The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-12-08
,ey. Dr.1IIIm0r and Henry Ciay.

ReY. Dr.N1ilAOr and Henry Clay.
The late beloved rector of St. Georges
Church in this City was a member ofIhe
Philadelphia Bar earlyin life, aud rep
resented that city three years in Con-
gress, during the Administration OF Mr..
Madison. MIR. Clay was speaker Of the
House Of Representatives when Mr.. Mil
nor was member Of it. Some misunder-
standing between the two gentlmen re-
suited from heated debate, and chal-
lenge was sent by the Speaker to NJ.
which was declined. The matter was
amicably adjusted through the interven-
tion of friends; but the parties them
selves never met in private, until many
years afterwards. when DR.. Milnor had
entered the ministry. We are permit
tedto make the following extract. de-
scriptive ofthis interview. from the deep.
y interesting Memoir by Rev. Mr.. Stone,
soon to be published by the American
Tract Society. 1t was scene character
istic of the heads and hearts of these
two great men. The extract will be
read with equal delight by the friends of
the gifted Statesman aud accomplished
Divine. Rev. Mr.. Ridgely. mentioned
below, is now the agent ofthe tract Soci.
ETY. in Philadelphia and its environs, a.
mong the Episcopal Churches.
while Mr.. Clay was Secretary Of
State" says the Memoir. "Dr. Minor
had occnsion, in common with several
other clergy ofour Church, to visit Wash
ington. His friend. Rev. G. W. Ridgley
formerly student ofthe law in the office
Of Mr.. Clay; was one of their number
During call which Mr.. Ridge!y made
Upon his old patron. Mr.. Clay enquired
who of his clerical brethren were with
him at the Capital. In reply the name,
of several were mentioned. particularly
that of DR.. Minor of New York. Mr.. C.
Immediately expressed high regard fol
DR.. Minor. and asked Mr.. Ridgley
whether he thought the Doctor would
come and dine with him: assigning as q
reason for his inquiry, the unpleasant cir
cumstances under which. several years
before. they had parted Mr.. RidgIey
replied. he had no doubt Of DR.. Minors
willingness to meet Mr.. Clay again on
friendly terms, and at once offered to open
the way for tho acceptance OF an invi.
tation. An invitation was accordingly
sent and accepted Others of the clergy
were guests at the dinner which followed
and were Of course. highly pleased with
their entertainment. But Mr.. Ridgley,
being aware OF the circumstances, under
which the two principal gentlemen met,
felt deep interest in silently observing
their manner towards each other. Il
was thlt of the utmost franknesa and
high bearing. Not word was said, moi
the shadow of look passed over the
cOuntepance Of either. to INDICATE hat the
past was remembered. The manner ol
Mr.. Clay showed that the highest respect
for DR.. Minor had buried that past
away from his feeling; while that of Dr.
Minor made, it perfectly evident that he
knew how to meet tho advances Of Mr.
Clay. He was not man to say, by either
his actions or his looks. "Sir, as a Chris.
tian willingly forgive what, as a gen.
tlemau,l do civilly forget .--On the. part Of
both there was warm open hearie dnest
which pledged mutual respect for the
present, and put the past, in effect. where
each wished it might havo been in fact
out of existence. Tho conduct oi
both was such as to raise them higher
than ever in the estimation Of their 81.
lenlly observant friend.
"ln still later years, DR.. Minor voted
for his former opponent as candidate
for tho Presidency. He had high ad.
mration for that gentleman's abilities and
patriotism. and ho strongly manifested it
during the great Statesman's public visi
to New York, when splendid civic
honor was awarded him. DR.. VIM. II
Minor remarks in his "Recolections, "'l
shall never forget my fathers enthusiasm
as the procession passed our door, during
Mr. Clay's memorable visit to our city
Ho forgot, fer tho momeet. his ecclesias.
teal position, and as his thoughts glided
back to tho past, his youthful ardor ro.
turned, and he shouted with tho loudest
I