Moses Hoge was an American clergyman and educator. He was the 6th President of Hampden-Sydney College.
Background
Moses Hoge was born on February 15, 1752 in Cedar Grove, Virginia, United States. He was the son of James Hoge and his second wife, Nancy Griffiths. James Hoge was a man of robust intellect and a self-taught theologian, adhering strictly to the Westminster Confession. About the close of the seventeenth century his father, William, had emigrated to America on account of the religious persecutions under the Stuarts, and had married Barbara Hume, who had come over in the same ship and for the same reason. They settled first in New Jersey, moved into Delaware, and thence into the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania where their children were born. About 1735, the family removed to Frederick County, Virginia. Here William gave land for a church, a school, and burying ground.
Education
Hoge was sent to Liberty Hall Academy, which later developed into Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, then under the charge of William Graham. A year as a volunteer in the Revolution interrupted his studies. After his academic training he studied under Doctor Graham and also under James Waddell in preparation for the ministry.
Career
Hoge was licensed to preach by the Hanover Presbytery in November 1781, and on December 13, 1782, was ordained at Augusta, in what is now Hampshire County, W. Va. In this county he spent five years in missionary work, and for twenty years he was pastor at Shepherdstown, Jefferson County.
In April 1806 the Presbytery of Hanover had decided to establish at Hampden-Sydney College a complete theological library for the benefit of students in divinity, and to employ a teacher, or teachers. Under the joint action of the Presbytery of Hanover and the board of trustees of the college, Hoge was elected as president of the college, with the understanding that he should teach theology in addition to attending to his administrative duties.
In October 1807 he was inaugurated. His teaching was the beginning of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, for his work was so successful that at the time of his death in 1820, sufficient funds had been collected and a sufficient number of students enrolled to justify the inauguration of a school of theology entirely separate from, and independent of, the college.
Hoge was the author of two publications, no longer read, but attracting favorable attention at the time: one, a criticism of Reverend Jeremiah Walker's pamphlet, The Fourfold Foundation of Calvinism Examined and Shaken, and the other "The Sophist Unmasked, " in a work entitled Christian Panoply (1797), a reply to Thomas Paine. After his death Sermons Selected from the Manuscripts of the Late Moses Hoge (1821) appeared.
Achievements
Religion
While adhering strictly to the system of Calvinism, Hoge's general character and unworldliness were such that he impressed upon the Virginia ministry of his church the moderate type of evangelical Calvinism that has distinguished it from his day.
Personality
John Randolph of Roanoke once said that there were only two men who could bring quiet to a certain court green on court day--"Patrick Henry by his eloquence, and Doctor Hoge by simply passing through. "
Connections
On August 23, 1783, Hoge married Elizabeth Poage of Augusta County, Virginia, the mother of all his children. Moses Drury Hoge was their grandson. The second wife was Susan (Watkins) Hunt, whom he married on October 25, 1803.