Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-05-12
From the National Intellgencer.
NOtitia of General Harrison while in
Washington.

Has Religious Characteristic next morning
after the Inauguration (ihe 5th of March) Gen.
Harrison walked down the avenue and pur-
chased Quarto Bible and Book of Common
Prayer which he carried home with him, and
directed the servant TO place in his bedroom,
where | saw them on the night of his death
thereby indicating that he had chosen the Holy
Book for the rule of his faith and guide of bis
life in the execution Of the important trust COM
mitted to his charge. The Bible he was seen
reading early every morning and late every
evening.
In his first letter to Mrs Harrison after his
Inauguration, he states that after he had re-
turned from the Capitol to the Presidents Man
sion, and as soon as he could command any
time, he retired to his room and fell upon his
knees before his Maker, thanking him for all
bis mercies, and supplicating his gracious gui-
dance in the faithful discharge Of the duties Of
his high station to his country and his God
On Sunday morning, the 7th, Benjamin Har-
rison, Esq. of Virginia, at the request of the
President, called at my house, desiring TO know
whether he could be accommodated with pew
for himself and family for that day, and ex-
pressing wish to obtain the one recently oc-
cupied by Mrs. Madison-which the owner ac-
corded to him. In the public worship of the
church he conformed 10 all her rituals in the
auditable responses of the service, and with
that humility so expressive of devout feelings
and humble devotion, bowed himself on his
knees before the Majesty Of Heaven, and sup
plicated that mercy of which as sinner, how
ever highly exalted his station, he stood so
much in need Thus following the example
of the pious rulers of Israel.*
The following day he purchased the pew,
and regularly attended the service of the church
every Sunday morning until prevented by his
last fatal sickness
His regard for the Sabbath was such, that;
of late years, he always avoided travelling on
that holy day, unless from absolute necessity;
and during the short period he occupied the
Presidents Mansion, carefully avoided all COM
pany on that day, and dined at an early hour,
that he might attend public worship in the af-
ternoon with his family, some of whom be-
longed to the communion of the Presbyterian
Church
His high estimation for the ''people of God"
was most nobly shown in kindness TO his Min
listers. On recent occasion, he said to a
brother clergyman of mine, with whom he had
been for some time acquainted, whom i'll health
prevented from the performance of his clerical
duties, and on whom he had within few weeks
conferred vacant clerkship until his health
would enable him to resume the duties of his
ministerial office: 81 see no company on Sun
day, and dine in plain way but | shall be al
ways happy to see you at my table, for love to
have the Clergy with me on Sunday"
In this connexion it may be proper TO state
that, at his own hospitable mansion at North
Bend, when the infirm health of Mrs Harrison
would not allow her TO attend public worship
elsewhere, Gen. H. would often obtain the SER
vice of a clergyman for the day. and renumer-
ate him literally. 1t has also been stated to
me by member of the family that some years
since, he accidentally became acquainted with
young Minister of the Methodist Church in
INDECENT circumstances, whose native talents
and powers of mind promised extensive useful
ness if properly cultivated. Gen. H. kindly
invited him TO become member of his family,
and offered him the use of his library until well
prepared for the exercise of his ministry. This
young clergyman is now distinguished and
successful laborer in the vineyard of our Lord
Of late years, notwithstanding his having
erected, mostly at his own expense, church
in his immediate vicinity, yet not being able TO
support clergyman for the regular services of
the church, he was in the habit of leaving home
on Saturday afternoon for the sole purpose of
attending the church in Cincinnati, of which
the Rev. J. T. Brooke is Rector, twice or thrice
a day He also frequently attended stated
weekly lecture.
From the day of his Inauguration, it was his
lnvarlable practice to rise with the dawn of day,
and after reading the Scripture, to walk for ex-
ercise.
HIS Death---On Thursday, the 25th of
March, IN short interview with him, he com
planned of being quite unwell; and this inds-
position continued 10 increase until the expo
sure OF his person in the morning walk of Sa-
turday brought on severe chill and fever. It's
Il am authorized from unquestionable authority
to say, that the closing part OF his Inaugural Ad-
dress, especially that part in which ne SO reverent-
ly expresses his regard for the Christian Religion,
was penned by him in the room in which he was