The Arkansas banner., 1847-08-02
Fsr Ms Rnnnrr .,..
r....,,, x,,..,. -.


 dent of the Bsptisf Banner. that '.the Hon. Henry Cisy wss baPhsed in ons of ths bsautifal ponds ol his owa estate near Lexington. uniting with the Episcopal Church. but demanding immersion. 1" beg leave to call your attention to the following communication, furnished the EpiseepaI Rscerdsi by an eyewitness, from which t wlll bs seen that on the occasion in question, the rite was admins tered in the house. andaeeosdingio the mode usually Praetised by the Episcopal asnonination. The CT, reneous statement of the writer in the Bsptst Ran ner, must have grown out of the circumstance thai the baptism was at Ashland, not in the church edisee the change of place giving rise to specuA- tions which were hastily put down Cor facts. The letter. apart fiom its correction of these eTroFs may De of interest to yoUr readers and the christian com mnnity in general: f.
 ''A notice was very generally circulated through the public papers of the country, some 2 or 3 years ago, to the effect, ,hat Mir Clay had become member of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church. The wish was, doubt less, father to the thought, as Mr. Clay had not, at that time, taken any such step. He has always been known t6s have the hiRhes. respect to the institutions of Christianity. and to have been decided believer in the divine authenticity of the Christian religion--his amiable and now deeply afflicted wife, having for many years beenan hamble follower oi its Blessed Author When the weather per- milled Il, living as he does mile and half from the church, Mir c. has always been a regular attendant on it's services; and for two or three years past, having had more leisure from public duty, hIs attention had evidently been turned to the high considerations con nec,ed with things spiritual and eternal his life having been devoted so intensely lo the good of others, as scarcely, until this period of retirement, 10 leave him an opportunity to think of himself He has at length conse- crated his great powers to God. He was bap- tised in the li,ile parlor at Ashland, on Tues day afternoon, the 22d ult., together with one of his daughlers-in-Iaw, (the other being al- ready memher of the Church, and her children, by ihe Rev. Edw. F. Berkley, Rec tor of Christ Church, Lexington. The bap- tism was administered privately, for the req son, that ihe congregation of Christ Churcil are replacing their old church, with new ediice, now in rapid progress of erection, and are no. suitably situated for the solemn and decent administration of this rite in pub- lie.
 "When the minister entered the room, on this deeply solemn and interesting occasion, the small assembly, consisting of the imme- diate family, few family connexions, and the ctergyman's wife, rose up. In the middle of the room stood a large centre-table, on which was placed, with water, the magnifi- cent cut glass vase, presented to Mr. c. by some gentlemen of Pittsburg. On the side of tine room hung the large picture of the family of Washington, himself an Episcopa- Han by birth, by education, and devoui communicant of the Church; and immedi- ately opposite, on side-table, stood the bns, of the lamented Harrison, with chaplet ol withered flowers hung upon his head, who was to have been confirmed in the Church the Sabbath after he died--fit witnesses of such scene. Around the room were sus- pended number of family pictures, and among them the portrait of beloved daugh- ter, who died some years ago, ia the triumphs of that faith which her noble father was now about to embrace; and the picture cf the late lost son, who fell atthe battle of Bdena Vista. Could these silent lookers-on at the scene about transpiring, have spoken from the marble and the canvass, they would heartily have approved the act, which dedicated the great man to God. There was a deep emo lion pervading that small assembly. at the recital, under such circumstances, of the sub- lime ordinal of the Curch, and every hear, thrilled with solemn joy, when the merci- ful and glorious covenant was sealed, sin the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ol the Holy Ghost"
 This act will be publicly ratified at the yisi- tation of the Bishop, on the third Sunday in July, in the Apostolic rite of Confirmation.
 What noble and powerful recommends ton of Christianity to the worldl to see this great old man, the greatest man of his day, in all the vigor of intellect, and ardeney oI feeling, bending the knee before God, aud with the simplicity of little child, receiving upon his head a handful of water, in the name of the Holy Trinity i--,hus astesting his faith in the Christian religion, and his de- termination to live and die by its sacred prin- ciples.
 One Of tie prominent siHs ef the present day is that the great men of the country, as body, although it may be, for the mosi part. speculative believers in Christianity, are nevertheless, not regardful ol religion and o God. Let them review their ground--lsI them look at the tremendous influence they wield in behalf of irreligion and of evil; and consider the mighty power they might exer for religion and for good Let them fix theil eyes upon the practical testimony 10 the truth and value of Christianity, given by the gian in intellect, whose name stands at the head of this paper, and go and do likewise.
 SOLDIERS LAND ScRrP.--The discharged sol diers who have arrived here. says the Washingtof correspondent ee the CbaEiesiea Courier. and has the prudence to retain their land bounty rights have sold them at one hnHdred and thirty dollars thirty dollars more than the Government offers fo