Listening to the Giants

Sarah Edwards, like most wives of the “giants”, were basically unknown. The reasons for this are many. They rarely wrote. They were “helpers” to their husbands first, which seemed incongruent to self-promotion. The secular and sacred culture of the previous centuries was typically “patriarchal”, which saw little worth in hearing from a “woman” and to publish anything from a woman would have been almost comical. Finally, families were normally large and women (with the help of servants) did all the domestic duties. Yet, because of the contemporary interest of Edwards during his lifetime, Sarah was integrated through the pages of her husband’s biographies. Here are some observations from Samuel Hopkins (one of Edwards’ first biographer): “She made it her rule to speak well of all, so far as she could with truth and justice to herself and others. Thus she was tender of everyone’s character, even of those who injured or spoke evil of her.” He continues: “In the midst of these comp...

It is probably the desire (and prayer) of every single mom that their son has not only a role model, but a male role model. For Mary Hodge that role model was their pastor, Dr. Ashbel Green. The description below conveys the lifelong impact made on her sons. “Mrs. Hodge did not labor alone in the task of nurturing her children in the Presbyterian faith. The family benefitted from the support of the local church, the same Second Presbyterian Church that Hannah Hodge had joined a century earlier. Their pastor, Dr. Ashbel Green, was known as an Old School Presbyterian and took seriously his calling to train children in the Christian faith. Not only did he catechize Hodge and his brother, but as president of Princeton he also taught Charles the Bible when he matriculated at Princeton and preached frequently in seminary chapel.” It is interesting that Hodge’s biographer only describes the spiritual influence of Dr. Green, but is entirely silent regarding any effort towards gend...

Charles Hodge never knew his father. After entering this world for a brief six months, Hodge’s father finished his earthly journey. Who was Charles’ father? Dr. Hugh Hodge was a surgeon, a patriot and a war hero. Hodges’ biographer explains, “A graduate of the College of New Jersey in 1773, Hugh trained in medicine and served as a surgeon with the Pennsylvania troops in the Revolutionary War. British forces captured him and held him prisoner in November 1776, but he obtained release after several months through the efforts of George Washington.” Details of his death are unknown, but what is known that Charles’ three older siblings also died, which only left him and his older brother, Hugh. Fortunately for these boys, God had ordained Mary Hodge to be their mother. She was a strong, driven and hardworking woman. Hodge’s biographer writes: “(Though she received some money from her husband’s estate)…to supplement her income further, Mrs. Hodge took in boarders, young...