : "Do you wish to say anything?"
The prisoner looked up at him and with a pleasant smile,
but with quiveru^ lips, a^d:
"No; I do not want to say anything."
"Not a word?" asked the sergeant.
"No Sir."
Sergeant Smith stepped back and mgnaled to Dr. Hatohw,
who walked forward and said:
"Let ufl pray."
He had his hat in his hand, and kneeling down, he offered a
prayer m a clear voice and earnest mann^. Am<mg other
things he said (aa reported m the paper next morning) :
"We humbly beseech thee to come and look down upon tby
servant now in this, which is to be the hour of bis supreme
affliction and trial, and we commend him to thy tender mercy
in this hour when human law pronounces this sentence agunst
him, when human friendship and human sympathies are un-
availing. Oh, that the mercy of God may be abundantly be-
stowed upon him; may his am be freely for^ven; may he be
able to hold a firm and sustaining grasp of the promises of
that Savior that years ago he confe^ed. And we pray that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
260 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
the light of the true God may Bhine into Mb mind and that the
promises of the Lord may be to him full fuid bright. Oh, God,
our father, we commit his spirit into thy hands and pray that
he may be able to say, 'I know whom I have believed and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
to him.' Oh, God, wilt thou show thy mercy uptsi all who are
here and upon the broken hearted ones who are away, w6 ask
for our dear Redeemer's sake Amen."
Dr. Hatcher arose from his knees and stepped to CI ,
and sud:
"Have you anything you wish to say?" CI said
something to him, after which Dr. Hatcher turned to the
crowd and sfud:
"I am requested by the prisoner to utter just one word and
that is that at this moment of his death he carries no ill will
to any man on earth." He then turned to the prisoner and said:
"la that all?"
With a nod of his head he said, in a low voice:
"Yes."
Dr. Hatcher, with his hat in hand, then shook hands with
the prisoner and said to him; "God bless you."
"Good bye, Doctor," replied CI , "I am very much
obliged to you. Please try to comfort those at home, and give
them my love."
Sei^eant Smith beckoned to one of the policemen, who came
forward and acted as an escort for Dr. Hatcher, as he wended
his way through the crowd and out into the street. Just before
he reached the gate, he turned around and looked towards the
scaffold and his eye fell upon CI , with the rope around
his neck. Out from the prison gate he went, with his hat in his
hand. He never, stopped until he reached the home of his
friend. Dr. R. H. Pitt, seven blocks distant. "When he reached
my house," said Dr. Pitt," he was as white as a sheet and he
had come all the way through the streets, on that January
day, without putting on his hat; he still carried it in his hand.
He was greatly wroi^bt up — ^more than I had ever seen him
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
. LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY 251
before. We nude him lie down on a ooucb where, after a while,
he became ocxmpoaed."
He had gone to Dr. Pitt's house for a purpose. He knew that
on the next morning the papers would blazon abroad the
scenes attendii^ the hanging and that in nearly every mind
would be the queiy "What did CI say to Dr. Hatcher?"
He bad promised that after the execution be would unlock
his lips and epealc to the public. That time had now come and
90, with hia soul quivering with the horrors of the last ee&ie,
he wrote out the tragical story, — wrote it in the shape of an
"mterview", with Dr. Pitt acting as the rqmrter.
Next morning, aa the Richmond Dispatch sped into every
section of Virgima and into many other states, it carried on
its first page this "interview with Dr. Hatcher." It was four
colunme in length and was literally devoured by the reading
public. I well remember the eagerness of the countiy people,
where I was teaching, to get the papers with the interview.
I also remember the hig^ praise which the "Interview" evoked
from all claaseB. Prominent men in the state pronounced it
a woi^ of high art, — and prused it for its diction, its skill, its
tone and spirit. The Interview bore the head line:
"Dr. Hatdier aptaka at last"
The following are some of the questions and answers:
"Reporter. Was the effect of your association with him to
increase or diminish your suspicion of bis guilt?"
"Dr. Hatcher. I am not very impressible and men have to be
quite magnetic to take pOBseasion of me. I traveled slowly in
forming my judgement of CI , but I must say that
while I never expressed any opinion one way or the other, I
found myself gradually drif ! ing to the conviction that CI
was not a murderer."
"Reporter. 'Your study and nianagement of the case must
have given you much anxiety.'
"Dr. Hatcher. 'As to the question of my personal feelings
that possesses no interest for the public and on this I will not
speak. . . . What to do and how to do it, so as to be of
real christian service to the helpless object of my charge, were
haras^ng and bewildering problems. At one moment, 1 faced
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
262 LINKED WITH A TRAGEDY
the possibility of his guilt and feared that he would brave
death without a confession. At another, I wondered whether
he m^t not defer his conlesaon, until brought to tiie scaffold
and then make it when it would be wrong in its motive and
worthleBS in its effect. At another, and indeed very often, I
suffered the agonies of a dreadful f^prehendon lest after all,
b^ng an innocent man, he might die the victim of the law's
"RepcHter. 'Do you think that the prisoner was prepared
for Heaven?'
"Dr. Hatcher. 'That is a question too solemn and profound
_ for me to touch. I believe in the immortality of the soul and in
the reality and gloTy of the heavenly state. . . . Ctt this
question I choose to be silsnt and leave the refluH to that God
into whose presence the prison^'s spirit haa gone.'
"Reporter. 'Did hemake any confession, or gjve any hintof it?'
"Dr. Hatcher. 'Not one word, and nothing occurred that sug-
gested to me that he was struggling to keep back any secret.'
"Reporter. 'Will you be kind enough to reproduce the
prayer you offered on the scaffold.'
"Dr. Hatcher. 'I beg to be excused. It was a brief and
unpremeditated prayer, such as the aad ocoamoD suggested and
I could not possibly reproduce it.'
"Reporter. 'Thank you Doctor; but may I ask you if, after
all, you do not think he was a guilty man?'
"Dr. Hatcher. 'That I have never said aod surely, at this
time, it would be strange for me to commit myself to that ^dew.
I have no wi^ to add to the frenzied excitem^it, which now
fills so many hearts. The poor young man is dead and beyond
the reach of human sympathy. My opinion is of little worth
but I knew him, as no other man did during his prison Ufe,
and, while I do not wish to discuss the matter, I must be candid
enough to say that I am far from being convinced that he
merited the shameful death to which he has come.' "
The story of his experience with CI , from Dec.
5th to Jfui. 14tb, has been given in unbroken form, uninter-
rupted by any reference to his other activities. But during
all that period his shouldera carried many burdens of the pas-
torate and of outside matters. It was fortunate for him that
be had other tasks to divert his mind from the horrible ordeal
at the jail.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTEEXXU
. AH BntrrruL phatbb hebtino. sevebal wsekb revival cah-
PAiaif. ooRRBcrmo hib children's dkttiok. bundat
8CHBDUIX. "lII>E OF 1. B. IBTBB."
During aU the weeks of his atraiiui^ ezperioDce with CI
he was bemg hampered from ODother direotitm. The diatur-
beiB in his chnreh, who had bees troubling him for aeveral
years, were still piuBuing their fonner tactics, not only against
the pastor, but also against scnne of the movements of the
church. Their words and actions kept the church in more or
lees agitatiui and robbed the pasttn* of many hours of sleep.
In one of his letters to his friend, Mr. Chariee Pratt of Brooklyn,
be droi^ped a bint of his chunji worries. In r^ly Mr. Piatt
wrote:
"New Yore, 26 Broadwat, Jan. 27th, 1887.
"Dear Db. Hatcher; . . . You have made no mistake in
op^ng your heart to me. . . It seems to me that I would
just do my duty and never mind the thorns that meet you on
the way — ^you will find that tb^- are everywhere. We all
have them, and I never expect this side of Heaven to be witJiout
them — BO there is a pair of us. I often tiiink of the first ch^ter
of Joshua, I think it is where he is told to be of good courage.
"Your Friend,
"Charles Pratt."
"lilnally the situation with these members grew unbearably
acute" he stud "and things were done that I would not dare
to tell. They were too bad to tell and showed what good men
would do when untracked and reckless. Events were bo serious
D.qit.zlaovGoOt^lc
254 CALL TO JUDSON COLLEGE
and fierce that they brought me to a pause. I took my burden
aguu to the throne and aeked for instructJoufi. For the fint
time I felt willing to go, if the Lord indicated cleariy okough
that it was his will for me to go, though, to save my life, I
oould not feel that it would be best for me to be eliminated
imder the dictation of that faction.
On Jan. 30th he wrote me:
"My work here is vety heavy on me and often burdois me
with anxiety and care. At times I sigh for liberty, but work
is the law of life
"I am tugging aw^ on the Jeter book — a fearful woric."
While in this imcertain condition, he opened his mfdl one
day and found a letter extoiding to him a call to the preadency
of the Judson Female College of Marion Ala. He stud "I had
asked the Lord if he would have me go, to open the gate and
now the gate was open with a most attractive offer in
si^^t."
After two weeks consideration, he decided to deolme the call
to Judson Collie. He would not nm from trouble. "Never
was the situation more complex or menacing" stud he. Not
a single member knew of Hiis call, or Mb declination. It was on
Wednesday morning that he decided to remain with his church.
On that night he went to his prayer meetii^, determined to
ask his church to begin a revival campaign. He hoped that
such meetings would melt the heart of his church and weld them
into harmony and co-operation. He went with trembling,
however, because the men who were giving him the most
trouble had been saying durii^ the winter that the time had
not arrived for revival meetings,and be feared that they would
oppose his sugg^ion about having the meetings. That nigh t
the climax came. When the pastor presented the quesUcoi as
to whether the meetings should be attempted and if so, who
should hold them, the leader of the oppoation arose and
s^d:
"I believe we ought to hold the meetii^ and I am ready and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A HAPPY PRAYER MEETING 255
anxious to go into it. I want to be converted over again,
for I do not feel ready to die as I am. And" aaid he "I want
our pastor to hold these revival meetings and not Mr. Needham,
or anybody else."
No sooner had be said this than brother - — - - ■ ■ a close
associate of the last speaker in the factional trouble said:
"Brethr^i, I am in favor of our pastor holding the meeting.
I want to go into it untrammeled. The time is come for our
people to stop tale bearing and misjudging each other. A
meeting we must have and I want the pastor and nobody else
to hold it."
Brother jumped up and said:
"These are the best speeches I have heard for fifty years and
I move we have a hand shake."
"Not yet" spoke up Dr. Hatcher "put it off a httle while;
may be tiiere are some who are not ready for it," He did not
wish to force matters. But the meeting increased in power
to the end, one brother saying "I have never known what
religion was until tonight "
"That night in the prayer meeting" said Dr. Hatcher "those,
who for so many years had blocked my way and embittered
my existence, one after another, quietly laid down their arms
and declared their loyalty to me as their pastor and their
readiness to work with me in the future. There it was — ^the
end had come in a moment, unannounced and was greeted on
my part with no noisy demonstration, no thought of victory
in my soul, but boundless gratitude to God and with confidence
renewed in Amplest terms with those who had fought me. The
war was over and I was there."
It seemed to be the ending of a ten year's strain and every
body was happy. Dr. Hatcher rejoiced in it, but he gave
forUi no tumultuous shout. He knew the frailty of human
nature and postponed his celebration of victory. On a former
ocoason some of these hostile brethren had seemed suddenly
to have abandoned thdr opposition and to have become very
friendly to him. I, a boy, was jubilant about it at that fonner
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
256 LETTER TO DR. J. L. M. CURRY
tune and vhen I thai epoke to him about it as we woe driving
down town in the buggy, I expected to find him even man
OTerjoyed than I was. But he put some new thoi^ts in me
hy replying: "Ah my lad human nature is a weak stick and
we must not lean on it too heavily. I rejoice in th^r new
friendliness but I never stake my destiny on men."
He believed in their good intentjona and hoped for tiie best.
His mail brou^t him a hU&t from his friend, Dr. J. L.
M. Curry, — at that time U. S. Embassador to Spun, praising
him for his course in the CI case. "He spreads the
glory very thickly upon me— indeed ha overdoee it" he wrote
me. His reply to Dr. Cuny's letter was as followa:
"Richmond, Va., Feb. 16th, 1887.
"Mt Dear Brotheh, — Your letter r^reahea me. It comes at
a good moment — after I have cooled down from the excit^noit
of my prison ordeal. The experience was essentially bitter to me
in many respects and peculiarly so, in the coarse and unsavory
sort of notoriety into which it brought me. That you thought
well of my performance is pleasant to me. It is exceedin^y
agreeable to extract some drops of comfort from an affair which
had so many pfunful features.
"My own affairs — not financial are in a lu^py frame. . .
"My church is in a blessed state. You know I have had a
rough and discordant element to contend with. It has been an
arrow in my heart and often I faced the question of pulling out,
but a strong hand held me. I could not go. This winter I had
the offer of another field. . . I declined. That day a cyclone
struck my church — a holy, heavenly thing it must nave been.
It came suddenly and blew over the ramparts of my hostile
and cranky brethren. They furled their banners and fell into
line. So far as I can see they are in perfect accord with me.
As I had no resoitments to conquer, I met them far down ^e
road and took than to my heart. It is tiie Lord's doings and
marvelous in the sight of men. Last night we b^an a meeting
and the agns are most propitious. . . I blush to send you
such a preposterous letter, — so tedious, so egostistic and so
laden with posap. I can trust it with you but I fear that if it
should fall mto Mrs. Curry's hands she would despise me for-
ever. 9end me some points on Dr. Jeter and I will see if I
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A SEVEN WEEKS' MEETING 257
camiot Ume myself up for a better perfonuance by tiie next
time. . . "Yours as ever
"W. E. Hatoher."
Never before had the light ahone so brightly on hia pastorate
as now. The momentouB fact with him, at this time, however,
was his revival campaign.
"I never saw such beanung faces," he writes. "Eve^body
seems in ecstasy — so much so I fear they will not work for the
salvatioD of fflnuers as they ought."
The meeting ran for seven weeks, during which time the
entire leadership of the campaign, including all the preaching
was upon his shoulders. On Sunday night, at the end of the
third week, he wrote:
"It has been long indeed since I have had such a satisfactory
Sunday. Our Sunday School had over six hundred in it. The
congr^ation packed the Soor and neariy filled the galleries."
Two hundred men came forward to express thrar devotion
to Christ and the church.
"It was a dght not to be forgotten. In the afternoon I had
nearly 100 in my Boys Meeting. This was followed by a Men's
Meeting, which must have bad 150 in it. Tonight we had a
packed bouse."
"I never saw the church work so well. . ." said he; and
he also remarked that he thought that Grace Street, the First
and the Leigh Street Chiirches ought to divide, and then he
added: "We could multiply by dividing. This is spiritual
mathematics." At the end of the fourth week, on Sunday
night, he writes and, after telling of blessed experiences at
the morning and afternoon services he says:
"Tonight the crowd was simply overwhehmng. It padced
even^ part of the room
"I find myself decidedly nervous tonight. Miss Effie is
charmed with Grace Street. She thinks it a great church and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
258 A GROWING EEVIVAL
really, if its present excellent Epirit continues, it will be the
happiest church and the most useful in the city. . . There
is the UBual parade of Colle^ans in the parlor tonight."
"The harmony is delightful" writes my mother. During
these meetings the printer was ever bombarding him for copy
for the Jeter book. At the aid of the fifth week, my mothn
writes me:
"Your father has been so wrought up that I am cdmilarly
affected with him through sympathy, and long for the time to
come when he will be freed from his exacting work of preparing
copy. . . I am firmly convinced that he has too much on
him and that he must not keep on any longer than is necessary,
at this rate. He is more nervous than I have ever known him,
and has not so much elasticity and spirit aa formerly."
On Sunday night he wrote me:
"I have had another busy Sunday on the earth. Things
have rolled high at Grace Street. About 660 in the Sunday
School, which is the highest for many days. The morning
congr^ation was simply grand — many ladies had to go in the
gallery. There must have been 150 youi^ men and boys in
the gallery. The lower fioor had a solid padc. There were two
converaons,
"In the afternoon I had my boys meeting — attended the
funeral of Miss Mary Ballou's sister and went to S. S. Aaaociar
tion. When I readied home I bad company — Mr. McRae
and Mr. Wycliffe Abrahams. Tonight another overflowing
crowd. I baptized seven."
The tide of the meetii^ continued to rise. During the
oxth week my mother wrote on the 15th:
"Mr, X told your Papa last night that he never
meant to ^ve any more trouble in any church — ox years
of strife had cured him. He said he and Z greatly
appreciated your Papa's kindness to them, but he uiought
that some people might object to their being so prominent and
that he must not call on them to pray so often. Your Papa
hopes to finish his book in two weeks.
"Today was great," he writes. "We had 672 in the Sunday
School. I have not preached a sermon that seemed to move
the people eo mudi as that of this moming. It is so blessed
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CORRECTING CARELESS SPEECH 259
to be upheld by the free sympathy of my people that I seem
not to get weary.
"Several deaominational questions have been giving me some
embarrassment of late. They press me heavily, when I feel
that I am too much engrossed to consider them. I cannot
mention them now."
On the 13tb, he wrote me: .
"I anticipate the completion of my book with something of
the feeling with which a convict must contemplate hia release
from prison. I will have a jolly time restii^ when the buniea
rolls off, — if the Lord will."
In one of his letters to me he gives a peep into the dining
room with the family at the table. Some of the childr^i were
in the habit of ex^geratlon in their table talk and he set about
breaking it up. He writes me;
"The chief topic of conversation, at our table, is exwjeration,
May and Lill are the exagg^ratora and Edith and Tare the
critics. I am constantly struck with the care and accuracy of
EdiUi, in what she says. It is rare that she ever overstates
anything. Her moral perceptions are very clear aod correct.
She can see and state a thing with singular fidelity. Every-
thing is real to her. She is as yet (and may she ever be) a
stranger to all crooked devices."
He finds yet another interloper in the dining-room vocabu-
lary,— the word "certwnly." "I certainly am thirsty," "I cer-
t^nly did have a good time last night," "That certainly is an
interestii^ book" were some of the ^cclamatitms by which some
of the children at the table overworked the much abused word.
"We are having a Uvely time at the table" he writes "with
the rule about the use of the word 'Certainly'. If any one uses
the word t«n times he, or she, loses butter for one supper. May
has gone without butter five times. Tonight she, Ckxinie, Lill
and Edith went minus butter at supper. Kate has been on the
hooks only once. They enjoy it-that is, the fun. Lill and Edith
inmsted on 'joining' and of course they had to suffer the penalty
which they think is quite an honor. The butter bill is much
reduced — ^to the satisfacticm of your mother."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
260 AN ARTICLE BOILED DOWN
Ha waged war agwnst the overloading of sentences. For
example, he wrote me about the "exaggerators" and added the
following:
"I think you ought to tiy your hand on an article for the
Baltimore Baptist. You might work it up carefully and by
d^^ees. It is very important for you to practice ^e art of
composition. Try to write — not much, but well."
I acc^ted his suggestion shut my door out at my couBtiy
school and eased my pen. The subject chosen was "Memory"
- and I wrote and rewrote and adorned and polished the article
until it seemed to have reached the pinnacle of my literary art
and I sent it to Bichmcsid for the critical eyes of my father.
In a few days the manuscript came back to me accompanied
by the impresave announcem^it that the article was good
but that it had an overstock of words and must be cut down.
I caught my breath and began my word slaughter. Some
highly prized adjectives were regretfully mustered out of
service. I shook the sentences, boiled and pressed them down,
and when I thought I had reached the limit of reduction, I
sent him the result. To my surprise and chagrin, a few days
later, on opening my mail, I found again my manuscript returned
to me with a letter from my father stating that I bad greatly
improved it, but that it was not yet ready for publication and
must be boiled down again. Once more I tugged at it, pulled
the paragr^bs to pieces, reshaped the sentences and struck
to the earth every interlopii^ word and sent the paper to
him once more. I never saw the manuscript again, but in
a week or so I had the new, strange pleasure of reading my
article in the Baltimore Baptist. The opening sentence in the
manuscript, which I first sent him read as follows. "It is one
of the distinctive marks of the mind that, whatever it cmce as-
quires, it ever afterwards retains." That s»it«ice seemed to
me to have a swing and dash that would startle even the elect.
Whei^my father got tbro;^ with me and I got throi^ with
that sentence it read "What the mind acquires, it holds."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A SUNDAY SCHEDULE 261
"Trim, "polish and refine every paragraph" he writes at
another time, "sharpen to the keenest edge, and let each word
bear part in ^ving body to thought"
At one time, as editor of the Herald, he uttered a warning
to those who wrote articles for his paper, urging them to a^ul
ooiy the cream, — and that condensed, — of thdr thoughts.
"At this feast" he says "watered milk is a thii^ of loathing.
To m^ of genius there are times of unwonted inspiration —
when their powers are quickened into extraordinaiy vitality,
vhen they catch new and ravishing viaons of truth and when
their thoi^ts leap into living words. Let them send us their
diE^atches from the mountain tops and they who read will
look upward and grow better."
His life for the next nx or dght months was crowded with
sermons, lectures, editorials, meetings and trips in many
directions. He dehvered a lecture to the negroes, — at which
he said that he ha4 a ripping crowd and tiiat Uiey almost
laughed themselves pale. His Boys Society under his (Erection,
gave an entertainment with their dialogues and "hundreds were
turned away."
"RiCHicoND, Va., April 24th, 1887.
"My Dear E:
"Here's my day:
1. Breakfast at 8:15.
2. Study sermon till 10.
3. In Sunday School till 11.
4. Sermon till 12:15.
5. Collection for State Missions till 12:45.
6. Dinner and company till 2:30.
7. Boys Meeting till 3:30.
8. Funeral tiU 4:30.
9. Rehearsal of boys till 5:30.
10. Young Men's Missy Sodety till 6.
11. Study of sermon till 6:30.
12. Rest and supper till 7:30.
13. Study of sermon till 8.
14. Preaching till 9.
15. Baptism and Inquirers till 9:30.
16. Boy's rehearsal till 10:15.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
262 LIFE OF DR. J. B. JETER
"The girls have had a harvest of Bcrags tod^. Thia must
end here. "Yours, "W. E. H."
At the Southern Baptist ConTration, in Louisville m May,,
he engineered a collection for the purohase of a large Thea-
tre in Havana, Cuba, for missionaiy work. "And it was
largely due to his exquiate tact and managanent" says the
Herald "that it came out so well. It is hard to have any patience
with a man who can do so many things so well as Dr. Hatcher
can."
At last, his new book, "life of Jerenuah B. Jeter", came from
the press and met an enthuoastjc reception. Spurgeon, the
great London preacher, said to Dr. James Nelson "I have read
every word of Dr. Hatcher's Life of Jeter, and there is not a
dull line in it." He had been beset with tribulations in his
efforts to write it, for it was during his harrowing experience
in the CI case and later, during his seven weeJcs
meetings, that he had done most of the work.
"For the man who has three sermons to produce" he writes
"various religious services to conduct, pastoral calls to make,
funerals and marriages to attend, company congenial, and some
times very otherwise, to entertun, daily tides of letters to read
and answer, with Board meetings, ecclesiastical councils,
committees, ordinations and numberless outside engagements
ever pressing upon Mm some allowance ought in common
fairness to be made when he undertakes to write a book."
He wrote the above concerning Dr. Jeter's literary labors,
but the words also describe his own e^>erience in writing the
Jeter book.
"What is more delightful than a life of lettered ease" says
Cicero, but Dr. Hatcher's writings, which charmed many
readers, were bom in the stress and rush of a metropolitan
pastorate. It was of course, not the ideal method of com-
position. It is Eichter who says "Never write on a subject
without first having read yourself full of it and never read on
a subject without having thought yourself hungry upon it",
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LIFE OF DR. J. B. JETER 263
but the author of "The life of J. B. Jeter," had to pick up his
peu while on the run and use it amid the din of many duties."
This was his first and in some respects his most interesting
book. He vaa fortunate in his subject, for Dr. Jet^s career
was a remarkable one. He and the Doctor were bom in the
same home and were descended from the same grandfather.
Od the opening page of the book, he says:
"I harbor no grudge against noble birth and would not dis-
parage the benefits which belong to those who spring from dis-
tinguished families. At the same time, I am so intensely
American in my sentiments and convictions that I heartily
endorse the popular verdict that men are to be estimated not
by the accidents of fortune, but by what they are and by what
they do."
After speakii^ of Doctor Jeter resolving to make it the rule
of bis life "to do his very best," he continues:
"For nearly fourscore years he walked the earth inspired at
every step by that lofty sentiment. When he adopted it, he
was an ignorant and unnoticed youth; but when he came to the
end, a crown of honor was upon his brow."
He pictures the happiness of Dr. Jeter's old mother whsi he
would, in the days of his greatness, visit her in h^ mounttun
home:
"Ah, those were sunny days in the life of that motherl Who
can deacribe the pride and joy with which she bailed bis coming.
What charming breaks did those yearly visits maka in her
monotonous life. With what swelling rapture did she gase
upon her son, now rounded into fu& manhood, decked in
thickening honors and with the seal of Clod's blesdng upon
, him."
In comparing the Jeters and the Hatchers he writes:
"I have already qioken of the mercurial and boujrant tem-
perament of the Jeters. The Hatchers are not their equals
m elasticity and ardor of nature — but they are more practical.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
264 LIFE OF DR. J. B. JETER
sobea- and thoughtful. Dr. Jeter combined the best dunoter-
istios of both familiee."
He thus r^ers to Dr. Jeter's birthplace which was tdeo his
own birthplace:
'"He house in which he was bom would cut a sorry figure
if brought in compariBon with the stately and imposing edifices
which are now quite numerous in Northern Bedford. At the
time of its erection it was probably the most commodious
private residence in the entire community. . . It never
Icnew the refining touch of paint, and as a consequence pre-
sented to the eye of the stranger a weather beaten and neglected
appearance. But it was not without its attractive appearance.
"Inasmuch as it happens that in describing the birthplace
of Dr. Jeter I am, at the same time, describing my own diild-
hood home, I must be pardoned for the warmth and tender-
ness of my words.
"Oh, with what deep passion did I love that quiet old moun*
taia home. To my boyish fancy it was the center of the world.
It seemed always to nave been what it was and for awhile I
never dreamed that it could change. In all the heartbreaks
and woes of subsequent Uf e t have known no sorrow compared
with that sickness of heart which came with my first absences
from my father's house. Even now, under the glow of an
affectionate memoty, the faces and scen^ of those early dajn
take on a beauty so mellow and sad that I cannot recall them
except with moistenii^ eyelids.
"Beneath the cherry tree, at the comer of the gard^i, fll^
the dust of my Presbyterian mother, who died on my fourth
birthday and who, with her dying breath, prayed that her
two sons might become ministers of the gospel.
"There, in his lonely old age, dweit my father who made his
last bom his companion by day and always locked him fondly
to his breast through every Uve-long night. . . Royal
evoiings that household used to have around the winter fires,
with ample stores of apples, chestnuts and cider, aometinna
sin^png the old songs, sometimes reading aloud the paper or
the book and always ready for the spicy jest or the crafty
practical joke. Alas, the house is now in the hands of strangers".
He describes the birth of Dr. Jeter. After telling of a "shed
room" in the rear of the house, with "no fire place, no out-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LIFE OF DR. J. B. JETER 265
door and only one window that looked towards the West" he
continues:
"Such truant sunbeams as ventured to peer through that
little window on the 18th of July, 1802, enjoyed the distinction
of being the first to hul the advent of the then nameless little
stranger, whose subsequent story is to be unfolded in these
"The reader must have found out already that I am no
blind eulogist of Dr. Jeter. Of his errors and mist^es I have
spoken with unsparing candor. . . It surprised me that
I oould not put my band upon anything in his later life which
could be branded as manifestly witmg."
"It WW said that be did not know men. . . There are
two ways to find out men. The first is by su^idouB vigi-
lance. We assume that they are false and need to be watch^.
It is a mild form of the detective system. We eye our neighbor
as a doubtful character and expect to catch him in villainy.
"The other is by trustfulness. We start with the supposition
that men are upright and mean well. We trust them and put
tbem upon their honor.
"Wh^i he turned his two blue eyes upon a stranger and
subjected him to an examination he could find out about as
much as a professional detective. If he convicted a man of
rascality he refused to help him; if he stood the test he helped
him freely; if the case was in doubt he gave the applicant the
benefit of the doubt."
"The only half-hearted thing about him was his misery. He
could not produce a strong case of melancholy. His lamp of
hope burned dimly at times, but never went out. If he b^an
to grow gloomy, be soon came in raght of the ludicrous."
Concerning Dr. Jeter's memory he says:
"He refused to trust his memory in the days of its strength,
and it never fotgave him for the wrong."
"Dr. Jeter's love of hfe was wonderfully intense. . . He
loved nature, loved men, loved conflict, loved honor, loved to
think, loved to grow, loved to learn, and loved to work. The
blasts of adversity sometimes struck him rudely and his burdens
often got heavy, but sorrow never weakened in him the earthly
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
266 LIFE OF DR. J. B. JETER
tie. The sea of life was often rough and threw ita blinding
spray into his face, but the waves never went over him.
"He was not tormented by any imcertainity as to his future.
He did not cling to the ship from & dread of the aea. . . I
heard him aay publicly several times that if his religious hopes
were not well founded he would probably die without finding
it out. He waa so clear on his assurance, so deep and strong
in his joy and so entranced by his heavenly anticipations that
he said, if deluded, he never expected to be undeceived."
Concerning hia end he writes:
"He i^d not ^e out of time. Let no brokm shaft mark the
spot where sleeps his form. Let his monument be erect, tower-
ii^ and complete and upon its apex hang that crown of glory
which is the peculiar glory of the old.
"Time scattered snow flakes on his locks; care furrowed his
face and burdens bent his shoulders; but grace kept him bouyant
joyful and busy to the end. . . The ink had scarcely dried
in his pen when the ai^el came to oaU him."
It is in such rich and luminous style that he teUs the story ,
of Dr. Jeter's life. He follows him through his career as pastor,
author and editor closing with the cluster on "The happy
end."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXIII
1887-1888
LOVB FOB BEDFOBD. "life OF ). B. JBTBe" CRITICIZED. DBIVINQ
OVER THE BOT. OENIJINBNES8. OBIQINALITT.
He had proinised his friend, Dr. P. S. Henaon, of Chici^,
an article for tiie Baptist Teacher and he receved from the
Doctor the following letter:
"Mt Deab Hatcher:
"Wherefore comest thou not to time? I am on the tjp-toe
of expectation for that promised article. "Now, I want you
all to be so atill" said the visiting Sunday School orator, "that
you could hear a pin drop"; and we gamins, huddled in the Mis-
sion school, grew suddei^y silent with a painful stillness. "Let
her drop" said an impossible wretch. I have been wMting
and keeping stiil. Now beloved, let her drop — only dont let it
be an ordinary pin, but a javelin — a spear of Ithuriel, or some-
thit^ both sharp and weighty. Let her drop, next week, if
possible.
"Coming for a moment to still graver matters — My heart
is set on having you come to Chicago, if the thing can by any
means be compared."
There came from his editorial pen at this time a bright
article on the Monk^. It wore the title, "An Unworthy
Ancestor", and began as follows:
"Since Mr. Darwin and several other gentlemen have de-
dded that we descended from the monkey, we have quite a
different feeling for the monkey. It fills us with peculiar
emotions to visit the Zoological Gardens. It ia an outrage
upon our finer affections to see our ancestors locked up in a
267
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
268 MULTITUDINOUS TASKS
c^e and kept on exhibition. It seems wrong for us to have
to pay an admisdoD fee for the privilege of indulging a fond
glance at our forefathers. It is a great shock to our family
pride when some crippled littie It^an organ grinder oomes
hobbling along the streets and puts out one of our emaciated
grandfathers, with a string around his neck, and compels him
to dance for the amusement of his thankless posterity."
The next paragraph draws a picture of the appeals that were
presong him and the startling fact ia that it re[»«8eiits the
conditions under which he lived, not merely for that season,
but substantially for all seasons iind during all the years of his
Bichmond ministry.
"Letters, letters, letters. Mercy on usi What a floodi We
write and we write and yet there is the pile steadily growing
and frowning vengefully upon us. This wants a situation for
a young man; this asks for a Sunday School speech; this is a
request for some dialogues; this one has a church to build and
is reaching for our pockets; this one dedres a lecture and so
does this, and this, and this, and five others; this anoints us
with oil and sohcits ud in preparing a commencement speech;
this one praises us for something we never did and this lashes
us for not doing something that we did; this one wants a rec-
ommendation as a teacher and this is a boy with his first piece
for public print; this is a ctdl for a commencement address;
this an invitation; this an ordination; this is a bill, this anotbv
bill; Ah, mysterious life. Little dreamed we, when we got
our first letters years ago, that it would oome to this. But
it has come."
The Herald thus refers to his speech at the College Com-
"Dr. Wm. E. Hatcher delivered the Tanner and Gwin
medals. There is no man in Virginia who can speak so grace-
fully and appropriatdy on such an occasion as Dr. Hatcher."
He wrote quite tenderly about the love which men have tat
localities — that mysterious yearning fm certain spots <rf earth.
In writing of his passionate love for Bedford, he tells of how
resentful he felt at the changes which be found in his old
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LOVE FOR BEDFORD 269
county — ruthless cbaoges in the people, in the homes &nd m
the woodlands, and of how he therefore detomined to ke^
away from the country.
"Hiese changes hit me hard enough, at first" he writes. "I
said agiun and again that change was an outrage and that
violence had been done to the very sanctities of my childhood.
Once, or twice, I kept away for years and thought that the
stru^e was over. Not so, Ob friends; not so; it could not be
BO. That mystery within me — ^that poignant, insatiable yearn-
ing was still alive and it would grow on me until further resis-
tance seemed madness. The hills, the trees, the highways and
the homes had ^ored me, or pitilessly deserted me, and that
too after I had loved them with such rich and wondrous de-
voti<«.
"And yet I had to go back. Why I went — but that question
is out of order. That is a problem for the philosopher to tackle —
that is, if he f edls any interest in it. Surely it comes not within
Uie scope of my purpose, or power, to tell why my local passion
is so sbong; but I know it is strong; it is stronger than ever.
My soul would flame with love for Bedford if Bedford were
uumhabited and I were to pass through it alone at night."
This summer he vidts his old boyhood home in Bedford:
"As for the dear, old homestead, built by Rev. Jeremiah
Hatcher a full century ago, the birthplace of Dr. Jeter, the old
seat of hospitality and me spot endeared to us by many ties,
we know not how to speak of it. There it stands yet, but it
seems not the place it once was. We could have cried for
sorrow that the garden, the orchard and old 'Acorn Tree'
were gone forever. . . We roamed about the hills, hngered
at the old rock-bound spring, sauntered through the woods,
gazed at the quiet unchanging mountains and went again and
again to the spot where sleeps the dust of our precious dead."
But he could not protract his visit. Vir|^a pastors were
after him. Dr. L wanted him to attend the Potomac
Association because he was "anxious that the A380cia4a<Hi
make a good impresraon on the community." Another urged
him to attend the Goshen Association, saying "I want to
arrange to (pve you a good home, where you will have plenty
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
270 FHIENDLY CRITICISM
<d ice and a good time. . . If you prefer to have a home
nearer the cburch, I wiU give you the best I can." Another
wanted him at the Mt. Hermon Association, saying. "You
could thus be at the ordination and could get back to your
pollHt on Sunday." Great was the love of the coimtiy pastors
for him for they well knew that bis heart beat sympathetically
for them.
A gentleman criticized, in the public press, his "life of Dr.
Jeter," but he, instead of seizing his sword for defense, touched
up the humorous side of the affair. It often happened that
on occasions when others would become inQamed and when
he would be expected to be exoit«d he would dispel the panic
b^ an out-burst of humor. In the present instance, instead
of fighting for his book, he thus writes:
"Prof. , of MisEdouri, deserves the thanks of
a discriminating public. He has written a two columned
article for the Central Baptist, in which he rakes the "Idle
of Dr. Jeter" with the fine comb of criticism. He points out the
errors in the book, from the beginnii^ to the end, particularly
those in dates and punctuation. We have enjoyed the pro-
fessor's criticisms exceedingly. They are candid and consis-
tently adverse. He does not blend the sweet and bitter in
tantalizii^ proportions. He does not feast the man who wrote
the book first on caramels and then on mustard. His saccharine
supphes were out and so he furnishes a square meal of mustard.
That strikes us as a timely thing. The life of Dr. Jeter has
in our judgment been unduly praised and the author needs a
viedtation of adversity. This he has recdved at the hands of
Prof. , as a sort of parting salute, as he set forth on his
European voyage. We dare say that the man that wrote the
Life of Jeter wiU enjoy this critical review more than any other
surviving individual, — that is provided he survives."
The Baptist Courier opened fire on Prof. for
attacking Dr. Hatcher's book and called attention to the fact
that Prof. 's critical article had in it certain mistakes
of its own. Dr. Hatcher enjoyed the cross fire and in the Balti-
more Baptist after saying that the Baptist Courier had found
some slips in Prof. 's article, he writes that the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RXnraiNG OVER THE BOY 271
Courier "bai^ him [Prof. — '■ ] out in a somewliat
rediculous light before his readers," and then Dr. Hatcher adds:
"Now we submit that Prof. ought to be excused.
He probably wrote his article in a huny and had no opportunity
of reading his proofs. Besides, it seems to be fated that when
ft man undertakes the role of critic, he always exposes his
flanks. When one man attempts to whack another, he neces-
sarily imcoveiB his ribs to bis adversaries. We stand by Prof.
and recommend that the author of the Jeter book, whoever
be may be, accept his castigation in good part."
His Summer travels bro^jgbt him a startling experience. He
was in Leesburg, Va., vhea, one day, a friend with a ptur
of horsefl, of which he seemed immensely proud invited him
to take a ride, and he found himself seated in an open curif^
behind ft "bright, aiiy team. The roads were filled with dust"
he writes:
"and the horses moved along at very moderate rate. Down
the street ahead of us, at the gate of a friend of ours, stood a
little boy on the carriage stone with his back to us and dressed
from bead to toe in pure white. Suddenly he leaped into the
street and began to spin aroimd in boyous glee. It was a
fflmple imposfflbility to stop the horses and they trotted right
along over him. Though frozen with terror I could see what
happened in part. The fore foot of one of the horses struck
him and knocked him forward, and another blow came from
the knee of the other horse, rolling him over, and then the feet
of the horses went over him and the front of the carriage hid
whatever else occured until the carriage had passed him. My
friend and I, with something of the feehng of murderers, sprang
out and with infinite dread, turned back to see what was left.
A bunch of clothes covered with red dirt, and a faint scream was
what we saw and heard. My stalwart friend picked up what
seemed to be the remains, friends ran out from the house, seized
the child and rushed back. We were left at the gate and know-
ing not what else to do we climbed back into the carriage and
took,— behind two spanking horses and aloi^ a charming road, —
just the most miserable ride that any two innocent men ever
had over any road. Tremblingly we drove back by the scene
of the disaster aa4 when we came in agbt we saw a boy on the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
272 RUNNING OVER THE BOY
carriage rock dressed in the whiteness of snow and as, in a alow
walk, we came up to the gate, it was the identical boy. The
ladies of the family came out full of good humor, aimiably
bantering us and told us that upon examination the clothing
of the boy was ripped into tatters, but, so far as they could
find, there was not a scratch on the boy that drew a drop of
blood, or left a sense of pain. My friend and I held a th^iks-
giving service all to ourselves and took another and a very en-
joyable ride."
What became of the boy? Let us look forward several years
and note two mteresting sequels to the above incident. The
boy at that time was about five years old.
"Six or seven years, after that I was walking the streets of
that fair town of the Shenandoah Valley, Luray, situated near
the famous Luray Cave and as we sauntered along the street
quite a handsome boy came dashing by us. I hailed him and
drew him into a bantering conversation. A lady standing
farther down the sidewalk broke into laughter.
" 'You'd better be talking to that boy' she said with great
emphasis. 'You tried to kiU him once, but as the Lord kindly
rescued him from the wheels of your Juggernaut, I think you
ought to try to do him some good.' It was even so, — the
identical lad that we drove over at Leeeburg now twelve years
of age. We had a pleasant chat together and I told the (p>od
mother of the boy, — as the lady turned out to be, that I would
rejoice, indeed, if God would give me the joy and honor of
bringing her son to Christ. We parted at that.
"Two or three years afterwards, I was in the town of Berry-
ville assisting Dr. Julian Broaddus In a revival service which
turned out to be delightfully fruitful,
"At one of the afternoon meetings there was unusual evidence
of ^iritual power. The christian people were all afiame with
seal for the unconverted, and, just b^ore tiie meeting ended,
I invited any to come who were ready to accept of Jesus Christ
and enter into His service. Promptly a strong ludf grown
fellow, full of emotion, came forward and decla^ his faith.
I rejoiced over him though it did not occur to me to ask his
name, and while I was talking with him the mother appeared
at; my side and said that my prayer had h&en answered. This
was the identical boy that we had driven over at Leesburg and,
through the tender mercy of God, I did have an opportunity
of taBng a little part at least in the salvation of her boy."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CTJLPEPER REVISITED 273
He draws a little picture of a happy viat this Summer to
Culpeper, where he had — many months before — held a wondeiv
ful revival. No one imew of his coming:
"It would be hard to tell" a^d he "with what happy expec-
tations we went back to Culpeper. We tumbled somewhat
unexpectedly out of an early train and stood an ungreeted
stranger upon the platform of the depot. A sense of isolation
seized us and we indulged in depressing reflections upon the
traDidency of revival fame. Not a hack-man, not a baggage
boy, not a loafer to recognize us and our fluttering heart grew
faint and desolate. Modestly taking a back street we picked
our way to the home of Major Waite, where we knew there was
an elegant chamber, named in our honor and ever kept wuting
for OUT coming. What a welcomel Bless the Lord for good
folks. That night the bell of the old church, which stan(£ on
the site of the old Culpeper Jail, rang out the summons to the
people to come once more to hear the Heavenly message. In
short, Dr. James, [the pastor] being of an imperious turn of
mind, had issued an unauthorieed notice that we would preach.
What a blessed night was that. A great multitude packed the
house. The famihar faces of loved ones greeted ua from every
pew and the dear, old choir sang the mellow precious, old hymns
just as they did in the great revival. It was good to be tiiere.
The air seemed laden with heavenly spices and, in the music,
we seemed to hear echoes from the other shore where the ran-
somed dwell. We doubt not that Mr. Cleveland will have an
imperial reception in St. Louis, but we venture to say that he
wiU not extract from the occasion a tithe of the sweet delight
which we found in that night of handshaking."
In some way, the letters which he and my mother wrote me
during my sesaon of 18S7-8 at Johns Hopkins University,
in Baltimore, were lost and consequently I am prevented
from recording his movements for this period with much
detail. During October he made a httle dash into Chesterfield
County, which lay on the other side of the river from Richmond
and, as he went hurrying through ita flelds and forests, he
little dreamed of how familiar they were to become to him
in the future years. The little Bethel Church, to which he
was goii^, would have reasons in the future days to rise up
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
274 THE WEAK BROTHER
and call Imn blessed. Bjs love for Chesterfield put that county
next to Bedford in Ms heart
"We slipped the pastoral collar," he said "boarded an evening
tnun and went out to dear, old Bethel, in Chesterfield County,
Va., on last Friday night to preach for Dr. Winiree, who waa
holding a protracted meeUng. It was the glorious days of
Pentecost come back again. We can hardly remember euch
a genuine old break-down among the sinners. How delightful
it is to go out to Bethel. Old Jacob had his Bethel, but we
venture it was not located in Chesterfield and did not have in
its membership the Bakers, the Watkinses, Martins and Jus-
tuses."
Again he writes:
"Last week we started a parvitudinous midget of a girl to
school for the first time. She came back with an order to
buy five books, a slate, a blank book, a copy book, a sponge,
pencils and a book bag. In our helplessness, we bought them
and, when they were piled upon the midget's shoulders, she
looked like an Itahan dwarf with his harp swung upon his
back. And now we deferentially ask whether it is best for
a child to study everything at one time."
He preached on Oct. 30th, on "The Weak Brother/' treating
the subject as follows:
"1. He is weak.
2. He is a brother.
3. Christ died for him.
I. Wherein is he weak.
(1) Weak in conscience.
(2; Weak in ethical points.
(3) Weak in doctrine.
II. What are we to do with him?
(1) Not to despise him.
(2) Not to ignore him.
(3) M^e concessions for him.
(4) Come down to him.
(5) Lift him up.
III. Motives for all this.
(1) ^portunity for high christian charity.
(2) Hdping the weak brother is hdping Christ."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ADDRESS IN WASHINGTON 276
He attended, in Novranber, the Goieral Association and,
that h« was not idle during its sesdons is seen from the fol-
lowing note in the Herald:
"No man at the Assodation did better serrice than Dr.
Hatcher. He was cooBtantly helping some brother out of
trouble. Without seekii^ to detract from other noble leaders, *
we will say that he was l^e leading q>iiit of the meetii^."
His congregation overflowed Us building and enlargement
was necessary. He himself yearned for a new building, but
many of his members could not get their courage higher than
a remodeling of the old structure. It was his policy in such cases
not to force an issue. As hia members were not ready for the
larger project he gave them season for reflection.
He Evangelical Alliance asked him to speak for the South
at their meeting in Washington. It was a notable gathering
of distinguished ministers and laymoi of the different reli^ous
denominations from the North and South and it was a magni-
0cent audience which he addressed. His Subject was "The
Christian Resources of the South," and his opening words were:
"The call for this Conference was startling. It rai^ like a
fire bell in the night and there was something positively
pathetic in the devout response with which it woe mfet. This
is a council of warriors around the camp fires to study the
movemraita of the enemy, estimate our own strength and whet
our swords for t^e conflict."
It was on this occaaon that he turned during his address and
saw the time ke^>er on the point of touching the bell to an-
nounce the expiration of his time and he stariJed the bell
brother by quickly pointing his finger at him and sayii^
"Touch that bell, if you dare, but only at the risk of your life."
"The roar of laughter" said Dr. Hatcher "which instantly
shook the house. was something not to be foi^otten. I bad
said one thing at least which the vast aasnnblage approved.
Just then, too, the noise submded, and I heard Mr. Dodge say:
'Let the bdl alone; let him go his way.' He didn't know
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
276 COMMON SENSE
that I heard him, but there was the mudc of heaven and the
freedom of earth in what he said."
He aided his friend, Dr. F. M. Ellia, in meetings at the
Eutaw Place Church, Baltimore, January, 1888. I think
I never saw him become the romping, hilarious boy to the
extent that he did in his jollification with Dr. EUis. They
played bean bag one day in the dtting room. At one end of
the room was a board, about a yard square, with a hole in the
center, and from the other end of the room the players would
seek to tiurow their bean bags through the hole, and the
rollickii^ times that the two Dr's. had in these contests were
interesting to behold.
In the month of April be was appointed a del^ate to the
World's Misaonory Conference to be held in Lcmdon on Jime
9th, but he could not attend.
At the meetii^ of the Southern Baptist Convention in
May, "Dr. Hatcher made one of his wittiest and most ad-
mirable speeches and poured oil on the somewhat troubled
waters."
How often in reli^ous gathering, when the debate seemed
to threaten a storm, or to get into a tangle, he would, in a few
words, scatter the ominous clouds, or disentangle the discus-
a.<m, and put everybody in a good humor. He had a gift for
bringing mattors down to a common sense basis. Dr. S. H.
Greene of Washington <Hice said to me : "That which always im-
pressed me most about your father was his remarkable common
sense."
He had what Carlyle rings the changes on so frequently
in his writii^, — the love of realty. He saw thit^ as th^
actually were and had little patience with the fripperies and
insincerities of every-day life.
This saved him, of course, from many absurdities and vun
racitonents. Sometimes, in public assembUes, the discussion
would drift far into the air and he, who had all the time kept
his ^e on the main issue, would, by a word, puncture the bal-
loon and bring the proceedings down to mother earth. This
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ORIGINALITY 277
simplioity of soul aad clearness of perception made him a wise
leader in deliberative assemblies.
"He taught me by example" saya Dr. W. W. Landnim "the
indispensableness of sanctified commonsense in dealing with
problems or persons. . . He had a healthy mindedness
that avoided the impracticable. . ■ Never was a student of
human nature quicker to divide the false from the true, the
apparent from the real, the sham from the genuine. . . No
wonder, whenever a council of brethren was tangled in the
brush of perplexity, they turned to him to p(»nt the way out
of it."
Akin to his genuineness, and growing out of it, was Ms origi-
nality. Men called him unique and they spoke truly. From
his youth he shied off from the beaten paths. In a speech
before his literary society when a student in Collie he said:
"Slander me; di^race me, but for heavens sake call me not an
imitator. If anything betrays a httle, contracted soul — a
narrow disposititm unmanly and groveling — ^it is that disporatJon
to speak hke somebody else." This scorn for traveling another's
track lifted him out of the ruts. The one adjective applied
to him more frequently than any other was probably the
adjective "inimitable," which meant that he stood apart. A
writer in the Herald said that he waited for some competent
pen to define, characterize and value Dr. Hatcher. "But that
is no ea^ task" said he. "He was unique; he was a genius; in
his personality he was without ancestry and he will be without
posterity. Hence the difficulty to define and classify him
psychologically. He was one of those not too numerous
characters whose charm and power lie in the unexplored r^ons
of original being, rather than in acquired accomplishments —
in materials which the arts can cultivate, but never
create."
■Whence came this originality? He was original not because
be aimed to be unlike everybody else, but because he was so
genuine and real. "The merit of originality" says Carlyle
"is not novelty but nncerity." He was unlike everybody else
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
278 OMGINALITY
because he was bo absolutely hinuielf. Men are bo chained to
custom that th^ lives are throwu into a conunoiL mould.
"The slaves of custom and eataUished mode,
With pack-horse constanciy we keep the road,
Crooked or straight, through quags or thorny dells.
True to the jinking of our leader's bells."
He spoke about things, not according to acc^ted standards,
but, as he himself saw them and consequently he was ever
saying unique things. No two individuals are entirely alike
and he who is truly himself is original. He would not use other
people's anecdotes but culled them from his own experience.
No wcHider that a Missouri pastor, Rev. J. E. Cook, in whose
b<HQe Dr. Hatcher spent two of three weeks, said of him after
the visit, "This man is fuU of surprises." In writii^ for him,
at his dictatjtm, I was ever impressed with his determination
to avoid the threshed-out phrases. In almost every paragraph,
as he would dictate, there would be some colloquialism — like
"the courage of his convictJ<Hts ', or "the f^ple of his ^e."
"the wee sma' hours," eto., that would, at once, suggest itself
as the appropriate phrase for his purpose. It would have h«ea
easy to have Itud hold of that which was ready at hand, but,
invariably, he would weave a new, fresh garm^it for his idea.
"He had his own striking way of putting thii^" says Dr. P. T.
Hale. "I could tell wh^ reading the article from his pen, that
he was the author, without seeing his name signed to them."
To his own self he sought to be true and in doing this he marked
out a new tnul.
TliiB reluctance to keeping step in a mere proceaaon showed
itself whea asked by newspapers to furnish, along with many
others, little squibs, or notices, for publication. ' Often he
would, at the death of some prominent man, receive a request,
often by wire from some paper t^t be would send them a short
tribute to the deceased — say about ten or twenty lines- in
length to be published with several other such brief tributes,
but it was very rare that he yielded to such a request, —
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ORIGINALITY 279
if indeed he ever jrielded. He would usually wi^t and
let the others speak th^ hurried paragr^ha, and in a week,
or two, he would said to the paper an article of one or two
columns conceming the deceased brother and this he would
seek to make a masterpiece, — something that the family would
treasure through the coming years.
On one occasion during a great deoiominational gathering at
a chtirch where he had once been pastor a service was arranged,
in which all the former pastors of the church — and there were
several of them in^attendauce at the time — ^were asked to be
present and speak words of greeting, — one after the other.
This rapid-fire procesdonal schedule did not suit him and
conaequ^itly he was invisible on the occasion referred to. Let
it not be imagined that he had an exclufflveness that kept him
^>art from his brethren, or made him imwilling to mingle with
than. On the contrary he was a lover of moi. But when doing
his tasks he preferred to choose his course and differentiate
himself from all others, if possble. It was <mly by that plan
that he was enabled to do his best.
One of his daughters, One, was at this time a stud^kt at
Yassar Coll^ie, where she continued her course until she won
her full diploma of graduation, — several years later she took
a course at the University of Chicago, winning the de^p^e of
Ph. D.
Durii^ the Summer of 1887 he was busy in varied trips and
labors. He supplied on one Sunday in Brooklyn, N. Y.
At the annual meeting of the church in May 1888, he urged
his church to send out 100 of its members to form a new Church
saying: "Let us not be afrwd; let us multiply by dividing.
God can give us another 100 members this year to take the
place of these 100." One year later, at the annual meeting
the clerk reported exactly 100 new members received during
the past year.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXIV
TRIP TO EUROPE, PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION.
BAPTIST CONGRESS.
With bis prosperoua church he stood oa a high pinnacle
and the future loomed brightly before him. And yet his
burdens, — so manifold and heavy — were breaking him down
and he found that he "must either rest of die," He decided to
seek recuperation in a European journey, "To cross the sea"
s^d he "has been the dream and dread of my life."
His first step was to secure a traveling companion. One
afternoon he took me in his buggy and went speeding across
the river to Manchester, where lived the Baptist pastor, Rev.
L. R. Thomhill. He drove up to a store and the proprietor
came out to the buggy. Dr. Hatcher said to him:
"I want you and others in your church to send your pastor
across the sea. I am going and I want him to go with me. He
needs such a trip and deserves it and be will return to you in-
vigorated in body and mind for his work. You take this mat-
ter in hand, and work it up among the members; put a snug
sum in his hands for the trip and do it in a bright and loving
way."
A light came into the merchant's eye. The suggestion of
Doctor Hatcher attracted him and he accepted his commission.
We called at other places and whatever may have been the
det^la of these calls it is a fact that on July llth he
and Mr. Thomhill bade adieu to Richmond and set forth on
their European jaunt. One dedre that drove him across the
ocean was his yearoing to see and hear Spurgeon, the world's
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A EUROPEAN TRIP 281
great preacher. Hoarding bis trip on the waters he said, "I
stood the storm, never miased a meal and came out with my
colors flying." One of his lady members in Richmond had
jokingly told him that she knew he would not be happy on his
trip abroad because it would give him no opportunity of taking
up a collection. Her prophecy failed, however, because, one
day, on the vessel, Dr. Hatcher took up a public coUection
to aid the widow of a sailor who had a few hours before been
blown by a hurricane from the ship into the sea.
Among the first places which they visited on the other wde
was the home of WilLam Shakespeare, where they saw the im-
mense old fireplace which had, on each side, a stone seat jutting
out into the coiner.
"Aa ThomhiU and I imagined that the youthful Wilham
used to perch himself on these stones to eat his supper we
ventured to court the inspiration of the Muses by momentarily
atting ourselves on the same stones. Thus far the inspiration
has not taken effect, but I fancy I discover the premonitory
symptoms in Thomhill,"
London and Spurgeon loomed before him and on the next
Sunday he and Mr. Thomhill heard the great preacher at his
Tabernacle* After the sermon they went into a room in the
rear, in which Spurgeon was receiving visitors.
"I have heard of you" he said, as Dr. Hatcher was presented
to him. "I want you and your friends to spend next Saturday
with me at my house."
"At seven o'clock that night" he says "I went again to hear
the lovely and Christ honoring Spurgeon."
He heard him again on Monday night, when Spurgeon
called him to the platform and said: "Dr. Hatcher, come up; I
give you the freedom of the place to do just whal you will."
Dr. Hatcher spoke briefly. On Saturday he and his friends,
McDonald and Thomhill, went to Mr. Spuigeon's home.
"At one o'clock" he writes "we sounded the bell at the door
of the mightiest preacher of the 19th century and felt the
dignity and honor of the moment.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
282 A HALF-DAY AT MR. SPXJRGEON'S
" 'Ib Mr. Spui^eon at home?' we asked as the butier opened
the door.
" 'Yee — and waiting to see you' rang out cheerily through
the large hall 'and I am pleased to note that you ke^ an
engagement on time. Many persons who come to see me seem
to think that I hve in eternity and have no need of time but
I have to use the clock and live by it' and then followed three
hours and half of sacred revel."
In their stroll through the garden they came to a Summer
House and there Mr. Spuigeou precipitated a lively discusaon.
"Dr. Hatcher, you act as chturman" he said and thoi fol-
lowed, "quite a fierce, though thoroughly good natured, wrangle,
Mr. Spurgeon affecting all the ardor of a roaring partisan. It
was a feast of nHnping debate and full of spice and jest."
"At about four o'clock" said Dr. Hatcher "we were sum-
mtmed to the dining room. . . The tide of talk rolled in
and 6ut and was playful, or serious, as it chanced."
During the meal Mr. Spui^eon called out:
"Dr. Hatcher, I want to show you my Orphanage and my
Collie."
"Be careful, brother" replied Dr. Hatch^ "Your Idndness
is magnetic and you will have to be cold in your way and rough
in your bearii^ towards me or I will surely come again."
"Oh, he could not be that to you."q>oke up Mrs. Spurgetm.
In his fragmentary note book which he used durii^ his trip
abroad I find a reference to this httle inddent, after which he
adds the words:
"I have never yet trusted, or leaned on, any man so as to make
him feel that he was of great consequence to me."
After hours of royal chat and fellowship they took thdr
leave at six o'clock Mr. Spurgeon walking a part of the way
with them along the avenue beneath the trees.
"We passed the porters lodge" says Dr. Hatcher "and found
ourselves once more in the vast metropolis. It was a good
way we walked without a word. The spell of the most unique
personality of the nineteenth century was upon us and we woat
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A EUROPEAN TRIP 283
silent from exceea of thought and feeling. McDonald broke
the silence.
" 'What do you think about it?' he said. The ansver was
"We have seen a man of God.' "
The following items occur in his note-book: "Sunday
August 12th: heard Spui^geon. 8at on the pulpit and made the
prayer. I felt myself unfit to pray for hiin, — so exalted is he in
my eyes. His text was Josh, 1 : 10,11 — ^A rich and tender ser-
mon,— on 'Fasrang the Jordan as a type of the Christian g(ung
to Heaven.'
"When I bade him good bye he sfud 'I hope you wont pass
over Jordan in three days',— ^uding to part of his text. His
deacons are so sweetly and helpfully attentive to him. They
have been very courteous and cordial to me.' "
At Mr. Spurgeon's request he delivered ap address before
his students at the College.
He had brought something from America that he did not
take back with him and that was his tobacco chewing habit.
This habit was a lineal descendant of his habit of smoking
cigars which he had indulged for many years of his ministerial
life. Smoking had heen one of his social pleasures and he
greatly enjoyed sitting in company with other ministerial
friends and, amid encircling clouds of smoke, spending the
time in easy chat, or discusaon. In fact he reveled in it.
He did not by any means go the length of Charles Lamb,
who described his affection for the weed by declaring:
"For thy sake, tobacco, I
Will do anything but die."
Nor was he aa reckless in his devotion as Hood, who aaid:
"Some sigh for this and that;
My vision dont go so far
The world may wa% at will
So I have my cigar."
And yet "tiie cigar" brought him many, many hours of
plei
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
284 THE TOBACCO HABIT
"It was my Boys Meeting" he aaid "that caused me to
abaDdoD the habit of smokii^. I discovered that some of
my boys were developing the cigarette habit and I foimd that
I could not, while smoking myself, remonstrate with them."
That was in 1878 and for ten years he had not indulged in a
smoke. He broke his rule one d^, — by way of a little banter
with Mr. Spui^eon. While he was on a trip with the famooa
preacher, in an EngUsh home, cigars were passed around, be-
ginning with Mr. Sptu^^n. The latter declined saying that as
his American friend was too good to smoke he would abstain,
whereupon Dr. Hatcher turned the tables by quietly acc^tJng
a cigar as it was passed to him and lighted it and began smoking
it. "Mr. Gould" said Spurgeon, in a grimly humorous tone,
as he observed -Dr. Hatcher's act, "bring Uiat box of cigars
back; this is a better man than I took him to be and I believe
I will join him m his smoke." This was hia first and last
indulgence in a cigar after 1878. However he had not aban-
doned tobacco altogether, but had betaken Mmself to chewing
it. The tobacco served as a stimulus to him when lai^uid and
soothed him after his severe nervous strains.
But the chewing habit also was destined to an untimely
end. While traveling through Great Britain one day and in-
dulging in hia favorite "quid" he found that there was no cus-
pidore near at hand in the coach in which he was riding. He
bad therefore to make use of the floor and soon a little pool
began to gather at his feet. The conductor came through the
car and, as this railroad officer ^iproached him, be found
himself thrusting his foot forward between the disfigured floor
and the conductor's eye, so as to prevent Mm seeing it, and this
attempt at concealment made Mm jump. "What is this I am
doing" he exclaimed to himself. "Has my chewing brought
me to such a pass that I am doing a thing that I am ashamed of
and that I am trying to conceal from the conductor. My days
with tobacco are over". Bight there he signed the death
warrant — never to be revoked — of his tobacco habit.
His intercourse with Mr. Spurgeon was marked by many
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ME. SPUBGEON AND OPEN COMMUNION 285
little pleftsantries. Tbey started one day on a trip on the cars
aad when they had seated themselves in the coach and the
trtun had moved off, Mr. Spurgeon suddenly jumped to his
feet excluming: "Oh, my; I have left my satctel; I have left
my satchel; what shall I do." and his face presented a picture
of woe, if not of despair. Dr. Hatcher sat looking out the
window and unmoved by the noiee and panic at Ms side.
Wfuting for the storm to subside he reached down under one
of the seats in a very imconceraed kind of manner and drew
out Mr. Spurgeon's satchel and handed it to him with the
remark "I brought this along as I thought you might find it
serviceable before you got back home." "Such little pranks"
said Dr. Hatcher "seemed to relieve faim and to break the
many strains that were on him by giving him a mental diver-
Bon. He seemed to appreciate any one who would treat him
as a real human beii^ and not as a big curiosity to be stared at,
or to be afraid of."
"Mr, Spui^eon" sfud Dr. Hatcher to him one day "why is it
that you invite people to your Communion table who have not
been baptized?" By baptism, Dr. Hatcher, of course, meant
immersion — ^just as all Baptists mean in thdr use of the word.
"I take no unbaptized people into my church" Mr. Spui^eon
replied. "I ui^e them to be baptized and there my authority
ends. The Communion is a mere matter of church hospitality
and seems to give me a better opportunity of ui^ng the duty
of immendon and when I get at people in this way I generally
baptize them. If they come to our table once, or twice, and
still refuse to join my church, then they are refused admit-
tance to the table. You see I have throngs of Christian
people visting my church from all parts of the world and I
do not shut the door against them; but" sud he "if I lived in
America and in the South where the Biq>ti3ts practice strict
communion, I should practice it also."
"I fwl to see" said Dr. Hatcher "just how you can reduce
it to a Eomple question of geography."
Mr. Spurgeon and a large portion of the English Baptista
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
286 CLOSE COMMXJNION
were what is known as Open Communion Baptaats, — ^that
is they would invite to the Lord's Table the unbaptized, or
uninunersed. It is also true of many of these churches, though
flot true of Mr. Spurgeon's church, that they have the open
membership; that is they admit the unbaptlsed to th^r church
membership, as well as to the Communion. Dr. Hatcher, with
nearly all Southern Baptists, believed in what was termed
"strict", or "close communion", — ^that is, he held that un-
inunersed christians ought not to be invited to the Lord's
Ti^le; they might come if they dedred; he did not employ
force to keep them away; the responfdbility was with them, but
his own opinion waa that they had neglected one of the New
Testament steps that came between beUef in Christ and par-
taking of the Lord's Supper and that was baptism. He be-
lieved that in the apostolic churches only the baptised be-
lievers partook of the Communion and he saw no reason,
for letting down the bars. He believed that only immer^on
was scriptural baptism and therefore he was compelled to
believe that he could not invite the uninunersed to partake
tA the Supper. It was because of this belief that he and his Bap-
tist brethr^i were styled, "Close Communion Baptists." He
wondered whether there were any of these "Strict Baptists"
in England and ao he said one day "Mr. Spurgeon; I would
like to see some 'Strict Baptists' before I leave Ei^land.
Have you any of that type here in London?" "Why, yes" he
said "A multitude of them." "Do they have any churches of
their own?" "Yes, I suppose they have at least 100 churchea
in this city. I am constrained to say, however, that many of
them are not very progressive, but they are composed of really
good people."
"He took evident pleasure" said Dr. Hatcher "in giving me
such instructions as would enable me to find some of the leading
Close Communion Baptists of London. Some of these brethren
I had the honor of meeting and found them to be among the
noblest of God's people. They spoke in the highest terms of
r. Spurgeon and said that in his heart he was was really
thtnem."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE STEICT BAPTISTS 287
The fact that there in England, where the "oprai communioD"
Baptists were so strong, his Baptist brethren "of the stricter
Bort" were keepii^ their colors flying gave Dr. Hatcher a warm
brotherly feeling for the brethren and he yearned to hunt them
out and give them the hand of fellowship, — and this he ^d
and royal times he had with them. He visited their College
of which Dr. Edward Parker was preadent. "Dr. Parker"
he said "I want you to come over to America, — to the South
where the "Strict Baptists" constitute a great multitude.
Come next May to the meeting of the Southern Baptist Con-
vention which will be held at Memphis, Tennessee, and let
U8 show you what a welcome we can give a brother from across
the aea." The invitation was accepted. On Sunday, August
19th, he heard his beloved Spurgeon morning and night. Re-
garding the night service he wrote in his note book, "Heard
Spui^eon and helped him in the service." On August 20th,
at 11:55 A. M., he and Mr. Thomhill left England for the
continent.
An amusing experience befell him one day. He decided
to climb the Mer de Glace, but wh^i be beheld the mode of
his transportation, he stood appalled.
"I was gravely informed" said he "that 1 could not see the
mountains unless I rode the mule. I love the mountuns, but I
loathe mules. They are animals of very uncertain qualities and,
while said to be highly useful, they have served me well only when
I have left them alone. By a desperate atru^le I conquered my
prejudices and agreed to join the mountfun caravan. It was
decided to make an early start and at the appointed moment
our mules and guide appeared in front of the hotel. Thomhill,
with his slouch hat and long overcoat, mounted his appointed
steed and rode oS with as much composure as if he was going
to a Saturday meeting in the country. My animal was com-
mended to me as a beast of the safest qualities and sported the
name of 'Coco'. After much trembling I got astride and by the
help of our Swiss guide set Coco to going and away went the
caravan. We descended the mountain by another road and
our mules were brought around to take us down. I can ride
a mule up a mountain, but I could trust do mule to take me
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
288 LOVE OF PEOPLE
down a mountain and so I walked down. I felt that night, as
if I would wmgh about' four tons."
Far up in the Appennines, hidden away amid its mountain
ranges, was a long cherished friend, — Dr. George B. Taylor.
He was the friend of his early ministry and at that time he was
the Baptist missionary at Rome. He determined to find him.
From one railroad to another he went and then in a conveyance,
driving through a wild monutun country anud chattering
foreigners in the dark, he pushed his way until finally, after a
checkered ride, they reached the secluded house and a knock
on the door brought, first the daughters and, after them, the
the father, Dr. Taylor, who, as he caught sight under the light
of the lamp of Dr. Hatcher, exclaimed in joyful surprise "Oh,
brother William, I have waited for you so long and longed for
you so much. I feel that you bring with you my kindred and
my country."
Nothing but his "passion for friendship" would have ever
driven Tiim to make such a journey. Of course they had blessed
days together, but they were few and rapid in their flight and he
and Mr. Thomhill were soon out and away on their jaunt
through Europe, They went from city to city and a varied
panorama of sights flitted before their gaze. But the most
interestjng sight in Europe to him was its peoples. "What I
sighed for in Europe" he stud "was not so much the art galleries
and museiuns and mouldering ruins as its different peoples, —
their manner of living, thar home life and their church life."
In London it was Spui^eon, that attracted his gaze and study.
It was his Baptist brethren of "the stricter sort" that drew
him on a fraternal hunt for them. It was Dr. Taylor, — hidden
far away with mountains intervening, that he fought his way
to see. It was Dr. James P. Boyce who, far from his American
home, was lying ill somewhere in London and whom he searched
for and fonnd that he might seek to drop at least a itaut gleam
of sunlight into his sick room, in that vast strange city. Such
sights and visits across the sea had for him an unrivalled charm,
and the people that gained his interest were not necessarily the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HOMEWARD BOUND 289
men in hign places, but they were rather the people to vhom
he felt knit. in some wsy by christian ties. He wanted to aee
the trophies of divine grace, as manifested among his English,
his Scotch, his Italian brethi«n, and the struggles and victoriee
of their churches. He wrote from L«kdon to the wife of his
beloved deaoon, E.. M. Foster,
"I have heai nine days in Loudon and have seen many new
and stirring sights. I have been in the palace of the Queen, in
the House of Parliament, in the bloody old London Tower,
in the Cathedrals and parks, but far more than in these have
I found joy in hearing Spurgeon preach and standing where
so many of our Bt^tist fathers were burned for their faith in
the Gospel.
"Somehow there is not much, either in persons, or places,
to interest me unless they have something in them to make me
think of Christ. One pleasure I have had — ^which I much wish
you could have shared — that of meeting Mrs. Spui^eon. She
is one of the queenliest and scuntliest of women."
But we need not follow him amid the details of his European
sight-seeing.
He came back to Londtm from the Continent and had some
further delightful experiences with Mr. Spurgeon, dinii^ with
him on his last Sunday in Lond<Hi at the home of one of Mr.
Spui^eon's members.
ffis jovial spirits suffered a collapse on the ship soon
after embarking for America. Sea dcknees struck him
prostrate and he declared that he saw no possibility of
living for ten days, — the time required for the voyage to
New York. After the ship started on its homeward voyage
and he fell sick he would count over the days, — one, two, three,
four up to ten and each time reaffirm bia conviction that he
could not live for so loi^; but he decided that he might keep
aUve for five days and he settled upon that. At the end of the
five day^ he found himself alive and so he determined to try
to live through the second five days. This device saved the
day for him and brought him safely over.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
290 HIS HAPPY RETURN
He eaid that as he turned his face towards Richmond he
realized, as he had not done before, the wetAening effect upon
him that had been caused by his sudd^y giving up the to-
bacco habit. He demred, of course, that he should now be at
his best, intellectuaUy, in the social circle and in his t^ipearanoes
before the public. His use of Tobacco had proven a mental
stimulus to him and he feared that when he wished now to be
bright and active he would be dull and slu^sh. He told me
that the matter gave him some little concern. But not for a
moment did he think of openii^ the door to his habit; he stood
hie ground ^though he knew that a taste of the alluring weed
would quicken his faculties; he wilted the habit a freeh and
eternal farewell and waited with eager anticipation for the
sight of the spires of Richmond.
Already from far away Bedford had come his oldest sister,
Rebecca, to welcome him home. I can see her now, aged and
wrinkled, EdttJi^ erect in the front parlor at our house "waiting
for William" to arrive. His church gave lum a royal reception.
"It was indeed a great and touching demonstration of af-
fection and respect," wrote Dr. Nelson.
With happy memories of his recent wanderings and with
heart aglow at the thought of his church and his work, he
took up once agfun his pastoral tasks. He was exhuberantly
haj^y in his labors, and often his soul would be marked by a riot
of joyful enthusiasm. I remember how he looked one day at a
social gathering of the Richmond College alumni. I was living
out of the eity, but was presuit on that occaolon and as I
^proached him in the throng he reminded me of a boy at a
glorious frolic. His eye flashed delight, his face was radiant
witii hai^aness and his movemeaits bespoke bouyancy and
vigor. As I went up to speak to bim the thought came to me:
"Well, surely no one is happier here today than you." He i^
peared to have caught in full measure the ^irit of the occasion.
It was a gathering of the students and friends of his beloved
Alma Mater who had gathered with bright memories of their
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HONORING THE OLD 291
College &nd with high ambitions for her future. There was
about bim that day a spring and dash, and hilarious enjoyment
that was coatagiouB. "In him"said Dr. Hemdon "life seemed
so rich, so conqtlete, bo abundant". It was in some such spirit
that he sprang to his work when he returned to Richmond.
A few weeks after his return, the General Association met in
Bristol and he was elected President of the body. One day,
while pre«iding over the Association, he ^ied in the audience
one of the fathers in Israel, N. C. Baldwin, — an aged brother
whom he had met several years before, far out in the mountains
of Southwest ^ni^inia. When he saw him in the audience in
Bristol — knowing, as he did, how heroically he had stood at
his post in his mouutun section, — he called the old man up
to the f^tform, and, with a few fitting words, introduced him
to the Association and su^ested that the delegates give him
the hand of loving reo^nition. With that, he struck up his
favorite hymn, "We'll work till jesus comes" and, as they sang,
tiiB delfgates thronged up to the platform and gave the old
soldier their warm hand grasp. "The old veteran was much
affected by this demonstration of affection" said the Herald.
"It was a touching and melting scene." Dr. Hatcher loved to
eon^ out old ministers in that fashion and put honor upon
them.
3o(m after his return to Richmond he found himself in
the Kttdet of another Baptist gathering — the Baptist Congress.
It was an oi^anization composed of representative Baptist
ministers and laymen from all sections of the North and South.
He rejoined in this commingling of the brethren of the North
and South. One day, near the end of the meetings, he was
preparing to take the csx with his wife for home, when he
suddenly exclaimed, "Yonder is a del^ate whom I have not
had to a meal — ^tiie only one I think that I have not had — I must
have him" uid across the street he hurried and secured the
brother witii his hocpitable laaso.
He delivered at this Congress an address on Christian Science
in which he described a promifl^t Baptist layman of Richmond
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
292 THE BAPTIST CONGRESS
who had recently resorted to a Christaan Science cure for his
terrible stomach puns. Dr. Hatcher acted out the writhings
of body and the groaning cries of the brother as he sought to
remind himself that there was no such thing as a pain, or a
stomach. "His speech" said the Herald "was overflowing
with humorous allusions which repeatedly brought down the
house." At the last service, he delivered the final message
to the delegates. The Congress was held at his church. In
a vein of pleasantry he said:
"Now brethren we have entert^ned you, but please under-
stand that it was on condition that you rem^ over Sunday
and fill our pulpits for us. The fact is your presence here this
week has played havoc with our sermon making and you must
come to the rescue." His valedictory words were, accordii^
to the Herald, "a characteristic speech, full of contagious
humor and, at the conclusion, the congregation sang 'The
Sweet By and By' and the partutg hand was given."
These last words suggest another picture. He loved to sing
"The Sweet By and By" at such farewell occasions. He would
surest the ^ving of the hand of fellowship to one another
and then he would strike up the hymn "The Sweet By and By"
beginning with the words "There's a land that is fairer than
day;" whereupon there would be a general commingling around
the pulpit and in the aisles as the delegates with songs on their
lips and often with tears in their eyes would grasp the hand of
one another and think of that fair land where congregations
would ne'er break up and parting scenes be no more. A hand-
shake with him, on such occasions, had in it rich meaning.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXV
CHURCB DEDICATIONS. TAKINQ COLLECTIONS. CONTENTION AT
MEUPHIB. INFLUENCE IN SODIfiERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
THE CHSerERFIELD UEETINQ.
Hie year 1889 found him full of happineaa:
"When I put my excellent health" he writes "my happy
htane, my lovely church and my many friends in a pile, I feel
like having a thankasiving day to celebrate the Lord's good-
Concerning a young preacher for whom he lectured at his
country church he writes:
"I am afrud he is not dead in earnest. He talks of small
congregations as a thing which he can never help nor stand.
He lacks snap and push and I tried to nerve him up to bold
endeavor."
After writing of a good Baptist brother in Powhatan county
loeing his house by fire he says "I must help him so far as I
can." I had taken the pastorate of three churches in Chester^
field oounty and he wrote me r^arding my visiting the poor.
"That is the way to work — ^it is not showy but it will bring
good fruit. I expect you to have great revivals next Summer."
He was busy witli many burd^ts but not too busy to piok some
humor along the way. He had a viator at Has time which put
him on his mettle and furnished Iiim material for the following
jotting in the Baltimore Baptist:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
294 OUTWITTING THE BOOK AGENT
"Triumphant for once. Yes, we actually beat a book nun.
He came to our house at first. We met mm with a smite and
said to him that we were incorrigible and wanted no book.
He wanted us to understaad that he would call again and seemed
by a crafty twinkle in his eye to say that he would destroy us
yet. We told him of our colossal cares and icily hinted that
he would waste no time in trying to drive us into a bargain.
He evidently did not believe us.
"His next call was at our study in the church. He came in the
fresh of the morning, just as the flocks of golden gwpel taught
were fluttering through our brain and seemed ready to be couped
for Sunday use. His dress was worthy of a lord and he had
heard our sermon on the Sunday before and was mightily
impressed. This softened us a trifle and made us think that
he was a man of discriminating taste, but his wanton flushing
of our golden-winged thoughts was not to be forgiven for next
Sunday's sermon lay before us a mangled, not to say an unborn
wreck and we had a grievance which no flattery as to our last
Sunday's sermon could subdue. We were very frank to tell
him that we were not 'at home' to him that day. He seemed
in doubt as to our earnestness and began to swing around to an
argument in favor of his botdt. We assumed a lurid air and he
"Calm as an Alpine sunset he suled himself out saying that he
would see us again. We hoped that be would have a hicid
moment and change his mind but he did not. Book agents
do not change their minds. They consider it their business to
change other people's minds and he came ag^. By a happy
chance we saw him as he passed the gate and came in. He
did not see us. The outer door to our study was locked. He
knocked, — reasonably at first, but by degrees he rattled the
bolt, banged and jarred the door and looked as if he would rip
up the foundations of things. We went back to a shady comer
of our room and enjoyed the fury of the storm. Our erer^
urbane sexton started down to open the door but we besought
him to pity the sorrows of an impoverished middlea^ed man
and go back to his sweepii^. Long we sat mute and unea^
as to the final result but finally the roar and clatter ce&Sed.
We peered out of the window and saw that the coast Waa clear.
"Hail, happy dayl The monster was gone and we were
monarch of what Uttle we surveyed. But we t^d not feel
entirely safe and so we managed to be at home in fact as soon
as we could reach it."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEDICATIONS 295
Dr. R. B. Hudnall aays of him "He was known as the dedi-
cator of churches in VJi^inia." From all manner of churches
would come requests that he would dedicate tbMr new building.
He would g^ierally find upon his arrival that a debt rested
upon the new structure. He would also find the pastor and mem-
bers looking expectantly to him to "lift the collection." It
often happened, in the case of churches nearing completion,
with a considerable debt still resting upon them, that some of
them would suj^est "If we can get Dr. Hatcher he will r^ae
all we need". He appeared in one of his most striking roles
when he was taking a collection on dedication day, with a
oongrc^tJon packti^ every nook and comer of the new build-
ing, peering throi^h the windows and blocking the doors, and
everybody in happy mood.
Let us picture a dedication scene. The day has arrived and
the entire community seems to be crowding itself into the
new building. Dr. Hatcher preaches the dedication sermon,
at the close of which comes that event — so prodigiously impor-
tant for the strugglii^ church, — the collection. Already before
the service. Dr. Hatcher has met some of the beat givers in
conference and they have promised to start the subscription
at the proper moment. When the time for the collection comes,
ushers are placed in the aisle, a financial statement is made and
the amount named that is to be raised. Immediately one of
the brethren get« up and aaya "Dr. Hatcher, I will pve $
towards paying off this debt" and, on his heels, comes another
of those whom Dr. Hatcher has already enlisted, and thus
the subscriptions are called out, either by the persons them-
selves, or by the ushers, and each subscription evokes some
playful comment from Dr. Hatcher.
In speaking of one of his collections at a dedication he writes:
"That collection was after the order of Melchiaedek, in
the respect that it has no precedecessors in my experience.
It was of the nature of a confl^ration, — hard to keep under
control. It was a fight to restrain the givers from making
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
296 TAKING UP COLLECTIONS
such a conflict of noises as would make it imposmble to get
their names."
He dedicated a church in a Viigiiiia town, and called the
deactma together before the s^rice saying to thran "Brethr^i,
you must start the collection today by your BubeciiptJCHiB
and if you set the tone too low we will not be able to sing it
throu^." Whoi he walked upon the platfonn at a corner^
sbme laying he got the great audience in a good humor at the
outset by loddng over the crowd and saying, "where did all
you people ctnne from?" His cordial, informal manner put
the audience at ease and in a cheerful frame. He inssted on
the name of each ^ver b^ng called out because his commoita
were suggested by the names. His humorous allusions were
bom of the moment and thoe was a qrantaneous and a bright-
ness, coupled witii a revereace and SNiousnees, that made the
aerrice me of genuine worship.
On one occamon he stepped to the platfonn at Uie Gweral
Aasociatim to take up a collectioo. One or two men called
out their Bubscriptaons. He said to Dr. H. C. Smith, the clerk
of the AfBodation who was near him on the platform "write
these Bubscriptaons down, as theiy are called out." Dr. Smith
who had failed to catch the name of the first subscriber
called out to Dr. Hatcher who was asking for other subscrip-
tions.
"Doctor, who was the first man?" Dr. Hatcher turned
around as if in surprise looked at Dr. Smith and said "Adam."
He took up hundreds of collectiona, but he did not naturally
like to do such work. He shrank from it. In his eariy
ministry certfun cases of need drove him.to ask for an offering
and he would engineer such ingatherings ao skillfully and suc-
cessfully that his fame as a collection taker spread and he was
preesed into service on evay hand. But be genially did it
with inward protest and reluctance.
Aa an indication of hia ability to remember names it may
be mentioned that on a Sunday, in the latter part of March,
he gave the right band of fellowship to 90 new members. They
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REMEMBERING NAMES 297
were stretched in a line at the front across the entire church
and as be moved along the line he spoke a few words to each
person, calling that person's name and his wife writes
"He was as quick to remember and call names as ^er-ooly
hayii^ to ask names of three persons. Is it not remarkable."
These 90 persons had come into his membership through the
meetings which were still progressing at his church. He had
in his oongr^ation a family, by the name of Cousins, and in the
family was a boy who had been living away from Richmond
for a good while. He met Dr. Hatcher aa the street <Hie day,
but did not expect the Doctor to remember him. He apoke
in very cordial fashion with the youth who sfud to him, "Dr.
Hatcher, you dont remember me, do you?" "Oh" said the
Doctor "I never forget my cousins." He remembered names
because he naturally took keen interest in people.
Never had tus pastoral jaya been higher than no^. "Simdi^
was a great daiy at Grace Street" he writes. "Think of it, —
779 in tJhe Sunday School. House full, top and bottom, at
our 11 o'clock service." In ttus same letter he pves a picture
of one of those unpleasant little "tilts" that sometimes though
very rarely, mar the intercourse of ministers when wnn^ht
up by their struning labors. This little stir quickly dissolved,
showing that there was nothing permanent, or lutter in it.
"We had an unpleasant experience in tiie preachers' meeting
yestorday. preached at Church Sunday
morning and e^ressed a wish to ixaae down and help me re-
cdve my new members. I sent my buggy up for him to oome
after he got through with the service. This offended and
he mode complain^ against us at the preachers' meeting. This
led Dr. to say some things that were very offensive
to and myseft. We had a scene and I regretted it
beyond measure. Not that I did any thing that I felt con-
demned for. X .got very penitent and confeaaed that
he acted unwisely. It is not good to write about and you can
forget it. I think the fdlowa are so wrought up by the meeting
that they are nervous. I am sure that it will soon pass
away.
"But let not this give you a moment of worry. Do your own
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
298 VISIT OF THE ENGLISH BAPTISTS
work. Trust in the Lord and your revival will come. Do not
hurt your voice by preaching too often."
It has been mentioned how on the previous Summer, while
in England, he had virated the College of the Strict Baptists
and had invited the president, Dr. Edward Parker, to attend
the Southern Baptist Convention in the following May. That
invitation was accepted. The Convention met in Memphis
and its most memorable feature was the welcome service in
honor of its Enghsh guest. Dr. Parker and his party. Dr.
Hatcher, who presented tiiem to the Convention, thus writes
regarding the visit:
"In some respects the welcome of the deputation of the
English brethren was the most thrilliog incident of the meeting.
After a brief introduction by this writer, Dr. Parker and Mr.
Shaw both spoke. Their addresses were brief, frank and gen-
uinely eloquent. Dr. Parker swept the crowd like a tonpest
and so great was the excitement when he closed that it was
difficult to subdue the audience sufficiently to get a hearing
for Dr. Broadus, who responded for the Convention and who
made one of the most fetidtous and brilliant speeches of his
inimitable life."
Dr. Parker on Sunday morning was given the place of honor
in b^ng asked to preach at the morning service at the Church
at which the Convention was being held and once agun he
captured his hearcia by his disoourse. Some one spoke of Dr.
Hatcher as the "Warwick of tiie Convention", meaning thit
he was the maker of its preddents. But he ddmed no such
title aad bad no demre to play such a part. It ia true that
nearly all the premdents of the Convmtion who were elected
during his ocmneotion with the Convention from this day
forward were nominated by him, but he was always forced
to the front by the friends of the nominee. He went to dwiom-
iuatiaaal gaUierings with no personal axes to grind, though
his own grindstone was kept unusually busy. Those states
which had their candidates for office in the ConventJon fre-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION 299
quently seemed to think that if they could get Dr. Hatcher
to chsQpion thai man H voidd be a great point gained aad
mtoy Were the f^ipeals that weie thus brought to hhn. Dele-
gations ftotn cities that were seeking the next Convention
for their own dty would aolidt his champion^iip of their
cause. I do not Wish to overetate it but it seems generally
agreed that when the Convention was called to face critical
issues, when important papers were to be draiwn up and crucial
decinons made by the Convention that to no one man was
there a more general turning for leadership tbMi to Dr. Hatcher.
The feeling seemed to be that he was so devoid of personal
schones of his own in the Convention, and had such tact and
wisdom and such large interest in the work of the Denomination
that his judgment oould be safely trusted.
"If aeked to name tbe man who was the most effective single
factor in the Southern Baptist C<mvention,"8ayB Dr. J. M.
Frost. "I could name no one who would outrank William E.
Hatcher of Virginia. His guiding genius was potent in many
ways. Others nrigbt find time for leisure during its sesfflon
or absent themselves from its meeth^, but he made the buai-
nees of the Convention his first business when in attenduice on
its meetings. It was big custom to choose a seat in easy reach
of the presiding officer and there he could be found at every
meeting and watching everything with intensest interest. It
was a matter of conscience with him and in this he set a high
example and rendered valuable service. In our great gatherii^
he will be sadly missed and many will wish for his presence
and for his helpful words."
Dr. J. F. Love tells me that at one of the seeaons of the Con-
vention be greatly desired a resolution passed by the Con-
venti<ni that would help him meet a critical denominational
issue in Arkansas where he was then Secretary of State Mis-
dons. It was an issue that affected also the Southern Baptist
ConventJcu and it was important that the Convention should
at that meeting put itself in a wise attitude towards a certain
constituency in Ariuinsas. He went to Judge Haralson, the pres-
ident of the Coivention, told him the mtuation, and said "And
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
300 THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
now Judge, if I may suggest the quw ^om I would like for
you to ftppoint as chairman of the committee, the maa who
would have to write the paper to be adopted by the Convention,
I want to aak that you iq>point Dr. Hatcher. We need a man of
singular wisdom' and level headedness to draw up such a
document and I tJiink Dr. Hatcher is the man."
Dr. Hatcher was ^>pointed to prepare the paper and with
many other people and tasks pulling at him at that Convention
he wrote the paper which was adopted by the Convention and
which, Dr. Love says, helped to save the day in Arkansas.
This inddent occured at a later Conventi<m but is mentioned
here as showing his influence in the Convention. It was at this
Memphis Convention that a new President of the Convention
was to be elected and the friends of Judge Haralson of Alabama
had asked Dr. Hatchn to place the Judge's name in nomination.
Dr. Hatcher had two warm personal friends, — one of these
Judge Haralson and the otiier a distinguished layman in another
Southern state, Col and the friends of this latter
gentieman had also asked Dr. Etatcher to chan^ion the cause
of thor man for ibe pread^icy of the Convention in Memphis.
He was in a quandary but was Booa relieved by a letter from
the latter friend releaong him htmi any obligation to present
his name and giving way to the other gentl^nan. He presented
Judge Haralson's name to the Ctmventioa and it was generally
agreed that it was his speech that won him the nominatitm.
A noble spirit was Judge Haralson. For many years the Con-
vention inmsted on his wearing the presidential honor and
with gentleness, courtesy and firmness he wielded the gavel and
through it all he clung to Dr. Hatcher with affectionate de-
pendence, not in any cringing, or helpless way, for he was a
master in his direction of the exercises, but I would often hear
him say, as he would walk arm in. arm with him, "Hatcher,
you must keep near me, to help me." They loved each other
and were close counselors about denominational matters.
Durii^E this Convention he presented a resolution which
precipitated a discusEdon. The debate became animated and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION 301
several entered the fray. Rev. Dr. arose to oppose
the resolution and plunged into an earnest speech, talldog
however in somewhat rambling fashion. At a certwt point
in his remarks he swung from his track, following another line
of thought. When he sought to return from his side remarks
to the main line of his speech he could not find the track. He
stopped abruptly, looked around in a bewildered way, and in
hi^ tones called out: -
"Where was I brfore I was interrupted?"
"I think you were back in the dark ages" ventured Dr.
Hatcher.
The explosion of laughter that followed well nigh shook the
rafters. The remark could hardly be entered in the list of
"kind words" to an opponent and yet it was not made with
any malice afore-thoii^ht and, as for the audience that had
be^t overstrained by the excited debate, — it jolted them into
a restful good humor. At another time in the Convention
the tide of the discusdon was runnii^ high. Some of the b^'
guns were in the Geld, the firing commenced and a battie
seemed imminent. Dr. Hatcher stepped into the breach, —
but let Rev. Harry Bagby tell the story:
"My first view of Dr. Hatcher was to me very imprenve.
It was at a meeting of the Southern Bi^itist Convention, in
Memphis, in 1889. The Convention bad under conaderation
the report on Missions in Papal fields. Dr. A. C. Dixon, at
that time pastor in the city of Baltimore, delivered an address
in which he undertook to lay bare the heresies, the corruption
and the dangers of Romanism in America. His phiUipic would
have done credit to Demosthenes in his prime. He cried
aloud and spared not. He was followed by Dr. Henry Mc-
Donald who was bom and bred a Roman Catholic. He ad-
mitted the truthfulness of what Dr. Dixon had said, but de-
clared it to be his conviction that it was unwise to attack Roman-
ism in that way in America. He then described a visit to his
old home in Ireland. He told of meeting his Roman Catholic
brother whom he had not seen for forty years. He described '
how they went together into the garden, and knelt at their
BfUBted mother's grave and prayed together, protestant on
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
302 TWO NEW LKCTURES
one side and the Roman Catholic on the other. He melted
the audience to tears, and Dr. Dixon was knocked out with
one blow. Everybody saw it would be very imfortunate to
engage in a heated discusaon on that subject at such a time
and in such a place. As Dr. McDomdd closed, Dr. Hatcher
got the floor. I have never heard a brighter speech than tiiat
which followed in the next five minutes. Among other things
he said, 'My brethren we are living in the most marvelous
age in all the world's history. We have heard on this platform
in one hour the fiery Martin Luther and the gaitle Phillip
Melancthon. We have heard this afternoon from the two
Johns, One said '0 generation of vipers, who hat^ warned
you to fiee from the wrath to come' ; Uie other said 'My little
children a new commandment I write unto you, that you love
one another.' And now it seems to me brethren that it is a
good time to stop.' The effect was dastac, the inddent Mt
every one smiling and h^py."
In a tew d&ys he waa back in Virginia busy witii hie taaks
and travels. He had pr^ared, since his return from his E^un^
peau journeys, two new lectures, one on "Spurgeon and His
Work" and the other cm "Croesing the Sea", and on thgae
two topics he lectured in nearly every section of Virgiiiis. He
delivered in one of the lower countJefl of the state his lecture
on Spurgeon. After the lecture he was walking around the
church building when an old fellow with a grinning face and a
draggy manner of speech walked up to him and, in a confi-
dential tone, drawled out :
"Say, Dr. Hatcher; that man Spurg — I think you said that
was his name — ^I say that man Spuig must have been a right
nice man." The lecturer's reply is not on record but it is con-
ndered extremely probable that he cherished very much the
same opinion as his smiling brother. The following letter of
May 2Hh will ^ve an idea of his busy manner of life.
"My Dear E:
"I w^t to Fredericksbuig, Monday. I had a church to
dedicate Tuesday and on Tuesday night I had a great crowd
to hear my "Spurgeon and his work" at Dr. Dunaway's church.
I have not been well since I got home. I go this afternoon to '
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AT THE DOVEE ASSOCUTION 303
meet conunittee on Dr. Winfree's monument. How I wish
that I could aee you there. I am anticipating my time with
you next we^. . . Monday I go to Suffolk and will not
g«t back until Wednesday."
The letter refais to "Df. Winfree's monument." Dr. Wiafree
was an honored pastor in Chesterfield County tad a dJstm-
guiehed preacher and Dr. Hatcher had promised to help the
Chesterfidd people in their movemoit for a monument to
thwr late [lastor. Dr. Wright of Suffolk, in writii^ about the
lecture on ^Nu^eon ddivered at his church, says:
"The house was Uterally packed and the crowds stood out-
side at the windows and doors unable to get in. At the close
of the lecture, and before the audience knew what he was about,
the Doctor b^;an a skillful onslaught upon the assembled
crowd in the interest of the building fund of our new church
and in a short time secured nearly $1200. He has our pnrfound
gratitude for his successful management of this entire matter."
At the Dover Association he arose to speak and Dr. L
called out: "If Dr. Hatcher is going to discuss the Kind
Words publication then I make the point of order that he is
out ot order."
"Brother Moderator" replied Dr. Hatcher "I am puziled
to know how Dr. L has found out what my speech b
going to be. I am willing to submit to the judgment of the
moderator whether a point of order, raised against a speech
which has not been made, is a vaUd point or not." The mod-
erator ruled that it was not and Dr. Hatcher made it plain
that he had not arisen for the purpose indicated in brother
L 's point of order.
It was during this Summer that a new fountain of pteaaure
was opened to him from which he drank to his soul's refreshment
to the end of his life. This fountfun was "Chesterfield," — a
county lying on the opposite of the James River from Bichmond.
I was pastor of thxtte country churches in that county,
and his visits to me during my residence in the county
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
304 MEETINGS IN CHESTERFIELD
linked him with the churches and people in that section in
a way tiiat gave them a place in hia heart that waa nevei
lost and Uiat made Chesterfield a sacred tramping ground for
Imn. He came to Bi>eak of it in his letters to me as "the sacred
ami" and oftimes in tollii^ of his drives across the river he
would speak of having "struck for the sacred hills." He helped
me in meetings at two of my churches, being prevented from
being with me at the Tomahawk church of which his grand-
father, Jereaniah Hatcher had once been pastor.
At my Skinquartw church his opemng sermon waa on
"Christ knocking at the door of the church" and at the con-
cluaon of the sermon the congregation was overcome with emo-
tion, and the deacon who attempted to lead in prayer broke
down and sobbed and yet be himself remained calm; he did not
allow himself to be sw^t away by the storm of feeling which
his own sermon had created, but held himself m hand that
he might direct the forces in the meeting. It was as if he had
said "Expreas your feelings, if you are so moved to do, but
understand this is not the revival; we are just be^nning; and
there is much yet to be done." Ilie meeting proved to be a
glorious one, but it was at Bethlehem church that he had bis
crowning experience. He led the mngjng, taught the con-
gr^ation new songs; they responded to his every touch and
his soul reveled in it all. The meeting had in it some wonderful
incidents which Mt their echoes sin^ng in hia soul during all
his remuning years.
He had his buggy with hiim and be and I would drive each
night to a new home. One night we drew up at old Mr, Ly-
bargers, — and a crustier and odder old character it would be
hard to find, and yet that night, as my father b^pin to dig
into him, he foimd a gold mine of interesting qualities. I
had warned him before-hand that he would find the old man
a bundle of inconastences. He thus wrote about his insit:
"I can testify that the old gentleman hved up to hia recom-
mendations that night. His English waa badly shattered, but
he was quick of mind, brimming with humor, sarcastic, defiant
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BETHLEHEM 306
and skeptical. As booq oa supper was over, he opened fire.
He slashed the preachers, plucked the churches and sneered
revivals out of countenance. I thmk I never heard any man
make a more clever, or damaging, assault upon religion as
embodied in individuals and churches of that day. Much
that he said was true and so intermixed with what was not
true that it was hard to handle him. Indeed I gave him full
T^n aad ^[pressed approval of many things that he said. He
ran riot with invective and seemed for awhile intoxicated witii
the eease of victory."
Mrs. Lybarger and I sat by keenly interested as spectators.
They had it hard and long. The old man got our horse next
morning, fighting all the time ag^nst the saggeatioa of his
going to church. We drove out to Bethlehem, started the
meetings for the day and one of its many happy features was
the presence and the conversion of the old man, and the letters
from my father in later years were destined to tell me of many
drives he had had up to "Brother Lybarger's". My father
loved to keep in touch with his old friend and to put whatever
l^t he could upon bis christian pathway. The meetings
were rich in fruit. At one of the homes whae we ware spending
the night it seemed to him, after we had retired, that I was
restiess and worried about something and he called out to me
from his bed, in solicitous tones, saying; "My boy, do you feel
that I am taking too much of the meetii^ out of your hands?"
It to(^ me not a second of time to banish any ^ch dehmon
from his mind.
He loved to tell of the conversion in that Bethlehem
meeting of old Brother Orrell, over 90 years of age and of a
tittle boy of tender age. When they were received for baptism
tb^ were together and Dr. Hatcher made touching reference
to the aged man and the littie lad coming into the kingdom
mde by ode. On the day of the baptism, with the crowds
lining the banks of the stream they carried the old man into
the water ride by ride with the boy. He was baptised first
and as they started to carry him out of the water he stopped
them, sayii^; "Oh I must wait for my littie friend" and tiiere
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
306 BETHLEHEM
be renuuned until the boy was baptized and togetiier they vent
out of the water. Not very loi^ after that Dr. Hatcher went
to Bethlehem to preach the funeral of this old man. At a
cert^ point in the service he told the story of the old man and
bis little friend and then looking out over the throng
of people he said "What has become of that boy?" "Here he is"
came the answer and Dr. Hatcher learned to his joy that the
boy was develo]Hiig into an active, useful member of the church.
On November, 3rd, he wrote me at the Louisville Seminuy :
"Deah Eldridob:
"Here it is again. I am in Richmond and at my desk on
Sunday night writing to you. If we live I suppose this will
be the first of an enormous mass of letters that will go to you
fixHQ my pen for the next three yeat^. But I cannot quite
promise to write every Sunday night but I will give you the
best I can.
"Dr. was to begin a aeries of 'Family Homilies'
ton^ht. His first theme was 'Winning a wife'. Lisne had
to rem&rk that he had won so many wives that she supposed
he felt epeoially prepared to tell how it ought to be done."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXVI
TRIF8 TO CHESTBRTIELD. P£AC£FtJL SOLUTION OF CHURCH TBOU'
BL£B. EDITORIAL CRITICISHB. NEW BUILDING. INTBKSST
IN PLAIN PEOPLE. PUTTING HONOR UPON OTHERS.
KINDNESS TO YOUNO PREACHERS.
One result of the Bethlehem meetings was the beginning of
one of the dearest friendships of his life. A young preficher,
Bev. Robert H Winfree, hud his pastoral Seld in the same part
of the county as mine and a little nearer to Hichmond. He
fdt mi^ularly drawn to this young preacher from the start
and called him sometimes "Bob" and sometimes "Robert".
Dr. Hatcher was ardent in his attachments, not only to his
p&taooBl friends, but also to communities. There was
Bomethii^ in tus soul that cried out for fellowship with
those he had come to love and sometimes even for places
like Bedford and Chesterfield that had become endeared to
him by sacred experiences. At first he shrank from going
back over the Chesterfield roads which we had traveled in our
meetings. He wrote me "I confess it puts a lonely feeling upon
me to cross the brii^ and head towards old Chesterfield.
You have spoiled that country for me as I will hate to run
the old roads without having you aloi^." But the yearning
for the old roads and the people soon returned and more and
more l^e home <^ his friend, Robert Winfree, became a beloved
place to him. In fact Chesterfield became his recreation annex
for the next few years and what his croquet games formerly
did for him at the CoU^e was now done for him by his Chester-
field trips. He could jump in his buggy, and in a few minutes
307
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
308 CHESTERFIELD
be on the other side of the river and Bcuddying through Man-
'Cbefiter and out along the Midlothian turnpike. Not only did
bJB buggy generally carry some httle trinkets, or sweete, as he
drove up to one of the Chesterfield homes, but he was fertile
in expedients for ministering to the people. After a heavy
strain of toil in the city it meant a rejuTenation to him to jump
in bis buggy, take a boy, or a preacher, with bun, and go
"careering" out over the hills into the "sacred country."
In a letter to me, at this time, he writes regardii^ Dr. Wbit^
field, one of the Kichmond pastors; "He is dear to me — in fact
I bold him first among the pastors in Bichmond. He is so
true and wise." He yearned for just such compaaioDsbips.
They gave him a' refreshing relaxation from his pastoral and
denominational strEuns. Many were the times that Dr. Theo-
dore Whitfield and be climbed tjie Chesterfield bills and spent
the night at "Robert's", or at some other Chesterfield home.
The next letter draws a picture of one of bis viats, which letter
he knew I would keenly enjoy.
"My Dear Eldridqb:
"I begin early this time and hope to give you a very juicy
topic by the time it is finished. Robert Winfree was ordwned
today Tuesday at Bethel, Dr. Whitfield and I went up and
spent Monday lught at Baker's. Bagby was there and we spent
a delightful evening together. We had a fine day for the or-
dination. Bob bore himself quit« handsomely in the examination.
I conducted the examination and did not put it very severely
for him. The congr^ation was excellent and the sermon seemed
to make an excellent impresdon. "Brudder Joe" was there
and be looked uncommonly well. Dr. Hancock was there and
Frank with him. My heart is burdened for Frank; he ia a fine
boy and capable of great things. . . Write him if you have
a spare moment " *
"On Dec. 15th, he Wrote:
"My DBLut E: .
"We had a big memorial service in honor of Jeff Davis on
last Wednesday. It was held at Second Baptist Church and
the crowd was overflowing. Dra. and Bpoke
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION 309
and did it well. I had to preside and made a brief speech which
was said to be good. It was a modest blushing kind of per-
formance which fairly veiled its face before the glare of
G 's rhetoric, and the measured roll of L — 's
voice. Dr. was asked to be the orator of the occasioD
but declined. He was much criticised and many aud that he
could not praise Davis lest he should. . . Aa 1 did not
know why he did not speak, I could say nothing on the sub-
ject."
The time seemed ripe for him to strike for a new church
building. For fourteen years he had labored with increasing
congregations in the old structure, the church relieving itself
on two or three occasions by sending out colonies to establish
new churches.
On Sunday morning during the Christmas season Dr. Hatcher
startled his congre^tion by making the surpiioi^ announce-
ment:
"On New Year's Day I expect to celebrate at my home the
25th anniversary of my marriage and I give a hearty invitation
to every one of you to be present and I ask each of you to
brii^ me a mlver present". His wife swd she caught her
breath at this last remark sayii^ to herself "What can he
mean? I never heard him make such a statement before; but
he kept us in suspense for only a second and he added 'to be
used in building the church. I want 112,000.' "
He trod the heights on that New Year's day at his Reception
as be and his wife greeted the throngs of members and friends
that crowded into his home during the afternoon and evening.
Amoi^ those who came were the Baptiste pastors, who pre-
sented to him an "exquiately beautiful and costiy silver
present." But the out-standing feature of the Reception was
the report of the deacons near the close of the day announcing
that 112,000, the amount asked for, — had been raised during
the day. In such financial campaigns he always gave largely.
His wife says she thinks that he gave $1,000 towards the
new building. Whenever any one would chide him for what
often seemed reckless giving on his part he would reply "I
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
310 EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON
must give because the Lord ^ves to me" and he mi^t po*-
^bly have added with equal trutMuhiess that the Lord gave so
abundaDtly to him because he gave so freely to his cause.
It might be mentioned that his frequent practice of taking up
collections for others put a drain, not only on his vocal powers,
but often on his ovn puree.
He had an intereetii^ experience at this time in Washington
where, in conjunction with Dr. Geot^ C. Lorimer, he preached
at the dedication ef the First Baptist Church of that city. Dr.
Lorimer preached an eloquent sermon in the morning, but
a large part of his audience vieai out after the aemum, not
waiting for the collection. Dr. Hatcher preached at m^t and
after his sermon made some complimentary allusion to his
audience, whereupon Dr. Lorimer broke in with the remariL:
"No man ever had a finer set of hearers than I had at this
morning's service." To which Dr. Hatcher replied:
"I can safely say that my audience will never forsake me as
ingloriously as yours did this morning. If it should, I think
I would go out and hang myself."
"The audience broke into happy laughter" said Dr. Hatcher
"and went quite beyond the morning audience in its contri-
bution to the church fund."
It was a curious experience which he had. He was very
sck during the day and yet when he arose to preach at night
his ailment fled. "Sunday I suffered intensdy from nausea"
he wrote "and yet I do not remember that I ever enjoyed
preaching more in my life." After the service Ma sickness
returned, pursued him to the hotel and rolled him in delirium
during the night. Upon his return to Richmond he addressed
himself to his campaign for his new building, but troubles lay
ahead of him. "Your father is afraid tiiat X and his
party will defeat it" writes my mother referring to the church
building enterprise.
"There is evidently a counter eurrait against us" he writes
me, "and it sometimes makes me nervous but my trust is in
the Lord. If we are not to have a new church I can submit but
I hope it will come."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A CLIMAX IN GRACE STREET 311
Tbese were Btressful days for him. "I find myself badly used
up by my varied cares" be writes "and am trying to lighten
my burdens. It is bard to endure such a etrun." How for-
tunate it was that in times of strain he could exchange his
burdens for a bright viat to one of his Chesterfield homes.
He draws a vivid picture of such an outing.
"On Friday afternoon I jumped into my bu^y, picked up
Woodie and hied us forth for ^e satnwl nilis of Chesterfield.
I took the lUver road and landed about sunset at Civey Win.-
ston's. Carey was ploughing in the field in front of the house
and saw me coming and he yelled out a joyful welcome. They
saw me from the house and by the time I got out of the buggy
and got into the house they had a roaring fire ready for me.
Mrs. Car^ Winston had toothache; she was suffering in-
tensely, but she got better. The night was hke an elysian
dream. How glad they seemed to be. They thanked me for
Gomii^, as if I had done them a great service. We had hours
of fine talk. They gave me a lovely room to sleep in. It was
really delicious to hear them talk so hopefully and affection-
.ately about their church."
At last the climax came. For many years there had been a
factional element in the church that caused trouble. A few
years before this time, however, those who had opposed him
had laid down that arms and in many ways bad cooperated
with him since that time; but the sea had not been perfectly
calm and there had been strains and breaks in the membership.
But at a meeting of the church at this time the end came, these
particular members and others with them withdrawing from
the church. On the next morning my father writes me: "The
agoi^ is over. Last night was a dismal runy time, but the
ends of the eartii came to church. I had my fears for I knew
that there had been some bad talking." He then describes the
manner in which letters were asked for for about 30 of the mem-
bers— among th^n those who had (pven him trouble at intervals
during his pastorate. The request for the letters was granted.
"It vna a peaceful solution of an old trouble" he said. "It
may leave some sores and we may lose a few more but Qrace
Street will go marching on. The Lord is with us."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
312 THE FACTIONAL TROUBLES
"Great events in the history of Grace Street have transpired
since I last wrote you" writes my mother. "We have passed
through a season of trials, anxiety and partial exdtement. . .
I feel however, that, as severe as the ordeal is, it is best for us
and the church at last. Your father is full of faith and cour-
age and thinks there is a brighter day coming for old Grace
Street."
The story of the factional troubles in his church are told
in these pages with no deare whatever to rec^en any old
wounds, or to make ai^ unkind flings at any one.
Not one i^ace of bitterness remuned in my father's heart
towards those who opposed him. He and th^ in the after years,
while connected with different churches, mingled in christian
fraternity and co-operated freely in religious woik. It seems
to have been a case where certiun persons for some reason
did not work in harmony -with the pastor and tlie rest of the
church and so they went mto other churches where they f dt
tiiey could be lumpier. There were others who thou^t it
best to go with them. If those who went out felt a rdief,
this feeling was also shared by pastor and church and tJie
general sentiment was that the action taken was a fortunate
cubninataon of a long growing trouble. It gave the church a
jar which some thou^t meant that the day of doom had come
and yet as the church closed up the ranks it found itself gathered
into a compact unit such as it had never been before.
Someone asked him for his advice in preparing a set of rules
for the govemm^it of his church membership. He thus replied :
"Our advice is to conjure up a whole lot (A rules, — say forty
or forty five— to write th^n neatly on half sheets of foolscap
(writing only on one ade) making them touch all subjeota
such as dancing, Sunday excursion, drinking, cooking on the
Lord's Day, attending church meetings, strifes among brethren,
stealing, cheating, going in debt, and very many other things,
too numerous to mention at this time and then to put the
document in a large white envelope and neatly to drop it
into a roaring wood fire allowing it to remain, say, for a couple
of hours and then to take it out and present what is left to the
church."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE "LAND BOOM" ARTICLE 313
"In the splendid borne of tbis good and great man it was my
pleasure to rest for several days" writea Rev. J. A. Leslie.
"The wonder is how Dr. and Mrs. Hatcher find time to do such
great things for the Lord in so many different ways and places."
He set his heart upon having a splend d church edifice, a
building adequate for lai^e denominational gatherings, as
well as for his own church services.
As a rule he had only kind words for his brother ministers,
but there were times when he would let fly his arrows of criti-
cism. He wrote an article for a Baptist weekly that produced
a commotion. In this communciation he attacked the practice
of certain ministers becoming mixed up with "land booms" and
sent the article to the editor. The article seemed so severe
that the editor became panic stricken about it and wrote the
following letter:
"Dbab Dr. Hatcseh:
"Prepare to fightl My, my; if you havn't a first olaaa row
on hand now, then there is no fight in the "C " men
or in the C of F .
"Why those expresEdons of No. 5 in your 'Hi^ Places' are
perfectly awful. W in reading the proof called Mra.
Hatcher^s [who was visiting in the editor's city at that time]
attention to them. When I came to the office, I ran up to
see the good wife and to ask her to strike out the heart of that
paragraph.
"But she had fiown down the street. So I returned azid sfud
to the printer, 'I'll seek a bomb proof, sO put in the imtiaU
'W. E. H.' But, my; wont the shot rattle on our roof soon.
I'll fly the white flag and cry 'On to Bichmond'. You began
this row and you must fight it out, if it takes all Summer. If
your foes leave a few remnants of your body, I'll try to do
you a service by gathering them tc^ether and having a res-
pectable funeral.
"But seriously you were awful. You must have f eU in a
savage humor when you wrote those paragraphs."
The editor was correct. The shot did beffn to rattle. A
very prominrait minister in another state felt that the article
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
314 THE COUNCIL
was aimed at him and he indigoantly iufonoed Dr. Hatcher
that be was ooming to Bidimond for a Bettlemoit.
A "council" of four mimstere vaa called, two of them re-
presenting Dr. Hatcher and the other two repregentJng tiie
aggrieved minister, who came to Bichmond for the meeting.
The six brethrrai came tc^ether and the brother chaiged that
Dr. Hatcher had done him a public wrong in the aforesaid
article and demanded that the matter be set ri^t. In writing
me about the council he says that the indignant minister
"took an hour, or more, in explaining his conn^tjon with tiie
X — . Laud Booms which had no connectitm witii our
quarrel. I told them my article was not deogned to injure
anybody but to correct a growii^ evil among preachers, — ^that
if any had been wounded by my editorial, it was simply becauae
they had put themselves in the way of my 6re. The Committee
said that my explanation was satisfactory and would not rec-
ommend that any public statement as to the affair should be
made, unless Dr. X wished it and I was willing.
"As a mmple fact, I was not hittii^ X . I told him
that I could not forget, while writii^ the article, his record on
the Land Boom businesa, but it was no wish of mine to hurt
him. I only was anxious that he should not hurt anybody
else. Thus it ended. A email and transient sraisation."
While his editorial pen dropped kindness in nearly every
paragraph, yet he had in hjm the critical element, and he was
unsparing in his denunciations when occasion called for it.
He sought to correct faults, not mmply in his children, but in
haya and young jneachen. He op^ied fire in his paper against
the practice of some preachers in that day of ddivering little
"Preludes" before thar regular sermons. He scored those
evangelists who were in a habit when b^inaing a meeting
in a town of wbipjung the town into a tempest by denunciations
ot absent officials and by other such sensational metliods.
He had a niece to whom be was much attached. He said
to her one day:
"You must watch your tongue, Bettie; you will hurt more
peofde with it than you help, if you dont mind," to which she
sixaewhat bluntly repUed:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A NEW CHXJRCH CONTEMPLATED 315
"Well, Uncle William; how about your watching your pen?"
She knew that he was very, free in expreeang himself in the
public prem regarding the things he did not like. During his
connection with the Herald he repmnanded a Vii^nia
Bishop for declaring, in a heated manner in a public gathering,
that he would not be "bullied or bwted" by any one. Dr.
Hatcha fdt that Buch pubHc words by such a prominent
church offidal were improper and so — to tiie dismay of many —
he opoied fire.
He waa present at a conference in Biohmond of certtun Baptist
mimsters and hqrmen. He was a young pastor then and In
the conference was a Richmond layman, venerable and imponng
in ai^warance and (me of the richest if not the richest B^>tist
in the state, a man held in hi^ respect by all and in the con-
fermce his word was practically law. No ime seemed disposed
to diqnite his sway. EBs tooe must have bordered on (he
~ omniscient — at any rate young Mr. Hatcher thought so uid
when at a certain point in the discuamon old brother T
said with a sort of dogmatic drawl, "Well, I did not know that"
the young preacher could restnun himself no longer and he
said in a most impresave w^ "brethren, brother T
states that he did not know that and it goes to prove that there
is one thing in the worid that brother T did not
know." The old gentleman felt a jolt and maybe had one or
two thoughts that were not recorded in the minutes of the
meeting.
His ehnrch had decided to erect a lai^e and magnificient
structure. A temporary tabernacle waa built in which to hold
the servieee during the construction of the new building. Re-
garding his old church, which was now bong taken to pieces, he
writes:
"As a nun it has a pathetic and sorrowful look and it makes
me faint of soul to go by it, though my mckness of spirit may
spring, in part, from the burden of building the new house.
He took active interest in the establishment of a Baptist
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
316 SUMMER TRAVELS
Orphaiu^ for the state, was appointed as cbainnan of a com-
mittee of tlie General AsBodation to select a location for the
mstitution and went twice with the committee on a tour of in-
spection of certain towns in the state. In one of his letters
he says, "I have breakfast in the mpming for Felix and Dixoo."
ThJB sentence points to a favorite custom with him, — that of
having "breakfasts" for his ministerial viators. Dr. Landrum,
in a public discourse once spoke of ' 'Breakfasts at Dr. Hatcher's"
as one of the happy social events in the life of the Ricdunond
pastoiB.
During the Summer he spent his vacation among tiie country
churches. At the James Biver Association it was said, "Dr.
Hatcher was never In better trim. He preached with more
than usual power and unction," and a correspondent from
JeffcTBontoa where he held a week's meeting^ writes, "How
we were all drawn to Dr. Hatcher, the prince of Southern
preachers."
After attendii^ the Middle District Association, he writes
me on Aug. 8th:
"X preached the sermon and it was not well re-
cdved. It was very censorious, cold and pesamistic. He has
evidently been in trouble and lost faith in humanity. I think
that I will write to him and try to cheer him up. . . I
called out Dudley Rudd and he made a clear and senMble
statement as to his work at Powhatan station. We then got a
collection for him, amounting to $127. He was wonderfully
set up. I am to preach for him next Sunday i^temoon. Today
I am crushed with manifold work and mu3t cut short my letter."
His Summer travbl^, included Brooklyn and Saratoga N. Y.
With his return to Richmond he grappled in v^orous fashion
his buildii^ campaign. The following letter of Oct. 4th, ^vee
us a peep behind the scenes :
"Mt Dear Eldridoe:
"Today has been glorious and I celebrated it with a game of
croquet. This has been an anxious week with me. We had
4^,000 to raise and Foster was sick. But the brethren got their
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
INTEREST IN PLAIN PEOPLE 317
blood up and the money came in. I put in $100 and that rather
put my blood aomevhat down; but I am in for the war and am
ECHi^ to put in my 'blood and treasure'. . . I got blue one
day, — ju0t for an hour and I was very blue, but I soon got back
to my standing ground that the Lord was in the movement
and will carry us through. . . I went around to see my
beloved brother Gates last mgbt. What a comfort he is to me.
He UAd me a bit' of news. He saya that X is not
happy at church. ... I am not specially in-
tcorasted in his coming back. I would not move my finger to
bring him back as a mattw of triumph over that faction. I
scorn to (Up as low as that. I am seeing to elevate the tone
of my church and I think it will come. My people seem happy
and united.
"Sunday nif/ht. . , My people aeem to think my eennons
were above average, but I am sore because of my lack of
spiritual power. I must see the people coming to Christ."
It was a marked characteristic of his to take interest in the
plain people about him, — in fact in people of aU classes. He
udgbt be buying candy from a confectioner, or having his shoes
shined or buying a newspaper, — whatever the simple transac-
tion might be, he treated the person with whom he was dealing
as a n^ghbor — yea, as a brother and he generally fell into an
intereflting colloquy with him. "Nothing that is human was
alien to him" writes Dr. Dodd. "He bad the eye which mngles
out worth everywhere." He often saw in people what super-
fidal observers failed to see and Us stories of striking
characters whom he had met were due to his discovering and
eliciting Uie finer truts in plfun people. Concerning his old
barber, he wrote me on Oct. 12th:
"My old Barber Hobson died Friday. It was a real. grief to
me for he was a good man and one of my most ardent mends.
It was always a pleasant experience to hear him talk. He was
a Baptist deacon and uncommonly intelligent. He was a
reader of the Baltimore Baptist and alwajrs bad pithy remarks
to make on my productions. I was sorry that I could not go
to his funeral.
These were busy days witii him. His church was to hold a
Buaar, and he wrote that the "Boys Table" would "have a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
318 THE PORTRAIT PAINTER
motintun cd thingB.. . . I had a fine game of croquet this
afternoon and won three gamee. I had my same pale-«yed
D for my partner.
"Saturday morning. I am muoh inteneted in your editorial
work. Seek to pmify your style and begin to use your ima^
nation. Kight often you must draw daborate wwrd-picturea.
Do not be afraid of bemg florid and eophomoric. If your imagi-
nation is truthful, it cannot be too lofty in its fights. The
world is sluggish and needs to be pleased with pictures."
This paragraph ^vee a peep into his own literary wortshop.
His popularity as a writer was largely due to the fact that
he would in ima^nation see what he was writing, and, thus
with the idea before his gaze he would mo^y draw it for the
reader, — ^he would paint it. He knew how to use his colors
and it was for this reason that his greatest sermons were his
character sennons. In them he became the portrait punter.
It might be mentioned here that it was his rule never — or with
raze exceptions — to use the "underscore" in his writings.
In November the General Assodation met in Biehmond.
"The Association seems rather dull" writes my mother. "Your
father got up some jollity tonight In taking a collection for
two churches. Folks are coming in and I must stop."
He had a constitutional grudge against dull meetings. It
may seem an odd method which he employed for breakii^
up the dulness in tiie above Association, — ^that of "taking a
collection for two churches." But theron seemed to lie his art.
The fact probably was that those two churches had been
pleading with him during the meeting to champion thdr cause
before the Association and — when the exercises had grown
tiresome — he finally yielded to their im.portunities.
In such cases he would arise, as if he was seeking the pro-
tecti(»i of the Association and say something hke this:
"Brother Moderator, I have a pastor, and some of his men,
here at my heels and I am thinkii^ of moving the appoint-
ment of a committee of lunacy to examine them. They have
the impudence to imagine that because they have no ohuFoh
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HELPING OTHERS 319
building in ■which to worship, and very little money with
which to build them one, that somebody in this Asaociation
nugbt be willing to help them. I have sought to cure them
of their insanity but thmr case grows worse. "Whom are you
talking about?" some one would call out. "I can't tell you"
would reply Dr. Hatcher "because they might want a col-
lection." "Why can't we help them?" would calt out another
and in a few momoits the delegates would be insisting on
helping "that struggling church," the shining coin and the
greenbacks would be flocking in and Dr. Hatcher would be
called to the front to direct the little whirlwind which he had
started.
"Dear E: "At Kueobr's, Monday 2 P. M.
"Here are Htt, Whitfield and I. We are here for oysters.
I send this to say that I met Haddon Watkins just now and
he told me that the Skinquarter church [in Chesterfield] was
burned yesterday. It is sul news I have no details."
"Yours, Wm. E. Hatcher."
"Richmond Va., Jan. 4th, 1891.
"My Dear E, — I am very sorry for the Skinquarter people.
I am conjuring some little scheme to pull them out of the mire.
Not much can I do, but, in some way, or another, I may ^ve
them a lift.
"They have had a protracted meeting at the College" he
writes, "but it has not come to much. It was conducted by a
evangelist. I heard him once and was well pleased —
except that he was decidedly too gushy. They seemed to me
to be worrying tJie boys to 'eonfesa', when really they were
not o(mvicted."
"RicHuoKD, Feby., IStii, 1891.
"My Dkas E, — I am just from church. Boys Amuversary
boomed — big crowd and fine speeches from Sleight and Dr.
Newton. We got S103.81 — good wasn't it? The boys sai^
splendidly. It was a great success.
"I have not had a word from the fairy land of Chesterfidd
for some wedcs. I think that even your intoxicated fancy
would not be enchanted by a proposed drive up the turnpike
this time. But we csa wait wid hope for better days.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
320 REVIVAL MEETINGS
Conceniing his little nephew who wsa then living in our home
he writes:
"JuniuB bloomed out in his long breeches yesterday and is
so proud that it is believed that if he were to meet the angel
Qabriet on the road he would a^ him instantly what he thou^t
of his breeches."
Two or three weeks later he writes:
"Junius has regaled us this week with a capacious case of
mumps. His jaws have been spread like great banners and the
sight of him has been a comedy. He has stood the fire of our
fim and ridicule quite serenely and is now neariy well again."
The latter part of March he undertook a revival oampugn
in the tabernacle, with Dr. J. S. Felix assisting him. He had
recently aided Dr. Felix in meetings at his Lynchbuig Church.
"Your father and Dr. Felix, have just started in the rain
to dinner at Ford's hotel" writ^ my mother. "Before starting,
your father gave Dr. Felix some account of his stay in England—-
said that if he were a young man he would go over there and
help the r^ular Baptists. . . He gave him at breakfast
a picture of the Blchmond pastors as he first knew them;
Burrows, at the First, took a notion to wear a gown a Uttle
while. Dr. Howell at 2nd wore a larger cloak, or toga, thrown
over his shoulders."
He writes: "Monday morning. I am now ^rs4>pUng with
the question as to how we are to get (15,000 m cash during
{he Sprii^. The Lord must show me how."
It was no meiB form of speech with him when he qwke
of his dependence on God for aid in his work. He loved men
but he leaned aa God.
"BicsHOND, Va., March, 23rd, 1891.
"My Db&b E, — Edith is evidently better. . . She is as
radiant as a prineesa. . . Kate is here and we have just
closed a quarrel on matrimony. I tell her not to many any
man whom she can not obey and she says that she will req)ect,
but she will not obey the man she marries. She reports an
immense time in N. C."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A YOUNG MAN FROM GERMANY 321
"My building work lies heavily upon me. We will need
(15,000 by the end of May. I get dazed at times and yet I am
sure that my people will realise the situation."
He showed a great kindnesa to an old man, not a member of
his church. His son, not a Bt^tist, sent him a note and a hand-
Bome chair, asking hun to acc^t it as a tok^ of grateful
"It touched me deeply" writes my father "So many think
I dight them that I rejoice when one comes back."
"To>morrow morning the Felixes and other preachers are to
be here to breakfast," writes my mother, on March 19th, and
on April 15th, she writes oonceming a young man whom he
took in his home and sought to help:
"Your father brought in a young man from Germany, —
who has hved several years in this country, who wants to
Btu<^ for the ministry. . . He came here looking for work
and has not been successful yet. He is surely a bright and inter-
esting fellow. The girls are highly entertained by him. . . .
Two other young men have been here recently lookit^ for
situations, — both from North Carolina.
"Your father has not improved his physical condition since
I last wrote. . . He has gone to the CoU^e for a game this
afternoon. . . The bell has kept up an incessant ringing
while I have been writing^muat stop now and see who is Ute
last and what his demands are."
To bis daughter Orie he writes on May 5th a letter thanking
her for a "beautiful present" which she has sent him and con-
cluding as follows:
"I am sorry I cannot return you a poetic response to your
fine lines which accompany your gift. The Muses have never
been in the least friendly to me and I know that I could not
woo them in my present mood."
His love for poetry seemed small. In his eaily Gfe he was
fond of it, but this fondness seemed to diminish rather than in-
crease and during the larger part of his ministry he rarely read,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
322 BROWNING
or quoted poetry. He said in his later life "I like poetry but [
never quoted it, because it would aever stick in my meniory."
In this connectioQ it may be mentioned that a lady on one
occasion ^X)ke of the resemblance between Dr. Hatcher and
Browning and when asked to state the points of resemblance
she gave the following:
Love of people.
Deep interest in human nature.
Optimism.
A fighter.
Love of Reality — contempt of sham.
Healthy-miudeduess .
Greatly beloved by others
Vivid anticipation of the other world
Desire for sudden death.
He often sought to put honor upon his brethren in dentsni-
natJonal gatherings, by si^geetii^ to the presiding officer
to call out these brethrsi and lay certain pubUc tasks upon them.
It would be interesting to know how many of those who, in
the Southern Baptist Convention, were called upon to respond
to the Address of Welcome, were sugfeeted beforehand to the
President by Dr. Hatcher. Not tliat there was any agreement
about this from year to year nor tliat any of the preading
o&ceiB felt under any obligation whatever to look to Dr.
Hatcher for this. But it came to pass that almost each year,
for many years, he would suggest a brother im tiiat purpose —
writing to the President days or weeks before the meeting of
the Convention. He loved to encourage his younger bretbrm.
He delighted to stimulate them to lai^er things and in different
wa^ he wouM bring them to the front. The following letter
from Judge Haralson, preddent of the Southern Bf^tist Con-
vention, cites a case in point which occured at the meeting in
Birmingham, which Dr. Hateher was prevented, by sickness,
from attending:
"Sel»a, Ala., May, 14th, 1891.
"My Dear Doctor, — We all deplored your absence but the
cause was well understood.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BALTIMORE BAPTIST 323
"I wanted to see you and talk over my incumbency, or tbe
leogtii of it. You Imow what you said to me at Memphis, I
am not greedy. Sometime, or other, I want to confer with you
about it and waa specially anxious to have you for a room mate
at the Florence that we might talk the stars out about a thous-
and things.
"Youi old friend Pritchard was there, and bright and cheery
as ever. In a good crowd, I told that when you and he were
crossing the Alps and had to spend the night on its glorious
Bummita you missed bim and when you came to look him up,
found that he had n^ed up a guide and his dog and gone
coon hunting.
"Acting on your admirable su^estion (a relief to me) I
topped D ■ up and he replied [to the address of wel-
come]. Ill say be did it nobly.
"Fwthfully and Affectionately
"Jon' Haralson."
He was still writing for the Baltimore Baptist, and as an
example of the sunlight which his newHpaper jottings often
put into other lives may be mentioned the case of a minister
who had recently come from another state to the pastorate of
the First church in one of the Virpnia cities. Dr. Hatcher
wrote an item about his visit in the home of the new pastor and
recKved a letter from him saying: "This morning, we opened
the mwl together. There were sad letters and glad letters
from the Virginia side and from the side, but nothing
did her [his wife] more good, or touched our hearts, kindled
our gratitude and awakened our appreciation more than the
warm and gracious words from your pen in the Bidtimore
Baptist. It has proved a rare exhilaxant and tonic to Mrs.
, to say nothing of its efEect upon the rest of us. I
feel tliat the Association owes you a vote of thanks
and I know I do. And Mrs. would have me write
you at once how we feel about it and how deeply grateful she
IB to you for your delicate words about the home and the hos-
tess."
His Summer waa spent in his usual way, — attending As-
Aodations, holding reyiyri meetii^, lecturing, dedicating
D.qit.zeabvG00t^lc
324 YOUNG PREACHERS
cliurches and doing other such reUgjoua work. At the
Potomac Association" said the Herald "Dr. Hatcher was in
fine feather. Indeed, he was never happier and his words
went straight to the mark. Tears and laughter; laughter
and tears. The Orphanage took a long stride onwards and
upwards."
He spent three Sundays supplying in Washington city. One
day he met a young man who told him he was on bis way to
Richmond College, and to whom he said; "When you get to
Richmond I want to help you to be happy."
"On the next Sunday" writes the youi^ man "I united with
his church in Richmond. Many a good word of cheer he spoke
to me during my College days, — even offering financial aid
if I should need it." He was constantly speaking kind words
to the young men as he met them upon the highway, — especially
to young preachers.
Dr. Andrew Broadus, Jr., writes:
"No man outside of my own family has so influenced my
life for good and I feel sure that more preachers can say that
of him than of any other Baptist preacher who has lived in
Virginia."
Says Rev. J. L. Rosser:
"Were each of those whom he has helped on the way to bring
but a angle fiower his resting place would become a mountain
of bloom."
"Richmond, Va., Oct. 4th, 1891.
"My Dear E, — It is now 20 minutes to eight and as Powell
of M^co (who came to bring some Mexican boys to College)
is to preach for me tonight I will begin my letter now.
"After church. Had a large but not a crowded audience
for Powell. He got J180 and seemed well satisfied."
"I see much in my church to distress me. I am at a dark
place in my work and see that I have got to be more with the
Lord. A pastor can do nothii^ that is worth doing without
getting Divine help at every point,"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A STOP-OVER AT BtJRKEVILLE 326
"MotuJay, 11 o'clock. Dr. Whitfield goes today up to Beth-
lehem to help Williama. Ah; can they have such sweet days
aa we had there. I hope they may."
On Oct. 11th, he writea me, — "I am concerned about your
editorial work. Remember that a wise man puts as much work
on others as he can.". . . He stopped over at Burkeville,
where his daughter, Kate, was teaching school at the Institute.
He writes, "She is the queen of the grove — everybody says
that she is the princess squaw of the wig-wam and she is as
happy as a morning lark."
Regarding my purchase of clothing, he writes. "I suggest
that you be slow in buying and buy only what is first class."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXVII
ENTEBING NEW BUILDING. HUMILITT. BROKEN PBIBNDSHIP.
WAKE FOREST REVIVAL. CHESTERFIELD. HIS NEW BOY.
Often, from this time on, would hie letters contain e
like the following: "I went to Salem Thurdsay night and got
home to breakfast SatordaT- momiag. TbingB look wfJI at
Salem and the Orphanage has a golden dawn on ita aky."
These all-night tripe, in behalf of his beloved Orphanage, made
heavy drains upon his stret^tb. "Not only was Dr. Hatcher
a great factor in the maintenance of the Orphanage" awd one
of the Trustees "but, at least on one occasion, he saved the
day tor the institution, when it was trembling in the balance."
Such work was the joy of his life and he kept it up until
his life reached its end.
He found rich companionship in his two youngest daughters,
Lill and Edith. He entered into their young lives and thus re-
freshed his soul, as well as put much sunshine on their path-
way. Edith was visting in Burkeville, and he writes me:
"Yesterdi^r afternoon Lill and I took a ride to Manchester,
Her companionship was most f^eeable to me. As we came
back I took her to Reugera and gave her a supper which she
seemed to enjoy,
"It looks now as if I may soon publish a book of Character
Sermons. If the arrangement is made I will preach my sermons
over in a series this Fall and Winter, have them t^en down
by a stenographer and publish them in the Spring."
Unfortunately this was not done.
The day drew near for his church to enter their splendid new
buildii^. "It is truly a thing of beauty and seems to excite
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JHE NEW GRACE STREET BAPTIST C
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
THE NEW BUILDING 327
universal pruse" he writes and then adds "I hope to see great
times when we get iato the new bouse."
"I came down town this morning" writes my mother
"and stopped in [at the new building] for a few moments. Your
father was showing Dr. W. D. Thomas through the building.
He t^es every one through whom he happens t« meet, who
might wish to see it."
"My people are somewhat nervous and over-worked" he
writes "and show a little fretfulnesa at times, but I am sur-
prised at my own patience. It looks as if nothing frets me and
this is a great comfort to me. The fact is, I am so much in
earnest about things that I am not moved by the small agita-
tions that mark some of my impulave people."
The new building was roagnifiaent. Th^ had not been able
to eomplete the auditorium, but all the building except the
auditorium was finished and the School room, with its side
rooms openii^ into the larger room, funusbed aecommodatjon
for 1000 and more.
Nov, 2Mb was the day for entering their new structure, but
ibty tamkB that mormng to find the eity wrapped in a btindii^
ten^Mst (tf s&ow. "I was not in the least disconcerted by the
weatbfff" be wrote. "It mattered not to me that it snowed. We
bad the house and I was happy over that. I could not let
a taxrponry inconvenience make me UDfaiq)py."
Now that the building stnnn, with Ma finaodal and material
bothers was over, tus next ambitiaa was for a great spiritual
revival for his church. "We bid a glorious time today" he
writes on the next Sunday, — "631 in the Sunday School cannot
easily be beat. The congregation overflowed our ch^rs and
bad to be put into the adjacent rooms.
"Oh, for the power of the Holy Ghost. I hope to see it before
the winter ends. I never had such low views of my gifts and
performances as I now have. I amount to next to nothing.
My work seems to be very mean and my power over people
is not ao great as it was. But I am not depressed by these
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
328 HUMILITY
thii^. My mind ia made up to do my best — if I have any
best — and to trust in the Lord."
One of his cardinal traits was his humility. I had almost
pronounced it his chief virtue, because out of it grew some of
his richest qualities. "I believe" says Ruskin "that the first
test of a truly great man is his humility." Dr. Hatcher's humil-
ity exerdsed a controlling influence over his intellectual
forces. It waa wiih him a mental, as well as a moral, attitude.
Humility is not an abject self-depreciation, but a reoc^mtioQ
of the difference between what we are and what we ought to
be; — ^between what we know and what there is to be known.
"As for me", says Socrates, "all I know is that I know nothing."
His hps recoiled from boastful words. How often I heard him
say 'Tm such a fool" or "I've got no sense." Frequently as
a boy I would be in public meetinffs where certun speakers
would indulge in h^ laudations of him, — as if he was aome-
tbing wonderful indeed — and when, after the meetings, I
would expect to find him elated over the parade that bad been
made over him, I would get a little shock, as he would say,
"Absurdl preposterousl" Even as a boy, he had a acom for
sdf display. The boy who in company sought to "show ofT'
met his dis^provaL He sfud that when he arrived at BictmuHid
College for the first time he rode up from the depot in the same
conveyance with another new student — besides his brother —
and that he was startled at the bluster with which this new
student gave orders to the driver and the pompous airs he
assumed as he approai^ed the Collie. His own feeling waa
one of tre^ndation, as he Ihought of how UtUe he knew, and of
how much knowledge the College before him stood for.
He had a mori^l horror of being knocked down. Christ's
picture of the man jumping mto the highest seat at the Feast and
being ordered by the host to vacate and move to the lowest seat
must have been taught to him in his early days. At any rate
he shrank from self exaltation.
One of the ruling ambitions of his life was to reach "tiie best"
in every thing, and it was his struggle to reach "the best"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HUMILITY 329
that kept him ever in sight of his limitations. His fear of the
fool killer on his arrival at College was no jocular pretense.
He did not protest against kindly praise of hiioself that came
to him from others. As a boy, he said he "yearned for appre-
dation" and it is not siupriang that one who put himself so
low, and gave his life so lately for the happiness of others,
should have eagerly welcomed every t^^en of appreciation
and love from others.
"I dare not use the word "success" in connection with any
part of my life" he once said. "I am so vexed, even in the
fairest recollections of my work, by my ever deepening sense
of inadequacy and unfaithfulness that I am afraid to admit
even to myself that I could safely epeak of my success in any
of the graver undertakings of my life."
Let it not be tho;^t however that this humility became self
debasem^it, or that it injured his self respect. He put him-
self down but he did not permit others to asast him in the
operation. When others attempted to retire him to the rear
his s^ise of justice sprang into the arena. He had r^;ard for
his poalion as a minister and a pastor. On one occassion there
was to be a marriage in Richmond in which he and a pastor
from another city were to take part. The visiting pastor
arranged the matrimonial programme and asmgned him a very
insgnificant place on it which he felt that the conditions did
not call for and he instantly imformed the viatii^ brother —
with whom he was well acqutunted — that he would not par^
tidpate in the ceremony as arrai^^; he said tiiat he was
perfectly willing to bow himself out of the ceremony altc^ether
but that if he took part it must be on a basis that would not
put him at an insignificant place on the schedule. The brother
knew too well the justice of the compbunt and promptly read-
jtisted the prt^ramnie.
He delighted in the "family reumons" at Christmas. On
this Christmas, his lai^e subscription to his church building
fund caused him to threaten small home e^tenditures for
the holiday season and he wrote me at Louisville:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
330 CHRISTMAS REUNION
"We iu*e preparing a royal welcome and short rationa for the
prodigals of the houaehold. On the score of muac, we will try
to ^ve full measure — perhaps we may dance a little, but the
fatted calf is not expected to attend."
After the joyful festivities of the "reunion" I returned
to Louisville. He drove me to the depot and on Jan. 10th,
be wrote:
"I had a sorrowful heart when I parted from you on Friday
night. As I got up Broad Street, I gouM see the train careering
up the valley taking you away and I felt envious of its charge.
Your visit was sunlight to me, and your going was a trial. .
I can but pray that our Iota may be cast near each other in the
coming years.
"I have promised the prls an oyster supper at 10 1-2 to-
morrow night."
A week later he vrrites:
"I spent last week in paying my debts and have few left.
My debts and my money disappeared about the same time.
One saya I must tell you that I went out yesterday and bought
a fine lot of table liuen. We nev^ had quite such a varied and
el^ant supply before. I stiU retun my unbition to have my
home handsomely fumiahed provided things can be kept in
good shape.
"My present plan is to make an earnest puU to awaken
deeper spiritual seal in my church. I am appalled at ^e
coldneaa of nry churdi. It crudiefi me to the ground."
In writjt^ of a ti^ whidi he was planning to take he says:
"The big valise is down and my shirts, collais, etc., are
snugly packed. I am quite rich in new collars, cuffs and cravats.
I have also ventured to get me a new plain suit. It smites
my soul to buy these things but I am compelled to waate (as
it looks to me) on such sordid things as clotlies. Mon^ secsna
worthy to be spent on nobler objects. I feel sorry for a dollar
that has to be d^raded from the high purpose to which it
might be devoted, to the common-place business of buying
cuffs, or Bo^, or cravats. But we must have some regard to
decency and comfort.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A STRIKING INCIDENT 331
'"Hiis week has been chiefly great in its bad weather. Its
most shining episode in my career has bewi the pulling of
two of my most mimmisble and rickety teeth.
"I am getting tides (rf letters about my gomg en the Herald.
It WBB aunifestiy the wise tfaong for me to do. . . Try to
have time to read my piece — "The Two Brooms."
"I went to Manchester yesterday. . . and the veiy
proximity to Chesterfield was bahn to my spirit. . . Col.
Peyton of the Rockbridge Alum Springs was at church yester-
day and gave your mother and me a free ticket to the Springs
u&A Summer. But I cannot stand the Springs it would ruin
my constitution to spend a month at tlie Springs so loi% as
I can work.
"Work is sweet to me and i«Bt is not — ^though it will be
after awhile. My nrviv^ power seems to be smiJl of late. I
have an opisioa of myself which grows steadily in smallness."
A^in he writes:
"I have a little coiudn to stay with me tonight. His name is
I^wik and his father is my first cousin. . . life
gets yery sober to me. The death of Spurgeon struck me in a
sensitire ^xit and put me to thinhiag. I most do my rery beet
for the rest <rf my days.
"Heavcu bless you. I am glad that you were so much edified
by your tr^i to Shelbyville. You surely have my passion for
going. It will follow you all your days,"
His next letter to me c^ls up a striking incident in his life,
which had several chi^iters. A few years before this time he
and a party of ministers and laymen had taken a long, rough
mountun ride to an Association. The trip was interpersed
with outbursts of humor and fun on the part of Dr. Hatcher
and others. In the party was Prof, an intimate and
honored friend of Dr. Hatcher, with whom he had in former
years many hours of happy fellowship. Prof. dJB-
spptaved of the fun and humor of Dr. Hatcher and others in
the party as being inconsst«nt with their dignity as ministers,
and at some public gathering, he referred to Dr. Hatcher and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
332 A BROKEN FRIENDSHIP
the others as "difigracing the cause of Christ by their
levity."
The words want like an arrow and cut Dr. Hatcher deeply.
It broke the close relations that had bound them t<%ether.
Soon after that I found myself one afternoon in the buggy
vith my father headed for the College. A friend of his and of
Prof. had invited him out to tile College for a game of
cn^uet. He was happy in the prospect of the contest. On
the croquet ground as we drove up were several gentlemen, —
among them Prof. , and my father seemed to detect
immediately a plan to bring him and his old friend into eadi
other's compaiqr in tiie game and thus the heal breach, — a
plan of which Prof. also was undoubtedly ^norant.
But my fathOT took in the situation at a glance, and at once
gathering up the reins, he turned the horse's head and drove
on off the campus. I remember not what was aaii, but I got
a stnmg impresaon that my father was in no mood for such a
game with its rec(Hidliatoiy attachments. He needed time;
and time did its wo^ though the old friendship never re-
turned and they never became equally as cordial as in former
times, yet they often mingled in pleasant intercourse. It
was at ttus time (February, 1892) — eaght or ten years after the
above inddent occured — that he was holding a meeting in
another dty, not very far from which lived his old frioid, to
whom he referred in the following letter:
"Saturday morning"
"Prof. and Ms daugther have been over to the
meeting. They both gave me much kind attention and seemed
set on my goii^; over to — — ~, but I do not see any prospect
of going. I have not been there for years — ^never since Prof.
and I had the unpleasant experience in whers
Jie charged that , and I disgraced the cause
of Christ by our levity and inconsistency. I told him then that
I freely forgave him for the wrong and would never harbor any
unkind thov^ts of Mm, but that I could never think of him
as a friend nor exchange hospitable courtesies. We get along
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A BROKEN FRIENDSHIP 333
together first rate and I would go to just to show my
good will if I could, but I will not have time."
It is good to know that, as the years passed, be and Prof.
were thrown together in many pleasant experiences
and co-operated on cordial terms in denominational work.
While the old friendship had suffered a wound from which
it could never entirely recover, yet they held each other in
high respect and esteem and he was ever glad to put honor on
his friend of other days, and when the end came it was Dr.
Hatcher, who was chosen to dehver the address at his funeral.
He gladly responded to the request and it was a lofty, almost
imperial, tribute which he paid to his fine old friend of- the
former years.
His friendships were among his most sacred treasures.
Some of them maintained their freshness and sweetness to
the end; some of them suffered shipwreck; some of them ended
in tragedies.
In speaking of one of his broken friendships, he sud, "If
you cut a friendship open to see whether it is there you kill
it." Some time after he made that remark one of his children
became estranged from a dear friend and when the father said
to the child that he hoped the friendly relations would con-
tinue the child rephed, "You know Papa, you said if you cut
open a friendship to see whether it is there you kill it." He
Bud no more.
The latter part of February be began a revival in his church
with Dr. W. L. Wright aiding him.
"My own lettera to you are conceived in a rush and bom
in a nutter" he wrote a week or two later ... "I have
never felt so much helped by a meeting in my life. I have
waked up to find that my own life is fearfully weak and wrong
and that my ministry amounts to next to nothing. My heart
is set on doing better. . . I had a charming incident to
brighten the day. Just as I came into my study this after-
notm a youth nearly grown came and said that he was converted
under my sermon yesterday morning. It was very comforting
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
334 WAKE FOREST MEETINGS
to me for I have had a depressing view of my ministerial
weakness of late. Indeed I have been very weary of late.
I cannot endure so much as in the past and you will have to
begin to think of me as your old father after awhile. I have to
spare my self far more than in my meridian daya. But this
is not so distressing to me, as you might think, — I mean my
growing old."
"I believe your father preached about the finest sermon
last Sunday" wrote my mother on the 9th, "that I ever heard
from him, from Rev. 2:17. 'To him that overcometh etc.'
He treated the christian life as a succession of four battles —
at the gate (conversion), at the Cross (self sacrifice), at the
heart (self mastery) and at death."
This was one of his greatest Bermons. The subject was "The
Four Battles" and he drew the picture oS the orenxxoing Me, —
the life that was triumphant in its four suprone coi^cta — and
of the rewards whidi tiie text prtMuiaed.
He held a series of meetings at Wake Forest CoU^ie
which mariced & new era in his life. During all his minis-
try he had variied his worit by holding revival meetings,
usually in the country or in towns, — with occasional meetings
in cities. W^e Forest was a Coll^je and it was dflsUned to be
the fint in a series of Collies at which he was to hold revival
campaigns in ihs future. His evai^;elistic labors were to
take an even wider circle and include large cities in otlier sec-
tions than Vir^^a and the South, An invitation came to
him a few weeks later from Rev. Frank Dixon to aid him in
meetings in California. "I can recall no part of my career as
a minister" he s^d in his later life "that has been more inter-
esting or fruitFul than what it it has been my privil^e to do
in Colleges and Universitjes". His Wake Forest meetings
worked a reli^ous revolution in the institution. "The College
is turned upade down" he writes. "The exerciEdes are suspended
in favor of the meeting and the students and dtisens are out
in great crowds." My mother writes "A letter from your
father yesterday says that the meeting is a cyclone", and upon
his return home he writes:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WAKE FOREST 335
"The joy of my Hfe touched the senitb at Wake Fcoest. I
never had sush a meetiog in nay life. It was trecoeadous and
you must put your ima^nation to work. Think of Bethlehem,
multiplied by a sympathetic faculty, over 200 students, a
villf^e and a community all absorbed in the work. I staid
until Saturday."
Those who attended his meetings testified that there was
in them a power not of this world. It looked for a few days as if
the Wake Forest meetings would not move the students;
"but" add he "when Mercy came she brought the very glory
of heaven with her. . . Our greatest day was election
day which was also our last day. . . A day Kke that seldom
comes in any human life. 0 christian reader share with us
the gladness of having seen again the face of our risen Lord.
Think of those hundreds of young people at this senfdtive
point in their destinies and pray for them."
Let us not attempt to describe his raptures during such an
experience. The fire kindled in his heart in the Wake Forest
meetings must have burned in his sermons on the next Sunday
in his own polfHt, for he writes regarding his morning sermon
"I suppoBe I never preached a sermon that moved them ntore."
He wrote me the latter part of May ;
"I come to my desk to write you what I suppose must be
my last letter with the direction Southern Baptist Theolopcal
Seminary on it. How many letters I have written you while
you have been a Seminariau, and how miserably poor and
gossipy they have been. I would regret to be ju<^ed by them,
either on their literary, or intellectual, or reli^us merits, and
yet I must say that I find a sort of regret that I shall write
no more letters to you with the Seminaty stamp upon Uiem.
These weekly unbosomii^ of mys^ to you have had their
pleasures." ■
I had preached at one of the New York churches on the
preceding Sunday and he wrote me on July 15th:
"Good morning my ladl How does the sky look to you this
morning? How did you stand the storm yesterday? IMd you
smash the family name, or did you eclipse your father's fame?
Tell me quick. My Powhatan expedition was golden."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
336 THE TYPEWRITER
Ai^ust, 15th, while I was helping his life long friend, Bev.
John R. Bagby, in revival meetii^ he vritee me:
"It f airiy inf uriatee me to reflect on the hi^jpy days yon and
Bi^by wiU have this week. Envy fills my eoul. You have
taken your father's place and here I am a wanderer among
strangers.
"But never mind. Next Saturday week, and I hope the Lord
may bring our quartette together. Do not let Bagby flinch^
or hedtate about the trip."
"Mt Deab Eldbtoqe:
"I am now learnii^ to write on the typewriter and I will
pay you the compliment of my first letter to you. . . I am
conscious that I can never be an expert at the bumness, wy
afflicted hand being the incurable barrier in the way. . . .
Wednesday morning. . . I tell you it is a .tremendous
undertaking to visit all the homes in the Grace Street Church.
Saturday morning. Ah, I know you will swell with envy
when I relate my experiences for the last few days. Thursday
afternoon, I went up to Hallsboro [in Chesterfield] to see the
sick folks. . . Brother Bob Winfree met me there and
after we had finished our visit he took me behind hia fine nag
and we swept down the road to Ms house. There we spent the
night. Mrs W. gave us a delicious supper. A cheerful fixe
glowed in the grate. Bob and I had it all our own way. We
made a sermon on the "Power of Woman's Faith", as seen
in the case of B,ahab. Bob thinks with quickness and vigor.
His acquaintance with the Word of God is remarkable. . . .
Friday morning we spent in study up to noon, and then we
pitched a game of quoits. Bob's defeat was complete and
disgraceful. We had six tilts and he never won a game. He
was terribly humiliated. He said that if he could get some
horse shoes he would blot me off the face of the earth.
"We learned that the quarterly church meeting at Bethlehem
was in session. We resolved to give Brer Williams [the pastor]
a surprise and so away we careered down the tum-pike to dear
old Bethlehem. When we reached the scene, the men were
holding a conclave in the house and the ladies were having
a misdonary meetii^ in the yard. Pretty soon he heard of our
presence and came out after us. We went in and heard some
of the discussions and tJiey were quite interestii^. The fin-
ancial report was really encour^ing. It showed that the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CORRESPONDENCE 337
people were paying up very well. It was hinted that somebody
had gone to pieces on his temperance plec^e, but no name was
given.
"In reeponse to Brer WiUiams' invitation I spoke, my topic
b^ng the Orphanage. Th^ were quite cordial and generous.
- "After the meetjng Bob and I rode by John Waddlington's
and spent an hour or two. There Bob found some horse shoes
and we had another pitching tilt. Six games were played and
once more Bob was crushed. He won two and Idst four. His
losses for the day were ten out of twelve. I yelled, shouted
and hurrahed over the victory as much as I chose. Bob was
interestingly blue over the result. I spent the night with him
and arrived home this morning by the Bon Air train.
"Monday morning. Here I am in my cosy study once more.
It is a sort of Paradise to me. Here I lock the world out and
have the luxury of unruffled repose. Often I retreat into this
hiding place feeling that my soul and my body alike need its
quiet r^. Not that I can afford to spend many of my moments
here in idleness. But even work in this lovely place is resUul
to me.
"Miss Minnie S~— is at present with us as a guest of
Kate's. She is really a superior woman. Tom S was her
devoted slave all day yesterday. She takes my jokes con-
cerning him quite umiably. I have named him "The Suppliant".
Of course she affects not to have the least idea as to what I am
talking about. Yours. W. E. H."
Tom proved the victor.
"Richmond, Va., October 20th, 1892.
"Mt Dkar Eldbidob, — ^Tomorrow there is to be a maas-
meeting at Dr. Heme's church. . . My address will be
short and unpretentious but I hope to put some sense in it.
"Tuesday afternoon, Thomhill and myself took a ride to
Bon Air. How sacred to me seem the very roads, trees, streams
of old Chesterfield. Whenever I get weary, lonesome, or sick,
my thoughts turn tenderly to her sacred hills.
"Friday momii^. I now write all my letters on my instru-
ment. I am a little slow but I enjoy the performance with
bojnsh pride
"Saturday night. I worked hard this morning and resolved
to take my overtaxed brain to the country. I picked up Dr.
Whitfield, rolled him in the bu^y and struck for the sacred
hills. We went out to Branch'sdaurch and called on'brother
Bagby.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
338 HIS NEW BOY
"Monday morning. Yesterday. . . floods of Btrangera
were at our church in the m(»7nDg. The crowd was rmlly
inspiring. . . At night my crowd was magnificent. The
folkB at home are well except your mother wfao has a cold.
Edith is not much better, but her energy is wxHiderfiri. Nothing
can discourage her. %e atudiee with extraordinary petsever-
ance. Lizzie marched off to the Institute this monuiig wi^
your traveling c^ on. She presented quite a jaunty six tmA
had a bright and glowing face. I thought that ^e lo^ed
unoonunonly well. One had a young medic^ beau last n^it."
A new boy was dropped into his life at this time in a carious
and memorable way. It was the same old story of his heart
opening towards a motherless boy. During the precedii^
Summer he had met a little orphan lad in the country by the
name of Coleman M , who was living with his step-
mother. A short while before this, a gentleman and his wife,
had asked Dr. Hatcher to keep on the lookout for a boy whom
they nught adopt and educate. "Colranan is the boy" gwd
Dr. Hatcher to himself ;"he ia a prcHni^ig looking lad and ought
to be educated". The boy's step-mother agreed to the ar~
rangement and it was decided that Col^nan should be sent
to the above mentioned gentleman and bis wife. In a few
days, however, the tidings came that the wife had died and
thus the home was closed against Coleman.
This put another puzsle before Dr. Elatcher. It thrust
upon him the question as to what should be done with the
little Caroline orphan. "Somebody must be found who will
take him" he said to himself, but no one appeared on the
horizon. "Jennie" he swd to his wife one ni^ht "suppose
we take the boy into our home and educate him and try to make
a man of him." She agreed and a few days later when the
train from the North stopped at the Elba station, at his back
gate, one momii^ Dr. Hatcher was at the depot to meet
Colon&n with his earthly belongings in his UtUe suit ease,
and in a few moments the family, who were on tip toe of ex-
pectation to see the new boy, were greeting him around the
breakfast table. Later that day my father wrote me:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW BOY 339
"I cannot remember whether, or not, I wrote you in regard
to a boy that I was interested in. He is an orphan and is from
the county of Caroline. After trying various men to persuade
them to take him I concluded to assume the charge of him
and see if I oould give him an education. I wrote for him to
come down and he arrived this monung for breakfaet. He is
12 years old and his name is M . I have made an
engagement with Miss Jennie Kudd to take him and teach him.
8b^ is very kind and will not charge him any tuition. Brother
Radd with his usual generosity offers to board him for the
small sum of $8 per month. I will take him up there, or send
him in a few days. Most likely I will go myself. I have not been
up there ance I was with you at Skinquarter in the meeting
three years ago and am rather anxious to see them. I have in
hand some money which I feel at liberty to use for the educa-
cation of the fellow. How much I hope that he may fulfill my
highest expectations."
Already he was drawing bright pictures of the boy's future.
Like a sculptor he was dreaming of the figure which he hoped
to fafihioQ out of the rude block that he had brought from the
country hills. Already he could, in imagination, see Coleman
going through school and College in preparation for a noble
manhood.
"Jamee Coleman ," writes my mother, "a little
orphan boy that your father met up with this past Summer,
has arrived and is being transmogrified to such an extent (by
means of certain monies given your father for such boys) that
he is looking quite genteel and sprightly. Your father's fond-
ness and great love for boys is a constant wonder to me. He
is never so happy as when one is around about him. Possibly
<Hie reason why Providence took away from him his two baby
boys was that he might care for other boys who have no parents
worthy, or able to care for them. Coleman is a genteel, bright
lookinjg fellow — shows rather good training. I hope the money
may come to have faim trained and properly educated." .
The taking of this boy under his fatherly wii^ was no
trifling event in the life of Dr. Hatcher. Wmie he did not
adopt Coleman as his own son, yet he took him into his heart,
with the determination to do his very best for him. It put
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
340 LETTER TO COLEMAN
a new star of hope in his own sky and no potter ever labored
upon his shapdeas clay with a more ardent devotion than did
Dr. Hatcher upon the tender hid that Providence Beemed to
have placed in his hands. He carried Coleman up to Miss
J«mie Rudd's school in Chesterfield, and on his busy Monday
morning after Ms return, he writes him the following tender,
characteristic letter :
"Richmond, Va., Nov. 7th, 1892.
"Mr Deak Coi^HAN, — It made me sad to leave you on
Saturday. As I took my parting glance at you through the
car window, I asked the Lord to be your friend and to shield
you from every danger wid evil. Remember that I will pray
for you every day. X hope you will often pray for me.
"I expect fine reports from you in your school. I know that
you begin behind the rest and I will not expect too much at
the start. All that I ask is that you be a studious boy and do
your beat.
"Do not be afraid to trust me. I wish you to come to me
as to a father. If you get in trouble always tell me about it.
If you feel that you have done a wrong thing I would not have
you conceal it from me for anything. Be free to tell me all
of your boyish trials. If you want anything, be free to come
to me about it. I may not always give you what you ask
for; I may not think it best for you, or I may not feel able to
give it. I would act, in the case, as a father oi^t to act.
"I send you, by express, your books. I also send some mater-
ial to make strips for your trunk. You need strapping on the
top of the trunk to keep it from falling backwar<&, and also
stn^M to the tray to enable you to Uft it out. Ask Mr. Rudd,
or Wortley, to fix it for you.
"I send you a Bible with the other books. This is for yoiur
regular use. You must save your other Bible in memory of
your father. In a short time I will send you a Sunday overcoat.
"This is Monday morning and I am very busy. Give my
love to the boys. Dont forget to write to me.
"Your True Friend,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
He had been appointed to preach the sermon before the
Southern Baptist Convention in May and the text upon wluch
he preached was the words "Experience worketh hope". He
preached upon the t«xt first to hisVwn pe(^le.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BETHEL'S NEW BUILDING 341
"Your father," writes my mother, "has gone to the delectable
pluns of Chesterfield, — he said 'on a lark.' Well, he needed
a change and t^ake up. I reckon the rulroad hands all know
The "lark" included a visit in t^e mterest of the Bethel
church, of which his friend "Robert" was pastor. He urged
them not to repair, but to rebuild, and he had some pleasant
little tussles with the committee in several later vimts. He
stud to his friend, Mr. W. W. Baker, one of the prominent mem-
bers of the church, and one of his much loved friraida; "Baker;
Bethel is going to have a new church and you can be captain
of the train, or you can buck and get run over."
On the next Sunday Mr. Baker gave his vote for the new
building and his pledge for $750. The building campaign
was begun and Mr. Baker says that one day, soon after that,
white the workmoi were tearing down the building Dr. Elatoher
drove up on the church groimds. The walls were down almost
to the ground, and Dr. Hatcher stood up in his buggy, sur-
veyed the scene, and, with a happy smile directed at him and
the others, he shouted, "Bless the Lord; Babylon has falleni"
In B few months the Bethel saints were worshipping in th^r
handsome, new, brick structure.
To Coleman he writes on Dec. 6th, "It would cut me ter-
ribly to find that you did not get your lessons well. You are
to be my bright student boy in the days to come. ... I
am very anxious for you to be learning to speak in public. . .
I will send you a Httle speech which I wuit you to have ready
by the time I come up to see you."
He writes me:
"Yesterday was not a big day with me. There were
some jolts and pull-backs in my work. Hence I claim the
T^t to be grum and moody this morning." There was oo
Boious trouble in hia church but as there is no houadiold bo
well descipUned that jars and misunderstaiidings never occur
BO we need not be surprised if in the beet tA churches human
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
i42 LETTER TO COLEMAN
nature should aometimes make an unseemly exhibition of
herself. My mother in the following letter hint« at those aame
"jolts and puU-backs."
"Last evening your father and I attended a very swell "At
Home" given by Dr. Kerr's church [Presbyterian], or rather
by the young men. Your father was invited to make an
address. I was spedatly glad that your father did it well.
Things have been going rather against him lately and he had
had much to discourage him. But he ie such a Roman that
he can mount above things that keep others down. I some-
times thmk that he is not appreciat«t by his people. He so
leads them on to attempt great thii^ that he foi^ets to in-
gratiate himself into their affections as other paators do. His
eye is fixed on others E^d the future good of the cause tuid in
doing so has to sacriSce his own well being and sometimes his
popularity. He is off today to Sussex for a lecture on tomorrow."
He wrrtes to his little country lad:
"Richmond, Va., Dec. l«th, 18»2.
"Mv Dear Coleman, — I am anxious for you to present Mias
Jennie with a suitable Christmas present. If I can, I will send
you something to give her. Do not tell her about it. When you
give it to her I want you to write her a nice note, wrap it up
in the paper with the present and hand it to her. In the note
you naust thank her for all her kindnesses to you. Be eure not
to say anything to anybody about the present imtil you bave
given it.
"I am glad to tell you that I have a new everyday suit for
you. These I will send you before very loi^ and also the
overshoes. The clothes will be for your school suit. You must
keep the old suit to wear when you have any rough work to do.
"When you write me, next please answer these questions.
Do you ever clean your teeth and if "so how often? Do you
change your shirt bodies and stockings twice a week as I told
you to do? How often do you wash your feet and neck?
How do you usually spend your Sunday afternoons? Have
you ever been kept in after school and, if so, how often and for
what reason? Do you ever see Mr. Williams [ihe pastor] and
does he ever talk to you? Now t^e your time and give me
a good answer to these questions.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PASTORAL COMPETITION 343
"God bleas you my precious boy. I do not want you to think
of me aa asking too much of you. That I &m not going to do. But
I Ma anxious to make a bright boy out of you sad of course
this will require a lot of hard work on your part. But I will
never ^ve you more than you can do. Think of me ottea and
remember that I often pray for you.
"Your devoted Friend,
"W. E. Hatcher."
I mi^t mention at this point that he dehvered an address
before the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, — and
yet why mention this? The reader must understand — if
indeed he has not long ago surmised it — ^that this narrative
does not seek to account for all the days of his overflowing
life. In fact we have not the record of the uncountable meetings
which he held, the addresses and lectures which he delivered,
the sermons which he preached, the churches dedicated, the
dencHniaataonal oonfereoces and ooaventions attended, ttie
trips taken and hie other manifold labors. It is only a very few
of his pubhc services that are chronicled in these pa^ee, —
chiefly those that tend to reveal what manner of man he was.
"I get no news from Chesterfield" he writes. "Hurry up
and come on and let us sweep up the hallowed heights once
more. It would be golden days, brought back, to break in
upon the Lybargers agun. We are preparing for a scanty
Christmas. The fact is that we are a house of dyspeptics and
the less we eat the better for our interiors. But, at a venture,
I got a roaring big ham this afternoon."
He stated that there were many new Baptists moving mto
ihs city who ihked to be coaxed into some church and that he
bsted tJie oonpetition betnwen the pastors in securing these
strangers, uid then added "It is not heidthy. But of course
I must put in my work and get my share of the spoils." |
He writes again:
"608 W. Grace St., is somewhat after the order of a de-
serted banquet hall. Four girls and the smouldering remains of
n^self ciHistitute our preeeat actual asseta.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
344 PEBSONAL ITEMS
"I tliiiik that my Qrippe has finally relaxed its ^eebling
hold upon me and I feel that Richard ia himself again,— -which
being interpreted means that Brer Hatcher ia very much
better."
He delivered, at this lime, a memorial address on Dr. J, L.
Bmrows at the First Church and, among other things, said,
"More than once I said to Dr. Burrows that I would never
be able to tell him how much I loved him, but that, at hia
funeral, I would tell others."
On Jan 8tb, he writes me; "I am afraid I am too fond of frolick-
ing and that I may lead you into my bad habits. You must not
copy my weakest points but look out for the better ones, —
provided you can find any of the latter sort.
"We had nobody at home to dinner with us. We had roast
chickens but they were venerable and tough. I was not in
festive mood, imd did not lii^er for the dessert."
Again he writes: "Tonight we had stewed rabbit, light rolls,
batter cakee until you could not rest and several oth^ things,
fiung in for filling up. We had quite a festive time at the
table. Kate is "wrastling" with the question of her viat to
you. I am leaving her to her own cho(»ing in the case.
"LiU is studying too hard. It hurts me to see her tug so
constantly and it seems to make her rather nervous and irri-
table. But I think she will make a mark in the world some
of these d^. EkUth has bem unusually bright for several
weeks but I do not think she is quite well just now. I have
tried to ke^ her from school this terrible weather but she
inosts on going.
"Today is the first that Coleman has been out, since he was
taken with chicken pox. He has spent most of the day with
me at the study. He is a mmple hearted, trustful creature
and clings to me in a really trustful manner. Tonight Tom
is going up to spend the night with him and I b^erve that the
children are fixing for a saail display of Charades. I have
bought a small supply of candy and ginger anaps for the oc-
casion.
"Monday. It is now nearly 4 P. M. After an interesting
time at the Conference I took Bob Winfree, Pitt and Landrum
and also my Uttle Coleman to lunch at Reuger's. It was really
a captivating experience. I think the dinner was good and
the chat was entertaining in the highest d^ree. ffom that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE HANCOCK MEMORIAL 345
place, I hurried back to my study to finish this letter. The
children had a roaring time Friday night with their charades."
In this letter he tells of another service which he was seeking
to render his beloved "Chesterfield". It was the erection of a
monument, by the Chesterfield people, in honor of their "be-
loved phynciao", that he was seeking tt> promote, and in such
a movement they delighted to co-operate. Concemmg the
monument he writes:
"Yesterday (Thursday) was the day ^t for the memorial
services in honor of Dr. Hancock. We had a royal meeting.
Thomhill presided and Bob and I made speeches. We also
organized a Memorial Association for the purpose of building
a monument to the memory of the 'beloved physician'. We
raised nearly two hundred dollars on the ^wt and could have
gott^i a much larger sum if we had pressed the matter."
D.qit.zea0vG6Ot^lc
CHAPTER XXVin
PLAYING QDOrra. UNCLE DAVID." THE TOOHG VBOPtX. SBBHON
BEFORE SOUTHERN BAFTIBT CONVENTION. DEDICATION OF
THE NEW GRACE STREET CHURCH BOILDIMG.
HOODT HEBTINafl.
His love for games, as he grew older, did not abftte, bat
chained from Croquet to Quoits. He would play with the
Baptist pastors at their picnics at Forest Hill Park. But hia
favorite battle field was the front lawn at his friend Robert
Winfree's in Chesterfield. Here they would have their con-
tests, into which he threw himself with boyish enthuaasm. In
the games he would plan, threaten, shout, study his own mis-
takes, keenly watch his antagonist, groan over his defeats,
and make the welkin ring over his victories. After such con-
flicts he and Robert would come into the house all aglow with
the exhilarations of the game and would turn with eager relish
to the sermon preparation for next Sunday, Oft-times he and
Robert would discuss the text from which he expected to
preach. Sometimes he would give his entire viat to the social
pleasures and recreations and return to Richmond "made over"
physically and mentally. On the 20th, he writes, r^ardiog
one of diese encounters on the Quoits' grounds.
"Friday I skipped away (just by way of variety you know)
to the snow-capped heights of Midlothian. It was a secret
bai^ain between the incorrigible Bob and myself that I would
come and when I dismoimted from the one o'clock train there
he was in his bu^y up the road in eager wuting for me. It
took his fleet nag but a few minutes to bring us to his door.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HELPING OTHEES 347
A £re glew«d id hii gtate and the ^rotwd was in subtime trim
for quoits. You may be sure we tussled long and hard. The
train left me on Saturday morning and we had a full pull until
tfaeaftemooBtrun.. BobisimpmTiBgbutheisnotyetqTnteable
to «op« with your humUe "f&niour". At the end we bad [Jayed
twenty five .games with the result, — Bob 7, and I 18. But
he was well up in other respects. He got 346 in all and I got
487. It was a great reKef to me and did me much good.
"He is begging me to ateet him at Hallabon> next Iliursday
and go to Skinquarter wiUi him, but I haidly think that I can
go-"
He draws two pictures of his efforts to help'Other people.
He first mentions a young pastor, about whom he thus writes:
"He has a big trouble on hand witE the boas ^irit in his
cliarch. Landnim and myself have been pilotii^ him ova* the
eUaray seas and actually got him to land, bot in the very
raoraent he imt ioot on the sbove, he tumed a somer-aault
and tumbled headk»g again into the billowy de^ Jt was a
reaJly curious and distressng miet«ke and I will tell you about
it when we meet. He will have to resign."
The oHicT was the case of a gentleman wbo was the head of
one of the educational institutions of the city, in whose school
had occurred a commotion that threated to disrupt the school.
The gentleman anxiously sought his counsel and he writes me
about it, saying that the brother was imable to quiet the mad-
dened students, and his letter thus continues:
"It is tiddish buEdoess and he is in danger of a first class
stampede. I am trying to help him guide his trembling bark
but he forgets what I tell him and has to come back again to
to hear it over. lie has an honest, but not a judicial mind.
He was at church tonight (Sunday) and gave me a big stting
before he let me off. Everybody is gone and I am toeing
at this dry and pointless letter. As I asa now approaelui^; tbe
bottom of the page I will bid you. good ni^^t and will try to see
you in the momiug."
His attitude towards his old sexton, David Parsons, showed
his ability to detect worth in all classes of people. "Uaele
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
348 "UNCLE DAVID"
David" bad in bim some fine traits and Dr. Hatch^ and he
■were friends; they admired each otiier and as for David he
knew well his place and would bave walked many a weary mile
in his service for Dr. Hatcher. Ete was tall and dignified and
had acted as butler in the home <^ Dr. Jet^ for many yean.
On special occamons in the pastor's home, — such as New Years'
Receptions to the church, or "Breakfasts" or "Dinii^' to
preachers — uncle David would be mustered into so-vice
and would be in his element, as with respectful dignity, he
would move around the table.
The old man bad one mournful fault, his indulgoice in
whiskey. It brought him sometimes to shameful coU^wes,
sorely grieved Dr. Hatcher and, yet, always found the pastor
on his dde when he was attacked by any of the pu^liatic mem-
bers, who wbiled away some of thdr idle moments by taking
a fling at the sexton. One Wednesday evening Dr. Hatcher
reached the church about eighteen minutes before the tame
for the prayer meeting service and found the church shrouded
in darkness. He called out "David; David!" and a. sound on
the front b^ich told him, in a flash, that the old sexton was
"down agfun". Most unceremoniously did the pastor hustle
the old man out of the dark room into the coal room; where he
rolled himself into a knot. The pastor then ht the lamps,
distributed the hymn books and had everything in order by
the time the people began to assemble for the meeting.
In a day, Or so, David arrived on the scene and the erectness
of his form, the elasticity of his step and the flash in his eye
showed plfunly that he had taken himself through a reformatory
course and, with a scorn for his recent wickedness, had started
himself upon a career of immaculate behavior for the rest of
his days. He had served the church long and well. He
had lost his wife and at this time had become a great sufferer
iram an absesa. At first, the church was sympathetic towards
him, but he was slow in recovering and the church building
was suffering neglect from his absence. Dr. Hatcher writes:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A DINNER PARTY 349
"David, our venerable sexton, is yet lud up for repurs and, I
much fear, with no good chance of being up soon. His substitutes
are not efficient and give us considerable trouble. The Com-
mittee on Premises are getting restless and I fear that they will
feel it necessary to get another mao. It would be the removal
of a way-mark from my road for old Dave to be put off. It
would almost be like a notice to me to be padding my traps."
After the old man's death he paid him in the public print, a
high and affectionate tribute.
"March, 25th, 1893,
"Mt Dear Elomdok, — Tuesday after dark. We had a whop-
ping big dimier at our house today. Hie guests were many
and honorable. Let me name the names thereof,— (the men
all ministers) — : Bagby of Farmville, Bagby of Suffolk, Bur-
rows of Geor^a, Barker and wife of Peteraburg, Pritchsird of
North Carolina, Miss Kate P^e of Charlottesville, ElUs of
your town [Baltimore] and our own domestic gang, which,
when put together, made a big pile. After dinner we had a
deluge of callers, among them Dr. Woodfin of Hampton. I
forgot to name the name of Brer Wharton among the guests
at our dinner. ^
"By noon it cleared and Dr. Mlis and I put out for Manches-
ter, where we had a hardly contested fight on the Quoits Field
and I got the best in tlie struggle by o^ one game. He beat
me last Saturday and so we are now equal.
"The Dispatch of today announces that you have been OfUled
to the Rrst church at Norfolk. It has of course put everybody
to talking and they all seem to imagine that I can tell at once
what you will do in the case. You will have to settle that for
yourself. I think that the feeling, is in favor of your going.,
I hope that you may not err in making up your mind."
One of the most interesting cdghts m his church services
on Sunday was the young people. They were present m throngs
and took fa^py part in the exercises. In a letter to me, de»-
Bcribing Mb "Sunday", he says "Today has he&i heaven itself
at our church. . . There must have been mx hundred at
the Communion season. . . I am on the joyful hills,"
To this, he adds: "I have never had my boys behave quite
BO sweetly as they do now. I made a few of them sing a piece
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
350 YOUNG PEOPLE AT CHURCH
at the service tonight. They did it well and the people were
much interested." The hymns for each service were printed
oa paper iilipa vrbich were distributed by ihe boyS' before the
exercises begfm, and gathered up afteiwards. His larger b<^
would ta^ up the offerii^ at the ev«niag sernoe and, in many
ways, the youths of his coi^;regation were hnked in the church
programme. The boys were genecally crowded together on the
front benches, in the "Amen Comers" and, — in times of an
overflow, — ^they were strung along the edges of the pulpit
platform.
"It used to be said that other churches decorated titeir pat-
pita with flowers," he writes "but that I made bold to decorate
mine with boys."
It was a happy picture thej presented with tJieir beaming
faces. It put everybody in a bouyant frame to see the boys and
it gave a re^ity and spontaneity to the service.
"Our choir is in chaos still" he writes on Nov, 6th "B—
P played the organ yesterday [at the Sunday service!
and a shivering few took the platform to steer the praises of the
day. I marched up a few of my boys and made them sing a
couple of choral pieces which went quite wdl."
Referrii^ at a later time, to the maoner in which tiie young
are treated in many churches be writes:
"They are not treated as worshippers. They are often pushed
out and back for the accommodation of the older people until
they are grouped far from the pulpit. Sometimes they are
absolutely hueUed out of the house, in case of crowds, as if
they were of no importance and had no rights nor duties and
as if it was the royal proof of gallantry to give seats to late
comity women, even though it involved the making heathen
of the children.
"They are given no rect^nitiixi, have no plaoe they can
call their own, no hymn books are furnished them, nothing
done to interest them in the worship and if they, for the lack
of something else to do, whisper, or prank, or scuffle with each
other, they are deaJt with as offenders, branded as outiaiwa
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHILDREN A9 WORSHIPPERS 351
and thpefttfmed irith puDidumni at borne, or at tbe bar of the
lanr and eren at the bar oi God. Oh, Christian nme the worst
hesthen on the eaii^ oould not treat tbeir children with BUHe
barbacous cruelty.
"It ia etnongh to fill as with aaguiah to think of the unoomiled
thousandB of our boys, and our girls as w^, who have baan
alienated from the church and from religion fcnrever by tilts
stem and unsyiopatbetiG treatoieDt."
His Sunday services, were joyous and inspirii^ and one
explanation of it was the throng of children that crowded
about the front.
"But ar« children capable of woirilip?" was a questkai tiiat
was once asked him and his reply was as foUows:
"I do not raise the issue as to the capadty of childreil for
worship. Indeed we must readily admit that there are heights
and depths of worship which children may not reach. . . .
Even the most cultivated and experienced of worshippers
are often oppressed with the insufficiency of their worship and
we need not be startled if the young stumble and blunder when
they attempt to worship.
"But many of these children are not converted" cries the
objector "and if not converted how can they engage in wor-
ship?"
In reply he continues:
"I cannot invade tbe domain of God's secret dealings with
souls. That is out of sight and I must not tug at the curt^
to peep through. . . It looks vulgar and impertinent for
men to be bltistering around when children are seeking to_
wcn^p to ask whether they herve been converted.
"For my life I cannot tell wkether the children that thionged
around Jeeus that day in the Temple were converted or not.
That question was not stuted by Christ, though there were
some feaxfiUly sour and querulous people present, who were
op«nly suspicious ot the children, saw only disorder in their
conduct and, besought Jesus that he would call up the noisy
set, box thar ears and force them to shut up their rattling
little thrrwte. Indeed, I oamiot dare to describe the measure
of ihe light whieh these children had. . . Th^ seemed
to have only one sentence to say; it was the sum total of thur
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
352 HIS SERMON BEFORE THE CONVENTION
formula of worship. They leaped and ran and suited about
ttie Lord and cried with all the power of their litUe voices,
'Hoaanna to the Son of David'. . . It is enough for me that
Jesus Christ openly and, in the face of criticism, accepted the
tribute of worship which the httJe children brought him in the
temple, and, in the light of that fact, I beheve in, and feel it
my solemn and glorious privil^e to advocate, on all occasions,
our duty to teach the children to join heartily in the worship
of Gfod."
The Convention sermon, which he was to preach in May, put
him on his mettle, and it would be impossible to tell the number
of hours which he spent during these weeks on ita preparation.
"It be^ns to open finely b^ore me" he writes. "This week I am
gomg to take it into the brush and make it shine, if I can. I
will go up to Bob's and spend most of the week, coming down
for my Wednesday night prayer meeting." A^ain be writes:
"I have written my sermon this week, but propose to write
it again by Wednesday night and then lip out Thursday and
get it in my noddle by Saturday. Then I hope to have ease of
mind. It is not good, but I hope the added blesang of the
Lord will make it good."
In a letter telling of & vidt to Bethlehem, he says:
"I went to get the folks to send Williams [the pastor] to the
Convention. It went throi^h with a httle pushing. He will
go. There were not many present."
After telling of his ups and downs in his campa^ to raise
$12,000 for finishing his church building, he adds: "but I
am fo^ng ahead with banners prandng in the z^hers. . . .
I am possessrog my soul in patience and not falling out wil^
anybody."
He preached his sermon at the Nashville Convmtion. The
audience', was vast and conosted of representative Bi^itist
ministers and'taym^i from all the states of Qxe South and, for
him, it was a mountain-top experience. "It was, we judge,
the best preaching of his life" says the Herald "and that is
jdovGoOt^lc
HIS FALL VISITATION 353
high pnuae. The epiritiml effect was remarkable. . ." Hia
text waa, "Experience worketh hope,"
The sermon b^an with the words "The experience of the
text is high bom; its mother is f^th, its grandmother, tribu-
lation and its father, the God of heaven."
Soon after his return to Richmond, he writes that hie people
were greatly cheering Mm about his sermons. He says "Even
the taciturn and critical are full of kind words for me. But the
scamps look as if it torments them if I get out of the corporate
limits of the city. Th^ catch me every time I cross the James."
My mother writes:
"I am afnud your father's reply to Dr. this week
will provoke censure. I wish it had not happened. It will
teach some folks they had better keep their tongue. No one can
floor him. He was not bom for Ijiat sort of business. Hia
sword of repartee is trenchant and fatal. He is now preaching
for old Mr. Bagby — comes home tomorrow."
He heard that one of the members of the B church had
be^ed everybody's pardon and brouf^t on a revival. He
writes that he wanted to go up to the meetings, saying. . .
"The devil is on the run and I want to join in the pursuit."
After a busy Sunuuer he took up his Fall and Winter work
with unusual bouyancy of spirit. After writing of the good
understanding which he and his fine horse, "Brace," had with
one another he continues:
"I am driving my visiting cart over hill and dale. My people
never seon so innumerable as when I undertake to go to see
them. I find a genuine joy in going around among them.
(Here is the funeral).
"(Later). I had a tiresome trip to the fmieral. It was at
A B stock farm fuUy a mile beyond the
Buildings. . . The audience was composed nuunly of
horse men and it was an ill smelling gang. But I was glad to
speak to them.
"A matrimonial i^clone struck Bichmond last week" he
writes. ". . I did not share in the spoils of the upheaval
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
354 BREAKING THE BUCKLE
exc^t to the eztait of nuuryiog Misa Annie McDowell at the
end of the service.
"Today, (Sunday), is gloom itself, with the storm and rain.
. . . I loaded my guns for the Education Board, but I con-
cluded to hold my 6re on that until we have fairer ekiefl. This
required me to rush to the front some of my lighter homtletical
artillery. I &red off a suddenly made sermon on seeidng first
the kingdom of God etc. My folks went quite wild over it.
They a^ed me to repeat it."
His ability to preach well a hastily prepared sermon was the
reward of his hard practice in his early ministry.
Coleman, his orphan lad, had sent him, at his request, a
list of all his poesessims, in the way of books, clothes, etc..
He read the letter, marking in it all the mistakes and, at the
bottom, wrote:
"8 mistakes
Be careful also about
your Ci^iital letters."
He stepped across the line into 1894, little suspecting the
bright days that awwted him. My mother writes on Jan. 14th :
"By the way, your father broke the buckle of his cravat this
[Sunday] morning, after he had begun his services and he had
to take it off and preach without it. He said he would not
attempt to fix it — but would lay it aside and he hoped some one
would invent a better way of keeping cravats on or he would
have to leave them off altogether, — or something to that effect.
He was, as usual, equal to the occadon. A titter went around
his congregation and he continued his sermon."
His Sundf^ night letters describing his glorious Sunday ser-
vices would fill a book in themselves. Week by week, he tells
the story of overflowing congregations, and mouatun-top
ei^teri^ices. To Coleman he writes on Jan., 15th:
"I was sorry to learn that you were expecting an invasion
of the mumps. That is the poorest sort of a thing for any
youth to have and I wish you would escape it or rath^ I wish
that you had had the miserable thing a long time ^o. Where
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE LONG SERMON 355
have you been hiding all your life that you have never been
picked up by those various diseases. You have not had your
rights not even in the way of having diseases."
When Coleman's report came it was mu'ked "Golden B^wrt"
and he thus writes:
" 'A Golden Eeport', you say. Well done my noble youth.
That sets my heart to dancing with pride and delight. As
for my little 'Scrag^e' [one of his names for Coleman] I will
by the help of the Lord, look after Mm and ud >^itn to becoAe
a boy worth talking about. I wonder if he will not try to do
the very best that he is capable of. Somehow, I think that he
wiU.
"I am glad that you took Mrs. Rudd out for a ride; that is
right; be good to her. She is lovely, but not strong. Do every-
thing you can to Ughten her cares and smooth her path. She
will love you and God will bless you for it,
"Your Same Old Friend,
"W. E. Hatcher."
He writes me of a minister who spoke for him on Sunday
morning at Grace Street:
"The congregation towered. It was an honor to the dl^.
preached or rather, spoke and did it splendidly well,
except (and this quite a ^gantic exception) he spoke for a full
hour and a quarter added. Say what you will, folks are averse
to long services. I fear that it told on the collection. I hinted
to him that he ought not to pass a second over an hour and to
halt inside of that, but he had the stuff and oould not persuade
himself to cut any of it out. I am going to study my sermons
more cl(»ely and trim them down to 30 minutes. Ordinarily
that is enough and what goes after that is subtraction and not
addition. At my Boys meetii^ I had 76 present and duly
labeled. It was a dght.
"But for the rainbow promise one might imagine from the
look of the heavens this morning that there was going to be
another Noachic (is that the spelling?) flood. But goo-by.
"Ever True, W. E. Hatcher."
Two events loomed on his path, — the coming of the great
erangdiBt, D. L. Moody and the dedication of bis completed
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
356 DR. JOHN A BROADUS
cbuTch building. For many mouths he and bis people had been
worshipping in thar Sunday School room, but after a severe,
finftnrin.1 campugD th^ magnificent new auditorium was
finished. There was none like it in the state. He now stood at
what was, up to that time, Uie highest point of his ministiy. Dr.
John A. Broadus was to preach the dedication sermon and all
manu^ of other bright features were to form a part of the de-
dicatory services. "We are trying to make it the most impressve
occaa<Mi that Richmond has ever witnessed" he wrote. His
love of t^roughness and of the artistic made him build up a
progrunme for the dedication that was attractive in every
detiul. He not only tr^ed certfun ones who were to take
spedal part but tm the preceding Sunday, he rehearsed his
entire congr^ation . "You ought to hear them chant the
Lord's prayer," he writes.
"Dr. Broadus delighted us very much", writes my mother;
"by putting in hia appearance on the balmy Saturday, just
before dinner. Dr. Thomas (W. D.) and Harris were invit^
to dine with him, but the latter had company. We gave a
course dinner and all pronounced it a success. Dr. Broadus was
at his best and the small talk and the after-dinner talk was most
delightful — reminiscences being endulged in to some extent
and the jocund element playing its appropriate part, to say
nothing of the inevitable pun. Dr. Broadus said he told his
class that it was the height of politeness not to let on when you
heard a joke tbe second time, etc."
At the table that day Dr. Broadus spoke of one of the Hatcher
children in very complimentary terms, referrii^ to that child
as bang "gifted".
"He then Siud with a twinkle" continues my mother " 'of
course it could not be otherwise'. Your father and I thanked
him and he looked towards me and facetiously said 'Oh, I
meant you of course.' Your father was equal to the occaaon,
as he always is, and replied appropriately."
But Sunday was the day of days, — the day on which tili^
gathered in thor beautiful new auditorium. He wiitee:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE DEDICATION 367
"It exceeded our highest expectations both in the badness
of the weather and the wonderful interest shown in the oc-
casion. The ends of the earth were on band and everytiiing .
went gloriously."
In writing of the pnuses of their building he says:
"The es, s, etc., etc., went wild except when
we handed the hat around. They were a little shy and non-
committal then, though we did pick up an X from .
.But this is inter nos.
"The fact is that my study is a gallery of beauty. Tou
never saw the like of fine things in one poor Bap^t preacher's
study. Tel! Wharton (M. B.) that I have been praiang his
new study ever mnce I saw it last Summer. But now I would
have to put on my old clothes to think of entering his. He
must come up and see it."
In the meantime, the great Moody campugn is on. A large
tabernacle capable of seating 5,000 people had been erected
and Dr. Hatcher, as chairman of the general committee, found
his days and nighta crowded with duties. He regarded Mr.
Moody as a mighty man of God and accorded him high and
affectionate admiration and from the glorious celebrations of
the dedication day he' plunged into the evangelistic campaigu.
"Your father is the generaKssimo of the Moody meetings,"
writes my mother. "That will ^ve him a good deal more work.
He does not seem to mind it."
"Moody came yesterday", he writ^ me. "He had a ripping
crowd and a freesing hall at his first service last night. I did
much quarreUng •mth the buil<fing conunittee for not having
better arrangements for heating the room. But they could not
see the use for it and hence these icicles. I was righteously
out of humor last night, with a leaning to the side of mercy.
Better things are promised tonight."
On Tuesday the telephone rang. It was Mr, Moody. "Can
I get Grace Street Church for my meetii^?" be asked. The
cold spell made the Tabernacle uncomfortable; the request
was gpranted and m the new and beautiful auditorium the mul-
titudes gathered for two days.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
358 THE!MOODy MEETINGS
"The ctiairmaoahip of the Moody meeting", he writes,
"imposes an endless array of detai! work upon me.
"Of course Moody owns the town. It would hardly be an
exaggeration to say that 10,000 were shut out of the tabernacle
yesterday. The room was overrun last night two hours before
E reaching time. We had extra meetings at several churches,
ut the floods of the disappointed rolled away and got nothing.
You know that we had trouble with the tabernacle on account
of the cold snap. Moody asked me to let him come to our
church until the weather changed and we had him for five
services. The folks were terribly afrud that the crowd would
ruin things in the new house and the tobacco fiend did hurt us a
little. But I was ejad to have him in the house. He was de-
hghted with it and said that it was wonderful that we could
build such a house for S75,000. I did not tell him that it cost
under $70,000. The power of Moody's work is growing.
"We had only morning service yesterday. I preached to an
order of some unrememberable name. There were about 200
of them. I 8upp(»e that I had just about enough to have
packed my floor with this 200."
As chairman of the general committee he had many pleasant
experiences with Mr. Moody. Among other things it was his
part to select the different ministers who should at each service
lead in prayer. Mr. Moody said :
"I insist on one pouit, and that is that the men selected
to lead in prayer must have voices that will carry to the verge
of the building."
At one of the evening services Dr. Hatcher stepped down to
a minister and asked him to be ready to offer the next prayer.
The brother said he would do so. He was of large build and
looked as if he could "roar like a lion." Dr. Hatcher whispered
to him:
"It is not easy to be heard in this tabernacle. When Mr.
Moody calls for the prayer you must go at once upon the plat-
form where Mr. Moody is and have strict regard to the dis-
tinctness and reach of your articulation."
"Oh, it will be easy for everybody to hear me" in»sted the
brother (^ laige bulk. He spoke with unconcerned ail and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
NOT LOUD ENOUGH 359
there he stood waitmg for his perfonnanee. In a few momenta
Mr. Moody called for the prayer.
"My brother of the masave chest," writes Dr. Hatcher,
"firm in the conviction that he had only to open his mouth and
& good part of the earth would hear, began his jietition in a
subterranean tone, an inarticulate mumble, and Moody squir-
med and shook with impatience. At last he could hold out
no longer and he said in an awfully commanding way, "Pray
louder there, will you."
"But the unimpaeaioned petitioner drawled along, never
lifting his voice and plodding to a very slow end. After the
prayer was over and the house was full of song, with his eyes
to the floor, he turned reproachfully and said : 'What on earth
did you select that man for?' I said to him: 'Look here, Mr.
Moody, I try to work in men from the several Denominations
and, in some cases, I have to take my chances on the brethren;
I am not posted as to their vocal ability. As for that man, I
measured him for a far reacher, but I sUpped up'. A faint
light of good humor flitted across his face, but never a word he
said. I urged Mr. Moody to exercise his own judgment in the
choice of men to lead in prayer. A few prominent men he
knew, some by name and ot^hers by appearance. When be
wanted one of the latter class to pray he would turn and point
at him, rather, grotesquely, as it seemed to me, and would say,
'You pray' and if he knew tie men he would csdl them by name.
There was one charming Methodist preacher always present,
very attractive and evidently most pleamng to Mr. Moody.
It was the Rev. Dr. Tudor, one of the choicest of my own
friends. But Mr. Moody got it into bis bead that the brother's
name was Truder and he was very fond of calling on him to
pray. He would cry it out with great emphasis: — 'Let us
all join with Dr. Truder in prayer.' The humor of it actually
turned into mischief and most of|the brethren, when they came
up on the platform, before the exercises commenced, took pains
to pf^ their compliments to 'Brother Truder' and before the
meeting ended 'Brother Truder' was a part of the makeup,
the happy life and the comradeship of the platform. Even to
this day, when on street or train, I have the happy fortune to
meet this extremely fine brother, I hail him as 'Dr. Truder'
and then we talk of Moody, — the honest, great hearted Moody,
of the days we had with him and how he had glorified God by
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
360 A TILT WITH MR. MOODY
He had another pleasant tilt with Mr. Moody in the meetings.
He learned that each night hundreds of workingmen were tumed
away from the tabernacle. B«ng unable to get to the meettngs
at an eariy hour they would find, upon thar arrival each even-
ing, the building crowded and the doors shut. He (Dr. Hatcher)
greatly demred that seats be reserved for this clasa of mea.
He thus writes:
"Mr. Moody had the deadliest antipathy to empty seats.
He seemed to regard them as one class of enemies that he
might hate with all possible abhorrence. In some way, they
suggested to him a lack of interest, a possible failure, or a
lack of progress. So pronounced was this feeling in him that he
opposed every suggestion as to reserved seats. During this
meeting the crowds were so vast that the auditorium would
fill a full hour before the time for service, and fill with the
idle and the indulgent, to the exclusion of thousands of men
who were eager to hear the noble evanglist. To me the ushers
and the people were firing ail sorts of complaints and I ap-
pointed a committee of two of our most eminent minister,
Dr. W. J. Young, Methodist, and Dr. W. W. Landrum, Bap-
tist, to see Mr. Moody and tell him the situation. They came
back hopelessly dilapidated. They said Mr. Moody was utterly
opposed to it and that things would have to go on as they were.
Two prominent gentlemen, Gen. A. L. Phillips and Col. Swine-
ford, had charge of the ushers and of the seatii^ of the coa-
gregation and they were greatiy disgruntled by Mr. Moody's
decision. I chanced to pass them while driving up the street
and they said, In a tone of good natured reproach, that some
arrangement ought to be made for allowing the men to hear Mr.
Moody. I said, rather jocosely, but with earnestness at the
bottom, that if I had the right kind of committee, I would
have the men in the house that night, but I told them if I were
to give them an order and Mr. Moody gave them one cut with
his eye they would take to the woods. In a breath they said:
'give us a chance, — tell us what to do and you'll get it.'
'Bope off 1000 chairs tonight near the Mun Street door*,
I sajd and cracked my horse and was gone.
"That night, when I entered the tabernacle, there — ^not far
from the pulpit on the right — was a desert in the midst of a
crowded population, and when at seven-thirty Mr. Moody en-
tered and sat down by me he saw those untenanted chairs and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A TILT WITH MR. MOODY 361
hia face clouded at once. He turned rather fiercely on me and
said, 'What does that mean? I am opposed to reserved seats.'
"I took out my watch and looked at it. It lacked twenty-
seven minutes of eight. I said : 'Mr. Moody you befpu preach-
ing at eight o'clock every night and all I ask is that you will
wait until five minutes before eight. The streets are full of
people and this house is full of women and if within this time
these vacant chairs are not occupied I will see that every one
is filled before you take your text'. In about ten minutee the
men out on the street found that there was a chance and it
looked like an army charging a castle. They tumbled in eager,
serious and with evident delight. I drew my watch, opened it
and held it before Mr. Moody. He uttered not a word. But
that unbroken pack of men right there before him kindled
new fires in his soul and he preached like a man risen from the
dead.
"That night in making the announcements for the next day
he said: 'I want to ask the ushers to reserve one-half of this
buildii^, tomorrow night, for men'. Never a word passed
between him and myself in regard to the incident and I con-
fess that his new manifestation of reasonableness and of readi-
ness to adjust himself to a situation added one, or two, ad-
ditional cubits to his stature, in my estimation."
He rec^ved a letter from his orphan boy, Colonan, that
gave him much joy, because of the affectionate appredafion
which it breathed. It was too seldom that he heard words
of lovii^ gratitude from those whom he helped and when this
boy showed such gratitude it sounded like sweet muac. In
the midst of absorbing engagements he wrote a fine love letter
to Coleman in reply.
"My Dear Boy, — Here is your letter. It reached me this
morning. It is not as carefully written as I would Uke, but I
can overlook this as you were to have two examinations on
that day.
"But there was something in the letter that was worth
more to me than grammatical accuracy. What do you sup-
pose it was? It was the cheerful way in which you spoke
of your vi^t home and of your expressions of love for me and
your desire to be with me. That came home to my heart. . .
I think of you in the day and in the lught. You are my own
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
362 A CHEERING LETTER
dariing boy and nobody on earth has a r^t to <me Uttte
filler of you except myself. There is not enoi^ money in tiie
United States treaamy to buy you from me. You may be as
wicked as you wilt and break my heart by your ingratitude,
but I will stick to you. If I can, I will make a first class man of
you. I pray for you, I spend my money cai you. I correct
you if you go astray, but whether I deny you, or please you,
I am toiling to make such a boy as God wUl bless and use for
his honor.
"I am much comforted by every proof that you give me
<A youT love. I want you to love me and I am glad every time
you tell me that you do love me. How I wish I had you right
here now. How I would say, 'Walk right here and give me a
big, big hug*. I would fairly make your bones crack. When
must I come to see you?
"Miss Genie wrote me that she did not feel able to undertake
to get up an entertainment at the close of the session but you
can say to her that if she would like for you boys to have a dia-
logue at the time I would drill you for it. Tell her I would do
it to help and please her and that if there be any good reason
why it would be better not to have it I hope she will not hesi-
tate to say HO. It would be some trouble to me to do so but I
would do it if she desired it.
"We have been having delightful cakes and broiled shad
sinoe you left and I have longed to have you near me so that
I could give you a good portion. Never mind; two months
and I will have you near sM the time. Heaven speed the day.
"Above all, my dear Coleman, be honest and truthful. Do
nothing that you would be ashamed to tell me. I want your
face to heam with the light of a pure heart. Pray oft«n for
God to be your helper. Do not forget the Word of God.
"Your Loving f^eud,
"Wm. E. Hatoher."
He had another amuai^ experience with Mr. Moody which
was followed by a delightful sequel. He gave Mr. Moody an
imperious invitation one day sayii^:
"Mr. Moody, in these meetings, I am your humble servant,
but I am a servant with a favor to ask."
"Say on" stud the evangelist.
"I want you to take breakfast with me and I want you to do
so whether you desire to do so or not," said Dr. Hatcher. Mr.
Moody rephed :
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE MOODY BREAKFAST 363
"I want to come and I will, but I will go to but one other
place except your house; I wiU come to you on the morning
of the last day of the meeting and I would not have you think
that it will be a strain to accept your kindness. I ask ygu not to
mention the engagement."
He then goes on to relate how during the course of the
meetings the breakfast idea kept bobbing up in Mr. Moody's
illustrations.
"One of Mr. Moody's favorite figures of the gospel," he
writes "was that of a feast or a supper. Four different times
he caught me up for an illustration and always began by saying:
'Suppose my friend. Dr. Hatcher, should invite me to his house
to breakfast' each time giving a different turn to the ending
of the sentence. The frequency of his supposition caught the
crowd towards the last, and particularly the preachers, and
brought upon me quite a shower of facetious bantering. One
friend came forward and said that truly of all men I was the
most inhospitable, that Mr. Moody evidently hankered after
one of my breakfasts and that it was outright cruel^ on my
part not to take the hint."
My mother writes me about the "Moody Breakfast";
"I can't tell you how sorry I was that you were not at the
breakfast this morning. It was surely a royal one. That seemed
to be the verdict of those present. Dr. Landrum and Tudor
stopped afterwards to get the Menu for their wives and com-
plimented it very extravagantly. To Orie belonged most of
the credit. She has such a systematic and orderly way of
doing things that she seems to have only to will in order that
things may move under her bidding. David [the sexton] and
John did their part finely as waiters. Strawberries, oysters
and chicken were among the good things. Governor O'Ferrall
came up promptly at eight o'clock in his carriage; and soon
afterwards Mr. Moody and son came. Mr. Thomhill, Landrum,
Tudor, and Puryear were here, . . The sroall talk abounded
mostly stories of course. The Governor is pleasant and fidl
of good stories. He and Mr. Moody vied with each other and
thoroughly enjoyed each other, I think. The only set back
to it aU was that you and Kate were not present.
"I found a pretty little book, 'Gift of Love,' lying on the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
364 THE MOODY BREAKFAST
table, with my name in it, from Mr. Moody, It was bo ddicate-
ly done. I certainly appreciated it. It waa a verse of scripture
and poetry for every day in the year."
At a later time be thus referred to the occasion:
"I invited a number of friends, several of them, famous
for good cheer and social grace. Among them was the gov-
ernor of Virgpnia and another, a most brilliant writer and
scholar, and ail of them congenial by reason of the catholid^
of th^r tastes, their honor, their rich intelligence, and th^r
attractive personalities, i have not seen in ail of my days a
happier comply.
"The governor carried a yankee bullet hid away somewhere,
where it neither troubled Mm, nor anybody else, and was an
unmatched story teller. My literary friend was a philosopher
and bis epigrams, struck off spontaneously, were chai^^ trith
liis wit and brimming with good humor. The hours partook
of the festive joy and flew joyously away. Mr. Moody was
the master of it all. He told hb stories in amplest fashion
and made his point every time and with boundless relish he
enjoyed the happy comradeship of the morning."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXIX
1894—1896
T. H. C. A. OOLLBXTTIOlf. BAGSRNB88 TO WIN. CHRKTUN UNION.
BICHHOND COLLBOE. TOPICAL N0TB8. PURCHASE OF
HOKE AT FOBS UNION. CBICAQO ADDBEBS.
Within a few weeks be is called upon to play three veiy
different rolesj two of which have just been recited. At first
he waa the pastor, greeting his great church as they gather for
the first time in th^ splendid new auditorium. Next, he
stood as first assistant in a vast, evangelistic campiugn,
at the head of varied committees, seekJi^ to keep the track
clear and the machinery in good running order for Mr. Moody
to do bis great work. And now no sooner do the Moody
meetings close than ws see him standing before an assembly
of the chief buonesa men of Bichmond, aa well as the leading
pastors of the different denominations, including the Jewish
Rabbi and thme of no Denominations, seekii^ to stimulate
than to large giving in behalf of the Young Men's Christian
Assodation of the dty. These dtizens had been summoned
together in the interest of the Assodation and he had been
aaked to present the appeal. As he called for t^eir subscrip-
tions he said:
"I warn you against putting off until tomorrow what can
be done today. Tomorrow is alwajrs a day of backslidit^ in
the matter of subscriptions. The ministers will do their part.
They are kept low, in f^he matter of funds, but they are good
buainesB men nevertheless. They manage to support first
class establishiaeats on fourth class salaries and never
brake."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
366 THE Y. M. C. A. COLLECTION
"He gave 1100 to the Y. M. C. A." writes my mother "too
much, but it is scattered over four years." His gift for taking
collections must have cost him thousands of dollars and yet
his own contributions came cheerfully and without constraint.
"I had quite a time taking the collections for the Y. M. C. A.
last week" he writes "and I rather enjoyed it. There were two
citizens' meetings for that purpose and I took the two pulls
for the mcmey both times. It brought me before lota of people,
who never knew me before, and they got many a laugh at my
little salhes of humor. It made me friends.
"I am wofully fagged out. I sapped out to Bob's Friday,
but I waa so very much exhausted that the relaxation posi-
tively made me sick. Still I had a charming vlEDt."
He promised to lecture at his Grace Street Church for the
benefit of the Y. M. C. A. at the College.
"I dread it too much to qiealt of" he writes. "I am not sure
- of my crowd but I am willing to be slaughtered to show that I
am ot an obliging turn of mind."
His next letter shows one of his signal traits, — ^his eagerness
to win. He attended the all-day picnic of the pastors at Forest
Hill Park and writes about his contest with one of his choice
friends, Dr. L , who was also one of the Richmond
pastors:
"We had a ripping time this afternoon. There was a big
turn-out and quoits went high. Bob and X won the champion-
ship. It went awfully hard with L and he (ought hard
to eecape the humiliation of his defeat but we ran him into the
very ground."
He waa driving; Mr. Slaughter in his buggy one day vhen. he
found himaelf in the atreet with several conveyances all of
which seemed anxious to drive on past him. He whipped up
his horse and sent him speeding ahead at a lively clip.
"Doctor" s^d Mr. Slaughter somewhat facetiously "you
are not going to race out here on the street are you?" "I tell
you, Shuighter" he replied, as he kept hiB eye on hia horse's
pace and his hand on his wlup, "It is a part of my nature alwaya
to want to keep ahead."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PR. JOHN A. BROADUS 367
He writes a^ain on April, lat:
"Richmond, Va., April Ist.
"My Db&b Eldridge, — I greet you agun. How are you
this diamal monuDg? At this monent — ^nine to the second — I
venture to imagiue that your head is wrapped in several
blankets and that you are atiU in the land of troubled dreuns.
Not BO with your illustrious father. True he had eight ser-
vices yesterday and did not touch his pillow until after eleven
last night; but here he is in all his pristine splendor, so to
speak, but with a lot unregulated aches and ailments floating
through his body.
"I am preparing an article on Dr. Broadus which I am to
read (or the Preacher's Confereoce next Monday and then give
it to the Herald.
"Yours as usual, mistakes and all."
In this article on Dr. John A. Broadus, he s^d:
"Great men deserve to be well treated in this world, for
they are rare. When all apparent greatness is brushed away
and only the actual great are left they make s small company."
In referrii^ to Dr. Broadus* oration at Richmond CoU^^,
on "Demosthenes" he s^d:
"It was the supreme effort of a giant. . . He threw the
light of all ages upon the Athenian orator, until he glowed with
a majestic light and the enchanted and enraptured audience
hastened away to buy the orations of the peerless Athenian
and to find when they attempted to read them that they were
dulness itself, as compared with Broadus. Indeed it was
Broadus, and not Demosthenes, that they went out to look for.
"All great men are artists. Many glorify Patrick Henry
as the 'forest bom' orator and think of him as a fountain of
rich and unstudied eloquence. Truly, he was an orator and
may have been forest bom, but he was an expert in composition
and public speech. . . . Art without genius makes the
duUiml; without earnestness makes the actor; without sin-
cerity, nuikes the hypocrite; when allowed to play the mis-
tress, genius debases it, but, when made its slave, will lead to
greatness.
"Broadus, with his course finished and his crown won, is
more to us than ever he was in the days of his fiesh. He will
be yet more to us when we see him again."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
368 THE SIDE WHISKERS
In June be writea: "I am so fat in these latter days that the
heat lias s lai^ mar^ to work on and it does its business
quite faithfully." At the close of one of his hot days he had a
visitor of whom he draws the following sketch:
"He rang the bell while we were having our evening glass
of cold tea, and expressed a desire to look upon the beauty of
our countenance, being a dear friend of ours. For contort
be preferred to sit on the porch and there we found him. He
was very etyliah. Indeed we were sorry that we had not
changed our collar and coat to meet him. He gave ua a great
welcome, so to speak, and spoke with a swelling abandon of the
many times that we had met, although we could not recall any
of our former meetings. He was dressed immensely, and what
bore us to the earth was his aide whiskers. There is a majesty
in side whiskers that gets us every time. It gives a tone and
grandeur to a man — ^we mean the possesasion of side whiskers,
that commands our universal respect. He was just from Boston,
and intended going to his home today, but important news
required him t« go to Kentucky at once. He had money to get
home, but not enough to get to Kentucky. He had called on
a friend in the city who would have shed dew drops of joy to
lend him all the money he could dispose of, but unluckily,
the said friend was beyond the city limits, (as we wished that
moment we were), and so he had to presume on our acquaintance
to request a favor. That was a solemn moment in our earthly
career and we shook visibly. The side whiskers overawed us,
and there was silence for some time. We were thinking of that
mysterious bourne from which no borrowed money returns,
when he snapped at us in a contemptuous way, which moved
our angry passions. We grew stronger and refused. We were
proud of our courage and felt heroic when the side whiskers
stalked loftily and scornfully away, and we were free once more.
No man with Eude whiskers need ask charity of us."
He returned to Richmond, in September, after bis vaca-
tion travels and labors, and he was made happy, a few days
later, by the safe return- of his wife and his daughter, Orie
from their European trip. A Reception at the church was
t^idered his wife. Dr. Landrum made an address to her on
behalf of the ladies to which Dr. Hatcher responded.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
mS WIFE'S DEVOTED CO-OPERATION 869
"At the foot of the table" writes my mother "waa s haad-
some white cake with "J. S. H." [Jennie Snead Hatcher) on it.
Probably it was the happiest occasion since the enlver wedding.
"Your father asked me when he returned home if I felt 'duly
inSated'. I told him I thought ao."
His -mte ytaa greatly beloved in the church. She always
showed keen interest in the general work of the church and,
although carrying the burdens of a laige household, yet she
found time to participate in many of the church enterpriscB.
In addition to all this she was an active factor in the denom-
inational work that was done by the Baptist women of the
city and state.
"Why do you not adopt special hours for visitors?" some one
asked him. "I cannot do that" he replied. "My study door
must swing open to any who desire to oome."
"This" writes his wife 'Sras one of the reasons why he
hied himself away into the country so frequently."
"Your father braved the elements" she writes on Sept. 27th
"and went to the study (on Thursday night) to get ready for
Stmday, the loafers and axe-grinders having robbed him of
much d his mornings this week. It does seem as if ministers
ought to have some retreat away from the out-sidera to prepare
iii&i sermons. Nobody excuses a poor sermon even when tlie
prOT)aration has to be made under cUfficulties.
The girls and Coleman are studying in the dining room.
The latter has begun school at McGuire's."
"Yesterday was a roaring day at Old Grace Street" he writes
on Oct. 16th "The crowds were prot^ous. Of course the
strangers were numerous. Last night there was a flood of them.
The silent brethren who rarely say words of cheer for the
preacher, actually got noisy yesterday about my sermons.
In the morning my theme was 'The Religious Awakening at
Samaria, and at night, 'The T^embhng King.' "
He makes his usual annual round of visits to his members.
He writes:
"I am getting up into the fifth hundred of my members
visiting, ance X got home five weeks tonight. How is that for
an old gent of my style?"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
870 CHRISTIAN UNION
He urges me to spend earnest work on addreeaes which I
have to deliver on special occaaons.
"You must be^ quietly and carefully to amass material
for such work. You must work over your stuff agfun and agun.
My lecture on the Dance consumed weeks of my time. I
spent hours on sentences."
On Sunday, November 12th, he made a deliverance on the
v^ced subject of "the union of all christian Denoniinations."
The sermon was printed in full in the Dispatch. He b^an by
saying that he believed that if all christians should harm<Hi-
iously agree and cordially unite in one body that it "would be
the most sublime and glorious event that could occur on the
earth — ^next to the advent of the Son of God — and would do
more than all else to hasten that day." And then he adds:
"If I could find any one thing in the distinctive doctrines
of the Baptists, wliich stood in the way of the union of aH
Christiana on a Bible basis I would discard it instantly and I
hope that the Baptiate will stand in the forefront of the move-
ment for the unification of the Lord's hosts on the earth.
"This I say from the bottom of my heart. But let us under-
stand that this is a vast and far reaching question. It oomes to
us with the entanglements of the ages upon it. It has to fight
the prejudices of centuries. Bigotry, ecclesiastical pride,
political infiuence, social intolerance and racial hatred are
bound hand in hand against this movement. "Aose who think
that it will be easy to bring about christian union have never
looked beneath the surface of the question. Those who em-
bark upon this undertaking have need to pray for the ffuth
that removes mountains.
"It is eaary for a gushing liberalist, charged with sweet
phrases and a melting manner, to whip an impulsive crowd into
a momentary craze for union, but let some sharp-tongued critio
be^ to assail the favorite dogmas of those who are present,
and the foaming tide of enthusiasm will fade as the morning
cloud."
He then proceeds to mention some of the vtaa plans for
bringii^ about such union.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHRISTIAN UNION 371
"One plan is to rub out all denominational lines and allow
all cbrietiaos to come in bringing with them all their peculiar
doctrines and their methods of work. That would be 'union
without unity'. Another scheme is for us to get all chria-
ti&n people to gather at the gate of Some vast camp, unload
all of their distJnguiBhing views, and agree not to believe any-
thing that any one else cannot believe and not to insist on
what they beheve.
"Still another plan is to rally the scattered friends of God
back to union on some one of the many creeds as held by the
sects."
He suggested no plan for brining about the union, "but"
sud he "there is much that Christians can do to forward the
movement for union.
"1. Ws should strive honestly to make sectarianism odious.
"2. We must cultivate interdenominational charity.
"3. We must labor to bring the christian worid to under"
stand that the only possible basis for christian union is the
authority of the Word of God."
November 20th, finds him at Nashville, Tenn., aidii^ Dr.
Frost in meetings at the First Baptist Church.
"We are like an anny" he writes from Nashville "lining up
for battle, throwing out our heavy skirmish lines and seekii^
to get other forces brought forward and put in position before
the general onset."
Agun be writes:
"llius far I have dealt only with Christians. It is a fierce
battle which we are fightii^"
The campugn, however, was crowned with victory. He
writes:
"In many respects the meeting has been equal to the best I
have ever seen. , . I think that a new era is dawnii^ for
the church."
He was subjected to a trying expeneaix at this time. An
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
372 RICHMOND COLLEGE
election was to take place at Eichmoad College, of whose
Board of Trustees, be was a member. Tbere was a lining up
of the friends of tbe candidate and of tbose opposed to bim
and among tbe latter were some of Dr. Hatcher's prominent
cburcb members. The lines were closely drawn and the
agitation was very intense. As both pastor and Trustee, he
found himself in a peculiarly delicate and puzzling position,
and while his desire for the candidate's election was strong, yet
he determined to take no active part in tbe contest. But it was
known that be had been for several years a very helpful friend
of tbe candidate and it was concluded that he had championed
his Cause.
"It has gone out" he writes "that 1 was the leadii^ spirit
in the movement and quite a number are mad with me. But I
have a motto which comforts me often: 'He that believetb
shall not make haste'. I will keep silent and let tbe heathen
r^e for a season and then I will tell the facts. But I have
no thought of running around to explain my action in the case.
I regret that several. . . have gone wild over the thing
and the worst in the lot is. . . It distresses me deeply.
But keep still and wEut. Things will come out all right."
The above text "He that believetb shall not make baste"
was one of his guidii^; stars. Many were tbe times he quoted
it, as being one of his life mottoes. In the times of stnun, or
opposition, when tempted to act impulsively, be would cool
bis brow with the above words and go peacefully about bia
work.
He threw open his home on January Ist, for a New Year's
Bec^tion to his church members and friends. He writes:
"My New Year's Eec^tion threatens to take the town. It
is to cast all others in the thickening shadows of oblivion. It
is to bring all folks together as far as possible. It will pull tbe
sacred dust out of 'Brer Hatcher's' vest pocket, but never
mind about that."
He began at this time a work which he continued until the
end of his life, — that of writing tbe "Topical Noted" for "Tlie
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SUNDAY SCHOOL "LESSONS" 373
Baptist Teacher", which was read each week by nearly all the
Baptist Sunday School teachers in the South. There were
three istereatii^ facts connected with his writing these "Les-
sons." In the first place, the only Bible helps he ever used in his
writings was a little red book which he carried often in his
pocket — called "Pell's Notes" — containing the Scripture for
each Sunday with a few brief notes. In the second place, he al-
ways had his "Lessons" at the Nashville office before the ap-
pointed date. Dr. VanNeas, editor of the Teacher, said that
while he had many bothers with other writers, yet Dr. Hatcher
was his delight, in that he never disappointed, nor delayed, him
in the matter of his "Notes".
This was remarkable, in view of the irregular life which he
lived. On trains, in depots, ui homes of others, — ^in all manner
of places — ^was this writing done, and yet the "Lessons" never
jumped the track nor missed their schedule time.
In the third place, in writing these notes, he would never
correct them after the first writing. Many were the times when
he would call out to some member of the family:
" , I want you to help me on my lessons" which
meant that that person would write them out for him at his dic-
tation. He would always ask the amanuensis to read them over
after writing them, — ^in order to note any clerical errors that
may have occured; but the sentences that he had first called
out always stood. So wonderfully had he, in his early ministry,
gathered a choice vocabularly and brought his mental forces
under control that now he was reaping the reward and in his
composition his first word was generally his best word. In
this way his preparation of his lessons consumed the minimimi
of his time, and he was enabled throi^ the remtuning years of
a life that was crowded with uncountable tasks to have his
matter for the Sunday School Board on their desk, each month,
waiting for the stroke of the clock. The writing of these
Lessons gave him keen pleasure in the grateful words that were
evesr reachii^ him from his readers all over the South. These
grateful words would come to him in his letters, in greetings
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
374 SOME SUNDAY SCHOOL "NOTES"
on the train, at Conveotaons and in bia vimts to Churcliee. Eto
alao drew rich comfort from the Bible study which he was
compelled to do in connection with hie writing of the Lessons.
A few paragr^ha from his "Notes" are here quoted. They
are taken from some "Teachers" that happen to be near at
hand. If all his "Notes" should be published they would nuke
a large volume.
"The true fame of the preacher is to be known more by the
place he has in the heart, than in the ^e, of the public."
"A COMPACT AUDIENCE. It U hard to atir a scattered
audience."
"THE PASTOR. He who can put hia members to work in
the Master's service is the best doctor that many of them could
have,"
"THE DEAD LINE. There is no dead line for those who
bum with the deeire to work till Jesus comes."
"There is hope for a man who is fond of those who are candid
enough to tell him of his errors and faults."
"The Lord never takes bis servants at thar worst."
- "JONAH AND THE GOSPEL. There is abnost enough
gospel in Jonah and his Book to save the worid."
"If a man will pull his house down on himself and be buried
in the ruins, let him, at least, have pity enough to let hia
children have a chance to get out."
"Daniel kept open house for the Lord, openii^ his windows
towards Jerusalem."
"MERCY'S SWEET WAY. Mercy comes not as the storm,
but comes with silent feet, and comes to heal and bind up brokw
hearts; its touch is as soft as the evening light; its ointment is
fragrant and refreshing; it has no ruffled brow, no impatient
word; no rebukes for the past, no threats for the future."
Hia burdens, at this time, were grievously heavy, but he
kept steadfastly to his work. On his twentieth Anniveisary his
church insisted upon making the morning service an occason
for doing him honor and Prof. Harris and others spoke words
of praise, and on the next night the auditorium was thronged at
a reception given the pastor and his wife by the church members
and the Richmond friends. Dr. Landrum preaded and the
various pastors spdte.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
KATE'S MAEHIAGE 376
He indulged in a commercial tranBacti(Hi at this time that
was destined to open a new and lai^ chapter in hia life. He
purchased a small tract of land at Fork Union, Va., upcm which
to erect a Summer home. He expected that this home would,
among other things, answer the question that lifted its head
every year in the family circle, viz., "Where shall we go this
Summer?"
He gave a young preacher a word of counsel at this time that
showed one of his tnuts of leadership. The young man wanted
his church to make extended improvements on their newly
purchased building. He wrote the young minister that he
had better not force the entire issue at once, "If you can get
your folks to start in on the thing" he writes "th^r interest
will grow and you can lead them by d^ip%es. But your demand
for all at once will scare them and combine the timid and con-
servative against you. Talk to them about the things that
must necesaaiily be done. Let them get the fever of improve-
ment in their blood and other things can be worked up by
taking them one at a time. A flank movement is far better
than a front attack."
"I had my preachers' Supper last night" he writes to Eliza-
beth "Willin^am, MuUins, Wright and Nelson, with their
mves, constituted the party, Mr. and Mrs. Boatwright not
hang able to come. The supper was quite elegant and the
evening went off like a golden charm.
"Aa Ever Your Old Stick of a Papa,
"W. E. H."
His daughter Kate was married on June 15th, to Prof. C L.
DeMott and he took great interest in arranging the wedding
programme which was a angularly beautiful one. The cere-
mony was performed by him in the church.
He could crowd into short space much valuable advice. To
a minister, in another city, he suggests a plan for raisii^ the
money for a new building:
"Strike, — say for $10,000, Let no man tell how much he is
goii^ to pve (»cept to yon and the committee), imtil you
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
378 CHICAGO ADDRESS
have a roaring mase meeting to take the subscriptions. That
meeting ought to be the biggest thing you ever heard of and,
in the name of the Lord, you must sweep the deck and get
the bottom dollar."
Regarding Iiis Sunday work of January 26th, he writes;
"My sennon in the morning went off well, but at night I wept
over Jerusalem in a manner which was enough to disgust the
Jews." On the following Sunday afternoon he writes: "I
have an unpronoimceable Armenian to preach for me tonight."
He went by invitation, to Chicago, to address the Baptist
Social Union of that city, and on his way he dropped me a line
from Cincinnstti saying: "Here I am on my way to the slaughter
house — only I will have to open my mouth before the shearers."
His Chicago audience included the pick and crefun of the
Baptist ministry and Iwty of that city, with a goodly number
of representatives from the University of Chicago. As he
arose to deliver his address there was a hearty clapping of
hands.
"You do well" he began "to prefix yoiu* applause to the
impending address. You show your courtesy and dispose
of a responability. You are like the farmer who prepaid his
annual debt to heaven by saying grace when he killed hogs.
Let fate do its worse with my performance tonight, you are
safe and I am not in despair, for, when I get home, I can, at
least, comfort my few surviving friends by declarii^ that my
address was received mth great manual dexterity."
His subject was "Charity" and was a plea for optimism in
dealing with himian character. He did not sound the dol^ul
note, "Alas, the rarity of christian charity under the sun."
And yet he made it plain that charity deserves a much higher
place in the ranks of Christian virtues. He said :
"If the family of Adam — -that is, of course, if we can be
charitable enough to -believe that the old gentleman had a
family — (laughter) would hit the mark every fire and keep
out of mischief, charity would have to close doors."
Speaking of certain pugilistic Bi^tista be said:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHICAGO ADDRESS 377
"They would rather track a heretic into the wilderness tlum
to bring a prodigal home; they would fire a Bodl^an library
to rid the world of a bad book."
"It is the province of charity" said he, "to run a Ene through
every character and put the agreeable and the good on one
. side, and the objectionable on ^e other. After this divi»on,
charity takes the weak and offensive, wraps it in its own mantle
and hides it. With the evil thus disposed of charity bids us
lay hold of what is left and enter into relations with that."
In these words he unconsciously was stating one of his own
guiding principles. That which made him so entertaining to
men — Dr. W. W. Landrum said he considered him the most
entertaining man in the Baptist ministry of his day — was
because people, as a rule, were so entertainii^ to him. His
eye burrowed down into an individual natil it rested upon what
was human, — yea upon what was noble in the individual, and
he conducted his negotiations with that noble part.
"This is the only way" said he, "that some men get along
with their wives, — by making an allowance and some wives
insist on very heavy and frequent allowances and this is cer-
tainly the only way in which wives can make the trip vnih
tbeir husbands. They have to divide up their husbands and
after lockiag up the mean and intolerable portions of them
seek to keep house with what is left, — ^the difficulty being in
many cases that when they have stored away all the meanness
of their husbands there ia nothing left and they are practically
Idt widows."
No one beheved more firmly in the time honored doctrine
of the Bible's inspiration than did he and yet he did not believe
in TnAlfing a bon-fire of the heretics. His address therefore was
partly a plea for the higher critic.
"I was lately on a trun" said he "which stopped bodily
out in an open field. I got out and strolled up to the engine
to see what I could see. I found a wonderiully greasy old
fellow under the engine, creeping around and cracking the
engine here and there with a truly malicious hanmier. I
asked the fireman to stop the man lest he should break the
engine, telling him that I had engaged it to take me up the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
378 CHICAGO ADDRESS
country. He consoled me by ezpluning that he was merely
trying the engine to Bee if it was all ri^t. He said if it was
out of order, it would be well for me to know it, and if it was
all right, it would not hurt me to know it. I went mlently
back into the car.
"It is hard to believe that the critic is amdous to destroy .
the Bible. If he is, he cumot do it. I have not the smallest
fear that he can, but if he can, let him do it. What do I want
with a Bible that a critic could upset. If his investigations
only go to confirm my faith in the Bible, then he is my bene-
factor, and it may be that if I will treat him with charity,
while he is shaking and testing the rock of my hope, he may
come to believe in the foundation and get on it. At any rate
we must give him time."
"They listened" said he "with bright and responsive kind-
ness as I, for forty five minutes, qwke on charity as a working
principle and gave the principle free permission to get in its
work on the victim of the evening."
In wrilong about it he sud: "I had the trip of my life."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXX
1896—1807
A SHOCEINO DIHASTSB. ABDUOUS BOILDINa CAHPAION. REVIVAL
HEETING IK OBANTILLB, OHIO.
Royal dayB were these which came to him during this Winter
of 1896. With a magnificent church building, with a church
membership united and devoted, with multitudes flocking
eveiy Sunday to his ministry, with his own church work rich
in its fruitage, he walked the heights. The city of Bichmond
held him in high esteem, his services were in wide demand, and
Ipving greetings were accorded him wherever he wsit. His
long Church-building oampfugn had bent his shoulders for a
while, but all that was over, and there seemed to stretch before
him many years of glorious ministry in his new building. How
little he dreamed of the catastrophe that was impending. Dr.
L. C. Brot^hton was aii^ng him in meetings at Grace Street.
Tuesday, February 25, dawned brightly and he went forth
to its tasks with a light step. There was, however, one mel-
ancholy service that he had to render that day and that was
to preach the funeral, at three o'clock, of one of his deacons,
A, L, Shepherd. He went to his church at two o'clock to
prepare for the funeral. As he enterred the building he noticed
that it was full of smoke and he himted up the sexton and said
to him: "David, the house is full of smoke; open the windows
and ventilate the building."
"There is something the matter with the flues," the sexton
replied, as he went off to attend to the matter. In a few seconds
he came runnii^ back and shouted:
"Good Lord, Doctor; the wood in the enipne room is on fire;
but I can put it out."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
380 BURNING OF HIS CHURCH
Dr. Hatcher ran out of the building to get some negroes to
help him. He next ran across the street to the comer drug
store and said: "My church is burning; send in the alarm."
He hurried back to the church and the men aaid: "We can put
it out, Doctor; You need not worry."
Ab they said this he noticed unoke issuing from a recess
above the engine room. In a few seconds the rumble and clang
of the approaching fire engines were heard; in a few seconds
more the amdous pastor expected to see the welcome stream
of water pouring upon the flames, — ^when suddenly a tongue of
fire was seen to leap into the main auditorium. The engines
dashed up to the building and the firemen wildly unrolled the
hose, but as the chief saw the flames now sweeping like mad
demons through the large audience room he said to the pastor:
"Doctor, t^e building is doomed. It is impossible to save it."
Some one standing by saw a tear come in his eye as the chief
made that announcement, "^mi not scone one break into my
study and save some of my books and pt^ers," be asked, and
the reply was:
"Doctor Batcher, it is impossible. It would be dangerous
for any one to attempt to enter the study, inasmuch as the fire
started right under that room."
From every direction the fire en^es still kept coming; the
men seemed mad as they leaped from their engines, but they
were too late; by this time the church was a roaring furnace.
And there stood the pastor gazii^ upon the magnificent
structure that had been his joy and pride, that had cost him
years of toil and sacrifice, there before bis eyes it was now melt-
ing away. A reporter rushed up to him with his many ques-
tions but got no answer; so overwhelmed was he that he could
not talk. Suddenly he felt two big strong arms around him,
and a kindly voice aud;
"Never mind, Doctor; we will build another and you m^
caU on me for (500".
Ee turned around and looked into the face of Capt. Chas.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BURNING OF HIS CHURCH 381
H. Eppea. One of his Sunday School scholars, the daughter
ot bis beloved deacon, E. M. Foster, caught hold of him and,
with an imperious pull and tone of voice, eoid: "Come around
borne, Doctor Hatcher," and tc^ether they went to the Foster
borne near the church. It was then nearly time for the funeral
of bis beloved deacon, Mrs. Foster, who bad already heard the
dreadful news, saw bim coming.
"Make a strong cup of coffee at once" she shouted to the
cook and then went to the door to greet him. As he entered
the bouse he found the family crying and heartbroken. In a
little while he was seated at the table drinking the coffee.
Suddoily he lifted up the cup and brought it down with a bang
vpoa the table. "I have always wondered" said Mrs. Fosta-,
"why that cup did not break. He brought it down witii such
force, as be said with great earnestness: "The old house is
giHie, but we will build another." From that moment he seemed
a new man. It was at that time that I found him.
I was at home in Richmond on a visit that day, and at about
two o'clock the fire bell rang and as we looked down Grace
Street we noticed heavy volumes of smoke, and it was not very
far away. I hurried down the street. The smoke appeared
dangerously near the church — on I went, every step increasing
my anxiety; from every direction the people were running and
the file bells were sounding and in a few seconds my worst
fears were reaUzed. The wind was rafpng — it seemed to be
almost howlii^, — and the cinders were flying over our bead
as if driven by a hurricane. From every part of the city,
alraig every street and alley, the crowds were coming; doors and
windows of every house seemed open and the inmates of the
hinnes woe rushing off towards the burning church, and the
ladies, who were not running, were standing at their front
gates. The entire dty appeared to have but one thought
and that was that Grace Street Church was burning.
As I dashed up to the surging throng my first thought was,
of course, of my father, but no one oould tell where he was.
One bit of information hinted at bis being then in the roaring
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
382 THE CHtmCH IN ASHES
building. It waa soon learned that lie had gone to Mr. Foster's.
There, instead of fin^i^ him prostrated by the sudden catas-
trophe, I saw him standing at the mantel talking in calm
and bright tones with the family and with others who had come
in. It was the case of a soul quickly and completely triumphing
over disaster. He knew well what those amokii^ walla and
those heaps of ashes meant, — ^meant for him and for his church;
he had gone through it all in that tragic half hour, and n<me
can tell what he suffered in those moments. But it was over
now; it had done its worst for him and he turned his face
towards the future. He gave the following order:
"See Dr. Landnim and tell him to open the Second Baptist
Church for the funeral. Have notices of the funeral put up
where all the people can see it who come to the fire and notify
the family to head the proceeaon for the Second Chun^"
Shortly after that we were in b hack on our way to the
funeral at the Second Church, In the sermon not by word or
manner did he ^ve any hint of the crias through which he waa
paarang. It was a woful picture presented by the deacons
as they stood around the open grave. From the cemetery we
drove back to the church, — or rather to the place where the
church was — and as the deacons looked upon the smokii^ ruina
they "cried like babies." In the meantime the whole tnty
seemed excited and full of sympathy for the pastor and his
people. The Bichmond Dispatch devoted a considerable part
of the paper to accounts of the calamity. Its readers were
greeted by a large picture of the buildii^ in flames and with
great headline, such as
THE CHURCH IN ASHES
Oraee Streets Splendid rwui BvUdwig Decoyed YetUrdt^
Afternoon.
The structure a total Wreck.
Ortiy fragments of the vxMa tell the story of desol(Uum and ruin.
Not a Single Article Saved
The handsome fumishinga and Dr. Hatcher's entire Library
It eaiued many other Fins.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AFTERTHEFinE
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
A WONDERFUL MEETING 383
The eituation called for a leader and the pastor met the call.
That afternoon, with his home surging with Erympathetic
callera, he talked with his visitors and Ifud bis plans. As he was
standing at the front door with some one who was speaking
of his very heavy burdens he answered, — ^in a maimer very
impresave — "After all, I reckon that a person's worth in this
world is in proportion to the burdens that he can cany."
The insurance on the building was only $20,000, which
was exactly the amount of indebtedness resting on the church.
The fire therefore left them with nothing. "How are j^u feeling,
Doctor?" asked a reporter who called on him that afternoon,
and his reply was: "You may say that with a house full of
company, two funerals and a marriage this afternoon, I am
dcong as well as could be hoped." To another reporter who
came in he said: "The destruction of my sermons is a serious
blow" — and turning to Dr. Landrum who was near by he added
with a laugh "I reckon, however, I can get a supply from my
friend Dr. Landrum."
He issued in the next morning's paper a call to his church,
asking that every member would meet him on the next after-
noon, at four o'clock, at the First Presbyterian Church. It is
doubtful whether any religious service was ever held in Bich-
mond suipassing that one in dramatic interest. From all
over the city on the next afternoon came the m^nbers and
friends and as they gathered they sat with sad and tearfid
faces, — and some of the heads were bowed. At the "appointed
time, a door in the rear of the pulpit opened and Dr. Hatcher
mtered, accompanied by many brother ministers, including
the Jewish Eabbi. As the pastor walked m, facu^ his members
who felt that they were a people without a home, it is not
surpriang that nearly everybody fell to weepii^, but as the
gastor walked upon the pulpit he started an old fashioned
hymn; his loyal members tried to join, but it was hard to cry
and ong at the same time and the cry had the start and the
advant^^ In one case and another and another the song got
the better of the cry and louder and louder rose the hymn.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
384 A WONDEEFDI, MEETING
though in many cases the un^g and the weeping were hope-
lessly blended. When the song was ended tlie pastor came foi^
ward and with tearful eyes said :
"I believe I will b^in this meetJng with a request that all
who love the Lord and believe that you can follow him in the
darkness as well as in the light will please stand up."
Almost every person in that vast audience arose and after
a prayer, Dr. Hatcher aiud: "Let us sing, 'Praise God from
whom all blesdngs flow/ " and it was a spectacle indeed to see
those Grace Street people, ednging through their tears, that
hymn of praise. Dr. Kerr, the pastor of the church in which
the service was then being held, came forward and said, among
other things: "The First Presbyterian church is yours as long
and as often as you care to use it. The flames that destroyed
your home have made a conflagration of brotherly love that
nothing can destroy." The hymn "Bleat be the tie that binds,"
was sung, and Dr. Hatcher said: "I never felt h^pier than
! do now". ^ Then, letting his gase travel over the great au-
dience, he s^d dowly:
"On yesterday when the church burned I decided to say to my
congr^ation that if another movem^it was to be inaugurated
to build a church thrai some one else had better be placed at
the head. I have changed my mind however."
"Thank God" swd some one.
"If I had not" he said "I would have to go off in some place
and die. So sincere and tender and encouraging have been the
expressions of sympathy and confidence from all sides that I
can do noticing but stand at my post." Then, with a bright-
ening tone, he said : "I thank God that his blessed promises
were not burned with the church. I never knew before how
much I loved my people nor how much they loved me." He
then read a paper which he had after consultation with the
deacons prepared. The paper, among other things, suggested
ihe ^qxtintment of two committees, one to deal with the
matter of a tonporary meeting place and Uie other committee
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A WONDERFUL MEETING 385
to be a building committee to take in hand the matter of erect-
ing a nev structure,.
"And now" said he "I want to ask that all you who think
we ought to build another church will stand and join heartily
in einipng 'How firm a foundation' ". The members came to
then- feet and the hymn began to roll in power through the
buildii^.
"Let us give our pastor the hand" suggested some one "and
assure him of our willingness to cooperate with him in the
struggle for a new building."
Out into the aisles the people thronged, pressing towards the
front and Eonging as they moved forwards. As they crowded
about the pulpit, reaching forth their hands to their pastor,
smiling and onging through their tears, they presented a
thrilling picture. Rabbi Cahsh, who was near the pastor on
the platform, remarked :
"Dr. Hatcher, this is wonderful. Do your people always
rally about you in such a way as that?" "Not always" replied
Dr. Hatcher "it feJtes a fire to bring about such a scene.
You know we had a httle blaze down at the comer on yes-
terday and my people, have been tried by fire and this is Uie
result,"
"Well Doctor" he said "this Is one of the most wonderful
manifestations upon which I have ever looked."
"Doctor Hatcher" called out Dr. Landrum "I received a
surprise this morning. My telephone bell rang several times
and when I had listened to what several of my members had to
say to me I had S1,000 promised for your new church and here
is the pledge."
The next gentlemui to arise was the Jewish B&bbi, Dr.
Calish:
"Doctor Hatcher," he sud "on behfdf of our Beth Ahaba
Synagogue I take pleasure in tendering to your Grace Street
Church their building for all your services and your Sunday
School meetings with coal free and lights free for so long a time
as you may need or desire it. The destruction of your ckurch
is a calamity to every man, woman and child in our city."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
386 A WONDERFUL MEETING
"Doctor Hatcher," called out B«y. Mr Mercer, pastor of
the Weat View Church "Permit a word from a daughter of
Grace Street Church,— West View. We are building a new
church and we have already secured S1500 in aubscHptions
from your Grace Street members but I am authorised to
cancel all these subscriptions from our stricken mother church
and we will work no further on these subscriptions in Grace
Street. In addition to this our little church will give at least
$200 to help you rebuild."
"I'll have to break up this meeting" s^d Dr. Hatcher. "It
is too good." Then holding in his hand a batch of telegrams
he said: "These are messages of condolence and proffers of
aid from good people here and elsewhere." After yet others had
offered the use of their buildings to the Grace Street Church
he said; "I thought that my people and I were homeless when
lo, we have never had so many homes in our lives."
"The gray haired pastor" says the Dispatch "who has
labored for nearly 21 years with his fiock was more than once
during the meetings almost overcome with emotion."
"I almost feel" said Dr. Hatcher "that I ought to apol<^;ue
for my people and for myself for being so cheerful under such
conditions. But we cannot help it ao long as we are pennitted
to feast upon the loving kindn^ of our friends and brethrai."
At the close of the meetii^ Rabbi Calisb sfud to Dr. K^r:
"I have heard that there ia no power in the name of Jesus
and I have oftai said so myself but I will never say so aguu,
for never in all my life have I seen such an impressive religious
demonstration as I have witnessed this afternoon."
The Sichmond Dispatch said that the fire seemed to have
"touched the purse strings, as well as the heart strings, of
every num, woman and child in the city." About fifteen bus-
iness houses offered to receive offerings for the Church and a
list of these houses was published in the paper. Several la^e
stores announced that they would give a certun percentage
of th^ receipts, on a certain day, to the church. The ministera
of all Denominatiwis, including the Jewish Rabbi, published
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CITY AND STATE SYMPATHETIC 387
a Btatement declaring that the fire was a city-wide calamity
and calling upon all citizens to contribute towards a new
building. The preadent of the Baptist General Asaociation
of the State, Dr. T. 8. Dunaway, published an appeal suggesting
that all the Baptist churches in the state should, on the next
Sunday, take a collection for the Grace Street Church. Through
many years Grace Street with her pastor had opened her doors
and purse to burdened pastors from all parte of the state and
now the bread, cast upon the waters, was returning. In the
meantime, he called his building committee together and one
of thm first acts was to present him with a new ^pe writer
and a new bu^yi one having been burned and the other having
been worn out. He remarked goodnaturedly about this double
^t that it was not a sentimental thing to do, inasmuch as it
was apparent that his people wanted him "to be hustling all
over tiie country and writing to every body."
The revival meetings had been moved to the Second Baptist
Church where they continued every night with Dr. Brou^ton
doing the preaching. Several Bibles had been ^ven to Dr.
Broughton in return for his own Bibles which had been dee*
troyed in the fire. "I would like for someone to send me a new
supply of sermons, for mine were also burned" he facetiously
remarked one day, whereupon the janitor, who was standing
near him, said: "Dr. Landrum has got a big, black box full of
sermons over there — guess he will give you as many of tiiem
as you want."
Many such pleasantries were indulged in during the stnuns
and sorrows that followed the fire. Dr. Hatcher's sermons were
also burned and one of the deacons s^d with an assumed tone
of satisfaction: "Now that all your old sermons are burned I
guess we will have some new ones." "My old sermons were
burned up," quickly r^Bed the pastor, "but my capacity
for making some more mean sermons was not burned up."
He told Dr. Broug^ton that he knew that when the fire stniok
his (Broughton's) sermons it was imposedble then to stop tiie
flames. "Dr. Broi^ton rather meanly intimated," says
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
388 A HARD CAMPAIGN
Dr. Hatdier, "that if the fire got into mine, it was the
first time they knew what fire was, — or words to that
rftect."
Grace Street was rich in invitataons from other churchee to
use tli^r buildings. "Our church. . . ' " said Dr. Hatcher
"worriupped in thirteeo different places and one unsophisti-
cated boy touched off the aituation with unconscious humor
when he said : 'I was converted at the Second Baptist Church,*
ree^ved for Bi4)tism at the First Presbyterian church, bf4>-
tised at the Calvaiy Baptist Church and received the ri^t
hand of fellowship at the Jewish synagc^ue.' "
A gentlemen said that the outburst of tdndnesa constituted
a new era in Uie history of christian fellowship. The Grace
Street people rejoiced in the kindness of tbdr mster churchee
and yet thdr tramp, Sunday by Sunday, from one church to
another, in different parts of the city, had its pathetic side.
Two things were decided upon ; — one was to erect a temporary
Tabernacle and the other to begin, at <Hice, a campaign for a
new building.
Looked at in one way, his lot seemed a tragedy. For ne&ify
four years of his life he had carried the burden of a building
oampugn, struggling first to enter the Sunday School room and
later the auditorium of his splendid building and now — not
long after he had grasped the fruit of his labors — the building
was swept from him by the heartless fiames and another l<mg
road of church building — ^this time hard and cheerless —
stretched before him. One is tempted to exclaim: "Was it
not a mistake for such a lai^e portion of his life to be employed
with the mechanical bothers of church building! Multitudes
of others, less highly endowed, could erect houses; why should
he, — a preacher, a winner of souls, — tie himself to problems of
bricks and stone?" But it had to be. He could not dismtangle
himself from the task. It was a part of his work; and he must
do it all. He did not naturally like such buildii^ campaigns.
He loved to preach and to ^ve bimsdf to tiie work of the min-
istry and yet a considerable part of eight of the best years of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
POPULAR WITH THE WORKMEN 389
his life was taken up with planning for money raising, meetii^
bills, constructing tabernacles and church edifices.
It must not be overlooked, however, that his church building
campaigns were a part of bis miniatry — they were spiritual,
aa well as material, in their nature. If, in his s^mons, it was
the man who spoke the loudest, so, in Ms financial and building
undertakings it was the man again that wae preaching. His
marked individuality expressed itself whether he was in the
pulpit, in a croquet game, in a c<»mnittee meeting, or in con-
ferences with the architect, or the carpenter. His good sense,
his humor, his patience, his honesty, Ms faith, and many other
such qualities were ever impressing others as they touched
Mm each day.
The workmen on the building, from the contractor down to
the lowest laborer, all knew Dr. Hatcher and wMle they had no
patience with intruders who came poddering around the struc-
ture to interfere, or take up their time, yet they always had
a glad welcome for the pastor. Their eyes would brighten at
Ms comii^. He was so smart, so intelligent, so genuinely
interested in each one, talked so much sense to them and seemed
to have the entire situation so well in hand that they recdved
hitn with respect and loved to talk with Mm. Things were
always spicy when he was around and they were put on their
mettle to hold up their end in the conversation. The CoDtractor
who did the atone work on the building, Mr. Netherland, became
a great friend and admirer of Ms, and many good natured
wrangles and genial discussions tbey had. It was astonishing
to note to what extent he grasped the principles involved in
the building operations and how, in all the conferences, he
seemed to be the master of the situation.
The building undertakii^ upon wMch he was now entering
was destined to be much more arduous and exacting than the
former one. The movement for the first building had in it
a novelty and ardor that waa impos^ble for the second. Such
incessant activity in matters material of course left him leas
time for Ms studies and sermon-making and for laboring among
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
390 COMMENCING HIS CAMPAIGN
the weak churches out in Uie state. "Die church itself sof-
f ered in its spiiitual life.
"It looks now" writes my mother "as if he will have to endure
that kind of hardship much of his life. The struggle for the
old building is not to be compared with the stni^e for the
new one. It is well that he takes his lot as well as he doee
and that he has good health."
"I am not getting much money these days," be writes. "But
I hear encouraging things here and there, and that kec^ my
soul from snking. I have an idea that I can get my peoide
i:^ to thirty thousand dollars, but that will require time,"
"Thirty thousand dollarsi" For a people who a few days
before this had been worshipping in property worth about
980,000, that sounded almost pathetic. Nearly all oETerings
that could be expected to come in voluntarily from the outside
had been received and there lay before him a grim and lengthy
road and none knew better than himself how steep and offtimes
lonely it would be. But he pressed on with a song in his heart.
On Monday morning he writes:
"I went to Manchester last night and preached to a big
crowd. I did not see any trees loaded down with silver i4>plea
for my building fund. But it may chance that I may gra^
a few reluctant dimes over in that town after awhile.
"Haddon and his friends are to give us a great concert to-
morrow night. Every one expects hampers of money as the
result except myself. Such things do not realize the popular
e]g}ectations.
"I have a comforting note from Josh Leverii^ of Baltimore."
At a later time Mr. Levering kindly entertained a group of
Baptist laymen at his home. They were presented to Dr.
Hatcher who told of the burning of his church and a gift for
his church came to him as the result of that social gathoing
at Mr. Levering's,
He was bu^ now with plana for his new edifice. His church
was worshiping in their temporary tabernacle. He preached
in Atlanta and the afternoon newspaper announced on the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEPAKTURE OF DR. LANDRUM 391
Bulletin Board at the front that Dr. Hatcher would probably
be called to Dr. Hawthorne's church.
On the following Sunday he said to hia church that there was
not enough.money or honor outade of Grace Street church to
attract him and that he never expected to leave them, unless
he felt that they did not want him.
He was very fond of showing marked attention to special
viators who were stopping for a few days in the city. He
would call together his friends that they might, with him, do
b<Bior to such visitors and make a little parade over them.
For example, he had as guests in his home "the Lathams of
Geoigia", some of his kins-people on his mother's «de. Not
only was he s^d to resemble his mother, who was a Miss
Latham, but he s^d that his brother Harvey inherited the
traits of the Hatchers while he took his little stock from the
Latham side. Concemtag his visitors, he writes on July 6th:
"I gave them on Tuesday night what, by a generous con-
struction, might be called a 'Reception'. Quite a little torrent
of people were on hand and they seemed to think that life was
worth living."
It was at this time that another link dropped out of the chain
of his Kichmond friendships; Dr. W. W. Landrum, with whom
he had enjc^ed royal friendship, accepted a call to Atlanta.
In writing of his grief over losing him from Richmond he adds:
"But I never loved a tree, or preacher, but what it was the
first to fade away, or to accept a call elsewhere, as the case
might be." Upon rec^ving the news that he was a grandfather
he writes: "Well your mother has of course notified you of
Kato's maternal honors. The subduing dignities of grand-
fatherhood have caught me at last."
He entered upon his Fall work with heavily laden shoulders, —
so much so that he could not visit the Portsmouth Association
which he always loved to attend. He wrote me: "And so I
did not get to the Portsmouth Association. There were a whole
family of new bom reasons — a litter of them — ^for not going.
But they are too young to be named."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
392 WILLIAM J. BRYAN
He never flung out his banner bb a politiciian, — in fact,
never joined th^r ranks in any way — and yet he took immoiae
interest in the political campaigos of the country, and there
were few spectatore who were better informed about the
dection conflicts raging in the country than was he. On
November 3rd, the nation was to cast its vote for president, —
Mr. Wm. J. Bryan being one of the candidates. On November
2nd, be writes me:
"I am still of the opinion that the plucky and tireless Neb-
raskau [Mr. Bryan] will be outvot^ by a great electoral
majority. If he is victorious tomorrow, then I will be as cheer-
ful a man as ever proved to be a false prophet.
"I feel a great respect for Bryan. He has convictions and is
evidently Mncere in his utterances. His endurance has been
above any thought I ever had of the limits of human activity.
He will be a king in defeat. This land will not forget him. My
lips have never yet said for whom my vote was to be cast and
they are still dumb. But I have a towering scorn for the man
who tmdertakes to put the mark of anarchy on Bryan or the
stun of immorality on the farmers. The meanest thing done
in this campaign has been the deeds of the bolters, and even
CarUale went to Kentucky to advise the Democrats to vote
for Breckinridge."
He loved to work upon boys, — ^if they were made of re-
spcmave material — but sometimes he would strike an impoa-
ubility. He would not waste his time on such cases, as a rule,
but there was one incorrigible youth at Richmond College in
whose behalf he permated. He had promised the father that
he would turn a friendly side towards his boy. He thus writes
regarding his experience with him:
"I am much embarrassed by the case. I am most anxious to be
a comfort to his father, but the youth has not got the logical
element in him. His talent for the unexpected is strong and he
finds happiness in being eccentric. He has a touch of resist-
fulneas in his compo^tion which is apt to turn your effort to
influence him into a small red flag of defiance. But I am watch-
ing and hope to get in my work soon. Keep the folks cheerful
and tell them that time is a great physcian, though his pro-
ceeses are decidedly slow."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE EDUCATION BOARD 393
At the meeting of the General Association in November be
found himself in a minted end somewhat fiery discussion. One
of the ministers attacked the Education Board of which Dr.
Hatcher was president, charging that the Board was not
careful enough in its selection of young ministers to be aided
by the Board in their education. The speaker declared that
sc»ue of the young men who were admitted were not up to the
mark in their qualifications. The attack dropped like a bolt
out of an April sky and I have seldom seen him so aroused aa
on that occasion, but^ — as on so many occasions — his humor
came to his rescue, and also to the rescue of the service. After
repelling the attack, stating, among other things, that the
Board had to depend largely upon the churches who sent to
them these young men with their endorsement, he then let
himself and his audience down by a humorous conclusion
which ran somewhat as follows:
"And besides, suppose we do sometimes take in some rough
and unpromising material. Iiet us not be surprised at it. I
remember that our Lord himself took a lot of yoimg men —
twelve, if I remember correctly — ^whom he would aid in thdr
ministerial training and what was their quality? A mixed
lot were they. He had loads of trouble with some of them.
Peter was an awkward fellow and I doubt whether he would
pass muster before any of our Education Boards. He was
wof ully rantankerous and gave the Master a world of bother
but he did not dismiss him on that account. He saw in him
what the critics did not see."
"It was worth coming to Richmond to see Dr. Hatcher" says
a gentleman writing in the Herald about the Association. "He
was as bouyant as a boy over flowing with vitality, watchful
of the oomfort of the great host, scarcely taking time to eat, or
sleep, and entering into all the exercises with keenest zest."
In mtroducing the versatile and brilliant Dr. J. B. Gambrell,
of Texas, he said: "Prof. Mitchell has spoken on General
Education, President Whitsitt on Ministerial Education, —
and the Lord only knows what the next speaker will talk about."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
394 LETTER TO ORIE
In December he aids hia friend Dr. C. C. Meador of Wash-
ington in revival meetings, from which place he writes his
daughter One as follows:
"Washington, D. C, Dec. 3rd, 1896.
"My Dear Oris, — I thought that I would write you while
you were in Lynchburg, but laziness triumphed and I didn't.
I dare say it was well enough not to write until it would be too
late for you to have the care of replying. My life here Bcems
a fraction trivial. I have no service in the day and life seems
wasted when I have no duty to drive its spurs in me from morn-
ing until night.
"Washington has attempted to be very chummy with me.
Invitations to 'stay some' with folks have been various and
dinners and lunches have sought me. I have not been overly
responsive. I have loved the repose and freedom of my ap-
pointed home.
"Washington fairly glitters with Christmas beauties. Now
and then I vote my eyes' a little chance to look at the windows
and a desire bums in me to buy trunks of things to take home.
But I speedily remember that I am now working for my build-
ing fund and with no out-look for personal chink and I call
in my roving eyes and resume my [>osition in Poverty's vale
(excuse this feeble flicker of sentiment).
"There are three old maids, — rasters of Mrs. Dr. 's —
in the house and they are positively charming, I am about
to decide that it is better for girls not to marry, but take care
of themselves, and take care of their worthless old fathers as-well
as a certain young Vassar woman of my acqu^ntance is doing.
"I am belabored to stay over another week in Washington, but
I think that my two eyes, by the mercy of the Lord, will see
the City of the Seven Hills about 2:30 on Saturday afternoon.
I am quite willing to peep into "608" and see how the machine
is moving.
"I have defaced many pages with the froth of my thoughts
and it is high time that I was doing, at least, one sensible
thii^ — ^whicb will be the speedy en(£ng of this sapless pro-
duction.
"Yours, "W. E. H."
In the next letter he gives a bird's-eye view of bis Christmas
travels. He was overflowing with happy spirits and scattered
pleasure as he swung around the circle:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHRISTMAS WEEK 395
"January 4tb, 1897.
"My Dkar E, — I had quite a proud week of it. Monday
afternoon I careered to Skmquarter [Chesterfield Co.] and held
forth in the afternoon to a goodly turn-out of the faithful.
Williams dined me with becoming pomp and the Rudds gave me
s fine supper. Tuesday moming Williama drove me in state
to Tomahawk and I preached at noon to a house nearly fuU.
"There Winfree took me up and escorted me to his castle
where I refreshed myself with a night's rest. Wednesday
moming found me at home and at noon that day your mother
and I ran up to Gwathmey to a Sunday School duiplay where
we were the pets of a grateful community. That night I had
my prayer meeting.
"ThiUBday moming found me enroute for Sterling Heights
[his new country home, afterwards called Careby Hall],
The youthful EUis received me with many kindly demons-
trations at Bremo and drove me to the Fork under whip and
lash. I found that an imposing Christmas dining was under
way and Dr. George, his household, Uncle Markell and ever
so many others, including odds and ends of the rising genera-
tion, were on hand. I found myself immensely ticiled,—
so to speak, to find myself so much thought of by nice people.
I remained until Friday evening and got home to find "608"
ablase with a frail blow-out in honor of our frisky debu-
tantes. I sat up-stairs during the show, sneezed with a newly
arrived bad cold, toasted my feet and felt that Christmas was
over with Brer Hatcher."
He went to Granville, Ohio., to hold a revival campaign.
From Columbus, — while enroute to Granville, — he writes Orie;
"CoLDMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 12th, 1897.
"My Dear Orie, — I am now anxiously engaged in choosing
a new title for you — one that will adequately set forth your
glories as a lunch fixer. At first I thought that Luncheonness
would meet the emergency but as I did not wish Society to
regard you as an incarnated luncheon of the female persuasion
I gave that up. But I have not yet recovered from the feeling
of being a very largely incarnated lunch which I had after
devouring the excellent viands which you fumi^ed me for my
joumeyii^ mercies. I have not struck a fittdi^ name. There
IS an audacious bite to the Ohio atmosphere. I find soUtude
a rich delight tod^. It serves to compose me and I trust
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
396 GRANVILLE, OHIO
it will rest my inward forces for the grave and arduous duties
which are waiting for me at Granville. I am now going to
take a peep at the Ohio Legislature.
"Yours, "W. E. H."
On his anival at Granville he writes to his two youngest
daughters, Edith and Elizabeth:
"I ^oin upon you not to ait up too late. I am going to
study the vrttya of the Ohio pria, and if I find any good pomts,
I will bring them home for family purposes. It is my ambititm
for you to be such lofty characters that you may be pointed
to as examples for others. This you axe both enable of, and
you must aspire to it. I hope to see you ahine in the social
circle to which you are (o belong. Cultivate that quiet uid
modest dignity without which no woman is ever truly respected.
Be more anxious to say sensible than funny things. Men dread
a funny woman and hate a critical woman. A modest wit,
which is spontaneous and unconscious and does not furnish
its own ^plause, is beautiful.
"But I must not lecture my young Debs. They are too full
of energy and hope to endure solemn doctrine. Be hapt^ and
write to me."
Kegardiug his stopping over at Columbus, he writes:
"I spent yesterday at Columbus. The pastor and one of the
deacons of the First Church called on me. They gave me a pleas-
ant shock by telling me that a remark which I made to the pastor
last June, when I was out here, had led them to sell their old
church, build them a tabernacle and to purchase a lot and begin
the erection of a new house. They expect to have the new house
ready by next Autumn and desired a promise from me that I
would dedicate it for them. I felt glad to know that my words
had at least done one good thing.
He referred to the town of Granville — on the day before
reaching the town — as "the scene of my impending agtmy."
The words describe his keen solicitude about the approaching
meetings. To his daughter One he wrote:
"Few know what deep anxieties fill a minister's soul when
he b^ins a work of the kind to which I go. £ven the mAking
D.qil.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE GRANVILLE MEETINGS 397
ami preaohing of a sermon, OD a commcKi occaaoa, is a etrain
wliich fefw evem. think of and yet under which every conscient-
ious man Buffers and when a man finds him self called to master
a great occasion — with varied and countless obstacles in the
way — he must demre solitude and get it.
"But let me not be too serious. You might suspeet that I
have etru^;lefl witinn, and acainat such self exposures I have
ever fought. I Imow what it is to tread the wine press alone."
He nearly always had pangs and wrestlings of soul at the
beginning of his revival campugns. Hia evangelistic meetings
were battles in which he plotted against the devil's forces,
and aimed for a big victory at the final onset. Such a victory —
rich and complete — came at Granville. At first the conBict
was heavy. On the 22nd he wrote me:
"The leaders of the Devil's host are not yet ready to run up
the white flag. I am in great agony about the fate of our work
at the University. The interest there is immense, but the
opposition, while respectful and good mannered, is hard to
subdue. I stay over Sunday and am in for a general charge
on the Devil's Towers."
On the 251^ he writes to Orie : "Yesterday was thrilling. The
ringleaders of eon in the Univerdty came out last mght."
When the end came it was estimated that the number of con-
veimcois was about 260 and the clomng scenes were pentecostal.
But tiiis triumph came only after a hard fought campaign.
"For neariy a week" he writes "I beat the air without a
convert, without a tear and with nature's thermometer at
about fiifteen below zero and the thennometer of grace, a good
deal lower. I almost believe that I would have been requested
to leave, if there had been enou^ vitality in the meeting to
organize public sentiment on that point."
In his meetings the storm was usually slow in gathering.
His greatest meetings contained climaxes when the spiritual ,
forces seemed suddenly to culminate. In the Granville
campugn, after the first week of apparently vfun effort, he
writes: "Tonight was a ^iritual cloudburBt and shook things
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
398 A PRESENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY
to the center. It was the first call that I had nutde for dement
strations and it was great. The outlook is wonderfully fiae
and my soul is full of hope. If I am not mistaken the Lord
faaa great tbii^ for us in store." Wheu Dr. Hatcher left
Granville the preddent of the University said to him: "Dr.
Hatcher our University wishee to present you with some spedal
token of our high appreciation ; tell ua what it shall be". "Noth-
ing for myself," replied Dr. Hatcher, "but I will moition a
^t that I will accept and that is a scholarship, in your Univer-
dty, for a bright needy boy in Vli^ia. The result was that
a Fluvanna County young man, the son of a parents who were
struggling with great sacrifices to educate their many boys,
went to Denison Univeraty for his education, and last session
this same young man, now an accomplished christian scholar,
was at tiie bead of an institution of learning in Florida.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXI
ADDRESS ON THE EXPEBIHENTAL BVIDEKCES OF CHRISTIANITY.
TBODOHTFCLNE8S OF OTHERS. VARIED lOURNEYB AND LABORS.
REVIVAL HEETINQS AT TOLEDO, OHIO. EXALTATION OF THE
SnPKRNATDRAL,
He took & dip into the metaphysical waters at this time. He
delivered an address at Bichmond Ckillege on the "The Ex-
perimental Evidences of Christianity" in which he dlscuased
the subject from the scientific rather than the popolar point
of view. In hia public discourses he did not usually venture
into the philosophical field. Not that his thinViTig was super-
ficial. In fact, in preaching he went to the bottom of his
text and of his theme; but be generally chose the simpler
and the popular forms of expreaslon. He would compass the
subject in his own thinkii^, would view it in its relations and
could have ea«ly clothed his thoughts in scholarly and meta-
physical garb, and this be would occasionally do — as in the
case of his above mentioned address before the College. But the
bulk of his speech was not aft^* this fashion. Hia audiences
were generally cosmopolitan and he selected tiie ample, and
ofttimea pictorial method of address. The consequence was
that he was understood by the unlearned and by the children.
A little boy, bi another city, who had complained that be
never liked to listen to his mother's pastor because he could
never understand what he was talking about came home one
Sunday night after Dr. Hatcher had preached and said "Oh,
mother I could understand every-word that Dr. Hatcher said"
He thus writes: "To study a subject to its core, dig up every-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
400 RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS
ttting about it down to its roota and subject the result to a dis-
criminating study, picking out the salient points, putting it in
strong and vital words, having as your governing principle in
its delivery the application of its doctrines straight home to
all hearte, — that ia no light task but that is the preaching
that will so impress the people that it will make the children
listen."
His Bicbmond Collie address showed that he could subject
a great theme to a compFehenuve analyds and could play the
scholar and the scientist. In fact it would be difficult to tell,
whether he was greater in brain or in heart. His life was so
full of kindness that we are tempted in describing him, to
say that he was a man of great soul and to forget that it could
be said with equal truth of him that he was a man of great
intellect. There was both quickness and poise in his mental
activities. His field of vision was clear and large. He had the
power of seeing a thing not only in itself but in its wide re-
lations, and his many bright sayings were due to his ability
to see relationships which lay beyond the ordinary range of
vifflon. Dr. Masters says "Probably Southern Baptist have
not produced a richer personality than his. We are sure that
we have not produced one who combined in hiniself at once
more of the elements of intellectual greatness and catholicity
in his affections." His mind suffered very little waste by self
consciousness, or introspection. It focussed its enei^ee on the
subject in band and worked with singular indepoidenoe. The
reader has been kept waiting at the door of the Collie address
that he might be reminded, in the above d^resssion, that
this book is the story of a great mind as well as of a great heart.
The College address came in a series of addresses in which
Dr. Moses D. Hoge, one of the most distinguished Presbyterian
ministers of the South, was one of the speakers. A brilliant
audience, drawn from the College circles and from the d^
of Richmond greeted the speaker of the evening.
"It was the crowning address of hia life," writes my mother. "1
never knew him to bestow more pains or to deliver a speech bet-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS 401
ter. He was thoroughly himself, was at ease and had perfect com-
mand of his subject. Many of the preachers came up to express
themselves very strongly in favor of it. Drs. Mitchell, Nelson,
Ryland and Boatwri^t said to him and to me that it was the
b^ of the series — as far as argument and real thot^t were
ooncemed. Dr. had more learning and eloquence,
Prof. M said, but your father's more argument and a
better line of treatment — showed more original thinking.
"It produced a great impres^on. Dr. Kyland sent me some
flowers from the platform with a note saying that he sent It in
appreciation of his admirable address."
Regarding the address he thus writes me;
"My College perfonnance did not satisfy me by a bow's
shot but I atleast got to the end and pos^bly some thought
that I came near never accomplishing that. But I did get
through. My audience was not big but the night was suf-
ficiency grim and threatening to explain any empty seats that
were around. Of course the regulation hand^ake and the smile
of approval came to time at the close, but I did not apply the
thermometer to ascertain the warmth of the congratulations.
Men hke Mitchell, Boatwright and Winston were frank enough
to say that mine was the fairest of the addresses — it recognised
the sincerity of the objector and sought to convert him. It
treated doubt as a friend and not as an enemy.
"My chureh surprised me yesterday morning by requesting
me to repeat the address in the Tabernacle next Sunday night
and I have consented to do so. I think it is intended to m^e
it a sort of high night in our wigwam."
There have been found among his papers three 8^>arate
manuscripts of this address, — each of them showing bis cara-
fulness in preparation. That the reader may gain an idea as
to his method of working upon his sentences, I quote here his
opaiii^ par^raph as it apperared in his three manuscripts.
In the first manuscript:
"The object of this paper is to deal with the experimental
evidences of Qiriatianity. It is intended to take the unbeliever
into the workshop of the Nazarene and invite him to examine
the productions of his skill. It has been prepared with the
desire atleast of bringing out the phenomena of the truly
christianiEed soul and subjecting it to critical examination.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
402 RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS
In the second manuscript:
"Tonight I am to mvite this audience to turn thar thoughte
to the Tree of Ijfe and to study the manner of fruit which
it bears. We will vimt the workshop of the Nasarene Car-
penter uid examine the products of his skill. We will arreet
those who wear the insignia of the gospel and, putting them on
the stand, require them to declare to us what the Lord has done
for their souls."
This second pan^raph la a distinct advance upon the first.
The first is the speech of the scientist. He simply s^rs that his
discourse will critically examine "the phenomena of the truly
christianized soul." That is sufficient for an audience of sdoi-
tista. But the speaker will face a diSeroit audience and so in the
second manuscript the scientist turns artist and uses his brush
to pfunt the same thought, aa he asks his audience to look upon
the Tree of life and upon the Christian on the witness stand.
But even this did not satisfy the speaker and so he brings out
his brush again.
In the third manuscript:
"Tonight we are to gaze upon the Tree of Life and observe
what manner of fruit it bears. We are to enter the spiritual
workshop of the Nazareue and examine the productions of his
skill. We must apprehend those who wear the insignia of the
Gospel, hale them to the bar and require them to tell what God
has done for their souls. In plamer terms we are to invade the
secresies — the penetralia— of the christian soul, collect the
phenomena of its new life and give to them a candid and critical
examination."
Be next states the plan of his address:
"First we must fix definitely what we mean by Christianity;
next we must ascertain the process by which Christianity
enters the soul and finally, and chiefly, we must study the
result of the Gospel's entrance into union with the soul and
determine its evidential value in favor of the truth of Cliri»-
tianity."
First, he defines Christianity as "a religion (unfolded in the
Bible) which reveals God in his majesty, truth and justice;
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS 403
man ia bis moral and spiritual wreck and peril; Jesus Christ
in his compasEDon, becoming the Sacrifice and Savior of the
people. This religioD is called Christianity and the history
which brings it to us is called the gospel."
Sectoidly, he conmders tiie process by which the gospel
enters the soul:
"The gospel moves upon the soul with the majestic courage
of an invading army. It seta itself down at the gateway of the
soul and demands admission. But it does not storm the gates
and force its way. How then does it get in?"
Be declares that it enters the soul in the act of repentance
and faith. Repentance he defines as: "a sober and deliberate
decision to turn away from all sin and that, out of respect for
the will and honor of God."
Faith he defines as; "that edict of the will requiring the
gates of the soul to be opened for the admisaon of the gospel
and it is done at the suggestion of the heart."
Thirdly, he conaders the evidential value of tiiis christian
experience and he proceeds to show that Chnstiaoity can
stand the most rigid scientific test. He points to the fruits of
Christianity as seen in a regenerated heart as proof of the truth
of Christianity. Christianity, he says, shows what it is by
what it does in the human soul. He next enters the field of
christian experience, calls upon christians to tell what God
has done for their souls, and this testmony of Christians is the
scientific phenomena with which to build up the proof in favor
of Christianity. The new heart and life, the new motives, tiie
new ideals, the new spirit, the new joy and love — the^e, says
the speaker, are the scientific data upon which to construct
the evidence.
It is true, says the speaker, that the only witnesses to this data
are the adherents of the religion but regarding these witnesses
hesE^:
"Rank them as average men and wcnnen and gauge
their testimony aocordingly and remember that the testimony
borne by christians as to their inner ^[periences of the power
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
404 RICHMOND COLLEGE ADDRESS
of the gospel is rraidered doubly impreaave by its liannony,
identity and spontaneity. . . It is testimony from dif-
fcTQQt classes, from various countries, from long separated
ages and yet it bears witness to the very same spiritual pheno-
mena. . . In this testimony there is included the testimony
of millions who had to repudiate their experiences or seal them
with thm lives and some of them in moments of fear recanted
and were set free and then, with the revived sense of God's
saving power, returned to their persecutors, reaffirmed their
taiih and freely died for their Redeemer."
He then declares that an unregenerate scientist cannot pass
upon these spiritual phenomena. He may subject to the
microscope his physical material; he may try the experiraices
of the mind by psycological tests, but he must have the spirit-
ual Eye to detect and pass upon spiritual phenomena. Spiritual
thii^ are spiritually discerned. The sdentist objects to this.
" 'Oh'; says the objector, 'you ask me to be interested ia an
unknown world. I know nothing of the spiritual world'. True;
but your ignorance does not prove that there is no such worid.
America was long an unknown world and men were actually
burned for believing there was such a world. In spite of the
unbelief of some men, there is a spiritual worid, and some may
be burned for not bejieving it.
"In the spiritual Kingdom the christian is the expert and the
scientist is the layman. The christian has been experimenting
with the gospel and has tested its principles and has just aa
much right to claim a hearing from the scientist on religion as
the scientist baa to claim a hearing from the christian on
science. Why should they have strife. They are brethren.
"The Go^>el challenges trial. Almost the first public word
that fell from Jesus' Ups waa 'Come and see*. The gospel hands
US its records, with its history, its doctrines and principles and
asks UB to examine them. If a man has a new plough, let
him not lecture on ploughing, but let him plough. If a man
has a flying machine let him not carry it to an exposition but let
him get in and fly and then he may invite others to ride with
him. . . Never was a more profound or scientific word ever
rkeu than that of Jesus when he sud that if any man will
his will that he shiUl know of the doctrine whether it bs of
Ood.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"CABBBY HALL" 406
"I stand tonight aa one of the crew on the deck of the old ship
of Zion and throw out the gang-board and invite you to come on.
She has felt the blow of many a mad wave; she has be«i tossed
by many a gale, but she has never missed a coimection, nor
lost a passenger. As our fathers used to wag. 'She has landed
numy thousands and can land as many more.' "
On March 12th my mother writes me:
"Your father has heeia more than usually concerned about
the conversion of the people lately. I see with great satis-
faction a great difference in him in his spirit while building this
<diurch from what it was in rearing the other one. Then he
thought and talked so much about the buildii^. Now he talks
little about that and talks as much more about the work the
church ought to do. He preached a rousing sermon yesterday
morning to the young men about taking the old ones' places —
said the number of old ones was so very small — ^hardly any gray
heads.
"Another thing that a^tates the mind of '608 W. Grace
St.' is 'what shall be the name of our country home?' Careby
is the name of the ancestral home of the Hatchers in England.
Some say 'Careby Hall'; others say 'Melrose Heights', 'Hatcher
Castle', 'Ivy Castle', etc. What say you? Your father likes
'Sterling Heights'; not many others do."
"Careby Hall" was the name finally chosen. He thus writes
about his new home:
"I expect to go to Fork Union next Thursday to see the
foundation laid for that ever grand villa of which the papers
talk so impressively and so impertinently."
His orphan boy, Coleman, was still Uving in his home and was
attending Richmond Collie. He wrote him from Wake
Forest College where he was holding his second revival cam-
paign:
"Dear Coleman, — My heart is full of tenderness for you
and I long to see you become a strong and faithful young man.
I am senatively anxious for you to do well. . . I must learn
to be more patient with you, . There is much in you to
please me and to excite my hope in your future.
"Your faithful friend,
"W. B. Hatcher."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
406 THOUGHTFULNESS OF OTHERS
With pen and band and tongue he was busy during these
Sprii^ days and while his pastorate clwmed him for most of his
time yet he was ever and anon nmiuiig out into tiie state
to perform some ministerial service. Regarding bis buildii^
campiugn, he writes: "The workmen hover around me in a
mamier which terrifies me unless I can soothe them with a
check."
In arrsngii^ for his trip <ui May 5th to Wilmington, N. C, to
attend the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention &
little incident occured that showed his thoughtfulnees of others.
He told his dai^hter to prepare a large luncheon — enough for
many persons. He knew that the coaches would be filled
with ministers enroute for the Convention and when the lunch
hour arrived on tiie ttsin he opened up his large box of eatables
and acted as host for a goodly circle of preachers who "lunched
with Dr. Hatcher that day." His thoughtfuln^a <^ others
showed itself not only in givii^; pleasure to those around him
but also in ipving encouragement and comfort. For example,
Rev. W. W. Reynolds says ih&t one Summer he made a speech
on H<ane Miscdons at a district Association when Dr. Hatcher
was in the audience. A few days afterwards Mr. Reynolds'
father rec^ved a letter from Dr. Hatcher telling of his pleasure
in hearing his son speak so well on Home Miauons at the
Association. Mr. Reynolds says the letter was couched in such
kindly phrase that it greatiy cheered his father. He was re-
turning with a tr^ load of ministers and li^men from the
meeting of the Soutiiem BaptJst Convention at and
one of the brilliant young professors at the Seminary
had recently died. It was a great shock to all and Dr. Hatcher
engineered a little collection among the del^ates in the cars
to purchase a watch to present to the stricken widow as a
token to her of their deep sympathy. "Oh, that Dr. Hatcher
were living; he would know how to console us," said a parent
soon after his death. The parent had just had a son and
daughter killed in an automobile accident.
He vent tq Wilmington to the Southern Baptist ConventitnL
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"THE HOME COMING" 407
where he said he was exhausted almost "to the point of
collapse" by the heavy denominational burdens that were upon
him, chief oi which was the "Whitsitt Controversy", which
matter will be considered at a later time. He delivered the
Commencement Address at Georgetown College in Kentucky
the first part of June, his subject being "The Road Builders,'*
One of his striking atatemeots in the address was: "The pubhc
highway is the work of the pathfinder brought to perfection."
Mr. Henry Schmelz, of Hampton, writes:
"Dear Dr. Hatcher, — Of course whatever we may have
done or shall do in the future for the Orphanage the privU^e
of so doing will be attributable and due to you. On second
thought I have determined to send the picture [portrait of
his wife] to Richmond College in your care."
He was elected at this time to succeed Dr. J. L. M. Curry
as preddent of the Board of Trustees of Richmond College.
He went to Brooklyn to speak at the funeral of Dr. F. M.
Ellis. In clofflng his address he looked down upon the coffin
that contuned the sleepmg dust of his bdoved friend and in
toider tones, which those who heard him will not easily foi^t,
he said: "Good bye, Frank; we'll meet again in the morning."
Later in his life he wrote a book of reminiscences in which
the last chapter was entitled "the Home Coming", — ^which
has been pronounced a classic. In this chapter he paints the
picture of a plain, httle country home at M(»eley's JuoctJon,
in Chesterfield County and of the joy of the mother every year
over the home coming of her railroad boys for the Christmas
reunion, and of the immense preparations, by that mother,
in the kitchen weeks beforehand for that glad season. I was
with him on that day when the old man, Mr. Lloyd Phaup, told
us the ample, but thrilling story of the Christmas home coming,
as we walked up the track from his httle engme house to his
home. Several years had now passed smce that visit, and tiie
Christmas hinne coming of those days could never again be
repeated.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
408 ASSOCIATION AT ROANOKE
"By the way" he writea me on July 5th "old Uoyd Pbaup at
Mosdey'B lost his wife — a fearful loss to him. It occured quite
a while ^o but a word to him would be balm. It ia too hot to
visit but you can write consoling notes."
Many were the "consoling notes" which, during his long USe,
he sent to those in trouble.
"Thousands of things press upon me" he writes his wife on
October 4tb, and <m October 27th, he writea me:
"Here I am happy, poor, in debt and wuting for good
weather."
He sets hia heart on se^i^ two young preachers at Roanoke
at the meeting of the General Associataon, and thus writes
to one of these (Rev. R. H. Winfree) on Nov. 14th;
"Mr Pebbless Robert, — I am just from Brookneal. Spent
two nights with John B. Williams and we f^ly talked the
buttons off your waistcoat. He longs to see you and is goinjg
to Roanoke. There you must be also. I am writing Baker to
bulge your pocket wi^ some of Uncle Sam's best loose change.
Get into your collar and go. I long to see you.
"Very Lovingly,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
He attended the meeting of the General Association in Roanoke
in November and at such meetings he was pulled about by the
brethren for all manner of purposes,— to secure his champion-
ship for their cause before the Association, to gain his counsel
regarding a resolution, or some problem in their pastorate, to
engage him for a lecture or a meeting or a dedication; many
simply wanted the pleasure of grasping his hand and having
an effectionate chat with him. "I am working my soul and
body to pieces" he writes his wife from Roanoke. "I start
to Ohio this afternoon."
This Ohio trip meant another meeting in that state, — this
time at Toledo. He stopped at Granville, the scene of his
glorious meetings of the preceoding winter, and preached at the
Univeraty, "The pleasures of that reunion" he writes "amoim-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TOLEDO MEETINGS 409
ted to rapture and the whole morning took on the form of a
spontaneous reception."
He began his Toledo meetings with the pastor Dr. Emory
W. Hunt and wrote tliat he commenced with "a mountun of
anxiety" on his heart, and on the Sunday he writes: "I was
really never is such an agony of concern and anxiety." An
interesting climax came to his meetings. Up to Sunday Dec-
cember 7th it had seemed impossible to dislodge the uncon-
verted and so critical seemed the situation that far away in
Kichmond the Grace Street Church was asked at the Sunday
moming service to make special prayer for the meeting in
Toledo. That night the following telegram was read to the
Grace Street congregation :
"Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 7th,
"Thirty conversions this moming — many heads of families.
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
In writing about that Sunday he said: "We had one day of
Pentecostal glory in Toledo and the people trembled under
the touch of God's finger."
Who can explain the wonderful manifestalJonB m such
meetings? It was not the ^ithusiaam awakened by bis sermons.
He would ofttimes preach his greatest sermons without such
manifestations. In fact, he would discourage mere emotional
outbursts. It was the power from Heavai which he always
wuted for in his meetings, — a power that would show itself
among the people and instead of seeking to produce it by his
preaching he seemed to feel that until the power came his
preaching — even his best — would be unavaiHng. I have already
written of how at the close of the first service in a revival meet-
ing in Chesterfield when his congregation seemed wroi^ht up
with great emotion, he let the emotion spend itself rather than
avwl himself of it. He seemed to think that while that expres-
uon of holy feeling was good yet there was something higher
and better which had not yet come upon them and which
he hoped would come. In speakii^ about rel^ous seatuneu-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
410 EXALTATION OF THE SUPERNATUHAL
talism he stud: "Sentimentalism is an excess of feeling and the
riot of passion. Sentimentalism has played a disastrous part
in the^hristian world. It has filled our churches with a religioa
of feeUng. It has drifted us often to folly and fanaticism. It
has made our revivals consist in ezdtement, our enterprises
to depend on our humors and our gifts to hang upon our im-
pulses." Finally in his Toledo meeting the heavenly power
came and he thus writes:
"People trembled under the touch of God's finger. A lady and
geiitlemen, who were present, not members of the church,
walked away afterwari^, she saying that she felt profoundly
and diatinctily that the power of God was on the people, and
he criticizing the meeting most bitterly and yet ccmfessing
that he was compelled to hold to the pew with all his might
to keep from going forward. It looked as if at the close of the
sermon a holy breeze from the hills of the heavenly Canaan
blew down upon the people and the effect was simply inde-
scribable. Almost instantly men and women, many of them
heads of faraiUea, began to push out into the ai^es of the church
and to stream down to the front. One gentleman, as if Satan
was making his last struggles to hold him — a man known
throughout the city and h^d in deserved esteem — vowed that
morning never to take any public stand for Christ and declared
that if any one spoke to him he would leave the church never
to return. He was about the first t« take the offered hand of a
friend and come out for Ms Lord and Redeemer.
"The church stood in awful silence and with faces wet with
unwiped tears they saw the sight. From that time we had a
new atmosphere. People spoke a new language. They sang
with a new fervor; they were clothed with a new strength and
found it easy to put aside business or pleasure for the Master's
work."
Such was the power for which he waited while he preached
and prayed. If I were asked to name one of his greatest con-
tributions to the times in which he lived I would be tempted to
say it was his exaltation of the supernatural in revival meetii^s.
His appeal was to the God of battles. His meetings were
triumphs of divine grace and monumental witnesses of the
fact that in this modem day, as well as m the olden time, the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TOLEDO 411
power <^ God's r^eneratiog grace was at the di^wsal of Tub
people. It is hardly possible for the hunuui heart to leach
much loftier heights of ecstasy than marked some of these
"climax" days in his meetings. With mothers and wives
rejoidng over the conversion of their sons and husbands; with
chrisUans tasting afresh the joys of thdr heavenly hopes;
with salvation flowing like a river in theu* midst and with the
peace of God filling their souls with light and joy — ^Ah it was
a foregleam of heavenly happiness and many were the days in
his long life when he stood on such mountun peaks.
He writes an account of his Toledo meetings in the Herald
cloEong with a reference to his return to Richmond from Toledo:
"When on Tuesday morning the frozen souled porter on the
sleeper shook me out of my morning repose and ordered me, —
as only a porter can, — to 'dress' and I ran up my curtain to get
a glimpse of the sacred soil and heard the conductor on the
outside cry out 'AshcaJce' [a station near Richmond] I felt
that I was getting home. That word 'Ashcake' got my exact
rai^e. It told of childhood and reminded me of my raising.
It quietly lifted me down from the glory of 'dining out' and
sobered me up for the impending realities."
He had left a part of his heart in Toledo, — as is seen from
the following letter to the Toledo pastor, Dr. E. W. Himt,
which he wrote after he reached home.
"Richmond, Va., Dec. 14th, 1897.
"Mt Dear Bbother Hunt, — I struck Richmcoid on time
and received quite a radiant welcome from my home tribe. I
found the weather of the most dismal character, though it is
honest weather. It does not practice deceptions on us as the
Toledo weather did. It has set up to be bad and is doing it.
"The wedding occurs at 6 F. M. to day and is to be quite
imposing. Owing to the cruelty of the trains the bridal pair
wiU depart before the supper is served. I am pleased that the
blissful couple will leave me and the supper behind. It is my
purpose to keep myself and the supper together so far as it is
practicable.
"But nonsense, — I would trade off six marriage suppers for
one moment in Ashland Avenue with the loved ones I left there.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
412 LETTEE TO DR. E. W. H0NT
I called on Dr. Laeher [at a stop over in Cindimatti) yesterd^
morning and he gave me a chamung welcome. At the pastors'
Conference I was reduced to conscious shame by the prepos-
terous manner in which they lionized me. They dragged me out
for a speech and I added one more future to my great record
as a failure maker.
"But I was sincerely grateful for such consideration and it
must in part have been accorded me in view of the fact that I
had been with you. It was delightful to hear the commendatory
things B^d about you. You are making a good name in Ohio
and I expect you to keep it up. I did not do my usual amount
of sleeping on the train and am today in a limp and fraszled
state. Sunday night I was wakeful most of the night and I
was not sorry for it gave me the opportunity to call the roll of
the converts and how happy I was to find that my memory
carried so many of them. Then, too, I turned my thoughts back-
wards and what troops of the brethren and sisters reappeared
before me and I greeted them in spirit over and over again.
"At breakfast this morning they drew me into talk about
the meeting. My wife suddenly exclaimed: 'Why, how on
earth do you remember so many?' I could have siud that it
was easy to remember those you love.
"Of course I had to describe, with a particularity which a
woman would require, you and your domestic treasures and
when I finished I think that the impression was that I had
been staying with quite a fine family of people.
"But this is enough at this time. You and your church are
enshrined in my heart. My thoughts will abide with' you.
"Fraternally Yours,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
" P. S. — As I failed to get this letter into the mail, I will
exercise a woman's right and add a few other feeble remarks. I
had my wedding tonight and it was.£rst class. The occasion
was really brilliant and — (excuse me) the fee was (20. After
a royal supper I came to my church and had a ddightful re-
ception. Great interest was evinced in the Toledo meeting
and what pleased me greatly not a word was sud as to the
economic aspects of my trip. I love for my folks to be tasteful
and to know how to do the neat thing."
But there was another member of Dr. Hunt's household that
Dr. Hatcher carried in his heart and that was Dr. Hunt's
little daughter, Harriet.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LITTLE HABMETT HUNT 413
"It was characteristic of Dr. Hatcher to write this fine
letter to my four year old daughter," saya Dr. Hunt in sending
the letter:
"Mt Dear LnrLE HARRiBrr, — It hurts me to think that you
are 800 hig miles away from me. I would just delight to sit
by you at the table and give you a few, sly hugs. You were
very good to me while I was at your house and I am going to tell
my friends about it. Some of these days you may come to
fijchmond and then I will see if I cannot be good to you. If
they have "noodles" at any time you must eat some of them
for me.
"I expect you to write to me soon after Christmas and tell
me all about Santa's visit and also what he brought you. Tell
them at home that they must treat you well, or I will ride up
there some pleasant moonhght night and bring you to Kichmond.
If I had you it would be fine, but as I cannot get you I will love
you anyhow. Give 'Uncle' my best regards and also Helen. She
is a stonning fine giri and she must not forget me.
"Your loving friend,
"Dr. Hatcher."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXII
DB. C. C. HBADOB. TBB WHJ'fflrri' CX)IfTROVBRSr. THE BAPTISTa
The year 1898 found him crowded with varied engagements.
They kept him hurrying hither and thither with but little
time for studying and consequently his preaching — so his wife
thought — suffered under the stran. After writing to me of a
"red letter day" which he had at his church on Sunday January,
0th, a day of glorious experiences she continues ;
"The effect on the church was marked. Something out
of the line has to take place like that in a church every once
and a while to get it out of the ruts. Being out of his study so
long, he was showing that he was lagging behind in his sermons
and I ventured so to indicate to him — I never like to hint to
him anything uncomplimentary. I nearly always tell him how
I enjoy his preaching and say all the good things I can about
the sermon — ^it pleases him. But I must be just to him. I
cannot bear the thought of his not keeping up to high water
mark. And so he said he felt he was not getting on well ser-
monizing and the effort to recover himself brought on this
renaissance, so to speak, of last Sunday. It was a great day
and I am thankful for it. I dout care to what height a preacher
attains, he must study — ^he must have some new idea each
time. One great central thought well illuminated will satisfy
the hungry christian."
He went this month for meetings with Dr. Eeniy Colby at
his church in Dayton, Ohio, and at the end of three weeks he
writes:
"I have preached between thirty and forty sermons . .
The joy has rarely ever been greater to me. The meeting at
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SUDDEN DEATH 415
the first Church has not had th« bound and triumphant
moTement of some that I have seen. It hcs not accomplished
flS that we have been pr&ying for but it has achieved wonders."
The following letter from my mother on February 17th,
closed irith a significant statement, — the significance of which
will appear later in this tbapter:
"Your father has loads upon loads of Board work on his
shoulders — much of it exasperating — so much pereonalism,
favoritism to be combatted at every turn— that it makes it
hard, doubly hard, to direct or control affairs. And all that
has to be conned, and thought over and over. I hope you
will never be so heavily burdened, thoufch I want you to make
yourself felt in the denomination by doing helpful work. It
takes an iron will and an iron constitution to bear what he has
to bear. At this moment he is in conference with Dr. Whitaitt
at Ford's. He telegraphed him to meet him there at ten o'clock
today.
He spoke at the funeral of a preacher who had shortly
before his death watched many days at the dying bed^de of
his son. He said:
"It seems to me that watching with his boy our brother went
80 far -toward eternity that he never came back. He was never
the same man. He caught a glimpse through the gates that
opened for his son and his longing heart took one leap and he
was gone."
That paragraph contains a picture of death that he seemed
fond of. It is seen in the words "took one leap and was gone."
He in after years referred to his brother Harvey dying in that
fashion and it was the maimer in which he himself wished to go.
It was not merely the idea of dying suddenly, but far above
that was the thought of going with a leap and bound; going
straight from the harvest field into the presence of his Master.
He had a sympathetic interest in the colored preachers of the
old stripe, and showed it in many ways. He delivered an
address before the Baptist Social Union of Philadelphia in the
Spring on "The Ck>lored Preacher of ante bellum days."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
416 DR. C. C. MEADOR
Speaking of Dr. Thorabill of MaDchester he writes to me
on April 17th:
"I miss him like forty when he is out of town for he is one
of my abounding consolations. He is a great fouotiun of
pleasure to me. I am now training Mercer to be one of my
consolaters — a Saturday afternoon companion. We too had a
long ride in the country yesterday afternoon."
He sought to keep the &Te» of his old friendships burning.
It has been said that friendship is a plant that one must water
often and Dr. Sam Johnson declared that a man should keep
his friendship in constant repair. He saw a picture in the
Herald of one of these old friends, Dr. C. C. Meador, — then
the pastor of the Fifth Baptist Church in Washington, D. C,
and it pleased him greatly to see the Doctor thus honored.
The sight of the face takes his thoughts back to hia home in
Bedford and he writes in playful fashion of two of his eariy
boyhood experiences with Dr. Meador:
"I was the mill boy, and once each week I carried my sack
to the mill where Mr. Meador was the ruling spirit. He seemed
a long shot above me, but I fired many questions at him at long
range and in time established friendly relations with bim.
"It is not quite noble to rake up unpleasant memories and
it may be wrong in me to do it; but I had a difficulty with that
man Meador in those far away days there among the towering
hills of Bedford. He did a thing that I thought ill of at the
time and about which I have never been fully reconciled. Those
who were around us at the time are now beneath the Bedford
sod and, as I cannot call on them to judge between us, I must
appeal to the living to say where the wrong was.
"They had a revival at Mount Hermon. Oh, it was amply
glorious! I have never heard of such a time as that was to me.
Old Father Harris was there in hia venerable prime and more
than once he came down the aisles with his long shock of snowy
hair breaking over his shoulders and streaming in the breezes
and hia face wet with tears as he told us of Christ and Heaven
and besought us to come into the ark. . . It was too much
for me. I Bed the house and out in the pines made my vow.
At a later meeting I went forward for prayer and while uttjng
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DR. C. C MEADOR 417
by the tdde of Meador one night I felt the sense of God's for-
giving love. Few ruder boys ever knocked at Mercy's gate
than I was and few even had cruder notions of what ought to
be done with such a blessed secret — even the secret of sins
foi^ven — ^than I had. There I sat with a fire in my bones,
dropping silent tears, glancing at the new light and beauty on
the faces of those who were singing and afterwards trying to
hear the sermon. But a burning in my heart constrained me to
tell somebody something, though I hardly knew what. There
at my side was Meador deeply absorbed in the sermon and
little dreaming what God bad that night done for me. I
touched him and he bent his ear down to me. I said 'I have
a secret to tell you; go out with me.' Would you believe it?
He would not go. For years I have charged him that he did
me ill and I here and now renew tne charge against him and I
ask the judgment of the court. He may have reasons for his
conduct but he has never given them to me. And what reasons
could satisfy me.
"But my feeling ag^nst him are mollified by the fact that
a few weeks after that I had a terrible attack of doubt. It
overcast my whole sky and shut off all hght. My soul went down
into the pit. Despair arose in me. But my day to put my sack
on "old Fillie" and go to mill came and away I went taking my
sorrows with me. Out of the mill came Meador, as I drove up,
smiling as kindly as if he had never done me a wrong in lus
life. As we stroUed into the cardii^ rooms he said: 'You made
roe very happy the other night.'
"I understood what he meant, but I was in no mood tor
anybody to be rejoicing over what seemed to be my folly in
professing rehgion. I cut him off in short order by telling him
that I had made a mistake, that my hope was decid and that I
saw no chance for me.
" 'And can it be' he said 'that the Devil has put you in
Doubting Castle so soon? That will never do. Have you cast
Christ away? I know he has not cast you away.'
"Before I had a moment to reflect he had brought me face to
face once more with Christ; my doubts fled and I found my
feet once more on the rock. How easily he did it! What comfort
he gave me! He has spent a life time in doing gracious things
like that for those who needed him. He is a fountain of comfort.
Not yet, old fellow, do I say that I will forgive you for denying
me that night. We must have a few more wrangles over that
before we get it settled. My feeling on that is Btil) strong; but
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
418 THE WHITSnT CONTROVERSY
I trust that it ia not of that bitter sort that will cause the gate
of heaveD to be Bhut against me or that will forbid our walking
ann in arm when we go up to witness the crownii^ of hiTn who
washed us in his own blood."
His shoulders carried at this time the heaviest denominational
burden that had ever been laid upon him. A storm was brewing
that threatened to disrupt the Southern Baptist Convention
and there were many who looked to him to avert, if posfflble,
the storm.
The whole disturbance raged around the head of Dr. Wm. H.
WMtsitt the preddent of the Southern B^tist Theological
Seminary, — one portion of Southern Baptists clamoring for his
reagnation and the other portion being equally insistoit that
he should not resgn, and upcm Dr. Hatcher bad beoi placed
the leadership of the party that was friendly to Dr. Whitsitt.
Many mont^ before this time Dr. Whitsitt had written sev-
enl articles that seemed dispan^in^ to the Baptist position.
He had written them as editorials in the "Independent" of New
York, — a non-denominational periodical, — ^the subject about
which Dr. Whitsitt wrote having already been under discusaon
in that paper. Dr. Whitsitt later on — of his own motion, —
avowed his authorship of these editorials and at on<% the battie
began. From many sources came compliunts that ike Premdent
of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary should have
published as editorials in a non-denominational paper, — one
not sympathetic with Baptists, — articles that seemed un-
favorable to the Baptists. But the most vigorous ac«usati(»ia
against the Doctor were caused by his statement in the articles
that immerdon had been "invented in England in 1641".
That utterance became to many his unpardonable an and in
a short while South^n Baptists found themselves divided into
two camps, — one for and the other agiunst Dr. Whitsitt.
There was in the denomination a certain constituency called
"Landmarkers", characterized by some one as the "Hi^ Church
party" in the Baptist D^omination. They held the doctrine
(^ "historic succesaon" insisting that there had been a r^ular
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE WHITSITT CONTROVERSY 419
and unbroken BUccesaion of Baptist churches from the days
of the Apostles until the present time. Dr. Whitedtt'e articles
were a practical denial of their poation and consequently
the entire ranks of those who were called the Landmarkers
seemed to take sides against Dr. Whit^tt. But it was not
merely a Landmark issue. In many states there were those
who, while not Edtting in the Landmark camp, were yet sbakii^
thw heads against the Seminary Prefddent and thinking that
be ought to resign.
On the other hand there were many who did not feel that
Dr. Whitsitt's publications in the Independent justified the
movement for his overthrow, and they felt that the welfare of the
Seminary required them to resist and, if possible to bring to
naught this hostile campaign. Dr. Whitsitt's Louisville friends
had asked Dr. Hatcher to take chaise of the Whitsitt side of the
contest. He consented because he felt that large denominsr-
tional issues were involved and thus he took the lead oa one rade
of a ocmtest which developed into the severest conflict that
Soutliera Baptist Convention had ever known. It was e^>ected
that the struggle would culminate at Wilmington, N. C,
where the Southern Baptist Convention and the Board of
Seminary Trustees were to hold their annual sessitms in
May.
The responsibilities of his position w^ghed upon Dr. Hatcher
heavily. The president of the Convention, who was one of his
best friends, — Juc^ Haralson, — ^wrote him shortly before the
meeting:
"Those opposed to our Uncle ['Uncle Billy* bmg the
affectionate title ^ven Dr. Whitsitt by the students] are numr
eroxa. A majority west of the Mississippi, in Misussdppi,
Kentucky, Tennessee, a smart spiinlde in Alabama and else-
where, may be counted as dissatisfied. It is doubtful which
dde will be in the majority if the test should be made. The
Seminary should have the support and confidence of all. We
must rescue it from distraction if possible. . . Both bodies
(the Convention and the Seminary) are in danger and both
need cautious handling."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
420 THE WHirSITT CONTROVERSY
The settlement of the matter lay with the Trustees of the
Semin&iy and it was there that the battle was to be waged
and there the vote taken. And yet back of the Board was
the larger body, the Convention, and the Board well knew
that its action must meet the sentiment of the Convention.
On all hands the reigning question at Wilmington was
"What will be done about Dr. Whit^tt? Will his friends be able
to hold him in bis portion, or will the other dde compel bis
re^gnation?" Dr. Hatcher had no thirst for mere victory
and he was not out on the path for any one's aeaip. It was a
peaceful ending of the agitation for which he yearned. He
feit that it would be a disaster for the Seminary for Dr. Wbitsitt
to be forced to resign under such conditions and be hoped that
something could be done in the Board to preserve the integrity
of the Seminary Faculty and also the unity of the Convention.
Many were the conferences, — by mail and by personal intei^
view — that he held with his lieutenants and sympattuEers,
and when the Board came together in Wilmii^ton, the day
before the meeting of the Convention, he had his plan ready.
This plan was for Dr. Whitaitt to make a statement to the
Board, defining fais position but admitting that fae had made
a mistake in writing the articles in the Independent, and that
then the Board should accept this statement as a satisfactory
solution of the entire trouble. He nearly alw^s had his men
selected to cooperate with him in brin^i^ his measures before
a body; he would have one to present the measure while he
would follow with his reinforcements.
The Board convened at Wilmington, and, upon motion, Dr.
Whitffitt was invited to appear before them and make his
statement. That statement had been written on the preceding
night in our room at the hotel. Dr. Hatcher wrote it, with
Dr. Whit«itt at his side making whatever suggestions he desired,
though scarcely any were necessary inasmuch as he and Dr.
Hatcher had thoroughly discussed the matter together. The
writii^ of this statement in our room ran far into the night
and on the next day Dr. Whitsitt read bis statement to the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE WHITSITT GONTROVEESY 421
Board and it was accepted as satisfactory, and Dr. Hatcher
was appointed to report the matter to the ConvKition and this
he did that afternoon. The great assembly listened with bated
breath and at its close the long pent up storm of suspense and
anxiety broke.
"Then occured a demonstration", says a writer "which I
never expect to see equalled again on the floor of the Southern
Baptist Convention,— if I attend the body until I am old. The
delegates moved like a tide towards the front to shake hands
with Dr. Whitsitt, Old and young came and many of the older
friends of the good president embraced him. . . The great
body of christians behaved like children. Dr. WhitEdtt was
visibly affected."
Everybody appeared happy, and the delegates soon scat-
tered to their diEFereat states with the glad thought "the war
is over."
But even before the Wilmington Convention melted away
a few mutterings of disapproval about the Whit^tt matter were
beard; but they created only faint smiles from those on the
other side. They did not disturb Dr. Hatcher. He wrote:
"I have heard that there was some firing at Appomattox
after Grant and Lee had signed the terms of capitulation and
even to this peaceful day we now and then hear the sluggish
report of an old army musket; but that does not signify that
the war ia stilt going on. . . Possibly many dear brethren on
both sides of the Whitsitt tilt went to Wilmington with their
guns charged for the battle; but the engagement did not come
off. If we hear an occasional shot let us believe that they are
^mply emptying their guns before returning them to the rack.
A few may wear their war clothes and tell lai^e stories as to
how they thrashed the other side but that is not war."
But as the mouths passed the former discontent b^an to
lift its head again and tiiis was intensified by a sentence in Dr.
Whitaitt's statement which Dr. Hatcher had read before the
Wilmington Convention on the occasion when Dr. Whitatt
was given the great ovation and that was the sentence in which
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
422 THE NORFOLK CONVENTION
he declared that he bad written the Independent articles from
a Pedobaptist standpoint. That phrase, "from a Pedobaptist
standpoint", seemed to wake the cohorta to battle afresh and the
conflict now b^an to be waged more yigorously tfaaO' ever.
State Associations took the matter up for discussion and the
lines were drawn even in district assoeiatjons and in churches.
But Dr. Hatcher kept in touch with his men in the Board <A
Trustees and sought to hold his lines in tact. He wrote me on
April 6th: "The Whitaitt matter is in high shape and I really
beliere we have the Hessians on the canter." Several days later
he wrote me: "Letters are still pouring in about the Whitaitt
matter." It ought to be mentioned that the leader of the op-
poation was Rev. T. T. Eaton, D. D., of Louisville, an eminently
popular and able leader. Around him the anti-Whit»tt forces
rallied and he led them valiantly. He writes me on March
28, in Norfolk where the next meeting of the Convention is to
occur:
"I am anxious to know if you meet with any of the Whitsitt
madness in Norfolk at this time. How is Brer [paa-
tor Church] talking these days? It would be a
long-lasting pity for us to make a ripping fuss in a town like
Norfolk (at the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention
in May]. If you are certain it would be safe to do it I wish
you would ask if he would unite in a quiet effort to
keep it out of the Convention. You might say that I was greatly
hoping that it might be done in the interest of peace and har-
mony in Virginia.
"Fraternally, W. E. H."
The newspapers took up the cudgels of war and by the time
the next meeting of the Convention was held in Norfolk, Va.,
the contest had developed mto a battle royal. Three or four
weeks before the time for the Convention meeting, I received
in Norfolk, where I was then pastor, the followii^ letter from
him:
"I must have an eternally secret council meeting of some
of the Trustees of the Seminary on Wednesday night May 4tb.
Where can we meet. Fix that for us and report at once."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DR. WHTTSITT'S RESIGNATION 423
He received a tel^ram from Dr. Whitdtt requestiz^ a ooit-
fereDce at Ford's hotel in Richmond.
The Convention arrived. Warmly waxed the contest in the
Board. The pressure agunst the Whitmtt lines was enomwus,
but in the Board his friends held their ground and when the
Convention closed no unfavorable action had been taken by the
Ctmvention or the Board against Dr. Wbitsitt. The ^icounter
in the Board was, of course, maintained on the high ground of
christian courtesy and mutuKi respect, each side cout^ding
for what they believed to be right. Dr. Hatcher now looked
forward to an era of peace. He writes me on May 18th:
"I believe the Whitsitt storm is spent. I get letters of
compliment on the outcome but I am too busy to enjoy them."
Out in Kentucky the rumble of the battle was heard afresh,
and one day he was overwhelmed with dismay and almost
of indignation to read in the papers the announcement of Dr.
Whitdtt's resignation, — the very thing, of all others, that
he thought was provided against. It occured in connection
with the Kentucky state Convention. There a strong pressure
was brought to bear upon Doctor Whitatt; he was ut^ed to
resgn and this he did, because it seemed to him at the time that
worse consequences might ensue if he refused. It threw the
Whitott camp — so far as Dr. Hatcher and his cohorts were
concerned — into bewilderment for the moment, but not into
panic.
The Board met to take action upon his resignation. So
intense was the public interest in these meetings that the
reporters were clamoring for admisdon, and the doors had to
be locked ^unst them. His resignation was accepted to take
effect at the emd of the next sesaon.
The final day of Dr. Whitdtt'a iocumbmcy arrived, — ^his
1^ day as President, and the last day of the Commencemoit
exercises. It was a memorable day. Dr. Hatoher, his friend,
who had championed his cause, had been asked to be present
and take part in the closing act. From differeait parts of Louia-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
424 WHlTSnr DAY
ville that morning the people hastened to the Seminajy hall, —
but let Dr. Hatcher tell the story:
"The day was preeminently Whitatt day. The consciousness
that a notable event was at hand pervaded the city and im-
parted a tii^e of sobered melancholy to earth and sl^, . .
One thought reigned in every mind and one name trembled on
every lip,
"Dr. Whitaitt did not emerge from the presidential mansion
until the time for the morning exercises was at hand. A
serenity, so strikingly his distinguishing feature, marked "his
face and hid whatever of tumult went on in his soul. EUa
entrance into Norton Hall where the exercises were to occur,
stirred no applause. The people simply looked at him as he
moved up the aisle — a look ineffably kind and reverential
and were silent. Later on when the opening exercises had
passed and a kindly reference to the man who sat in the chtur
was made the long suppressed passion of the assembly burst
into applause, titoid at first but growing in volume until its
thunders actually shook the bouse. The brother who made the
address of the morning was endured when he spoke on other
themes; but if he dared to point his finger at Whiteitt, he became
at once the friend and spokesman of the audience. They were
there to pay court to just one, and ail who assisted in that were
friends. If there was music, its undertones were a loving good
bye to the man whom Louisville delighted to honor. If a
speech was made, it got its best hearing and its loudest applause
when it uttered the sentiment of the hour. If honors came to the
Seminary students, they took on a new charm and worth be-
cause they bore his signature and came straight from his hand.
If prayers were offered they reached their utmost fervor when
they called for blessings on the retiring president. Reporters
Bitted about tike hungry birds but nothing satisfied them so
well as news about Whitsitt. Elect women sat through the
service with faces wet with tears and every tear was a messenger
from some heart bringing tidings of grief and love."
One feature of the day was the presentation of the portrait
of Dr. Whitsitt. Eegarding this he writes:
"True it was only a shadow of a man but many felt as if
there was heahng power in the shadow and that it would shed
endless grace upon the Seminary.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE FAREWELL SCENE 425
"At night the Burging crowd came in, — apparently to the
Commeucement, — but really to get a final glimpse of the
president and to hear his farewell words. It was overmasterinj;
to observe the subduing power of his voice and to mark the
strain ot attention with which every sentence was caught.
The occasion and the man alike were too high for the indul-
gence of shallow sentiment or to appeal for the pity of tears.
A tone of pensive gratitude pervaded the opening utterances
of the valedictory but this soon gave place to a thrillii^ appeal
for steadfastness in upholding the fundamental doctrines upon
which the Seminary was founded. His last words were a plea
for loyalty to truth. There was a mellowness of manner, a
quiet sense of self respect, and a touch of exalted charity in his
tone which went to the hearts of his brethren. He had been
through intense experiences and the close of his official career
was itself a crisis and it was pleasant to observe with what
discretion and grace he bore himself."
After describing the clo^ng scene when be ended his address
Dr. Hatcher said that amid solemn silence:
"The people gradually retired from the hall, the lights went
out and Dr. Whitsitt was no longer the president of the South-
em Baptist Theological Seminary.
"Thus passed out William H. Whitsitt from the service of the
Southern Baptists. He left behind him the record of 27 years
of continuous labor in our Seminary. No man ever had truer
friends and not one ever carried with him more affectionate
esteem and devotion into his retirement. Checkered, indeed,
was his career. The sword went into his soul, and not all of
his brethren could see eye to eye as to his wisdom and usefulness
His convictions brought suffering and he showed the patience
which marks the hero. What his immediate future will be ts
not known yet to the pubUc, but it is hardly possible that the
Baptist historians of the future will overlook his name. His
last public words were: 'With charity for all and malice for
none I bid you farewell,' "
The question as to Dr. Whitsitt's successor now confronted
the Board. In fact they were already dealing with it. Dr.
J. P. Green was elected but he declined.
In mid-Summer the Board met in Atlanta to elect a new pre»-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
426 THE NEW PRESIDENT
ident, and many eyes were turned towards Atlanta. The
Secretary of the Trustees Rev. Dr. M. D. Jeffries, thus
describes the scene;
"All seemed uncertain; there was division of sentiment.
Earnest prayers had been made, names were suf^eeted for
the important place that was to be filled. W. E. Hatcher arose
in a somewhat hesitating way, yet' with force in hie words,
and sud that he had the name of a young man to present;
he didn't kn6w that he was the man but he believed in him.
In a few. such mild words, telling why he thought as he did, he
presented the name of E. Y. Mullins. Witiiout any great
rush, but really with a spirit of questioning, yet of quiet con-
viction, the suggestion seemed to take hold of Uie board. There
were brief, earnest talks, conviction moving steadily one way.
Fresentiy a vote was taken and we had selected, at the sug-
gestion of brother Hatcher, the hand, brain and heart which
guide today, in such a masterly way, the affairs of our Seminaiy."
An era of peace and hope seemed to have dawned for the
Seminary and for the Denomination. It is said that Dr. Eaton
seconded the nomination of Dr. Mullins and thus the divided
forces seemed to have joined hands under the standard of the
Seminary's new president.
^ bit of news came to Dr. Hatcher one day that struck him a
center blow. He was told that the election of Dr. Mullins
was being E^ken of in certain places as a victory for the old
Whitffltt party and as a result of a Whitsitt movem^it. With
him the Whitutt war was over, his old weapons had been cast
behind him and his face turned to the future and the intimation
that he was nurdi^ the old complaint in his nomination of Dr.
Mullins brought him to his feet and he wrote in the Herald
the followii^ pung^Lt statement:
"My attrition has been called to the fact that there is a
diqK>9tion in some quarters to accept the election of Dr.
Mullins as the result of a Whitsitt movement. Of course news-
papers say what they choose and in this frightfully free country,
we must endure what we can not prevent. But, as I have been
named as one who bore a part in winning a WMtatt victory,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
NOT A PARTISAN 427
I feel that, for once at leaat, I must break ulence and have s
littie chat with the Southern BaptistB.
"I do not disguise the fact that in the Whitaitt agitation I
stood with Dr. Whit^tt. Tliis grew out of my approval of
his administration and my intense desire to preserve intact the
organieation of our Seminary faculty. It is juet to add that
I have now much affectionate esteem for Dr. Whitsitt and my
interest in him is not abated, in the least, by his separation from
the Seminary; but my loyalty to the Seminary was never
dependent upon Dr. Whitatt's connection with it. When he
went out my concern for the Seminary knew no diminution,
and at once E cordially united with the majority of the Board
in an effort to affect a speedy and satisfactory reorganisation
of the faculty. I met only the most fraternal confidence on
the part of those who had not stood with me in a long and
painful conflict and for myself I can say that not from the night
that Dr. Whitsitt's resignation was accepted have I con-
sciously done one act of a partisan sort to gratify the friends,
or to wound the opponents, of Dr. Whitsitt, To have done
BO would have shown me unworthy of my position as a trustee.
It was therefore with stunning surprise that I found that there
were any who were ready to claim the action of electing Dr.
MuUins as a triumph of the Whitedtt forces; and when I saw
that I was being paraded as having been an actor in a partisan
fight it cut me to the heart. I never looked for a Whitsitt man
for the presidency of the Seminary. There was no line up of
the Whitsitt men in the action in Atlanta. Indeed the supreme
anxiety seemed to be to hit upon some man who could enable
us to maintain peace in the Seminary and bring quiet to our
borders.
"I am offended by any attempt to associate my name with
any partisan action in the Board. The war is over with me.
My party in the future will consist of those trustees whose
action show them to be the most intense and unselfish in their
devotion to the Seminary. My door will hide no skeletons. I
nurse no bitter memories and have no partisan ends to serve.
They of the Whitsitt side who seek to keep up the Whitsitt
feeling will not have me to run with tbem. Forgetting the
things that are behind I turn my face to the future and renew
my pledges of loyalty to the Seminary.
"It pains me to be before the public speaking in this personal
strain; but an unwillingness to be misunderstood on this matter
has constrained me. My life at best is small, and cannot very
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
428 LETTER FROM DR. WHITSITT
long continue; but I do not feel that I can consent to be gib-
beted as a man 'with a grievance', seeking craftily to nurse a
strife or punish a foe. I think that if I ever had any wounds re-
ceived in the Whitsitt conflict they are thoroughly healed and
the weather never grows so stormy as to make them pain me as
once they did. If I find that any of these wounds break out
afresh I will quietly call the ambulance and slip away to the
hospital and appear no more until the doctor discharges me.
If my troubles grow chronic and medicines ful me I will make
my £nal bow to the brotherhood and hide myself in the home
for the Incurables."
Several years after this Dr. Whiteitt writes:
"Dear Dr. Hatcher,— I rarely ever refer to the Whitsitt
controversy but this article [on the leadership of Speaker
Cannon] led me to review in my thoughts your management
of that issue. There were one or two mistakes; but these were
so slight as to possess little weight in the general mass of
incidents. Among American Baptists no controversy has ever
been fought so stoutly or so skillfully and none has been more
fruitful of good results. . . I am grateful to you for the
noble generalship you displayed in conductii^ it."
It may not be amiss to mention that Dr. Hatcher's friend-
ship for Dr. Whitsitt was later on shown in his leadership of the
movement to secure Dr. Whitsitt for the chair of Philosophy
in Richmond College where the Doctor spent the remaining
years of his life in useful service and among his devoted frienda.
The above record of the Movement known as the "Whitatt
Controversy" has been ^ven with no wish, of course, to awak^i
any unpleasant memories, to reopen any old wounds, or to
make any unkind reference, but with the simple purpose to
show Dr. Hatcher's relation to the movement. For Dr. Eaton
the champion of the other side he had high admiration and
respect and at the death of Doctor Katon he wrote a tribute
in the public press in his honor, aaymg among other things:
"The primal characteristic of Dr. Eaton was alertness. He
was quick of foot, quick of hand, quick of thought, quick of
tongue, and yet distinct in utterance, orderly in thought and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TRIBXJTE TO DR. EATON 429
guarded in movement. His mental processeB flowed with a
rush, and his only draw-back in public speech waa his difficulty
in formulating and phrasing his thoughts as fast as they came.
"Now that the activities and conflicts of his life are closed,
both his closest friends and his severest critics must pause in
sober reflection and readjust, under the light of justice and
iove, their judgment of this unusual, resourceful personality.
Under calm thinking we shall see more clearly the good and
admire more the greatness in his life. We will gather in spiritual
fellowship about his tomb and hail him as our brother in
Christian bonds, as a messenger of the everlasting gospel, as a
leader in our Baptist Israel, and as a warrior in the battles of the
Lord. Gone from the strifes of life and now a citizen of the
eternal city, we can all unite in the hope that we shall meet bim
face to face in that city whose builder and maker is God.
"In those trying times," writes Dr. Jeffries, the secretary of
the Board, "when there was division among Southern Baptists
and in the board over the Whitatt matter, there waa a contest
in the board between giants. What wrestling that waa! But
let the secretary, who had the trying task of recording it all,
bear public testimony that none of those strong men ever took
unfair hold. These servants of the Lord, were contending for
the right, as they saw it ; there was never in the board any of that
ugly spirit and bitter accusing which marred press and speech
of that time. Dr. Hatcher was spokesman and leader on one
^de of that contest."
He addressed the Baptist Social Union of Cincinnatti on
"The Bi^)ti8t of the Future." He was a thorough-going
Baptist. It is true that he kept the windows of his soul open
towards those of every christian faith and mingled with them in
loving fellowship, but he stood four square as a Baptist. He
gloried in the history of his Baptist fathers and believed in the
doctrines and in the futiu% of the Baptists. In his address to his
Cincinnati audience, he said:
"The Baptist of the future is a necessity. His name is on the
schedule of the f^es and he will have to answer when called.
The Baptists of the present generation have a large order on
hand — ^far lai^er than they can fill by the time they will have
to step out and this unfinished business will be left to the
Baptist of the Future."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
430 THE BAPTIST OF THE FUTUEE
The future of his own denomination was a subject that oftoi
came before hia mind. He touched upon it at the opening of his
Cincinuatti address declaring that some people asserted that
the time would come when all christians would be B^tiate
and every church a Bf^itist church. Others believed, he aaid,
that not the Baptist name but the Baptist prindples would
c^ture the world.
He attempted no prediction regarding such questions. He
simply said:
"These are matters of detail for the latter days and we are not
prepared to discuaa them. But there are things we know. We
know that Baptists have solid reasons for their existence. They
never split off from anybody. They have been bom of great
convictions. They stand for doctrines, fundamental and sadly
overlooked and they can do no otherwise than to uphold the
truth though it involves separation from all others."
He paid tribute to the heroism of our Baptist forefathers,
drawing a graphic picture of old John Weatherford, a Baptist
preacher^ of Vii^iitnia, who, imprisoned for his faith, continued
to preach throi^ the jml bars to the people on the outade,
some of whom would wickedly whack his hands with tbdr
knives as, in his earnest gesturing, his hands would often be
extended towards them through the bars and would sometimes
sprinkle the hearers with his blood.
He touched upcm that branch of the Baptists known as the
"Old School Baptists"; — ^those whose extreme views of pre-
destination made them oppose sending the goffpel to the heathen,
and who as a sect are fast dying out.
"They built," says he, "on the rock of God's eternal decrees
and had a sure foundation. They pressed their narrow and
icy creed to their breasts until it froee and shriveled their
whole nature. They have been run over and crushed by the
urgent friends of the commission which they misunderstood
and opposed. Alas, they now hasten to an extinction which
they have invited and made inevitable. Ichabod is writtm
on their banner and their dJTn'Tiifth'rg remnant lingers supei>
fluous on the stage.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BAPTIST DOCTRINES 431
"There are two ways of indoctrinating others. One is by
driving the toith into those we viah to save. We catch the
anner or the heretic, growl furiously at him on account of his
badness, threaten him with ruin, hurl the gospel at him with
evident intent to kill and force him to surrender or die.
"We are learning the better method, — that of a bright oon-
ta^ous life. The new champion of the truth is a delightful
gentleman. He recognises the good in othera, shows the beauty
of truth by living it, stimulate the study of it by knowii^ it
and sheds on the ^r the mellow radiance of a heaveoly char-
acter. ; , Doctrine wrapped in courtesy and delivered by
those whose overall is charity is robbed of much of its repul-
He draws the line between sentiment and sentimaitalism:
"Sentiment is logic clothed in the garb of paaaon. But
sentimentalism is sentiment overdone; it is the exeeaa of feel-
ing, the riot of passion."
The speaker sees a brighter day coming:
"The sentimental attitude toward doctrine" says he "is
weakening. Acceptance of creeds on account of heredity, or
domestic or social influences must disappear before the reign
of intelligence. Dogmas are not to be judged by their anti-
quity or by their former popularity, but on the score of their
truth. A Baptist church is a dismal home for a sentimentalist."
He was strong in the belief that the doctrines of the Baptists
were Bible doctrines, — commanded and practiced by Christ
and the Apostles, and consequently he could not hold these
truths lightly. While the New Testament made him a Baptist
yet he had no quarrel with those who traveled a different
doctrinal path. In fact he accorded them respect for their
honest c<mvictions.
"After all," says he, "the best definition of a Baptist is a
christian with the Bible in his hand accepting it as the ultimate
deliverance of God, acknowledging its authority, submitting
to its requirements, obeying its doctrines, so far as understood,
and determined to understand the rest.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
432 THE FUTURE OF THE DENOMINATION
"Baptists ought to be the world's leaders in scientific in-
vestigation and there are indications that this will be the case.
They are fitted for the task. Those who build upon man-made
creeds and feel that when they sign the creed they are saved,
would do well to avoid the frontiers of research. They may
have their underpinning knocked out by some fact in nature
or in history. But they who plant their life in the word of the
living God are free and they are strong, and you cannot lose
them. Order them out on the front, let them wrestle with the
fiercest problems of error and the deepest mysteries of nature,
• but the gates of hell will never prevail against them."
He had a burning ambition for the usefulness for his Denomi-
nation:
"Heretofore the Baptists have been busy with the primary
questions of the christian life, — how to be saved, how to build
their houses, how to bring in the lost, how to enjoy liberty, how
to spread the gospel and many of these questions will continue
to press upon them, but the Baptists are becoming great,—
in numbers, riches, rank, learning and social power and they
will be in good condition hereafter to lead in the world's im-
perial search for truth. Our grandchildren ought to be kings
and priests in the temple of knowledge.
"The genius of the Baptists is freedom — freedom from
ecclesiastical restrictions — freedom from the literalism of
creed — freedom from the perils of tradition — fr^om to serve —
and freedom to guide. For this lofty specimen of manhood
there must be room at the head."
H& brii^ bis address to its ending by raising the question
as to where the Baptist of the Future would come from:
"I suggest that the Baptist of the Future will very probably
be a buck-eye [Ohioan]. My experience of late in this giant
growing state makes me quite decided in this forecast of our
denominational future. But I am suffering with an anxiety.
You have lately discovered such defiant ambition for pro-
ducing Presidents that I fear you will get worldly and lose
your power to produce spiritual giants. It may moderate
your political pride to know that Virginia once thought herself
happy in having a sort of monopoly in President-m^ing. But
she haa retired from that businesa and gone to raising Baptists
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DAYTON AND LOUISVILLE 433
tind there is just a little whisper in the breeze which blowti down
from the hiU-tops of the future that the coming Baptist will
be a Virginian.
"Be this as it may at last turn out to be, we are the Baptists
of today, and we must make it ea^ for the Baptist of tomorrow.
Let us hold our banner high and when we have to pass it to
the Baptist of the future let it be so clean and fair that he will
not be ashamed of the Baptist of the Past."
From Cincinnatti he turned his face towards Dayton and
from thence to Louisville. To one who was such a lover of his
friends as. was he, a delicious prospect opened before him:
"The next momii^", he writes, "I stole off to Dayton, —
f^r queen of the Ohio cities and the scene of many tender
memories. Of that Uttle visit I must not trust myself to speak
except to say that it involved a reception, kindly arranged in the
afternoon by Dr. Colby, a sermon, two addresses, an exliilarat-
ing ride throughout the embowered streets of the city, hand-
shakes uncounted, reunions, brief (but blessed), mghts of many,
many friends and hours of boundless joys with the Colbys."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXIII
1898—1900
PASSION FOB DCPROVEMENT. PBEACHERS' HODBK PABTT. FOaK
UNION AC&DBllT BTABTED. BtCKNESS. TBE NOVEL.
VAiUBD IiABOBS.
Soaa after he built bis Siunmer home at Fork Union his
instinct for improvement showed itself in the case of the Fork
Union village. He did not like its appearance. He felt that
the Fork Union people were equal in intelligence and reli^ous
character to those in any of the Vir^nia communities, but as
to the village, — there was a general need of whitewash, paint
and repair work. A meeting of the people of the conmiunity
was called and be addressed them on "improvement", and
among the other results of bis speech he kindled in them an
ambition to make their buildings and lots more attractive,
and in a very short time the brush, the broom and the hamm^
began the work of transformation.
"Your father came on Friday", writes my mother, "when
the young people of the neighborhood, and the old ones as well
of Fork Union, turned out en-masse. He made them a talk
and things went well. He has oi^anized an Improvement
Society here in Fork Union and things are on the upward
move. The 2ad of September he will lecture."
His Fork Union Bummer home — "Careby Hall," as it was
called — was gradually becomii^ a fountun of new joys to him.
He had a "Preachers' House Party" during this Summer at
Careby Hall, and amoi^tbeguests w«re the following mioifltera:
Drs. T. S. Dunaway, R. H. Pitt, Jamee B. Taylor, J. R. Bae^y,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
THE CAEEBY HOUSE PAKTY 436
Rev. R. H. ^nfree and Rev. H. A. B^by. The happiest of all
was the host. He plunged into the-gamea and other festivitiea
with the entbusasm of a boy and hia enjoyment became con-
tagious.
"Careby Hall," writes Dr. Rtt in the Herald "is the name
of the ample and handsome country home of Dr. 'WiUiam E.
Hatcher. It is beautiful for situation, crowning one of the lofty
hills which overlook the pleasant village of Fork Union, in the
good old county of Fluvanna. Thither went early in the last
week a company of omgemal brethren, by special invitation
of the family, to spend some days in rest and recreation. They
were happy days whose hours glided away all too awiftfy.
There were two public meetings — Dr. T. S. Dunnaway, lec-
turing in the day on 'Woman' and in the evening Dr. Hatcher,
told a large company of hearers, in his own inimitable way of
'Sights beyond the Sea'. As for our host he never seemed so
happy. Surely none of us will ever think of this pleasant
episode in our lives without breathing a benediction on our
dear and honored friends."
His interest in Fork Uiuon grew day by day. He noticed
that the boya,in the community were busy on the farm, while
the girls, as k rule, were off at school. This fact disturbed Dr.
Hatcher and one day during the House Party, as he was
driving some of the ministers in his carriage, one of them,
pointing to a beautiful grove of trees, (at Mr. Walker Snead'a
home), said: "What a splendid place that would be for a
school!" He told them that an Academy for Fork Union was
a matter that lay heavy upon his heart. In fact be informed
them that he wanted to begin operataons that Fall.
"That will be impossible" said cme of the ministers. "I
think your idea of planting an Acadony here an excellent cme,
but it is now late in September and some of the schools are
already starting. I think you can have it ready a year from
now." To the surprise of all he announced that the new
Academy would open its doors in about two weeks. The
people of the community were stirred to the depths by the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
436 STARTING THE ACADEMY
"Charles is talking and booming the Academy that is to be,"
writes my mother to me from Fork Union as late as September,
27th. "Your father is to lecture here on Thursday night on
'What will you do with your boy?' "
The "Charles" whom she mentions was Captain Charles
G. Snead and at this late day, January 1915, it can still be
said that he is "talking and booming the Academy." Through
all these years he has been the same ardeiit friend and cham-
pion and helper of the school.
"Fork Union is alive with enthusiasm about the school, —
called the Academy" writes my mother on October 9th, "Mr.
Martm is teacher, — your father, President of Board of Trus-
tees, S500 is guaranteed, girls and boys to be received the first
year. It will open Thursday night with public exercises. It
is a promising project."
His Fall work in Richmond was now crowding Mm with iis
duties, but of course he came up to Fork Union Thursday mght
for the launching of the infant Academy. This Academy opened
for him a fresh source of happiness by giving to him a new
opportunity for helping boys. Through all his ministerial
life he had been picking up boys, putting his loving impress
upon them, and if possible, firing them with an ambition for
an education and a useful life. From this time, — more and more
— it came to be one of Ms habits, while out on his trips through
Virginia, to be on the lookout for a boy for Fork Union. "I
stop at Careby Hall today for sorely needed rest" he writes
me on November 15th, "I have a new boarder for the Academy
on the train with me." The name of that new boarder is not
given, but he was the forerunner of a long proces^on of pupils
whom he brought to the Academy.
The early pages of this bic^aphy, in telling the story of Dr.
Hatcher's conversion, wh^i a fourteen year mountain boy,
told of his moonlight walk to his country church on a Saturday
n^ht when he was overtaken by a man, Munroe Hatcher, who
explained to him, m ^mple fa^on, the plan of salvation and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MTINROE HATCHER 437
in that way led him to Christ. Almost Sfty years had passed
since that mght and Munroe, now an old man, was still living.
He heard one day that the Baptist General Association of the
state was to meet in Lynchburg, — not very far away. He
knew that it would probably be the last chance that he, at his
advanced age, would ever have of attending the Association,
and BO he went, and on Saturday morning in the Association,
Dr. Hatcher's eye, as it moved over the throng, fell upon his
aged benefactor, Mimroe. At a certain point in the prodceed-
ings he arose and said:
"Brother moderator, about fifty years ago, in the adjoining
county of Bedford, when I was an awkward country boy
burdened about my sins and groping for the Ught, a man met
me one night and in gentle, kindly fashion led me to the Savior.
His name was Mimroe Hatcher and I see him in the audience
this morning. I beg pardon for the seeming egotism but I feel
that I must acknowledge my immeasurable debt to him here
before you all."
As he siud that, he called the name of Munroe Hatcher and
the old man was asked to come forward. I can see him now, —
tall and rugged looking — pushing his way through the throng
to the platform and receiving from Dr. Hatcher his grateful,
loving handgrasp before the people. No sooner was this done
than the delegates, as if by a common impulse, moved to the
front to give the Bedford veteran their affectionate greeting.
There were not many dry eyes and it was a picture not easily
erased from the memory of those who witnessed it.
The Herald, after telling of the greeting that was given by
the Association to Munroe Hatcher, thus continued:
"It is worthy of remark that just a few ^ours before, while
attJng in one of the rooms of the church at Opelika, — far away
in Alabama,— Dr. W. C. Bledsoe, the honored Secretary of the
Board of State Missions, had told the writer the story of his
conversion. He was a Confederate soldier on furlough in
Fluvanna, and at old Fluvanna church he heard a sermon from
Dr. Hatcher which touched his heart and led him to inquire
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
438 ENTERING THE NEW BUILDING
the way of salvation. 'I can never forget' he eaid 'how tenderly
and sympathetically Hatcher led me out of the darkness into
the light, and how fervently he prayed for me out under the
trees in the neighborhood.' Thus, from the work of this faith-
ful old man in Bedford, who led Dr. Hatcher to Christ, the
lines of influence have gone out into this distant state."
"Hampton, Va., November 16th, 1898.
"Mt Dear Doctor, — ^At the meeting of the Association
[at Lynchburg]. . . it gave me the greatest pleasure to
notice how much you are honored and how greatly you are
f^preciated by our brethren. I hope that our God for many
yeara will permit you to give your valuable services to our
brethren. I envy you the opportunities you have for doing
good and your great common sense and tact.
"As regards the Main Building at the Orphanage for her
[his deceased wife] and for the Master's sake, I will be one
of twenty to give $1,000 to erect a 120,000 building.
"With the prayer that our God will spare you for many years
to our denomination.
"Yours Fraternally,
"Henry L. Schmels."
To Dr. E. W. Hunt ha writes on November 25th:
"My lad Coleman, who enlisted in the army, is home and we
are happiness embodied over his get back. He is quite a
satisfactory youth in several respects.
"By the way I have another — ^juet taken and full of promise.
If I had that little Paul in hand also I would be h^py,"
He had the great joy on December 1 1th, of entering his new
church building, — not the auditorium, but the Sunday School
room; but this, with its many «de rooms, fumi^ed ample
attractive accommodations. Many hearts in BJchmond re-
joiced that dsy that the Grace Street church, with their brave
pastor, — BO long without their own church building — ^were once
more entering a beautiful structure of their own at thdr old
comer at Foushee and Grace Streets. Concerning the dedi-
cation and the new edifice the Herald saya:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRACE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH AS REBUILT
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
THE HANDSOME STRUCTURE 439
"Ab a piece of architectural beauty the great building, with
its handsome, brown-Btone trimmings, its rounded walls, its
lofty and beautiful spire and its masaive doors and numerous
windows is the admiration of Richmond.
"By the special request of his brethren, Dr. Hatcher preached
the sermon. His text was 'For the Father seeketh such to
worship him" and the theme of his seimon was 'God the
Father, seeking for true worshippers.' There was profound
feeling during the seimon and it looked as if the hand of God
had touched the vast audience.
"At his church meeting on Monday night Dr. Hatcher de-
clared that his church was a harp of a ^ousand strings and
if one was discordant he did not know it."
He took great deUght in his grandchildren. He thus writes
concerning "Virginia," one of Kate's daughters:
"Vir^ia is a dashing genius. She has a most exalted
opinion of her ganfaver and of course that shows that she
knows a first class article when she sees it in a front window."
He delivered a series of addresses in January at Mercer
Oniverfflty, and, a month later, he aided Dr. W. W. Landrum
in meetings at his church in Atlanta, and also preached the
dedication sermon at Dr. L. G. Broughton's new Tabernacle.
My marriage to Miss Anna Denson of Norfolk occured on
March 28th; he performed the ceremony, and regarding his
new daughter-in-law he wrote me a few weeks later:
"Tell Anna that I have been unaccountably happy of late —
somewhat to my surprise. There seems no local cause for any
extra enjoyment on my part. In fact my bothers have been
swarming. It is unaccountable that I should be in such a
radiant mood — unless it be that I am so proud of my new
dai^hter. Possibly that is what is the matter with me. But,
of course, the matter of this blissful mood continuing may de-
pend a deal upon the way she treats Careby this Summer."
In a letter to his wife, after saying that he does not know
what to do about hia well at Careby he adds: "I may send the
trap this week or next. But that ia another puzzle and I must
iiyGoot^lc
440 THE FALL CAMPAIGN
take time on puzzles when they grow three in a hill." Another
of his pastor friends departed from Richmond — Dr. L. R.
Thomhill:
"The going of Thornhill breaks a holy tie with me. la
many things he is far more to me than any other man in the
Minister's conference. We know each other and I believe in
him with a faith that would suffer martyrdom if necessary.
"My intimates are not numerous these days and my isolation
is not always tempered by the thought that a brother is in
easy reach if I need comfort. But men ought not to be weak
enough to yearn for sympathy.
"Dr. is here. I have been giving him attention.
He is sober and fond of quiet. I am too much of a rusher for
him. I would wear him out before I got my blood up."
The Fall campaign is always s straining season in a pastor's
career. After writing of the sensational efforts of some des-
perate pastors to drum up a Sunday night throng, he says:
"Truly it is a tough thing to be a pastor at any time. It
looks as if you may do as you will and then be quite sure that
you ought to have done some other way. Arrow shooting
among the members is at its best during the Autumn and few
pastors escape the fusillade. Do what they may, they are
called to nervousness and prone to resign during the Fall
days."
He spoke in October at the inauguration of Dr. B. Y. MuUius
as President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Louisville, saying of Dr. MuUins, in the course of his address,
"He is blind to incidents, but faces issues", — a statement that
would be singularly applicable to himself. In his leadership of
a movement he generally kept his tire for the main attack.
"I started a movement several weeks ago," he writes, "to
build an Academy building [at Fork Union] to cost $3,000 and
wc have about 12,000 already promised.
"I get very tired and actually feel the weight of years upon
my shoulders. But what a small difference my dropping out of
the procession will make."
The details of the pastorate now str^ned him heavily.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRANDFATHER AND VIRGINIA
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
NEARING THE STEEP OF THE HILL 441
At the GeDeral Association in Richmond in November
vifflting miniBterH, — former Virginians — ^were introduced to the
body one day by the preddent, after which Dr. Hatcher created
a burst of laughter by saying:
"Brother Moderator, I think it would be appropriate to
aing the hymn :
'Aa long as the lamp holds out to bum
The vilest sinner may return?' "
"During the recent meeting of the General Association"
writes Rev. R, A. Tucker. "Dr. William E. Hatcher, that
great friend of all stru^ling interests made a statement concern-
ing this object [The Fisher Memorial] and took a coUecti(Hi
for the same."
"My health is not by any means bouyant" he writes to me
"and my spirits have a contemptible way of getting dismally
down. At times I stagger under my burdens and almost sigh
for rest. It may be laziness and I must discourage it."
Nearer and nearer he is drawing to the top of his steep pas-
toral hill. He writes me: .
"I have read what you wrote about Inspiration. It is a far
reaching question and you ought to read up all shades of
opinion — get the latest results "of conservative christian scholar-
ship on the subject. Of course you need to know thoroughly
the history of the make up of the Bible,— AoiA TestamerUs.
Anything you publish on that matter needs mature study and
much revision. It is a great theme and you may make great
dehverauces but be sure of your ground."
To my wife he writes:
"Richmond, Va., Deoember 11th 1899.
"My lovely Anna, — Your letter was a gem and I am a
monster for not taking the first trwn for Norfolk. But you
know, my little dear, that things arc not in a Millennial shape.
Other things rank my health, in point of value, and my aches
have to go oo.
"By the way we are thinking of going to the Hut in the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
442 THE CLIMAX OF THE STRAIN
Brush called 'Careby' for Christmas. . . Of course you
will be there, — ^you and the young man who over-married turn-
self. That is understood.
"Yours,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
The death of Mr. Moody, the great evangelist, touched
him deeply. He wrote in the Herald on January 11th, a
tribute to him:
"Moody was a magnet. . . The best and the worst
believed in him. He was the matchless leveler. He was a
fountwn of healing waters and seemed to cure all manner of
"I have flopped around in a noisy and unproductive way
since Christmas" he writes "and apparently the world wiU
have no occasion to build any lofty shaft to commemorate
my useful services to mankind. For one thing. I waa struck
with a mania to write a novel and have on hand about one
hundred and fifty pages of it with which to annoy my friends.
Of course it will not disturb the serenity of succeeding' genera-
tions."
A novell That is his latest venture;^ — but more about this
later.
"Dr. Hatcher", says the Herald "had planned to leave
Richmond for AtJanta this week to help Dr. McDonald in
special services there. On Sunday, however, he was taken with
a ^arp sickness from which he is still suffering. Hia phydciaa
Dr. H. Wythe Davis, says that rest is imperative for him."
At last the climax comes, — the climax of the stnun and
burdens of a twenty five years' pastorate in connection with
multitudes of other activitiea. He drops under the load and
is laid upon his bed of sickness and in a short while the doctor
orders him off to the rest and quiet of Careby Hall, his country
home. No sooner does he arrive at Fork Union, ill thot^h he
was, than he begins to trun some of the Sunday School boys
for a dialogue.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SICK AT FORK UNION 443
"This morning I have Uid out a tittle work" he viites —
"a short dialogue for EUis and Claude Snead — a deep secret
known to none. They are to say it at the B. Y. P. U."
"FoEK Union, Va., February 8, 1900,
"Mt Db&b ELDBntOE, — I hare played the solitary and
soothed my fretting nerves by the lightest reading that I could
hit upon. Bepose is my best ointment and sleep my medicine.
I hope by next week to be ready for the storm and clash of
battle again.
"Careby Hall is beautiful. Winter cannot blight its charms.
... I ought to say that my people have been wonderfully
sweet and anxious during my sickness.
"(Kight at this point I was interrupted by a posse of Academy
boys who came to call upon me.)
"I must say that the Academy is a flower of Paradise. . . .
We are set on having a new building for next year which will
cost, — say $4,000.
"I have been writing a story this winter. It lacks much of
completion, though it is now about 130 pages on type writer.
You must bear a fragmrait of it when we meet."
My wife and I spent nearly a week with Mm at Fork Union
during his Careby sickness and had the pleasure of hearii^
him read the novel — or rather that part of the novel — which
be had written.
The scene of the story is laid in the Foi^ Union village, which,
in the story, is called Tresden Lodge. Evidently his favorite
character in the novel is "Burton," the village store keeper
and post-master, who was constantly doing unsuspected kind-
nesses and who seemed to have a mortal horror of being caught
in the act. The novel opens with a description of Burton and
thus continues:
"On the day our story opens a new padlock seemed to have
been put on Burton's lips. His new clerk, Frank Copeland,
said to the wagon driver: 'The boss hasn't spoken but once
this blessed morning.' He failed, however, to tell the whole
story for he, Frank, had buttressed himself against a post and
had had his hands in his pockets for a full hour when Burton
strolled solemnly by and gently, — ahnoat apologetically —
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
444 ms NOVEL
inquired of his new clerk: 'Young man, were you born with
your hands in your pockets, or were the pockets built aroimd
your hands at a later period?'
"Frank felt a shiver and a jar and, in his confuaon, he slipped
up to his room in the second story and sewed his pockets up.
"Burton had just finished opening and distributing the mail
when a quick step was heard at the front door and a stranger
strode in and moved on the post-master as if he had a private
quarrel to settle. The new-comer was short and full, his pants
were stuffed in his boots, his necktie was having a quiet Sat-
urday at home and his huge bu^y whip trwled on the floor
behind him.
"Fastening his eye on Burton, this stranger approached
him and asked:
"Is there a letter in the office for Carp Klenshaw?
"Burton commenced slowly to run through the letters. The
stranger was carrying a surplus of vitafity and after a season
he popped several flippant questions at Burton:
" 'How d'you like being post-master and store-keeper both?'
"No response from Burton.
" 'Got many folks that come to your place for th^ mail?'
"These questions and others secured no recognition, whatever,
from the imperturbable Burton. Irritated by the obstinate d-
lence of the postmaster the stranger finally remarked to Burton :
" 'Well I notice you seem inflated about your stomach and
so I guess you have swallowed your voice."
"BurtcHi flashed one momentary, satyrical glance at the
stranger, but uttered not a word and gave no ^gn that he was
in the least affected by the remark.
" 'I beheve' said Burton 'that your name is Carp Klenshaw.
Was not that what you swd when you first came in?'
"His words were slow and measured.
" 'That is the name I used to be called by when I Uved in a
country where folks know how to talk,' said the aggressive
"By this time Burton had fished out a letter with Carp
Elenshaw's name on it.
" 'Stranger about here?' he asked as he handed the letter
to Klenshaw with a look that su^ested conciliation.
" 'Happy day' said the stranger, 'I am delighted that you
have coughed up your voice. It seems not to be in good order.
You had better throw her up on the shed and let her dry.'
" 'How loi^ since you bought a controlling interest in my
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ms NOVEL 445
natural faculties?' inquired the unruffled Burton, as he put
the package of letters back in their place and wiped a little
dust from the desk. After & long pause he added:
" 'I always understood that the human voice was a device of
nature to produce speech, but not designed primarily to rattle.' "
"These words did not strike Klenshaw as signifying much,
but they gave him a sort of inward wrench. It looked as if he
had been tampering with an electric battery. He found him-
self instinctively respecting Burton, though he rather wished
that he might frame an excuse for hating him. It occured to
him that he ought to laugh it away before they parted, but it
minified him to find that be was so helpless. Usually he had
been able to hold his own with ail comers. But Burton was
inacceaable. As a final expedient he said in a tone at once
^wlogetic and defiant:
" 'It looks ae if my playful remarks have given offense where
none was intended. Hereafter I will be more careful in my
dealings with thin-skinned animals.'
"A pale and serene smile flickered on Burton's brow. He
was in full charge of himself, but he was not unwilling to have
an occa^onal contest.
" 'My father once had a blooded boar' said Burton 'that
undertook to bite off a shovel handle. He broke his tusk and
swallowed it and my father said that he — the boar — ^had inward
pains all his life. If you are suffering I will give you a pill.'
" 'I suppose that means that I am the boar and you are
the shovel handle' said the baffled Klenshaw 'and I believe
that is about the edze of it. I see you are a dangerous customer
to monkey with. Give me one, sweet smile and we will take
another chance at each other some other day.'
" 'Just as you say' spoke Burton with a su^estjon of warmth
in his manner."
The story then proceeds to tell how Klenshaw walked out
on the porch of the store and spied two horses dtwhing down the
road towards the store at break-neck speed. They were hitched
to a carriage in which was seated a beautiful young lady with
her old aunt and both of the ladies were terror-stricken. Klen-
shaw rushed into the middle of the road, leaped for the reins,
and managed finally to stop the horses, but, in the struggle,
his shoulder was dislocated. He was tenderly taken in hand by
Burton and much agtunst hia wiahes, was carried to Burton's
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
446 HIS NOVEL
room over the store where he was given every possible attenticai.
The second chapter opens with Klenshaw stretched out on
BTiiton'B snowy bed and a darkey about to raiter the room as
Klenahaw's nutse.
"An interesting figure appeared in the door — an aged negro,
unqualified in his biaclmess, but clean as a new penny and with
a manner almost r^al in its dignity. His garb told of better
days and showed that the brush could help, if it could not
renew, an old ganuent, and as he came in be made a bow that
was gracious as well as submis^ve.
" 'Skuae me sar' the old negro s^d with a majestic wave of his
right hand; 'M&tb Burt'n sont me ter stay wi' you durin' your
ilmess, an sar, her' I ia. My name is Isrel Brookley; I bajs
de nam uv ni'ole mars' Cul' Arthiu- Brookley who hved at
Granite Cliff on the lower plantation.
" 'Well' s^d E^eoshaw evidently confounded by the kindness
of Burton who never took the paina to consult his wishes,
'Mr. Burton is far freer with his acta than hia words. It is
more than I am used to to be waited on and I hardly think that
I need you. Anyhow I wish you would kinder alip my hand
around to see if it will get over its numb feeling. It hurts like
forty."
"Israel was a skilled nurse. He had handled mm for ackness,
for wounds and for nocturnal revels at Grsiiite Cliff. He
slid hia ann under the pillow, changed its position, altered
the angle at the elbow and gave a lick or two at the bolster
and instantly Klenshaw felt a sense of reUef that was dehghtful.
In a minute he was fast asleep and Israel quietly sought a chaa
and sat down. Presently the sleeper began to stir and to abow
aigna of suffering. In a twinkle the watchful nurse was at his
side and put his hand on the brow of the patient. Its effect
was instantaneous and for an hour he stood there stroking
the temple of the sleeper.
" 'You think I have been aaleep, do you?' asked Klenshaw.
" 'No; aar; I know'd you wamt 'sleep. I seed dat frum de
blow uv your breff, but you was quiit and dat was de med'dn
you oughter had.'
"Klenshaw was a Pennsylvanian and had just come to
Vir(pnia, a few weeks before, to saw up a lot of white-oak
timber which hia company had bought on the other edde of
Benton Creek. As for the negroes be had no sentiment in
their favor. He had heard they would not work, were great
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NOVEL 447
believers in ghosts, spent meet of their time in religious revela
and were as truly barbariana as if they had been brought in on
the last ship from Africa.
"The Bight of the venerable old negro was not pleasing to him.
He did not know bow to treat this hoary son of Africa.
" 'You and Mr. Burton been together all your lives?' be
asked as a starter.
" 'Lord bless you, No, aar, we wnt; I'se ole aough to be Mist'
Burt'n's grand father' excl^med Israel. 'His father was my ole
mars' overseer. He didn' have nothin' ter do wid me tbo' 'cause
I staid at de house. I was de Cumill's hostler sar.'
" 'You dont mean that you were ever one of them Southern
slaves?' asked Klenshaw.
" 'Mi^t I arsk you wat your name is,' put in Israel almost
glaring at him, 'I mean no disrespec' but I finds it bard to
d'rect my talk to an unbeknown gen'Imun'.
" 'My name is Klenshaw' said the individual involved 'and
if it wiU in any way guide your aim in talking 1 will say also
that you are the first slave that I ever met and I would like
to hear what you have to say about yourself.'
" 'S'kuse me, Mr. ; what you call yourself?' broke
out the confused Israel.
" 'Klenshaw' the owner of the name repeated.
" 'Tank you sar' said Israel smiling in spite of himself; 'dat
is a fine sounding name. Did your father ever live up the
James river? Seems to me that I've beam of the name of the
; I mean the family of that name.'
" 'Do not strain your mind old man about my name or about
n^ family,' said ibe frank and honest Pennsylvanlan. 'My
family is a broken stick and I smell of the saw mill. So you
need not try to tie me on to any high folks.'
"Israel was dumbstruck. He had grown up In the atmos-
phere of the Viiginia Aristocracy. Poverty to him for years
looked like a badge of shame for white people."
Thus the story moved along with its dialogues and its char-
acter sketches. He wrote several chapters but his return to
Bichmond, where clamorous duties awaited him, seemed to
close the door to any further work on the story.
"For months" he writes Orie from Careby "I have had a
measure of nwvous depression which at times has been crit-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
448 ADDRESS AT HOT SPRINGS
ical and I am anxious to be stronger — if I am ever to be —
before'I take up my burdens,"
He returned to Richmond and plunged afresh into his work.
He writes:
"My cares over the Academy and the Orphant^e have been
very oppressive and are yet and I am thinkii^ of unloading."
How often during these paaang years he would threaten
himself with an "imloadlng"; but the skies would afterwards
clear up and the unloading be postponed.
At the Southern Baptist Convention in Hot Sprii^s, Ark.,
in May he showed his resourcefulness as a spe^er.
The Baptist Courier thus refers to the incident:
"Dr. W. E. Hatcher, the Grand Old Man of Vii^nia Baptists,
had for his theme 'A Century of Baptist Preachers.' Dr.
Hatcher had been in delicate health, had not intended coming
to the Convention, and had forgotten about the address ex-
pected of him, until he was reminded after reaching the grounds.
His address on 'Century Day' was wholly extemporaneous,
and seemed to be almost entirely impromptu. It came alongside
of the capital speeches of Drs. Carroll and McDonald. I am
safe in saying that I never heard an impromptu speech of such
sparkling vivacity, humor, wit, pathos, and wisdom. Surely
no other man in the Convention could have done it.
"Dr. Hatcher has in wonderful d^ree the elements of Christian
leadership. There are in him maturity, wisdom, judgement,
magnetism, and unfailing resource, together with an evident
sweet humility learned of the Master."
One paper stated:
"Rev. W. E. Hatcher introduced as belonging to the whole
South, but temporarily located at Richmond made one of the
most facetious, happy, eloquent speeches of the Convention,
bis subject being 'A Century of Baptist Preachers.'
The new child of his heart, the Fork Union Academy, had
now reached its first Commencement, and as he presided on
that occasion he was exhuberantly happy.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HELPING THE NEEDY BOYS 449
"I am just home from the Commencement of the Fork
Union Academy which occurred on Tuesday" he writes me;
"Prof. Mitchell was the orator of the day and he really dazzled
the people by his eloquence and learning. In the afternoon we -
had speeches, music and dialogues by the school and we fairly
ran the people wild. It was thrilling to witness the eager and
delighted crowd. I had a reception at Careby and that closed
the session. We are building the Academy house and it is
to be large and superb. . . We have in sight a small flood
of students for next year."
Ex-Govemor Northern of Georgia wrote him:
"God has helped you to bring so much sunshine into the
life of so many people that you deserve a great flood of it all the
time from your brethren. If the warm and abiding love of my
heart can bring you any gladness, you shall have it in all thie
devotion of the moat tender affection."
He yearned to help the needy boys who were struggling for an
education. He declared that the Colleges and Universities had
millions of dollars at their disposal, "but who will help the
dear fellow at the bottom" said he; "There he is— a country
lad, great browed, tmeociable, gloomy in his isolation, mourning
over his restrictionsf dying for an opportunity." A yoimg man
writes him:
"Some time ago, when on the train on your way to Fork
Union, you told me that you would help me in a pecuniary
way if I wanted to attend the Seminary this Fall."
The young man goes on to tell of his decidon to attend the
Seminary and of his hope that Dr. Hatcher can help him. This
was simply one of many such letters of appeal. During his
Summer vacation he wrote: "I have utterly lost the art of
resting, — except by preaching." Here is his picture of a day
spent in returning from the Eastern Shore:
"But alafl, think of me — tortured by the dread of an alarm
clock, jerked out of bed at three-thirty in the morning, stum-
bling drowmly around, and stuffing a senseless telescope with
bulfpng bundles, lumbering down a dim stairway scrambling into
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
480 "HAPPY TIMES"
8 buggy, yawning and gaping along under cold and unpitying
stars, peering up a straight track to catch the sight of the coming
tr^ and finally tumbling into the cars and feeling that life is,
after all, a mixed affair. That was the fate of yours humbly
on the return morning.
"But things righted up fully that day. I cut the morning
train and stopped over to see Henry Schmelz. My call had a
bu^ness bads — some perplexing orphanage matters; but Heniy
actually quit the bank, proclaimed a holiday, took me on a sail)
showed me the grim mysteries of the Hip Raps, made me the
laughing stock of the denizens of the sea by putting me to
fishing, gave me hours of earnest conference on the orphanage
problem, dined me at the hotel and sent me on my homeward
way. Friday evening showed me Richmond and an assembled
building committee waiting for me."
In August his third grandchild, William E. Hatcher, Jr.,
was bom.
He held another meeting at Wake Forest Collie and from
there he wrote: "Yesterday will be remembered as one of the
greatest days of my life." He had immense capacity for "hav-
ii^ a good fjme."
"Friends do me ill at times" he writes "by chaiging me with
excessive exhuberance in describing the happiness of my ex-
periences as I go forth on my revival trips. They say that I
write as if I always see the best of earth and heaven.
"But now possibly on former occaaionB I may have over-
drawn my picture, but this time I simply have to drop to
bottom figures and use no extra colors. It does look to me as
clear as sunlight that my last trip to Wake Forest easily eclip-
ses all that ever went before. Indeed I am so enraptured by the
glories of this last time that it almost seems that my previous
times must have been failures.
"I was at Wake Forest nine days having slipped away from
Richmond without asking my lovely and tyrannical church if
I might 'go out'. This I did because I was afraid that if
I asked permisaon I might be stood up in the comer and pun-
ished for previous traosgressionB. But what I did for my Lord
while I was gone I requested should be put to the credit of my
church.
"Bear in mind that several famiiies contended for me-^nuch
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER MAY 451
to the inflation of my cono^t — and I insisted on staying with all
of them, but was finally suppressed bad kept under control,
except that I did break bread with the Poteats, the Caddells
and the Brewers."
His family circle was broken by the death of his oldest
daughter, — May, who for a long while had been an invalid. '
She died at Careby Hall. The funeral was preached by Hev.
W. P. Hines, the pastor of the West View Church in Richnumd
in which she had rendered very devoted service, — ^first whni
it was a Misaon and later when it developed into a church.
He was not idle at the meeting of the General Associalion
in Bristol, — as is seen bom Dr. Fisher's words in the Herald:
"What would we do without Dr. W. E. Hatcher? What a
power he isl How easily and gracefully he brings things to pass.
He was never happier than at the Bristol meetings.''
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTKR XXXIV
1900—1902
HIS CBINE8E BOY. COLEMAN H . DEDICATION OF HIH NEW
BUILDINQ. ACCEPTANCE OF THE RICHMOND COLLEGE CALL.
REeraNATlON. EDUCATIONAL WORK. LETTERS TO
CHILDREN. ROCKEFELLER CAMPAIGN.
It was at this time that a Chinese boy, Ah Fong Yeung,
became linked into his life in a very close and permanent way.
The boy had been sent over to America to be tr^ed at BJch-
mond College and, when diai^pointment threatened the lad
and there seemed to be no friend at hand to assume his support
and education, Dr. Hatcher came to bis rescue. The Herald
thus tells the stoiy;
"Dr. Hatcher has one more burden on his shoulders, though
some think he was overloaded before. Dr. Graves, at Canton,
China, our veteran misdonary scait over, in chaise of Brother R.
E. Chambers, a sprightly Chinese boy to be educated. The lad's
name is Ah Fong Yeung. He is fifteen years old, a son of
Dr. Graves' assistant, is himself a Baptist and has been three
years in an English school in Canton. He hopes to enter
Richmond College but as he is not ready for that Dr. Hatcher
is asked to take him to the Fork Union Academy. This he has
done though he saya he will have to look to the Lord and the
BaptJBts for the money. Who will help him? One brother
gives five dollars to start with. Let us help train this boy for
christian service in his native land."
Soon after Dr. Hatcher's decision to help Ah Fong, the boy
was taken around to Dr. Hatcher's study and there he met the
one who was to be his friend through many years. He thus
dracribea bis visit:
452
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW CHINESE BOY 453
"The first time I met Dr. Hatcher was in the pastor's study
of the Grace Street Baptist Church. Mr. R. E. Chambers
went with me. Dr. Hatcher asked me my name and age. He
then asked: 'Do you know how to read?' I replied:
" 'Yes, Sir; a little.'
"He gave me a passage from the Bible to read. When I
finished be sfud:
" "That's fine. Are you home^ck?'
" 'I didn't know what home-sick meant; so he expl^ned it
to me. He agiua asked:
" 'Have you any more clothes and shoes?"
"Maybe what I had on did not suit his taste; but I replied:
" 'Yea air; I have on a pwr of shoes and wearing acme
clothes.'
"He smiled at my answer and said:
" 'Now I want you to go out with me for a little while.'
"He went with me to a shoes' store on Broad Street and
bought me a pair of fine shoes; then he went with me to a
clothier and there bought me a suit of clothes, a stiff bosom
shirt with blue stripes and a white collar. I was thai the
happiest boy on earth. On leaving him be sfud:
" 'I will call on you in a few days.'
"Two days afterwards — ^Thanksgiving Day it was and
about two o'clock — Dr. Hatcher came around to Clay Street
where I was staying with Rev. R. E. Chambers' mothei>^-law'
He said:
" 'My boy, are you happy? I want to take you to my home
and introduce you to the members of ray family.'
"I went with him. I saw there Mrs. Hatcher, Misa Orie
and Miss Edith. When we entered be told them: 'This is my
Chinese friend — Ah Fong Yeung and I want you all to be good
to him.' We were in the dining room. The reason I remember
it waa Tbankagiviiig Day ia because Miss Chie asked me if I
would hke to have some turkey. I said:
" 'No thank you.'
"Miss Orie thought that I did not know what a turkey was,
so she asked:
" 'Do you know what a turkey is?'
"I rephed: 'Something like a chicken.'
"About half an hour afterward he took me back to Mrs.
Hall's home. On the way back he asked:
" 'Would you iike to live with me?'
"I said: 'Yes Sir.'
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
454 HIS NEW CHINESE BOY
"Thea he sud: 'In a.few days I will come for you agun and
you will th^i be a member of my family. In the meantime
I want you to be a good boy. I dont want you to get home-
fflok — do you know what home-aick is now? — ^I want you to be
always happy and cheerful?'
"In a few days he came around agun.
" 'Well, how is my friend? Are you happy? Are you ready
to go to my home now? All right, I will get some one to come
for your belongings after awhile.'
"From that day on I have been a member of his family.
About two weeks afterwards he asked me to make a speech
about myaelf. I did and he corrected it and he himself copied
it for me from the typewriter. He then trained me to say
Uiat speech. My oratorio^ tnuning began right here. He
asked me to sing some Chinese songs for him at night when
be was not busy. I did. The songs I sang that he liked the
best were: 'Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light.' 'King
the bells of Heaven.' When he polished me up a bit he tried
me out at his Sunday afternoon Boys Meeting."
Ah Fong wrote another speech, — this time about the boya in
China and it ran as follows:
"Some of the Chinese boys do not go to school, not because
he is poor and not because his parents not like it, but because
he dont Uke to go to school but he only likes to play all day
long and to throw the rocks. This boy when he grow up a man,
then he will be a b^gar and so many boys like that in Canton.
But I hope you all don't do that and I hope you all boys like
to go to school, when you grow up to be useful men in this
world."
At the bottom of this little speech are written the words:
"Miss Edith Logifood Hatcher required me to do that and
she said 'If you not do that, I will not teach you.' "
Another boy whom he was uding in his education at this
time was "Aubrey" who is referred to in the following letter
to his daughter Elisabeth at Fork Union:
"I hope to see you Monday. I suppose that I will bring up
the Baptist Chinaman. He spent yesterday afternoon with us
and was quite a stunning event in the houaehold.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
COLEMAN M-
"Tell Tommie and Aubrey that their letters are monu-
mentally fine. I had to read them to others. Possibly one was
better than the other but who can tell which it was."
What had become of his CaroUne'boy, — Coleman, whom
several years before, he bad taken into his home and educated?
A year or two before this, Coleman had caught the war fever
and sped away with the army to the Philippines, but a letter
came at this time which brought good cheer to Dr. Hatcher. It
was to Mrs. Hatcher and read as follows:
"PozAREDBio LczoN, P. I., December 18, 1900.
"Dear Mbs. Hatcher, — I think of you every day and re-
member all your great kindness and the more I think of it
the more I appreciate what you have done for me.
"Please give my love to Dr. H. and tell him that I am coming
back to Virginia some day and do all in my power to wipe
out any regret that he may feel at having taken in the little
orphan boy eight years agar.
"I am saving up money with which to go to school when I
come back.
"Dont give up all hope in me yet. I sent you a box of relics
about six months ago which I thought might interest you.
Hope you received them 0. K.
"Ever Your Friend,
"J, Coleman M ."
"Care Keipmental Hospital
"13th U. S. Infantry.
"Manila, P. I."
January 6th, 1901, was one of the golden days of his life. On
that day occured the dedication of his completed church
building. For two years hia people had been worshipping in
the Sunday School room, but their beautiful auditorium was
now finished. It was a day crowded with bright incidents.
Telegrams, letters and messages were received; Dr. Battle
the pastor and some of his members came over from their
Baptist Church in Petersbui% to present their congratulations.
"Indeed" says the newspaper "Dr. Hatcher came near
apolofpzing for the rare and exquisite loveliness of the building."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
456 DEDICATION OF HIS BUILDING
In one of the services, "Dr. H- A. Bagby gave the congregation
a genuine surprise by breaking into the service ju^t after the
dedicatory prayer and presenting to Dr. Hatcher a caae of
ffllver, — a costly and elegant gift — from the Baptist pastors
of the city." One of the features of the dedicatory exercises
was a speech by his Chinese boy, whom he trained for the
occasion. With his united, devoted church and his magni-
ficent building he faced a radiant future but, — though he
hardly suspected it — he was on the threshold of a crias.
The dedication was scarcely ended before ackness laid him
upon his back and while he was in this condition, there came a
call from Richmond College that he would enter the educa-
tional field as its representative. He had received such an offer
in the Fall from the College, but had replied that be could
not accept it. But now — ^now when an almost ideal pastoral
opportunity opened before him, — his Alma Mater had renewed
her appeal. For ten years he had been strugghng for an adequate
church edifice and his dream was at last realized, and yet bis
strained shoulders were keenly feeling the weight of the burden.
Shortly before this, when he and his wife were walking through
the new auditorium and she was congratulating him on having
such a large and splenthd audience room in which to preach
in the future, he remarked: "Yes, and I am afrdd it will kill
me trying to fill it,"
"I'm sick and full of sulTering this week" he writes me on
January 25th. "The Grippe has used me badly and for several
days I have been in torture from aeute rheumatism. . . I
wish I could see the little Norfolk family. Can't you send Wm.
E. Jr. up for a little visit?"
One adds to this note "Can't you come yourself? I think
it would cheer him."
"Your father" writes my mother on the 27th "suffers a
good deal and I think wants you to come. He seems more
depressed than. I ever saw him. Cheerful company will do
him good — ^but he is too weak to see many, . . Will expect
you today."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
OBANDFATHER AND WILLIAU
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MBiGooi^le
THE COLLEGE CALL 457
He had been ordered off to Careby for quiet and reat and
there he wrestled with his trio, — Rheumatism, Grippe and the
College call. His beloved friend Dr. Charles Ryland, wrote
him regarding the College matter:
"I think I can see how out of this there may grow a yet more
general movement for a consolidation of all Baptist interests
and the coordination of the Baptist schools. I believe God has
put it in my mind and heart to urge upon you this work and
I cannot be quiet.
"You know how dear you are to me, I would not do any-
thing to hurt you, or to impiur your influence. I would put
a crown upon it. The crown is at the end of a great educa-
tional uplift by your leadership.
"Charles."
The invitation brought him to deep reflection. His life-long
friend, Dr. J. R. Bagby, a trustee of the College, wrote him;
"And if you are to leave your great church ever it would
be greatly better for the church and for you to do it while in the
zenith of its glory. So you see how I feel. It is too big a
question for me. I do not know what to say to one so dear to
me as your dear self. . , Somehow I feel that this would be a
splencUd doxol<^y to your richly useful life."
He was now 67 years of age and his shoulders told him that
they could not carry a large city pastorate for many more
years. He said to me shortly after this, aa we were walking
one day away from his church: "The details of the pastorate
are too heavy for me." His pas^on for "going" seemed to
increase year by year. The portion which was offered him
by the College threw open to him the door of travel and gave
him Virginia as his field, Vii^nia Baptists as bis constituency,
with Richmond as his headquarters, and with unlimited op-
portunity for preaching and speaking. And so it came to pass
that on Sunday morning, March 24th he spoke the fateful
words to his isir and noble church with which he had been
bound together in such a long and happy relationship. The
church was smitten dumb with grief. He promised to remain
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
458 MAKING THE CHANGE
with them two montha thus alowly untying the knot that had
held them so sweetly. There was a double ingredient in his
cup of sadness, for he felt that he was not only taking final
leave of Grace Street Church but also of the pastorate. Is it
Burpriang, therefore, that his wife should write: "Your father
. . . is mom knocked up by the seTerance of the church
ties than I thought he would be. Heroic as he is he feels it
very much." Agun she writra:
"Your father brm^^ht him P^. Dunaway] to dinner today.
What will he do when be cannot invite his friends to 608 W.
Grace. It is all right to call a halt for a time."
To Editii, who was in New York pursiung a special oourae
in muac, he writes:
"I have been alone in the house this week. The furniture
has ^ther gone the way of its destination or is at least packed
and ready for going. Times are lonely."
Bib Chinese boy, Ah Fong, tells of an interesting service:
"I remember when he resigned from Grace Street Baptist
Church. We had to move to the country, Fork Union. He
had the Grace Street Church boys to hold their last meeting.
That night the whole church was there. To my surprise it was
mostly for me. Dr. Hatcher had some of the boys make
speeches — bade me Godspeed, and had the boys to present me
some presents. Of course I had to make a littie speech — it
was written by Or. Hatcher. I remember that speech had a
sentence like this: 'I am not ashamed to confess that I am a
Chinese boy, for no boy ought to be ashamed of his country.'
When he trained me on the speech and came to this sentence. —
I might have said it without much ener;^-, because he said:
'Are you ashamed of China?' I answered: 'No.' " 'Then say
it out like you mean it.' he said."
His final Sabbath at Grace Street was a sorrowful and a never-
to-be-forgotten day, and oo the next night there was a
recepticn at which his wife said she supposed she shook hands
with a thousand people. "Once or twice" swd she "I thou^t
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS3VALEDICT0RY 459
I would have to drop out and have & big cry." The reader need
not be told that those were daye when hearts were strained and
if many a pang found its way into the pastor's soul who could '
be surprised or blame him. His church bad never been more
devoted to him than it was at that time and it was never in
better conditioo, but he felt that duty now pointed him to the
educational work. He waved his church a loving farewell,
blessed then with his tender benedictions and moved out into
his new field of labor with a bouyant step, and a hopeful heart.
In his parting words to Ha church he said :
"When I was installed as pastor here twenty-dx years ago
I 8ud to the church that I would seek to be a good pastor,
but that it must be understood that my labors could not be
restricted to any one church. My heart was filled with larger
things and I felt that my call was to help every good cause so
far as it came in my power. This I have done. Some have
blamed me for giving so much time to other things, but I
really could not help it. The cry (rf the orphan, the lost con-
dition of the nations of the earth, the education of the min-
istry, the needs of the country churches and the appeals of our
pastors and missionariea for my assistance were orders from
heaven to me. I could not disregard them.
"As I recall my activity in this way, I ask my self whether
I robbed the church in order to do this out-side work. I do
not think so. If I had narrowly clung to my post, going
nowhere, helping nothing, getting all and giving nothing, I
do not believe that this church would be better.than it is today,
for much of the Ufe I put into this church I drew from other
things."
Even during these stressful days engagements were pulhng
him out into the state. He delivered at the funeral of Dr. C. L.
Cocke of HoUins Institute an address which Dr. Hudnall of the
Virgima Polytechnic Institute declared was the greatest
address he ever heard. At the Southern Baptist Ck)nveDtion
in New Orleans in May he found himself in a httle friendly
"tussle" in one of the sessons of the body.
"But we had it lively on the New Board Business. X—
and Z— led one ade and I was with the oppomtion.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
460 DEATH OF DR. WYER
They bad the Goliah swagger and we were scared to our toea.
But we planned in secret and won on the field. They -were
pitiful to behold and I waa really concerned about poor Y
He i3 in nervous prostration."
One day at the Convention at New Orleans he took Dr. C. S.
Gardner aside and as they walked arm in arm be said to him:
"Dr. Gardner you are to be my successor at Grace Street."
"Oh Doctor" he replied "I cannot succeed you. I cannot
attempt to fill your place at Grace Street, When I was a
student at Richmond College I used to sit in the gallery at
Grace Street church and hear your sermons and say to the
students with me: 'Oh if I could some day preach hke Dr.
Hatcher.' 'No, Doctor, I could not take your place at Grace
Street.' "
While he was in the throes of changing from Grace Street
to Richmond College he was stunned by the news of the death
of one of his most cherished fiiends, — Dr. H. H, Wyer. He
writes as follows and his words give us another picture of that
"pas^on for friendship", which burned so deeply in his soul.
"Ah, here, indeed, is cause for tears. My friend for forty-
four years, Dr. Henry H. Wyer, has closed his eyes on earthly
scenes and gone to the land of his hope. My heart melts to
call up this wintry night all my preacher friends but it cannot
be invidious now to say that of all of them Wyer was the most
loving and had in the highest degree, the art for cheering me
in my cares and toils.
"Who can tell,— truly I cannot, — ^the gentle sorrows that
have filled my heart since the tidings came. Our life together
has come back to me like a book, often read, and I have turned
the pages, here and there, and read them mth moistened eyes.
"I said in the beginning that brother Wyer, of all my friends,
loved me best. It has a selfish sound to speak of this, but I waa
irresistibly drawn to him by his manifest aifection for me. Some
on the card of my friendship I have had at times to doubt, but
I never had a doubt of Wyer. He was chary enough in avowing
hia love but he was shining it out all the time. A day with him,
was a fattening season for me. He could scatter the blues
on a rainy day and, as for his letters they were honeycomb
to my taste. His bosom was a rest for my head.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW TASK 461
"I suppose that my friend bad faulte, but in some way,
from tbe time we got interlinked at the old Strawberry, I never
had any success in locatii^ these faulte. If he was not perfect
he was far out that way and ia there by now. I wave my
greetings to hia tiiiunphant spirit as it enters the Celestial
city. He makes Heaven more interesting. A little further on
we will meet e«^n. Until then, dear friend, good bye."
His new educational work looms before him. It was twofold
first, that of raising (75,000 to meet the conditional offer of
$25,000 from the Rockefeller fund; and the second phase of his
work, be declared, meant far more than mere money raising.
He said it embraced "the thot^ht of a thorough revival of our
peofde in educational movements and the gathering of our
schools into a oonunon fellowship and in putting them in
shape for fulfilling their deBtJny." In one sense his new position
was that of Paator-at -large, and by his preaching, his addresses
and his personal intercourse he was to make his ministry as
wide as the state and even much wider. To turn from pastoral
to educatifHial work required a mental realignment. It could
not be surprising if the heart was slower in its readjustments
than the brain. We cannot hurry the clodng scenes of a twenty-
six years' pastorate and we need not think it strange if some
of Dr. Hatcher's letters at this time ran somewhat thus:
To Kate:
"I am tryii^ to get my work in hand. It is a violent change in
my life and I am oppre^ed with concern as to the result. But
I have a ample purpose to do what I can and to leave the rest
in the keepmg of the Lord."
To his wife on June 11th:
"I am not as strong in my nerves as I formerly was and am
having some anxiety in tryii^ to adjust myself to my work.
But I must keep serene and trust in the Lord."
"I am still in the agoniee of moving" he writes "I brought
up two loads today {to the College] — one the rubbish and the
other the bed. I am in a whirl of confuaon and not very
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
462 THE ROCICEFELLER CAMPAIGN
cheerful today. I spent my last night in the house. It waa a
restless night and I have been nervous."
In a few days, however, be waa out upon tiie highway with
his face towards his new task. He had in the last years of
his Ufe an ambition to increase his speed to the end rather
than to lessen it. While others were speaking of "retiring"
and of spending the "evening of their life" in a cert^ rest
and calm, he yearned for just the oppomte method of closing
his career. His hope was that he could work up to the last
moment and that, like the racer, he could gather in momentum
as be sped forward, being swiftest in crossing the final line
and could leap from the race track into the other world with
the glow and vigor of tiie race upon him.
His immediate work was a campaign to raise $75,000. The
Rockefeller Board had offered the College $25,000, provided
the College would raise $75,000 by January 1st and to the
rtUEOi^ of this sum he now set bis hand. He went to the Summer
AssodatJons, the firsV b^g the Dover, where his address —
according to the Herald — "was so masterful and concluave,
interpreting so intelligently the true mgnificance of the paper
which the committee had brought in that it left nothing to be
said". He'was alao at the Shilob Association eagerly preasmg
his new work:
"Dr. W. E. Hatcher of Amoica waa on hand" says the
Herald "full of wit and good humor and overflowing with his
great task — our great undertaking for our Collie. So versatile
and broad — so wise a leader and so m^netic a peraonality
is our own beloved Hatcher that his name la a household word
in eveij home and his plea for education ia masterly and all-
prevailmg."
The Fortemouth was the last of the Summer Asaodations
which be attended.
"But I think the climax ol the whole aeesion" says the
Herald "was that masterly speech and plea made by our
)}eloved brother Hatcher. At first he spoke with but little
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
LETTERS TO CHILDREN 463
animation, but, as be advanced, the audience, seemed to fall
into sympathjr with the speaker and to catch inspiration as he
described vividly and eloquently the needs and claims of
Bichmond Collie. He arose higher &nd higher and finally
his torrent of heart appeals swept the audience up with him
and as we all came down together the sum o? S3,500 was pledged
and, what is far better, Dr. Hatcher sealed forever the hearts of
the great audience for our own beloved Collie. Let us re-
joice and take courage."
Two of bis letters to children written during these days of
strain have been preserved, — ^the first to hia granddaughter
Virginia, at Careby, where all his grandchildren were gathered
for the Summer. His stock of grandchildren had now in-
creased to three, the two new ones being Katherine, the daugh-
ter of Kate and Wilham E. Jr., — ^my own son. To Virginia
he writes:
"How is my happy little charmer? I long to ^ve you a kiss
and a hug. I am far up in the mountains but it is burning hot
up here. I wish you would kiss my lovely Katherine and
tell her I want to see her. You must be very good to Wm, E.
Jr. He is fat and fretful but he is fine. Then he is 'our boy'
and we must treat him well."
The other letter was written to bis little namesake who was
at that time only about one or two years old, the son of his
cherished friend, Mr. J. B. Dickie, of Bristol, Va., who kindly
sent me a copy of the letter;
"Sept. 5th, 1901.
"Master Earnest Hatcbeb Dickie-'
"Mt Dear Namesake, — I have your picture on my mantle
in my office and I give you r^ular and affectionate greetings,
whenever I am at home. You are well formed, perfectly
quiet day and night, and never give me the least trouble.
You showed great kindness — though not much gumption —
in deciding to be my namesake. You ought to have asso-
ciated your name with a better man, and but for your extreme
youth and possibly some bad prompting on the part of your
biassed kindred, I believe you would have struck the earth
with some resounding name like "Gladstone," or "Edward the.
Eighth."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
464 EARNEST HATCHER DICKIE
"But my dear oamcgake I do not complua. Indeed I feel
quito tickled about the whole affair and accept you as one of
my blood kin. We must be friendly with each other and seek
to improve on our ancestry which, while fairly good, was not
a circumstance to what we must try to be. I fear that I will
not be much in the way of lifting you up, but you are so large
and royal that I expect to rise by clinging to the skirts of your
garments which I charitably suppose will grow shorter as you
grow longer. You showed great prescience — an innate love of
congruity— in being bom at the crumbling edge of a dying
century. You must have meant by it to say that you ask for a
clean new deal, and did not wish to be mixed up with the
confusion and misdoings of the past. Good for you my, won-
derfully handsome namesake. You start strong and happy
and I am praying that you may increase in strength and wisdom
to the end. You may decide to remain on earth longer than I
do, and, if bo, I will expect you to guard my memory and take
up my work. I want you to get a. high, hne education and then
use it in helping others to be educated. Do not forget this.
I am not sure that you will be able to read this, for I am not a
clear writer and several persons of your age have indicated to
me that they could not decipher my writings and several of
these youthful personages have taken letters and things which
I wrote and torn them up as if in very contempt. You must
behave better than that. Have this letter read to you by one
of your still extant ancestors, and then later tell me how you
like me, I expect you will like me for I like my self tolerably
well, though my feeling is modified by my too intimate know-
ledge of myself. I want you to know me, but not too inti-
mately at first. It might cause trouble between us.
"There is one thing on which we must surely stand together.
Ever since I was a boy I have been a lover of Jesus Christ.
I know him well and have seen the good things that he has
done for others and for me and I think we must put him above
everybodj', even our Mothers. As soon as possible I want you
to know hjm and I will tell Him about you and ask him to
look after you. They know Him at your house and will tell
you about Him.
"Your NameaaJce,
"William Eldridge Hatcher."
His experience with this fine Uttle lad had some later chap-
ters. When he grew older he and Dr. Hatcher becwne fast
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PATIENCE WITH BOYS 465
frienda and one night at the supper table the little fellow heard
his papa say that Dr. Hatcher would reach Bristol that night
and was coming to their houae. The father said that as Dr.
Hatcher's arrival would be considerably after their supper was
over be would meet the Doctor at the tr^ and if he had not
gotten his supper on the train that he would take him to a
restaurant for his supp>er. Little Earnest, in some way, picked
up the idea that there might be some uncertainty about
Doctor Hatcher getting hia supper. When, an hour or so later,
his mother was putting him to bed, and came to take oft Ms
clothea she found his blouse bulging with a good supply of
biscuits which the little fellow informed her he was keepmg
for Dr. Hatcher's supper.
Mr. Dickie eaya that he wrote Dr. Hatcher, invitii^ him to
pay him a visit at hia winter home in Florida, and Dr. Hatcher
replied regretfully that he could not come, saying: "Poverty
has always be^i one of my besetting ma."
His labors for the College were interspersed with dedicatory
sermons and all manner of ministerial activities. He had two
or three boya in his Fork Union home at this time whom he was
helping in their education and who often gave him much
pleasure in the progress they made; but someiimes they would
try bis patience. And yet when he had once taken a boy in
hand he rarely lost hoi>e of him. He thus writes to his wife
after reaching Richmond from Careby Hall :
"I was distressed to see that X was sulky and un-
happy last week. He has been spoiled lately and you must
keep him away from the public. He needs to avoid exdtement
and be kept at work. Tell Mm that I grieve very much that he
was not bright and pleasant when I was there. I intend to
treat him kmdly but be must not put on Eurs. He must be
humble and pleasant. Things may go wrong with Mm but
he must not be sitting around looking mad. I cannot stand
that. Do not let others know when you have any bother with
him. We must be patient with Mm and not be discounted
by any boyish follies he may show."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A
466 THE MCKINLEY CELEBEATION
To bis great pleasure Dr. C. S. Gardner became his successor
at Grace Street Church and had a pastoral career there that
was very successful. Dr. Hatcher, soon after he had reigned
the Grace Street pastorate, was taken sick at the home of one
of his members and while lying on the couch became delirious
and suddenly he called out, "Whether I live or die, Gardner
must be pastor of Grace Street: Gardner must be pastor of
Grace Street." The church had then not settled upon any one
for pastor. This remark of Dr. Hatcher was heard by members
of the family.
After Dr. Gardner had entered upon his pastorate Dr.
Hatcher, in pleasant banter, sfud to him one day : "Gardner, you
would never have gotten to Grace Street if I had not called
you when I was delirious."
The whole world had been shocked by the shooting of Pres-
ident McKinley, but the tidings went forth that his wound was
healing and that he would recover. It was accordingly planned
by the Cabinet at Washington and the Directors of the Buffalo
Exposition to hold two Thanksgiving services in honor of the
Preadent's expected recovery. Six men from different sections
of the United States, were selected as the speakers and Dr.
Hatcher was one of the men invited. But alas, the beloved
preadent did not recover and, m the place of the expected
thanksgiving, came, in a few days, the universal mourning.
The "Rockefeller Campaign" — as the present Coll^je effort
to raise the $75,000 was called — ^now waxed warm. January
Ist began to loom dangerously near and yet only a small
portion of the amount had been raised. The Herald put one
of its pages at his disposal and every week he filled the page
with breezy items about the campaign.
"His soul ia on fire to get the money" writes my mother
the later part of November. "He has been through similar,
though not equal, experiences before, in the buildmg of his
church when everything was made subsidiary to the one idea.
I am hoping that his health may not succumb to it. If he can
only have his health we shall be thankful. He reminds me ol
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REACHING THE GOAL 467
the man in quest of the aadent pottery art — I caat call his
name now— who was reduced to the straits of turning his own
furniture to keep up the fire in the furnace where he was eeekii^
to melt the old pottery. Such determination, with faith, must
succeed.
"He came over here [at Mr. W. R. Jones' in KichmoDdl
and enjoyed a game of backgammon immensely. It would
have done you good to hear him 'halloa' when he gammoned
Mr, Jones. He needs more such recreation, but he will not
take it now."
That was a campugn indeed. He sprang into the fray with
the ardor and dash of a boy. He sniffed the air of battle and
liked it. "That $76,000" said he "must be raised". From the
College he directed the movement and yet he also hurried from
point to point throughout the state, speaking and holding
conferences with individuals. By pen and tongue he kept the
Virginia Baptists on the qui vive as to the final out come. When
the last day arrived the telegraph and telephone wires were
called into requisition and when the clock struck twelve that
night the goal had been reached.
"The contents of the muls on the last days of December"
he writes, "were quite amazing. By noon on the 30th it was
clear that there was a sacred landslide in favor of the $75,000,
and before midnight on the 31st the Endowment Committee
had had it« meeting, examined its receipts and decided that
the contest had been settled on the right aide. The $75,000 has
been secured and Mr. Rockefeller's offer accepted in a sub-
stantial and satisfactory way."
To his beloved Careby he sped after the wind-up of the
campugn and bathed Ms soul in its quiet and its beauty.
He had an interesting experience with Ah Foug who tells
of it as follows:
"I remember the Christmas of 1901. All the folks went
away to the city and all the boys at Careby went home. So
I was the only person to guard Careby H^l in the country.
A few days after Christmas Dr. Hatcher wrote me a postal
saying that he will come that day to see 'my boy'. He came
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
468 ^ITH AH FONG AT CAREBY
on the mght train. It so happened that Aubrey Hudf^os
came back that day; so be went to Bremo to meet him, while I
went to a Christmas party at Mr. Sadler's home with full
intentioD to come back at oine o'clock to see Dr. Hatcher. I
was, however, too much taken up with the jovihties of tiie
Christmas party that I did not get home until two next morn-
ing. I got up early next morning and went directly to Dr.
Hatcher's room, fully expecting a hearty wdcome; on Uie
contrary I was received very coolly.
" 'Where were you last night?'
"I told him I was at a Christmas party.
"He sfud: 'I expected to have a little party last night with
you, but I was greatly disappointed. I have bought some cakes,
oranges, banannas, candies and lots of good thi^s, but do one
was here to enjoy them with me.'
"Then we walked out to the yard and there were same
chunks of wood lying on the ground. They were thrown out by
from their windows when they could not put them
into their stoves. When Dr. Hatcher saw the woods he be^an
to scold me, because he thought I had thrown those pieces
of woods out of the window. He gave me a lecture on an un-
grateful boy. After a httle while Aubrey came to my rescue
and told him the exact truth. Then he said:
" 'I am going to Cifaz [in Bedford county] this aftemocm;
do you want to go with me? Lewis Thompson ask you to come
to see him this Christmas.' I told him that I will go with lum,
but he did not give me any of the good things which he intended
for me that Christmas."
With the Rockefeller campaign brought to a close he devoted
himself now to the latger and to the general phasea of his woric.
There were several Baptist schools in the state in addition to
Richmond CoU^e. Some of these institutions were on tremb-
ling foundations and there seemed a need for a better denom-
iuatJonal understandii^ regardii^ these schools and a closer
cooperati(Hi among them. To the questions growing out of this
situation and also to the general work of Christian educatitm,
within the bounds of his denomination in the state, he now
devoted himself.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
' CHAPTER XXXV
1902—1903
HI9 QRAKDCmLDRBN. 8IINDAT SCHOOL LECTURES. TERHATILITY.
TBB CAHPAIOK FOR BRISTOL. CQRKmiAS REDNION. PATIENCE
WITH BOYS. SAINT JOSEPH, HO. EDITORIAL PARAQRAPHS.
A fresh chapter had already been opened in his life and that
was his experience with his three grandchildreiL. Their arrival
on the scene Introduced him into a new world of happiness, —
and when the Sumtner put in its appearance each year he
began to clamor for them.
"It might possibly be well for you to say to Wm. E. Jr."
he writes to my wife "that the sordid dust, whose name he
adorns hopes to podder in upon him Friday night in time to see
him put to bed— or words to that effect."
He delivered at this time a course of lectures at the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. The Sunday
School Board, in conjunction with the Seminary Faculty,
decided to inaugurate a series of lectures to be delivered each
year at the Seminary on "The Sunday School" and they asked
Dr. Hatcher to deliver the opening series. Dr. J. M. Frost, the
Secretary of the Board, wrote him that his forthcoming addresses
at the Seminary would enable him "to set the tune for the whole
Baptist brotherhood of the South on the great Sunday School
question."
He delivered five addresses which were said to be
epoch-making in Sunday School work in the South. The
lectures, which had as their general subject, "The
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
470 THE PASTOR AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
Pastor and the Sunday School", were fire in number and
treated of the following subjects:
1. "The pastor at the Door". Under this head he sud: "We
may rightly challenge the pastor at the door of the Sunday
School and ask to examine bis credentials. Before he enters
let him approve himself wortiiy of a place in the School."
2. "The Pastor on the Inrnde."
3. "The Pastor Abroad". "Nowhere is the pastor more
pleasant to behold than when we catch mght of him as, quitting
his clceet, dropping book and pen, parting from family and
company, he sallies forth to see the people."
4. "The pulpit and the Sunday School". 'It remains tor
us in this cloong lecture in the series to study the work of the
pastor in harvestJi^ the fruit of the Sunday School."
The following are some paragraphs culled from bis lectures:
"It is, I confess, with a blush that I appear on this platform
with a manuscript in hand. It is an outrage upon my own
record and a dangerous example for this commimity and my
comfort is that my own awkward manipulation of this for-
midable document may prove an example for wamii^ and not
for imitation."
"Ah, the coming of the pastor [into the Sunday School] ought
to be the sunlight of heaven to that school, llie smile on his
face, the cordial handshake, the bouyaut words, his whole
powmality, nert to the unction of the Holy Spirit, ought to
constitute the crowning glory of the school."
"These country folks are a mght, I tell you. They can sample
a man, relentle^y reduce him to his original elements and
weigh and label the ii^redients at thdr market value."
"The worst thing that can get on a minister's coat is a debt
and that dress suits the pastor best which is so complete that
it esci^ies observation."
"It is well for us to understand that the most of life is wrapped
up, not in our individuality, but in our relationship. Our chief
joys as well as out impartations of power, are trannnitted to us
along the ties which bind us to others."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE PASTOR AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 471
"A pastor can afford to study closely for five years in order
to catch the art of apeaking seriously and effectively to children."
"I confess that I was always ashamed of my doings as a
pastor, — ^it was always bo far below the standard. I was
ashamed that I did so little — did that little so imperfectly —
did BO much to discredit the little done— had motives so mixed,
had sermons meanly made and stupidly preached, made visits
so unmeaning, and purposeless, play^ with my studies,
drooped in my prayers, had so little fruit harvested and that
so languidly, loved my people so little and gave them so little
reason for loving me, frittered away my time and lost chances
all the way. ... I almost quiver with the masterful
hope that if I could enter the hst [of pastoi^] again I would
touch the radiant crown of the mount of the futhful. But,
No; it is not for me. They give no second trials. But young
man yonder is the mount^n, yonder the winding track, yonder
the climbers; go in, go in with fiying feet and in the name of the
Lord, and you may be the first to see the sun set from the
mountain top."
"But no preacher need ever to hope to discover the wants
of his churdi by amply usii^ the pulpit for his observatory."
"But, it is hardly too much to say that a boy will get more
out of a sermon even when he does not listen, and retidn more
at least than old people, when they do listen. I have some-
times stud that the children can absorb more than they hear
and it is true, beyond a doubt, that they can fidget, whisper,
gaze around, pinch and scratch each other and Indulge many
dy smiles and yet carry away a deal of the sermon. They
catch the truth on the fly.
"Once I preached on Sunday morning on the Christian
armor and gave each piece of the armor and defined the pui^
pose of each of these parts. That afternoon, at the Boys
Society which was one of the established organizations of the
church for over twenty-five years, I questioned the boys as to
the arinor, It was gratifying to fold that many of them could
name every part and state what it was intended to represent.
They had not expected to be examined."
"As a faot people cannot long endure a compact, intense,
burning sermon — it wears them out. Deep impressions must
be made quickly, or not at all."
"It is the prinoeliest deed of the Chtislian life to save a soul."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
472 VERSATILITY
'It is & marvel how he haa the strei^th for all his various
undertakiiigB." s^d Dr. E. Y. Mullins regarding Dr. Hatcher's
bu^ life at this time. My mother wrote Irom Careby: "Your
father certfunly needed the rest which he is gettii^ here. He
h&a been on the bed moet of the time and sleeps bb soon as he
touches it." He Sfud that the preparation of his Sunday
School Notes for the Baptist Teacher each week was a taste
of sermon making to him that was very sweet. He was now
writing his Sunday School lectures for publication in book
form, — "a huge task to be done in two weeks." Regarding
this book when it appeared the "Baptist and Reflector" sfud:
"Dr. Hatcher, as a writer, is amoi^ the happiest in power of
expieeaon and practical thought in America. His name to a
book is all that is needed. . . To find a match for W. E.
Hatcher you will likely search more than one continent."
"To the boundless torture of my toe" he writes £]Uzabeth
at Fork Union, "I have gotten some butter ready for you. It
comes up this morning."
The startling fact about his life, however, was not its variety,
but its versatility. He won distinction not by being a worker
in so many departments but by being a specialist in so many
departments. He had a "passion for the best". Tl)ere were
some spheres for which he was not fitted and he would make no
pretensions in that direction. He felt that he had no talent
for clerical, or secretarial, labor and be would declare: "I
have no sense in such work," or "When it comes to that I am
stupidity personified". But when be once entered a path he
sought to keep in the lead. "What a multiform specialist was
the Nestor of the Vii^nia ministry", said Dr. Hudnall,
"preacher, pastor, evangelist, editor, writer, author, educator,
and this is not all. To be of vast usefulness in various direc-
tions a man must needs possess, in an eminent degree, a rare
combination of qualities. . . An eminent divine said of
Dr. Hatcher: 'He did everything with distinction.' "
"He was a great debater" says Dr. George B. Taylor, "a
dear tlunker, a preacher of unusual power, a master of a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
VERSATILITY 473
blies, a wondeful raconteur, a quick discemer and a discrimi-
nating portrayer of human nature, a delightful companion, a
wise counselor, a charming writer."
He would have made an incomparable United States Sen-
ator," Biud Dr. F. T. Hale "a brilliant and successful lawyer,
and would have adorned the tripod in the editorial sanctum
of the greatest journal."
"It will require many, many men" writes Dr. Landrum "to
pve UB a life-oze portr^t, for Dr, Hatcher was a many-aded
man, and will be fully known and properly interpreted only
when all his friends have joined their eulogistic labors."
Dr. J. M. Frost writes in similiar van:
"His life was too many-sided, too i^vermfied and full, covered
too large a territory and too many years for any one man to
even outline and put down in print for the reader."
It is interesting to note the realms in which he was eminent.
As preacher and pastor and writer he was accorded first place.
When it came to taking collections, or to dedicaUi^ churchea,
or to having a capacity for friendship, or to finding recreation
in gaming, or to dealing with boys, or to endulging in wit or
humor, in fact, as Dr. Frost says — "think of him as you may
you readily accord him the leadership as if that were his spec-
ialty." Some of the most restless moments of his life were
probably those when he saw some one outstripping him.
From Warrenton where he was conducting revival mee^i^
he wrote the first of a long list of letters to his grandson, Wil-
liam E. Jr.
"Wahrbnton, Va., March 30, 1902.
"Mt Matcbless Wh. E., Jr., — Your grandmother sent me
your picture today. It was quite fine and showed that you
were in blooming health. I do not recall that the ori^nal Wm.
E. ever had his picture taken when eighteen months old and if
it had been done I am not sure that he would have shown to
such superb advantage as you do. But that is not to be won-
dered at — Wm. E'a are improving stock — they get better every
time and the Wm. E'a of tlie future will be simply wonderful —
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
474 THE BIRTHDAY HOUSE PARTY
at least more wonderful tban the present Wm. E's, though the
present Wm. E's are beyond all doubt full-orbed wonders.
There are none others like them,— though I must admit that
the servant [William's mother] who had you in her lap when
your picture was taken has a stnking face.
"Give your father great love and tell him that he is fortunate
in bcii^ the parent of a Wm. E. but that he must suffer often
from the feeling that he can never be a Wm. E. That is a hnk
above hia jump.
"Grandfather has been sick — an inagnificant thing and now
it ia over.
"With much pomp and love.
"Wm. E. 1."
He would often write speeches and dialogues for the boys
at the Academy Ck)nunencement and frequently would tnun
them, though hia daughter Ehzabeth rendered very valuable
service in this regard. "Do your best on the boys" he writes
to Elizabeth "and have them on hand for me Tuesday after-
noon [for his reheanuog them]. Put Ah Fong along on tua
speech." At this Commencement Lieut. Gov. Willard (pres-
ent Embassador to Spain) addressed the boys. "Great times
at Fork Union" he wrote me, "Aubrey took the glories."
Aubrey was one of the boys in his home whose entire support
and education he was carrying and of course he was delighted
to see one of his prot^es thus triumphant.
Out at Bristol was a great Baptist School with splendid
buildings but with a debt that threatened financial collapse.
$12,000 was needed to save the day and Dr. Hatcher, beii^
asked by the Education Commission to undertake the raiang
of that amount, set himself to the task.
The family decided to give him a House Party on his 68th
birthday in July. He asked that it be given on his brother
Harvey's birthday which would occur a few days later, and
this plan was followed. The two brothers reveled in each
others' company. Harvey, two years his senior, came on from
Georgia. Other guests were on hand, — some of them hia
kindred from Bedford. Dr. Boatwright, Preddent of Kcbmond
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"AN OLD FRIEND" 475
College, wrote bim that every one of his birthdays "marked an
epoch in Southern Baptist history."
The Birthday gathering had its sorrowful aspect also. He
writes: "The meetii^ of my kindred after such long separar
tions played heavily upon my heart. My soul was stormed
all the time with memories and heartaches as I thought of my
friends and loved ones who were not there to greet me." On
the second birthday of his grandson he writes:
"My Beloved William, — ^I greet you on your birthday
and wish you peace and honor. It is a most interesting ex-
perience to be two years old and you will have to show your^
self a fine specimen of a boy. A blubbering two year old,
is not a pleaang fdght. . . I must remind you that it is
now time that you were learning to talk. Grunts and cries
are cute and fascinating to blinded mothers but I remind you
that they are not good En^sh.
"Bepn to get ready for the future. You will be expected to
take a large and laborious part in the affairs of this world
and you must get ready for it. I hope that you may be a min-
ister of the gospel, as your father and grandfather are, and as
both of your great grandfathers were. But the Lord must
decide that. Fear and follow him and he will show you the
path of duty.
"Your devoted Grandfather, W. E. H."
He spends a few days in restful fellowship with his life-long
friend, Dr. J. R. Bagby at Mr. Floyd Moon's in Cumberland
County, and writes me; "You know not yet the value of an
old friendship. You may know hereafter." "Ah, how good it
feels" says Longfellow "the hand of an old friend. King
James used to call for his old shoes — they were easiest for his
feet." As Br. Hatcher grew older he turned more eageriy to
those friends of his early days.
For the next three or four months he labored for Bristol.
He resolved that he would never again undertake such emer-
gency work. "That Rockefeller bu»ness told on me severly"
he writ«s "and now I am goii^ through the racking agonies
of Bristol." To Edith he wrote, in December, "I have worn
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
476 FEOLICS WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN
my soul to frazzles in workup for Bristol and am yet in great
terror lest disaster is to be my only rewuxl. It looks that way
DOW." Men do thdr work best when the work is congenial.
But in his case his campfugns for money went agunst his
grain. Just a short while before this, in telling of his joy in
preaching, he sfud: "It is a bigger thing to save souls than to
flounder around in this hard world looldi^ for money." And
yet hJB Bunny optimism came to his rescue. No doleful note
touched his lips in his journeys. The Ck)Ilege was a kind mas-
ter, and was wonderfully appreciative and sympatheUc towards
him in his work.
Christmas was one of the high peaks in the year for him
because it meant a family reunion at Careby. The grandchild-
ren were his best medicine and he could fling his burdens to the
winds in his revels with the children. He would b^n each
day with a frohc. Every morning before the family were
dressed — or even out of bed — he would step to his door and
shout through the capacious house: "Vir-(pn-y-Brh-hl! Kath-
rin-n-nll Wil-yum-m-mH" and as the sound went ringing up
stairs and into the rooms what a flutter it would cause! Up
from the bed would jump Virginia and Katherine and William —
all in a tremor of expectancy — and such a Bcamperli^ down
Btwra there would be — not waiting to be dressed but hurrying
to grandfather's room, for they knew there were "goodies"
and royal talks with grandfather awfuting them. They were a
hilarious group as they jumped into grandfather's bed and
kept up a ceaseless chatter as the good things began rapidly to
disappear.
He had already trfuned them how they should answer Ins
monuiME summons. When he called out "Virginia" she was ex-
pected io answer from her room immediately "All right: I'm
coming" and so with the other two. Sometimes the suddenly
awakened grandchild would utter a feeble, "I'm coming" which
would not reach the ears of grandfather, and so there would come
another resounding call: "Vir-pn-yeh-h-h" and by this time
Virginia would be answering and grandfather would be made
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WORKING ON THE BOYS AT CAREBY 477
fully aware that Viripnia was coming. In fact there were none
by this time in the lai^e house, or on the groimds that were not
amply familiar with the fact, — "the grandchildren are comii^"
This before-breakfast romp was the fore-runner of many
happy experiences for the young ones during the day. Grand-
father's closet, with its boxes and bundles, was the enchanted
spot for the children. That was the treasure house that seemed
to have no limit, nor bottom, and consequently they cultivated
the most intimate acquuntance with grandfather during the
hours of the day. But it was not the "goodies" alone that
constituted the m^net. The little ones loved grandfather.
They thought he was grand: he was so jolly — had such fine
questions to ask them, such glorious stories to tell them and
such funny things to say to them. He kept them on their
mettle for they knew that he was strict with them on certain
points and that they had to toe the mark in their good behavior.
In one of his letters to Edith he wrote: "I had an imperial
time with Virginia last week. She is a fountain of delight to me
and her devotion to me is worthy of my best love and attention."
The Christmas season passed, the children and grandchildren
melted away, and the Academy students began to pour in
from thwr homes. The boys whom Dr. Hatcher was aiding,
in special ways, gave him much joy, but sometimes they put
thorns in his pillow. They were not ai^ehc in their make-up
and sometimes they would fly the track, much to the grief of
thar benefactor. Dr. Hatcher, and yet his patience seemed
inexhaustible. There was one boy at the Academy that seemed
well mgh hopeless but Dr. Hatcher would not ^ve him up.
"I am in tribulation about C the Little" he writes
to Elisabeth "I could not reach his father and may not see him
for some days. If you feel bke talkmg to the httle thing— he
is only a child in moral development — and tryii^ to Uft him up
a httle I would be glad. But do not do it if it would strain you
in the least. I was pleased by your saying that we ought to
save him. I am much in doubt about him but I have not yet
rdaxed my grasp upon hun."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
478 WORKING ON THE BOYS AT CAKEBY
Yet another case may ibe mentioned. In his letter of Feb-
ruary 23rd he writes to his Chinese boy at Fork Union (not
Ah Fong) whom he was befriendii^. This youth had dedded
that he wanted to quit the Academy and return to New York.
Dr. Hatcher sought to save him from such a surrender by
writing him:
"I was hoping that you would remun until you were pre-
pared for Coliege. I was very sorry to read your statement that
you felt the studies were too hard at the Academy. You must
not be afraid of bard things. If you ever become a man it
will be by hard work and you ought not to run away from your
studies because they are hard.
"Besides, your report is a good one. It shows that you are
getting along well and I have no doubt that you will continue
to improve.
"But I will not think ill of you if you go back to New York.
"I had already ptud your tuition in the Acadrany for the
rest of the session. I do not see bow you can leave Fork Union
until I get there.
"Your Friend,
"W. E. Hatcher."
One of the boys whom he was tuding had rdn away from Fork
Union but Dr. Hatcher found him and sent him back to Fork
Union bearii^ the following letter to Edith:
"I send you a note by the returning prodigal. I trust that
Careby H^l will welcome him back and seek to build up his
crippled fortunes. He is the weak member of the Academic
household and we must save him if it is pos£dble. All I ask
is that the female side of the institution will bolster him and
help him to start afresh.
"I must compliment you on your skill in tr^ning the orches-
tra. I wish that you would give lessonS on some strii^ed
instruments. That would be more popular with the boys than
the piano. Not so profitable, I suppose."
Such efforts as are indicated by these letters— all written
within the space of two or three months — he' was ever making
to save and tcain the boys.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BRISTOL SAVED 479
To William E., Jr.^ he writes:
"I was &a happy as Katharine's kitten when I got your
letter.
"I was at Careby Hall last Sunday. That morning I opened
the door and shouted "C-h-i-1-d-r-e-n-!" and here they came, —
Vir^nia and Lewis, Katherine and Harry, all tumbling, rolling,
jumpii^ on the bed and we almost made apples and banannas
get up and fly— we ate them so fast. Katherine said: 'We
ought to have William' and all of them said: 'That is bo,' Then
we talked about you as hard as ever we could and all of us
wanted to see you. Virginia wanted to kiss you. Harry
wanted to hug you, Lewis wanted to peel apples for you,
Katherine wanted to play paper dolls with you and grand-
father wanted to carry you to the table and butter buckwheat
cfjces for you. Oh, we had a lovely time, but we missed you.
Just wut until Summer and wont we have a jolly time.
"I suppose you never cry now— you are t«o large and big
to cry. You must see that your mother does not get ack
agfun. If you will wtut on her and keep her from working too
hard, you may save her from getting sick. Do all you can to
help her — ^remember this."
He went to Macon, Geor^a where he preached every morn-
ing at the Mercer University and every night at the First
Church.
His Bristol campfugn had triumphed and he was able to
announce in the Herald of March 10th: "Bristol is saved.
That which the Baptists of Virginia undertook to do has been
accomplished." This Bristol College is today one of the latest
and most prosperous Baptist institutions for the education
of young women in the South.
In April he held revival meetings in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Dr. J. E. Cook, the pastor, in whose home he was entertfuned,
writes of Dr. Hatcher's visit. After speakii^ of "the gigantic
labors of his mind and heart this last half century" he thus
continues:
"The first dght of Dr. Hatcher at the station gave me the
impresaon that he was getting old. But this man is full of
surprises and if he had been a general I wager his reputation
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
480 MEETINGS AT SAINT JOSEPH
for flank movements would be second not even to Stonewall
Jackson.
"By the way the old Confederates almost cheered him for
his resemblance to General Lee. Dr. Hatcher did not like that
very well. He did not think it helped either Lee or himself.
"After I had kept up with him sight-seeing and had kept
my single-tree even with his in the meeting and had observed
his overflowing wit and good humor in conversation and had been
nearly worn out with his pranks with the children I felt almost
as if he had buncoed me through his old i^e "make up" — to
use an expresson which a preacher has no buaness to under-
stand.
"I asked Dr. Hatcher if he felt that he had yet preached his
best sermons. 'No; but I think I have preached my worst
one,' he replied. If there ever was a time of the day when
Dr. Hatcher was a little below his normal temperature of hope
and courage and abundant hfe it was just before going to bed
at night, with the day's work done and never as well done as he
wanted it done. Expresave of a httle downheartedness he was
used sometimes to say: 'Brer Hatcher got no friends!' And so
to me the most striking trait in the man was his big heart for
BO many folk of all ages and conditions and his entire self
foi^ctfulness for the good of his friends and especially for boys
trying to get an education. And Brer Hatcher got friends,
myriads of them in Heaven and on earth and will have them in
the years to come while children's children remember the shep-
herd and helper of their fathers and mothers."
It was during these later years that some of us in the family —
with a few outside — began to call him "Brer Hatcher" and
be would often speak of himself by that name. It started from
a little incident during his Grace Street pastorate. He had in
his church a very ardent admirer, — John E , a brother
of feeble mental endowment. John declared that his pastor
was the best of all preachers on the globe and he never tired
of sii^ng his praises. One night in some revival meetings at the
church, conducted by Dr. H. M. Wharton, he said at the close
of the service: "Dr. Wharton, that was a fine sermon you
preached, a nughty fine sermon." The next night he said the
same thing and one night, when he was highly prai^ng the ser-
mon, Dr. Wharton Sfud to him:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"BRER HATCHER" 481
"You liked it, did you, John?"
"Oh, yea, Dr. Wharton, that was cerbunly a fine sermon.
You certainly are a fine preacher."
"You think I am a fine preacher, John? You think I can
beat' Dr. Hatcher, don't you, John?"
"Oh, yea — Ahem — Wdl, I don't know about that, for Brer
Hatcher do' de best be can."
Of coiu'se Dr. Wharton jocularly rang the changes on John's
declaration and Brer Hatcher had no remarks to make about
it imtil one day at the General Association when a brotiier
b^ged for bis fud in a collection in the Association for his
church. Dr. Hatcher who was presiding, finally yielded and
arose, and told the story of Dr. Wharton and John and applied
it to the case then in hand, by pointing to the importunate
preacher then at his heels and saying that he did not see that
he could do anything for him in the ABsociation "but" he
Bfud "Brer Hatcher will do de best he can". The result was
that the delegates followed in rapid order domg the best they
could for the benefit of the needy brother. Many were the
times about the home when matters were a little heavy, or
draggy, with him, and he would say with a sort of mock
gloominess: "Brer Hatcher got no friends."
There was a little couplet which he was fond of humming
in his room. I do not remember a period in his life that he
would not at times miinnur the lines: ■
"Up and down the river, we will go;
"Up and down the river, and never come back any more."
The last words of the second line would be somewhat mourn-
fully drawn out and I can remember how as a boy those words
"never come back any more" would always make me feel he
was thinking of death; at any rate they made me think of his
dying and going far away, never to return. He would bum
them, sometimes while waUur^ up and down his room dressing,
and Bometimes while seated in his arm chair, apparently in a
meditative mood, — not necessarily when he seemed worried
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
482 EDITOEIAL PAPAGRAPHS
or gloomy, but often when his maimer was cheerful, — and yet
those clodng words would always have in them a dismal
suggestion -
Possibly the reader would be interested in some of the
paragraph products of his pen. Every week his editorial
colunm bristled with items about men and thin^. For example,
in the issue of April 11th he pwd a tribute to a Baptist leader
in Texas, Dr. J. B. Gambrell, who, he says "is a hero and has
never found it out." He cities with the followii^ words:.
"We waft our greetii^ to the Texas leader. If we envy
him, it is part of our tribute of admiration. Let Texas Bap-
tists pile burdens on bis shoulders and he will carry them.
Let the disoi^anizera spit venom on him; he can stand it;
let hosts rise agunst him, yet he will be confident. He asks
no crown and fears no cross."
"An imanswered prayer shows that there is somethii^ the
matter with the prayer."
After writing about the all-night prayers of the Bible he
"Those who have ffuled to get a reply must recast their
attempts. Let them plan a night attack and keep up the fight
until the break of day. God is always near at the break of day.
Try Jacob's scheme of prayer and you may get Jacob's crown."
"We are no admirer of the common house-fly. He is an annoy-
ance and a nuisance. He is a disturber of the repose of the
conmitmity. He promotes the use of immoral adjectives. He
tempts all of us to assert that he is worse this Summer than
ever before — ^which probably is not so. He wakes the baby,
exasperates the cook, lights in the butter, tumbles into the
milk, buzzes, flutters and bites. He has no human friend in
all the earth — no one to praise him while he lives and no one
to weep for him and to compose his epitath when he dies.
"Now give a house-fly hia dues. He may be despicable,
but there is one tMng that may be B«d to his hoaoi^-4ie does
not bother us at night. He is no nocturnal marauder. Put
out your light and go to bed and he will let you rest. He
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
EDITORUL PARAGRAPHS 483
keeps good buanees houre. He will not strike a man in the
dark. It is true that he usually stays until after tea and is
certain to open his shop very early in the morning but he
never takes advantage of us by pouncing upon us in the bed
in the dark of the mght. Hq has at least this negative virtue
and there is comfort in it."
He seems not to have the same friendly feeling for the church-
goii^ dt^ as for the stay-at-home fly. Out in the country
one day a man s^d to him:
"Brother Hatcher, I was leading in prayer in the church
and I heard & noise and my first feeling was that the devil
was in church. Upon opemng my eyes I found that it was a
dog, — one of my dogs. I was greatly relieved."
To this Dr. Hatcher replied in the Herald:
"For our part we still think that whenever a dog goes into
church, the devil is apt to come with him. It is well when we
go to the house of the Lord to leave the devil and the dogs
behind."
Some one asked him his opinion regarding a certain gentle-
man and hia reply in the Argus was: "He seems to live on bad
terms with success of all sorts, — an aimable, nonconstrucUve,
warbling brother, whom I rather like and yet I would feel it
a sin to encourage you to put him at the head of the Academy."
"Several friends have anxiously inquire of us if we saw a
severe reflection made upon us in one of the prominent Baptist
papers of the South. Happily we did not see it and will mi^e It
a point not to see it. In our more sensitive periods we were
stung by personalities, but in these balmy days we hate not the
bitter brother. We respectfully ask the brethren to be good
to us, if they possibly can, but if this is asking the impossible
at their hands, then we ask them to be as moderately bad as
their hearts will allow them. We do not think & man is our
enemy because he speaks evil of us and yet we must not mistake
evil speaking as a christian grace."
In the followii^ paragraph he was the "friend" alluded to.
He had learned that Dr. Landrum, bis greatly loved friend, had
received the Degree of LL. D.:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
484 EDITORIAL PARAGRAPHS
"And 80 W. W. Landnim has the LL. D, If there be honor,
or power, in it L&ndrum deserves it. ... It ^ves him a
three-lettered perch above the D. D. populace and that may
tidde the non-noble part of him, if he has any. But he cannot
eat it, preach it, trade it, nor talk it. The Doctor has a friend
who was LL. D.'d some years ago and got a Diploma which
Ms admiring family guiltily framed and hung up for the third
generation, and maybe the fourth, to gaze upon and adore.
Tie uaH pulled out and over went the frame and smash went
the glory."
"Tliere are some preachers that would ordaio an icUot rather
than mortify a spinster aunt or an ambitious mster."
"Whenever the Lord makes a preacher somebody else m^kes
a deacon to hold down and try the patience of that brother."
His 69th birthday was drawii^ near and it may have sug-
gested the following:
"Look-out, old folksl Old trees do not make a forest. They
are not a vital part unless they keep green and drop their
acoms tor growing new trees. Old trees, when they die, en-
cumber and disfigure the forest and, being in the way, ought
to be removed. But there is nothing finer than a fresh, sound
fruitful old tree. Young trees look up to and honor an old
tree like that.
"The main buaness of the old is to keep in touch with the
young to love them, to seek to develop and encourage them.
Their leaf must not fade."
"We have to divide Baptist preachers into several classes:
"1. Those who, for some reason, do not speaJi with distinct-
ness. It is hard to hear them.
"2. Those who, endowed with strong lung?, talk too loudly.
They stun and shatter by blasphemous roars. It makes one's
tympanum raw to hear them.
"3. Those who bawl. They are vociferous and the chief
function of their ministrations is to promote headache.
"4. Those who explode. They go on softly for a while and
even tend to a whisper and suddenly they nuse a yell. They
are fine for waking children and also for cauang small dogs
to bark.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
THE IDEAL SECRETARY 485
"5. Those who talk out the gospd in a natural and earnest
way. Brother which are you?"
He wrote an item in the paper at this time that came near
b^i^ an unconscious portrait of himself. Southern Bfq>ti9ts
were looking for a man to fill the Home lesson Secretary-
ship— one of their most important offices and he wrote de-
scribing the kind of man who he thought was needed for the
position. In doing so he draws a picture of his ideal Denomina-
tional leader.
"The brother lives in the South. In age he is just mounting
to his prime and grows with ripened vigor. The complexion
of his bnun is grey and there is a greyish tint in his hair. His
mental machinery works with musical throb and is free from
tie-ups and jerks. Heavy suppers he avoids on principle-
He can travel without fatigue and wonders what insomnia
means. He does not catch cold under the breath of a Spring
breeze, reveres snowy linen, has no tobacco smell in his clothes
and is not weak in his spinal column. To his honor he spells
well, has » store of rich cedent Ei^lisb, does not yell like a
Comanche Indian when he speaks, is systematical, but not
statistical, never outr^es the emotions or tastes of his au-
diences, never speaks over an hour, indulges no rhetorical
booms, will never grow a crop of official pompofdty, has no
hereditary melancholia, falls into no nervous sprees, never
whimpers about overwork, does not read his ailiclea to his
friends in private, has no neoptic strings to his bow and keeps
bis family at home while he runs his office.
"He is constructive, full of initiative and great on detail.
He abhors stock stories, does not plume himself on b^ng witty,
has no conceit that he is bom to take the foolish brother down
and would quit the earth sooner than tell a coarse anecdote
merely to raise a rattling laugh.
"Look out for the brother. He is disposed to invisibility
and is applyii^ for nothing. To find him is needed a search
and a pcur of spiritual eye glasses. We plead that he be hunted
down and dragged out into the glare. He is our choice for the
secretaryship of the Atlanta Board if we can only land him."
"I cannot describe the glory of our [Academy] Commence-
ment," he wrote me, "It was great in every point and nerve. Ah
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
486 AH FONG
Fong, my dear, good, Ah Fong, came out as usual with his rib-
bons streaming."
Amoi^ the visiting speakers at the Commencement were Dra.
W. H. Whitffltt and J. N. Prestridge. It always gave him de-
light for Ah Fong to do exceptionally well in his public per-
formances. Ah Fong thus writes concenui^ one of his speeches :
"I remember one time he went with me to an Association
and I bad to make a speech. After the meeting some one came
up and said to him: 'Well, your Chinese boy beat the whole
bunch.' 'Oh; go away, he replied. He is no good,' Then in a
low voice he said: 'I dont want you to pr^de him before his
face; I fear he will get a pwell bead, though I am glad you think
well of him.' "
Ah Fong also adds the followii^:
"I remember one day he said to me: 'Ah Fong you are right
smart but you are everlastir^^y ugly.'
"When I pitched quoits with him and pitched a close one to
the post, or rung it, he would say: 'Brother Hatcher does'at
like it'. "When he had a leaner [his quoit leanii^ agunst
the post] and I would say: 'I'll knock it off,' be would reply:
'I hear you make a remark, but dont know where you get your
scripture from.'
"I remember on several occaaons he asked me whether or
not I was happy and whether or not I had been treated w^l.
Then he would say: 'I am too poor, Ah Fong. Why do you
want to live with such a poor creature as I am? Tho' I am
poor, I have tried to make you comfortable, dont you think
I have?'
"I answered: 'Yes, sir; more than that, you have been more
than a father to me.' Then his face would hght up with hap-
piness and be told me the following story:
" 'Do you know how it came about that I took you into my
family? A great many people thought that I have been to
China and Imow your father and that I sent for you to come.
They are mistaken. Mr. Chambers brought you here without
my knowledge. At first he talked to Di. Ryland about you
saying that your father is a faithful christian and a preacher
in China and that your father wants you to be educated in
this country. Dr. Ryland told Mr. Chambers to look me up
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AH FONG 487
tUKJ tell me the story, saying that I was a great lover of boys.
So Chambers came around to me with Ub story. I asked
Chambers whether or not your father can support you in any
way. Chambers answered: 'No; he has no more money left
now.' 'So when you came to me you were without a penny.
I asked Chambers whether or not you were willing to work —
that ia to help about the house. Chambers said: 'Yes,'
'I told Chambers that I will try you about a month or two,
if we could get along I'll keep you; if not I'll turn you back
to him agfun, so you see I took you in with a condition, be-
cause I never had any dealing with Chinamen before. But
Ah Fong I declare you have been a real joy to me. I believe
God sent you to cheer old Brother Hatcher,'
"Dr. Hatcher loved all kinds of games from pitchii^ horse
shoes up. I remember on one 4th of July there was a picnic
and a base ball game at Arvonia between Fork Union and
Arvorua. Dr. Hatcher was at Fork Union. So we decided to
go to Arvonia to take in the fun. We went in a two horse
carriage. We got to Arvotua safely. During the day the
horses somehow got uimianageable and broke the tongue of
the carriage and Fork Union got whipped. There was no fun
at all on our return trip.
"I often went to Bremo to meet Dr. Hatcher when he came
to Fork Union. I remember one very cold night we were
driving back from Bremo. The wind was wbiezing hard and
I was very cold, my teeth were chattering. He said: 'Is'rt
this great?' Sometimes he would ask: 'Is'nt this a glorious
night?' I answered: 'No; it's too cold,' 'Oh, go away, what
are you talking about?' he would reply."
At this time there came from the distant pluns of Texas
a kindly word from Dr. J. B. Cranfill, editor of the Texas
Standard, who wrote in his paper: "We have one evidence of
converdon — ^we love the brethren and up, far up toward the
head of the list is the name of Dr. W. E. Hatcher,"
His life during this Summer was brightened by the presence
at Careby of the Grandchildren, He would dash from point
to point in the state in his educational work, but every week,
or two, he would swing off from the line of travel to spend a
day or so at Careby.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXVI
1903—1905
WBLCOIQNQ ORANDFATHEB. CWUNTRY PEOPLE. THE LOUISTILLB
SEUINART. TRIBUTES TO DBS. IfCDONALD AND HKADOB.
COLLECTION FOR THB BBMINABT. OONVENTIOS AT
KANSAS cnr.
The arrival of "grandfather" at Careby was always a big
event on the hill. It looked as if he generally came on the
night trun and did not reach Careby — ^five miles distant from
the depot until nearly nine o'clock. The little ones had to be
kept up for his coming and the understandii^ was that all
would be listening out for the bat^ of the outer gate, or the
rumble of the carnage wheels on the bridge. That was the
signal for a rush to the front porch by everybody, old as well
as young, and such an uproarious welcome was ^ven to the
traveler! "Hello, grandfather!" "Hello grandfather!" "Hurrah
for grandfather!" "Thought you were never coming. Glad
to see you grandfather". Everybody on the porch was calling
out a welcome even before they could catch sight of him in the
dark and, in the meantime, the children were scamp^ing down
the lawn and screaming as they went; if it was in the day they
would pile up in the conveyance, if they could spy him in time.
The next thing is the unloading, the buggy wheels are turned
so that grandfather — and be is getting mighty big — can get
out and then the bundles — Oh, how kind the sweetr-toothed
grandchildren are in helping to take out the bundles, one of
them is lifting the basket out of the front and the other two
are pulling at the packages in the back of the carriage. By
this time the other members of the family have gotten out to
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRANDFATHER'S ARRIVAL AT CAREBY 489
the carriage and the greeting is given and then, with nearly
every body carrying a bundle and the children jumping in
their glee, the procesdon moves up the walk and Into the
house.
Of course the regular supper has been long over but grand-
father will have a special supper and usually it is served to him
in his study, with the children fluttering about him, and bom-
bardii^ him with all manner of questions about his trip and
also keeping a friendly eye on the packages. It is not sur-
priidng, therefore, that the grandchildren gave a shout when a
letter came to one of them on August 19th saying:
"Grandfather hopes to come. . . Friday night. You
must sleep in the day and be up to see me when I come. Have
the carriage sent to Bremo for me and have a good supper
ready. I expect to have a great time with my grandchildren
when I come. Won't we eat oranges and cackees until the sun
goes down?
"Nanpapa."
If his Careby visit brou^t sun-light to its inmates it was
also true that when he moved out for his Summer jaunts
through the state he also brought joy to the places he viated.
For example, one of the Assodations which he viated was the
Albemarle and Bev. W. W. Reynolds writes:
"Dr. Hatcher was recognized and given the right of way.
Dr. Hatcher, what a man he is and how we all love biml How
he thrilled the audience."
To his deli{^t the Academy opened with "110 and more
coming". The new boys, who had not selected their homes,
would, upon thwr arrival report at Careby Hall which was
called "Castle Garden".
"I thought your father would Uke it that way" writes my
mother "and the parents love to hear that their children are
at the preadent's house and so we have had a number."
While he delighted in the inrush of so many students at the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
490 THE COUNTRY PEOPLE
opeoji^ of the Academy his heart also lingered about thos6
boys who had not been able to come. He put into the Argus
a plea for their coming:
"Exactly bo, — 'We had hoped to send Walter t« school this
year but we had to give it up'. Yes, you did give it up and why?
Because his mother was too chicken-hearted to let him go from
home and because you, in the secrets of your heart, could not
spare your money to educate Walter. Go ahead and deprive
your boy of his chance and doom him to speak bad grammar and
misspell his words and be a mudsill to the end of his days.
Is'nt it curious that the Lord entrusts children to such narrow
and unappreciatJve parents? But you might send him yet.
He would be a little slow getting there but better late than not
at all."
He attended the General Association in November and my
mother writes: "Your father's paper and address unified the
different elements."
In the next month he pfud a visit to Halifax County about
which he writes to me in the following bright vein :
"It looked to me as if they had gotten the n^ghborhood
together for the Eii>ecial purpose of storing away comforts and
sweet surprises for me.
"Ah it must be a fancy of mine but the best goodness of
earth seems to me to dwell in the country. Of course it does
not wear furs and tipped gloves, nor dress in front of French
mirrors. Its manners are clumsy and ite kindness does not
always attend us in polished kids. But the rough old fellows
look fine to me as they tie their horses in the woods and rub
their stinging ears as the wind cuts them. I had all this, with
good women coming up telling me pleasant things, with boys
piled up on the pulpit, with my collection running over bounds
and getting more than we asked for, with a dinner which they
had been preparing for a long time, with old friends — that
I did not know were living — trooping around me, with fathers
and mothers talking to me about educating their boys and ^rls
and with a lot of preachers so tender and affectionate. But,
hold this is not business— it is almost as useless as poetry and
an old crone hke me has no sort of right to be enjoying himself."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEATH OF HIS HALF BROTHER 491
Dr. Wm. R. Harper, Presddent of Chic^o Univeraity, wrote
him as follows:
"Rev. William £. Hatcher,
"RicHUDND, Va.:
"Mt Dear Sir, — I wish to express my very great appretua-
tioD of the article published by you in the Baptist Argaa of
December 10th. !^m the literary point of view, from the
homiletic point of view and from the point of view of Christian
charity I think it is superb.
"Yours Very Truly
"WiUiEun R. Harper."
A telegram called him to Wythevilie where hia half brother
Allan was at the point of death. "He told the servant" said
Dr. Hatcher "that if be could hold out until he saw rae be
would be ready to go."
"My Dear old brother Allan was buried yesterday" he
writes me, "1 hope to spend tonight with your Aunt Mai^aret,
now the only survivor of the first children, herself over 80
years of f^e. . . Posably I may cheer her by my brief
visit."
In March he held revival meetings in Staunton where he
writes: "I of course am in a tremor as to results and always
feel that surely the Lord will not bless. This is my mood at
present but mercy works many surprises."
The news reaehed him that Dr. Henry McDonald, — one of
the noblest and dearest of all his friends — had suffered a stroke
of paralysis:
"Ah, my friends are going" he writes me — "except the large
part already gone. I feel a sense of my nearii^ end and it is
not, except sentimentally, unpleasant, and not so unpleasant
in that regard."
To his grandson, William, who had been very dck, he writes
that if he would come to Richmond he would carry him up to
Fork Union:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
492 DEATH OF DR. MCDONALD
"The carriage" saya he "would come dashing out to Bremo
and take us flying to Careby Hall. Then we will have a happy
time. I will go out in the hall and call out as loud as I can:
'Wil-l-u-m-m-m' and then I will shout: 'Vii^ni-»-»-a-a and
you and Virginia will say: "AU rigiit we are coming." Then
here will come running Lewis and Harry and we will make the
banannas and apples flutter. Hurry up my little lovely and
come to see me.
"Lovii^ Nanpapa."
The stunning report came to him of Dr. McDonald's death:
"The day grew dark" he wrote "whrai he quit the earth. The
mess^e that he was gone shut up our lips; we fled from the city
and spent the night in seclusion, tranced with the thought
that he was walking in light before the face of his Kit^. For
this time we simply wave him an envious farewell.
"We loved his faults better than we have loved the virtues
of common men. We often contended with him, and there was
light and comfort in the friction. He lived so high that we
did not have to change our range of vision as he ascended to the
Father; we only looked up higher. To friends we dare to say
that in a calmer mood we will give several papers of reminis-
cences connected with our departed friend."
He was a loyal friend, not only to individuals, but also to
institutions. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
seemed to r^ard him as one of its most helpful champions.
"I remember" says Dr. P. T. Hale, "the last time that he
came to the Seminary to deliver one of his always powerful
and uplifting addresses to the students. When he appeared,
a storm of applause, which became a tumultuous ovation of
affection and regard, greeted him, — ^for some minutes after he
arose to speak; they refused to allow him to proceed, until
they bore this overwhelming testimony of their esteem and
happiness at his presence. The venerable white head was bowed
again and again in appreciaticm of their loving and enthusjastic
greetings. They honored him as a leader, whose services had
been so imselflshly and freely given to the Institution which
was always so near his great heart."
At the meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention at
Nashville in May, he took up a collection for the Seminary.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SEMINARY COLLECTION 493
"I never saw a finer popular collection" says a writer in the
Baptist Courier. "It went on for an hour and the great crowd
staid through it all. Dr. Hatcher. . . never surpassed
his work in the Seminary Collection. The total finally reached
$50,000." He himself said "Some collections are lifted; this
one wafl handed down." With the vast audience of delegates
before him and with several ministers in the fusles udii^ him,
he stood like a Captun on a ship directing the crew. With the
subscriptions h&ng called out by the ushers, he would give
forth such a rapid-fire of bright comment about the gifts and
the ^vers that he kept the people in a jubilant, and yet rev-
erent, frame. One of the many links binding his heart to the
Seminary was its president. Dr. E. Y. Mullins, for whom he
had high admiration and under whose splendid leadership the
Seminary has developed into such targe and noteworthy
proportions.
Still another friend of his soul passed into the great beyond, —
Dr. C. C. Meador. In the Herald concerning Dr. Meador he
began by saying: "It was with a startling catch in my breath
that I saw the announcement that Dr. Chastain C. Meador
of Washington City had suddenly departed from the earth."
After writing of Dr. Meador's youth and his ministry he
closes with the following:
"This is no biographical sketch. My heart would go wild
at this hour, when my lot^ friend is so newly gone up to glory,
if it has to meddle with the mere dates and figures of his golden
career. These plain words are mere snap shots of a friend, —
taken as he arises from earth to enter the eternal city.
"There ought not to a funeral of C. C. Meador. The thing
becoming us best is to rejoice over a victorious life and a death
splendid with suddenness and serenity."
The cloung sentence in this tribute to Dr. Meador contains
a very characteristic phrase. It is the phrase "a death splendid
with suddenness and serenity" — a picture of the death which
he himself loi^ed for. "I am wofully afrtud I will not die
gracefully" be Sdid to a friend. The reigning ambition of his
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
494 ANXIOUS REGAEDING HIS DEATH
life was that all his actions should be performed according to
the highest standard, and this aspiration pertuned not merely
to his writing, hia preachii^ and his other actJons but even to
the manner of hia dying. He even had high wishes regarding hia
funeral. At the beginning of his Grace Street pastorate in
Kichmond 30 years before this be lived in a house with a
narrow and tortuous stfurway, "I never see that house" said
a lady many years afterwards living on the opposite aide of the
street "that I do not think of Dr. Hatcher saying that he hoped
that he would not die in that house for he did not see how
they would ever get his body down those steps."
But if he was solicitous regarding the final departure of hia
body, immeasurably more anxious was he regarding the maimer
in which bis spirit would take its final flight. His deare was
for "a death splendid with suddenness and serenity," We
have already spoken of this but it may well be empha^zed.
He shrank from the thought of a halt and drag at the end. He
wished that death should catch him with his sickle in his hand
and that he could spring from the harvest field into the pres-
ence of his Master. "We'll work till Jesus comes" was his
favorite hymn, and in multitudes of places in the South the
sound of that hymn will at once call to mind Dr. Hatcher.
He declared relentless war ^^nst decrejntude or indolence.
He came to Baltimore during the winter of 1905 to aid Dr.
C. L. Laws in meetings at the First Church, and from BalUmore
he went to Hollins Institute to fud Dr. Geo. B. Taylor in
"I have reason to be of all men the most grat«ful and con-
tented" he writes, "The Lord multiplies to me the most choice
and unexpected joys," "Tell William" he wrote to my wife
"that I would ^ve a gold dollar just to have him at on my
knee and let me peel an apple for him.".
Later on be wrote to William:
"I have been to Careby Hall and it looks beautiful and what
made it look still prettier was that Vii^mJa and Eatherine were
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
DEATH OF HIS BROTHER HARVEY 495
at Careby and every momii^E they dashed down Btaire and we
ate apples to beat the drummers. I carried up a basket of
apples and we had a gay time as sure as you are a fine boy. I
must tell you that we were not.quite happy, because all the
time we were wishing that WilUam was there. Virginia would
say : 'Would'nt it be jolly if William were only here?' and after
awhile Katherine would say : 'Grandfather dont you wish that
William was here?' and that would almost make grandpapa
cry just to think that his fine boy could not be there. Lewis
would come in and I would give him a piece of apple and he
would say that we ought to have Wilham to help eat those
apples. Then in would jump Harry and when I banded him
some apple he would laugh and tell how William used to eat
apples at Christmas. Ah Foi^ would blink his eyes and look
ae if he were fairly dck to see you. Never mind you must come
next Summer."
Another affliction befell him at this time, — ^the death of his
brother Harvey. "I have had the subduing sorrow of my life"
he wrote in reference to it.
His brother died in the way in which he hoped his own end
would come — suddenly. In writing in the paper about his
brother's death his pen seemed to move with an extra bouyancy
when it came to tell of the manner of his going. He spoke of
Harvey taking his last look at earth and then sprin^ng with a
bound into the eternal world, and he wrote as it he was im-
mensely proud that his broUier had departed in such fashion.
The Academy gave him tuany joys, but it also furnished him
its quota of bothers.
"We have four snows" he writes, "piled on each other with
a slight rumpus in the Academy on tc^ of it. But things wag
on very well."
"I trust that you will work up the Saturday night frolic
for the boys" he writes a little later to Elizabeth. "Beg or buy
the material for the candy. Have a committee on Amusements,
also on any other necessary thing."
Misabeth was his "man Friday" in his handlii^ of the
boys. Much of his work for them was done through her. She
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
496 A VISIT AT ORIE'S
seemed to enter into fullest sympathy with him m all hia
ideals and plans about the development of the boys, and her
helpfulness to the Academy then and in subsequent years was
incalculable. He had distinguished men vi^t and address the
students at frequent intervals. He writes Elizabeth, "I e^>ect
you and the Academy and Careby to give President Boat-
wright a regal time."
In February he pEud a viat that marked the beginning of a
delightful friendship with Dr. C. H. Dodd, pastor of the Peddle
Memorial Church in Newark N. J. He went to preach the
momii^ sermon on Foimders Day and also had a happy viedt
at his daughter One's in Bryn Mawr College. "I found her
rooms beautiful" be wrote; "I felt as if I was in Windsor or
Buckingham Castle. I lunched with her and met quite a
choice company of her friends and though I was dfWked in the
proverbial dust of travel I was most warmly treated."
He held two series of meetings, one in February at Culpeper
and the other in March in Mobile, Ala.
The latter part of April found him again in Alabama, —
this time to de<Ucate the splendid new first Baptast Church
building in Birmii^ham.
In May he had a memorable trip. He attended Srst the
Southern Baptist Convention at Kansas Gty. The Argus in
describing his nomination of Mr. E. W. Stephens for the prea-
dency sfud "Dr. W. E. Hatcher, that prince in Israel, Nestor of ,
Southern Baptists came to the platform to put in nomination
for President a man who was already elected in the hearts of the
Southern Baptist host. . . and then as only Hatcher can he
Bet forth the qualities of his nominee for this great office."
His Convention viat was varied by an amusing little episode:
"A brother took us aside during our convention trip and after
clearing his throat, loosemng up the knees of his pants, beating
around the bush and after several stammers, said that he felt
that we were mad with him about something. The thing
fairly took our breath away. We mad with anybody? Not
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SAINT LOUIS CONVENTION 497
with a mortal on the top of the ground. It so chanced that we
had in our pocket at the moment an admiring and appreciative
'Shred' which we had written up a few moments before for the
Argus. We took it out and read it to the brother and two souls
warmly embraced each other. If you suspect that some brother
ia angry with you tell him how you feel and you two will
be onging blest be the tie that binds in the next ten minutes."
From Kansas City he went to St. Louis to attend the meeting
of the General Convention of American Baptists, composed
of representative Baptist ministers and laymen from all parts
of the United States. His address before the Convention was
regarded as one of the brightest and happiest of his life. It
was the first time once 1845 that the Baptists of the North
and South had met in such a general convention. It had been
arranged that Dr. Edward Judson, son of Adoniram Judson as
representing the Korth and Dr. Hatch^ as representing the
South should deliver the opeiung addresses which should in
some sense set the pace for the Convention proceedingB.
He wrote me the following letter just before he started to
the Convention auditorium to deliver his address, — Dr. C
acting as hia amanuenos:
"Mr Deab E, — That I have treated you in a most unfatherly
way ia a fact beyond all denial and I am afraid that my bad
treabnent would be continued but for the fact that Dr. C
ia in my room at tlus time and I have decided to keep him
quiet by asking him to write to you for me.
"I recommend you to the newspapers for news as to the
Kansas Convention. ... I fussed around in the Con-
vention considerably after the old sort, but do not think that
my absence would have been a seufflble subtraction from the
interest of the body. One man is a little thing in that body,
particularly when Brother Hatcher is the man.
"I am now in St. Louis — stopped here a day for the American
Baptist Convention. This morning I am in a terror because
of a httle part I am to take. 1 haven't many thoughts and
what few I have are squirmii^ and twisting with each other
hke worms in a cup. The agony will be over by noon and I
will mount the first train that will take me back to old Vir-
^nia shore.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
498 HIS SAINT LOIHS ADDRESS
"I have fully detennined to cloee my connection with the
College the first of July. I have never had one day of personal
freedom from a formal engagement fflnce I left CoU^e. I do
want a taste ot personal liberty before my days on earth shall
end. I had rather preach a year than to ask for money one
momii^ before breakfast. Folks have not yet found out that
I can't preach and as long as tbey labor under that pleasant
delusion I want to preach. This is all I god say now."
His address charmed the Northern brethren as much as
it did those of the South. Dr. Judson afterwards remarked
to two Virginia ministers that Dr. Hatcher was "the greatest
platform speaker in America." The Dispatch referred to the
address as the "The Notable Speech of Dr. Hatcher's" and the
Argu8 said that it doubted whether Dr. Hatcher was ever in
his life as happy in an address as he was in that and then added:
"We never saw an audience more en-rapport with a speaker.
It was utterly imposable to report the speech."
As he came to the front he said "I am very glad, indeed,
that the president could think of something to say about me,"
and then be continued:
"I feel profoundly the ugnificance, the sublimity of tKis
hour. This is a scene upon which many have desired to look
and have died without sight. I can not but look up this
morning and think that those men of God, who sixty years
ago parted, are standing together at the windows of the heavenly
city, looking upon this sight."
He next declared that such a gathering gave notice to the
world that the northern and the southern Baptists, while
separated, were not divided.
Later, in his address, he said: "Our nation has waked up
in the last five or six years to find that our task is largely away
from home and that she must take care of other nations and
keep them strtught. I know this remark is awful and you
may not like it at all, — ^but I am a Democrat. I have thou^^t
lately that possibly I might get over it, or get somebody else
over to my ade. ... I would like for the Bi^tists of this
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
. HIS SAINT LOUIS ADDRESS 499
country to catch that world spirit. We must come to-
gether.
He next touched upon the Civil War estrangements that
had formerly separated the northern and Bouthem Baptists
and the bitter feelings that had divided them in the matter of
the southern slaves, — or "servants" and the delightful change
that seemed now to mark the relatjons between the two peoples :
"Now, let me say again I think we ought to get together
and try and keep in line. It is very hard for two people to
carry on buanesa just across the road, where they can see
each other all the time and especially when they are carrying
on the same kind of bu^ness and have trouble with their
children. Abraham and Lot had a fuss. I do not undertake
to say which was wrong, though there was a bad lot of mis-
understandings. But I tell you what struck me in connection
with that squabble was that Abraham laid down the platform
for comity with a view to staying apartl It is a great deal
harder to stay apart than to stay together, and if we are to be
separated we ought to have some tribunal, if that word does
not scare some strict constructionist, where these questions
may be settled. You know the trouble that took place be-
tween Abraham and Lot was started with their servants.
(Laughter.) I think we will have to meet now and then, Mr.
President, and look sSter our servants and let them not quarrel
about the grazing places and the watering places and things
of that kind. I do not know much about comity myself, but
any ghmpses I have had of it have given me a high opinion
of it, and I think that this movement is going to take care of
it. And now, Mr, President, for this reason I have felt that
we should, with cordiahty, adopt these resolutions, and we -
will act together in the organization indicated in this paper.
"My brethren, I want to say that when, twenty-five years
^50, in the city of Atlanta, my venerable old father in the
ministry, Dr. Jeter, proposed that the Baptists of America
should be brought together in one organization, I, afraid to
speak, but full oL fire, felt just that way; but when John A.
Broadus, that matchless leader, issued his moral edict it went
the other way, and I have been a Southern Baptist Conven-
tion man ever since. Besides, at that time I do not think it
would have done for the Baptists of the South to have come
to a meeting of this kind. They were not dressed well enough,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
600 PREPABATION BEFORE SPEAKING
they were almost as poor as Lazarus and had about as many
soreB. (Laughter.) They were not in good traveling order. We
are getting on very well down South and we can come into a
fraternity like th^ without any suggestion of mendicaacy.
God is bringing back the power and glory and riches of the
South. (Applause.) We are coming to the point where we do
not feel that you can mistake us. With earnest spirit of
fraternity and cordiality I second the motion for this union."
At the close the great congregation were on their feet in a
moi^ent and burst forth into ^i^ing "All hul the power of
JesuB name."
He laid great stress upon being in proper mental condition
when appearing before an audience and would always make his
preparation promptly so that he would be free and unstrained
in the hours immediately preceding the address. He felt it
important to keep himself in bright and jovial frame, in,order
that there might be a spontaneous movement of hia mental
forces while spealdng. Consequently there was no hurried and
fidgety tug^ng at his address up to the moment of going to
the platform.
He was being constantly urged to write one or two books,
but he treated as almost preposterous the suggestion that the
public would welcome a volume from hia pen; but we kept up
our ^peals feding sure — ^jut^ng from the reception accorded
his newspaper writings — that a book from him would be
eagerly read. "I do hope that X will in^t on
his wrilang aomethii^ that will five, of the reminiscent order"
writes his wife. "Orie was talking the other day of what
a rare talent be had of writing at first hand — the result of
early training, very laigely".
He Burr^idered later on to our bombardment, and set his
hand to the task of book makii^.
"Fork Union, Va., July, 19, 1905.
"Mt Dear Eldridoe and Anna, — I have no fat matter
with which to enrich a letter. Personal items with myself
as the Magna Pars are sorely against the grmn with me, — all
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS GRANDCHILDREN 501
the more as my life is so common-place. . . I am tame and
stupid tonight and will try a few words to my charming grand-
"As Ever, W. E. H."
"Willu-u-ume, my Prince; Grandfather sends you thousands
of kisses and tons of smiles. If I had you here I would jump
you into the cars and go whirling up and down the road —
happy because I had my lovely boy. . . I ache in my toes
to see you. Do you want to know the reason I am proud of
you. I tell you why — you are so good to your mother and try
to help her.
"Your Big Lover, Grandfather."
He recdved the tidings that William had a little aster, —
thus adding another to the list of bis grandchildren, which
fact drew forth the following letter;
"GRDTIKeBtTRO, Va,
"My Dear and Lovely William, — I am just the bapinest
grandfather anywhere between the mountain and the sea.
I have been very sick this week but when I heard yesterday thai
you had a aster, who is named Anna Granville and is as sweet
as a white rose, I felt almost light enough to jump over the new
moon. I am glad that our Heavenly father has given you
a little sister. I know that you will love her and be g^xl to her.
You must pray for her every night Mid help your mother to
take care of her durii^ the day.
"I am going to Careby tomorrow and I will tell Tom to
have Brux and Britton as fat as butter and the new carriage
shining like gold to go out to Bremo and bring my two grand-
children. Won't grandmother be glad when you get there and
won't E and Aba shout when they hear about it?
"Grandfather."
He drew a picture in the Argus of an old gentlemen stand-
ing thirsty at a bucket of water, and the picture with him in it
is so true to life that I venture the assertion that he was the old
gentleman in question.
"We were at a picnic the other day" he writes "and several
people gathered around a bucket of cool water and each waa
struggling to grasp the dipper. The only exception was that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOglc
502 , HIS LOVE OF LIFE
of an old gentlemsD who, with unruffled Berenity, seemed ready
to wait for any drop or two that might be left after the scramble.
A thot^htJul boy offered him the dipper, but another boy
flared up and siud that he came first. The gentieman irith the
snowy locks smiled pleasantly and said:
" 'Boy, by all means let the boy drink first; the old ought
always to revere the young.'
"The thirsty lad cast a queer, inquiring look at the old man
who bad bowed to him with gracious kindtiess. Some loi^
silent chord in the boy's nature must have been struck for
his face flushed and ms head fell and he Quit the spot with
his thirst unquenehed."
He held a meeting the first part of August in Culpeper where
he wrote:
"I am having a^^onies with something like lumbi^o. The
Doctor says it is Sciatica and I only know that it is like a knife
in my bones. But I am otherwise well and thank the Lord
that I am living."
The one lustrous fact over which he never failed to rejoice
was that he was "livii^". In his prayers, his letters and his
conversations he was ever expressing his gratitude that he was
alive. He yearned to live. He said in an address, in his earher
ministry, that one of the best ^gns that a man was ready to
die was his eagerness to live, — that is, provided he wished to
live in order to do his work. Many were the times that he
would say "I thank the Lord that I am still living," If things
wenl awry with him in his bid age he would say "Yes, but I am
still livii^."
"Buy William a 12 present" he wrote me on August 5tb
three days before his birthday, "and (pve it to him on that
day. Surprise him. I mailed him a long letter which he will
get Monday."
Evidently he had his own noticms about violent athletic
drills in young women's schools. He writes;
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FEMININE ATHLETICS 503
"We have come in sight, — thank heaven, not striking dis-
tance, however — of severaJ young women of late who tore us up
badly enough. Their way of swinging their hands was startling,
BO vindictive indeed that we thought that they had really been
taking lessons in tragic elocution. We trembled for thmr
anns lest they might get uncoupled at the shoulder and we
wondered whether they were not mad about something, — so
fierce they were in thdr swings. With the utmost diffidence we
plead with the f^r and athletic maidens not to wear such
fighting wrs in pubfic and not to die in needless agonies by
wrenching their elbows out of place. F^r mudens guard
against manual violence."
He had purchased a farm of 430 acres near Fork Union on
which was a gold mine of uncertain value. "The gold-mine
men" he writes his wife "are crowding me to let them open up
the mine. . . I do not wish to get jumbled up with specu-
lators. I would hke to get money for the Academy."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXVII
1905—1907
INTRODUCINO NEW PAffTOHS. ACADEMY DETAII^. RELATION TO
THE ACADEMY. DI8AI>P0INTUENTS. OLD AGE. BTRENUOUa
ACTIVnT. VEIOHTED WITH UANT BDRDBNB. BATTLINQ
At the meeting of the General Asaociation in November at
CbarlotteBTJlle he was aeked to "introduce" to the Afisociation
the new pastors who had come into the state during the past
year. He performed in kindly, witty fashion this service each
year at the Assodation and it was regarded as one of the
striking features of the session. The picture is still before me of
Dr. Alderman, preadent of the University of Virginia, — on
that morning a viator in the Association at Charlottes-
ville— ratting in a chair at the front and "with laughter
holding both his radea" as the "introducing" performance
continued. Rev. J. H. Powers says that the first thing he
would look for, after getting to the Association each year, was
the programme in order that he might see when Dr. Hatcher
would introduce the new pastors. "At one of these seeaons"
says he "I laughed so much that I almost feared that I had in-
jured something on my inside."
One year as he was welcoming the new pastors one of the new
men who stepped foreword was a tall, stalwart young minister
from the North. Dr. Hatcher made this stranger feel "at home"
by playfully introducing him as "a yankee" and, while appar-
ently he was warning the audience agfunst the new-comer from
the North, he was, by his kindly manner, winning a very warm
place for him in the hearts of the Association. From that
6U
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTERS FROM "GRANDFATHER" 505
mommt everybody had a glad band for the dangerous "yaiikee",
who was none other than Rev, Hany W. Mabie, the successful
pastor of the Bluefield Baptist Church. From Fork Union
he writes me concerning some Academy problems and adds,
"I merely give you these as specimens of my anxieties. I am
sure however that they will not kill me." From his grandson,
William, he received a letter which consisted amply of in-
numerable, illegible scratches across the page and which be
called hia "letter to Nan-papa". It brought from his grand-
father the following reply:
"December 11, 1905.
"My tine bio Bot, — ^I received your letter. It was thor-
oughly incomprehenmble and I read every word in it and it
was as plain and easy to read as any illegible letter that I ever
read. I think your writing is beautiful considering that your
chirography is not better. I showed your letter to some of my
friends and they said it was a letter that anybody could read
provided they were able to do it. What you say about coming
to'Careby Hall makes me pat my foot like the music of a
fiddler. Grandmother says that your sister is growing in
beauty and flesh every day. You must give her my love and
tell her she may grow as fast as she pleases and get to be the
queen of aU American Beauties but that after all she will have
to admit that she can't write such a letter as you wrote me.
I am going up to Careby tomorrow night and I will tell A.
and E, to put things in shining shape because the only nephew
they have on the earth will be up there in a few days and that
I want thitags fixed just to suit him. When you get to
Richmond I will hire a cab to take your mother and your
grandmother and your sister over to the other Depot, but you
and your father will take a little stroll through the town and
view the beauty thereof.
"We are not going to have things very fine at Careby this
time because it takes too much money but we want to have
things square and mce. I certainly want plenty of apples,
plenty of bananas and I propose that we will have great times
of a morning before I get up. I am sure Virginia will be there.
I expect she will come about Saturday. Maybe Katherine will
come too but they will get there later on anyhow and we will
shake Careby HaU until the timbers creak.
"Very lovingly Your
"Graadfatber"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
606 INTERESTED IN DETAILS
Afi an example of the little detidls, aa Well as the lai^ denomi-
national undertakings that tugged at his brain, may be men-
tioned the followiiM5 letter which he received from one of the
smaller Academy boys. This lad afterwards was graduated
from one of the prominent universities of the land.
"Fork Union, Va.
"Dear Da. Hatcher, — ^I hate to keep on bothering you,
but my washing bill is due at the end of this week for two
montha. You were not in Fork Union last month when it
was due, so I let it run until this month. I will have to get
another Algebra book aoon. Must I go to Mr. Bashaw for
the money or not? I certainly do appreciate all the thii^
you are doii^ for me ^d am trying to make the best of them.
"I remain your loving little friend."
The same boy writes agfun a few weeks later:
"Deab Dr. Hatcher, — I am so sorry I did not come over
to get that little bundle you had for me, but I had to get up the
wood for my room and this took me until study hour yesterday.
"I forgot to mention a matter which I ought to have
spoken about when you were here. Capt. Winston \a going
to make all the cadets get khaki imiforms, or imiforms for
Sununer wear. These will cost $5.35 per suit. I wrote to
aunt and asked her ^^out it; she said you pronused
to pay tor my uniform so I ask you about it. Capt. Winston
is ta^ng orders for them now and most of the boys have
already -paid him.
"Your loving little friend."
During these winter months he was busy in a finanoal
campaign for the College, — a caxapaign that tried his soul.
He was stru^ing to raise money to cover the losses in the
case of those bonds in Ute Rockefeller campaign that had
proved worthless. "I have exhausted the marrow in my bonea
to get the Rockefeller deficit" he writes. . "My night at
Winfree's was as sweet as a bird's sonnet."
He writes:
"I never had such a pas^on as has burned within me for
the last two or three weeks for absolute rest. My ^ft for resting
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS RELATION TO THE ACADEMY 507
has never been cultivated and I am sure that after two or
three days of idleneaa I will be chafing again for the battle.
My plana repose in the bosom of chacs — a very cosy place for
them to sleep until called into action."
He also writes:
"It tires me so much more to rest than to work." He writes
me of a young preacher who was feeling good over a "raise"
ID his salary and then he adds: "I think I had a little to do
with the action of the church and I only wish that I may be
able to help him in other ways." He wrote a characteristic
letter to his beloved friend, Judge W. W. Moffett. The Jut^e
had recently been re-elected to the Judgeship by an over-
whelming vote, to which Dr. Hatcher in playful fashion thus
refers:
"I was quite nervous about your election — ^being naturally
uncertain as to the final result in cases where politics play the
game. Had I known you would play the cormorant and
swallow everything in sight I might have been saved several
wakeful moments. I did not congratulate you because I hate
to shout with a mob. When I speak I like to hear my own
voice. You know how I felt about it."
There were some who thought that the Academy was a
source of conedderable income to him. They knew not that
while not a dollar had come to him as compensation for hie
labors for the school, yet on the other hand he had put into it
probably several thousands of dollars, ui addition to a laige
portion of his work. The following letter shows his attitude
towards the Academy:
'ToEK UmoN, Feb. 17, 1906.
"My Deas ELDRmas, — I had a great visit to Fork Union.
The [Academy] Trustees had a tremendous meeting, barrii^
one or two luckless bitches. X struck for higher
wages with rather a disastrous result. But that will blow off
in no good while. We passed some mammoth resolutions about
new buildings. They also undertook to employ me at a thous-
and dollars to be their agent, I suppose you might call it.
This I solemnly and defiwtly refused. I told them it would
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
608 LETTER FROM EX-GOV. STEPHENS
kill me to receive a salaxy from the Academy — that I could not
hire myself out to one of my children. Finally, they passed a
resolution Betting apart a thousand dollars, subject to my
order and to be disposed of in any way that I thought proper.
In response to that I s&id nothing. Their demonstration was so
gracious and enthusiastic that it found a rather tender spot
beneath my w^stcoat. One never knows what may come, but
I feel that if I were to recwve a salary from the Academy it
would put me at a disadvantage. I have to fight very often
encroachments upon the treasury and I shrink from the sus-
picion of being an eacroacher.
"Besides, it grates upon the loving joy which I have always
found in what I do for the Academy. I humbly pray the Lord
that the day may never come when I shall be either an employee
or a beneficiary of the Acadnny."
The meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was draw-
ing near and he received the following letter from Ebc-govemor
Stephens of Missouri who was at that t^me the Preeddent both
of the Southern Baptist Convention and of the Baptist Gen-
eral Convention:
"Now as pre^dent <^ the Southern Bf^tist Convention and
also of the Baptist General Convention I command your pres-
ence at both bodies. I amply cannot do buMness without
you. I mean this.
"You must be at both places from start to finish. The
Southern Baptists cannot play Hamlet without him. We are
expecting a great meeting at Chattanooga and you will be an
essential part of it.
"I assure you it will be a genuine pleasure to be with you
f^Eun. I read everything you write and listen to everythijw
you say, publicly and privately, when I am near you and I
do not know that I can say this of any other man, living or
dead, for I am the easiest man bored you ever saw. Of course
my family would all take pleasure in visiting you in Virginia,^
but it will have to be on condition that you visit us first.
"I again want to in^st upon your being at Chattanooga,
if not at Louisville, and if possible at both."
He suffered a mishap in the spring that cut him deeply,
and yet bis irrepressible optimism came to his rescue. He was
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A DISAPPOINTMENT 509
en-route to the Colgate Seminary to deliver a series of lectures
before that institution. His manuscript was snugly packed
away in his valise as he stopped over in Philadelphia to spend
the Sabbath day aad preach morning and night at the Mem-
orial church. But — as he once remarked — "The Lord often
takes our programmes out of our hands, tears them up and
constTMns us to go in ways we know not of."
He tells in the following paragraph of the coU^ee of his
plans:
"Unaccountably we succumbed within an hour of our arrival
to that w«rd, contradictory thing which travels the earth and
does nuschief under the name of the Grippe."
But he pulled himself together and forced himself out to the
Memorial church on the next day and attempted to preach,
but he eaid:
"We foi^ot the Lord's prayer, leaving out one part and
saying another part of it twice, and read the New Testament
when we ought to have read the Old Testament, and forced
the choir to sing an anthem when they ought to have chanted.
. . . Our voice cracked, wheezed and broke into grating
dissonances. "
Monday came and with it came the Doctor who cut short
his trip to Colgate. Concerning this visit of the physidan
he wrote:
"He came and saw and ordered us back to Virgjnia by the
next train. We set our face back to old Virginia and that came
nearer making us feel like a human being than anything else
that had occured. A delirious and agonizing trip of seven
hours put us in Richmond at midnight and the next day found
us at our hut in the brush in the fine foot-hills of the Blue
Bidge. Four days have patched us up in spots and at this
present writing we are cherishing the somewhat reckless hope
of seeing Chattanooga nest week."
What a fall was that! — the Philadelphia vi«t turned into a
eomiv tragedy, and the Colgate lectures left suspended in the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
510 A SECOND DISAPPOINTMENT
air, and he who was to be the happy hero, suddenly bundled
up as an inyalid and shipped back to the little village of Fork
Umon. This dismal experience was soon succeeded by another
disappointment. He waB on the point of startii^ for the
Southern Baptist Convention in Chattanooga when the Grippe
laid him upon his back again. But he usually played the
philosopher in hia moments of disappointment, and Ms sunny
nature did not desert him in the present instance. And yet
it was a eore deprivation to him to be kept from that Conven-
tion,— from its discussions and its fellowships.
Did the Convention miss him?
I went to the Convention and was kept busy receiving from
the delegates the expressions of their sorrow at hts absence,
and their messages of love- to him. I slipped into the hotel
writing-room one day and dashed off the following epistle to
him:
"CHATTANOoaA, Tbnn., May 13, 1906.
"Deae Grandfather, — I am very sure you do not know
how much this Convention loves you. It is not simply admira-
tion but love. It seems as if everybody has inquired anxiously
about you and has sent loving messages to you.
"It does seem a pity that you cannot be here. You must
surely keep yourself in good shape and be on hand next year.
Everybody says they miss you and there seems general grief
that you are sick and absent."
With this letter let us couple one or two other communi-
cations. One is a tel^ram that was sent to him from the
Preadent of the Convention, Ex-Govemor Stephens, which
reads:
"Your name on every tongue. Sympathy in every heart.
We miss the sunshine of your prraence. The whole Conven-
tion is praying for your recovery. Bealer joins me in this
Another was from the Convention itself, sent through Dr.
T. S. Dunnswaylreading:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BELOVED BY THE CONVENTION 511
"The Convention after special prayer for your speedy re-
covery Bends a message of sympathy and love."
Still another telegram was from Mrs. George Schmelz
reading:
"Miss you so much. Do hope you are better,"
Rev. C. L. Corbitt, the new Superintendent of the Baptist
Orphanage, writes him on May Idth :
"Deae Dr. Hatcher, — "I know you were greatly missed at
the Convention; in fact I dont see how they could get along
without you. If I were in the Lord's place I would let you live
a hundred years longer, in truth I would make it two hundred
upon a pinch. But then the Lord knows best and I am giving
the matter up into his hands. I am begging him though to
spare you many many years not only for the good of his Cause,
but for my sake. You have been so Itind and good to me. I
not only appreciate it but I love you with all my heart."
Many persons remarked that one of their joys in coming to
the Convention was the privilege of meeting him there. He
delighted at such gatherings to open his heart to his brethren
and his ears to the stories of their burdens, tbdr struggles and
their triumphs. "How many care-worn pastors," heoncewrote,
"bring their secret wounds with them to our great assemblies.
. . . What a field it opens to the burden bearer. We can do
no better thing than to open ear and soul to thdr cries of the
heart and to stay long enough to take their burdens off and
cast them on the Lord." Dr. Buckner of Texas said:
"He used to honor me and touch my heart, by affectionately
insisting that I should sit by him on the platform at the gather-
ings ot our great Southern Baptist Convention."
His strei^th soon returned and be sped away from Fork
Union as if to make amends for his days of inactivity. He
appeared to forget that his 72nd birthday was at hand as
he took, the trfuiu for a long journey to South Carolina
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc "
512 PRESSING EAKNESTLY FORWARD
for a series of revival meetings, after which he returned
to Fork Union and thence hastened to Ohio where, at
the Denizon Univeraty at .Granville, he was scheduled
to speak at the Commencement exercisies. His rapid
trips made his wife uneasy. She writes, "keep up with him
and beg him to take better care of his voice. He is uong it
too much but I dont beheve we can check him much."
She often during these later years asked me to join with her in
efforts to check him in his overwork. It was a natural request
but our efforts were as straws before a strong current. His
soul clamored for work. He would listen to the exhortations
of his family and friends about his overwork, would twit the
speaker with playful jests and then take the next train for a
dedication, a revival campaign, or a Board meeting. In the
week ^ter writing the above letter my mother writes me agfdn:
"Dr. Hatcher performed numerous feats this week for one
of his age. Just think of it — to Ohio Saturday, preaching
sermon Sunday, returning to Bichmond Tuesday, Alumni
banquet Wednesday, Trustee meeting and Commencement at
night, leaving at IIP. M. train for Salem where he installed
Charles Corbitt as Supt. of the Orphan^e on Thursday and
here today — somewhere distant next Sunday. . . Your
father has just come in. He seems well and in good spirits."
lliere was one thing that he insisted upon almost as inexora-
bly as he did upon his keeping at work and that was having
his grandchildren at Careby in the Summer. For example he
writes to William E, Jr. on July 3rd:
"I fairly leaped for joy when I got your letter writtOL by
Aba and signed with your own hand. I think it is a big thing
to have a boy who can write his own name. It almost made
tears come in my eyes when I read that you wanted me to come
after you and bring you to Careby. You ought to be here.
The trees are beautiful, — the grass in the yard is soft and green —
the plums are ripe in the orchard^ — ^the bushes are laden with
blackberries — the whortleberries are coming on — June apples
are ripe and are going fast — Mammy's cows have milk for you
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
OLD AGE 613
and Onie ^11 make batter-cakes for you one monung and
wafEIes the next. Virginia and Katherine have not come and
Grandmother has no one to speak to but Ah Fong.
"Tell your mother that Careby Hall is wwting for you and
that Brux and Britton will toss their heads and rattle their
harness with joy when they go to Bremo to meet you.
"Ah Fong is at Careby Hall and he would shout for joy if
you would come and I hope by all means you will make him
shout,"
Old age had long been knocking at his door. For several
years his hearing had paid the penalty of its long usage and
now his eye-fflght was growing dim. My wife writes me from
Careby:
"He said the other night that he was afraid that he would
not be able to do much more writing on account of his eyes.
I know how anxious you have been for him to do more writing."
Concerning old age he wrote:
"It ia said that at forty-eight Thackery was gray, bowed
and gloomy, fretfully brooding over the past. We must admit
that it is not easy, except by tricks that are grotesquely vain,
to keep the silver threads out of our hair, or even to keep the
hair, with the silver threads included, on our heads. Nor is it
always possible to preserve the erectneas and elasticity of our
forms, but it is folly, it is a sin in christians to grow dismal
Emd downhearted as age comes on. A cheerful ei^possment*
in our appomted work is an eEFectual safeguard ^Eunst mel-
ancholy. . . If we would clothe our souls with perennial
youth we must set our faces towards the future and rejoice
in the living God."
He visited in September the Middle District Association in
Maryland, where he preached a sermon on the Significance of
Baptism. He dwelt the longest on the first three words of the
text "Know ye not", — as if Paul would say in that passa^
(Romans VI, 4) to the christians who had long since been
baptized: "What, know you not? Can it be that you were
baptised and yet you do not know its rich meaning? Do you
not know that "as many of you as were baptized etc?"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
514 SORE TRIMS
One of the ways by which he kept his heart young was by
keeping it open to all the interests of Christ's kingdom. For
example he remembered at this time that the great Seminary
at Louisville was at the be^nnii^ of a new session and that
through its doors now were crowding its students from all parts
of the South and so in bis editorial column in the Baptist
World he writes as follows:
"We uncover our heads and make our bow to the scores and
and scores of young princes in Israel just entering our great
Seminary in Louisville. Hello, boys: Southern Baptists hfol
you and warmly approve your coming. Your opportunity is a
miracle wrought for you by the great-hearted. Hemember
that and seize the prize set before you. Do not allow homes —
^ckness, nor messages found in square envelopes which reach
you about twice a week, to be mistaken for emergency calls
to quit school and go to preaching. Unless gumption and grit
are short of measure in your case take no short cuts but stay
in the middle of the road. . . May the Lord of our fathers
anoint the sons of the prophets."
Some burdens at this time were pres^ng him very severely,
and he was subjected to sore and exceedingly painful trials. His
wife overheard him say to himself one day in an adjoining
room, "Ah, this is a hard world."
At the General Association in Richmond in November his
soul seemed to feast on its fellowships. His wife, in writing
about the Association, sfud:
"Last night when there was about to come a hopeless tangle
he rose and by his word brought relief to the situation."
He wrote me from Franklin, Ya., of some engagements tiiat
he had for the next few weeks and added: "And then blessed
idleness until after Christmas and still lot^er. I mean to put
my type-writer in perfect shape and my mornings are to be
ff.vea to those articles and reminiscences which seem to ffve
you so much umieceesaiy trouble."
Christmas was approaelung and he yearned for a family
reunion at Careby, He wrote me: "Servants may forsake us,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MEETINGS AT TROtJTVILLE 515
but our GompaiiioQBlup is better tljaa etidled oxen or turkeys
stuffed with oystere. Let ua get together if we can." He said
that hia meeting &t Franklin waa "transcendentiy great."
To pr. Andrew Broadus Jr., he writea on November 27th:
"It was just like you to write me that delightful lettOT.
"Life abounds in complexities, and hard strains come to all
and often in unexpected ways. This is a part of God's dis-
cipline. To be able to receive the cuts and slii^s of injustice
and yet to keep the heart open and free from bitterness is no
easy matter. And yet we must do this for if we fail in it wo
fail in character. ... I love you with an ever ripening
friendship."
He interjects a surprising parenthesis into his revival meet-
ings at Troutville, viz., a trip to Richmond, speading two n^hts
on the cars but mis^i^ only one day from the meetings.
"Think of it" he writes his wife. "Here I am in Blchmond.
Meeting of Trustees of Richmond College came this morning
and I am going back tonight. Had a fine day here. Mr. Camp
dined some of us at the J^erson this afternoon in great pomp."
Regarding the night trips from Troutville, the pastor, Dr.
George B. Taylor, thus writea:
"Notices came to each of us of an important called meetji^
of the Board of Trustees of Richmond College. I told Dr.
Hatcher that he must go. . . He insisted on my gtmig. So
we arranged for a forcel march. We left Troutville one night
after the night service, went by way of Basic and the C. and
O. R. R. to Riclmiond, this being an all night journey, without
a "sleeper". At Bade, between trains, he dictated to me one
of hia articles to the Baptist World. . . We reached Rich-
mond in the morning, spent the day there and took the N. and
W. in the evening. The next morning we drove from Roanoke
to Troutville, eleven miles and were then in time for the morn-
ing service. I tell of this to show how vigorous, enthusiastic, re-
sourceful he was.
"And, in passing, I would say that he was a charming fellow
traveler. Tliis last remark reminds me of some hours with him
after one of the Orphanage Board meetings at Salem. He asked
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
516 THE CHRISTMAS REUNION
me to be his guest at supper in Roanoke at the N. and W.
Restaurant. I accepted. We had a good supper and a season
of good feUowship."
It would seem that his seventy two birthdays would have
read the riot act to him against such strenuous activities as that
of the Troutville-EJchmond trip, but he knew that he was
approaching the border line and he determined to keep up the
high pressure. He was never so well and never so jubilant
as when he was out upon the highways and hastening on with
the King's bumnese.
Regarding the Christmas reunion at Careby and the coming
of the grandchildren he writes:
"Tell William that I am fwrly shouting at the thought of
our fruit feasts in the morning. We will wake the sleeping
natives with the noise with which we will fill the house,
"I think we must have a new set of calls and the children
will have to rehearse them so we can make the house roll and
tumble with the thunder of our shouts. As for fruit we must
have it stored away and not let any hands touch it except by
our consent.
"I saw Virginia and Katherine a week ago. Their mother
seemed a tittle doubtful about coming but I put my foot down
and said "they had to" and I am sure it will be all right,"
Attached to this letter was a sheet of paper on which he had
written the following:
"Master William E. Hatcher Jr. and Miss Anna G. Hatcber
are moat lovingly invited to spend the Christmas Holidays with
Grandfather and Grandmother at Careby Hall and to eat
fruit in bed every morning before breakfast with the quartette
of grandchildren. They must bring their largest voices with
them BO that they can shake Careby with their thundering
shouts and wake up the drowsy members of the tribe."
It would seem — at first blush — as if "somebody had blunder-
ed" that this old man, now moving on towards his 73rd births
day, should in addition to countless other tasks be carrying
upon bis shoulders a l&rge and growing MiUtary Academy,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS WORK FOR THE ACADEMY 517
with practically the entire load restiag upon him. It was not
merely that he exercised general oversight over the inatitution
but the management of the school, with even the details
on the business aide, was upon his mind and under his direction.
Every burden put its pinch in his heart. He was expected to
be the chief magnet to draw the pupils; if a note was to be made
in bank, or if a $3,000 loan was needed in order to erect an
Armory for the school the verdict was: "Let Dr. Hatcher do
it." If teachers were to be employed, a new Catali^ue
prepared, or Commencement exercises arranged for, or
speakers secured for the school opening, or boys tr^ned
for a special entertainment, or a new Commandant se-
cured from the Government, or specif rates deinded upon
tor certain boys; or, — and yet how vain to attempt a list of
the Academy tasks that were week by week tug^ng at his
br^n and putting their responsibilities upon his heart.
Let it not be concluded that the other Trustees were unsym-
pathetic or disloyal. He found rich delight in the devotion
of the local trustees to the school. They were in nearly every
case plain, imlettered farmers, with no experience nor tnuning
that fitted them for conducting a great Academy, But they
were sympathetic and stood loyally by their Premdent and
in many ways reinforced his labors in behalf of the institution.
But with all this it was be who carried the load and the innumer-
able perplexities of management and upbuilding put many a
thorn in his pillow.
In his visits to us in Baltimore we could read between the
lines and see the Academy worries that were stnunii^ and
ofttimes bewildering him. The school was the child of his heart,
"and" said he "like our children generally they always give us
our greatest joys and our greatest cares."
"The care of the school is very fearful upon me" he writes
me on Dec. 10th. "It has points of peril that I have not
had to deal with before. It uses much of my time and in
that way lessens my income seriously. But I cannot let go.
I was not built that way. I hope to come to Baltimore on
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
618 THE ACADEMY
Jan. 2nd [for a dedication]. I have two meetings in Indiana
uid one in South Carolina."
He took pride in the thought that the Academy was a ^ver
rather than a recipient. It bad been his duty often to canvass
Vir^pnia for funds for other Baptist Schools and he knew that
the denomination was heavily burdened. It gave tiim comfort
to think that he had been able to pull his Academy along
without troubling the denomination. Yea he rejoiced that
he had done far more, he had made it a fountain of blessing
in the aid and triuning that it had given to many a poor am-
bitious boy and in the sendii^ out of well-equipped young men
into the denomination to fill its pulpits, its professor's
chairs and other positions of influence. It was this fact that
cheered him and nerved him to his sacrifices and activities.
Let it be remembered that in connection with his labors
for the Academy he was busy with manifold activities of
other Idnda,— such as conductii^ revival meetii^s in which he
preached twice and sometimes three times a day, writing lus
weekly S. S. Lessons for the Baptist Teacher, funushing
editorial matter to different papers, participating in the meet-
ings and work of various Boards and committees of a denomi-
national character, dedicating churches, preparing special
;, etc., etc.
We are next called upon to view him while grappling defiantly
with dckness in his efforts to keep busy.
"Your father has been constantly at the typewriter" writes
my mother "but has been sick for two days— working on his
S. S. Lessons. He seems to enjoy writing. He got home on
Monday worse for wear with a cold like Grippe. That night
he was slightly delirious — as he always is, when he has a fever."
He went to Salem and there on Monday the battle wait
agfunst him and his rackness laid him low. "Taken mournful^
ack Monday" he writes. "Endured the pangs and woes of the
meeting [Orphanage Trustees] and dragged my aching frame
to Tom Shipman's in Roanoke and fell into as loving embraces
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BATTLING WITH SICKNESS 519
as were ever bestowed upon Angels when they were traveling
in disguise. My ackneaa is Grippe — hard and harsh — filled
with pricking pain and racking me as if I had met a martyr's
doom. . . 1 shall doctor myself for my Baltimore trip and
by the mercy of the Lord I hope to see you within a week."
Kev. Thomas ShJpman, in whose home he was so lovingly
entertained, thus writes to Mrs. Hatcher:
"Do you know that I am fully persuaded that he will go on
to Baltimore for next Sunday and dedicate that church. You
just can't hold him down. His life is worth too much to the
people for him to overtax and expose himself at his age. He
is our great leader Emd we can't spare him just now. Can't
you get Mm to write, write more?"
"I doubt whether he ought to preach and speak so much"
writes his wife. "Evidently his larynx is the delicate organ.
I wish there was some way to get him to take better care of
himself."
He went to Baltimore, stayed in our home and preached the
dedicatory sermon at the new Second Baptist Church, after
which he hurried — still sick — ^back to Richmond, from which
point he wrote his wife to prepare for his coming on the late
trun that evening to Bremo:
"Coming up this evening. It is a risk, but put curtuns on
the buggy and plenty wraps. Tell Horace to use robe on horse
at depot. Better bring lamp."
He went and Ms wife wrote that he arrived that night
"when the weather was below zero" — after a drive of five miles
from the depot. Dr. MuUins had invited him to speak at the
Seminary in Louisville on Founder's Day and although he
was sick yet he made the trip. "
"The long jump to Louisville brings me pause" he writes
"for I do not seem to be on the top crest of health. But travel
seems the only saving exercise for me so far as health is concerned.
I quit my bed to go from Roanoke to Lynchburg — quit Lyneh-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
620 LECTUBE IN LOUISVILLE
baTg for Baltimore and it agreed with me — quit Baltimore, in
the face of stentorian protest, to go to Richmond and fattened
on it— quit Richmond for Fork Union and here 1 am getting
my going-temper up to the fighting point. I love Louisville
but if it was to Baltimore I was starting I would feet new thrills.
But let me not be ungrateful. Mrs. Marvin cl^ms me as her
guest and that is a clean sweep to royal honors.
"I am in a sub-cellar of despond about my speech but I
trust the Lord will meet me at the crisis and pull me through.
Cook sick at Careby and things not at the apple pie counter."
He went to Louisville and on the 19th he writes me:
"The time of my life. This has been the best,
"My poor skinny lecture drew a crowd and seemed to hit
the bull s optic. Sunday I preached twice — -at East Church
in the morning and at Broadway at ni^t. Had ripping crowds
and folks went quite foolish."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XXXVIII
1907
COHHENCES VRITINa HIS NEW BOOK. BIOORAPHT. COLOATB LEO
TDREB. DELINEATINO CHARACTER. WORKING AT HIGH
PRESSURE. ADDRESS AT INDUNAPOLIB ON "tHE
MAKING OF THE AHERICAN GBNTLEHAN."
Friends communicated with Mr. Revell, the New York
publisher, about the importance of enlisting Dr. Hatcher in the
writing of one or more books. Writing of his visit to Louisville
he says:
"Mullins is quite up on my books and urges me to write fast
and often. I start home this evenii^."
He received a letter from Mr. Revell that quickened his
pace in the matter of book writing. We had talked of two
books, — one a book of Reminiscences and_the other a book on
John Jasper, the colored preacher of the "Sun Do Move"
fame. Upon bis return from Louisville he writes me further
about bis new book, in the production of which be is now be-
coming much interested:
"I have other stories of the sort that you seat to Mr. Revell.
I caa nm them off quite fast and will do my best. But my
lecture engagements, my editorial work and several trips on
work intent crowd me up considerably.
"Dr. Mullins. . . was quite fierce in his enthusiasm
about the pubhcation as I knew he would be. He is surely
the King of the Louisville Dominions.
He writes me on February 25tb that he has decided to
publish the book on "John Jasper" first and let the otlier
publication come out later and then adds:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
822 THE JASPER BOOK
"I wish you would see also how many humorous stories —
with a religious side to them — you would find a«!Ceptable with
the publisher. The book ought to be departmental in a small
sense. I could pile in things on the laughing side of my min-
istry and many of them have a serious undertone. Not one is
touched with irreverence."
"Just from Winfree's" he writes his wife on March 6th;
"Wrote Jasper's sermon on 'The Sun Do Move' while there.
Am busy with stenographer on my New York lectures. I go
to South Carolina tomorrow. Tell Horace to use this weather
repairing fences at farm,"
Hegardii^ the plan of the Jasper book he writes; "I must
eschew the old run of biographic history and give it a dash of
the genuine Jasper," In other words, his new book is to be, —
not a history but a picture of Jasper. Is there not much
Uterary philosophy couched in those words "a dash of the
genuine Jasper." It was as if he would say that the met©
historical details of Jasper's life might not show "the genuine
Jasper." Such historical details could easily conceal or distort
the real man. It was his purpose that the Jasper in his book
should be the genuine article and his expression "a dash"
indicates that he has in mind a sketch rather than a full, life-
sized oil painting. His remark takes a fling at what he calls
"the old run of bi(^Taphic history" and speaks of it as some-
thing that he would "eschew". I have looked upon the rows
of biographies so many of which stand in undisturbed quiet upon
the shelves of our public hbraries. I have wondered if the
present book would join the dust-covered company. This
timid writer has already taken the reader into bis confidence by
telling him that he too is seeking to "eschew the old run of
biographic history" and to present a picture of the genuine
William E. Hatcher and if the curioaty of any reader may not
he satisfied in these pages as to the particular places visited
by Dr. Hatcher, or the dates on wluch his performances occured,
it is hoped that be will feel more than compensated in dia*
covering the individual behind the deeds; for it is not the visible
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SOUTH CAROLINA 523
movements of the man, but rather the personality hidden under
the daily activities, that enlists our interest.
His letter to me, which is referred to above, was as follows:
"I hope you have copies of all the articles written thus far,
... I am going out today and look for three or four officers
of Jasper's church and gather some things if possible that
will go further in giving us all the material we want.
"I am not sure that I desire to have the book called 'The
Sun Do Move.' It would really belie the character of the
book. . ■ It [the sermon on "The Sun do move"] was really
one of the most eloquent and powerful sermons that he ever
preached. . . Tomorrow I go to Edgefield, S. C.
"P. S, — I called on one of the digtutaries of Brother Jasper's
church this afternoon and struck the track of what I hope
will prove much valuable information. . . I must eschew
the old run of biographic history and give it a dash of the
genuine Jasper."
South Carolina seemed to attract him and during the re-
mainder of his life it became a frequent trampii^ ground for
him in his revival meetings. From Edgefield, in that state,
he writes on March 16th, "Life is at high tide in this historic
county seat at this moment. Our meeting is simply glorious.
It fills me with grateful wonder."
"I wish" writes his wife "he could write shorter letters to
folks. But they are often personal letters from folks who want
him to help them and he has a mind always to do a good part
by them; that is right I suppose."
Dr. A. J. Fristoe was holding meetings at the Academy and
as he caught aght of Dr. Hatcher at Careby Hall in the midst
of his labors he thus writes:
"Dr. Hatcher is one of the budest men I have ever seen.
Knowing he was no longer identified with a responsible pas-
torate I supposed that his duties would not be so numerous
but I found quite the contrary to be true. His correspondence
is laige, lectures for universities, colleges and Seminaries are
b^ng prepared, newspapers are clamoring for the products
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
624 LECTURES AT COLGATE
of Hb pen and at no distant date several books will be ready
for the press. And, beside all this, Richmond Collie, Fork
Union Academy, the Orphanage, the Ekiiication Commission
and other great interests of Vii^ma Baptists require his close
identification and actually before my meeting was half over
he was wired to attend a funeral in Richmond and proceed
thence to South Carolina to hold a meeting. May God spare
him to UB many years,"
In the previous year he had been prevented by Rickneas from
dehvering three lectures at Colgate Seminary and he had ag^^ed
to deliver them in April of the present year. About April 1st
he arrived in Hamilton, New York, to perform his promised
task, — that of speaking out of a ministry of fifty years to a body
of young preachers. He dehvered three lectures. The first one
was on "The Imperishable Things." In his introduction to this
lecture he recognized the upheaval in the world of Biblical
scholarship and he said that many timid souls feared that this
scientific inquiry threatened disaster to the Bible. He pleaded
for an openness to the truth. "Let us be willing to know the
truth and let us take time to find it out. Let us not be uneasy
lest the foimdations of the righteous be destroyed."
He then singled out four facts regarding the christian min-
istry, which amid earths' changes and uncertainties stood out as
imperishable. These were: I. The ministry itself. IL The
ministry-producing force. III. The demand for the ministry.
Under this head the speaker said: "No man can read the ngos
of the time, as they are written on passing events, without
feeling that there is a new spirituality — shadowy, indistinct
and yet undeniable — that is throbbing in the air of this world.
Materialism is balked and mortified by its failures. It heard
the^cry of the soul asking to be fed; it had nothing but the
stone and the scorpion to give in reply. IV. The order for the
universal enforcement of the gospel; — which he said was "the
most audacious and startling word that hiunan lips ever uttered,
— the Great Commission."
His second lecture was — but perhaps some reader of a non-
theologicaJ turn of mind may think it a waste of space to be
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
THE MAN WHO ARRIVES 525
retailing here the thoughts that were presented to a Seminary
audience. And yet the reader might pemut us to remind him that
this book is a sort of open Commons where one may roam at
pleasure and if he finds himself persecuted in one part he nmy
flee unto another, and who knows but that some readers may,
in lighting upon these cullings from Dr. Hatcher's lectures,
rejoice as if he had found some fine gold; and be^de it is a
principle in hterary culture that the mind should not follow
too slavishly the narrow path of its own preferences, but should
sometimes at least widen the rai^ of its studies and browse
in pastures new. If the reader thinks that these comments and
side remarks might be dispensed with let him understand that
they are interjected in mercy to him, to serve as resting places
along his way as he joumeys through these pages, and possibly,
also, as contrasts to the bulk of the material with which this
book is filled. Fielding says in his history of Tom Jones,
"Judicious writers have always practised this art of contrast
with great success The Jeweler knows that the
finest brilliant requires a foil and the piunter, by the contrast
of his ^pires, often acquires great applause." If the reader
ther^ore should weary of such collateral disquiations, as bdng
dulness embodied, let him use them to set off to even greater
advantage the gleanings and incidents from Dr. Hatcher's
hfe which constitute the other portions. A humorous writer
of a century or more ago "told the public that whenever he was
dull they might be assured there was design in it," and with
this ancient writer as my authority, and trusting that the reader
will after these reminders withdraw his objections, I will take up
the second Lecture which bore the unique title of "The man
who arrives" and it must be understood at the outset that this
subject is Edmply an old acquaintance decked up in new and
more becoming attire and known on the street, or in the market
place, as "the man who gets there" and as he was addresdi^
young preachers he had in mind, of course, "the preacher who
arrives." He then proceeds ia mention four things that the
effective minister sQUSt ttftVe-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
526 THE THIRD LECTURE
"I. The jwwer of adaptatioD," — and this he defines as "Gte
power to grapple surprises."
"II. The power of discovering relationships." This quality
with him seemed to stand almost first in his list of ministerial
qualifications. He thought that great men differed from small
men largely in their ability to see things in th&i relation to other
thills. He always aeemed afraid of the man who could see
only one thing at a time.
"A truth seen outside of its family is a stranger" sud he.
He spoke of the evils and perils of half truths. "John Calvin"
said he "had his study in Geneva and from his irindow could
behold the eternal glaciers of the Alps. Had be been bom on
the other aide of the mountains and beheld the woodland, the
lake and the sunlight of Italy he would have hardly believed there
could be a glacier."
"3. The capacity for the gradation of duties."
"4. Mastery over men. The minister must be the princdiest
man in his church — well rounded, with his infinnities under
cover, with no apol<^etic note, without whine or sob, bright,
strong, commanding — a leader of the people."
The third lecture had for its subject, "The fourfold relation
of the Minister." In this lecture he dealt with the minister
as he is in the act of giving his message to his audience, and the
central, dominating thought of the lecture was that the per-
B<malU,y of tA« preacher is a mial element in the sentum.
"The gospel" says he "fumiahea the divine element of the
sermon and the preacher contributes the human element and
whenever these two come together into sweet accord and the
human and the divine are blended in due proportion then the
sermon will inevitably cany immeasurable power."
The speaker then unfolded the four things ^irtiich should
mark the minister "who appears before the public with a
"1. He must be the master of his own personality."
"It was scathingly said of one preacher that he would have
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE THIRD LECmjUE 627
been great but for the fact that he waa everlastingly in hie
own way. . . Oh, it ia a matchless sight — a minister who
moves with unstudied grace, carried unconscious dignity and
does and says the fitting thing."
"2. He must be in fellowship with his audience. Not that he
must dream and scheme to please, . . He who trims his
sails to catch the passing breeze will be lost on a calm sea. . .
Nor must a man trifle with his audience. . . The true
minister reverences his audience. They are to him creatures
of God, bearing about them marks of a majestic origin and
wearing the signs of a noble destiny. . . If he touches
the evil in them it is with a surgeon's blade but always with a
gentle hand."
"3. There must be kinship between the preacher and his
sermon. He must be the father of the sermon; not the step-
father, not its adopted father. It must be the child of his
brain, his culture and his travail. . It takes a spiritual man
to make a sermon, and, even more, a spiritual man to preach
it well. It is a serious business to inake sermons and only fools
stop you on the street, whisk out their note books and spin off.
their sickly little analyses as if they had gotten their new mes-
sages from the throne."
"The sermon without the man is at best just one half of
a sermon. Jesus himself chained his teaching with the electric
force of his own personality,"
"4. There must be a good understanding between the minister
and his master. . . We cannot preach a Uving gospel imless
we are in living fellowship with God."
"Oh, why do not men preach? What is the matter with
UB? ... 1 take up the lament of Jeter, one of the greater
men of the South, — 'Oh, that I could preachl I cannot preach.
I never have preached. My heart fwls me lest I quit the earth
without ever preaching a worthy sermon,' "
"Some make sermons, but cannot preach them; some can
preach, but caimot forge the thunder-bolts of truth. Lord
send us the sermon-maker, the man with a message who can
wake the dead by delivering it."
He gave them the cream of his thinking and of his exper-
ience as a preacher and it is not surprising that there was an
urgent demand for the publication in permanent form of the
lectures. He yielded to the request of the ITjuveraty by
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
528 DR. ARTHUR JONES
writing out for publication his second lecture, "The man who
arrives."
It was rare that he remained in a community of choice men
for many days that his soul did not single out some congenial
spirit. At Colgate he and Dr. Arthur Jones, professor of
Homiletics, formed a friendship that continued to the end.
Dr. Hatcher had in him a tmt that often made him find pleasure
in taking issue with another. Frequently in dealing with men, in-
stead of seeking to keep his dealings on a placidly tumable and
harmonious level he would assume the aggressive. He liked
a contest, ofttimes preferring a conversational tussle and he
liked a man who did not always agree with him. For example,
he writes concerning his experiences with Dr. Jones of Colgate:
"My home was with that matchless Honuletic&l Wrangler,
Dr. Arthur Jones. What happiness it was? Didn't we fling
care and sorrow to the wind and have storms of dispute,
enjoyment and love? I would think it cheap to cross the ocean
to have it over again. Every hour brought ita pleasure and to
the Doctor and his most hospitable wife I am greatly indebted."
His programme for the next few weeks was varied. From
Colgate he took a long dash to Dillon, S, 0. where he wrote
that "the meeting rose to celestial heights". He hurried back
to Fork Union and after writing that at Dillon every store and
office had closed for the services he ended his letter by saying.
"Things look interestii^ and happy here but I grunt at the
sight of my letter pile." This pile had been accumulating during
his Colgate and his Dillon visits, and then he adds, "I go to
Geor^a next Thursday". And thus it went week by week.
From one fitat« to another, and in widely different fonns of
ministerial activity, he kept driving ahead with bis labors,
working while it was day.
He was such a lover of men that he was frequently called
upon to write or speak tributes in honor of prominent men who
had recently died. The family of a departed leader would
often turn to him as the one who could speak the fitting word.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PORTRAYAL OF CHARACTER 529
We have already called attention to his power of analysis
in delineating character. It was striking how honest he could
be in his portraiture of men without being in any way offensive.
He was asked to deliver the funeral address of one of the most
distinguished Baptist laymen that Virginia ever produced.
The occasion was a memorable one and before the service he
went to a prominent son in the family and said to him, "You
have asked me to deUver this address. I want you to under-
stand that I shall seek to ffve a full and true portrait of your
father and shall not seek to cover up any of his faulte."
"You have an open track, Doctor" he replied.
The address made a profound impression. His happy art
in portraying character grew out of his manner of dealing with
men. The conventionahtiea uid customs of people about him
were to him surface truts which often concealed or obscured
the person underneath instead of revealii^ him. He carried
on his n^otiations with the real man within.
Even in the case of httle children their pretty ways and cute
mannerisms did not particularly impress him. He wanted to
see the real boy, or prl, underneath these little nidties of
manner. He could never make any headway in becoming
interested in babies. As for caressing the little things and of
frolicking with them as if they were playthings he could not
and would not. He would say in the case of his grandchildren
"I'm wfuUn^ for them to get companionable." Ofttimes when
he was watching some httle ones who were playii^ near him
and when it was thought he was noticing thwr antics, their
movements or their looks he would say, "That boy is a philo-
sopher; see what he did" or be would point to another child
Baying, "That's perseverance." In other words, beneath the
chatter uid rompings of the children, he saw qualities and
characteristics and it was for these that he was always looking,
and until the children became old enough to show some indl-
viduahty and traits he could not become particularly interested
in them, — ^though even in the case of the infants he would
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
630 PORTRAYAL OF CHARACTER
often remark on the "d^ance" or "rd)dlkBi" or "^sgust"
that theiT cries indicated.
It aeemed that he loved to speak at the fanenUs of men <rf
mark not only because of bis desire to honor tbor memory
but also because tbe delineation of character vas an act that he
keenly enjoyed. His mind seoned to carry bo cle^ ly the out-
lines and lineamaits of individu^ that when their peracmality
was to be trnveiled at th^ funerals he found pleasure in
tbe unvaling.
Upon learning one day at Careby of the sudden death of a
gentleman who bad been greatly estranged from him be said,
"I would like to speak at his funeral. I could do it better than
anybody else." This remark which was made to his flaughter
in his office sounded strange, as having the q>pesrance of
boasting, but he had seen the man under such different li^ts
durii^ his life and understood him so well, — ^knew his strong,
as well as his weak, qualities — that he bated to see such an
individual quit tbe earth with out a full and fair portrait of
him being held before his friends and ndgbbors. It was an
unpremeditated outburst and showed his love for delineating
character. His address at tbe memorial service of his cherished
friend, Dr. A. £. Owen, b^an with tbe words:
"When Dr. Garrett, the chieftain of this generous hour,
adced me to be present and speak today I confess tbat my heart
boimded with pleasure, much chastened and yet so intense,
that I could hardly contfun myBell,"
After stating that he knew too well that no speech of his
couid equal tbe occasion be proceeded to dissect the character
of Dr. Owen and to lay ite different parts before tbe audience;
"He was powerfully, dangerously ambitious and but for
the counteracting principle of fturaess and justice be would
have gone to ruin.
"Hb conversion was the centralizing and all cbanging event
in his life.
"He wore his faults on his sleeve. Mark tbe worst that he
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TRIBUTES TO FRIENDS 531
was aa you saw him day by day and I can safely say there
was nothing worse behind.
"His complacent self respect, sometimes a theme for criti-
cism, was one justified by a rare and lofty appreciation of
other people.
"I dare say that the happiest moment of Dr. Owen's life
was when he rec^ved the call from God to preach the gospel.
He fairly leaped with exultant joy that such an honor had come
to him.
"His piety was too deep to flaunt itself, but how it cried
and pleaded and wept in lus sennons. I loved Owen for many
things and most of all for his utter lack of mock modesty,
his freedom from mmulated humility, his childlike candor
and his beautiful transparency."
In his memorial tributes to Christian men it seemed to be
his almost invariable custom to follow them to the other world.
He took his parting with them at the heavenly rather than
the earthly gate. Many of bis addresses could be mentioned
that end in this fashion but there will be given here merely
the cloai^ picture in bis tribute to Dr. Owen:
"Ah, when I was ridii^ the trun from Philadelphia to
Virginia and saw the telegraphic announcement of his death,
the earth shook, my soul sank and darkness covered the Hills.
I hid my face and my soul got a glimpse of him as he sped
beyond the stars and entered through tilie gates mto the city.
I felt poorer and yet I rejoiced that he had seen his Savior's
face."
Another one of his greatly prized friends died, — ^Dr. T. P.
Matthews of Manchester, Va. The Doctor had a character
that greatly appealed to him. At his funeral he drew his
portrut:
"Our brother" said he "stood on solid ancestral foundations.
You do not grow giant trees without fineness of strain in the
acorn. Blood, as a rule, makes the winnii^ racer. Sometimes,
I know, great famihes degenerate and wither under the waste
of vices, and now and then those of low degree break away
from their entanglements, leap over upper grades and mount
to the top.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
632 TEIBUTES TO FRIENDS
"We are glad it is so, but, sa a rule of nature, it takes gen-
erations to produce a high and commanding man. Our ances-
l!ors live in us and it takes virtue and fibre of three generations
to make men what they ought to be. Science and the Bible
hold the doctrine of heredity as true and as solemn as the day
of doom.
"If you are curious to account for Dr. Matthews you must
bunt up the old family records in the Bibles of his fathers and
read the inscriptions on the slabs and granite columns in the
old ancestral graveyards."
"Dr. Matthews could not shake off the consciousness of an
honored manhood. He was by nature self assertive. His self
respect was so inherent that he was never apologetic, never on
the defensive, never trying to explain why he was not otherwise
than he was."
"He despised cheap and spurious things and would neither
buy nor sell them. When I characterize my beloved friend
as an honest man I speak of his inner being, his essential self,
bis genuineness end reality."
The same gift that enabled him to preach great sermons on
characters m the Bible also enabled him to portray vividly the
characters of men of his own times.
Concerning the death of his friend Dr. W. S. Penick be
writes:
"Dear old friend, many of those who loved you in the be^-
ning have outstripped you in the march to the eternal world.
Hoste of ministers and others who loved you await you on the
other side and the thought of our separation from you is
softened by the recollection that you had a royal reception
when you entered the city of hght. Good bye until we meet
SLgam."
One of the products of bis pen was a series of "Character
Sketches", written at odd moments of time and published in
different papers. His characters were nearly always ministers,
such aa "Rev, Magnus Ego," "Rev. Mr. Scowler," "Rev.
Absalom Bustler," "Rev. Matthew Mattix," etc. The fol-
lowing paragraphs are culled from his sketch of Mr. "Bustler."
"Bro. Bustler is emphatically a flitter. No tender-footed
bird ever bopped from limb to Umb, from tree to earth quite
iiyGoot^lc
CHAHACTER SKETCHES 833
BO fast &8 our brother can whip from one thing to another.
No place can contain him. No company can engage him.
No book can absorb him. No duty can hold him. He always
feels that the thing he is doii^ is an obstacle in the way of
countless things which he ought to be doing. His thoi^ts
put Ms hands to work at one place and then go dashing off
after something else and before his hands have grappled their
task they are suddenly ordered to some other point. Of
course sobriety of thought and rational processes are things
impossible with him. His poor mind gets sick, reels and blim-
ders in hopeless confusion because never allowed time for
meditation.
"Mr. Bustler almost amounts to a circus in the Sunday
school. By some odd fate he plunges into the Sunday school
room at the most ill considered moment. One time he sprang
in during the reading of the Scripture and spying a stranger
over beyond the pulpit he went whirling by, stumbled over a
chfur, nearly fell prostrate and greeted the strainer with such
noisy rapture that the Scripture lesson was a disaster. The
teachers in the school make grievous complaint. They say
that he plunges into their classes at the most serious points,
insists on a hand shake with everybody, asks after the sev-
eral famihes represented by the class and frequently fires off
an irrelevant and ludicrous story. One teacher made it a
rule to lock his room while the lesson was gfaag on, but that
very morning Brother Bustler was charged with messages
for five different families and thundered and crashed at the
door until the door was reluctantly opened. He delivered
two or three of his messages, forgot two or three of them and
closed his visit with & pathetic story the pathos of which was
futile and disagreeable.
"The music of the Sunday school is one of his specialties —
he breaks up programs, calls for unsuitable songs, criticises
the singing and beats time as if he were %hting hornets,
greatly to the confusion of the music and to the noisy amuse*
ment of the small boys,
"Our brother is almost anfully punctual He feels it sol-
emnly incumbent upon him to b^n the service on the stroke
of the clock. He fixes himself at the entrance to the pulpit,
he catches the stroke of the clock and bounds into the pul-
pit hke an athlete and throws up his hands as a sign for the
people to rise to their feet. His promptness is absolutely
ferocious and shocks the nerves of the old people and startles
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
634 SUMMER TEAVEI£
the ooDgregation in a dangerous and rackii^ way. If he dia-
covers vimtors in the coi^regation he either beckons for the
ushers or botmds out of the pulpit with a view of seeii^ that
the new comers are supplied with hymn books. Now and then
if old people arc brought in or persons hard of bearing come
in he m^ts them down the usle and brings them up. He ia
the most consequential hand shaker that ever perfonned in
his community. It is rather offenave to some of his people to
see him spring from the pulpit and go storming down the
aisle in oi^er to hem in the crowd and shake with the out-
goers. Most of the people try to avoid him by escaping through
other doors; some are quite overwhelmed by bis prolonged
hand shakes."
Ihiring the Summer his schedule called for visits to Asao-
inaiions, and sermons and addresses of all kinds. He had
reached a condition in life for which he had often yearned and
that was a condition of freedom to go and to labor wherever
he might wish. His income, while not large, was sufficient
for the needs of himself and his family and enabled him S
respond to the calls for his labors — and no music was so sweet
to his ears as these calls. If the calls had stopped coming to him
he would have been in his grave. But he went, went in every
direction, went to the little churches as w^ as to the lai^
ones, viated the obscure country lad as well as the man high
in official life, went into other states as well as through Vir-
ginia. All over Vii^nia this summer men were meeting Dr.
Hatcher on the train, or in their communities, and as they
greeted him they were wonderii^ that at his advanced age,
he kept so young and labored so indefatigably.
"Here I am this Monday morning" he writes to his wife on
July 22nd from Careby Hall "head over heels at work with
my correspondence, mailing catalogues and getting ready to
go away tomorrow. I go to the Dover Association tomorrow
and to Elizabeth City Friday. Next week I go to the Rap-
pahannock Association which meets in the Northern Neck.
"I went yesterday to the Buckingham church. Ah Fong
went with me and he is invited to speak at one of the Buck-
ingham churches this week. . I have quite decided twinges
of sciatica and walk bent and with a sort of side step."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ADDRESS AT INDIANAPOLIS 635
After holding his fourth series of evacgeliatic meetings &t
Wake Forest College he went to Indianapolis, where he de-
livered an address before the Baptist Social Union of that dty.
The subject was "The Building of the American Gentlemim."
"A gentleman", says he, "is supposed to be the best output,
the finest product, of the civihzation of the country to which
he belongs. . . . Every country and even every barbarous
tribe produces its beet man."
The speaker then proceeds to tell how America has been
seeking by devious ways to bring her own best man, her "gen-
tleman", to completion so that she could regard him as a
finished product. "In colonial times" said he "the scions of
the titled classes were shipped to this country, — usually not
the best material". Having failed to build our gentlemen out
of this imported stock we have, — according to the speaker, —
"built our gentlemen after foreign models," After referring
to Washii^ton's weakness for knee buckles and powder and
Jefferson's hankering for French habits and many people's
pr^erence for clothes with a British misfit he affirms that
"when the Americui gentleman arrives his Americanism will
be his distinguishing mark."
"I had a friend" he says "one of the noblest of all the earth —
who said to me in the prime of his manhood that his supreme
aspiration, from his youth, was to be a gentleman, but tb&t he
hMl concluded reluctantly that it was beyond his attainment.
Through many years he and I would meet and I would ask
him how went the struggle. 'I have seen him' he would say.
'but not with these mortal eyes. I have glimpsed him in
visi<ms of enraptured fancy and the sight thrilled me, but it is
too high for me; it is vain to hope. I cannot attain unto it
but the vision has enobled me and though I die outside the
gate I will feel the betterthat I saw the gentleman in my dream.'
I thought that my friend was hke a prince and he was and yet
be was not a gentleman."
"The gentlemui for whom we are searching must not be
simply a gentleman but he must be an American gentleman. .
. . What is America. .. It is ... a country which
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
836 LETTER TO DE. E. B. BRYAN
stands on the platfonn which offers every citiEeo a chance.
Not tiiat every dtizen can be a gentleman, nor that all can be
equal, but the essential American idea is to ^ve every man a
chance to work out Ms destiny.
"I lay it down as my closing proportion that every Baptist
ought to be a gentleman. . . The fundamental idea of a
Baptist is personal reaponsibility."
He went to Franklin, Indiana where he enjoyed some de-
lightful hours with his friend, President E. B. Bryui. After
his visit to Franklin he wrote the following letter to Dr. Bryan
that exhibits two of his traits, — hia interest in young people
and his enthusiasm for progress:
"I must not forget to extend to you my soul's tribute for
your exceedii^ gracious hospitality. My visit to your home
was a pleasure unmixed and can never be forgotten.
"My heart warmed for the scarred singer who sat across ■
the table from me and 1 feel that when your htur grows gray
and twinges of pain wrench your knees he will be a tower of
strength for you to lean upon. I marked too the radiant face
of what I suppose is too large to call your baby.
"Most of all my thoughts have gone out to Miss Helen who
is now on Virginia soil and whose prosperity I must not cease
to pray for.
"Let me add that the College was a surprise to me. Signs
of growth and prosperity in any good thing are intoxicants
always to me, but — what was far better than that — was the
spirit of the school, intangible, potent and r^re^iing."
He put Louisville on his schedule for this Western trip and
wrote me from that city :
"My Dear E, — Here I am at dear old Louisville. I ate
supper with the Carys last night and was in imminent danger of
being eaten up by the Carys.
"I supply the pulpit at Broadway tomorrow and go Monday
to Huntingdon, W. Va., where I am to help Wood in a meeting.
My visit to Indianapolis was fine in many things but crip-
pled sorely by a storm, — a wild, blowing, beating, tempestuous
raJD. My theme was, "The building of the American Gentleman'
and I dont think he was quite up to the mark after I got him
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MEETINGS AT HUNTINGTON, W. VA. 537
built. I know if he was a gentleman I did not feel like one
when I got through. Of course the delicious platitudes of such
an occasion were lavished upon me and mitigated my sorrows
in a measure.
"The radiant episode in my trip was a day spent at Franklin
College. It wafl rich in many things, some of which I may tell
you wxjut in the future.
"I understand that Dr. B. H. Carroll takes me to task in the
Western Recorder for some thii^ in the appeal which I made
recently for the Seminary. I have not seen the article but I
am a great lover of Dr. Carroll and there can be no strife
between me and him, nor between my bondsmen and his
bondsmen. I can make no reply that will not be absolutely
fraternal. Meanwhile my soul is righteously burdened about
our Seminary. I glory much in what it is and sigh much for
the things it ought to be and will be, but is not yet. We ought
to have a million more for its endowment."
During hia Louisville virit he took a meal one day with
the young ministers at the Seminary and one of them thus
referred in the papers to his visit:
"This princely father in Israel whose pen and voice have
edified so many thousands, dined with us m the hall and upon
invitation made a most felicitous response before the students."
He went the latter part of November to Huntington, W. Va.,
to aid Dr. M. L. Wood in meetings.
Dr. Wood thus writes in the Herald concerning Mb visit:
"Though the passing winters have bleached his locks into
snowy whiteness, still his bow abides in strength. . . As he
has grown older his spirit has grown mellower in grace and tia
preaching is characterized by a tenderness and pathos that is
winsome and beautiful. . It seems to have been a joy to him
to cheer the obscure lad with a friendly notice."
He delivered a memorial address on Dr. J, W. Carter, who
died during bis meetings at Huntington, and in the address he
Bud of Dr. Carter, "He went to Meep.at night and next mom-
bgwoke up in Heaven."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
538 APOSTOUC SUCCESSION
He writes me two days before Christmas:
"Here is a letter from dear old Bob Wrnfree — ^aobiliasimus
frater — ^be^^ng with hysteric fondness that we will come to his
bouse next EMday and go out on Sunday to a meeting at
Tomahawk and come home on Monday. There is enchantment
in the invitation, but I doubt whether we can accept it. I am
about willing however to leave the matter to you and if you
say so I will meet you Friday in Bichmond and we will try
the charmii^ adventure.
"But how could we? Dear me, what shall we do? Do what
we may we will wish we had done the other and yet we can be
happy in doing either. What do you say?"
"Monday 3 P. M.
"One just come."
A gentleman bad written to him asking him for bis opinion
on two subjects; first, the date when "the first Baptist church"
was organized, and second, the doctrine of "Apostolic Suc-
c^sion". In his reply, regarding the "first Baptist church"
he refers him to the early accounts of the Apostles, and adds
that the "churches spoken of in the New Testament are the
churches after which our Baptist churches are modeled. They
have the same ordinances, the same terms of admission, tbe
same independence and the same ^irit of brotherhood."
Hoarding "Apostolic SuccesEdon" he writes:
"Apostolic Succesaon is the rediculous sand upon which
some people undertake to build what they call a Historical
Church. The Apostles had no successors and if any body has
an Apostolic church it must be the Koman Catholics for they
are the oldest.
"Those who know more about church history than I do claim
that there have been churches of our faith and order straight
through from the time of the Apostles. I think that there is
much proof in favor of their claim but I do not build on that
at all. If you were one great sinner, living far away in a com-
munity of sinners — not a christian anywhere near — and if
you should get hold of a Bible and study it earnestly and faith-
fully and be gloriously converted by the power of God and God
should call you to preach the gospel and bless you with con-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION 539
vertJDg power and multitudes should be saved and you should
take them and baptize them in the name of the Trinity and
they, after accepting the Scripture as the Word of God, ehould
set up a church after the order of a New Testament church
requiring conversion and believers baptism and organize them-
selves for worship and work it would really be a Baptist church
and just like the churches ouned in the New Testament."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTEE XXXIX
1908
HEBTtNOS AT EITTAW PLACE, BALTIMORE; FRANEUN COLLEGE, IND.;
THEUONT TEMPLE, BOSTON, AND COLGATE CNIVERSrrY, N. Y.
CONVENTION AT HOT SPRINGS. VARIED ACTinTIES.
RAILROAD ACaDENT. "jOHN JASPER."
The year 1908 was destined to bring Mm some rich experiences
and was one of the most memorable years of his life. He con-
ducted a very successful series of meetings in January at the
Eutaw Place Church and we had the joy of having him in our
home durii^ the time. During this vidt he made great pro-
gresB on the Jasper book.
"Eldridge and myself have done valorous service on the
immortal John [Jasper]" he writes his wife. "Our plan is to
have about forty thousand words in sight."
I wrote on my typewriter at his dictation and the words
came from him as fast as I could write them and they went
practically unchanged to the publisher.
"It depressed me to break the charm of my lovely sojoum
in your home," he writes me. "I cannot recall in all my hfe
happier times than we had together."
"Our meeting at Troutville" he writes on January 30th
"closed in a blaze of glory. . . had a happy night with
Kate and got to Careby yesterday afternoon."
The First Baptist Church of Baltimore invited him to become
supply pastor at this time but his plans for the future made him
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REV. R. H. WINFREE 541
unable to accept the invitation. From Franklic CoH^e,
Indiana where he went to hold revival meetings he writes:
"I am idling away my time today with speaking at the High
School and afterwards at the College this morning, then
going to the country for dinner, finishing my S. S, Notes and
am engaged to go out for supper this evening and have the
services at the church tonight."
He writes to Rev. R. H. Winfree, of Midlothian Chester-
field County :
"The joys of my visit here seem to come from the very river
of hfe.
"But no worldly joy or honor could ever change my love for
you and yours and my last visit to your house was loaded with
richest pleasures. It makes me sad, however, when I leave
rour house because I get there so rarely and I wonder how soon
shall make my last leap from the Midlothian train.
"I hope you are preaching great sermons — you are capable
of them Mid you must surprise your people with every new
homiletical shot."
"Thursday morning. Great meeting last night. You ought
to have seen the men come up".
From Parkersburg, W, Va., whither he went from Franklin,
he writes to Dr. E. B. Bryan:
"My sodl's friend, — I count it as one of God's great mercies
that he has allowed me to know you. My firste taste of you in
November quickened the courai^ of my blood and made every
thought of you a pleasure.
"But let me say that my incomparable experience in Frank-
lin lately put everythii^ up lugher. My heart took you in
without examination and admitted you to the inner court
of love and fellowship. Now I find that every thought of you
is an inspiration and a joy.
"The Lord was extravagant in his bestowment of power upon
you and I am glad to see that he requires that all of it
shall be used for him. I rejoice that you live in an atmosphere
of sobriety, that the Hght of Heaven gleams always on your
pathway and that the future is yours as well as the past.
"This is purely a love letter. I have no need of your grind-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
642 LETTER FROM DR. E. B. BRYAN
stone, and have money enough left me during the week and do
not want to be recommend^ to any pofdtion, unless you are
wiUing to Btrai^e the 'Fowls' and, with their blood upon you,
are willing to name me as thdr successor.
"Give a world of love to Mrs. Bryan and the children. Tell
Julian that I am not quite sure whether he would suit better
for the new Baptist university which we are to have at Pekin,
or whether I would prefer for him to be the U. S. Attorney
General in 1928 when he will be strong enough to show hu
Baptist colors seven days in a week in the city of Washington.
Say to Mrs. Bryan that she has quite an interesting proposition
on her hands to get three children fully equipped to lead the
millennial march in the next generation. Tell her that she is
due in Virginia and that I want the whole Bryan contingent
to breathe Vriginia air and get into their blood some of the
020ue which made Washington, Munroe, Lee and did a great
deal in making Kentucky and Indiana.
"Yours to the end of the run."
In reply Dr. Bryan wrote as follows on March 14:
"Your good letter came while I was away lecturing in Mich-
igan. I have read it over and over again and every time I read
it I have a new spoke put into my wheel. If you can reaJiee
in only a small way how much good you have done me and
what a blessii^ you have been to me since first we met, you will
not regret any time that you have spent in our midst. You
have rendered a lai^e and permanent service to the college
and I am sure that the results of your work cannot be told in
time. I was walking with this afternoon and acting
upon the suggestion carried in your letter, I poimded him in the
small of the back, which by-the-way, was all over his back
because his back is small all over. I'll tell you, he's a dear good
man and is dging great things for us.
"At the table this evening Julian aaid that there were twenty-
one boys out to the first Base-ball practice. He is short a
pitcher and wondered if you could serve — ^he said he did not
think they would get on to your curves. I am really expecting
large things of the boy if he can ever find time to stop and sit
up and take notice.
"I should be very glad to have letters from you from time
to time. Nothing could give me a larger boost and certiunly,
when I go flat, as I suppose most men do at times, I need a
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TREMONT TEMPLE 543
tremendous stimulus to bring me up. Mrs. Bryan wishes to be
remembered most kindly to you and expresses the hope that
we may have you in our home many times.
"With all good wishes for your services and kindness to the
College and to me personally I remain. ,
"Yours Affectionately
"E. B. Bryan."
"I am Bufferii^ much in my back and other thii^s" he writes
his wife from Parkersburg. "I am wondering whether I am
not near the pulling oft station."
"What a record you are makii^", writes Mr. David E.
Johnson, a Parkersburg attorney, "and keeping it up at the
same old pace now when you may be seventy-five, — though
as young as when I first saw you forty years ago. Oh, t£e
physical tihit^ may be aged a tittie, but that is'nt the man. You
never preached better in your life, I think. . . I want to
thank you especially for that discotu'se yesterday."
But already two important revival cfmipaigns loom on his
path, — the first to be held at Tremont Temple, Boston and
the other at Hamilton, New York, the seat of Colgate Univer-
fflty. The pastor of Tremont Temple — at that time one of
the most prominent churches in the United States, — ^was Dr.
P. S. Henson, himself about seventy-four years old, while Dr.
Hatcher was the same age. Far back in the sixties-— during
the days of the war — he and Dr. Henson had been yoked
together in a country revival meeting at old fine Creek in
Powhatan County and it looked as if Dr. Henson could never
out-grow the memory of those happy days; and in his large city
pastorates he ever seemed to banker after getting Dr. Hatcher
to come and hold a protracted meeting with him. I remember
meetii^ him in Chicago once and he said to me, "Oh, tell your
father to come out here and let us hold an old fashioned pro-
tracted meeting together." His wish was now to be realized.
He had already written Dr. Hatcher telling him of the extenmve
preparations that were being made for the meetii^ and he
then adds:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
544 TREMONT TEMPLE
"Please let me know the precise time of your expected arrival,
BO that we may meet you and safe-guard you against the bunco
ateerers that are always lying in wait for the tender foot."
On January 27th, Dr. Henson writes again:
"My Deah Old Boy, — The assurance of your coming
to us has given great delight to my people and myself. . .
Our congregations range from 2,0(M to 3,000 and more eager
hearers no man ever had than one finds in the Temple. It is
the easiest and altogether the best preaching place I was ever
'in and if a man can't preach there he can't preach anywhere,
so that if you dont have the time of your life then I shall know
that you are N. G.
"Let me know meanwhile, and at an early date, about what
time you may be expected to show your 'head-light' in Boston
that we may have the round house ready.
"With much love and great hope.
"Yours Ever,
"P. S. Henaon."
He looked forward with heavy anxieties to bis Boston meet-
ings. They began on April 2nd, and it must have been an
interesting sight to see these two veterans of many a campaign
linked together in such a movement in such a city and in such
a church. Extensive preparations bad been made. From
Boston he writes on April 4th:
"I was welcomed by blinding snows and ocean gales, sleet
and slush. Last night we had our opening service — largely
attended and full of spiritual power. They sang old revival
hymns and I almost fancied that I was at Bethlehem in Chester-
field. I am surely advertised and my grim picture frowns in
windows and newspapers."
"I am yet in the grip of my cold" he writes "and my old
voice rattled like a shuck in the wind".
Sunday was always a pivotal day with him in his meeting
Cloncemii^ his first Sunday in Boston be writes:
"This is Monday. My wretched old throat has played
cruel pranks on me and I have furly filled the Back B^
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TREMONT TEMPLE 545
country with my squeaks and Bhrieks but I am livir^ yet and
hope you are wdl.
"Things opened yesterday with majestic auspiciousness.
Crowd big in the morning and far bi^er at night. . . My
dnhiess yesterday amounted to a criMs and yet the indications
were fine.
"Later: Glorious Monday night meeting,"
"At noon today" he writes his wife, "I am to preach to
Union Conference of Boston Ministers — about five or ax
■ hundred of them, Henson says,
"Old acquaintances are fioaling up on the tide and I rejoice
in thran."
He writes me on the 11th;
"Our meeting is too good to despise and not great eaot^h
to satisfy. . . ! am perpetually ashamed of myself and do
nothii^ that satisfies me. I told them to discharge me any
morning and it would be for the good of the Cause. But their
kindness is past finding out. . . Some of the deacons are
transportjngly sympathetic. They come in their carriages to
take me to the meetings, give me beautiful drives, anticipate
all my wants and treat me far better than I am entitled to
on the score of my merits.
"I was out at Newton [Seminary] yesterday, took lunch with
the boys and gave them a talk. They were very demon-
strative and I hope that some of the shot got under the skin.
"I have not preached well here and have felt the depresfflon
of it. My voice grew unmanf^eably bad and 1 have occasional
solitudes under the juniper tree.
"1 am much of my time alone at the hotel, too much I think
and I spend too much in feeling ashamed of myself. We look
for greater things tomorrow and next week.
"I am tortured with great desires and cheered with the hopes
of yet better things."
The climax came at last, as is seen from his card written on
Sunday afternoon:
"Immortally glorious times this morning! Dr. Henson
says he has seen nothing Uke it before. Many conversions.
Had two services — first, the sermon and then in Sunday School.
Great crowds and grace abounding."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
546 TREMONT TEMPLE
He wrote agfun:
"It was grace and glory combined this morning; like the
break-up of an ice goi^e. Many converaona and great crowds.
"After night service
"Terrible fire tonight and many Temple people burned out.
But large crowd and great interest. It has been a blessed day."
The meeting moved to a rich concludon. He wrote his
wife on Wednesday, "Friends are preparing to pve me a
reception at noon. They are wonderfully fine folks and I am
sure that it will be of the royal sort, but I would be glad to
swap it for a handshake with a good game of quoits. This is
written just as I am waiting for carriage to take me to church
and in the wildest sort of haste."
He writes in the Argus the following breezy sketch:
"It touched me in a peculiarly senrative point when Dr. P. S.
Hanson asked me to come to Boston and help him in a revi-
val. You see he and I roved the same bridle ways of Chester-
field and Powhatan and other sections of Virginia in the cal-
low days of — ^well, how long do you reckon it was ago? For
Benson's sake I answer not. We bad worked in harness on
previous occasions and though posdbly our muades are not
C]uitc so flexible as they have been, I felt a purely human desire
to feel the jerk of the traces again. Inasmuch as my ardent
and distinguished friend, Deacon A. T. Eddy, of the Temple
church backed up Henson, and said it was the thing to do,
and as I have next to nothing to do except such things as other
people tell me to do, I defied my inertia and went.
"When I stepped out of the trun at the Boston station, I
saw the scudding snow, the gleaming sleet and the slush
abounding, and just about then I swallowed a section of east
wind which ripped up my throat, went off with my voice and
made me wonder whether it was ever thus. It was ever thus
for three straight days and when I first opened my mouth on
a Boston audience, the untraveled part of it wondered if all
Southerners were croakers of the same sort.
"But some things in Boston are hot — jubilantly, livingly hot,
one of which is a Tiemont Temple welcome. Of course Hen-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
COLGATE UNIVEESITY 647
son did his part — he had to whether he wished it or not, but
here and now and before the unassembled earth I gratefully
testify to the cordiality, brotherliness and superb "eflprit de
corps" of that imperial church. They were good to lae at the
start, good along the way and considerate, affectionate fuid
ready for every good work to the moment of ending.
"The meeting commeaiced on April the 5th and ran until the
night of April the 17th, and when it ceased to run, I had to
run with might and main to catch a train for Hamilton, N. Y.,
the Beat of Colgate University where I am to have the joy xm-
tellable of preachii^ the Gospel to the great assemblage td
youE^ people in that town."
With the echoes of his Boston experiences gladdenii^ hie
heart be hurries away to Hamilton, New York, where he is
destined to have one of the most powerful meetings of his
hfe. At Hamilton was Colgate Univerraty, which included
Co^te Theolopcal Seminary. From Dr. Henson came the
following letter:
"It is a delight to be in touch with you, whether near at
hand, or far away, for you are a live wire with all the thrill
and none of the shock. We missed you mightily when you
were gone, but your "remains" are still with us and there is
as much quickening power in them as there was in Elisha's
bones. Long time will your messages wake the echoes in the
Temple.
"With love that brightens with the years, in which the little
I joins and wMch includes not only you but yours,
Dr. Hatcher wrote in the Herald an article on Dr. Henson,
that was dashed off in his sprightliest style. One pari^praph
of it reads as follows:
"We hate to say that Haison is popular. It is a hurtful thing
to say agfunst a respectable man, and we make haste to ex-
pWn that he is fortunate enough not to be happy with eveiy-
body. To his credit, be it said, he has had his critics by the
score and bis detractors by the several scores. Henson is a
most inconvenient man to hate. He is so mercurial, bouyant
and self-reliant that he absolutely forgets his enemies — the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
648 THE JASPER BOOK
most impitying cruelty which can be mflicted upon a gratui'
tous foe. Many have sought to lure Poindexter Smith to the
dissecting room with a view to an operation, but ubiquitous
as he is, Benson has never been willii^ to attend the cere-
mony."
In the meantime the day for the pubhcation of his Jasper
book is approaching and he is kept busy readii^ proof.
"Jasper proof blows in every day" he writes me from Ham-
ilton, "and I am well advanced on it. . It would kill me to
have 'De Sun do move' as the title of the book. It would
outrage the spirit in which it is written, play on Jasper's weak
point and be an unseemly bid for trade."
"As to the title let us try these and decide:
" 'Jasper, the Unmatched Genius of his Kace.'
'John Jasper, the Master of hU Masters.*
'John Jasper, the Peerless Son of Africa.'
'John Jasper, the Wizard of the Platform.'
"I would leave off the 'Rev.' from him and, for myself, I
would like to be written thus:
'WiUiam E. Hatcher, LL. D.'
"We might get Henson of Tremont Temple, or Mullins, or
Ex-Governor Montague, or Dr. Greene of Washington, to
write an introduction.
"I would think that a few things as to my history ought to go
in — just enough to put me in my proper place before the public.
It needs to be only a few sentences in the introduction."
Agun on the same date:
"I have written you once today and here I come again. I
have almost decided to put the title of my book 'John Jasper*,
the Negro Orator of Fluvanna' and get Henson to write the
foreword of the book. What do you think of it?
"Tell Anna 'Hello Anna,' grandfather wants to see her."
Night by night the meetings continued at Hamilton until
the great climax came on Sunday May 3rd. That must indeed
have been a day of Pentecostal glories.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
COLGATE UNIVERSITY 549
"We bad the greatest meeting last Sunday" he writes "that
I ever saw in my life. Over a hundred conversions during the
day, probably nine-tenths of whom were over seventeen years
of age."
Even to this day they are talking in Hamilton about those
wonderful meetings by Dr. Hatcher, and the influence of them
have spread far and wide. Here is a letter from a young gentle-
man written five years after the meetings, and showing one
of his methods of dealing with the students in the meetii^:
"Dr. Hatcher longed to get into informal touch with the
students so he whispered to one or two of the college men that
he wished he might dine at some of the fraternities. I invited .
that old gentleman with white head to my chapter house for
dinner. The boys wondered at such an act but their wonder
was greater and different when he began to joke and tell stories
and soon had them in a roar of laughter. After dinner he said,
'Don't you fellows sing?' About twenty-five of us gathered
around the piano in the music room and for a half hour gla^y
entertfuned him with college and fraternity songs. He enjoy^
it immensely. Suddenly he arose and siud, 'Wdl, boys, I must
go. Say, you've given me a fine time, and I actually feel
indebted to you. Now I want to do something to reciprocate
your kindness. I'm holding meetings every night in the Baptist
Church down here and I just want you to come down and I'U
try to pve you fellows as good a time aa you've given me. I'm
preaching Jesus Christ and I'll guarantee you'll have a good
time if you come. Well good-bye.' The boys went. They
went in crowds and four of the young men from our own
fraternity took a firm stand for Jesus Ctuist and the Christian
Efe."
Dr. Masters writes in the Herald of a little inddent in a
R^lroad Sleeper while he was enroute for Hot Springs, for the
meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in May:
"Then from across the aisle in berth number 2. came a call
from Dr. Hatcher for the porter's assistance. I looked and the
berth on which the Doctor had essayed to rest bad collapsed
for a foot in the middle, and he besought the porter'to yank
it up and prop it in a horizontal position. The Doctor declared
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
550 FOHK UNION
that the mattress waa more than a foot shorter than the berth
and had beea pieced out by stuffed-in blankets. The upper
section of the upholstered seat-back hung loose above his head
and at each fresh lurch of the car would ^ock against his bead.
Next morning, when I asked how he felt, he said be had slept
better in his time but was thankful to be living."
After attending the Commencement at Fork UnioD he dashed
off to Cheater, S. C, where he was engaged to hold revival
meetings, and from which place he writes me:
"My anxious fli^t back to Vir^nia and the wear and tear
of Commencement at Fork Union did me up quite tragically.
"I landed here after midnight on Saturday night feeling
like a fugitive from injustice and unfit for anything. I almost
imagine that people here suppose that they have sent the wreng
man and are wondering what became of the man who promised
to hold a meeting here.
"Fork Union is riding me hard. We have no Headmaster
and, with the Catalogue, campaign and organization of Faculty
and bothers of farming and my entangling engagements, I
feel that this is a hard world to live in.
"If you are so hopelessly bad aa not to be able to give your
life to Fork Union — as I expect you are — then I pray you to
tell me where to find a man . . . Tell William that he and
the Lynchburg kids had better open the restaurant at Careby
Hall about the first of June."
Colgate University sent him a (^ft, — a new title for his name
as is seen from the following letter:
"COLQATB UNivBasrrT,
"Hamilton, N. Y.
"Bev. Wn-LUK E. Hatcher, D. D., LL. D.,
"Fork Union, Virqinia:
"Mt Dear De. Hatchee, — ^It is the deare of the trustees
and faculty of Colgate University to ctmfer upon you at the
next Commencement the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane
Letters. I trust that it may be agreeable to you to rec«ve
the degree-«id shall be gratified to receive notice to that effect.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
IN THE NORTHERN NECK 6S1
It would be very pleaaaat to us if you could be preaent on
Commencement Day, June twenty-fifth to receive this degree
in person.
"Sincerely Yours,
"H, N. Cranshaw,
"Actii^ President."
He picked his way over into the Northern Neck of Virginia
for a church dedication on the first Sunday in June. Among
the viators present was Dr. V. I. Masters who thus writes:
"We shall never forget him as we saw him one Sunday night
in early Summer in 1908 at the dedication of a Httle church
made up largely of fiaher folk, away over on the Northern
Neck of Vir^nia on the shores of the Chesapeake. Coming
unexpectedly into the thronged room with a ministerial friend,
we found him sitting in the pulpit while the people gathered.
Joy beamed from his fine attractive face and he was evidently
happy. He espied us, and with a certain gladsQme humor, that
he indulged without ever sacrificing the essence of decorum,
he marshaled us into the pulpit stand, which was already
overflowing with flowers and preachers and proceeded with
the service. This included a great sermon by Dr. Hatcher on
Zaccbeus, which was in its simplicity in perfect accord with
the modes of thought of his hearers.
"To us that night in a httle country church on the shores
of the Chesapeake, remote from centers where men do much
foregather and pass to and fro. Dr. Hatcher seemed as a loving
father whose children were all members of the household
of faith, or as a king who dignified the plain, diminutive plat-
form into a throne by the sheer strength and worth of his
personality."
Lynchburg was one of his frequent stopping places because
it was there that his daughter Kate and two grandchildren,
Virginia and Katherine lived, and in thar home he found
happy companionship and rest.
"I envy you the joy of bang at Kate's" he wrote his wife
a few weeks earlier in the Summer. "That is my delight —
nothing on the earth more cheeiing and restful than Kate's
ever cheering kindness."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
552 BLTJEFIELD
From Lynchburg he writes me on June 19th coucenung Iiis
sister:
"I have been to Bedford to bury aunt Mai^aret. It was
a great occa^on. Honors thick and rich attended her. It
puUed me quite sharply to realize that only I, of all who once
sat at my father's table, still survive. And yet, I cannot think
of death without an abounding sense of cheerfulness and-
triumph.
"Now an item of bumness:
"We had a chapter on the Death and Funeral of Jasper but
in some way that got left out. Mr. Revell writes me that they
never received it. It is barely possible that it is mixed in the
whirlwind of your glorious confusion. If it is'nt then Jasper
will have to go to his crown without a funeral, though I know
he had one, because I helped to preach it. I leave this after-
noon for Bluefield."
Bluefield was a bustling city in the mountcunous south-
western section of the state but it had a yoimg pastor of whom
he was greatly fond, — Rev. Harry W. Mabie-
In writii^ from Bluefield about his letter to Mr. F. H.
^vell, the New York publisher of his Jasper book, he said
among other things:
I told him also that those whom I had consulted thought
that some of my titles ought to accompany my name. I told
him that be cotdd put LL. D. or L. H. D. or both, or neither,
BO far as Brer Hatcher cares about it."
Rev. A. W. Bealer writes him a cheeiing letter:
"I have just read an article of yours in the Herald and I
remarked to my wife that nobody could tell a tlang with as
much ori^eJity as could William E. Hatcher and t^t it was
aa refresMng to the mind as a sea breese is on a Summer day.
I pray that the Lord will spare you long to bless us with your
loving presence.
"Wont you send me one of your photographs? . . I want
my boys to look upon the face of Wilham E. Hatcher and per^
haps in the years that are to come something of his spirit,
if not of his mantle may fall upon them."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
VISITING THE ASSOCIATION 653
One of the chapters of his Jasper book, — the one telling
of Jasper's converaon — ^had been already published in a booklet
and Dr. Weston, President of Crozer Seminary, thus writes
to him;
"Deab Dr. Hatcher, — ^I have just read, — for the I do not
know how manyeth time, — ^your touching account of the eon-
version of Jasper. My tears flowed fast, as they always do
when I read the story,"
He then added that he wanted twenty copies to be distributed
amoi^ ministerial friends.
From far away Seattle, in Washington state, came a letter
from Dr. L. B. Whitman, pastor of the First Church of that
city, and a former pre^dent of Columbian Univeraty:
"The news of yom- resignation as president of the Board
of Trustees of lUchmond College loosens a flood of tender
memories in my life. I wonder if you have any idea how strong
and beautiful and helpful your life is. We are all your debtors
forever," *
"The Associations are to open soon" he writes on July 6th
"and as I have no one on earth to help me about the patronage
of the Academy I will have to travel day and night."
"Think of it! Seventy five years old and yet scudding through
the state, in sweltering weather and on all sorts of trains and
conveyances, from Association to Association, sounding the
Fork Union trumpet and seekii^ to corral boys for his beloved
school.
"I find myself so utterly fa^ed out" he writes his mfe on
Aug. 6th "that I have decided to come to Fork Union Monday
and rest. Say nothii^ about this but quietly send tor me. I'll
come up from lUchmond on the morning trfun and lay up for
repura. Tell Mercer [stenographer] that I will need him at
2:30 P. M."
He was to "lay up for repairs" on that day and at 2:30 he
wanted his stenographer. It was generally thus that his plans
for rest worked out.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
554 AHFONG
He carried at this time the entire respooalcHlitieB of the
Acad^ny and the load wae heavy. As aa example of his
bothers was the followiI^;: A gentl^nan who had a boy at
the academy had become very delinquent in the matter of
paying for his boy and he had written this gentleman a strong
letter urging a remittance. He replied to the request in an al-
most insulting tone and Dr. Hatcher wrote him a kind but firm
letter in reply closing as follows :
"I treat you as a gentlemui and a brother and there is no
need for you to deal roughly with me. At any rate I think
if you were goii^ to abuse me, you ought to pay the bill first
and then turn yourself loose on me if you must.'
He supplied one Sunday at Eutaw Place during the Summer
and in writing me how they treated him he said, "They ovated
me to the spoiling point."
His Chinese boy "Ah Fong" spoke at both services on Sunday
at the First Baptist Church in Richmond and Dr. George W.
McDaniel, the pastor of the church and one of Dr. Hatcher's
greatly beloved friends, thus writes Mrs. Hatcher:
"It would have overjoyed you, as it delighted me, to hear
Ah Foi^ last night. They say he <id even better in the morning.
He spoke clearly and interestingly and the great congregation
hung ef^rly upon his words. The cash collection for him
amount^ to $52.62 and he embarrassed us by his gratitude.
To know how he pleased our people will doubtless be some
compensation to you and Dr. Hatcher for the efforts and
sacrifices which you have made in his behalf. To have trained
such a young man is an invaluable contribution to Christian
civihzation. Kcmembcr me affectionately to all your family."
In spealdng one day before the Shiloh Association Dr.
Hatcher said:
"I have found life beautiful and joyous. There is much that
is good in this life. Still there are many reasons why I should
not care to stay on here always . But there is one reason —
only one why I should fike to live on a good while longer.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
m A RAILROAD WRECK 555
The outlook for.the Baptists is so bright, the possibilities eaaily
-within their reach so great I should liib#to live a good while
longer just to see what the Baptists will accomplish. And who
knows but that up yonder I shall walk out on the battlements
of heaven and look down upon my brethren and rejoice with
them in th^ achievements."
He was in a Berious railroad accident while traveling from
Newport News to Kichmond. He had with him a lad whom he
was takii^ to the Academy for the Preparatory Department.
His vivid * account of the wreck furnishes interesting reading
and shows that his good sense and self-control did not desert
him even in the hour of i^saster:
"There was no warning of what was to be. It came in a
second. A noise — such a clashing, roaring, confusing, grating,
crashing noise it was — ^jarred the heavens, put the earth to
shaking and spoke terror to the neighborhood. An old farmer
was quietly feeding his horee in his stable off on his plantation
and he was hit by that indescribable fury of hostile sounds
and came flying like a hunted maniac to the scene. He said
that be knew at once that it told of destruction and sorrow
which called for help and he was there to do his part. As for
myself, — Nil. I heard it, felt the shiver of it,— felt it as it
swept every nerve and tissue of my being— felt its sting m the
center of Ufe and went sore from it for days — felt its jar worse
than the harrowing terrors of the earthquake.
"First the splitting, deadly roar. Then the jerk of the train
and the leap of the front end of my car from the track and its
breaking crash into the car ahead.
"Then 1 knew what it was. So far as I recall there was no
sense of fear but quick dread of manghng and wounds. But
I knew no thought of escape; my life was bound up with the
trun. Where it went I must go; what befel it, was coming to me.
The passengers bolted to the front to get out. I was swept on
to the front by the rush, but the car was jammed into the other
car and egress was shut off. I cared not, for in flight I saw no
safety. My part was to w^t. I peeped out of the window and
1 saw that we were on an embankment and had stopped.
"Meanwhile my little Norfolk "Prep" was brightening and
blossoming into a hero. At the first clai^ of the shock he
neatly inverted and landed on his head but he righted up iu-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
656 SALUDA, S. C.
stantly and mth rare self-forgetfulness though he had just
come into my hands that morning, he seemed concerned only
for me. He ran to the front to see if he could find a way for me
to escape and, filing in that, be rushed to the rear to see what
could be done in that direction and, unmindful of his own peril,
dashed back and seizing my hand pressed me to come out.
There was a touch of old time heroism in the lad's conduct
which attracted admiring attention. As a fact I was not hurt
except by the sickening jar at the first.
"The ei^neer was a martyr. He cut loose the train and
went down with the engine to death. He only lost his life and
all the passei^rs who suffered met their fate in needless efforts."
Regardii^ the above racking experience he writes:
"As I had been whirling up and down the earth for more than
a half century on roads of various gauges and grades and in ever
so many countries and had never bad a serious shake-up, I
would think it out of all grace and taste to raise a resentful
complaint. We must take our good mixed with evil and on
that point I bow the meek head."
He went in September to Siduda in S. C. and on his way had
his valise stolen and be writes; "With it went nearly all my
faded finery. But we need not mourn departed clothes. I am
delightfully situated and am determined to be lazy even if
I have to work to get the privil^e." To his friend Rev. R, H.
Winfree he writes:
"My increasmg age makes me more depend^it and my soul
cries out for you. I must stick to you and you to me until
my call comes. Your success as a pastor is my joy, and I am
somewhat impressed with the thought that you are to live and
die in Chesterfield, but God must settle that."
It was at this time that his book "John Jasper" made its
appearance before the pubUc. Its reception in many cases was
enthusiastic. The Washington Post in a lengthy editorial
upon it sMd:
"It has remained for the kindly hand of Dr. Hatcher, Vir-
ginia's veteran Baptist divine, to present to posterity a fragment
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JOHN JASPER 557
of one of the purest specimens of genius that ever came out of
the institution of slavery."
The book preserves a chapter out of southern Ufe that is
rapidly pas^g away. Jasper was a negro preacher of Eich-
moud, Va., was not only the author of the sermon "De Sun do
move" but the idinisterial sensation of the city, a man of
remarkable personality and above all a preacher of overmaster-
ing eloquence. Dr. Hatcher tells in the beginning of the book
how he came to "be mixed up with Jasper":
"The writer of this book heard that there was a marvel of a
man 'over in Africa', — a not too savory portion of Richmond
Vit^nia — and one Sunday afternoon in company with a Scotch-
Iii^iman, who was a scholar and critic with a strong leaning
towards ridicule, he went to hear him preach. Shades of our
Anglo-Saxon faUiers 1 Did mortal lips ever gush with such
torrents of horrible English! Hardly a word came out clothed
and in its right mind. And gestures! He circled around the
pulpit with his ankle in his hand, and laughed and eang and
shouted and acted about a dozen characters within the space
of three minutes.
"Meanwhile, in spite of these things, he was pouring out a
gospel sermon, red-hot, full of love, full of invective, full of
tenderness, full of bitterness, full of tears, full of every pasedon
that ever flamed in the human breast.
"He was a theatre in himself with the stage crowded with
actors. He was a battle field; — himself the general, the staff,
the officers, the common soldiery, the thundering artillery and
the ratthng musketry. He was the preacher; likewise the
church and the choir and the deacons and the congregation."
He then tells how he went again to hear him and "kept goii^,
oft and on for about twenty years."
"Whrai this man died" he writes "it was as the fall of a tower.
It was a crash, heard and felt farther than was the collapse
of the famous tower of Venice,"
Another such character as Jasper will hardly ever appear
again. This book however has embalmed the spirit and elo-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
568 JOHN JASPER
quence of t^ Africaa prodigy for future geaeratioiis to enjoy.
The New York Times in an article, of more than a column in
length, Baid that Joel Chandler Eanis and Thomas Nelson
Page had made the old plantation darkey, with his dialect
and quaint humor, a familiar figure and that their writings
were destined to inmiortality, but that John Jaq)er was more
than a plantation darkey with his fiddle or hia hoe; he was a
preacher of transcendent doquence and a personality that
inspired wonder and for such a character, — with his pulpit
dialect, — to be enshiined in hterature was an event of sur-
paesing interest.
"In Dr. Hatcher's sketch of John Jasper" says the Times
one has a glimpse of an actual character than which there are
few more deliciously humorous, more naively primitive, more
original in the pages of fiction. Jasper was one of the most
unique preachers — black or white — who ever filled a pulpit
or swayed with his doquence, acrobatic quite as often as vocal,
the throngs that came to hear him."
"As one reads the book" eaye the Central Baptist "he can
hardly refrain from the feeling that the author is in^ired."
But let us open the book and note some of its features. Near
the beginning it tells of Jasper's remarkable convendon and
call to the ministry. "I was seekin' God six long weeks" says
Jasper — "jes" 'cause I was ach a fool I couldn't see de way".
The author then relates how Jasper, who was a "stemmer" in
Mr. Samuel Hargrove's tobacco factory, was converted one
morning while at work in the factory. "Fore I kno'd it de light
broke; I was Hght as a feather; my feet was on de mount'n;
salvation rol'd like a fiood thru my soul an' I felt as if I oould
'nock off de faot'ry roof wid my shouts."
But Jasper knew that he must create no disturbance in the
factory and so he «mply slipped up to one or two of the other
darkies and whispered, "Hallelujah, my soul is redeemed".
"But jes dea" says Jasper "de holin back straps of Jasper's
breachin broke and what I thought would be a whisper was
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JOHN JASPER 559
loud enuf to be beam dean 'cross JeemB River to Manchester."
The result was that the overseer in the factory hearing the
uproar in the room entered in indignant rage and in a very
short while Jasper was ordered to report to Mr. Hai^rove's
office. He was a warm hearted christian man and soon John
came in and was asked concerning "the noise in the stemming
room." Jasper thus tells of his visit that day to Mr. Har-
grove's office: He s^d to his employer:
" 'Mars Sam ever sence de fourth of July I ben cryin' after
de Lord, six long weeks, an' jes' now out oar at de toble God
tuk my ans away an' set my feet on a rock. I didn't mean to
make no noise, Mars Sam, but 'fore I know'd it de fires broke
out in my soul an' I jes' let go one shout to de glory of my
Savior.
"Mara Sam was settin' wid his eyes a little down to de flo',
an' wid a pritty quiv'r in his voice he say very slo';— 'John,
I b'leve dat way myself. I luv de Savior dat you have jea' foun'
an' I wan' to tell you dat I do'n complain 'cause you made de
noise jes' now as you did,'
"Den Mars Sam did er thii^ dat nearly made me drop to de
flo'. He git out of his chair an' walk over to me an' giv' me
his ban' an' he say: 'John I wish you mighty well. Your
Savior is mine an' we are bruthers in de Lord.' When he say
dat, I turn 'roun an' put my arm agin de wall an' held me mouf
to keep from shoutin'. Mars Sam will nev'r kno de good he dun
me.
"Arter awhile he say: 'John, did you tell eny of 'em dar
'bout your conversion? and I say: 'Yes, Mars Sam, I tell 'em
fore I kno'd it, an' I feel like tellin' eberybody in de worl'
bout it.'
"Den he say: 'John, you may tell it. Go back in dar an'
go up an' down de tables, an' tell all of 'em. An' den if you
w^i' to go up stairs an' tell de hogshead men an' de drivers an'
eberybody what de Lord has dun for you."
"By dis time Mars-Gam's face was rainin' tears an' he say:
'John you needn' work no mo' today. I pv you holiday. Aft'r
you git thru tellin' it here at de fact'ry go up to de hous^ an'
tell your folks; go roun' to your neighbors an' tell dem; go
enywhere you wan' to an' tell de good news. It'll do you good,
do dem good an' help to honor your Lord an' Savior."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
560 JOHN JASPER
"Oh, dat happy day! Can I ever forgit it? Dat waa my
conversion niomin' aa' dat day de Lord sent me out wid de
good news of de kingdom. For mo' den forty years I've ben
teUin' de story. My step is gittin' rather slo', my voice breaks
down an' sometimes I am awful tired, but still I'm tellio' it.
My lips shall proclaim de dyin' luv of de Lam' wid my las'
expirin breath.
"Ah, my dear oP marster. He sleeps out yonder in de ol'
cemetery an' in dis worl' I shall see his face no mo' but I don't
forgit him. He give me a holiday an' sent me out to tell my
friends what gret things God. had dun for my soul. Oft'n as
I preach I feel dat I'm doin' what my ol' marater tol' me to do."
One of the chapters in the book is entitled "Jasper's Star
Witness". Her name was Vir^nia Adams one of his members,
who had many interesting things to tell about her old pastor.
She said:
"No, Brer Jasper wuz no money'^p^bber. When de church
wuz weak an' cudn't raze much money, he never sot no salary.
Yer cudn't git him ter do it. He tell 'em not ter trubble 'em-
selves but jes' giv him wat dey chuze ter put in de baskit and
he nevur loade no complaint. Wen de church got richer dey
crowd him hard ter kno' how much he wantid and he at las'
tell 'em dat he wud take S62..50 a month and dat he didn't
want no more dan dat. Wen de gret crowds got ter kummin
and de white folks too, and de money po'ed in so fas' de bruth-
erin, farly quarl'd wid him ter git hia sal'ry raz'd but he say
'No. I git nuff now, and I want no more. I'm not here to gouge
my people out of es much money es I kin.' He say he got nuff
money to pay his taxes and buy wat he needed and if dey got
more dan dey wantid let 'em take it and help de Lord's
pore."
One of his most eloquent outbursts was hia sermon on
Heaven. The sermon did not have Heaven aa its theme; it
was a funeral discourse on William EUyson and Mary Barnes.
He first informed the congregation that "Wilyum EUersin"
did not live right and that he was not going to he about it.
"Ef you wants folks who live wrong ter be preached and sung
to glory w'en dey die" said he "don' bring 'em to Jasper."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JOHN JASPEE 661
"But my bnithrin" he stud in happy tone "Mary Bamea
WU8 diffnint."
Thus Jaaper began with the departed sister and, as be pro-
ceeded, his heart took fire and he carried his hearers up to
Heaven and began a circuit of the celesUal city to look upon
its beauties,
"Fust of all I'd go down an see de river of life. I lov'a to
go down to de ole muddy Jeemes — mighty red an' muddy, but
it goes 'long so gran' an' quiet, like 'twaa 'tendin' to buMness —
but dat ain't nothin' to de river which flows by de throne.
I longs fer itfi crystal waves, an' de trees on de banks an' de
all-mann'rs of fruits. Dis old bead of mine oft'n gits hot
with fever, aches all night an' rolls on de piller, an' I has many
times desired to cool it in that blessed stream as it kisses de
banks of dat upper Canaan. Blessed be de Lord. De thought
of aeein' dat river, drinldn' its water an' restin' und'r dose trees —
"Then suddenly" says Dr. Hatcher "Jasper began to intone
a chorus in a most Meeting way no part of which I can recall
except the last line; "Ob what mus' it be to be thar."
Jasper then starta out to view the city's streets and maomons
and soon to hia overmasterii^ delight he discovers his own
manaoD. He next "moved off to see the angeUc host" on the
"white plEuns of the heavenly Canaan."
The chapter thus continues:
" 'An' now frenz' he said still pantins and seeking to be calm
'ef yer'll 'sense me, I'll take er trip to de throne an' see de King
in 'is roya'l garmints'. It was an event to study him at this
point. Hia earnestness and reverence passed all speech and
grew as he went. The light from the throne dazzled him from
afar. There was the great white throne — -there the eldera
bowii^ in adoring wonder — ^the archangels w^ting in silence
for the commands of the Kjng — ^there, in hosts innumerable,
were the ransomed. In point of vivid description it surpassed
all I had heard or read. By this time the old negro orator
seemed glorified.
"Earth could hardly hold him. He sprai^ about the plat-
form with a boy's alertness; he was unconsciously waving his
baDdkercbief as if greeting a conqueror; his face was streaming
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
S62 JOHN JASPER
witii tears; he was bowing before the Redeemer; he weis clapping
his hands, laughing, shouting and wiping the blinding tears
out of his eyes. It was a moment of transport and unmatched
wonder to every one and I felt as if it could never cease when
suddenly in a new note he broke into his chorus, ending with
the soul melting words; 'Oh, what mus' it be to be thar."
Finally he visits the ransomed 'of de Lord' and walks up
the line speaking to the different ones amoi^ the glorified.
The account thus continues:
"Thus he went on greeting patriarchs, prophets, apostles
martyrs, his brethren and loved ones gone before, until sud-
denly he sprang back and nused a shout that fairly shook the
roof: 'Here she is! I know'd sh'd git here! why
Mary Barnes, got home did yer?'
"A great handshake he gave her and for a moment it looked
as if the newly glorified Mary Barnes was the center of Jasper's
thoughts; but, as if by magic, things again changed and he was,
singing at the top of his voice the chorus which died away,
amid the shrieks and shouts of his crowd, with his plfuntive
note, 'Oh what mus' it be to be thar!' "
The book closes with these words, "Valiant heroic old man.
He stood in his place and was not afraid."
Concerning the death of Jasper, Dr. Hatcher tbua writes in
the Ai^us:
"The death of Jasper shook BJchomond. . . It waa
bruited about in advance that he was out of kelter. . . .
When he could no longer mount his pulpit and sound the gospel
trumpet, his light went out. . . When he emerged neat
and trim on Sunday. . . he was happy as a school boy
on vacation morning as he came to meet his people!
"The cracking of bis trumpet — that trumpet which Mars'
Sam Hargrove put in his bands on a far>away July morning
in the old tobacco factory, and which he had blown with
intoxicating joy for a half-century, broke his spirit and life
could hold him little longer."
The publisher says that the book at this late day still main-
ttunB its steady sale. It aeons to touch certfua chorda ooromon
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
JOHN JASPER 563
to &11 classes and profogeioas, by ^ving the reader what the
author had promised himself to give, — "a dash of the genuine
Jasper". He flashes light upon the unique personahty ao that
the reader can see him as he was? One of the chapters is
entitled "Jasper ghmpsed under various lights" and when
the author gets thro\^h with this African wonder there is
little in his make-up that has not been unveiled before the
reader.
Let it be remembered that the chapters of the book were
dashed off at odd hours, in various places and in the midst
of a ceaseless whirl of travel and work, and while the volume
is a high tribute to the genius of Jasper, it also reflects one of
the traits of the author, and that was his abiUty to discover a
great soul, even when housed in a black body. Jasper's sermon
on "De Sun do move" gave him world-wide notoriety and
yet it thereby made him the butt of many a jest. Dr. Hatcher
sEud that that sermon exhibited him at his weakest point.
But underneath Jasper's eccentricities and oddities Dr. Hatcher
saw a jewel of purest ray and he picked it up, rubbed off the
dirt and held it for the world's gaze and verity there are those
who say that the hght will never go out.
If I were asked to name one of the deepest roots in Dr.
Hatcher's character, — the root that went the furthest down
and out of which came the richest fruitage I would be tempted
to say it was his abiUty to see what was in men; — especially
the good and beautiful that was in them — and to bring it to
light.
He sdd one day of a certain prominent Baptist minister
who was usually a man of courtly bearing but carried within
him a bundle of irascible poasibihties, "Dr. is & gen-
tleman up to a certain temperature." He understood the
Doctor well; he had many pleasant deahngs with him but be
always kept one eye on the thermometer.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XL
190&— 1909
WITH THE ACADEMY BOYB. THE ACADEMY AND THE OOMMUNtTY.
CBARACTEa TSAINZNO. "qBACE-STKEEt" ANNIVEBBARY.
HEMnoSICBNCSS. MANIFOLD THIPS AND LABOBS.
AB FOKQ'b QBADUATION. MONUMENTS. A
FBESONAL SEBMON. I^RBONAL
(SAKACTGBISTICS.
If we would obtuB a full sized picture of him we must catch
sight of him in his dealings with the Academy boys. Some
of hie finer traits were exhibited in his contact with them. When
he came to Careby from his meetings and other camp^gns of
heavy labor be came not to seek the rest and quiet in the
bosom of his home, but rather to find himself attacked by
cares and problems innumerable, but be found himself also
surrounded by brigades of boys and he was then in his hap-
piest mood. His keen eye saw what was in them and oft times
he would answer a boy with a remark that would stick in bis
memory and bum like fire in his soul. Those eager, restless
ambitious young fellows sui^ng aroimd him, as be came upon
the campus, enthusiastically applaudii^ him — aa they alway*
did whenever he came in to the Academy chapel, — ^knocking at
his Careby Hall door at all hours of the day, and often of the
night, looking or speaking their appreciation of his kindness,
or bombardii^ him with their questions, and drinldng in his
counsela; — ^that was the fountfdn from which he drew rich
draughts of delight.
He was never too busy to talk with a boy. His wife says
that one day he found himself crowded with work in his study
56i
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
WELCOMING A BOY 565
and he gave order that he must not be interrupted for anything.
People of aU ages and condiUons were visitors at Careby.
Teachers, or ne^hbors, or i>er8ons from a distanee would,
upon hearing that Dr. Hatcher had returned, for some reason
"want to see Dr. Hatcher". But on the day in question the
edict went forth — "No interruption," and so during the hours
of the morning his request was scrupulously observed. In the
course of the day, however, a little fellow — one of the boys
of the neighborhood — in some way passed through the outer
sentinels, entered the front door and pounded on Dr. Hatcher's
door. As no one else replied, Dr. Hatcher opened the door
and his wife heard him call, "Hello, Guy; Come right in".
His wife said that from the greeting given the boy one would
have almost imagined he was greeting some distinguished
visitor, and after his serious insistence r^arding interruptions
that day she was highly amused at the royal welcome he gave
the bqy. He stud that when he was a mountiun boy scarcely
anybody in his conmiunity ever thought a boy worthy of any
consideration, and when on rare occasions some one took
special notice of him it was an epoch in his Ufe. No reward for
bis kindness was so sweet and inspirii^ to him as the grateful
light in the face of a boy.
The above occurence reminds us of an incident in the life
of that great lover of children, Francis Xavier, the misuonary:
"Once on some field of labor where hundreds came with
their needs, their questions and their heart hui^^ers, he was
worn almost to utter exhaustion by days and nights of
serving. At last he s^d to his attendant, 'I must sleep! I must
sleepl K I do not I shall die. If any one comes — ^whoever
comes — ^waken me not. I must sleep! He then-retired into
his tent, and his faithful servant began his watch. It was not
long, however, till a pallid face appeared at the top. Xavier
beckoned eagerly to the watcher and said in a solemn tone,
'I made a mjstake. If a httle child cornea, waken me.' "
"The first time I ever saw Dr. Hatcher", says Rev. Dr.
C. H. Dodd, "he was in an attitude which exactly and last-
ingly depicted the man I afterwards found him to be. He was
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
666 NEVER TOO BUSY FOR A BOY
standing in the street, waiting for a car, and some little ctuldra
who knew him, a little boy and g^, had crept up under Ids
aims lud were embracing him with intense affection. Big
and friendly he towered th«% over those little children, in
his true character — more as the shepherd than the bishop of
their souls. He pictured his own secret in that fatherly posture
as he let the little children come to him. And he was following
Christ, too."
Bev. F. H. Jones says that when Dr. Hatcher was laboring
for Kichmond coU^e and had his office at tbe Collie that he
was a student in the institution and that one day, feeling a
little worried as to his plans for the future, he said: "I be-
lieve I will go down and talk with Dr. Hatcher."
"I knocked at his door" said Mr. Jones "and I can hear his
voice now as he shouted from within: 'Come in'. I opened the
door, but saw his table piled with papers and so I said: TJo,
doctor, you are busy, I will come in some other time.'
" 'Come right in, I'm never too busy to talk to a boy. Cwne
here and tell me about yourself,' he sud.
"I told him what I would like to accomplish at College, but
said that I did not know whether I could or not, and he promptly
and sympathetically smd: 'Yes, you can and you can do even
a great deal more' and by his kindly talk he put a new hope in
my heart."
He sought to develope in the Fork Union community a spirit
of helpfulness towards the Academy students. The following
letter is a sample of many such letters written by him. It
shows into what details his crowded mind would go in his
sympathy for the needy boys:
"FoHK Union Oct 26, 1908.
"My Dear Bbo,: — "I thought I had written you again;
we are very much set on having you come. If you and your
father can raise forty-five ($45) I think that, if you will come
and leani to press the uniforms for the boys at odd hours, you
can make enough to get along. It is easy to learn and we have
a friend here that can teach you. It is thoroughly respectable
at our school for hoys to work. They milk cows, cut wood,
feed horses, act as barbers or do anything else they can to get
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE ACADEMY A>fD THE NEEDY BOYS 567
mon^ to help them aloi^. The Lord helps those who try to
help themselves. If you come you had better come at ooce.
You may have a hard scratch at first but do not mind that. If
you wait you may lose the job of which I have spoken. I
suggest that you write to my daughter Miss Elizabeth at this
place and let us know at once what you intend to do. Come
trusting in God. Bring a letter of commendation from your
pastor or your church or both.
"Your ancere friend,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
The regnant principle of the Academy was to help the fellow
at the bottom. He had nearly all of the families in or around
Fork Union taking boys into their homes, pving them little
chores to do and also {pving them their board — in whole or in
part — in return.
"Fork Union" said he "has a way of finding (^fted and asp-
iring boys and helping them to get their education, — those of
them at least which need help. This constitutes one feature
of the school in which my heart is most deeply interested. It
has come to pass that Fork Union is known to be a place where
bright and clever boys love to come because it is known that
we try to make it ea^er for those who have nothing and nobody
to help them in starting."
He was ever seeking to instil! into the conmiunity the idea
that the Academy was not there as a gold mine for Fork
Union but rather as an opportunity for Fork Union to help
struggling boys. Sometimes he would create positions in the
Academy for the boys — which would mean no income, or
very little, for the Academy, but simply an opportunity for
the youth to help "work his way through."
Be it said for the Fork Union people that they responded to
his appeals with gratifying and, in some cases, with beautiful
generosity. He writes to a Virginia pastor in whose church
was a boy who had gotten hold of his heart:
"My Dear Bho, — Unless I am mlst^en I saw that boy
and had flome talk with him at . There is nothii^
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
568 WORKING FOR BOYS
more eacred on eartli than a young man's desre to qoatify
and equip bimself for high usefulness in this worid."
He next offered to make large reductitm for tuitifm for the
boy uid then adds:
"May I ask also if the fanuly during the sessioii, — by lus
father ^ving some, and his brother some and his rasters some
and, F possibly a little; and the mother stinting the
family a little on butter and fowls and fniite and v^etables,
turning the same into money, — could not help some in raisiDg
the $50,00.
"I charge you as this boy's pastor to take this work up and
see it through to a righteous conclusion. What is done oi^t
to be done now. Sec the family, ^ht it to a finish and report
results at once. I cannot hold the place for work but a few
days, but I will hold it while you work on the ease, and woric
day and night until the thing is done. It is worth doing and it
will be to your honor and to the glory of God to do it. And
if you do not do it, I will blame you and think you are not as
good a pastor as you ought to be. You know how I love you
and how I trust you and rejoice with you in your ministerial
work."
"Add up in dollars and cents" says Dr. Landrum "the total
of his direct and indirect contributions to education, and many
a philanthropic millionture will have to look to his laurels.
Kfitimatt! the nature and value of the services he has rendered
vicariounly to his God and country, and scholars and states-
men may well accord him fellowship in the temple of fame. So
long as it is incumbent on some enterprising detective of
worthfulneas in citizenship to "write up" "who's who" in
America, he will be derelict in duty if he leaves out the name
of William E. Hatcher."
He loved to try his hand on the incorrigibles, — the boys
whom others had despaired of. Often have I seen him in his
iiiBce at Careby Hall take in hand a hoy who had, from dis-
couragement, or cowardice, decided to quit school, — a boy
who had become refractory and reckless, — and by his direct,
pungent talk to the boy,— talk that was frequently interspersed
with ^eamB of humor— seek to shake and jostle him into a new
D.qit.zeaOvGoAt^lc
THE BOY'S COMPANION 569
spirit and a high ambition. He would point out to the b<^
the two roads before him and chall^ige him to make his choice.
A favorite sentence with him was, "We will try to make a man
of him" and I have often heard him say to a boy, "Stand your
ground and we will make a man of you".
He was interested in all the pursuits and games of the stu-
dents. He wanted them to tell him all about themselves.
It was entertaining to hear him when he and one or more boys
were engaged in a free and easy conversation. The boys would
do most of the talking, — mostly in reply to his questions and
it was striking how his questions and his attitude towards
them would put them on their mettle. He was a boy amoi^
boys. Dr. Ferryman of Norfolk, in whose home Dr. Hatcher
waa entertained during a meeting of the General Association,
Bfud that his boy^ — about ten or twelve years of age — and Dr.
Hatcher were walking along the street one morning in front
of their house when he remarked to his wife, "Just look yonder
at those two boys talking to each other; and look at George,
he is talking to Dr. Hatcher as if Dr. Hatcher was nothing more
than a boy, like himself,"
He loved to be on the athletic field at Fork Union when
base ball and foot ball games were played and none of the
spectators were more enthu^aetlcally interested than he. He
preached the 225tb amuversary sermon for the First Baptist
Church in Charleston, S. C, and afterwards said, "I write
that Sunday as among the high days of my ministerial life,"
He attended the General Association in November and Dr.
Masters draws the following picture of him in a group of
preachers one night during the meetings:
"In the pastor's study on Saturday night, after he had
rendered brilliant service in introducing the new pastors,
Dr. Hatcher chatted easily with several who gathered about
bim about a sermon which he is making. It is to be on Barn-
abas, the sou of consolation, the man who saw good in people
and brought it out. He developed a brief sketch of Barnabas
as it waa brought out in his recorded relations with others and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
570 ADDEESS AT "GRACE STREET"
it fairly sparkled with pith and point. Dr. H&tcher cni^t to
send that sennon to the Herald."
It is interesting to know that the last sermon he ever
preached — a few days before his end — was on "Barnabas".
"Fork Union, Oct. 29, 1908.
"My Dear E, — I am a little frazzled out by a few dozen
bothers of dom^tic, Academic and other sorts. I am writing
to you principally because I do not feel like it. But I had a
roy^ week with Shipm&n at Bice's Depot last week [in meetings].
. . . I am a^ain on the S. S. Lessons for next year. They
bother me but I get tone of good out of them."
"Yours, Wm. E. H."
From Upperville he writes:
"Careby is the only place that has a suggestion of home to me
and I love it very much. But the Academy absorbs almost
every moment when I go there. I hope I can throw more of the
burden on others."
He had a unique experience at his old Grace Street church
in November. The church celebrated its seventy fifth An-
niversary and had asked him to speak at that service on his
"Recollectjons" of his pastorate. It was a memorable occaaon.
The General Association had just closed its seasons and many
of its delegates lingered until the Grace Street Anniversary.
His wife writes: "it was probably the greatest occasion of lus
life."
To One and Edith she writes:
"Oh such a meeting we had with every seat taken — 1500
people at least.
"Your father was at his best except in voice. He had been
coughing all day but did not cough any while speakir^. Of
course he swayed his audience with tears and laughter. . . .
He spoke for an hour and the audience came enmasse to shake
hands afterwards. It must have been an ovation very pleasing
to his heart."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ADDRESS AT "GRACE STREET" 571
The striking feature of the service is yet to be mentioned.
As he began to gather up bia "recollections" of bis pastorate
at once the factional troubles that had harassed his pastor-
ate for ten years loomed up in the list of his "recollections."
He went to the gentleman who had been the leader of the fac-
tion and said "Brother X they have asked me to give
my recollections of my pastorate at the Grace Street Annive^
sary and to do this I must narrate some disagreeable things
about you; I tell you now so that you can be there."
The night with its crowd arrived and there on the pulpit
sat this brother. Dr. Hatcher moved forward with his address
taking up the story of his twenty-Edx years pastorate at the
banning and following it to the end. As a part of the stoiy
he described the opposition that met him near the b^^inning
and followed him for many years and then he brought his
narrative to a climax by saying:
"Those were pregnant and stressful days in my existence.
The plowshare was in my soul for a decade and life hung
trembling on the verge of a tragedy. There were men who gave
me trouble and there sits near me now the chieftain of that
wasting strife. I could not give my recoilections without
saying to you before him and before this great multitude that
he was to me a trial long drawn out and yet, as I weigh the past,
I do not believe that 1 ever lost my respect for him, thou^ I
may have mislaid it more than once and I am sure I did not
lose absolutely my faith in his christian character though it
shook many a time, and times upon times I told the Lord that
if he did not prop it up it would inevitably break into hopeless
ruin. After the end came I told him I had gone through my
heart, searching every comer and crevice, and that I found
nothing that would interfere with our fullest fellowship and our
freest cooperation in all good works, and I can say to him today,
^ter the years have lapsed away, that I cherish for Mm gen-
uinely brotherly love and account him among that circle of
friends whom I can trust without a misgiving. I hold up my
right band before him declaring that in its grasp there is friend-
ship and brotherhood untainted by one unhappy memory."
As he said this the gentleman "sprang to his feet, walked
forward and exchanged with the speaker a cordial band grasp.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
572 THE WISE COUNSELOR
It was an episode that will constitute a part of the permanent
history of that church." It was a dramatic scene. He was
publicly digging up old clashes and strifes and under careless
handling he might have precipitated a disturbance there upon
the platform. They grasped each other's hands that night
in mutual esteem and honor which continued unabated to the
end of their lives.
When asked whether Dr. D would be a good man
for a certain Louisville church to call he said, "He is good enough
for Louisville and Louisville is good enough for him, hut I am
not sure that they are good enough for each other." In refer-
ring to Dr. Hatcher a prominent minister of Richmond wrote
on Dec, 4th, "I know of no one to whom I can go whose coun-
sel would have so much weight with me in rendering an impor-
tant deciaon." And here before me is a letter from Dr. A. B.
Rudd saying "Dr. Hatcher helped me to decide a great life
question". In the midst of his goings he had his lights and
shadows. He writes from Fork Union, "My health is not as good
as usual. In fact I have almost concluded that it is not likely
that it will be so good as it has been. I am nervous and full
of puns in one way and another."
But with this plaintive note comes another in brighter tone,
"My visit to Shenandoah ig a new and lustrous page in my life
and I shall read it over many a time in this world and, yet more
times, I hope, in the other world."
The view we get of him shows him busy with his next book, —
a book of his reminiscences — at our Baltimore home, while he
is engaged in revival meetings at the Eutaw Place Church.
He writes:
"Eldridge is helping me masterfully on my second book —
that which meddles with my recollections. As a fact I rather
shudder at the thought of embalming ray reminiscences.
They have a nice look and a fair light for me, but to be putting
them in a book and hawking them on to the book-stalls and
making a thing of commerce with them inclines me to take to
the tall timbers.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REMINISCENCES 573
"But I am committed to Revell and believe that we already
have about enough material to make a good sized book, —
such ae it will be. I leave here Monday."
He went next to Franklin, Indiana, for meetings but not
until he had paid a vimt to Fork Union. He writes:
"I had a careworn time at Careby. The Academy throws
its bitter waters in my face. But I get good out of it. New
students come in rather thick aad I pick up many crumbs of
comfort as I march on. Sweet memories of your home are
still weighii^ me down with burdens of joy."
A few weeks later he writes me again:
"Academy affairs are not running well. The only successful
work that they seem to carry on is the harrowing up of my old
soul with constant anxietieB. . , . But you know that I
never feel well, nor am quite happy, if things go too well with
me. Things have to get crossed in order to make me go
strwgbt."
At Franklin the "Reminiscences" still weighed upon his
mind. He writes to his daughter Orie:
"I feel rather ashamed of myself that my memory has
waked up and assumed such haughty airs. I fear that what
little productive power I may have, and also my energetic
grasp on the future, may go to smash in the ahnost gleeful
eagerness with which my memory is spurting up and down
the past and luggii^ in all sorts of remimscences.
"I give some time every day to my book and hope that it
will not be long before I have material enou^ to feed it to the
printer,"
He wrote to another person that in "pegging away on his
Reminiscences" he felt Eke "an egotistical fiend."
From Franklin he went to Fort Wayne in the same state
(Indiana), where, in addition to his revival meetings, he de-
livered an address on John Jasper.
"The ministers were so stirred up and talked so much about
it" s^d Dr. Vichert "that there was a demand by the public
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
574 FROM POINT TO POINT
for the same address and he repeated it in my church on the
afteniooii of Feb. 21st when the large auditorium was ^led
and those who came were inspired and delighted as the min-
isters had been."
He stopped in Louisville for a lecture at the Seminary. He
wrote me, "I selected as my theme 'The Preacher and his
Purse' and I had it In right good shape. They ripped up the
smaller hills about it and requested it for publication."
He writes to his daughter Edith who was studying name
in New York :
"You were quite pretty and interesting as I remember you
before we forgot each other. I admire you most of all my chil-
dren because we resemble each other the most at least in the
respect that we are too busy to write to each other."
On his return to Fork Union after his long alienee he found
the \i8ual crop of Academy bothers Hned up and wuting for
him. "We have Trustee meeting on Thursday" he writes from
Fork Union "and we have problems of elephantine proportions
on hand." After the meeting he writes:
"We had a high time at our Trustee meefii^.
heard it thunder and perhaps are now looking for the U^t-
ning to strike."
His next jump was to Ik^efield, S. C. where he held revival
meetings, with his d^ly schedule aa follows: ■
"Men's Prayer Meeting at 8'.30 A. M.
Service at the Academy at 11 A. M.
Service at 4 P. M.
Service at night,"
A full programme was this for one who was approaching his
76th birthday.
The Edgefield Chronicle says "He is a grey-hared man —
grey with the brave fight and long campaign of seventy-five
years. As we hstened to him preach on Sunday morning, we
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FROM POINT TO POINT 576
thought of how, when he went borne to heaven all the "ran-
somed throng" would hasten to welcome him. God bless him
and his work! And may he stay with us to the last moment
of his avEulable time!"
Blessed experiences were his in the meetioge during the win-
ter in South Carolina. The Editor of the Christian Index in
Georgia published the following:
"What a glorious thing it is for a man, far advanced in years,
to be rendering such service to the glory of the Lord as Dr.
William E. Hatcher is doing. Every now and then we see in
the papers accounts of gracious and blessed meetings in which
he is assisting pastors. He is verily brining forth fruit in his
' old age, and fruit of the richest and finest quality. May the
Lord spare him yet many years with bis powers unimp^red
for this kind of service."
In May he attended the Southern Baptist Convention where
the denominational agencies piled their burdens upon him.
"All present remember" said Dr. Jeffries "what a power he
was before the Louisville Convention in helping to secure the
splendid subscription [for the Seminary] which gave impulse
and assuiauce to the movement. He was then a man of 74
years."
Back to Fork Union he hurried and from there he went agun
to South Carolina for meetings at Bennettsville and Bates-
ville. We restrain our pen from telling oi the glories of these
meetings and hurry with him back to Vir^nia to an all-day
meetii^ at "dear old Bethlehem" church in Chesterfield.
To see him in one of his best roles we must view him at an all
day meeting in the country. The above church was the same
church at which he had held the wonderful meeting of many
years f^o. He preached in the morning, but it was in the
afternoon that the unique service was held. It was a memorial
service in memory of certfun honored members who had passed
to their heavenly revjard. His letter to me tella the story:
"My day at Bethlehem was phenomenal, mcomparable
and next to miraculous. The crowd was great and a number
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
676 BETHLEHEM
of the brethren, like Caiy WiDston, Bob Wood, and Jeff Brown,
made a vast splutteration over my Bennon. It showed thar
goodness, but not their capacity for criticism.
"The Memorial Services cMne in the afternoon and they were
about as unlike a funeral as a moving picture show. I began
with old Mr. McTyre, Isaac Winston and Miss Sallie. I told
all the humorous and comical things except the story of the
gray mare. I mentioned a multitude of the members, gave
'old man Lybarger [one of the members] and the oats' story
and his conversion and closed with old Mr. Orrell and the
Laprade boy. The feeling towards the dose was electric and
powerful and, while ^nging the last hymn, I invited confes^ons
of faith and there were four. They are wearying me out to hold
a meeting. How would you like to do it?
"Already Bethel is asking for a memorial day and the rest
of them have suddenly waked up to feel that I ought to hold
their protracted meetings for them. Invitations come in from
every direction.
"I go to Christiansburg for a dedication Sunday and I
beheve I have eight dedications to follow."
He writes to his daughter, Orie, who is vioting in Bedford
near his glorious old mountain "the Peaks":
"My Dear Orie, — "If you see your couan Johnnie be sure
to fall in love with him and his wife and ask him if he has'nt
got.a grandson that would make a first class man. If he thinks
that he has a boy of that description, he must make it the joy
of his advancii^ years to educate him, and I would be glad to
get hold of him while he is young and tender. I hear that bis
daughter has very delightful and promising children. Give
my love to the entire Peak tribe.
"I hope you will fatten a pound a day while you are gone
and stay fifteen days.
"I came from Richmond yesterday and foimd my work piled
a good deal higher than nature did her job when she piled the
peaks of Otter."
His mail, month by month, gleamed with such bright and
kindly messi^es as the following:
From Dr. C. H. Ryland:
"My Dsar Wn,LiAii E: — "I have come to rejoice in your
going forth although I am not free from anxiety about the
p.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SPEECH TO AFOH NG ■ 577
strenuous way in which you are conducting your campaigns.
The Psalmist said, 'I am a wonder to many' and you are a
wonder to me."
From Dr. i. M. Frost:
"I congratulate you . . on the great and glorious record
you have made for yourself. Very few men have stamped
themselves more deeply, or for better purpose, on their day
and generation than you have done."
Judge Haralson, in a love letter to him, writes,"! wish my
title to an eternal inheritance were as clear as yours."
An interesting incident occured in connection with the
graduation of his Chinese boy. Ah Fong, at the Commencement
exercises at Richmond College in June. He made a pubho
address to this Chinese lad who thus describes the event:
"When I took my B. A. degree Dr. Hatcher presented me
with a gold ring which I value it above all other things be-
cause in it was his love to me. In presenting the ring he made a
speech. I do not remember the wording of that speech but
the contents of it I still remember. He told how he met me.
why he took me into his home. Since I have become a member
of his family he had no occasion to complain agiunst me. There
was not one discord between us, he said. He painted my be-
havior so good that it makes me blush to think of it even now.
He told my record at the schools. How an untutored lad I was
when I first entered his home — took away some honor from
Fork Union Academy. And graduated there and now takes
away an honor from EJchmond College. That he present the
ring to me because of his warm love for me-
"On several occaaons he asked me what I would do when I
finished my education in America. Then he would say; 'I don't
know what you ought to do, only the Lord knows. Remember
one thing; you ought always to be useiil to the world.' I re-
member very distinctly one Saturday aft«moon as I was driv-
ing him to Bremo Station to catch the up-train to Lynchburg.
It was in the Summer of 1909 after I had taken my B. A, at
Richmond College. I had not decided where to go the next
school term. He said to me, 'Ah Fong what do you want to
make of youiseU?' I mentioned sevenil things what I would
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
578 HIS HORROE OF BEING FORGOTTEN
like to be; among them were mining, medicine and law. He
did not approve for me to take up minii^. Bis reason was
that people who study that course amply wish to make money.
They have no thought for the welfare of the world. 'I want
to knock that out of your head' he said. If he had used his
time to make money he would be a very lich man. To nuike
money is very easy; but to train men for one's country is very
hard. 'Now' he s(ud 'many people think and a large number
of people have asked me it I were to make a preacher out of
you. I told them that I am making a man of you, as to what
you will do I leave it to the Lord."
Later on Ah Fong wait to New York to study in Columbia
College. He says:
"When I went to New York, Dr. Hatcher did not know any-
thing about it at that time. I only wrote him a letter that I
waa going to New York to work my way through Columbia.
When he received my letter he at once wrote me a long and
kind letter. It was full of advice and said that he was sorry
that he could not support me through the University; but that
he had great hope for me that I would succeed in my effort.
He would be very lonesome when he was at Fork Union with-
out me, but no matter where I would be there would be a
place for me in his heart and still clwmed me as a member of
his family."
Some time before this he wrote an article which seems never
to have been published. The manuscript bears no intimation
of the purpose for which it was written. The subject is, "The
Monumental Idea" and begins as follows:
"The dread of oblivion is universal. The human soul shrinks
appalled from the possibility of bdng forgotten. In some way
we carry the thought that we are a put of the universal whole
and that it would be fatt^ to lose our place."
He declared once in a sermon that the idea of annihilation
waa a more horrible doctrine to him than that of everlasting
punishment. He had in him, very strong, the deare to be
remembered. In the above treatment of the "the monumoit&l
idea" he thus continues:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"THE MONUMENTAL IDEA" 579
"Only the stranded and lost can face the terrors of oblivion.
"To many of those who take a larger view of life and under-
stand its relationahipa there comes another thought. . . There
is the deare that the monument, while standing guard over tie
dust of the dead, shall bear a message to those who come after.
"To those of us who travel here and there, the sight of
the cemetery, or the white slabs in the family burial place in
the country, furnishes touching and pathetic proofs of the
prevalence of the memorial passion. From the fragment of
marble which tells of the httle one gone, to the towering shaft,
or the elaborate mausoleum, we catch proof of this quenchless
longing of the human soul.
"A monument ought to be something more than a grotesque
effort to scare oblivion away from the graves of men. The
monument is an appefJ to matter — voiceless, unproductive and
dead — to confer historic immortality upon those who ought
not to be forgotten. It is asking too much of stone, marble and
brass. They cannot speak, nor travel, nor sing, nor sound the
praises of the dead. They can only stand stUl, bearli^ their
inacriptions and enduring the pelting of the storm and the
cankerous rust of the ages. While history may be made to stand
as a sentinel over the graves of the great, yet the historian
and prophet must meet at every monument, the one telling
of what has been and the other tilling of things yet to be.
"There is something transcendently noble in the thought
that one can impart a monumental value to the part that he
plays in this life, so that he will be remembered, not so much
by what he did as by what his constructive life caused to be
done after he has passed within the veil.
"In one respect every man must be hia own monument
builder. He must either enrich his hfe with achievements so
briUiant and imperishable that they will be Mb euffident mem-
orial, or he must confer benefactions which will cause others
to ctmunemorate his virtues."
In looking over his papers I found the following document.
It was written a few days before hia 751ii birthday and ap-
parently was mentioned to no one and Itud aade. It is prob-
able that the following words about himself were written as he
sat in his study musing upon the near approach of bis An-
niversary:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
580 A PERSONAL SERMON
"A Personal Sermon"
"The days of our years are three-score years and ten; and if
by reason of strei^b they be four-score years y«t is their
strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly
away.
"Moses stands as the unchallenged author of the 90th Fsalm.
. , . Seventy years he puts ss the la^t mile-stone of a
long life; beyond that continued life is exceptional, burdensome
and speeding swiftly to its clo!^. It is always dangerous for
men to spe^ or write concerning themselves. Truly it oi^ht
to be that by this time I can speak without passion or prejudice
about myself. I am too far from the asperities and strifes
of earth to have my deliverances affected with the warrior's
spirit and too grateful for the multiplication of my days to be
apprehensive as to what is to come.
"With the passage of a few days I will reach my 75th an-
niversary. This will put me upon the middle line between
seventy and eighty — that is, if I do hold out. In the last letter
which I received from Spuigeon he told me of the complex
infirmities and tortures of the flesh with the comment that he
could not hold out much longer. Truly and gratefully I can
put en record that I have no disease within my mortal frame
of which I am conscious and scarcely a pun or disturbance in
any function of my bodily system and yet I am distinctly
aware of the gradual relaxation of my powers. My grasp
lacks its olden vigor and my step takes on an increa^g heavi-
ness. Within the circle of my family, and yet more perhaps
outside of it, there has been a stroi^ desire that my seventy-
fifth birthday should in some way have some celebration.
With no distinct wish to have my way about it I have felt a
strong aversion to any demonstration in my honor at the half-
way house between seventy and eighty. It falls in better with
my sense of the fitness of things to compare my own experiences
with the philosophical utterances of Moses, By his measure
of life I desire to lay my own frail life down and see how the two
look in the light of each other.
"No fantastic deceptions as to my unfuling youth have
possessed me. I have marked the approach of age with serious-
ness and gratitude and have never for a moment sought to
deceive myself about it. The catchy phrases about being
"only as old as we feel ourselves to be and of being "as good
at seventy as at thirty-five" never fit my lips. Indeed I have
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
PHYSICAL TRAITS 681
thought that age was too respectable and too honorable to be
disowned or disguised-
"Finis-80 far — "
He here speaks of the gradual relaxation of Mb powers. His
words were true as r^arded his bodily powers, hut his mental
forces seemed as alert and vigorous as ever aad until the very
end they nuuntained their usual high standard. Walking
became an increasing burden with him. He avoided steep
climbs and and in cities would always take the street car, if
only to save himself the walk of a few squares. His weight
at this Ume was considerable and in view of the load of avoir-
dupois that he had to carry it is not surprisng that he oft-times
preferred for the street car, instead of his two feet, to cany it.
And yet he did a goodly share of walking. He would frequently
walk for exercise. There waa at Careby a long front porch and
also a concrete walk semi-circular in shape in front of Careby
and along these he would oft«n tramp back and forth; and
he would never walk aimlessly. He would move as if he were
walking for a purpose and a very important one. There would
be — as he walked — an animation in his face, as if there were
delightful results awaiting him at the end of his walk, — ^pro-
vided however, that he would not loiter by the way. Often
he would count his steps out loud as he walked, — "one, two,
three, four," and so on to a himdred or more. He conadered
that he stepped a yard at a time and he knew well the distance,
in yards, of all the walks over which he frequently tramped.
Durii^ his sickness at our house, in Baltimore, — at a time when
he was long shut in — ^he would get up out of his bed and start
on a tramp through the bouse, — into the front room and back
throu^ the hall into the rear room and then down the sturway
and through the first floor and up the stairs again and thus
with earnest, determined steps he would make the circuit
of the house many times as if each step he was taking involved
the destinies of several nations of the earth.
During his last years when he would walk rapidly his right
hand would swing vigorously at his side while his left hand
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
582 READING HIMSELF TO SLEEP
hung in OBe podtion, and as he walked his left shoulder would
seem to dip just a little, — as if his left leg had become slightly
shorter than the other.
Another fact must be mentioned. During his later life his
hours of sleep each night were few and somewhat irregular.
He would always read himself to sleep at night and we were
always afnud that, with hia poor eye-aght and with his custom
of sleeping in all maimer of places, he would knock over the
lamp at the moment when he would become drowsy and seek
to put out the light. He would often snatch a nap during the
day in hie morris chair. One night while reading in his chair he
bad dropped off to sleep with the lamp very near his hand and
his wife said to Edith, "I'm afraid your father will in waking
move his hand and knock over that lamp" and her words had
hardly been spoken before he threw back his hand and over
went the lighted lamp. It was hurled out of the window and
the dai^er was averted. The wonder is that many more such
accidents did not occur.
He nearly always carried mf^azines or neswpapera with him
in his travels in order that he might be sure of having reading
material in the night hours. Often he would awaken far in the
night and in order to hasten the return of his sleep he would
light his lamp and open his magaeine or book for another
readily. In a abort while he would feel the drowsy symptoms,
out would go the lamp and he would quickly drop into slumber
once more.
His sneezing outburats were often very loud and fumiithed
great amusement to the grandchildren. He did not perpetrate
such explosions in the social circle, or in religious assemblies, —
at leaat he seemed to moderate the performance on such oc-
CBfflons; but often in the home circle, when the "coast was clear,"
and especially if the young folks were in evidence, he would let
himself out and his sneezes could be heard hundreds of yards
in the distance. Sometimes he would startle those in his
presence by one of these shoutii^ — almost screaming — sneezes
and then with uplifted eye-brows and an amused smile on hia
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTER TO DR. BRYAN 583
face he would watch the company aa they would recover
from their shock and break into a laugh.
"I remember" swd a lady, "the first time my little girl beard
him sneeze and it fiigbtened her so that she was on the vei^e
of cryii^'. Such performances were not frequent; but they
at least came often enough to show his abihty in that direction.
Often in his later life when he dropped upon the lounge for a
nap he would advertize the fact by vigorous snoring which
would continue in undulating fashion for several minutes and
suddenly explode in a nervous gasp.
During the Summer he attended Associations, dedicated
churches, made all manner of addresses, directed the afffurs
of the Academy, kept his typewriter busy and did other things
too numerous to be catalogued here.
To his friend, Dr. E. B. Bryan, of Franklin College, who had
recwitly been elected to the presidency of Colgate University,
he writes a letter which closed as follows:
"I could write all day but this Academy business has me by
the throat for several days. — and so, with a tear for Franklin,
with a shout for Colgate and with a prayer for you, with honor
for your wife, with fatherly admiration for Helen, with pride
over your boy and with ever so much afTection for your other
girl, with a dumb grief for "Powle" and St. Bertha and a wish
that the kingdom of God may come and that you and I may
stand fflde by side when the shouting day comes, I am as ever
and ever will be.
"Your lover,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
"Your father had a sort of collapse after returning from
church" writes my mother. "He had been to Richmond to buy
furniture for the Academy and had a hard day walking around.
He is better now."
He wrote me on Sept. 14th, the "bluest' letter which I ever
received from him. A young man who had been staying at
Careby whom he had greatly loved for many years and who
made a trip to Richmond had, after a loi^ season of abstinence.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
584 SUDDEN DEPBES8I0N
fallen s victim to his old enemy strong drink. There wese
other burdens, but it was the fall of the youth that d^ressed
him tbe most. He was a compaokm (or him during his vieats
at Careby helping him in all manner of ways.
"His fall is a blow to me" he writes "I leaned on him for
everything. Besides my expenses are very great and my in-
come next to nothing.
"But never mind. Let me just tell you my sorrows, but
not to bother you— only to relieve me. After aU it is not very
desirable for a worthless man to live too long. Jtist tlunk about
me and pray for me.
"Yours,
"W. E. H."
A low drop was that for him. But it is not unlikely that
somethii^ occured soon thereafter to send his E^nrits on tbe
upward climb; a boy may have appeared on the scene or some
needy case may have drawn his thoughts into other channels
and gradually lifted bim back to his former level.
Mr. Geoi^e Schmelz writes him from Asheville, N. C, "Judge
Haralson, who is stopping at the %'ictoria Inn where I am located.
. . . says he loves you better than any other man he
knowB."
At the Portsmouth Association in September, Dr. Hugh C.
Smith preached the introductory sermon. At the close of his
sermon a note, — gratefully cherished even until this day by
Dr. Smith — was passed to him; he opened it and read as fol-
lows:
"Dbas Hdoh, — I heard your sermtHi with exceeding pleasure.
It was fresh, fervent and was eifectively delivered. My soul
swelled with pride and joy as I heard you.
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
Ss new book of reminiscences was nearing completion.
We spent several days together at the Jefferson Hotel in Rich-
mond in October^ working on the book. We shut ourselves
up in a room, and the typewriter tjcked away, page after page,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
REMINISCENCES 585
as he dictated aad his words came as fast as they could be put
upon paper. One day I asked him— as I came to a pause with
the machine and as he sat by wondering what he should write
next — "How do you explain your gift for humor?" I wanted
his reply of course for the book which he was then writing.
He shrank, at first, from the question, but saw that I was set
upon drawing him out and so he started off, with the tick
of the typewriter keeping him company as he dictated the
foUomng paragraph:
"A friend has asked me how I got to be humorous. The
question hits me in a new spot and savors of the preposterous.
There doea not seem to be any humor in me; it has no place
in my natural endowments nor my equipments so far as I can
understand. If there is anything in me that has to do with
humor it can hardly be inherent and at best is nothing more
than a very limited capacity to discover the humor of outside
ratuations. There is no enginery within me for manufacturing
humor and if it is at all proper to mention humor and me the
same day it must be because I have a scant and unlocated gift
for discovering those conjunctions in human afters which
titulate the people and call forth their laughter."
Hia field glass swept the literary horizon in search of a
striking title for hia new book. He shied off from such ex-
pressions as "Reminiacences", or "Recollections of a long life"
and the like.
"As to the title of the book" he writes me "I am still undeter-
mined, but my mind settles on toward something like theae
two or three. 'Happenings along the way'; 'Things seen along
the road'; 'Incidents along the Highway'; 'Garnered as I
came'; 'The hindsights along the Way'; 'A Basket of Frag-
ments.'
"Too precious even to be named were our days of hidii^
and of toil last week at the Jefferson."
After a hurried run back to Bichmond (400 miles) he returns
to South Carolina for meetii^ at Saluda, where he writes to
One:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
586 LOVING TRIBTJTES
"My eyes are better, — that is, one of them — for retilly I
have but one that is of any service and that is aenative and
seems incapable of being helped by glasses."
His failing eye sight put no visible mark upon his eyes and
did not at all mar his countenance. In fact his wonderfully
bright and sympathetic eyes retained their luster and depth
to the very end. In November he wrote me concerning his
publisher from Nashville, Tenn., where he was holding meet-
ings at the First Baptist Church:
"Revell and myself are fighting on the deep blue sea, but
with no carnal weapons and with no extra blood in our eye. He
simt me a new arrangement of chapters and I am sendii^ him
another recast which seems to me more natural and satis-
factory".
Invitations came to him from the North and West, as well
as from the South, from pastoi^ that he would aid them in
meetings. He had promised to aid Dr. Vichert at Fort Wayne
and Dr. L. A. Crandall of Minneapolis durii^ the winter.
Dr. Arthur Jones of Colgate University writes him:
"But in spite of all the names you have called me I do love
you. Oh, the times we have had together."
"You can never know how you blessed me when you were
here" writes Dr. R. M. Inlow, of Nashville, whom he had aided
in meetings in November."
In December he held revival meeUi^s in Washington for
Rev. B. D. Gaw who thus writes concerning him;
"It was a benediction indeed to have this 'father in Israel'
in our home. How beautiful and inspiring to see this veteran
soldier of the cross doing battle so valiantly for his king."
Hin friend Mr. R. S. Barbour, sent him a handsome "traveUt^
case," — saying "I feel that the Baptists of Virginia would suffer
an irrepable loss if the time should come that your health
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
FORT WAYNE 587
was not sufficient for you to continue your valuable aid in our
cause."
The friend of his soul Judge Haralson of Alabama writes
him on Dec. 22Dd :
"If I knew how to express more love and joy and good wishes
for you I would add it. Do you ever think of me these
days?"
On Christmas day he writes to me wafting "millions of good
wishes" and adding, "They are so strong that neither snow nor
blizzard can chill thdr ardor nor stay their flight."
My mother writes:
"To Eldridge I would say that I think his father needs his
presence more than he ever did. He seems fat and strong and
does his usual work but Elizabeth and I think we can see traces
of old age creeping on him, — very naturally we should. He
wants children around him all the time."
He went to md Dr. J. F. Vichert in meetings at Fort Wayne,
Indiana, but there arrived at Fort Wayne also a cold wave,
fierce and blustering. It gave him a shivering blow. He writes
to Orie:
"It cuts me low to think that after our matchless comrade-
ship during Christmas we are now so far apart. •! beheve I
never enjoyed you so much.
"The thermometer here is skirmishing with zero and the
news is that the North Pole, having been discovered and made
much of, has decided to make a pilgrimage towards the eqiifltor."
'(•■*
He usually smiled his difficulties out of court, but this In-
diana weather hit him from all sides.
"The snort of the blizzard ia in the street" he writes me "and
his white frost forecasts yet greater severities than we now have.
I am much cheered by the outlook of the meeting though it must
suffer some under the stress of weather.
D.q'zeaOvGoOt^lc
S8S FORT WAYNE
"The Seminary has been brow-besting and cajoling me f<H-
a yeai to get me to ^ve some Bpeci6c hdp in favor of the
enlat^ed endowment. As usual I fall below the mastery of
fraternal appeals and I have consented to ^ve tb»ii a few
months aod with this in view I have called in all other mgage-
ment«.
"Do pve Dr. Dodd my love — ^just bHuards and cataracta
of it"
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XLI
1910
HGBIOirS BTCKNESe AT FORT WAYNE, IND. ARTICLE ON "XHE ORlPra."
CLOTHES. LETITER TO DR. C. H. RTLAND. BElSfTTlVQ TBS
TITLE. "aLONO THE TRAIL OY THE FRIENDLY YEARS."
UESSAGES ABOUT HIB NEW BOOK.
About midnight on January 5th, my door bell rai^ and a
telegram waa banded me from Fort Wayne which read, "Your
father ill; come at once." I started immediately and next
morning at Fort Wayne I foimd him utterly prostrated by a
virulent attack of the Grippe.
The following letter from the pastor Dr. Vichert, to his
daughter Orie waa written just before the collapse came:
"Your father reached Fort Wayne late on Saturday night.
He preached most inspiringly twice on Sunday and again on
Monday night. The weather Tuesday was excessively cold
and, to use his own expresmon "struck its blades into every
chink". . . Your father is a confirmed and inveterate
worker and has no mercy on himself apparently. I am trying
to dow down his pace a little while he is with me and I have
posdtivdy refused to take any dictation from him today,"
I remained with him for several days and then, upon per-
misaon of the Doctor, we bundled him up carefully, stowed him
away in a Pullman apartment and I brought him as far as
Baltimore where, in my home, we had the pleasure, for seven
weeks, of nursing him back to health. During the journey
from Fort Wayne he spent a part of the time while lying on the
couch in dictating an article on the Grippe which was published
688
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
590 ARTICLE ON THE GRIPPE
in the Herald and in this dictation be spoke, not only out of a
full heart but also out of an aching body. The artjcle met high
praise from the public.
It ran as follows:
"Five times I have fallen imder its deadly stroke. Heretofore
it has always struck me in a new place but in a way that all the
other places felt the shock. This time ita blow was Briarean,
touching me at all poiDt« at the same moment.
"I have taken it rather crossly that my family finds actu^
satisfaction out of my dckness when delirium comes on. They
take it as a token that the case is not serious and tell me that
I always shoulder forth my budget of domestic grievances
and exact summary adjustments under a thin deliiious dis-
guise.
"This time my family lost the gaiety of the occaMon, but
the Vicherts, Dr. Harrod, the trained nurse and the rest of the
earth furnished ample scope for my pesamistic fury."
He also tells how it played havoc with his appetite:
"My appetite lost its sense of preference. In the former days
roast beef and irish potatoes made me sorry I could not live
in London so as to get them at their best all the time; but
when these two choice edibles were brought in I waa as much
offended as if the whole of the Armoiu- slaughter house had been
dumped in upon me. The taste of beef enraged my anatomy.
"And so with the Irish potatoes, the most universal, the
most toothsome, a true cosmopoUte, at home in every climate
and soil, good every day and three times a day, good under
varied preparations, of all its kingdom the best to me; and yet
when its fine old Savor saluted me on my return to civilisation
I drew back with horror. My stomach cried out against it.
"On the other hand there was the orange-— no favorite of
mine; I had a cultivated antipathy set up against the orai^,
but when I wearily awoke from my sxth knockout I employed
all the few mental fragments which I brought back with me in
scheming for oranges. And Coffee — delicious, steaming, zest-
ful — how I had loved it; how I resented the publication in
reli^ous papers of attacks upon coffee and encomiums upon
such sniffling and fraudulent substitutes for coffee as postum —
(Bah) — and cocoas. Imagine myself, upon touching earth once
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ARTICLE ON THE GRIPPE 591
more, to find that coffee had lost its charm. It looked as if I
were coining back to the earth, but not the old happy earth
where I was when the monster struck me.
"A secret telegram sped out of Fort Wayne to Baltimore
which, in very short order, brought my son Dr. E. B, Hatcher
to my bed side. I remember that while in London some years ago
I chanced to find that Dr. J. P. Boyce was in the city and very
ill. I made haste to find him and, when his daughters brought
me in, his face ran wet with tears and grasping my hand he
Sfud, 'Oh, Hatcher your face is the light of Heaven.' It is worth
something to one sick far from home, though never so well at-
tended, to have a familiar face, — a face behind which there is
love uiuneasured, — to break suddenly into the sick room.
"My ^ckuess has its irritations and its uncertainties, but
when I think of all the health, travel, service, happiness
and friendships which have gladdened my way I take counsel
of my memory and of my hope also, and leave the present to
work to its end.
"This crooked and disjointed letter is contrary to the order
of those who have me in hand, but I hop>e that not all the people
will regret that I got this article in spite of the doctors and the
He was a model of patience as he lay upon his bed in Balti-
more, with his doctor seeking day by day to get him started
towards recovery. His strength seemed fond of the zero point
and the physician's efforts to coax it upwards were unavuUng
at first. The young Doctor, whom Dr. Hatcher eyed with many
a penetrating glance at first as if he was seeking to discover
what was on the in^de, went away from each visit saying to
himself, "Well that is surely a unique and wonderful man. I
never tackled just such a patient as he. My, but he is bright!"
Dr. Hatcher became fond of the yoimg physician.
His publisher asked him to sign his name on a sheet of paper
and send it to him as he wanted his name [in his own handwriting]
to go in the new book. From that time he put bis pen to work
and one day we found his bed and floor almost covered with
papers on which he had been writing his name. He had a
habit, when sitting near a table, whether talking or listening,
of moving lus hand rapidly back and forth on the table top as
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
592 SOME PERSONAL TRAITS
if be bad a pen between his fingers Mid were writii^ something
important and, even if there iras no t^te near at hand, oftoi
during the conversation be would be moving his fingers along
his knee, — w in the air, thus going through the form of rapid
writing. At other times, — wh^i not ^>parently writing — he
would tap with his fore-finger on the table c»- desk. He would
often do these things at the dining room table and when he was
not indulgii^ in these two apparently unconscious habits he
would often — though not habitually — rattle his knife, or fork,
or spoon while he was talkii^, — especially while wfutJng be-
tween courses. ' It looked as if the motion of the fingers of his
right hand in some way fonned a pleasant accompaniment
to his thoughts and his talking.
He yielded to the appeal from the Louisville Seminary that
he would lead tfadr financial campaign in Virginia for raising
$200,000 and even from liis sick bed he directed this move-
ment,— selecting his lieutenanto in the state and orgfmizing
and (Greeting them in the work. Every week he filled a page
in the Herald with breezy items about the campiugn. One
and Edith hod (pven him a new overcoat and he thus writes to
One:
"Anna has conceived a cruel prejudice agunst my old over-
coat, but it has a sort of old-oaken-bucket charm for me and I
know not exactly how to ^ve it up.
"Eldriifee wrote you a day or two ago. I suppose he told
you how I was getting along, though if he knows how I am
getting along he knows better than I do. I am still thinking
emptily about the title for the book. I drop two or three here;
'Paj-ing court to other Days', 'From Bedford to Careby Hall';
'A Budget of the Best'.
"Possibly by this time you have more suggestions."
His attitude towards his old clothes — and his new ones as
well — ^waa interesting. At Careby the "old oaken bucket
charm" seemed to linger around several of his suits, which could
name — each of them — several birthdays. He had them folded
and kept in their appropriate places. It looked aa if each gar^
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
MBiGooi^le
HIS CLOTHES 593
ment had for him certain friendly associations and as the months
aped by he would wear, — now one suit and now another. He
loved to get clothes, — and he would often get the very best;
but he seemed to have an aversion to wearing them, especially
at first. It looked as if he almost regarded the wearit^ of a ele-
gant suit as a degradation of it; at any rate it was often the case
that our appeal to him to put on his "fine suit" would be un-
av^ling. He seemed to enjoy thinking of it as ceposir^ in all
of its imdisturbed splendor in his closet or drawer at home. It
ought to be stated however that one of these elegant broad
cloths was kept for a sacred occasion, — viz., his burial. His
pride as to his death reached even to the clothes in which his
body should be clad in its final abode. He looked his best in a
black suit, which presented an impressive contrast to his snowy
white locks and beard. I can see him now, in memory, as he
■ stood dressed in such a suit one Sunday on the pulpit of the
Eutaw Place Church in Baltimore. He had preached and Dr.
Dood, the pastor, was leading into the baptistry at the side gf the
pulpit a candidate to be baptized. Dr. Hatcher had walked to
the extreme front of the pulpit and was leaning slightly for-
ward that he might witness the ceremony and in his dark suit,
and with his flashing eye, his genial, animated face and his
patriarchal appearance he presented a picture that was striking
and — ^to borrow the word that was applied to him on that day
by another — "beautiful".
He had rec^ved a letter that gave his heart a happy Sutter.
It was from his Chinese boy. Ah Fong who, after graduating
with honor at Eichmond College, had gone to New York to
earn money with which to enter Columbia College in New York,
In his letter, after telling of his experiences in New York, Ah
Fong writes:
"I am happy and like this work [in a Chinese restaurant] all
right except with the fact that I would not be able to see you
for quite a long time. But I think of you every day; of your
kindness and help to the stranger from the Orient. No, I shall
never foi^et you and it will always give me pleasure to remember
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MBiGooi^le
sptxl bv h, , .-J- »-.jc^. , "-„.-- ~ r ^' '»"-»>»mth.
but he s«=i.; - ii-. ,1 1--.. , - ,.^ * ■ -^^<^h«i;
at fiiv-t. I, ; . t- „ -• .. ,_-^ ~J^. ~^ ■^■^ <sil««iiilly
gant suit 1, s if^-J.^-i - .- ^r '-_=* '^"'f°* "'•*►
that our ^-.-i; - ^ :. "'-,- ^ t . ^.- ■ It '■"•-» "« ■■»«
availing. B- w-::^- • -^ - ^ - - "*' "" '^^J W un-
otitiuici--i.-^-T.-.-,r-'- "tl- " ■ "'"•»■« in aU
ought to I* ^ti^ wi-zrVC v r"*^ "' '"««• "
cloth, ,„ k„-. :.. . ^.--:- ~^..t.:l_:r*.'=*f"°',''T'
pride .^ to li d^-L ^.^ JT. -.'^- ~" .^■"'^ H»
body ,ho..a ■« -r:^.; i -. .:,-' Ji-..^, "S/-- t^,"? "i '"'"
black suit. »hi,b tT-e^-;;'^J;-L-!i^. !;;'l ' "" '
white locks arid ?.^arL I -a.- >^ - ^ . .,^~ "" ' 's snowy
pulpit a cane: -la:* V, -^ "-->-- t^- t.- h - ■ k j » j
,. _^ , . ■ ----■ -^~ J^- H.i.-,(i.a- had ivalted to
the extreme Irf,::; ot !■--* -i -i- ..- - _ i ■■ i , ,
ward that he trLz:.: -K — ^-i,--,i ..,,_, j :. t- j ■ -,
and with his fi:i.-:-:r^ *-.-^ ■- * -^ . .. . . ^ * j i
- - ■ — - ~ i— t- --i ^ lace Mrf to
patnarchal ariTy^arar. ^ - ^ - --_^- - ,. . . ■ ^ . ■, ■
and — to borrow tn* w- --i -.^-- Tt* *— - -, ; ...^-.t.* j
by another — ■"l>rfi.-:-J:.i:".
He had received a >--rrr -- =- rn.-. ■
ifl' flutler.
It was from hia C" -n^^-^ -^- :- t _ ^ _j .■
with honor at Rioh=>.t.; ■' -.^. ._. _, .. v^ York lo
earn money with whi-Lv, ^-^ ^ .' ^.^Ve^y^rt.
In his letter, after t^:_^ ■■ -_. ^ .-.^ , , ;;, York, Ah
rong wntes:
"I ajn happv n,- ", . ■ _ _ - _^ .i ..
right e%ccptVi:h-;.- - -- r-:;*"™'i«ii
(or quite i loo, -=, \ /," 'f ^ .>•">
kindness and hr- -, -_/ - . . 1_ . ij' "J J;''"
never forEetjocki. - ^ -~" -'. " — -^o, 1 shall 'V^
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
694 COLEMAN M
you as my benefaetor. . . I am sorry to heas that you are
sick. . . I would like to be there and attend to you.
"When I first came here the other people had a hard time
to explain themselves and I was in the same fix. But now I
could understand some Chinese and could taJk a little already.
The Chinese comes back to me very rapidly. , . With two
exceptions all the waiters are Chinese students who are working
their way through College.
"I hope to save at least seventy-five dollars per month, if
not more, so that I may enter Columbia next Fall. . .
Please write to me as a line from you always gladdens my
heart.
"Gratefully Yours,
"A Fong Yeui^."
The reader has hardly foi^ott«n the orphan boy, Coleman
M , whom Dr. Hatcher many years before this, took
to his heart and home and sought to train for noble manhood.
At this writing he is Dr. Coleman M , a very successful
surgeon. He thus writes to Mrs. Hatcher:
"My Dear Mrs. Hatcher, — I can never forget the fact
that whatever measure of success I win in my profession is due
in large measure, to the wonderful kindness, the princely
generosity and the fatherly lo^e of your dear husband. I often
think of the dear happy days when you played mother to me.
The love and kindness of you and Dr. Hatcher will always re-
nifUQ one of the most cherished memories of my childhood.
"I thank you for your invitation to Careby and can assure
that there is nothing that Nelly and I would enjoy more.
"With much love.
"Coleman."
One day durii^ his coDvalesc«nce he sud, "Eldridge get
your machine I want to write a letter" and as he sat by my desk
he dictated the following epistle to his friend of a life-time, Dr.
Charles H. Ryland. I took no carbon copy of the letter — but I
reahzed as I was writing it for him that I would surely want
such a fine letter for the bic^aphy when I should come to
write it and so before mailing it I made a copy of it, — ^without
his knowledge, for I did not wish him in his letter-writing to
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTER TO DR. C. H. RYLAND 595
have Ms mind confused with the thought that he was writing
for posthumous publication.
"Baltihore, Md., Feb. 13, 1910.
"Dh. Chas. H. Ryland:
"My evbrbeloved Friend, — A letter from Richmond tells me
that you are sick. It does not indicate that your sickness is of
a grave nature, but the fact that you are out of kelter comes
home to me. Our little College circle grows more and more
pathetic as it shrinks by one loss after another and those of them
that are left grapple my heart in a moat intense way. I hope
that your sickness is not serious, that you will soon be out and
at it again and that when my dust is put in its silent home that
you will be there as a friend through all the changing years.
I have found you one always steadfast, ever true and constantly
commanding my warmest affection. Everything that per-
tains to you pleases me except your sorrows and your burdens
and even them would I gladly share.
"I am publishing a book,— somewhat of the reminiscent sort.
The writing of it and now the correction of its proof, has greatly
revived my early recollections, both of Bedford and of the col-
lege and indeed of all the intervening time. At so many turns
and forks of the way you come before me, ever the same' honest,
quiet, true-souled Charles whom Harvey and I learned to love
in our early college days. I cannot think of Richmond College
without your figure and your record ever breaking upon me and
the sight of you is as sweet to me as the morning hght after a rest-
less night. Your voice carries something that always proves a
tonic to me and while you do not write to me often, and thrai
in only a busmess way, the sight of your old handwritii^,
imchanged by a half-century's busy strain always brings good
cheer.
"So my friend of the »lver locks I greet you. I bid you
cherish Ufe, keep an eye on your limitations and continue to
Uve. For you and your family my soul riots with good wishes.
Your home in many ways has been ideally beautiful in my eyes
and I think I can truly say I never entered its doors without
feeling the better for it.
"This letter is not intended to deal with my own case,
and yet you will wish to know how it goes with me. I
am paying the penalty of an overstrained life. Last
year I preached about 275 sermons and delivered not
much leas than 100 addresses of one sort and another, not in-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
596 LETTER TO DR. C. H. RYLAND
eluding after-talks in revivals after my sermons. Besides I
wrote the biggest part of the material for my 350 page book,
canvassed for the Seminary and for the Academy, besides eon-
ducting the correspondence for the Academy. Of course it
was too much; it brought on eciema and then came my attack
of La Grippe and the Doctor and my trained nurse and my ever
devoted children in Baltimore are trying to nurse me back to
my old vigor. Thus far they have done admirably well and
but for the fierce and pitiless Baltimore weather, I think I
would be about ready to take my staff and journey back to old
Vii^inia. I'd like to come, earth has no spot so sacred to me as
Virginia, for I know it so well that I almost imagine it is a
sin^espot. I would like to come back to get the healing
efficacy of your smile, to see Bagby, to see Shipman, to see
Charley Hemdon, to see Lake, to see Boatwright and of course
to see Careby Hall and all that it implies. Edith and One run
down from Bryn Mawr as if they were umply over in the
woods beyond the branch and when they do not come, they
do other things almost as invigorating and consoling. I have
written you a long letter, longer I fear than you arc willing to
read, but read enough of it to know that old W. E, of the long
ago still carries Charles in his heart. We know not what the
future holds for us; but how great and gracious the outputs
of Heaven have been to us in the past and still are and we need
not fear that the Bread of life will run short nor that the oil of
Salvation will give out. The big part of it ail I humbly trust
and believe for you and me is yet to come.
"W. E. Hatcher."
It was during his convalescent period that be had the pleasant
wran^e about th« title of his new book* of Reminiscences. He
selected as the title "The Song of the Trail" and seemed to
think that in that title he had discovered a jewel of the first
water. But scarcely anyone of us liked it. But he clung to it,
and defended it from all attacks and plead its cause strongly.
He finally gave up the battle, — I think with much regret, thoi^
he did not say so. He declared that he must at least retfua the
word "Trail"; so he finally worked up the title "Aloi^ the trail
of tiie years"; and then he wanted a word to go with "trail"
and we thought of the adjectives "happy" and "busy" and
others were thought of. We had lively times around bis bed
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHOOSING THE TITLE 597
balancing words, bunting through the dictionary and discusring
the different titles. At last the word "friendly" seemed to
please him greatly and the title then read, "Along the tnul of
the friendly years," and he took his stand upon that. A help-
ful counselor in our discussions was Dr. C. H. Dodd.
Next came a genial wrangle with his publisher — when he sent
him the title. Mr. Revell did not like the word "friendly"
as well as the words "long" or "active". He thought the title
would sound better reading either, "Along the trtul of the long
years", or "Along the trail of the active years" and he wrote
Dr. Hatcher to this effect. In reply Dr. Hatcher wrote the
following letter which Mr. Revell wa^ so much pleased with
that he sent it for use in this memoir. In this letter Dr. Hatcher
tells why he does not hke the titles "Along the tr^l of the active
years" and "Along the trail of the long years," :
"BALTrwoHE, Md., Feb., 16th 1910.
"Mr. Paul Moody:
"My Dear Mr. Moody, — Your courteous letter came today.
I did not wire you because I needed a little more time for re-
flection, I feel that the matter must be settled and I wish what
I say to be final and yet leaving to Mr. Revell some margin
for the exercise of his judgment at the last moment.
"The two titles which Mr, Revell suggests differ only in the
word 'long' and the word 'active'. The 6rat betokens age and
is not inspiring; the second implies my industry and activity
and has something of the self-complimentary about it. I
think of my life not as an output so much as the product of
God's productive grace, I for^t the things that are behind
so far as they celebrate me. I would prefer therefore as the
title 'ALONG THE TRAIL OF THE FRIENDLY YEARS.'
"It has in it the suggestion of the helpfulness of the world
and the providence of God as I have come along the way and
besides it is not commonplace.
"With this statement, I put my last suggestion in a bunch
with Mr. Uevell's two, with the agreement that he will use that
adjective of the three which you and he are fully convinced ia
best, bearing in mind my preference strongly expressed, but
yielded if you are convinced that it would be better for the
book. Between 'long' and 'active' I would prefer 'long".
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
598 RETURN TO VIRGINIA
I bsve never mentacmed the subject of a foreword beeanae I do
not care about it. I would be ^ad to dedicate tbe book to my
80D unless your house has some decided prejudice in the matter
of dedications. I inclose the form of dedication which you wiU
oblige me by using. You expressed a purpose to put my auto-
graph on the front outaide page. I prefer to send you a copy and
will do so at once.
"Very Snceidy,
"W. E. Hatcher."
He decided upon his tack bed that he would leave for
Virginia on a certain day and when that day arrived — to our
dismay — be went. We did not at first take seriously his dis-
ci^on to go on the early date and we had much pleasant cross
firing on the subject; but our remonstrances and our uplifted
bands and honor stricken faces were unavailii^. I went with
him to Richmond where he plunged at oace into his woi^ for
tbe Seminary, — sick though he was. He seemed determined
to crowd as much labor into his remaining days as posable:
"He is quite cheerful today" writes my mother from Careby
Hall. "I hear him whistling as he is packing. He seems to be
nearly through with the proof (of his new book]. He cannot
work without getting tired. I'm grieved to see him lose his
flesh, as I know you will be. You had better keep up with him
in Petersbui^. Tell him to write you how he is, if he gets the
attention he needs, etc.
"Of course it looks cruel almost to see a sick man travel and
work, but I do not think we can keep him in and I do not know
that it would be beat. The best thing seems to be for us to
keep up with him; get him to keep to his medicines and not
overwork,"
He writes from Richmond, "I find it a tough buaness to get
back my old and enduring vitality. Dr. MuUins says that
I must not take collections or do personal canvassing for the
Seminary but I am at least going out to B [a country
chureh] tomorrow and seek to baomier that Pharasaic little
band into benevolent shape." He was cheered by a jovial
letter from his friend, Dr. Arthur Jones of Colgate Universi^:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
PETERSBURG
"Sunday, as I was going to Church, President X—
came up. Said he, 'I received a letter from a young friend of
mine the other day and he said to give his love to you,' 'And
who was that?' aaid I. 'Willie Hatcher' says he. And so it
came safely. Thanks, very much. But I never let on that I
had earlier heard from Br'er Hatcher. So X goes
along aa chesty as you please thinking he's the only man on the
job who gets letters from 'The gentleman from Virginia'. Oh
well, X is aM right. He's got religion; that's what's
the matter with him. Say, but he gave us a noble sermon a
week ago Sunday. It was great. No mincing matters. Christ
is Cod. That's his creed; and he wants the folks to know it.
"Oh, dear brother that memory [of the mtetings of 1908]
is very sweet and precious to many hearts in Hamilton. . .
I am entirely satisfied that you never did such preaching be-
fore or since."
He writes on April 20th from Petersburg where he was hold-
ii^ meetings that he was not very well. "But" said he "I
am thankful that I can work at least a little in the service of the
Lord." On the 23rd he writes from Petersburg:
"I finished up my Sunday School lessons this afternoon and
mailed them — a happy* event . . Indeed the folks are going
on rediculously about your scrappy old father but it will wear
off. Crowds come to the meetings. . . Dedications are
piling up on me. If my memory can he trusted I have nine
engagements.
"I am really in doubt about the Convention [at Baltimore in
May] I am far from well and my strength quickly wears out.
I really fear it will end my life to go through all of it and my
present thought is to come for the Trustee [Seminary] meet-
ing, see the opening and fade out at the moment when my
vitality goes down. But never mind as to this."
During these meetii^ at the First Baptist Church in Peters-
burg and while in his weak condition he not only prepared his
S. S. lessons but did his final work on his new book, "Along the
Trail of the Friendly Years". Dr. Taylor, the pastor, says:
"The last chapters of that book were prepared for the printer
in my Petersburg study. We spent the forenoons revising
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
600 HIS NEW BOOK
the mannacript and coireeting the pnmf . BMppiet boors I
have posably never seat. Whoi we read toother for the last
tbne the last chapter of the manuscript, before wn^iping it for
the publiaber, both were in tears. During tliat same revival
meeting we also prepared t^^ther a goodly number of the
Sunday-School lessens for the Southern Baptist Teacher. I
was an e:q>ert with the t>'pewriter and your father would walk
the floor and dictate and thus working together our moroing
tasks were a mutual ddight and to me they have l^t life-kntg
bles "
At the close of the meetings he writes to One, "I am not
in good shape, by any means, and am crushed by many burdais"
He seemed almost p^ofully perplexed about comii^ to the
Baltimore Convention. From Careby Hall he writes me on
May 2nd:
"My weakness has been pitiable and the tho<^t of the
Convention terrifies me. If I come it must be for only a
fragment of time. I want to be there for two or three things
but an overstrain would kill me."
He came to the Convention, remained two days, was bu^
about many denominational matters, retiuned to Fork UnicHi
and a few days later was in Louisville for a conference m con-
nection with the Seminary.
It was at this time that his new book bearing the title "Al<mg
the Trail of the Friendly Years" made its public appearance.
He had his first sight of the book as we were walking
through the book room at the Convention in Baltimore. He was
of course anxious regarding the reception which the book would
receive from the public. In a few days the messages b^au to
come in. "I began reading it one night and could not let go
until the morning" writes Dr. P. T. Hale. Dr. Prestridge
writes that he had read the book "with eager impetuodty
and in tears" and then adds, "Take good care of yourself
honored brother. You are too valuable to the Denomination
for you to be careless." In a steady stream, from all parts of the
world, there flowed in to him letters from those who had read
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW BOOK 601
the book and received tight and blessiiig from it. The closii^
years of his life were brightened by assurances that came to him
from every direction of the cheer and help that his book had
^ven. They reached him not only through the mail, but be
met them on the trains and almost wherever he went.
Let us open the volume and make an effort to dis-
cover its charm. It possessed many attractive features, —
such OS its sparkling style, its gleams of wit and humor, its
singularly interesting short stories and the striking personality
and history of the author; but it was not these qualities that
gave the book its power over the reader. The distinguishing
feature of the work was the rich spiritual note that sounded
out clearly through the volume. The book ministered to the
heart as well as to the brain. It stands for a particular truth,
and that is that the old fashioned doctrines of grace will saUsfy
the human heart in this modem age as it did in the former days.
But think not reader that Dr. Hatcher fills his book with
disquisitions on that theological subject. The chapters treat
of his own many-sided career and do this in popular fashion,
with wit, sarcasm, satire and humor combined with the pathetic
and the tragical. He makes no effort to preach; but the sun-
light is in every chapter and the truth gleams along every
page and the story of his Ufe, in some way, shows the triimiphs
of the old gospel, and, to many, the chapters have been like
music of the olden days breaking out again In their souls.
A very interesting interchange of letters bearii^ on this
feature of the book occured between Dr. Hatcher and Dr. J. F.
Vichert, the present pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Providence, R. I. This gentleman had written Dr. Hatcher
asking him if he thought that "the good old times" which are
pictured in the book could be repeated in these later days, —
whether the spiritual experiences "so wonderful and rich in
heavenly influence" which the author had had in his revival
meetings could be expected under modem conditions.
"There are things in the book" writes Dr. Vichert "which
bring tJie tears as one reads. I feel as if I would f^ve my right
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
602 HIS NEW BOOK
hand to see something like it now. In my own boyhood I
witnessed some such scenes, but not for many a day have I
seen anything of the kind. Are such things possible, or prob-
able, in the atmosphere in which we live. . . The reading
of your book kindled afresh a longing to see again something
like what you there describe."
Dr. Hatcher's reply was full and will repay very cardul
reading.
"Fork Union, Vibginu, July 13, 1910.
"Dh. J. F. ViCHERT,
"Fort Wayne, Ind,:
"My Beloved Friend, — Your letter finds me overwhebned
by work, but it is so sweet and refreshing in its spirit, and you
will BO soon be hiding yourself in the blessful recesses of Canada,
that I must stop the singing bands and the busy hum of my
wheels to make a grateful bow to you for being the admirable
brother that you are.
"I was not at all imconscious of a change in the spiritual
atmosphere in the christian world when I wrote my book, and I
foresaw plainly enough that what I wrote would be an anach-
ronism to some, a puzzle to others and possibly food for re-
flection for others. I have been beaten upon by many changes
in the atraoaphere of the world in which I live since I was a
small boy, but I never thought that these changes indicated
or foretold any particular changes in the world itself. It does
look as if we are living a good deal closer to the spiritual north
pole than many of us did some years ago; but that does not
abate my confidence in the spiritual equator. As for myself,
I wrote out of myself — that was the purpose of the book. I
told of spiritual tilings as I saw them, and felt them, and be-
lieved them, and I expected that some would remand my et-
periences to primal times and mark me a reli^ous hayseed.
That I was willing to have done, though I have been quite
surprised to find that some of the very best book critics have
been among the most favorable in commenting on the ex-
perimental parts of my book. They seem wilUng to vote what
I say as genuine Uterature and that on the ground that I
write about real things. They say that I touch hfe at one point
and others touch it at other points, but that there is reaUty
and hterary value in the way I express myself, just as Holmes
and Emerson produced Uterature in teUing their experiences
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW BOOK 603
at the points where they touched life. Not that I am banking
in any great way on the Uterary value and permanency of my
book. It is simply a thesaurus into which I have collected
some of my living memories; as to what posterity, or even
posterity's present ancestors, may decide about the book ia a
question I have never thought about.
"I do not know at all that there will ever be a return of the
exact spiritual conditions under which I have enacted my little
part in the nunistry. I see plainly enough the change in the
wind, tor while the wind is blowing I feel that the sense of divine
power among christian people is evidently lessening, and there
ia a restless and nervous appeal to secondary causes to make
up for the simple and unmistakable presence of God which we
used to have. We must wait for another spiritual r&-adju8t-
ment, and it must inevitably come — sure as we live under the
dispensation of the Spirit, Exactly what it will be when it does
come in its manifestations, I cannot foretell, but it must at
least contain as distinct and reverential recognition of the
Spirit's activity in forwarding the kingdom of God as there has
ever been in the past.
"But I write mainly to say a word about you, I believe in
you with an almighty faith, I think that I had discovered be-
fore your letter came some vagueness in your spiritual feehng.
It seemed to me that you did not quite have an old-fashioned
stand-point and did not see in the present situation enough to
feel that you had an adequate substitute for what I have seemed
to have. I thought that you were not very well satisfied with
what you did have and had a wish that you had what I have
had though you vaguely suspected that what I had had was
out of date and could not be even galvanized into any sort of
life now. God is with you as you are, and I think His power
will work through you just as effectively as that power ever
worked through me, or as you could ever work if you had the
power which my book indicates that I had.
"Be up and at it, my noble friend. You are the chosen of the
Lord beyond all doubt, and I love you, and rejoice in you, and
pray for you, and expect great things of you. Go on into the
woods of Canada and do all you can.
"Very Sincerely,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
He had a curious experience in a western city, where he went
to bold revival meetii^. He tells of it in hia new book. The
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
604 HIS NEW BOOK
pastor whom he was aiding in the meetings suddenly infonned
him that he did not favor the "old fashioned doctrines" which
he was then preaching. The incident with its sequels bears
BO strongly upon the above correspondence with Dr. Vichert
u)d upon his new book that we ^ve some of the detfuls.
Dr. Hatcher in his new book thus tells his experience with the
unsympathetic pastor m^itioned above:
"He was a brother of great learning and of theolo^cal views
so advanced that they had gotten out of sight of my doctrinal
opinions. I found the atmosphere quite frosty upon my arrival
and my first meeting with the pastor, while courtly and hos-
pitable on his part was not notably enthusiastic."
An embarrassing conversation occured between the two
later on :
"He told me that he had heard me in several services and he
felt constrained to t€ll me that my method of theological state-
ment was not adapted to his congregation — that the old dog-
matic way of stating the gospel was effete and had lost its
power and that he could not see any outlook for the meeting.
"I told him with utmost good humor, that I had evidently
been brought there under a misapprehension and, as he bad
not seen or heard me before I came, I readily acquitted him of
all blame for whatever had been done. I said to him also that
it would be altogether impossible for me to recast my theology,
or my methods of doctrinal statement, so as to fit into his
meeting and that we would have to face the question as to what
ought to be done and that I would cordially leave it to him to
decide the question.
"He left it to me, evidently supposing that I would bow my-
self out. . . When I got away fltnn my candid and frigid
brother I fell back on my old theology and concluded that I would
talk with the Lord about it and I was old fashioned enough to
tell my Divine Master that I was in a predicament. I told him
that the Gospel that I had been preaching had worked mod-
erately well where I had gone along and that I would be wonder-
fully glad to try it right there — indeed to put it on its mettle and
see whether it had lost its power, telling him of course that
if it was His will that I should beat a retreat, to soimd his
trumpet and I would take to my heda."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS NEW BOOK - 605
He then tells of the meetii^s, how th^ grew to a glorious
cUmax and then he coDtinues:
"I can say with all truth that I harbored no resentment
against the pastor. I believed that we were so far apart intel-
lectually and temperamentally that he was thoroughly sin-
cere and besides I was so inexpressibly thankful to the Lord
that He did not have quite so mean an opinion of me as the
pastor did that I walked the mountain-tops. I am not sure
that I ever had such strength and bliss as that meeting brought
me, though I think I might have enjoyed it a fraction more if
there had beeb just a few others who knew what had passed
between the pastor and myself."
It waa one more triumph of the "old gospel" — so called —
which in his case was ever new in its rich manifestations. The
above incident had several sequels. He continues (in his book) :
"Let me add that sometime afterwards I went back and
preached a plain old tjme experimental sermoi) at the same
place, and in the hearing of the pastor, and after it was over
he came and said some of the most gracious things about the
sermon expressing his assured belief that it would be of great
service to the people."
"Then, perhaps a dozen years afterwards, I preached again
in his presence and preached with little chaise in my doctrinal
standpoint, or in my method of expresKon and, at the same
time also he was kind enough to say some things which I think
I would characterize favorably enough by calling them com-
pUments.
"I think we got closer together through the lapsing years.
His candor did me actual good, though I could hardly imagine
that my ^mple preaching could have had much in it to enrich
his lofty and scholarly life. Possibly our paths, as they were
coming nearer to the eternal world, were getting closer to-
gether and closer to the redeemer and, in those good ways,
bringiag us closer to each other."
The above story was published in his book "Along the Trail
of the Friendly Years", in May 1910 and soon afterwards
another chapter in the story — unpublished — occurred. The
above-mentioned pastor read the paragraphs in the "Along the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
606 HIS NEW BOOK
Tnul", aod recc^nizii^; himaelf in the narrative he wrote a let-
ter to Dr. Hatcher who thus refers to the letter in the following
communication to me:
"P. 8. — ^I have just op»ied my mail. You remember how
the pastor at D-— treated me when I went there for a
revival. He told me I did not suit etc. I have just received
a loi^ letter from hini in which he had all sorts of things to
say about the book and makes a clean confession as to the
mistake that he made testifying beyond all expression in favor
of my work at X^ ■ and expressing the feeling that my
book baa in it a b«iediction for every christian minister. In
some respects it is the most siuprisi^ letter I ever rec^ved. I
will show it to you later."
The letter reads as foUows:
"De4r Fbcend, — We have been greatly pleased by the
perusal of your book, "Along the Trail of the Friwidly Years" —
especially as it describes your very peculiar experience at
D ; for the good work done by you here is still wit-
nessed to in its effects and remembered with gratitude by
many.
"I shall never foiget your patience with our coldness and
final triumph over it. . . But the stirring stories of your
evatt^elistic labors and success appeal to me with peculiar
force. I wish that every minister of the Gospel — espedally
the younger men— might feel the pressure of such testimony
to the power of divine grace as your record renders. lotel-
lectualism and formalism arc the baleful Labilities of our pro-
fession now. The churches are suffering because of the lack
of spirituality.
"The story of your life will revive thar ffuth in the reality
and ampUcity of the 'power of God unto salvation'.
"With kind regards."
Dr. Hatcher wrote a kindly reply, cloong as foUowa:
"Your letter did me good in many ways and kindled in me
ft love for you which I am sure will not <he in this world nor in
the other. You have had a long stay at D and 1 have
no doubt you have done much good."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK 607
These pages will not permit copious extracta from his new
book, but a few other selecti<Bis are made in order that the
reader may form an idea of the style in which the volume is
written.
In his chapter on "Sitting in the Ashes" he tells of the woe
and desolation that broke upon his town of Manchester at the
surrender of Lee and the fall of the Southern Confederacy.
He then paints the picture of the Southern army and the two
Northern armies passing through Manchester on their way
home for disbanding and then he adds:
"But I saw another sight, in connection with Richmond's
fall, which I confess thrilled me a thousand times more than
all the glory of all the victorious armies of the republic. It was
a spectacle that broke upon me most unexpectedly ; it came while
the heavens were black with storm and the streets were wild
with flooding rains.
"What I saw was a horseman. His steed was bespattered
with mud and his head hung down as if worn by long traveling
The horaemau sat his horae like a master; his face was ridged
with self-respecting griefs; his garments were worn in the service
and stained with travel; liis hat was slouched and spotted
with mud and only another unknown horseman rode with liim,
as if for company and for love. Even in the fleeting momeht
of his passing by my gate I was awed by his incomparable
dignity. His majestic composure, his rectitude and his sorrow
were so wrought and blended into his visage, and were so
beautiful and impressive to my eyes, that I fell into violent
weeping. To me there was only one where this one was; there
could be only one that day and that one was still my own
revered and cherished leader, stainless in honor, resplendent
asxd immortal even in defeat, my own, my peerless chieftun,
Robert E. Lee.
"In that lone way, in the midst of rain and mire, with no
crowds to h^l htm, with no resounding shouts to welcome him,
with no banners flapping about him, did he come back from
disastrous war. But Ah; we did not know. Conquered and
solitary he was, but yet he wore invisible badges of victory;
he carried spoils of conquest and honor which could never
fail and in every step of his sad moving he was marching for-
ward to take his place in the palace courts of universal fame."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
608 EXTRACTS FEOM HIS NEW BOOK
As an example of a different type at literature is the follow-
ing selection from his chapter on "Shreds of a Trana-atUntic
Outii^." When he went across the eea he cMried in his pocket
"a fonnidable letter of introduction" to a Mr. John C. Graham
of Glasgow, Scotland. He called at Mr. Graham's residence
upon landing at Glasgow, but the gentleman was out (A the
city. Dr. Hatcher arrived again at Gla^ow on the day be-
fore be was to take the boat on his return to America. He
remembered Mr. Graham's name and his letter of introducti<Hi
and so be set forth in search of the Scotch stranger.
"It turned out that Mr. Graham was a prominokt PMlroad
officer and his office was within the precincts of the Gla^ow
staUon of that road. To attempt to Snd him would be about
equal to underi^aking to find a house in a town of a thousand
people without any special direction. I was directed this way,
then that way, then another way, then around somewhere, then
back again, until I was far more concerned as to whether I would
ever find my way out than I was whether I would find Mr.
Graham.
"Finally I struck a man in working clothes who had a heart,
also a head. He informed me that be would take me straight
to Mr. Graham's office. In vtun I fumbled in my pocket for
that letter which was to give me my character, wid ambled
along as if going to the slaughter pen, or some other place of
relief. After running me a race amid cars, passages, stairways
and short turns, he jerked open a door and stud, 'Mr. Graham,
a gentleman wishes to see you' and shot out, as much as to say
that his part was done and he was determined not to witness the
meeting. I stopped 'framed in the door' according to the tire-
some phrase of the day, quite tired myself.
"A gentleman, immense in frame and with a head colossal,
and, in part, barren of its locks, threw up bis golden rimmed
spectacles to the top of his head, whirled suddenly in his re-
volving chair towards me and fixed two large and magnificent
eyes upon me. His gaze was keen enough to cUp the buttons
on my clothes and uncover me for inspection and yet behind
it there was something gracious as seen in the distance.
"Excuse me, Mr. Graham, let not my presence alarm you.
I do not come to ask for anything; not that I have much,
but I am an American and I have my return Ucket and enough
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
EXTRACTS FROM HIS NEW BOOK 609
to get me on the boat. A friend of yourself in Richmond, Va.,
was much set on my shaking your hand and presenting his com-
pliments and, to ^ow you that you were not being imposed
upon, gave me a good character, sketched with his own pen — an
excellent letter, indeed, which I discovered two or three min-
utes ago that I bad lost. I am here for nothing on the earth,
except to shake your hand, that I may tell Mr. Samuel C.
Clopton that I had seen you and had grasped your hand; if
now you are willing to shake my hand we will have the cere-
mony at once and close the exercises.'
"Let me add. however, that in the event you decline
to have the hand-shake I shall not take it ill; I have
hved this long without shaking hands with you and I think
that by hard pulling I might make the rest of the trip even
though deprived of that privilege.".
" 'I wish to say to you Sir' he said in loud tones, "I hardly
find myself in a humor to shake your band. Tou have not
treated me with that respect to which, I think, a friend of Dr.
Clopton's is entitled. You tell me that you are to take the '
American steamer tomorrow afternoon. You have so schemed
Sir as to make it impossible for me to give you an adequate
taste of old Scotia's hospitality. Where is your luggage?
. . , I will take you to Hamilton Palace; I will have some
gentleman to come in and take dinner with you tonight; I
will notify my pastor that you will preach for us tonight and I,
with my family, will take you down to Greenoch tomorrow
evening and see you on your steamer. Poor treatment, I
admit, but you are to blame for its not being better."
As an example of some of the "evangelistic" pictures in
the book may be mentioned the following The scene was in
Petersburg, Va.:
"It was during this pastorate, while exceedingly busy in my
study one day, I heard a gentle rap at my door and upon open-
ing it I found one of my little Sunday-School girls. Her prea-
eace surprised me, for it was a week-day and I wondered that
she was not at school. I asked her how it was that she had
found time to come to see me.
" 'Oh doctor' she said '1 came to bring you good news.
This morning, while prayii^ in my room, I found the Saviour,
and mother was so happy about it that she told me that I might
sAsy away from school and come down and tell you all about
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
610 SIMON SEWARD
it.' I recall even now the radiant li^t upon her face and tlie
joyous sincerity with which she told her stoT>'. It was better
than a book on tfaeolc^' to mark the ^ow of religious rapture
upon her face. Her out-spoken experiences bespoke the living
Christ. We had a brief prayer of thankf^ving and she in-
dicated that her visit was at an end. I bade her good-bye saving
that I would see her that night, for we were holding revival
services at the time. She made no reply and I r^ieated that I
would see her that night.
" 'Not to-night' she said, and her face took on a sudden
shadow.
" 'Not cooling?' I stud with unintentional cruelty. TJo you
not desire to come to the meetings?' I saw the lines of suf-
fering on her face and her lip quivered.
" 'Oh, yes, indeed; I would like above everything to be
here to-night' she said 'but I cannot come. This morning after
breakfast I asked mother if I might go across the street and
adc a lady to come with us to church to^iight. I told her that
I had be^ converted and told her about the meeting and asked
her to oome with us to^iight. She told me that she would come,
but she was afraid to leave her baby with the nurse and I said
that if she would come to the meeting I would stay with the
nurse and help take care of the baby.'
"The way she said it went to my heart. It told of her child-
ish ardor and her genuine zeal and of the Christ-like sdf-
denial already in her heart. She did not know that she had
done a brave and lofty deed, but I knew it and I looked upon her
with wonder and with love as she shook hands and flittered
out of my office.
"That night the house was crowded and I delivered a brief
sermon at the close of which I invited inquirers to come for-
ward. The front pews were filled with inquirers and among
them a lady in mourning and deeply veiled. Approaching her
I expressed pleasure that she had come and a deare to help
her. She thanked me in a quiet and candid voice and t<^d
me not to concern myself about her, adding that she was the
lady that httle Alice Robertson had told me about
" 'Let me tell you' she said 'that for the first lime in all my
life my heart is full of religious peace to-night. When Alice
came over this momii^ and told me about her oonvendon it
greatly impressed me and when she offered to stay and caie
lot my baby I realy felt that God had sent her and before 1
came to^ii^t I knew that my little friend had led me to sal-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
SIMON SEWARD 611
vation. After the meeting is over I will need you to talk about
my future but you ought to go now and give the help to othera
which Alice brought to me to-day.'
"My duties were driving me at a furious rate and, except
a few words which I had with the lady that night, I knew nois-
ing more of her until sometime after Uiat I waa told her hus-
band was sick and ej^ressed a wish to see me. I went of
course and found him in bed. I had not seen him before but
heard that he was a wholesale liquor-merchant and utterly
r^!;ardless of religion. After greeting him I began to question
him about his sickness but he cut me short. 'Never mind about
my sickness' he said brusquely and yet with feehng, 'I have
deeper troubles than any sickness could bring. Since that
little Robertson girl got into my house the other day things
have gone all awry. My wife is quite another woman and I see
plainly enough that if I am to live with her I must be another
man; but how can I? Can there be hope for such a man? It
does not look that way to me. I am sick with my trouble and I
thought maybe it was my business. I hobbled into my buggy
yesterday and drove to the store and told my partner thf^^
would never come into that house again; that the business I
would leave to him and he could do what he pleased with it;
that as for my part I would never sell another drop of whiskey
if my family had to starve for it. I Uttie know what will come
of my action, but I am done with whiskey for evermore. I
am ^ad of my decision but it does not give me peace and I
thought you could help me.'
"lYuly he was a ht subject for the gospel and I need not
tell you that in a Uttle while he was another man and he has
been ever ranee. It was not long afterwards when he entered the
memberahip of my church. We needed no witness to tell that
he and his wife had been converted. The proofs of it were
written all over their hves and they were open letters read of
all men wherever they went. For a time he was a man without
a job and without an income, but business pursued him, threw
its gates open to him and prospered him at every step.
"He and his wife are still living. Almost boundlesB pros-
perity has inriched his path. He has become a leader among
men, a great Bible teacher, a liberal giver, a champion of
every great enterprise and one of the truest and most devoted
friends that God has ever given me. He has reared a lai^
family and many of his children are busy and efficient in the
service of the Lord. Simon Seward — that is bis name aad be
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
612 EEAPING HIS REWARD
and hia wife walk humbly before the Lord and delight io his'
service and law. Little Alice did it. In her own bright and
loving fashion she let her tight shine and they saw it ^ar and
followed it and it led them into the Kingdom."
His next letter to me closes by saying, "I hope to do much
in writing up my r^niniscent stories. Send me the list of those
we made out of those to write." This means still another book
which he is writing, — a book of short stories, gleaned entirely
from his own experience, and which be had used as effective
iUuBtrationa in his sermons and addresses. There is a passage
of scripture that reads, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for
thou shalt find it after many days," He had lived a long
life of service for others and now in bis last days be was b^in-
ning to reap a reward. His cares were many even to the end and
yet they were often drowned in the happy current of gratdul
words about his book and his life that were ever flowing to
him through Us mail and his conversations. He would come
in from his trips, and his piles of letters, while bringing him
varied appeals and bothers, would also pour their sunlight upon
hia heart. He rejoiced to note that through his book he was
still preaching to others and possibly his soul was stirred by the
thought that when he had passed away bis book would ctm-
tinue its work. Dr. C. H. Dodd wrote him a delightful letter
about his book "Along the Trail, etc.," and in reply he writes
to bim:
"My beloved friend, — You overdo it decidedly but it is
a holy type of exaggeration pardonable in- my aght, if not in
the sight of heaven. Your favorable estimate of my book is
food for a somewhat — ^invahd author's pride. I am glad to
have your praise for my book and I charge it up to that friendly
kindness of yours which has done so much to cheer and gladden
me in the past.
"Very Sincerely,
"W. E. Hatcher."
A minister from lUinois writes;
"I read pages from your 'John Jasper* in my pulpit and thai
my son did ttie same in Ms. He has the finest church in MH-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
• LOVING MESSAGES 613
waukee. . . How he and hia wealthy congregation did
enjoy that book."
"Say, but that chapter on "The Incomparable Jeff' i3 a claasc"
writes i)r. Arthur Jones concerning hia new book.
The loving messages that kept trickhng in through the mails
were good medicine to turn. "You have been an incalculable
blessing to thousands", writes Dr. E. Y. Mullins, on July
11th, "and will be, I believe, to the last moment of your life, —
which may the Lord defer a long time." Among the letters
that came to him was one from his friend, Kev. Andrew Broaddus
of Carohne County, telling him of the great help that the book
had brought him and of his love for the author. In reply Dr
Hatcher writes:
"I found my eyes bedewed with tears as I read your af-
fectionate letter. I have been drawing sweetness from the two
Broadduses for a long time. Your father gave me great pride
in ^ving me such an ardent friendship; Luther was wrought
into my soul and his image lives in my memory today; and as
for you and Julian how could I ever tell you of the freedom,
the intimacy, the joy of my companionship with you and I am
simple enough to believe that the sweetest drop which ever fell
from my cup dropped from your letter as I read it this morn-
ing. So far as I can judge the chief care about my book is as to
the measure of comfort and inspiration it may give to others.
I will respect the book more because it did you good.
"I find my heart set on coming, if possible, to the Hermon.
Save the meanest little room that you have in the house for
me and if the Lord will allow me I will be there.
"Give my love to the family in overflowing measures and
tell Gay and Kirk to keep the music of the Fork Union bugle
rollii^ over the hills and plains of Caroline."
In reply to Dr, E. Y. Mullins' letter he writes:
"I have just received your exceedingly spicy and piquant
letter. I have just one remark that I will make in reply to it — it
is amply unanswerably good. But there is a thing I would like
to do. I find myself disposed to put your father 'No. 1' and
you 'No. 2' and so I write to a£^ your father's address that
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
614 LOVING MESSAGES
I may send him a copy of my new book. If I have any doubt
as to your capacity to enjoy my book I ^ve your father credit
for having just that kind of genius and gumption that vill
make him like my book.
"Send me his address and I will send him my book as a tokoi
of my appreciation of him as your father and in the hope that
it will cheer and prove companionable to him in his convalescent
days."
"You always nrd and stimulate me" writes a pastor. "I
love you wil^ aB of a son's strong devotion. In my bitter
grief your book has been a blessii^."
Dr. M. L. Wood of Huntington, W. Va., writes on July 19th:
"I have laughed and cried with you 'Along the Trail of the
Friendly Years', and have wished and resolved many things
with you along the delghtful journey. I often think back to
the time when, in the beginning of the eighties, my own path
crossed that trail. That you thm had a kind word for the
green and awkward country lad, all unprepared for College
woric, has had a vast amount to do with what has been worUi
while in the j^ter years of his work. . ■ Now that you wear
on your frosted locks the crown of a strong life, nobly spent in
self-sacrificing service, 1 wish that I might add at least a rose-
leaf to the chaplet that shall wreath the crown; not that I could
enrich the votive offering, but merely share in the honor and
happiness of putting it in its worthy place. I love you very
much and count you one of God's best gifts to the cause as
represented by the Baptist people. I trust you will pardon me
for the liberty I have taken to write thus, but I wanted to say
this much at least before heavenly mudc dulled your ears to
earthly voices."
His chief attoition at this time was given to the Seminary
campaign in ^npnia. Through his several canvassers he
sought to cover the state and by his weekly jottings, in the
Herald he sought to stimulate the movement. His burdens
were many, but there seemed to be ever a song in bis heart and
a growing light upon his path.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XLII
Q&UES WITH THE QRANDCHILDREN. CONTINUED TRIBUTEB TO HIS
BOOK. INTEREST IN PEOPLE. CAUGHT IN A HOTEL
FIBE. BLUEFIEIJ>.
When he would run into Careby from his trips, during
this Summer season, he would find himself busier than
when he was out upon the highway. Academy matters
were always waiting to crowd him with their questions
and appeals. His mail had to be answered and his stenographer
would appear on the Careby hill a few minutes after his arrival.
But in the rush the grandchildren generally occupied the center
of the stage. They were now at a good age for "games" and
many were the contests which he had with them. After a heavy
drive with his stenographer, or after several straining confer*
ences in his office with different visitors, he would call out
"Virginia!" or "William!" or "Katherine!" and when he heard
their answer he would call out, "Quoits!" or "Dominoesl"
It was interesting to watch him at a game of dominoes with one
of the children. There were really two children playing when
he was one of the players. He became utterly lost to the
outside world in the contest and would work with might and
main to beat. He would groan out his disappointments when
he would lose and shout his elation when he would win, and
through it all he muntained a genial, kindly manner.
He would not allow the game to drag, but would cry out in
mock fierceness "Go on; go on," when his opponent would be
slow in playing. "Oh, I am a ruined man" he would exclaim
615
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
616 GRANDFATHER PLAYING DOMINOES
when some play would go against him. Agfun he would say.
"Well, Brother Hatcher has hopes". "Hurrah for Bnider
Hatcherl" he would call out when a new turn would come in his
favor and thus he would keep up a running fire of comment —
of which he almost appeared unctmscious, so absorbed was be
in the contest.
One day Eatherine saw him and Viripnia engaged in a game
of dominoes. Grandfather's "carryings-on" in the game amused
her. With knitted brow and eager manner be was trying hard
to beat and was running a regular fusillade of ejaculations
about the game. Katherine decided that she would take down
on paper these ejaculations. She knew how much Edith
and Elizabeth at Bryn Mawr would enjoy it and in a spirit
of fun she picked up pencil and paper and slyly jotted down
Grandfather's comments just as they came from his lips. This
particular incident occured during the winter when Eatherine
and Virginia were staying at Careby, but the exclamations
give a picture of bow Grandfather "kept things lively" in his
games, — whether in Summer or Winter.
The dashes indicate the pauses between the comments, though
there were not many seconds in which he was not stirring up
the contest with some remark.
His outbursts were as follows:
• "She wont hollow like I will.
"Oh, brother Hatcher, I am sorry for you. Go on with
blank — one. Go on,
"Brother Hatcher — busted — ^Ten, ten, ten; go on; let me see.
Oh, yes; you have got to do some playing, go on I dont believe
I could if my life depended on it.
"I never desired any more than that. Go on. Get away
from her. This girl has to atop every time you crook your
neck — Go on, you are fifteen, I am nothing on the top of the
ground.
"I am nothing and am getting worse. Go on here. Well
I believe the time has come for me to be heard from.
"Great Caesar, you are just ruining me. Let me see; now
that is a six-four-Iet me see, let me see — six, six, six ax, one,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRANDFATHER PLAYING DOMINOES 617
two, three, four, one, two, four, one. Great Caesar, there is
nothing to play. I will play that any way, forty-four, fifty-
five — ^you tUd that just because your mother was in here, —
you did not get double blank— blank, go on, go.
"That's five for you. Go on. You got five, I did'nt . Go
on — ^you are fifteen — you are ten, I am nothii^ on the top
of the ground — Dedle, dedle de, de, de. Stop; look here where
did you knock that man? — ^All I get over, this time, I'll take
off you. Oh, brother Hatcher you are getting on beautifully —
I'll put it that way if it costs me a bushel of snaps, — Ten
for me — some men are gone. Go on, go on — now this is a
struggle — ^If you get over four hundred I'll give you a quarter.
Go on, I got spoilt, I thought you would give me ten — ^well that
was 80 nice in you — beautiful, beautiful — ten, ten, t«ii,ten —
well 1 got twenty — at that rate you will lay me in the dust.
Gone to pieces in his calapication — blank — one, two, three,
four. I'll ^ve you four — go on — four, four, four, four, four, —
one, two — go on with your blank.
"Let me see what would you do? Where did that go?—
that's twenty, 20, 20, 20 — hello — go on. I wish you would
play some time; that's what I wish — ^well I put it that way —
Great Ceasar — ^wait here— let me see— how many have you
?3t? — can you play a five? one six — two six — three six —
ve for Bruder — twenty for Bruder — twenty for Bruder —
twenty-five for Bruder — twenty five for Bruder — twenty-five
for Bruder — twenty five for Bruder — twenty-five for Bruder —
blaokee for Bruder — ^how many have you got? Let me see
what I can do? — one two — one, two, three, four, — hello twenty-
five, go on — Great Caesar, hello — Let me see what you have
got— four. I'll get some of the big one's off. That is twenty-
three I got off — how much did I get before five, five, five, let
me see — ^five— that is ten for Brother Hatcher. I wish you
would get some more. Ten for Brother Hatcher — Twenty for
Brother Hatcher — that's five for you."
At the end of this Eatherine who took it down wrote "Grand-
father stad all of this. Vii^nia didn't say any."
"You have just passed the 76th milestone" writes Dr. I, B.
Lake "I lift my heart in thanksgiving to the good Lord that
you are still permitted to walk along the trail doing this work."
Bearding the title which he had chosen for his book, Dr.
McGlothlin of tiie Seminary wrote him, "The name is an
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
618 LOVING MESSAGES
inspiration and will have for me perpetual value as a suggestitm
of the right attitude towards life's experiences."
He writes to Rev. Andrew Broadus:
"My prayer is that you may live many years, thou^ there
is one reason why I would like to outlive you and that is that
I might attend your funeral and tell the world what I think of
you."
"I picked up a fine boy for the Academy" he writes "and ^so
picked up fifty dollars to help me take care of a poor boy."
"One of the saddest thoughts that I have is that you are
growing old" writes Rev. R. F. Treadway of Arkansas.
In this worid you will never know how greatly I admire you
and how much I love you. Perhaps in eternity I can make you
know more of it."
One brother lays the blame for a headache at his door:
"I have just read your last book, 'Along the Trail of the
Friendly Years'. . I read until nearly one o'clock at night
when wife said, 'You must go to bed' and I had to desist, but
I began it again in the morning somewhere about four or five
o'clock with the result which you are responsible for, — a
feehng of fatigue accompanied with some headache. . . I
wish to thank you with all my heart for the comfort and joy
which this book has given me."
"What a great mass of good you have done in your life"
writes Dr. H. F. Colby of Dayton. "And how modestly you
have only hinted at it while you have pictured so graphi-
cally the scenes and people you have met. We love you very
much in Dayton."
"I must work while it is day; for the night cometh"; that was
the motto which during these days seemed ever sounding
in his soul. On October 6th, he writes me:
"Just back from Lynchburg. The Almond wedding went
off with a hig^ and graceful bai^.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
D.qil.zMBlG001^le
EAGERNESS TO SAVE SOULS 619
"I expect to end my Seminary work at General Association,
After that ; Well, I am still dedicating; also my fame
aa a revivalist shows vital signs. Hollins is after me and North
Carolina also. I must work, for the night cometh.
"As to Baltimore I sicken to see you and
yours. Words cannot tell out my yearning after you,"
A young preacher in Indiana, after telling of bow be had
devoured the book, closed by saying: "God bless you not only
for this recent goodness but for what you were to me in my ,
student days — unacknowledged until now."
"Why do you go so much" said bis wife to him one day as he
was preparing to leave Careby on one of his trips. "Why not
stay here at Careby? We have enough and can eaaly get along
and you will find it not so heavy on you."
Quickly he replied, "I would rather see souls saved than to do
anything else on the earth". Dr. Landnim called him "a
crowned king of workers". "We are having a fierce nunpus
here between our H and our C ■-■ ■ [at the Aca-
demy]" Jie writes, "But it will be over in a thousand years
and so I will let it go by and see you at the end of the millen-
He visited us in Baltimore, spoke before our State conven-
tion and in a day or so was gone. He wrote a few days later:
"I am having soUtude in blocks and it makes me quite con-
ceited that I am such delightful company for Brer Hatcher.
He tells me he enjoys my society very much except I work so
much that he cannot see much of me. He was always foolish
about wanting so much."
A young minister Rev. Mosby Seay, who spent a week with
him at Careby, says it was one of the richest experiences of
his life to read in his hearing the new book "Along the Trul",
"I thoi^t" says he "that the 'aaidee' he gave me as I read
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
620 LETTER TO REV. J. E. BAILEY
it aa fine as the book itself and I regarded it a pity he did not
incorporate them."
The following letter to Rev. J. E. Baley of Saluda, S. C,
shows how he would seek by a letter to cheer a young pastor:
"Your letter is glory itself. Your atory of the Red Bank
building programme is a poem. It poatively charmed me, I
rejoice that the hoary obstacles which have blocked your track
are melting away and that your people are massing solidly for
the work
"The God of the brave is with you. Stand to your colors
and you will soon see the day of victory.
"Oh, it will be glory enough if I can be on hand on that great
and proud day in your life. I am hoping that the Lord will
let me aee that house of the Lord happily done.
"I am now clo^g up my campaign for the Seminary. It
has been a most engaging and satisfying task and I have found
it a fountain of life. We Bet out to get $60,000 and I am sure
that we are going beyond $80,000,
"How is that for old Vir^nia?
"I find myself ready to shout over the growth of your town.
You intoxicate me with enthusiasm by the way you blow the
Saluda trumpet."
His wife writes to one of the children, "Your father gets some
letters about his book nearly every day,"
Amcmg these letters was the following from a friend whom
he greatly loved, — Dr. R. H, Hudnall of Blacksburg:
"I have just laid aade the most interesting book I have ever
read in my life — your 'Along the Trail of the Friendly Years',
I hardly know how to characterize it, or what to say of its
style. There was no one who could write as Addison did and bo
we name his style Addisonian; so there was a Johnsonese, a
Carlyle and a Macaulayian style and so there is a Hatcherian
style, . . You are inimitable and your strong personality
is felt throughout. . . ."
Next Spring at Philadelphia the Baptists of the world were
to meet in the Baptist World Alliance. This gathering of
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE 621
the Baptist hosts was scheduled to occur every five years.
Dr. John Clifford of England was premdent aad at the next
meeting America is to have the honor of naming the new pres-
ident. Who will he be? Dr. Albion W. Small of the Chicago
Univeraty writes tm November 6th in tiie Chicago Standard
regarding the presidency, olocdng with these words:
"Afl a ogD of our fraternity and as an exhibit of the manner
of man whom all American Baptists dehght to honor I pro-
pose that we select by acclamation Dr. William E. Hatcher,"
Dr. L. A. Craudatl of Minneapolis followed with a brief
statement closing with the words: "it seema evident that he
inteaded to nominate everybody's friend, Dr. Wilham E.
Hatcher, as the next president of the Baptist World Alliance.
I hasten to second that nomination with the understanding
that Doctor Hatcher shall at once proceed to write us another
book as charming as 'Along the Trail of the Friendly years.' "
There was much talk of his election to the jwsition but he
laughed the idea out of court. He remarked that the new
president would be elected to serve five years and that he
was too near his end to undertake such a work for a five-year
period. This was his feeling though of course he appreciated
profoundly the kindness of his honored friends in suggesting
his name.
He went to Hollins Institute to Eud Dr. George B. Taylor
in meetings and near the end of the meetings he writes:
"Sunday night; Great time tonight. A mighty meeting.
Many Hollins ^rls came and several men of families."
Again he writes:
"The X incident [at Fork Union] is at fever heat,
but I am too busy and feeble to be excited,"
A pastor who dehvered a prominent discourse at the General
Association m Roanoke wrote him after the Association that
while he was preparing the discourse he had the thought, "I
wonder what Dr. Hatcher will think of that." "Yes I did" he
writes "I knew you would be there and that I would have no
more sympathetic listener and with all your loving sympathy
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
622 EVERYBODY'S FRIEND
I knew you would listoi with sharp discrimination." At the
Academy he conducted the service on Thankfigiving Day and
at the close the Academy cadets presented to him a olver
lovii^ cup. "It pleased him very much" writes his wife. "It
was a delicate w^ to express their (pve."
It might be mentioned at this point that in his business
dealings he seemed to have not merely a conscience for fairness
but also a heart for the merehant. He scorned to higgle
about the price and seemed ever anxious that the other party
should come out of the transaction in good shape. Evoi the
Italian fruit dealers at the depot where he would take the train
for Fork Union would smile, and jump about with a new step,
when Dr. Hatcher would approach, for he seemed to be inter-
ested in them in such a kindly fashion and with nearly every
purchase there was a striking sentence that they would re-
member him by.
Wh^i he had his office at the College during his work for
that institution, he was often a passenger on the Broad Street
car line and it was very noticeable how the faces of the con-
ductors would light up when they approached him for the fare
or when they would help him on the car. They all not only
knew him but acted as if they thought he was their kind, good
friend and he nearly always punctured them with a breeiy
bright word. It was on a Richmond Street car that he found
one day a young man from the mountains acting as conductor.
He told him that be was bom for higher work and that young
man is one of the useful pastors in Texas today.
A gejitleman who in those days was a student at the College
says; "I remained at College during the holidays when neariy
all the other students were away and one day Dr. Hatcher,
noticing how lonely I seemed to be said, 'Here take this dollar
and go and have an outing and a good time.' "
Mr. W- C. Rowland the Philadelphia merchant with whom
Dr. Hatcher had large business dealings every year in con-
nection with the uniforms for the Academy wrote, "I have
always felt that he was my brother; he was always kind to me
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
TEACHING THE OLD COLOPIED MAN 623
and I shall always feel grateful that. . .it was my privilege
to call him friend."
He went one day up into Powhatan county with his friend
R. H. Winfree to attend a meeting. The meeting proved to be
invisible but on their return they stopped on the road at
Peterville to feed their horse. They sat down and soon Dr.
Hatcher became engaged in a conversation with an old negro
who was standing near and who seemed to be very feeble and
infirm.
Soon Dr. Hatcher said to the old man, "Are you a christian?"
"No Bar; 1 iz not. I ain' nev'r bin caus' I nev'r cu'd have dat
'speriunce. Dey tel' me yer got ter have de 'speriunce; I hear
de others say dey dun got it but I ain' had it."
Mr. Winfree in telling about the incident said that Dr.
Hatcher then proceeded to tell the gospel story to the old n^ro
who listened intently. He explained in simple language how
we were saved, not by havii^ some wonderful experience, but
by trusting in Christ. Mr. Winfree said a few months after
that he heard that the old man died and in his last mom^ita
said, "I don' kno 'bout de speriunce but I am trustin' jes' lek
dat preacher tol' me dat day at Peterville."
The Doctor in Florida who treated his sprained thumb a few
months before his death wrote his pastor. Dr. Wildman, telhng
him of what a bles^g his contact with Dr. Hatcher in his
professional dealii^ with him had been.
"For the past twenty years or more" writes Mr. Hunt
Hargrave, a dearly loved friend, "you have been «i inspiration
to me and if I am of any account in the reUgious world much
ia due to my association with you."
He brought to an end bis work for the Seminary campaign.
After expres^ng bis appreciation of his labors Dr. Mullins
added, "I can never express to you sufSciently my appreciation
of all that you have been to me personally and to the Semi-
nary."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
624 A CHEERING WORD FROM CHINA
"Who thinks of WiUiam R Hatcher" says the Herald "aa
an old man. He was never more abundant in labore and enjoys
them alt."
His daughter One had asked him to write her what his needs
for the winter were and in reply he wrote:
"As for the matter of my needs for the wintry weather I
am too stupid to speak with effect. I do not know wbi^ I need
and cannot say that I need anything. My needs seem dumb
and do not cry out. Meet me in Baltimore and tutor me as to
what I ought to have but have no concern about me. . . ."'
A letter came from China, from Rev. R. B. Chambers, a
missionary in that country, saying that at a special meeting of
Chinese girls he had told one of the stories of his book, "Alcmg
the Trail of the Friendly Years." He writes:
"I related the incident as nearly as I could in a literal trans-
lation of your own words. It would have done your own heart
good to see how it stirred the audience of more than 100 f^tii. I
am satisfied that quite a number of these who were baptised
two weeks later were to a considerable extent influenced by the
story. I then prepared it for publication in the True Light
monthly. Mr. Cheung Kaam Ue, the Chinese asEdstant editor,
pronounced it excellent and tears were in his eyes more than once
while I was dictating the story to him. I feel that you will
enjoy knowing that the influence of your work and little Alice's
love for souls is being felt on this side of the globe. I expect
to translate several other incidents from the book."
The pleasant tenor of his hfe was rudely broken by his
experience on December IStb at Manassas. While he was asleep
in the hotel fire was discovered in the building and he was
suddenly awakened by the banging of doors and the inrush
of smoke.
"It was no cheerful fate," he writes, "to be tumbled out into
the snow under the reluctant twilight, half-clad and pushed
hither and thither by a wild and unthinking crowd
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
ESCAPING THE FIRE 625
"But Bomehow help always comes and this time it came in the
manly form and the quick recognition of a former honored
student at Richmond College, — Mr. Sinclair, now a youi^
lawyer at Mauassaa, who quickly found me a guide and hustled
me away to his father's house. It was Hndaess indeed and I
was picking my way along the slippery paths when a sleigh
came singing by and behold it had as its sole occupant another
Richmond College boy, — he a lawyer also — Robert Hutchison
by name, who, with imperious kindness, drew me to his side
and at blinding speed whirled me away to the door of one of
the most lovable of all the friends of earth, Westwood Hutchison
and in a few more seconds I was in his cosy mansion with every
member of the family acting as my servant and racking me to
the point of torture to find what they could do for me.
"Oh this world is fine, — filled up with love and light and
hope and help and one might feel that it is well to stay here
forever and be happy if there were no better place. In a little
while the scene of tiie fire, the strain of the flight and the lurid
horror of the flames were all gone and I was taking breakfast
peacefully and with sest in the home of the Hutchisons."
He lost his valise and his two best suits at the fire, but he
said, "I am living and I defy the earth to prevent me from
b^g grateful." He had the joy of taking part in the cele-
bration of the fiftieth marriage anniversary of Dr. and Mrs.
I. B. Lake — ^friends greatly beloved — at XJpperville, Va.
A mother whose son Mortimer he had helped at the Academy
writes him:
"Oh, Dr. Hatcher, you have done great good in your life;
you have brought peace and comfort to hundreds of lives and
to no hearts have you brought greater joy than to mine and to
Mortimer's."
He and hia wife spent the Chriatmaa holidays with his three
daughters One, Edith and Elizabeth at Biyn Mawr, and a very
happy season it was for him. He stopped with us in Baltimore
for a few days. While he was at Bryn Mawr his Chinese boy.
Ah Fong, paid him a visit, — running down from New York
where he was a student at Columbia College. Ah Fong writes,
"When he saw me, he said, "Well, Ah Fong, it does my heart
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
626 BACK AT CAREBY
good to aee you ^ain. So you are at Columbia, I know you are
of the right stuff.' "
He had sent out post card greetings to Bome of his friends, —
among them to Dr. C T. Hemdon who replied:
"That you, my father, should think of me and write with
your own, dear hand such a aweet message touches me more
deeply than I can tell you. . .You must take care of yourself
for thdse who love you. . . I thank God for every remem-
brance of you. Last night Skinner and I were talkii^ over
the phone of our admiration and love for you."
None of the family were at Careby but he hastens thither
where he writes:
"I got home last evening just before seven, I found rain,
mud and darkness waiting for me. But my ever faithful
Stephens brought me to Careby at a clipping rate. My room
was warm and full of Light and soon hot coffee and batter bread
made me forget that I had bad no dinner that was worthy of
respectful mention. That night I slept the sleep of the dilap-
idated. Indeed I am still working off my fatigues.
[I send this blot free]
"I am writing nothii^ on my book. Indeed I am miring
indolence with idleness in equal proportions."
Huntington, West Virginia, next clfumed him for meet^
ii^.
From that point he writes me:
"Wood has almost punctured me to the point of a book on
'Character Sermons'. I may come to it — if I do not come to
my end too soon for that. .... I never enjoyed preach-
ing more m my life."
To his friend. Dr. E. B. Bryan, President of Co^ate Uni-
versity, he sent the following hilarious letter:
"Your letter is worth its weight six times in diamonds. 1
foimd it awaiting me on my return from Huntington, W. Va,,
where I held a glorious meeting. I ran in to lay up for repiurs
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTER TO DR. E. B. BRYAN 627
tor a brief while and I bave other engagemoita pulling at my
throat.
"I am working at another book — except that I am not; full
half of the work is done and the other half lags because of my
absence and also because of the fascination of indolence.
"I am getting great accounts of you and Colgate. They
tell me how splendidly you are doing and I knew you would.
Your invitation for me to come — come not for toil but for
love — come to revel in your hospitality — is distracting; I would
like to see you in your new glories, see your wife, see your two
pria and that jewel of your heart and mine, one Julian. Maybe
I will come some time but I must wait to see.
"You rather discount yourself in my Judgment, but not
in my feeUngs to write so ravingly about my book. If I could
write it over agun, I would put you and Arthur Jones and
"Fowl" in a chapter to yourselves and head it, 'My Beat
Chapter.'
"It is equaU*/ fanatical and ill-conceived on your part to be
throwing your hat in the air over the proposition to make me
President of the Baptist World's Alliance. Dr. Small of the
University of Chicago started that gracious fable. I have
vanity enough to send a few pioneer thoughts out on the hill
tops to bring back reports as to what an honor it would be
to me if they did make me president. I also send my judgment
along to keep my thoughts from making fools of themselves
and require them to tell me there is nothing in it.
"It was kind of the University of Chicf^ to propose
it and probably a greater kindness in those — that innu-
merable multitude who saw nothii^ in it — to at still and be
silent.
"The weight of seventy six years bends one's shoulders out
of shape and makes him unsuitable for carrying the burden
of great honors which being interperted means that I am not the
man.
"You honored me by speaking of the Mooree. God bless
the boys. Albert was my first convert at Hamilton and he and
Hobert had a great dinner and invited me and several other
boys to the frolic. Do give my love to them; quarrel with
Prof. Jones continually for my sake. Tell Dr. Maynard that
he and I and a few other Democrats now have the American
Republic in ehai^ and the countiy is safe.
"But my pen runs riot and I must put on my curb
"Ever and undyingly yours."
iiyGoot^lc
628 LETTER TO DR. M. L. WOOD
He sends the following letter back to the Huntington pastor,
Rev. M. L. Wood.
"My Deak Brer Wood, — I made a clean schedule run
for home — lost no Ume, sleep was taken in small doses, Vir-
^uia greeted me with genial sunlight and Careby Hall, though
destitute of every member of my tribe, was warm and cheery
in its welcome.
"I thou^t that rest awaited me, but all the bothers of the
Academy and bundles of insistent letters, also my rebeUious
big toe, sprang on me and tore me up.
"But I am living — Mark that! I miss Huntington grievously.
I miss you — your sober kindness and your genial helpful
company. You build me up outside and in. I miss Mrs. M. L.
W very much I miss her. Her mercies were renewed
to me every morning in cordial treatment — also in cakes and
potatoes. Miriam invigorated me with her enthuaasm as a
student and her adoring love of her father. John commanded
my respect by his early rising, his devotion to his school and his
interest in the meeting. As for my own bojt — the matchless
lovely Mathew I mourn for him. I need him now; send him
to me by express. I love him as my jewel of a boy. Tell him be
must come on and be my boy.
"But I am working today for a new church having been in a
committee on plans for hours. I expect to be in Bluefield
for next Sunday. Do tell me things.
"Yours very much in love."
He writes to his wife on February 1st from Fork Union:
"I am over-run with company at all times and of all sorts.
This I do not mind as it is what I live for."
From Bhiefield, W. Va., where he is holding meetings he,
writes on February 6th:
"My deep grief is that I do not seem to have as much converting
power as I had in my earlier days. This may be owing to
general conditions in part at least, but I charge it up against
myself and groan over it. But I do not forget the grace that
keeps me alive and ^ves me a chance and strength to worit
at &11._ . . .
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BLIJEFIELD 629
"My eyes — or rather my eye — gives me trouble and keeps
me from readii^ and makes it hard for me to write. I hope for a
stenographer in a day or two.
"I judge the folly is over but I almost think my
work with the Academy is coming to an end."
Ocasionally his Academy burdens — in connection with the
many other loads that he was carrying — would grow ao heavy
and grievous that he would think that he could not stand up
under them any longer and yet, though his shoulders would
often ache, his heart would rebel when he would come to the
point of actual surrender. Dr. E. Z. Simmons, of China, wrote
him that his new book had helped him to be a better man and
missionary. But let us look in upon him at Bluefield. Mrs.
Mabie, the gifted wife of the Bluefield pastor thus gives a
singularly interesting picture of Dr. Hatcher's visit:
"One cold Saturday night in February, 1911, Mrs Fleshman
of Appomattox was coming to Bluefield to vidt her sons. Dr.
Hatcher was on the trtun, also bound for Bluefield. They were
acquaintances of long standing and in conversation he said,
'I never dreaded a trip more in my life than this— to go to
Bluefield — that wild mountain town in the dead of winter.
I never have been to Bluefield and would not have gone now
except that I felt so sorry for that poor Yankee boy who has
come to live with the Southerners and if I can do imything
in the world to cement the tie I will do it."
This was the young minister whom he had "introduced" to
the Virginia A-ssociation and had in kindly, humorous fashion
twitted with being a "Yankee". Mrs. Mabie's story thus
continues:
"Mr. Mabie met him at the train with a machine and took
him to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Easley, for years the first
Baptist woman in Bluefield. She would not let any one have
the honor of koming him while here, but during the two weeks
of his stay he received seventeen invitations to dine out and
accepted every one. . It was the happy privilege of Mr,
Mabie and myself to share these invitations and visits with
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
630 BLUEFIELD
him. ... No housewife ever a.sked him for her board
without rec^ving many-fold comptfisation for her labor in the
briUiani after dinner tidk of which Dr. Hatcher was the center
and circumference, — in fact the whde wheel of brilliant turns
and rapid movement. . . .
"... One bleak rainy moming he came to the par-
sonage and stud, 'I am invited to dine with Cou^n Tom Haw-
kins, will you please direct me to the place.' I replied, 'That is
very simple, — three blocks east on Princeton Ave., and one
block South on Bland Street'. He said, 'I don't know
where Princeton Ave. is; I don't know where Bland St.
b; I have no geographical sense; I never could find it in this
world."
"I then caught the idea that be wished me to pilot him,
so I hastily donned rubbers, coat and umbrella and we started
out. We had not gone far when he s^d, 'Mrs. Mabie you bave
a husband who brings things to pass' and then he said nuu^
cheering, comforting, complimentary things that are always
sweet to the ears of the wife of that much slandered personage —
a man in public life. Dr. Hatcher never received a kindness
nor act of courtesy without immediately returning it with
interest; he never allowed himself to remain in debt to his
friends, but kept them in bounteous store from the riches of
his generous heart.
"Another rainy night I went with him from the car to Mrs.
Easley's. I asked Dr. Hatcher: 'Why dont you ever tell us
about your family?' Instantly he answered, "That is an agree-
ment we have; no one member is ever to speak of another mem-
ber to strangers'. I replied 'How is the world ever to know
that you are blessed with wife and children if you never men-
tion them."
"He said, 'The world must find it out for itself.' But he did
me the gracious honor of stepping over the barrier and he
spoke tenderly and lovingly of each one. Upon another oc-
casion he found that he had lost his handsome overcoat. He
was much distressed and said, 'My girls gave me that coat;
they certainly are very good to their old father."
"I toid him one day that he was just the age of my father. He
looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said, 'Write to that
father of yours and tell him that I have my opinion of a man
who does not know any more than to sojourn in this world
for more than sev«ity years. . . ."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
• BLUEFIELD 631
"The distii^uishing feature of Dr. Hatcher's meeting was hia
wonderful hold upon young men and boya. A row of boys on
the front seat was the rule. He was simply irresistible; the
boys could'nt stay away. Over fifty came into the church
and many of them were youths just bursting into manhood and
womanhood. Mr. Mabie always counted it the most blessed
meeting of his ministry. . .
"I fear the ideas I have suggested are very meager and will
not be of much value. The trouble is, Dr. Hatcher was too
great for his friends to measure."
His correspondence in Bluefield was heavy. His stenographer
at that place wrote me after his death that, if I desired it,
she could write out again from her notes the letters which he had
written while there. The following quotations are made from
the letters which were sent me by this lady sten<^Tapher.
These letters by Dr. Hatcher read as if he felt he was moving
near the border Hne and mi^t be summoned into the other
world at any moment and as if he desired, therefore, to make
each one as cheering and as stimulating as possible. It is ejl
interesting picture, — that of him, now in his seventy-seventh
year, sending out letters in every direction, as if he stood upon
some pleasant, eminence and was seeking to scatter comfort to
his comrades and to hearten them for their task.
Let it be remembered that these, and other, letters which he
wrote at Bluefield are available for use in this biography simply
because the stenographer that wrote for him in Bluefield was
thoughtful enough to send the copies. But he was a busy
letter writer almost everywhere be went and these are merely
spedmens of the efforts at helpfulness which he was putting
forth as he moved from pomt to point. To his old <3olIege
friend. Dr. Geoi^e W. Hyde of Missouri, he writes on Feb-
ruary 7th:
"I feel that I want to tell you that our friendship which
began" in the stormy days of the Civil War has never lost its
freshness. My faith in you has been unmeasured and my
affection for you has grown, though our meetings have been
infrequent and rarely allowed any close soul communion.
jdnyGoOt^lc
632 LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD
"Your quiet, unselfish life has commanded my admiration.
I have had to walk so much in the glare of publicity that I have
admired those who could be sober and thoughtful as you have
always seemed to me to be.
"The fine things you stud about my last book gave me un*
common pleasure. The book itself has had prfuse enough, even
from the critics and the unsacred Press, and of course friends
have been pleased to write me from everywhere about it. The
book has struck a pace and has won a place in literature which
I did not expect to find and of course it has quickened my intel-
lectual pride.
"What, however, has pleased me far more is the note of
comfort it has carried to many. I thank God that I could
write a book of which it could be s^d that, while it was filled
with personalities, it gave forth no voice of censure or repro-
bation. Of course we all have our scraps and strains in a
world so discordant as this and some of our scars never heal
without leaving the seams of the hard strifes, but I am sure
that you and I could take leave of this world and wave back
a cheerful good evening and forget the ills and wrongs which
have hit us.
"I never meant to write reminiscences, but I never had that
mental independence which held me inflexibly to my purpose.
My publisher whipped my last book out of me and he and my
preacher son are scouring me to the writing of another book,
which I suppose will be ready for the press by the beginning
of Summer. I write neither for fortune nor for fame, for I have
learned to live without either and when my end comes I will
need neither."
The new book, to which he refers in this letter has not yet
been published. The Stories in it have been appearing in the
Watchman — Examiner of New York and they are expected
to be published in book from after the appearance of this
biography.
A pastor in Virpnia in inviting him to preach the dedi-
catory sermon for his new church had apparently asked him
his charges for such a service. In his reply he says:
"I believe that I have never on any occa^on named the
emoimt that I was to receive for my services. That I most
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD 633
cheerfully leave to the church feeling assured that whatever
they do will be satirfactory to me. I will be far more anxioua
about what they will get out of me than I will be as what I wili
get out of them and on that score I have never had to complain
of the treatment of my brethren who called me into their
To Rev. Dr. A. W. Lamar of Sioux City he writes:
I am at work now on another book, intended more especially
for ministers, and designed more specifically to help them in
their pulpit ministrations.
"... May God have a blessing for you in every sermon
you preach."
To Rev. B. W. Sanders, of Greenville, S. C, he writes on
the 16th the following letter which takes the reader "behind
the scenes,"
"I would be an ingrate if I did not drop you a word in re-
sponse to your genial and refreshing card.
"I confess that my venture in the field of authorship was
not under the nagging of the commercial spur. Of course this
book, as yet, is on its first nm and no word has passed between
the publisher and myself as to its financial success. I judge
that in due season it will bring something in the way of
royalty.
"The school at Fork Union, supposed to be a mine of gold
to me, has never yielded me one copper of income though it
has offered it to me several times, but the school has needed
my help so much that I felt it was more necessary, if not more
blessed, to pve than receive, and much of what little comes my
way goes into the life of that school in the way of helping very
^fted and ambitious, needy boys. That is one of the choicest
investments of my last days and serves to keep my heart
young and my hands busy. I speak with a candor, not very
usual in a letter like this, but provoked in this case by the
affectionate and frank tone of your letter.
"It must be glorious to live in Greenville and I rejoice that
you have that pleasure in these days of your ripened prime.
I read the Courier and my eyes kindle with friendly light
whtmever I hit upon anything from your pen."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
634 LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD
The pastor at Cl^nson, S. C, was Rev. T. C. McCaul, cnte
of his old Grace Street boys. He had moitioQed him in a
loving paragraph in the book, "Along the Trail etc." He
received a letter from "Tom" and in reply he writes on the 10th:
"My Dgar Tom,— . . . And so your eyes fell upon
the brief paragraph in my new book in which is embalmed my
love aad memory of you, I am glad to have put it there and
those who love me and read my book mil know how I love you,
but now that I have put it there, 1 want you to remember, my
young lad, that you must Kve up to it. Solon said that he
counted no man happy until he was dead, but I have counted
you happy while you are living and have enshrined you in my
book. I am glad the book gave you comfort and heartened
you for the sterner tasks of the ministry. It is the hard things
we have to do which do the most for us and count the most
for others.
"I rejoice in Tom II. You know what I think of Tom I., and
tphile my thoughts of him are all of love, I hope Tom II. will
far eclipse Tom I. in every element of greatness. Tell your
wife I can't forget my happy visit to the parsonage at Orange,
nor the bright and cheery way in which she treated me, and I
trust that she will keep you straight and inspire you to great
achievements."
Rev. Robert H, Winfree of Chesterfield was the young
ministerial friend with whom he had spent many days of happy
fellowship. He loved Robert with a fatherly affection.
"My Dear Robert, — If you would get stronger, as it is
your solemn duty to do, and make up your mind like a gentle-
man that you will live and labor twenty-five years longer, I
would like for you to preach every other Sunday afternoon at
Chesterfield, stick to old Mount Hermon, ride in the Bethel
Chariot and bring things to pass at Midlothian. That would
pull the sweat out of you and make a new man of you.
"It has been two months since I saw you and I am engaged
for March. That puts our contacts too far apart. We must
get closer together and tighten the ties tmtil the time of my
going comes. Give my love to ever dear Mrs. Winfree. I
write her name high on the roll of friendship and, as for you,
you are the joy of my soul.
"As ever and even more so."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTERS WRITTEN ATBLUEFIELD 635
The earlier pages of this biography tells how in the Summer
of 1866, at a meeting at Hopeful church ia Louisa County, he
told a young man that he believed the reason be would not
become a christian was that he was afrad he would have to
preach the gospel and he secured his promise that he would, that
night on his knees, either surrender to Christ or else bum his
Bible and abandon Christianity. The next morning tiie young
man made his public confession of Christ and soon started for
the Seminary. For many, many years this man Rev. Dr. W.
Carter IJndsay, had been the pastor of the First Baptist
Church in Columbia, S. C, and was called the Nestor of South
Carolina Baptists. Dr. Hatcher wrote him the following letter
from Bluefield:
"My Beloved Friend, — From the far away day when I
gave you the glad hand at Hopeful on the morning when you
first declared your alle^ance to Christ, I have loved you and eH
that pertained to you has been of concern to me.
"I feel a certain pride of seniority about you, a little paternal
pride in my relationship to you and ever so much joy in the
honorable career that you have had.
"With the best wishes of a fifty-year friendship I greet you
and wish you peace and honor in this world and glory in the
other."
This letter brought the following reply from Dr. Lindsay:
"CoLnuBU, S. C, February 16th, 1911.
"My DsAH Bro, Hatcher, — Your letter juicy as an orai^;e
Bxid sweet as your dear old heart comes Uke music across water.
You have never left my field of vision since that natal day in old
Hopeful and will never leave it either on this or the other ade
of the BO-called great Divide. I have a million things to talk
to you about but cant write. So come and stay a month.
"Yes the parsonage and full salary for life is good and unusual
provision by the church — but not when you know the church. .
"From the top of 71 years (yesterday) I send my heart
freighted with a half century of love.
"W. C. lindaay."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
636 LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD
He wiites od the 11th to Rev. C. E. Burta:
"My Beloved Friend, — I have no business on earth with
you except to say that I love you with a devotion that deepens
steadily; I love your wife as much as I love you, and as much
more as she is more lovely than you, and as for Charles II,
ray brave and beautiful Charles, I recall now my glimpse
of him in Baltimore. He looked the grand little chap that he is
and my soul knit to him. The precious little scamp actually
loved me before he knew what loving was and that, of course,
made me love him.
"I hope things go well with you, and no matter which way
they go I am fixed in the belief that you will never come out
of South Carolina till you scale the heights of the invisible
world and take citizensMp in the Delectable City.
"There is little need to writ* anything about myself. I
may be permitted to report that I am still living, and though the
only crop which I am now growing is a crop of infirmities, I
find it pleasant to live.
"My thoughts run much of late on book making."
To his ever dear friend Dr. Charles H. Ryland he writes:
"My Dbab Chahles, — It has been my reproach that I did
not at once write to you after reading carefully your address
at the Seminary in Louisville. I must confess that your output
on that occasion was to me one of the most interesting and
refreshing things that has come under my eye for ever so long.
"I was surprised that you could command, either by your
memory or imagination, such a rich store of historical and per-
sonal incident, and you command my admiration by the adroit
and practised manner in which you wove these things into an
address. I read every word of it and I went back over some
of it and read it agfun and got ever so much rejuvenation and
joy out of it.
"1 said at the alumni meeting in Roanoke in the way of
pleasantry that you and Shipman are always looking down on
me from supercilious heights because I had never been to the
Seminary. That was purely a joke, bom of the occasion and
dying with it, but after your address I am free to say that you
have a right to look down on me. The Seminary did impersisb-
able things for you and helped you up so much that I will
recognize your superiority and will accept thankfully the
downward look of my ever noble and cherisjied friend.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
. LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD 637
"I have always bad something against you and never felt
it 80 keenly since I read that address, I have told you that
your pen was grudging and reluctant; you have seemed to have
no sense of obligation to write and the result is that you have
written nothing as compared with what you can write and which
the people would gladly read if you would write.
"I hope they are pulling you out of the treadmill of your
old office and giving you ample provision for comparative
leisure and in that way opening to you the opportunity of
speaking to the people more than you have in the past. Why
not write a book, a book embodying your thoughts which
have been bom along the way and which have ripened with
your years. I find that people want something out of the hfe
of men whom they believe in. Even in my own little trial at
authorship of late I have found that my pen is far more power-
ful than my voice, and surely there is an audience on the earth
aw^ting any message that you would be wiUing to give."
To Dr. R. M. Inlow, pastor of the Eirst Baptist Church of
Nashville, Tenn,, he writes:
"In the crash and confusion of Xmas time I failed to answer
your lovely letter. . . I feel that God has given you the
mastery and freedom of your great pastorate and that makes me
rejoice greatly,
"And yet it occurs to me that I have somewhat against
you. I went to J L at the Southern Baptist
Convention and asked him to make you reply to the address
of welcome and he told me that he was going to do it. He
looked up another man at once, one of my own children — Hurt
of Arkuisas. I collared L — — on the spot and asked him
how about Inlow, and he told me that you would not do it.
Of course you had a right to decline but I did not want you to
dechne. I wanted the people to see you and to bear you, but
never mind, you do as you please and work out your own destiny.
"There is one thing, however, you can't do, I defy you to
do it, and that is to keep me from thinkii^ you are a royally
fine fellow and I hope you will not atop tiJI you stand on the
white hills of human glory.
"Show your wife what I told you about not making that
speech and ask her to please be on my side about it. Whenever
you get lonesome and feel that you have no friends, then, write
to one friend that you have who does not amount to much."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
638 LETTERS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD
He received a letter from Mr. Hairy Schmelz of Hampton
regarding Mr. Schmelz's brother George who had recently
died and who until his death had been the teacher of one of the
largest men's classes in Virginia. He replies as follows:
"It seems that the world grew dark when George died, but
the love which breathes in your letter brii^ back much of the
light.
"Let us get closer together and let us confer together, let
us cheer and inspire each other — that is, for the httle while that
I am allowed to stay on this ade of the river.
"I write more especially to express my joy that you have
taken George's Bible class; that takes from me a great anx-
iety— a dread lest the masterpiece of George's life, should sud-
denly crumble to pieces. I believe that you are the man to
make it greater ih&a even George ever made it ; you are capable
of it; you always do your best in whatever you undertake, and
you have in George's record an adequate inspiration to move
you forward with the task.
"If you find at any time and in any way I can ever help you
about that class, command me; I will go to Hampton at any
possible time if there is anything that I could possibly do to
inspire the class to greater things. Simplify your life as far as
you can and concentrate your forces on that class; it is a work
for a master hand and will call out the best of your brains and
of your soul ; it will! make you a greater and a happier man just
in proportion to the ardor and patience with which you ^ve to
it your leadership and your love..
"I thank you for opening the gates of your hospitality;
it looks as if I have scant time for sociability. I go nowhere
except where work calls me and it calls me down many ways into
which I can't enter, but I hope the Lord will open the way to
go to Hampton to see you,"
He writes regarding the Academy, "I have been wishing for
some time that things could come to the stage where I could
trust the Academy to live without me,— a thing which it will
have to do any how in a little while, or not live at all."
His friendships included ia their happy circle men in many
walks of hfe. There was a brilliant lawyer, whom he had met
while holding meetings in another state. This g^itleman, much
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
MITTEHS WRITTEN AT BLUEFIELD 639
younger than he, was not a christian and to him Dr. Hatcher
writes from Bluefieid — from which place all the letters in this
series were written:
"My Dear Tom, — I can't hold out any longer. My thoughts
nm after you in the day and watch around you at night. You
have an undisputed seat in the castle of my life and I shall
cherish you as long as I live.
"When yesterday I got a letter from Dr. Wood telling me
that he saw you in his congregation every Sunday morning, my
heart grew warm and tender towards you. It makes me feel
that you are coming; I fee! truly that the hand of God is upon
you and that you are to be one of God's leaders yet. I do not
write to upbrEud you, or lecture you, but simply to tell you that
you live in my heart and I can't be happy in my thoughts
about you till I hear the good news. Your heart is filled with
good convictions, and if you will follow them they will in a
httle while bring you into the light.
"Your place is among Christians and not among the scep-
tical and ignoble. I am going to keep my ear to the ground
until it catches the joyful news. I think I speak truthfully
when I say that I am more interested in your conversion than
in that of any other man in the world. Don't wait until you join
the church to write to me, but do not make it long before you
write to me that you have joined the church.
"Do not write to me imless you feel like it but keep on loving
me as I really believe you do, but friendship is a game at
which I somehow feel that I can usually beat the other fellow.
My soul was made for comradeship and when I run up on a
fellow hke you, I put my grappling hooks in him down to the
marrow of his bones, but I am sure you think far more of me
than I am worthy of, and that is all that I ask."
In reply, his lawyer friend wrote as follows :
"My Dear Friend, Gcide and Counselor, — When I asked
John Henry Cammack where I should direct a letter to you
he replied in that poative, breezy way of his, 'Why Sir, you
might direct it to Wra. E, Hatcher, Virginia, and he would
receive it; he is that well known in Viigima.' I am directii^
this letter, however, to the Post Office of your pet institution.
Fork Union, where that Academy stands and for unnumbered
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
640 HIS BELOVED LAWYER FRIEND
years, let as hope, will stand as one of the moDumenta of your
faithful work for your state and country and for' man.
"Of course you need not to be told how much I price your letter
and how much I shall prize it to the end of my days, for you are
one of the men who know. I realize full well how strenous and
faithful your labors are in this world, how day by day, you give
the ener^es of your hfe freely and fervently to christian civ-
ilization and yet I am selfish enough to place this added taxa-
tion upon you ; you have put your hand to the plow in the way
of our personal friendBhip and love and you must not turn
back, that is to say you must write letters to me even thou^
their writing becomes an irksome task to you. . . ."
This letter probably reached him upcm his return to Fork
Union, and while at Charlottesville he wrote his friend the fol-
lowing reply :
"My own Dear Tom, — ^Your letter was a thing of beauty.
It had to me the charm of a poem. I read it with unfeigned
joy, and a moisture was on my eyelids as I read. It would be
impossible for me to express my appredation of you; I love
you with a great, hot, trusting, Eulmiring affection. In some
way, you appeal to the depths of my soul. There are few men
of whom I think so much, or with such vast and deepening
interest. Your life has crept into me and taken root in a dozen
spots, and I feel that we have been together for ever, — at any
rate, we will be together for ever and ever. I am pleased
with myself in one point, at least, which concerns you. You
have not gone so far in the way of faith as I feel you must go
and will go, but I do not get impatient with you; my soul
waits on you and watches for your coming, lamahttleafraid;
I must confess that I get uneasy lest the tide should bear me
out before I should see you cross the bar coming in. If I was
dying, and my mind was clear, I would say to myself, 'Tom
will come after awhile.' If you could hasten your coming and
let me enjoy it before I go, I do not know whether I would like
you any better; but I would like to see you come in and have
a while to enjoy it. There are some restnuning ties in your
life which I do not understand; some points about which I do
not know how to help you. I feel sorry about it. Possibly
you might tell me more about yourself some time, and we may
be able to get closer together; and, if it should be that way, I
Bhall foe wonderfuUyJglad.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS BELOVED LAWYER FRIEND 641
"I need give you no news; it would hardly interest you. And
yet you ought to know that I had a gloiious revivd in Blue-
field; a gracious meeting at Fork Union, in which many of the
Cadets were saved; now I am closing a good meeting with the
First church in Charlottesville; and this with my seventy-
fdx years on my shoulders and my love of God, and with you,
Tom, in my heart, I am pulling along as happy ss I can be; but
not so happy, Tom, not so happy, Tom as I am going to be
when you step over the line and I hful you as a brother in
Jesus Christ.
"Do not forget me; now and then write a letter, and let us
stick together with the tenacity of an ever-growing friendship.
"I am, dear Tom, a believer in you."
In writing to a friend about his joy in "book making" he
says:
"I do not know that I have ever gotten as much assurance
of my usefulness in the pulpit as comes to me in regard to the
book. I am working on another and probably if life and
strength continue there may be two or three more before my
pen is set at hberty. . , And yet I cant live without con-
tact with the people."
To literary men authorship sometimes brings rich delight.
Throughout his ministerial life. Dr. Hatcher had been helpmg
people by his sermons. But his book opened a new fountain
in his soul. This book was like a courier, who having gathered
up treasures along the trail of his friendly years was carrying
them into ahnost every country of earth and the thought was
delightful to him that while with his own lips he was proclaim-
ing the gospel there was also his books that were busy at the
same task. To Rev. J. M. Beadles he writes:
"About the best that I can say of the book ia that I am re-
ceiving almost every day letters from many states and scores
of our preachers which tell me of the comfort and spiritual
exaltaUon which the book brings to them. . . . but
poorly as I do it the deUght of my hfe is to preach and I can't
recover from the ever-flaming pas^on for souls. To save the
people is the heavenliest thing of all the earth. . . .
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
642 ACADEMY BUEDENS
"The Academy flourishes though I find it an increaang bur-
den on my shoulders and you need not wonder if it ^otdd
come to you before very long that I have decided to let other
shoulders ache and groan under its weight."
Regarding bis meetings in Bluefield the Herald says: "The
most far reaching meeting ever held in the city was the one
in which Dr. Hatcher aided Dr. Mabie."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XIJZI
1911
CONTINUOUS ACTITITIBS. IC&BmNaS AT FOCOUOSX. ADDBB8S AT
HEKBDTTH COLLBQE. BAPTIST WOULD ALLIANCS. OOBBXS-
PONDENCB. BIB ENBUIBS. BALTIHO&B BTATB UIS-
filON BANQUBT. ADDHESS BKFDBB OOUSOB
TSMBTTSBB. OFTOflSIf . OLD AOB.
Prom Charlottesville where he was holding meetiDga —
after hia meeting with the cadets at the Academy — ^he writes
that his ailments wefe still oppresmng him and then he adds
"Work is my most effective medicine."
"What a hfe you are leading" writes Dr. O. H. Bylaiul "I
call it gtrmwnta. I could not understand it if I were to tiy
a year. . . Please take care of yourself old boy." Mr.
W. W. Baker, member of the Legislature, writes bim:
"If there has \>eea any good influeuces exerted in the slips
and slides of my life, they can be traced to the influences
exerted by Dr. W. E. Hatcher."
He rec«ved a striking letter from Boston:
"Mt Deab Db. Hatcbeb, — I have just b^ea to the Public
library and found there your 'Along the Trail of the Friendly
Years,'
"A newspaper of a few days ago states that you had juat
passed your 76 birthday. I have not quite attained my 70th
and feel sometimeB that my hfe has been useless and has nearly
reached its hmit. Yet you have written the two most readable
books in the language since you were my age, — 'John Jasper*
and 'Aloi^ the T^wl of the fnendly Years'. I repeat the long
Q43
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
644 LETTER TO ORIE
title because I like it. It gives one a feeling of a long Summer
melody and hannony.
"Not that the book shows your life to have been all mu^c —
you have had your strenuous times as well as the rest of us.
"You remember the king's remark to Johnson, — having
told Dr. Johnson that be hoped he would write more and John-
son having replied that he thought that he bad written enough,
the Idng instantly said, 'I should have thoi^ht so also had
you nol toriUen so weU.
"With great resi)ect,
"Yours Sincerely,
"E. E. Lewis."
To One at Bryn Mawr be writes on March 14th :
"I blush with guilt. So full is my slate with meetii^ dedi-
cations and things and things that not a day of rest or aodal
indulgence is left me. It is sorrow indeed not to come. My
love of work must be abnormal for I am always welcoming
calls and eagerly making engagements. So Bryn Mawr and
three as lovely girls as any common father ever had must be
regratfuUy denied. It ia a cut in my heart to do it. . . .
"Thanks and love to you whom I love so much and to my
other two ever enshrined in my heart.
"As ever and forever."
His grandson will ever prize the following letter:
"Chablottesvillb, Va., March, 16th, 1911.
"Master William E. Hatcher, Jr.,
"Baltimore, Md.:
"Mt Dear Ever Cherished Boy, — ... I must thank
heaven that I have a grandson and such a grandson as you are.
In all the world you are the only one who bears my name, I am
very fond of my name; they have called me William E. Hatcher
for nearly seventy-seven years and for sixty-six years of that
time I have had the name all to myself and then you began
to wear the name. On all the earth, so far as I know, you are
the only living being who dares to wear my name and to wear
it as a name which you took from me. It makes me really
proud that you have my name. Wherever you go it tells that
you and I are linked very close; we have exactly the same name.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHARLOTTESVILLE 6«
After awbile I will have no further use for the name and then it
will be yours all to your self. I hope to leave it to you with
out any bad scratches on it and I have a great hope that you
will make it greater and more honorable than it has ever bem.
"I have great ambitions for you; I desire that you will cul-
tivate among other good habits the habit of writing. Leaiii.
all about words, their different shades of meanit^ and write
sentences with big words in them and learn to use the words
in just exactly their right meaiui^. Your father has written
several books and your grandfather has played a little at book
making, but you must tower far above both of us and write
books that will be read all around the world.
One morning this week I opened my mail and there were
three letters in it about one of my books, one, from a great
preacher in Memphis, Tenn; one, from a learned Judge of
Dakota but written from Boston, where he is spending the
winter and one from Canton, China where Ah Fong came from.
That will do fairly well for the old grandfather, but when the
grandson becomes a book-writer of forty years to come, he
must on some one morning get letters from several continents
telling him wliat great books he has written,
"Take care of your health and run, jump, wrestle, play ball,
turn somersaults, harden your muscles be too brave to be
afraid, too truthful to hide anything and above all fear God.
"Very lovingly,
"William E. Hatcher."
To his wife he writes on March 18th, from Charlottesville;
"... I spend my momii^ in writing, go out to dinner,
hold the afternoon service, snatch a short nap before supper,
hold the mght meeting, talk some after I get home, then write
some before I go to bed and often write before breaJdast. . .
This is Saturday morning and my burdens are exceptionably
heavy today, so I bid you good bye with all best wishes and
hope to see you and the little Baltimore tribe before another
full moon."
A pastor in one of the lower counties of the state writes him:
"As the days and years come and go I ceaee not to thank
God for your life; for its wide and varied inBuence for good and
for the help it has been to poor me. I cannot express to you
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
64« SOUTH BOSTON
how much I do appreciate your friendship and kindly (eeUng
for me through these many years. . . I can't see how a man
with the years of hard work behind him that you have, can be
BO elastic of step, so vigorous in mind, so bright and cbeerii^
in spirit as you are. But, thank God, time is dealing with you
gemtly. Vli^inia Baptists need your ripe experience and wise
couns^ for many years to come yet."
'From Soutii Bostoa, Va., where he is boldoig meetings he
writes:
"I have four services tomorrow three sermons and the Sunday
SohooL . . I have nothing to fear in South Boston eze^
my own folly and the hospitality of ihe people." He seems as
determined as ever that his final sununons, when it comes, shall
catch him in the harvest field with Edckle in hand.
"I am rather bewildered by my Southern invitations to
hold meetings, but as yet I havn't decided to accept any of them.
My dedication engagements are multiplying and I am almost
tempted to do nothing else during the Sunmier months. I feel
that I ought to finish my next book during the Summer and
get well under way my two others which perhaps wUi never be
muBbed."
At South Boston we find the phycddan seeking to patch him
up as he is busy in the meetii^. He writes:
"I am suffering with one of the most unmannered and ag-
gravating colds that I have had for years. It has nearly blocked
up my throat, but the meeting rolls on gloriously indeed. . .
With the loss of one afternoon sennon I have stuck to my poet.
I am to see the Doctor twice today, hold services, answer a
lot of letters and woik on my Home Board manuscript which
rides me like a n%ht mare. ... I am in mortal dread
of indulging my appetite at the eipense of my health."
"Fork Union, April 3rd, 19U.
"Deab Jbnnib, — I got home today about as much frazzled as
ever in my busy beat along the way. I had five services yes-
terday at South Boston, took train at 2:^ A. M. slept half
hour on ihe road, reached Bichmond at 6:50 this monung,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
POCOMOKE 647
had breakfast at Murphy's with Boatwright, had talks with
two other men, caught 10 A, M. train, came from Bremo with
a lame horse in the raxn and am now workii^ out a grievous
tangle in my April engagements.
". , . , Meanwhile I hope to get the bothers of Faculty
for Academy in some shape. . .
"P. S. — Thanks (socks full of them) for the bundle of nice
things."
His mention of breakfast at Murphy's reminds us of his
fondness for taking his meals at that hotel. One morning on tiie
street car a gentleman asked him where he was going so early.
"To Murphy's for breakfast" he replied.
"I go to 's restaurant. You ought to go there."
"If a man is'nt hungry, that restaurant is a very good place
to go to," said Dr. Hatcher.
He viated us in Baltimore where he baptized hia grandson
William E. Hatcher, Jr. at the Eutaw Place Baptist Church.
Fnnu Baltimore he went to a little town in a comer of the
Eastern Shore of Maryland and as he stepped aboard the train
and bade me good bye, he s^d, "Well, I am going over to
Focomoke; I thought I might be of some cheer and help to dear
old John" (Rev. John W. Hundley). His manner of saying
it unconsciously revealed to me in a flash the kindly motive
that was sending him on that arduous, tedious trip. Whatever
thoughta I may have had up to that time as to his Focomoke
meetings, I came away from the depot saying to myself, "That's
why be is pickii^ his way over to that distant town. He thinks
that be may be able to put some sunlight into the life of bis old
ministerial friend." After the Focomoke visit Mr. Hundley
' writes to him:
". . . Your stay in my home has been to me (and all of
us) one of the sweetest and most blessed experiences of my
whole life. . . I may never again enjoy a repetition of this
experience but the memory of it will last until we meet agfua
in our father's house on high."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
648 HELPFULNESS
Regarding Dr. Hatcher's pasEoon for cheering and helping
his brethren Dr. C. E. Dodd writes:
"There was something almost riotous in his enthusiasm
for his kind. It carried him into all sorts of nerve wrecking
efforts te please aud serve; it was characterized by such pfuna
to help and such exercises of kindness as marked the Good
Samaritan. Indeed, he epitomized our Lord's portrait of the
Christian neighbor."
Dr. J. M. Frost tells of Dr. Hatcher's kindly helpfulnefls
a few years before this:
"We met one evening by agreement as our paths had to
cross by chance at Culpeper. He had been all day in an As-
sociation and yet he spent nearly all night with me at the hotel
going through the manuscript of 'The Moral Dignity of Baptism'
and then with the eariy morning each went hia way to his daly
task. How patient he was, how untiring, how faithful, how
helpful in every way. That was not the first time nor the last.
His services were ever at my call and fellowship with him was
an unbroken joy. He was all this to hundreds and thousands."
Before leaving Pocomoke in April he had written the fol-
lowing letter to Dr. M. L. Wood:
"My eveb-beloved, — I have preached pracUcally one hun-
dred and forty (140) times since the opening of the year.
As for the qu^ity of the performance I wish to remain dis-
tinctly dumb, but so far as the amount of the work is con-
cerned I am wilUng to stand up and be examined — very likely
I would be in danger of being condemned even upon the amount
of such preaching as I have done and that too entirely apart
from the quality of it. I have stood it wonderfully. . . .
"My cares at Fork Union multiply and they load me down.
"Give my love to all the children and embrace Matthew
Leland (M. L. W'b boy] and tell him I think he is one of the
best friends I have on earth.
At the bottom of the page Mr. Hundley adds this footnote,
"I have the dear of a man with me and you know what a
treat that is."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION 649
Soon after he left Pocomoke Mr. Hundley writes him:
"Have you fully decided to go to the Southern Baptist Con-
vention. I think you ought to go and let them put the crown
upon your head aa president of the great Convention, an honor
you richly deserve and one that Southern Baptists wil^ gladly
confer if you wiU give them the opportunity."
Many of the leadii^ members of the Ccmvention had ex-
pressed their desire that he should be made president of the
Southern Baptist Convention at its next meeting in Florida,
but his physical ailments and e^Kcially the "Academy com-
plications" blocked his way and prevented his going to the
Conventicm. He writes on May 11th:
"I am really on the verge of not going to the Convention
in Florida. My eyes and knees are troublii^ me. What is
even worse is that we have the gravest sort of complications
in the Academy, — the very vtorst ever."
"God bless you noble Soldier of Jesus Christ" writes Rev.
J. J. Wicker, "and may thrae evening years paea very slowly.
"Kie world has been greatly enriched by your illustrious life
and I count it a real privilege to tell you that for more than a
score of years your personality and your pen have helped me to
be a better minister of Jesus Christ."
Meredith College at Raleigh, N. C. secured him for the
Baccalaureate sermon and be thus writes me concerning his
visit:
"I had an epoch of glory in my Raleigh trip. They said the
old gentleman knock^ things — but they were simply trying
to play on the creduhty of your very ancient and unworthy
parent.
"I am unwell in several suburban sections of any corpor-
oaily. . . ."
The president of the above-mentioned Collie, Dr. R. T.
Vann, wrote him on his return from Raleigh the following:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
650 NANCY ALMOND WITT
"Mt Dbib old Soldier, — I ought to say, old Commander,
I know; but you have such a knack of fillii^ the chaps with a
thrill of comntdeship that they forget.
"I have no business in writing this except to tell you how
heartily we enjoyed you. AccorcUng to the Almanac and the
family record you are not so young as you once were. But
neither of these seems to cut any ice with you. I never heard you
do better. Hang the Almanac and the family records. If
you perast in behaving as you have been doii^ for the last
fifty of sixty years you may look foi another summons before
loDg to appear here and stand trial agun. God's best blessings
on you and may it please him to keep you out oflieaven for
twenty-five years more,"
A letter reached him announcing the birth of little Miss
Nancy Almond Witt whose happy parents he had united in
marriage a few years before. He dropped hia tasks and senda
tm June 10th the following letter to the little "new arriviU".
"My D&ar Codsin Nanct, — I am happy, indeed, to learn
of your safe arrival on this terrestrial globe on June 7th, 1911.
There was & distinct need for you, and I am sure that you
will prove yourself worthy of your calUng. You are expected
to keep your father and mother under good control and on good
terms with each other. You are also expected to make your-
self active in keeping them awake at night and to demand their
attention always when it suits them least to ^ve it. Remember
that one of your first duties is to have colic and to advertise
your arrival amoi^ the neighbors by the exercise of your voctd
organs. You will hear lots of nonsense from your kindred and
neighbors, some vowing that you are the exact image of your
father, others mendaciously vowing that you are the exact
picture of your mother, all of them declaring that you are
beautiful, and a few of the wisest people in the community
will pronounce you "the cutest thing" they have ever seen.
"1 hope to vifflt you before very long, and I very cordially
invite you to come down to see me. I am old enough now to be
"in my second childhood, and so you and I can be chums, Aak
your father and mother to put this letter away and read it to
you on the day that you are seven years old, and after you
have heard it read I hope that you will give yourself fully
unto God, your Maker and your Redeemer. This is writt^
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE 651
by the man who united in marriage your father and mother,
who loved your grandmother a* if she were his own daughter,
who knew your great-grandmother, and also your great- great-
grandmother, and who hopes that you will be the greatest
of all the great ones in the honorable house to which you belong."
He attended in the month of June the meeting in Philadelphia
of the Baptist World Alliance. From all parts of the earth
came the Baptist representatives to Philadelphia. He reveled
in the meetii^, and in the fellowships with the brethren. He
waa given a seat at the front above the pulpit platform where
he could eaoly see and hear and it was to him a spiritual feast.
He had been asked to speak for the South at the Roll Call of the
Nations. It was a memorable scene. He spoke bis brief
message and then called upon the Southern delegates (and they
were a small army) to stand and dng. He struck up bis favor-
ite hymn, "We'll work tiU Jesus comes" and in mighty volume
it rolled from their lips. Probably the crowning session of the
Convention was on the morning when the Russian Baptist
preachers, who bore upon their bodies the scars of thdr perse-
cutions, were introduced to the vast audience, after which an
^)pea] was made to the audience for funds to establish in
Europe a Theological Seminary for the Rus^an Baptists. Dr.
F. B. Meyer, of London, who presded over this part of the
service, after presenting the matter to the audience, said,
"Where is Dr. Hatcher? I want him to come and take this
collection."
He stepped upon the platform and began with the words,
"Surely if heaven ever mterposed to prepare an occasion for a
collection we have witnessed such preparation here this morn-
ing." He spoke a few further words and then made the call
for subscriptions and they began to oome; they came in such
rapid and multitudinous fasliion that it kept not only Dr.
Hatcher busy receiving them but also Dr. Meyer and Ex-
Govemor E. W. Stephens who was pressed into service.
When he was not in the meeting he waa busy greeting friends
from far and near.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
652 THE COSSACK
"What I heard and saw at the Alliance" he writes in the
Standard, "put new vigor and hopefulness into my soul. I not
only believe in the doctrines of the Baptists, but I believe in the
future of the Baptists more than I ever did.
"When the roll call of the nations came at the Alliance
and I saw representativea from over sixty different kingdoms
and countries, saw how they felt and saw exactly how I felt
and believed as they did I reaHzed that the Baptists were out
on the highway of life and were called to a world wide work."
He was greatly impressed by the sight of one of the old
Kus^an Baptist heroes, Rev. Fedot Petrovidtch Kostromin,
a minister who had suffered fearful persecutions and who was
one of those who spoke before the Alliance. He j)enned a
rich tribute to the old man which was published in "Modem
Baptist Heroes and Martyrs," edited by Dr. J. N. Preatridge,
1911, He describes the old hero's appearance as he came for^
ward and addressed the Alliance.
A few paragraphs of the tribute are quoted here:
"My first sight of him was a revelation; his serious face Was
his biography and his voice spoke nothing that I understood
and yet in some way they told me of sorrows which could
never be fully told. He had the look of a martyr, who as
yet had no sen.se of being one. As a fact our Russian brother
broke in upon us in no conspicuous way; indeed, he limped
in, as one who had almost forgotten Mmself. Already the
Rus^an exhibit, if we may speak of it as such, under the
high-strung and magnetic Shakespeare, had already filled us
with an overflowing wonder. For my part I thought that
the strEun was about over and was preparing to take my
breath and cool down. It did not stir me when a snowy-
■ haired patriot with noiseless feet strode down from the gallery
to the platform, nor can it be said that this old gentleman was
presented with any special intent to create a sensation. For
my own part I am a Uttle lost t« know how it all happened.
Fact after fact dropped out concerning the man and each fact
was like a pearl and all the facts together made a wondrous
string of pearls and before we knew it we were transfixed
with the conviction that there was before us one of God's
great men.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE COSSACK 6S3
To begin with it fell out that this old gentlenum, so quiet
and unassuming, was & Russian Cossack and that, of course,
marked bim as tough of texture, bom to fight and trained bo
die rather than run away.
These attributes were chiseled into the old face and the old
face was so fine and even lovely that I right there recast several
of my old notions of the Cossacks and almost felt willing to be
one if I could only be of the Kostromin type.
It added much to the charm of the moment when the fact
came out ^at this gnarled old RuB»an had once been a fanatical
adherent of the Greek Church and that, too, of the most
destructive and intolerant sort. In those days he had a religion
winch dehghted to extinguish the other man who thought
not as he did. He foimd in the Baptists of his country the
very objects which his cruelty could find the fiercest joy in
crushing and destroying. He looked like a lion that was
once wild and eager for blood, but had been tamed for domestic
service, but you could recognize his type at once, his zeal
was that of the bigot and he would have hailed Saul of Tarsus
as a comrade in playii^ havoc with the friends of the Nazarene.
It was hard to tell it on Kostromin, but the fact came out that
he was once a desparate foe of his Russian brethren. He
had that blind and vindictive sincerity which caused him to
feel that the way to please God was to extinguish those who
did not believe as he did. I took a cold look at the old man
and felt a momentary resentment.
But very soon I came to myself. I recalled that history
brings to us ample proof that the Lord takes an economic
interest in men who are notably effective in trying to overturn
the truth. He sees in them a nerve and a vigor which, if
seasoned with his own grace, would do much to help His
own Kingdom. It is no rare thii^ for the Spirit of God to
invade the dom^ of Satan and choose some of his stalwart
leaders and bring them over for service in the Kingdom of
Light. That was the way that Paul was brought in and we
found out that same Thursday that Kostromin was also
brought in that way."
But the Alliance is over and he sets forth again upon bis
rounds. He writes on July 6th:
"I slipped away and spent the fourth of July at the Trustee
meeting at Salem. That trip chopped me up conaderably,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
664 F. L. HAEDY
requirii^ me to get up two mominga about 5 :30 to catch the
train and poured heat into me from alt points of the compass.
"Beginning with the third Sunday I have dedications straight
along for four Sundays, with several others trying to fix thdr
days. . . ."
Jhifl was his very life, — ever traveling and preaching and
working, and all that he asked was that he might be permitted
to ke^ up this busy programme until the moment of his
final going. Rev. F. L. Hardy of Indiana wiites him in July:
"I want to tell you how you influenced me to enter the
ministry. Some 16 years ago while living in Salem, Va., I
entered a contest for a medal given by the W. C. T. U. The
contest was held in the Salem ^esbyterian church. . . You
came with Dr. Taylor [Baptist pastor] to hear the contest.
The prize was given to me, being delivered by one of the Salem
lawyers. At the close you came to the front and Dr. Taylor
introduced you to each one of the six boys. You placed your
arm around me and drawing me to your side said, 'Frank that
was great; now the next step ia Kichmond College and then the
ministry.' I made no reply but your word had hit the mark.
You were the first preacher to encourt^e me to enter the great
work that I am now ei^aged in. You will be glad to know
that I am pastor of a church with 477 members in a little city
of 10,000. We have been here for nineteen months in which
time we have received 104 into the church and have raised
over tllOO for missions. During this time I have taken my
degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. .
. , I amply state the above to let you know that God is
using the boy you started in the work. On August 27th atul
Sept. 3rd I am to supply your old church Grace Street. . .
"Your Son in the ministry,
"F. L. Hardy."
I wrote him r^arding my thoughts of building me a home
and he wrote me in reply;
". . . When I undertook my first building enterprise —
which was 608 West Grace — I banished my family for six
months and saved $600 by it. . . .
"Your letter puts me to thinking, ... I am simous
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
A DANGEEOUS SYMPTOM 655
to see the matter from the be^miing to the finish. . . Our
last talk indicated on your part what seemed to me at least
quite a stalwart purpose not to stay much longer in Baltimore,
if you are to make a chaise you would find it very embar-
rassing to hold your property or to carry your debt during the
interim and the expenses of the change.
"Think this over. . . ."
He speaks in his next letter of his fatteziing, — a dangerous
symptom it was.
"My Deab Anna, — ^Your surprirangly sweet letter came
yesterday. You have been all that a daughter could be to
me since you entered my family and my only regret that I
have ever had in connection with you has been thiat I could
add so little to your happiness. . . .
"Tell Eldridge that I had a great day at old Chesterfield
Church and told them about my grandfather Jeremiah, and
also about my son, with myself slipped in between them, and
all of us takmg part in the Baptist work in Chesterfield. I
drew it mild however so far as the part the Hatchers had taken.
I was making a speech on the Baptist history of Chesterfield.
"I have fattened up until I am almost a reproach to the
family, but my health seems quite good."
His seventy-seventh birUiday draws near as he writes to
Preradent Biyan, of Colgate University:
"I will not torment you with sentimental letters today.
All I ask is that you will greet Mrs. Bryan and tell her that she
isnotonly worthyof hernusband, but worthy of a better one
and, as for the three domestic jewels, my heful; warms towards
every one of them as I think of them. Today I can report
myself in excellent health and on next Tuesday, if I am alive,
there will be a fwnt pretense in my home beneath the big oaks
of Careby Hall of celebrating my seventy-seventh anniversary.
It is not certain however that I will attend, I never enjoy
my absf^ce more from home than when they get up a little
sentimental confudon at my expense and call it a celebra-
tion.
"A thousand good wishes attend you on your career of
service and honor."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
656 LETTER FROM DR. ARTHUR JONES
Like birds Socking to his room with their sweet notes of cheer
came the letters from his friends everywhere. Dr. Jones of
Colgate, after telling of a gathering of friends (including
Presdent Bryan) at his house and his reading to than a letter
received from Dr. Hatcher thus continues:
"Sfud Bryan 'I would be glad to go out and ta^te a good
thrashing if I could go out and come back and find Dr. Hatcher
here.' Then it came out that yesterday you passed your 77th
milestone and in behalf of the assembled company I promised
to write you, offering you our hearty felicitations and our de-
voted love. We all confessed to the sune thing, — our un-
bounded admiration for you as a preacher, our profound rever-
ence for you as a christian and our ardent affection for you as a
friend. If we had been proposing toasts this would have been
the sentiment to which we would have druned our glaaees, —
many years to the incomparable Hatcher: and may we all
have the joy of seeing him agun in the flesh and in Hamilton.'
(Tremendous enthusiasm).
"I wish to recur to that part of your letter of March last
in which you say you have in mind the writing of a book on the
'Philosophy of Illustration'. . . How ^ad I would be to
use it in my classes in Homiletics."
He was fond of dictating to his stenographer out in the yard
at Careby Hall during these Summer days. He was writing
for the Herald a loving tribute to Dr. James B. Taylor who
had recently died and he closed it with the words:
"Beneath these trees I ^t this momii^ and my cherished
friend is still with me. He is not in Hollywood [CesneteryJ^
his soul has risen and already he is seeing the face of him in
whom for more than half a century his soul found its highest
joy. . . Those that loved him. . . have enough of
good in him to remember to gladden their soul until they go to
meet him agun."
Under those trees he would at and not only do his dictating
but also read his mdl, receive his viators, play games with his
grandchildren and chat with the family. One of his letters waa
from Rev. F. W. Tomlinson who writes:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS 657
"John Jasper has helped me speak the truth at scores of
funeral services. ... I often read a chapter in it [Along
the Trail of the Friendly Yeari] before working on a sermon.
He attended one of the District Associations and a young
miiuBter who was his room mate says:
"Dr. Hatcher did not sleep but a few hours during the night
and he spent most of the night reading by the lamp li^t.
He said be had to read himself to sleep in that way. I thought
nert day he would be languid and weak after such little sleep
but to my amazement he was one of the most active men among
us and made several bright speeches and seemed full of life.
One morning as he lay in bed another minister came in and
began to talk about a certain pastor who in recent years had
turned an unfriendly Edde towards Dr. Hatcher — though that
was not mentioned in our conversation that momii^. Dr.
Hatcher said somewhat dryly as he lay in bed, "The trouble
with is that he tries to be a Higher Critic and can't.' "
In one of the District Associations was a young minister
whom he greatly loved, and he wrote to two or three members
of the Association suggesting that they elect this young preacher
to the moderatorship of the body at its meeting m At^ust. The
suggestion was cordial^ accepted and at the opening of the
Association his 3n>UDg friend was placed in nomination. The
nomination startJed the young minister; he shrank from the
honor and declined to accept the portion saying that the
moderatotsbip required business qualities and therefore a lay-
man rather than a preacher should be elected to the position.
Upon hearing of it Dr. Hatcher wrote him:
"If I had been in reach of you with a cudgel I would have
given you six strokes across your brow for not allowing them
to elect you Moderator of the Association. I had taken pains
to work the thing up, I wanted you in that chair and I
am as mad as blazes with you that you dechned and I wish
you would tell your wife what I say about it. You've got a
vidous back step to you and I would almost be willii^ to cut
off one of your feet to break it up.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
658 HELPING THE NEEDY BOYS
"Besides why should you go over and join the enemy and
talk about its being a 'business' as if preachers did not have
sense enough to be bui^ness men. Why should you join the evil
tongued gang who are always ready to say that preachers do
not know anything about business. Come out from among any
such ill-starred and nusguided cranks and stand up for the
ministry.
"But, nevertheless, I love you and Bagby about as much as I
do the whole senatorial district."
The following letter to a pastor is a specimen of the many
efforts that he was making to help needy boys come to the
Academy:
"My Dear Bbo, — .... Send your boy along; ask
the Lord to help you to raise the money; I will look after the
fifty dollars promised and also see that he pays only half tuition
and even if you cannot keep him here all the time we can make
an honest effort and if we fail our failure will be to our credit
and not to our reproach.
"Many of our boys work in order to make their way through
school. It is a thoroughly respectable thing here for a boy
to do and it will be a sort of test as to whether your boy has the
real stuff in him for him to be willing to make some arrangement
of this sort in the interest of his e<lucation. Let me know how
the boy feels about it and I will then tell you what terms I can
make with my neighbor."
He gathered his grandchildren at Careby for the Summer
and reveled in their companionship. He wrote to One telling
of the cordial greeting the grandchildren would pve him upon
his return with boxes of nuts and candies "but" said he "they
have scattered them and the land is bare of all delicacies and
of course my popularity is sensibly diminished. . . This
place is a good place to be and all the better when you are
here."
"From a human standpoint my success here is all due to
you" writes Rev. J. E, Btuley of Saluda, S. C.
"The Academy is on deck" he writes me on September 21st.
". . . William plays croquet about one half of his time,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
LETTER TO R. S. BABBOTJB 659
behaves well, paya me gaBtronomic viaits six times a day and
eats everything I can give him. . . ."
"William wishes to send a message but I refused him space."
He preached at his old Grace Street Churob during all the
Sundays of October — an ei^terience that brought him mai^
rich joys.
"Your father returned Monday, from Kjchmond" writes my
mother, ". . . . He has been a little depressed I think
from losing his flesh again as result of his cold."
"I get ^ck in turning away boys who are cryii^ for an educa^
tion" he writes "and have not the means to make the start."
His cares could not destroy his cheery mood and he was ever
ready for a joke. He heard that his friend Mr. R. S. Bartwur's
large wagon factory had recently been hit by two fires and
he thus writes him:
"Here I am without a stenographer and almost without
everytJui^ else except a coughing cold, trying to beat up a letter
to a friend who has been tried by fire. TTie ways of Providence
get criss-cross bad enough with me when I look at myself and
feel that if I were to die I have'nt got a wagon to haul what is
left of me out to the Potter's field, while you have wagons to
bum. I may seem to play a trick of splendor by pickii^ my
teeth at the Jefferson, but what am I to think of you when you
get up two fires within a month.
"But the Lord bless you just the same and pve you all the
wagons you would like to have in this world and golden chariots
in the world to come."
"To be near you was for many years one of the ideals of my
life" writes Dr. W, C. Taylor, "Long before you knew me 1
was being drawn towards you. . . You have passed through
many trials, — few indeed there are that are possible to patient
souls with which you are not familiar by a deep personal ex-
perience. But how graciously you have passed through thnn
all and how victoriously you have come through them all
without even the smell of fire upon your garments. . . I
want that sort of grace. . . I never heard you utter an
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
660 DE. E. W. WINFEEY'S TEIBUTE
unkind word ag^nst any person living or dead nor have I
found the man who could charge you with unkindness. To me
it IB wonderful."
Dr. E. W. Winfrey in public print writes concemii^
him:
"He was no mediocre man. I've seen
Him pass unflinching and erect through flames
Which might have withered giants' thews.
He bore
Himself, not arrogantly, but serene
Against the bold assault or when the dart
Was hurled by ambushed foe.
His quick soul knew
The pwn, but flimg from him the venom charge
And closed and healed the cruel wound.
He was
A mighty man. If bravely bearing woes
For others meant, and gently soothing hearts
By shame or sorrow wrung,— If guidi^ youth,
Inspiring faint and struggling riper years,
Or cheering dim-eyed age with clearer light, —
If stirring souls to penitence and f tuth
And holy zeal, — If toiling much through life —
On Buperstructures vast, or on half-seen
Foimdatious yet more vast and grand and fiur
Supporting— toiling aye so well we say, —
A master's hand is here, — If these are marks
Of greatness, then a mighty man he was."
Another writes:
"Dr. Hatcher's power of rebound was amazii^. He passed
as all of us do, through trying experiences. Yet they did not
crush him. Surely Us f^th in God counted towards these
victories."
His life had been marked by sore trials and heavy strains.
A man of his positive convictions and one vim foi^t in so
many campaigns could not avoid Tnalring enemies, and it
seemed tcjme that nearly all my life I was hearing of some
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE MAD BROTHER 661
(«
who were mad with him, or pursuing hosUIe tactics towards
him. It is an interesting study to try to determine how
a man's enemies are made. He wrote an article for the
Seminary Mi^azme on "The Mad Brother" who, he said, was
often a missionary to us in that he put us on our best behavior
by watching us closely for flaws. He said of himself "My
worst enemies were those I bad served." Bitterness, however,
found no lodgment in his heart.
Not even a pugilistic letter seemed able to disturb his sere-
nity. A professor in one of the imdenominational schools of
the state wrote him a critical epistle regarding his pomUon
as to feasts, fairs, etc., in churches and he s^t the professor
the followii^; reply:
"I must thank you for your critic&I and disapproving letter.
I love people who do not agree with me. They are likely to
benefit me more than those who seek to flatter and confirm
me in my opinion. Evidently you and I do not see some things
alike, but we do not have cause to fall out on that account. £i
that time when we shall see Him face to face I have a hope that
we will not only be satisfied with Him but be satisfied with each
other."
In November he showed his ability to step into a public
breach and meet a great occasion upon a few moment's notice.
It was in Baltimore at a State Mission Banquet which the
expected orator had been prevented at the last moment from
attending. Two or three hours before the time he was asked
if he could come to the rescue. A great State Mission campaign
was to be laimched. He agreed and with his white locks his
bright eye and ei^er countenance, as he sat in the seat of
honor, he presented an interesting picture.
He seemed to catoh the spirit of the gathering and his
enthusiasm became contagious. The presdent Mr. Hany
Tyler, made a stirring introductory address and at its close
Dr. Hatoher struck up his favorite hymn "We'll work till
Jesus Comes" and it was caught up by those present and sung
with thrilling power. I do not remember the words of bii
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
662 THE GREATER RICHMOND COLLEGE
address but I know that he set a lofty standard for our for-
ward movement, filled the audience with high ideals regarding
it and ins^nred them with a purpose to accomplish it, and, at
its close, pastois and laymen from the churches arose, and
pledged the cooperation of themselves and their churches for
the campaign.
In an address in December before the Board of Trustees of
Richmond College he rendered a memorable service to that
institution. The collie stood at a crisis. Plans had beoi
drawn for a vast enlargement of the institution, — at a cost
as it was thought of J100,000. When the estimates were re-
ceived it was found that the cost would be between two and
tiiree hundred thousand dollars. The Trustees stood appalled
at the thought of sudi a venture. To launch the Collie
upon such an expenditure seemed to some of the members a
ruinous undettaking and all seemed doubtful or uncertain.
It was under such conditions in the meeting of the Board that
he made his speech and those who heard him say that on tliat
day be touched the high mark of his eloquence.
Instead of wag^g his head and saying "Beware brethren;
let us move slowly" he sounded the signal for the large and
daring oiterprise. He began his speech by reminding them
of their Baptist forefathers in Viiginia, — of what they bad at-
tempted and suffered in layii^ the foundations on which they
were then standing, and also of what triumphs th^ had w«i.
He next came to the College, its early history, its past achieve-
ments and its present attainment; he paid tribute to the Baptist
brotherhood in Vii^nia and then he pulled aside the curtain
and unveiled the future that loomed before the instjtutdim.
"It was that speech" said IJeut-Gov. EUyson "that settled
the questicHL as to whether the Trustees should attempt the
IttTger movement."
"The Richmond College which wilt soon rise into bdng"
writes Dr. Dodd "will be one of his monuments — not the only
one — but one of -the biggest and best. It will shine with the
reflected light of his incomparable love for youi^ men."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
THE FIRE OP YOUTH 663
Let those who have an eye for interesting objects turn their
gase upon that scene in the trustee meeting that day. Old
age always walks with cautious steps and assumes the phil-
osopher's mien as it puts forth its restnuning hand upon the
shoulders of youth. A man with 77 birthdays to his credit
has usually settled into a state of conservatism and timidity
and contentment. But not so with the aged trustee in his
speech that day. He had not lacked, in his long life of warfare
and struggle, the experiences that ofttimes make men sour
and pessimistic. Burdens many had weighted him down;
struna and sorrows had racked his soul and none could have
been surprised if his years of stress and conflict had worn and
depressed his spirit. But he had kept bumii^; the fires of
youth and the further along the road he moved the brighter
they seemed to glow. Those who heard his speech that day
before the Trustees said it was the speech of a young
"He seemed" said Dr. Hemdon "to have drunk from that
fountun of eternal youth" and Dr. G. B. Taylor said that he
was the beau-ideal of the man whose natural force was not
abated. His little granddaughter asked one day "why do peo-
ple have grey hair?"
"Because they get old."
"Well" she replied "my grandfather has grey hfurs but he is
not old."
"I shall never allow myself to grow old" writes Dr. Landrum
"so loi^ as I remember how to the last boyishness beat in Dr.
Hatcher's blood."
"No young fellow in the opening years of his ministry" says
Dr. Pitt "could have been more bouyant, more dashing than
he was down to the close of his remarkable career."
The old philosopher, Sam Johnson, is reputed to have said
that it was worth 500 pounds & year to be able to look upon
the bright side of things and some have taken these words
as a description of the optimiBt. Dr. Hatcher bad learned
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
66< OPTIMISM
the art of living on the bi^t ode, — ^not merdy of things
but also of people and of large and critical atuations. Yea
the great future loomed brightly before him and filled his path
Trith light. And yet all such definitions of the optimist seemed
to him inadequate. In one place, in writing about the op-
timist he declares, "Primarily the opUmist is a man with a
passion for the best." Several times have these pages told
of William E. Hatcher's "passion for the best." It burned
in him as a lad; it followed him through his school and his
ministry. He had his own conceptions of the optimist, and
one day, in the public print, he drew the picture of several
of the falsely called optimists and then adds:
"But thanks to heaven a thousand timesl There are many,
many real optimists. They are free from self-conceit, full of
the juice and joy of humanity, animated by a wholesome and
living faith in God, and walking day by day in the heavenly
path. They see human frailties and seek by gradoua means
to help those that struggle; their honest eyes see treachery
sometimes, and they hate it, but that does not shake their
f^th in humanity; they meet sorrows that are grievous and
losses most mysterious, but they do not lose trust in God;
they see the good, the ever-growing good of this^ world, and
live in full assurance of a life to come, where all is everlastin^y
"The fountain of perpetual youth in his heart was ever full,
free and flowing" says Dr. Landrum. "He never lived in a
pickled past, but faced the east and biuled ihe dawn of a
flowery future. Optimist he was, radiant and roy^ optimist.
Fwlure never depressed him."
Dr. E. W. TOnfrey writes:
"Whate'er the night, he stood so calm upon
The mountain-top of optimistic faith —
So oft with steady hand and brow aglow
He pointed to the stars aflirming near
Approach of longed-for day."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
OPTIMISM 666
It was undoubtedly true that his spirit seemed unconqueiv
able. There was a rebound in him, a resiliency of soul that
outwitted every attack of depresfflon or disaster.
"I could not think of him" writes Dr. v-y-^mas B. Crane of
Boston "as scowling or mopii^ or fiin^i^ up his hands in the
despair of defeat. I can well believe that on the 'perilous edge
of battle' he would stand or advance smiling and that if chosen
to lead the 'forlone hope' he would hearten his men by his
glorious laughter. His portnut seems to me to confirm these
impresdons."
He had written in the Herald a few months before this the
following:
"Some of my critics wantonly charge me with thinking that
eveiy revival that I attend is the best that has ever been held.
I beUeve that I am a little that way. Indeed all the things with
which God has much to do seem to me to be continually better.''
In another place be wrote concerning his long pastorate at
the Grace Street Church :
"If I had to expWn what it was in me that made me ac-
ceptable to the church for so loi^ a time I would say that it
must have been my hopefulness. God has enabled me to live
in the sunlight of the future. Discouragement long disf^
peared from my vocabulary, and if I had nothii^ else for my
people I never fiuled to ^ve them joy and comfort of hope."
I quote agfun Dr. Winfrey's words concerning him;
"His words of sage
Advice did so far shape the onward march
Of our victorious hosts, — his call to lai^e
And larger Christian emprise rang so loud
And clear, — we named him, and he shall be named,
A LEADER OF THE ARMIES OF THE LORD."
It looked as if he wished to add a new meaning and glory
to old age. It was as if he would say, 'Ah ye old ones who would
wear the badges of decrepitude and idleness; ye who would
make old age a couch upon which ye may recline and wearily
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
666 OLD AGE
await the end, I say let ua rather make old age the climax;
let our last days be bo fresh and lustrous that they will put
the crown upon our life's work." In his earher years he ac-
corded high honor to the old. He once wrote:
"The old are our relics. They link us to the dead genera-
tions; like the crumbling towers of a ruined city they linger to
remind us of bygone splendor. They are lone columns from a
social fabric which, once grand and beautiful, has yielded to
the waste of years. Pre(Sou8 treasures they are. Let no vandal
hand pollute them with its touch. It is a sacrilege — an insult
to the past — a stab at the heart, of history — an outrage to our
memories of our fathers and mothers — to neglect and slight
the old."
It was Longfellow who wrote:
"What then?
Shall we sit down and idly say
The night hath come; it is no longer day?
The night hath not yet come; we are not quite
Cut oiT from labor by the fsJling light;
Something remains for us to do or dare,
Even the oldest trees some fruit may bear.
For age is opportunity no less
Hian youth itself, though in another dress."
His respect for dd age was so great that instead of speak-
ing lightly, or ^ibly about it he sought during his last years
to dignify and to beautify it by happily ministering to
others. His letters and conversations showed that he felt
that he was moving near the edge and might at any moment
be in the other world. That thought put joy within him and he
lived now under the light of that heavenly prospect.
In one of his sermons he exclumed: "It ia noble to become so
absorbed in the King's business as to forget awhile what the
future holds for us. But, 0, the future must be full of interest
to the soul who has felt the powers of the world to come. There
are bumin^ within us which drive us mad with expectation.
We stand upon the shore and wonder what we shall see whcai
ihe ship comes to take us oV£r the sea."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XLIV
1912
LABORS IH rLORIDA. CAMPAIGN FOE THE OHANOBBUBQ SCHOOL.
FAREWELL MEETING WITH AH FONO. LABORS IN SOUTH CABO-
UNA. WORKING WHILE IT IS DAY. HIS FORTRAIT
UN VEILED.
The year "1912" opened its gate to him and it looked as if
during each month be sought to quicken his pace, — so ardently
did be yearn to be busy up to the final moment. As he crossed
the threshold of the new year, his mind was alert, Hs eye bright
and his spirit eager, and be really bounded forth to this tasks.
The winter, in his last years, always hit him hard and be
determined that this year his grapple with low temperature
should be transferred to a more southern clime and conse-
quently be accepted invitations for meetings in Florida and
South Carolina.
"Brer Hatcher took his departure for the South at the right
time" writes his wife. "He was not in very good condition
when he left. His physical state was all right but he had lately
been through the change of Officers at the Academy bearing
the responsibility and strain of it all alone. Like many old
men his anxieties got the upperhand and made him nervoiis.
He felt, as I did, that it was better for him to get out of it all
for a while"
To his wife he writes on January 9th from Richmond:
"Monday C. & 0. Station 1 P. M.
"I start for Florida at 1:30 P. M. today. ... I had
another fall and got bruised up, but I must keep a going."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
668 FLORIDA
To many it Beemed almost pathetic tiiat with his uncertfun
health, and at his advanced age, he should be putting off in
mid-winter to Florida, a hmd of strangers. But go he would
and go he felt he must. He knew that his end could not be much
longer delayed and for that reason he felt that he must be more
active than ever. From Sanford, Florida he writes me on Jan.
11th regarding his Christmas at Fork Union:
". . . Christmas brought me many things to make me
glad, but the utter lack of grandchildren put a sense of loss
in me which I could not shsie off. Nor was I tree from the
wear and tear of local strifes which seem to continue to grow
rather than to abate.
"In spite of these things life was quiet and rich in comfort
for me. I preached in Richmond on Sunday and left for this
narrow neck of land Monday. . . I see a riot of difficulties
in the way of success [in the meetings] but. . my heart
is full of hope. . . I am very busy. . . . — "
I'here was one thing that indicated that he feared possible
collapse on his Southern trip and that was that he took with
him a younger, Vir^nia minister, Rev. J. B. Williams, who
helped him greatly, not only by his companionship, but also
by his leadership of the muse in the meetings. I have had
troubles on this trip" he writes Rev. R. H. Winfree, "I had a
fall and, in addition to wounding each of my knees and each
of my elbows, I put my right thumb out of commisaon. It
hurts like Scot and is of httle use." He also tells of his lo«ng
his valise with all his good clothes and adds, "It annoys but
it does not kill and I am doii^ furly well."
On the 16th he writes me from Sanford:
"Our meeting promises to do much good, though the wheels
of its progress are deep in the mire of the world. . , Trade,
traveling and frolickii^ ^ve religion a hard road to travel in
Florida."
Regarding his absconding valise he writes to One:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS LOST VALISE 669
". . . . I have some news to relate. I put about one-
half of those cravats in my valise for sporting purposes while
in the South. The valise seems however to have gotten some
of the hot stuff of Christmaa into its head and unceremoniously
— in fact without tellii^ me good-bye — dashed off to parts un-
known without even dropping me one cravat to console me in my
desolation. I believe it is agreed that I am the most picturesque
specimen of old age that has hooked Sanford for some time.
By mistake I put on an old coat in starting from home that
had not been allowed to go out of the gate for probably a period
of six years and that's the coat in which I am doing my preach-
ing and social functions etc. My pants are the pathetic relics
of a suit which some robber hand despoiled the pants of two
years ago and the vest belongs altogether to a suit of another
pattern and figure.
"Florida is very cold and my partly colored garb is of a sort
that is thin in one piece, thick in another and medium yet in
another. As to the trivial matter of my appearance that is a
changing thing anyhow and I need not dwell upon it.
"'Will I recover my valise?— hope is said to spring immortal
in the human breast — it does not seem to be performing that
stunt in my case but who knows what may happen.
"Wednesday. "The blizzard has called in its scouting winds
and the air of Florida is balm itself. I am working very hard^
I leave here next Sunday and will begin with Warson Dorsett
at JohnstoQ, S. C."
Dr. Wildman, the pastor at Sanford, said he asked Dr.
Hatcher one day what he ought to do with certain members
who showed no evidences of piety. "Dont exclude them" he
replied "wut on them," and Dr. Wildman said that the later
results proved the wisdom of his si^^estion. Dr. Wildman
mentions another incident:
"1 had full proof of Dr. Hatcher's freedom from the money-
loving spirit. I had written him — when asking him to come
to Sanford — that owing to financial reverses I feared our
people could not pay him enough to justify him in coming so
far for a meeting. He rephed, 'I need money and usually get
some in the meetings; but I want you to have no concern on
that point.'
"The weather was cold when he came. ... On the last
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
670 EXPERIENCES IN FLORIDA
Sunday the bouse was packed and the power of the Lord was
present to save. My plan was to make a statement and to
receive an offering at the morning hour. He refused to allow
me to do it. Then my plan was to take the collection at the
night service, but agtun he absolutely forbade any mention
of money because the interest was so profound. No public
mention was made of money, but before he left on Monday
the spontaneous offering of t^e people realized a very satis-
factory amount.
"His preaching was with power and great acceptance to all
who came." He went to Columbia where he wrote that he —
"stayed two days, 'ate out' in pompous luxury among the
great, delivered five addresses, was pulled out of bed about
daybreak to make the train and began a meeting here slated
to continue at least until Sunday, February 4th and maybe
longer,"
"Your life has indeed been a benediction to my soul" writes
Rev. h. E. Peters of West Virpnia.
"I am always glad to hear of your preaching" he writes me,
"as that is the supreme joy of earth to me. Preach every de-
cent chance that may come along." . . and then after
telling of his hopes regarding the meetings and his many lines
of work he added "But work is life and I am still living." Mr.
Williams, his traveling companion, in a letter to Mrs. Hatcher,
after telling of his pleasure in being with him, says, "His ex-
periences with his old clothes and crippled finger have been the
occasion of much amusement for us." Kegardir^ his wounded
finger he said, "It hurts me all mght and the Doctor hurts it all
day."
"When we would come home from the meetings at ni^t"
says Mr. Williams" he would be brim full of pleasant humor.
He stud of bis stolen valise and his lost clothes, 'I wonder if I will
not meet some of my suits on the street tomorrow. I am expect-
ing to meet one fellow with my pants on and another with my
vest on and who knows but I may meet two of my whole suits
in town before I leave.' "
Mr. Williams adds that the lost suit case with its contents
was valued at $120 but that Dr. Hatcher instead of allowing*
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
EXPERIENCES IN FLORIDA 671
his afflicted filler and the lost suit case "to become a meanB
of sorrow to him and others he rather used it as a means of
entertuoment for us at Bro. Wildman's. Those were blessed
daya. . . ." He also adds that he and Dr. Hatcher took
a night train for Johnston, S. C. "I rather insisted" he says
"on Dr. Hatcher's taking a sleeper but he said, 'I curtful every
expense posable; for you know there are several boys looking
to me for help.' I said to him, 'Your preaching thirty years
ago and your preaching now are very different' he said to me,,
'Dont you know that the sennons that I used then are gone
from me.' I told him that the last sennons were plainer and,
according to my judgment, far superior. His preaching, on my
first acquaintance with him in the eighties was very largely
from the old Testament." One of the Florida Baptist pastors,
upon being introduced to him, s^d, "I want to shake the hand
of the preacher who writes the beat English of any man in the
United States."
It is interestii^ to note that although he had hia physical
infirmities yet, instead of regarding himself as an aged object
to be pampered and waited upon, he seemed to be bu^ dropping
hia kindnesses into other lives. For example Dr. Wildman
thus writes several months later of hia viat with him at Sanford:
"There is no joy to me quite as deep as the recollection of
having him for two weeks. . - last winter in the home. At
every association which we attended together this year he
spoke a good word for me; and in the last letter he wrote in the
Herald he said, 'And Wildman pro-tem of Florida, but of
Vii^nia forever.' "
Fork Union pulled him back for a few daya of Academy toil
and then he hies himself aw^ to South Carolina again, — ^thia
lime without a traveling companion. He went to Saluda to cud
Rev. J. E. Bailey in meetings and Mr. Bwley writes, "As I
bade him good bye [after the meetii^l he said, 'God bless ^ou;
you have been so good to me. When I get to Heaven I'll tell
the liOrd about you.' "
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
672 AN $80,000 CAMPAIGN
At this point ia bis BOuthem trip he accomplished a Tvmajk-
able achievement for a man of his age and physical debilities.
A school in OrangebuTg, S. C, had a huge debt upon it. S65,000
was needed and he was asked by several pastors in that section
to lead them in a twelve days campaign to ruse that sum and
save the school. It seemed preposterous to him at first but he
surrendered to their appeal. "I fear it is a fool's errand <hi
which I am goii^' he writes "but their oft-coming overcame
me. . . and for once I am like Paul; I go, but, unlike him,
I do not know that any "bonds" await me with which to pay
the debt. ... I am weighted down witJi Forit Unitm
anxieties. My eyes bother me much, — or rather, my eye, for
really I have but one." One marked weakness he had, and
that was in the direction of yielding to cries for his help. He
kept himself so absolutely at the beck and call of the needy
ones around him that he left all doors to his heart unbarred
and it was easy for applicants for his service to win lus consent.
It will be acknowledged however that in such weakness lay
his best strength. During the last year or two of his fife he
seemed to say to all, "Here I am, Come on; get out of me what
you can. If there is any good service still left in me, pull it out,
and he seemed literally to lay himself on the altar of the public .
need. I was struck with it often when I would ask him to write
for publication. He knew that he could hardly hope to live
to finish another book and see it published and in the hands of
the public, and therfore that what work he^did coi his book of
Illustrations would probably bear its fruit after he was gtme
and yet he was always ready to dictate material for the book
when I would ask him. I was eager to secure as much as posable
from him and while I did not seek to burden him with it yet
I was impressed with his cheerful willingness to start hia brain
to work no matter how dilapidated or heavily loaded he might
be. His attitude seemed to be, "March ahead with the type
winter; dnun me of whatever I have that you need. I am h^>py
to p.ve it," and he would start right in, with scarcely a momaat
for premeditation and the typewriter's flying ticks would testify
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AN $80,000 CAMPAIGN 673
to the rapidity of his dictation. Some times he would suddaily
a&y, "Well, I am tired now; 111 take a nap," and it was such
snatches of sleep that saved him from many a collapse and
gave him fresh supplies of strength along his busy way.
But let us return to the Orangebui^ School campaign. He
plunged in to the enterprise of rumng the $65,000 by gathering
the preachers about him and mapping out a schedule of travel
by which they would make a rapid dash among the churches
in that section. At the first church visited — "Ebenezer" —
he put up two of the preachers to make remarks, and then
he followed fmd at the close he called out in almost cynical
tones. "I wonder if there ia a man here today who would give
anything to save this school."
"Yes, I will" said a man "I will give one hundred dollars."
"What is your name, brother?" he asked and the corpulent
farmer stud that his name was "Smoke". Dr. Hatcher added
"Well surely where there is such a big smoke there must be fire
near by," and so it was; in a few minutes they had raised nearly
S700.
-Thus they went from church to church, sending their notices
ahead and charjpi^ in on the people, soundit^ thtv signal and
rounding up the bonds and in that happy bouyant party none
were younger in spirit than the man of 77 upon whom thay had
BO suddenly laid the harness. He sums up the story by saying,
"Through flood and storm and swamps I made a campaign for
$66,000 and it resulted in ple<^ of largely over $80,000. It
took twelve days."
Rev. J. E. Rier, in writing about it, says:
"This campaign was perhaps the most strenous undertaking
and the most trying experience that Dr. Hatcher had in his
last days. The weather was unusually bleak, and the roads
were next to impassable. Still he murmured not a whit, but
saw the bright edde of it all. There happened in the start an
episode that led him to brag a bit on having a talent above that
<^ any of the brethren, — ^the ^ft of missing the right way.
We (he and I) got lost. He declared that the right road to a
place was alwf^ the other one, and not the one he pcnnted out.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
674 HIS PARTING WITH AH FONG
"The echool was saved, its policy entirely changed, juet as be
advised, and its name also changed — ^from Orangeburg Col-
legiate Institute to Orangebui^ College. Last session was the
b^ in its history, and to Dr. Hatcher, more than to any other
one man, belongs the honor,"
A touching inddent occured at this time. His Chinese boy
Ah Foug Yeuug, whom he had taken into his home and aided in
his educaticoi at the Academy and afterwards at Bichmond
College, was now preparing to go back to China. He had
been in New York for two or three yeais and now, before
turning his back upon America, he deared to see his great
fri«DLd and benefactor, Dr. Hatcher, and bid him farewell.
And so he came to Virginia and one day, in the end of Feb-
ruary, when the door bell at Careby Hall rang and Mre, Hatcher
went to tiie door, she found Ah Fong. After aome words of
greeting he said, "where is Dr. Hatcher?"
"He is in South Carolina" she answ^^ not realising what
a blow her words were giving him. She said her heart went
out to him as she saw the look of disappointnmet that spread
over his face. He had come through the rough, wintry weather
from New yoik to Foik Union to get his farewell from Dr.
Hatcher and was met with the news that he waa in another
state. The thought <^ goii^ back to China without aeedng him
cut him to the heart. Mrs. Hatcher sought to cheer him and to
brighten his stay at Careby. Word waa sent to Dr. Hatcher
about Ah Foil's viat and in a few days tJie good news came
back that Dr. Hatcher would come up from South Carolina
and would meet him in Biohmtmd.
"Ah Foi^ goes to lUchmond tomorrow" writes my mother
on March let. "Your father will meet him there Tuesday."
Dr. Hatcher reached Richmond on Tuesday and it must have
been a touching picture, — that of Ah Fong and bis aged bene-
factor having what both of them knew too well was tiieir last
meeting oa the earth. Ah Fong thus describes this farewell
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
HIS PARTING WITH AH FONG 675
"When I decided to return to China I wrote Mm a letter
sayii^ that I will pay a last vidt to old Virginia, before my
departure. He was on a trip in the Carolina States. He can'
celled 3 engagements in order to come back to Bichmond and
bid me good bye. He came to Richmond on the morning train
and we spent a few hours at Mr. Edioe Snead's home on Plum
Street Richmond. At noon we went to the Business Men's
Club for our farewell dinner. A great many men spoke to him
about me. He told them that I was about to leave for home
and that he came to bid me good bye. All of them said that
he had done a great work for me. His face was all smiles and
he 8£ud, 'I have only done my duty.' "
Dr. R. H. Pitt, who saw them, wrote in the Herald;
"Dr. Hatcher came from a distant point in the South all the
way to Richmond to tell the youth good-bye. To see them
together at the hour of parting was touching. We oould not
suppress the conviction that they would not meet agfun oc-
ewth,"
"When we spoke our last word," continues Ah Fong, "it
was on the comer of 9th and Mtun Street. 'Well Ah Fong,
I'll have to tell you good bye here. I have to leave here soon.
I only rushed here this morning in order to have a last look
at you. 1 dont think I'll see you ag^n in this world, but we'll
meet up there. Remember whatever you do, 1 always feel a
deep interest in you. Write me when you can. Give my love to
your father.' "A hearty grip of our hands and we parted."
A few days later he writes about Ah Fong in the Herald:
"I wish the world knew this young Chinese gentieman,
this modest christian, this scholarly young man. It would
make them rich to know him. He lived in my house for seven
years and had it for a home wi years more. I never knew hitn '
to utter an untruth, nor to speak ill of aiwbody, nor to be
coarse or indiscreet on any occasion, nor to thrust himself into
any unseemly prominence. He has appeared before many
American audiences and has always been heard with intere^
and admiration. He had hoped to finish his law course at
Harvard before returning to China but so pressing is the plea of
his friends that he return home at once and so bouqdless is his
enthusiasm over the transfonna^on of hia country to a republic
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
676 AH FONG
that he eould not resist the impulse to go home, and before
this paragraph sees the light of day, he will be on the Pacific
bound for Canton, the home of bis youth which he left when
a boy of fifteen. He goes an ardent christian young man, not
a minister of the gospel, but full of the loftiest z^ for the speedy
christiamsation of lus country."
"He was criticized by some" says his wife "for g^vii^ such
aid to a foreign boy, but his heart knew no limits."
Dr. Hatcher showed a tenderness for Ah Fong that was
unique. It had in it a gentle respect and deference that seemed
to give this boy from across the sea a sacred place in his heart.
How often in the Summers at Careby Hail, as I have seen
Ah Fong with his happy face and hi in king eyes ^tting with
the grandchildren around Dr. Hatcher, or walking with him
across the grounds, my thoughts would travel out into the
future to the time when Dr. Hatcher would be in his grave
and Ah Fong would be over in China doing his great work and
would be often thinking of that country home in far away
America and the kind man who did bo much for him.
The scenes already are swiftly changing; in a few weeks Ah
Fong is in his Oriental home. Will Dr. Hatcher's hopes re-
gftrHing this fine young man be realised. What became of Ah
Fong?
Let us, for a moment, run forward about a year to April
29th, 1913, when Ah Fong writes a letter to Mrs. Hatcher from
"My Dear Mrs. Hatcher — The government has again offered
me a post as Director of Foreign Affairs at King Chow, in the
Island of Hainam. This is the third time which the govern-
ment has asked me to become an official. I again tried to
refuse the post, as I have a very good position here in busi-
ness, but the government would not hear of it, and urged me
again and ag^n to take it up. I found that the govenmient
wants me so badly and that the present crisis in China needs
men of education to fill all the important posts, I have decided
to give up my present position and enter into the government
service.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AH FONG 677
"I will have five men to work under me, besides my private
secretary and personal attendants; of course I do not care for
any of them, as I have been used to do all things for myself
and other things besides, but the dignity of an official here
requires all these good-for-nothing things. Again, the coun-
try is not yet quite settled down to normal, and we, the of-
ficials, must have these men to protect us from any unlooked
for dangers. Just think! only about a year ago I was working
in a restaurant to make money in order to get a sheepskin,
and here I am an official of the great Chinese Republic. Of all
the credit and honor I have none, becuase they all belong to
Dr. Hatcher, to you, Miss Ehzabeth, to all your family, and all
the American friends and all my teachers, who had helped me
to become what I am. Had it not been for you and my hosts
of friends, I would not have been appointed by the govern-
ment three times consecutively within a period of only five
months. So far as I know, there has never been any returned
student who has been asked to serve the government 80 ui^-
ently. I don't know the reason" why. The only reason I can
gjve is that they were quite surprised to find that I cared eo
little for a government poution, and my action baffled them."
From Hong Kong, Chine:, came a letter from Ab Pong's ■
father:
"My Dear Mrs. Hat^hee, — . . . For a great number
of years Ah Fong has received so much kindness and invaluable
teachings from Dr. Hatcher and you all I feel that your family
have been the maker of Ah Fong. This is indeed such a kindness
that I cannot express my appreciation to you with mere words.
Now Ah Fong has returned to China just starting to do some-
thing for his country, his fellow men and for the spreading of
Christianity and to show that, whatever Dr. Hatcher had done
for him is not a waste and that Ah Fong's work here in the
future may be a comfort to him."
At this writing Ah Fong is a professor in the Baptist Theo-
logical Seminary and also at the head of a Baptist Academy in
China.
This memoir plmnly requires of its readers that they be good
travelers for here we have them peeping into one of the lands
of the Orient and now we must hurry them back to South
Carolina to which state Dr. Hatcher returned after hia parting
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
678 WESTMINSTER
-with Ah Fong. He plunges into a revival campaign at West-
mimBter, 8. C. where he writes his wife on March 13th:
"I am often touching the bottom of my strength these days,
but I must not stop until the Lord lays me down. The highest
joy of my heart is that I can work in the way my Ufe has heen
cast. . . .
"Fork Union wears on me. It gives me the hardest stnuns
and not a ooppw of income and no special openii^ for preaching
and my life is in that. My health is better when I preach and
move around. So we must pull along as best it seems to us.
Give my love to the DeMotte.
"Hastily and as ever".
R^arding his meetings at Westminster the pastor, Rev.
F. G. Lavender, writes:
"Dr. Hatcher's preaclung drew the children. They came in
crowds to every service and gathered around him at the close.
.... It was especially interesting to see the httie fellows
drinking in his sermons.
"His sympathy for people in trouble was marvelous. During
his stay in our home he had letters asking his advice on w
manner of questions. Churches wanted pastors, a n^ege
wanted a preeddeut, a mother wanted his advice about whether
or not her daughter ought to marry a certmn young man and
one of the A(^emy boys wanted his advice about buying
a pair of ovmiioes. In answering these this great man seemed
to take as much interest in the one aa in the other.
"Dr. Hatcher's deep piety and consecration impressed me.
I could mention several things but one will suffice. One night
after I had put him to bed and put out his light, something e\ae
in ^e room d^nanded my attention for a moment. He, think-
ing I had gone out, began to pray aJoud just as I was closing
his room door. I was now on the outside and could not catch
all the words, but enough was heard to reveal the fact that
Dr. Hatcher was in close touch with God. He thanked God
for keeping him physically able to work and for givii^ him
work to do.
"One night after he had talked until past midnight about
some of his experiences Mrs. Lavender offered him some cake.
As she did so he turned to me and eaid, 'Isn't it a pity Eve
was ever invraxted?' But he took the cake."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
EDLOE SNEAD 679
Ah Fong'a reference to Mr. Edloe &»ead's home in Richmond
in which he and Dr. Hatcher spent several hours calls to mind
the many visits which he ptud in that home during the last
year or two of his life. Its three fine boys constituted one of the
pleasant charms of the home to him. Mr. Snead writes as
follows:
"He would often stop to spend the night with us, and would
come in fatigued, carrying in his right hand his small v^ise.
He never stopped to ring the bell; he walked in, in a quiet
manner, and suddenly, when he would find eveiything still,
he would call out, 'anybody live here?' As soon as we heard
that we knew who it was and always gave him a hearty welcome
"None could excel him in telling of their travels. When
he arrived in our home and seemed so tired; we asked him it he
did not ride in a sleeper. 'No', was his reply, then 'why'? was
our question. 'Because,' he said, 'I wanted to use the money for
a better purpose', and that was to help a poor boy at school.
In order to help boys aH that he could, he would even sit up
all night in a tnun.
"Cousin Nea!, often told him that he could afford to give
liberally to the Academy, because every time he left Careby
Hall it meant lots of money for him. He was very much tickled
at the remark and ventured to say that he had just taken a
trip to a church in ———where he was invited to speak.
It did not pay him one copper, not even his railroad fare, and
there were many other places where he had done this without
receiving anything. He knew how to get out of money's way.
"Last sunmier, he and I went to a chureh in Cbesterfi^.
We left Richmond about nine o'clock and reached the church
about ten. After spending a very enjoyable day out there, we
returned, and I remarked to him coming back that we were
making ffurly good time. 'No we are not,' he said 'turn him
loose, and let him go aiong, I camiot bear for other people
to pass me.'
' How he adored boys! When he came to our home, if
he did not see the children, he would inquire at once for them,
and if we said they were studying, a look of gratification would
be seen on his face. Once he wrote a postal to little Edloe
for him to meet him at the station. Somehow EkUoe could not
go, and I went. When he saw me a look or surprise appeared
on his face, and he seemed disappointed when he saw me,
because he was expecting Edloe, Jr."
iiyGoot^lc
680 ADDRESS AT THE ORPHANAGE
He made a speech at the meetdng of the Trustees of the
Orphanage at Salem which made a marked impresaon.
"It was unique" says Dr. G. B. Taylor. "As a graieral
thing he did not take bis illustratioos from history, or genend
biography. This day he did. He told of his visit to the world's
greatest cathedral and of the tradition concerning the archi-
tect,— he had an ambition to build the greatest structure in the
world. . . The application of the story was an exhorta-
tion against selfishness, and in this connection he aaid: 'As
I look back over my life — and if I hve to July 25th I will be
78 years old — I cannot remember a angle act of mine that has
been free from selfishness.' or some such words as that He
was probably not any more selfish than all of us, but certainly
in these candid words he was most frank and outspoken."
As an indication of his appredation of kindness and of his
manner of dealing with children may be mentioned an inddent
in connection with his little granddaughter Anna.
When the letter had come Irom grandfather telling of the
loss of his valise with his clothes Anna was much concerned,
and she came to her mother saying, "Mother I have saved up
rax dollars and I want to send it to grandfather." Her motJier
said, "Wait until father comes and he will write out a check;
that can be s^it better than the money." But Anna wanted
to send something right away and so, in a few minutes, she
came back to her mother with three cents wr^»ped up in a
piece of brown paper and sfud, "I can send this to grandfatba
right away and I can send the six dollars when father comes,"
and the mother, more to please the child tluui anything dse, —
for she hardly thought that the roughly arranged little package,
which Anna had tied up herself, would ever find its way to
grandfather — addressed the pack^e and muted it with a letter
from Anna and later on the check was sent for her other ^t.
The little brown parcel, however, made the trip safely, was
handed to grandfather and the three pennies came into his
hands, and in a few days there came back to Anna tiie following
letter:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
GRANDFATHER'S APPBECUTION 681
."Mt Dahlikq LinxB Ahna, — ^It was way down South in
IHxie that I got your letter and, as I was just leaving for home
when it came, I had to wait untU I got home before I answered
it.
"God bless my dear granddaughter who felt so sorry for
me, when I lost my clothes, that she gave me all she had to get
me somethii^ to wear. That was just the prettiest thing that
anybody ever did for me and I expect to thmk of it when I get
to heaven. I have the three cents which you sent me and I
will buy me something with that money and I will see you about
the other money when I come. Nobody will ever know how
good I felt whffli I received your letter. Nobody ever was that
good to me before and I hope to live long enough to see you
get some nice and big things. God gives to those who give to
him. I long to see you. May you have many to love you in
this world and crowns of gold in the world to come.
"Vour Grateful
"Grandfather."
He accompanied this letter with the followii^ on March 22nd
regarding the six dollars:
"Mt Dxab E. B., — I have read Anna's matchless letter. It
is a new type of child's religion. I accepted the money in my
letter to her and you must have her send it and then in a way
of which she does not know I must gradually accumulate
something to her account in the bank.
'"Hub seems the best way to do that I can think of.
"I am at hotoe, tired in oxteen points out of eighteen and, —
in the language c^ the mountaineer — 'I am getting tireder tuid
tireder every day". When I get my work through on my Ded-
ication and revival meetings in Petersburg I will compose my
bones and rest up some."
His daughter Edith was plannii^ to go abroad during the
Summer to pursue a special course in music. Already she had
taken an extenmve course in New York and London and had
taken lessons under the great Lechkitisky of Austria and her
heart was set upon a second viat to the world's famous artist.
She hod written her father of her plans and he wrote in reply
on March ^nd:
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
482 tETERSBmiG
"... Of course I long to have you at Careby whenevet
it suits you. You add light and cheer to me in many ways.
". . . But I am not expecting, or even willing, for you to
break from the line of your destiny to coi^ole an old thing like
me; indeed that ia not what 1 need. My life is in going and
workii^ and I have had a festival of it this winter. I am hoping
to spend Easter at Careby with you.
"I am wild with multitudinous things today."
In ^ving Edith one of his "Jasper" books he wrote on the
fly leaf, "Strike no chord on earth to which heaven will not
respond".
"It is a joy to see your father so free from weakness' hia
wife writes. "He walks over to mwl a letter in the momii^
and will go again in the afternoon to see a base-ball game,
standing around talking and will receive any number of ^eta
who come to air their grievances or tell their wants, and then
dictate to one of the professors who will write for him until
eleven o'clock."
Petersburg is the next scene of his labors and there he dedi-
cates a church and holds revival meetings at tbe West End
Church. In writing to his daughter Orie from Petersburg re-
garding his irregularity in writing to his children he says:
"My eyeagfat has become so feeble that it is with difficulty
that I can do any writii^ of my own and my peripatetic habits
make it impossible for me to have any steady arrangements
for type writing. . , It may interest you to Imow that I have
fatt^ed up about fifteen pounds during the winter."
Such fattening, however, at his age was a symptom that
needed to be watched. He bends himself to his tasks, and each
day he worics as if eagerly grateful for the new day that was
his. From Petersburg he returns to Fork Union where he finds
his usual accumulations of duties.
"I am home for a week" he writes "but fatigued to the point
of a collapraouB feeling." Nearly all' the family were with him
for an E^aster reunion.
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
UNVEILING THE PORTRAIT 683
"We are on the porch most of the time" writea hia wife,
"occasionally going into the parlor with a victor to an open
fire or gathering at night in Brer ijptcher'a room where he loves
to keep up his stove fires and distribute peanuts, apples,
oranges and candy that he brings home in his big baskets."
On April 27th he writes me the following card :
"Fork Union beat first Team ol lUchmond College yesterday
8 to 5. Tea William."
The boys had a bon-fire and procession that night and
marched over to Careby Hall and lined up in front of the house
about 10 P. M. He came out and made them a speech. "He
invited the team over here last night" writes his wife "and gave
them a little party — having some of the girls of the town to
meet them." His days at Fork Union were always crowded and
it was just such days that he moat delighted in.
Mrs. J. D. CamesI of BJchmond had decided to present to
the Academy an oil pfuntuig of Dr. Hatcher and the artist
visited Fork Union that he might give him some attinga. He
felt that he needed to hear his voice as well as to study his
face and so he said to him one day "Dr. Hatcher, I want to
hear your voice ."
"I don't know why you want to hear the voice of a worn out
old shack like me" he replied. "If it was a young girl whose
voice you wanted to bear then I could see some reason in it."
The portrut was presented to the Academy durii^ the
Commencement exercises by President Boatwrigbt of Richmond
College. As Dr. Boatwrigbt unveiled the portrait bringing
the famihar face into public view the audience of students,
faculty and Fluvanna people broke into tumultuous applause
and when he arose to respond, the applause continued long
and loud and when quiet was restored he began, — "That is
sweeter to me than the strains of richest music."
In presenting the picture Dr. Boatwrigbt had sud that in
future yeftrs the boys of the Academy would look upon his
face and be inspired to noble things. Over the platform of the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
684 BUSY IN JUNE
Academy auditorium the picture now hangs at every Com-
mencement and at the opening exerdses of the Academy.
It seems that in the exercises some one had spoken of a
monument to Dr. Hatcher and in his response he Btdd pointing
to the Academy — "This is. what I hope will be my monu-
mrait."
In that scorching month of June he made another journey
to South Carolina for a dedication service in Colimibia where
he preached three times on Sunday. He preached two Sun-
days at the Second Church in Richmond, and in addition he
sud: "I have to look after the catalogue, make arrangemoit
about advertising and do as much stenographic work aa I
can."
Rev. IL T. Marsh approached him in behalf of a young man
who was needing an education, and his reply was:
"I have not a dollar for him. I do not know how or where
I will get it; but you send him on and Fit find it somehow. He
is red-headed and has fire in him to try and I will see that he
has a chance."
"June is very full for me" he wrote me on the 17th "Dedi-
cations are now brisk. I am hard at work on Catalogue of the
Academy — have pretty much all of it to do." '
Dr. Frost wrote him that his dearly loved friend Ju(^
Haralson had just passed away. In his reply to Dr. Frost, he
closed his letter as follows: "It is enough to bring on shouting
to think that Haralson has gone up to see the Father. It
makes heaven about twice as real, but makes the earth look
scant and pinched and lonesome. But never mind; he still
belongs to us; we have stored him away and he is now waiting
to bring us into the king with honor when we get there."
"I also have been out of kelter" he writes Rev, R, H. Win-
free on July 16th "and I suppose I would be sick now in certun
spots if I had time to inquire about it."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
CHAPTER XLV
BUSY HBBB AND THSBB. ADDRESa AT JODGB WITT S FDNERAL.
THE QRANDCHILDREN. A CROWDED W&EK. HAPPY
DAYS AT CAREBY. THE END,
From far away Texas had come an invitation to him from
Rev. J. V. Dickinson to attend the 25th anniversary of his
marriage. In reply he writes:
". . . Texas is too far away. I cannot make the trip
but friendship is a mighty traveler. It can stride its way over
land and sea and not even the boundless plains of Texas can
defy friendship's loving invasions.
"My friendship has to start on the day of the event and will
land at the altar when your vows are renewed but its creden-
tials cannot fly so fast and while tins letter will arrive after
time it will testify that you are remembered at Careby Htdl
on the bridal day."
He received a letter from his best and life-long friend, Dr.
J. R. Bagby, in which he sfud:
"I must see you oftener so as to cheer me up. We must not
drift apart now. I was preaching on friendship a httle while
ago and while talking about it I thought of the tender stroi^
tie that had bound us so closely together for so many years.
How sweet and precious the hnk has been and still is. It must
not grow less so, and shall not, so far as I am concerned."
He left Fork Union for King and Queen coimty about
August 1st and stopped in Richmond where he met his young
friend Rev. R. H. Winfree and together they went up into the
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
686 BRUINGTON
Buoness Men's Club room on the dgbt floor for luncheon.
After taking their seat near the window which gave a com-
manding view of Manchester and the country beyond he said:
"Get up Robert and let me have your place I want to take &
look at my beloved Chesterfield. You are going there this
evening and I cant go". While they were eating a somewhat
youthful gentleman sauntered over and with a swin^ng voice
sud: "How is my venerable friend Dr. Hatcher?" The word
"venerable" seemed to touch him in a vital spot uid he replied
in an almost accusing tone:
"Venerable" you say. "Will you allow me to remark that I
have to take the train at half past three, get off at Lester Manor,
take the stage and go to Walkerton and then dx miles to Mr.
Fleets; spend the night and next morning preach at Bruii^ton
and that evening drive to St. Stephens aiid at night to Dan
Fleets and next morning go to Walkerton and then by stf^
to Lester Manor and there take trwn to Richmond; and now
if you have any young fellow that can do any better than that
trot him out."
"I w^it with him to the tnun to help liim with his satchd"
says Mr. Winfree. "As we sat talking he sfud to me, "Bob,
I am always in trouble about you.'
"I said, 'Doctor, what are you m trouble about me for?'
"He replied, 'Last year 3n>u were kwldug so pale and weak
I thought you would die and leave me; now you are lo(ridng so
well, I am grieved because I fear I shall die and leave you.' "
In 80 many of his conversations in these months his words
dropped intimation that he thou^t he would soon recwve
his final call.
He went on his circuitous and arduous journey that after-
noon preaching on the next day at old Bmington Church,
about which he thus writes:
". . . Just forty-seven years £^o, while yet young and raw
I asoBted Dr. Bichturd Hugh Bagby in a revival meeting at
Bruington; and I wished before my ^es close to the scenes ctf
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AT RICHMOND PASTOR'S CONFERENCE 687
earth to look upon the historic old church once more. I reached
there after dark on Saturday, and left before light on Monday."
He hurried back to Bichmoud where he had to preach the
funeral of Mb long time friend Judge S. B. Witt, — a gentleman
whom he held in high and affectionate eeteem. Only a few days
ago a gentleman stud to me, — ^when I told him that I was writ-
ing the present biography, "You ought by all means to put into
it the wonderful sermon that be preached at the funeral of
Judge Witt." The Judge had refrained from making any public
religious profession until a year or so before his death, and Dr.
Hatcher selected the case of Moees whom it took God forty
years to bring into his active service as the baas for hia remariu
about Judge Witt. The Grace Street Auditorium was packed
with a congregation that included many of Bichmond's most
distinguished Jurists and profesdonal men and the sermon
impressed profoundly the audience by its unique and eloquent
treatment of the subject. It was shortly before this that he
went one Monday morning into the Ministers' Conference of
Bjcbmond.
"It was report day" says Dr. G. W, McDaniel. "He lis-
tened to the brethren as, one aft«r another, they told in short
and mmple manner of the domgs of the Lord in th^r churches.
When all the paetois had finished, the venerable lesd^ arose.
His face was flushed with enthusiaam, hia eye sparkled with
delight, his voice trembled with emotion. He spoke thus:
'My brethren, I am on the heights this morning. For over
fifty years I have known this conference and for most of my
ministerial fife I have been a member. In all that time I have
never heard such thrilling reports. We never had a more
efficient ministry than I see around me to-day. I am glad I am
alive and I can die happy, seeing that our Baptist cause is
prosperii^ in this city, which I love above all others.'
His words fell like a benediction upon our hearts; they
strengthened our hands for present tasks and nerved our arms
for laiger undertakings. Coming from one so competent to
judge and so careful in speech, they were a positive inspiration."
In August tiie following paragraph aiqKared in the Herald'
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
688 AT CAEEBY HALL
and was copied in other state pi^iera going the rounds from one
to the other.
"Dr. William E. Hatcher, who passed the Beventy-dghth
mile post last week, has gained twenty-five pounds in weight
in recent months, and finds rest in work. Attending two or
three district associations each week, dedicating churchee,
holding protracted meetings and guiding the dest^iy of Fork
Union Military Academy, are a few of the means used in
consuming the energy of his perpetual youth."
His wife swd that he had kept saying during Jofy "I
am ao lonesome. I want Eldridge to come on. I want to
talk with him." He was away on hie travels whoi we arrived
at Careby for our Summer visit but he touched the hiHne base
in a few days. His health and spirit seemed to be at high water
mark. He would stay a few days, thm start out on his travels
and in a few days would return. What a welcome he would
recdve from the graudchildrea, — and in fact from all the
Carebyites. During this seasim he ate all his meals cither in
his study or out under the trees, — not once in the dining room —
and everybody at Careby Hall were his waiters. At this time
he was eager to plunge into his mail on his return for his anx-
iety about the number of students for next aeaaoa was alwaya
great at this season. His eye scanned his mul rapidly
and seemed to pick out its salient messages quickly. In the
meantime the grandmother, the childrai and grandchildren
would be piled around the room.
"Tell me some news" he would call out and we would have
th report the latest items of village life.
As usual he always came back loaded witii his baskets and
bundles of candy, cakes and fruit. "Oh, my. Are'nt they
good?" "Is'nt grandfather nice?" "Grandfathw 3rou must
come back again the next time you go away." Buch were the
exclamations that greeted Ms return.
"Bed time" would be called out in a sht^ while, and then
would come the appeal,
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
AT THREE ASSOCIATIONS 689
"Oh, mother; just let us at up a little longer — ^just a little
longer for grandfather has been away, you know."
But that night others would come in, — Stephens, the Aca-
demy treasurer, or Capt. Snead or yet others and thus the
talk would run on towards midnight.
Next morning his stenographer would appear on the scene
immediately aft«r breakfast and together they would attack
the large mful pile. After several hours of dictation he would
call out:
"WiUiamI Quoits!" or "Virginial Dominoes!" "I'm cimiing"
was the reply and in a few minutes the perplenties and burdens
that his mtul had flung upon his mind were gradually rolled
off in the enthudasm of the game. When it was all over he was
ready to dictate his Sunday School lessons or an article for the
papers, or to have a conference with a Trustee, a Summer pupil,
or a professor or some other visitor, or to take a brief nap on his
couch or a frolic with the grandchildren. Every game would
usually wind up by grandfather tripping off into his room and
soon emer^ng upon the porch with a bf^ or basket of fruits or
sweets.
During the week b^pnning August 11th — with seventy-
eight years upon him and amid the heat and dust of travel — he
visited three Associations in widely separated parts of the
state. He spent Tuesday at the Concord Association at
Chatham where he was given a loving welcome, and where
he took active part in the meeting. "He was radiant and
charming in conversation, sparkling with humor as of old"
writes one of the vimtors. His speech on education was aaid
to be full of vigorous thoi^ht and "was delivered with intense
earnestness and in the rare and interesting style peculiar to
Dr. Hatcher," Next morning at five o'clock he was "up and
gone" on his journey to the Piedmont Association where upon
his arrival he was requested by the Association to preach
before the body. His subject was "Zaccheus, or the evidences
of a converted heart." "He seemed very feeble when he oom-
m^ced" says one who heard him "but, as he talked, he gather-
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
690 AT THE POTOMAC ASSOCIATION
ed inBpiration, and I never lieard him preach witli greater
force or more telling effect." He left that afternoon and <hi
the next morning he was in a far-away section of the state at
the Potomac Association and there too he was requested
upon his arrival to preach before the body. His text on this
occasion was "Leadership in the kingdom of God." A young
minister who heard him remarked to a friend, "It would take
me 200 yeara to be able to preach a sermon like that."
That afternoon there came a lull in s collection which the
Aseodatlon had ordered to be taken for the purchase of a
church building.
"Dr. Hatcher, help ua take this collection" said some one.
He arose and replied: "Brethren if I am to do this work it
must be done quickly as I have ooly a short time to remun."
The automobile was already at the door to bear him to the
depot. He sounded the appeal and called for subscriptions
and one by one they b^an to come in. After a while tiie
subscriptions stopped coming and he prodded his audience
in a genial way. S112 of the total $500 was still needed and a
brother called out, "I will give as much as John Knchdow."
Dr. Hatcher accepted the challenge and turned his gase in
search of Mr. Kinchelow. The old man, now grown some-
what feeble, was out in the yard but upon learning that he
was wanted in the house quickly appeared at the ade door,
while the audience watched with eager expectancy for the
next move. Dr. Hatcher explained to Mr. Qnchelow the
ntuatjon and he replied, "I will fpve one-half of the amount
needed." This completed the sum and sent a happy ripple
over the audience. Dr. Hatcher then made a tender address
to the Association and closed by turning to his friend, Mr.
Kinchdow and sayii^:
"John, the beloved, this is not the first time you have hdped
me through a difficult place in a collection. Our work will
soon be done and I have an impression that nether of us will
ever meet at another Association."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BUSY DAYS AT CAREBY 691
At this Potconac Afisociation he spoke words to a young
man, Mr. G. H. Payne, that led him to enter the ministry.
He aaid to several persons at the Association that he had
an oppres^Te premonition that bis end was not far away.
"Dont let us go to bed" he would say to his friends, "let
ua st up all night."
From the Potomac Asaociation he hurried to Culpeper that
he might drive into the country to talk with a boy about
c<Mning to the Academy.
"He was going to take the lad practically at his own
ch&i^es," says Dr. E. W. Winfrey who carried him to the
boy's home, "agredi^ to almost, if not quite, 'foot the entire
bill.' How sanely and sagely he talked that morning. . . .
more than once mentioning the fact that he might not be
with us much longer, — and yet, as always, full of ideas and
plana and enterprises."
He reached Careby on Friday night about eight o'clock,
very tired. After finishing his supper in his room and reciting
the events of his trip to some of the family who were gathered
around him and to Captaan Charles Snead who had come over
to meet him and who was one of the Trustees he said: "Well
Charies, I have come to the end of my row and you and the
others will have to take up the work now." He spoke as one
exhausted after malring a supreme strugxle.
But next morning he was up with a new Ught in Us eye and
with an alert step. He had arranged to spend the following
week at Careby.
The days that followed were packed with toil which was
interspersed with games and joUifications with the grand-
children. Ofttimes, as the children and grandchildren would
be scattered over the lawn — some in hammocks, some in churs
and others seated on the grass — grandfather would appear at
the front door with a box, or bag, in his hand and, running his
eye over the yard in search of the young ones, he would start
down the steps and out on the grounds, going from one group
to anothOT with his "treat", until he had made the entire
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
692 ANXIETY AS TO THE ACADEMY
round. Sometimes he would repeat the circuit before going
in and this would be usually repeated one or more timetf during
\he day and during each day.
To Rev. Andrew Broaddus be writes:
"Fork Union Va., August 19, 1912.
"My Dear Andrew, — I was really homesick for the Hermon
Association — that ia, home-^ck for you. I was tainted up
m several directions and could not come to your longdom
this time. But I love you just the same and will never weary
of thinking of you. All the older generation, except Bagby,
and Charies Kyland, seem to have Sed from the stage and
they are practically trembling their way off and I seem to
be lingering superfiuous. I have to depend upon you and
JuUan and Lake and Winfree for even the semblance of con-
temporaries, but you are not contemporaries and this ia all
the better for me. I can feed upon your remaining strength
and be the richer for it. I long to see you at Fork Union.
"Hastily, but very sincerely,
"W. E. Hatcher."
"P. S. Tell Gay she has not sent me the two boys as I told
her and ask Kirk what he is doing about it."
On Wednesday he wrote to his beloved R. H. Winfree:
"Fork Union, Va., August 21, 1912.
"My evbk dear Robert, — My soul hungers for you, my
thoughts go after you constantly and I long for a good easy
time with you. I suppose that your meeting is going on at
Mt. Hermon this week and I keep thinking about you. . . .
I have been working very hard this Summer. The outlook for
the session is fair but I am not sure it will be as good aa it was
last year.
"Very hastily,
"Wm. E. Hatcher."
"Eldridge, what is going to become of the Academy when
I am gone?" he asked me one day that week m anxious tones.
On another day he sfud, — in a manner betokening the burden
that was on him, — "Tell me what to do with the Aoodony."
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
BUSY AT CAREBY . 693
One day he said, "Eldridge, whydoa't you buy the Academy?"
I told him that the new man whom he had secured for head-
master might come and like the school and might buy it himself
: and thus insure its permanency. His constant soUcitude as
to the future of the school was so apparent to us all that we
were ever seeking to cheer him. He himself knew that its
burdens were too heavy for his weakening shoulders and that
it was threatening his life and yet the life of the Academy
seemed to him more important than his own. One night he
Sfud to his wife, in connection with the uncertainty as to the
Academy's future: "Well, even though it should die, it has
at least given me the opportunity of helping many a poor boy
get an education."
If acme one could only have told him at that time that in
about two years after his death the Virginia Baptists through
thdr Education Commission would inaugurate a. campaign to
nuse $50,000 with which to equip the Fork Union Academy
and that at its head would be a young man, Mr. C. E. Croaland,
a Cecil Rhodes graduate of the Oxford University, Mghly
gifted and fully sympathetic with the ideals of the founder
and apparently htted and destined to build up the Academy into
lai^e and splendid proportions, — but ah, this he .did not know.
Each day had ite variety of tasks and inddente. He seemed
detenniued that all his many guests should be kept happy,
that his stenographer should be kept busy and that no idle
hours should hang on his hands.
The Chicago Standard in its issue of that week stud: "Dr.
W. E. Hatcher of the South recently celebrated his 78th
birthday and is still one of the most active and efficient workers
among his brethren. . . . Years do not count with some
men who know how to keep young." One day he and his
daughter-in-law were seated on the lawn, not far from each
other, and yet apparently unconscious of the other's presence,
when he was heard to say, as if communing with himself, "I
was not bom for popularity but I was bom for friendship."
One aftenuxm be started over to the Academy grounds pre>
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
d94 - filS WISH GRATIFIED
pared to stop a base ball game unleaa the players first complied
with T^ulatioiis which he, as SuperintendeiLt of grounds, had
made regarding the use of the Campus; and those who saw
him start off down the hill that afternoon noticed that he
still had in him his old fighting spirit, — to be called into action
if the occasott demanded it. Very soon however the shouts
on the base ball grounds announced that all difficulties had
vanished and the game was under way, and no one of the
spectators was more enthuaastically interested in the contest
than the old gcmtleman of seventy-eight. On Thursday night
the trustees dehghted him by their hearty response to his
aiq>eal that tb^ would cooperate in providing a Water Plant
for the Academy. "We bad a great meeting tonight" he said
with radiant face as he came out in the yard after the trustees
had disp^ved and it was reported by the trustees that he
offered one of the most impassioned prayers for the Academy
that night that tbeiy had ever heard from him.
Friday found him with a buey schedule, — ^walking over
to the Bashaw's and the Wright's for confer^ices about the
Academy and certain improvements for the village and as he
climbed the Careby hill on his return and approached us <m
the lawn he moved with an unusually alert step and surprised
us as he said "Well I believe the Lord is going to let me live
two or three years longer" Never durii^ his later years had
we heard tnmi htm such a remark. In speaking of his plans
he would always interject the proviso "that is, if the Lord
lets me live." He bore himself that day as if he had recdved
a fresh and sudden supply of phy^cal and mental vigor.
On that night the building and grounds at Careby Hall were
thronged with the Fork Union people. The neighbors, young
and old, with their children were there and thdr jovial chats
and merry lat^hier filled the air. About 9:30 — after induing
in varied sodal festivities — they moved to the front and
listoied to an address from Dr. Hatcher as he stood on his
front porch with his wife at his mde. He spoke to them on the
importance of m^Jring certain improv^nents in the village and
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
"GRACE STREET'S" BEAUTIFUL DEED 696
closed his address by pointing the young people to high ideals.
Late thai night, after bidding me good night in his room, saying
"God bless you" he went into conference with his Aoadony
Kext morning early he was at his open window ungiog and
whistling and at about 7:30 — hs feU. Yes; that vigorous body
that had stood and toiled and traveled and borne burdens
for 8eventy-e^;ht years had at last fallen to the earth. His
wife, in the next room, heard him say in subdued tones "Every-
body better get up; everybody better get up." Upon hurrying
to his aide she found him lying with his body partly upon the
couch and partly on the floor. "I have been here long Plough;
I must be goii^' I heard him say somewhat huskily as I
approached him. It was a ste<^e of paralysis that rendered
helpless his left ade. Later on, not seeing his wife, he scud;
"Where is Jeuniet" De^ite all efforts of physidans and
loved ones and friokds the other mde soon felt the fatal touch
and shortly before ten o'clock his body became quiet and his
spirit had taken its flight for the other world.
His words concerning Dr. J. B. Jeter, seem ^)propriate in
his own case:
"He died splendidly — in all his ripened, glorifius prime. He
did not crumble into decay, nor shiivel into imbecihty. Dia-
ease did not waste and age did not shatter him; but, like the
imperial leader of Israel, he came to Pisgah with eye undimmed
and strength unabated. I count his death pre-eminently happy.
When his hour came to go his loving father put his finger upon
the en^ery of his heart — that heart which had been beatmg,
beating, beating for nearly eighty years and beating always
highest for his father's honor. He felt the solemn touch and
the vast machinery of his life trembled, groaned, creaked and
sWvered; but only for a moment and tiien standing suddenly
stilt, his ^^ad spirit was out and gone, upward and away in ito
celestial flight. It was a translation in its suddenness and an
ascension in its triumph and ^oiy."
While the family were preparing for the burial at Fork
Union a del^^tion of deacons from hia old Grace Street
D.qit.zeaOvGoOt^lc
D.qil.zMBlG001^le