Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-08-06
Anecdote of mr.. Clay.


A highly respectable Baptist minister o
Kentucky, still living, related to us th'
following anecdote: He had just com
;; mcnced preaching and had for few year,
r been married and house keeping. He wal
e in humble circumstances and of limited
r education-.nodesta and retiring to fault
), 1t was with great difficulty he could sum
mon resolution to address congregation
Mr.. Clay, in discharge Of his duty as 8
lawyer, came to the neighborhood Of oul
informant, ("Clover Bottom" Woodlofd
connty,) to have surveys made of some
r lands then in litigation. He was accom-
panied by another lawyer of note. They
made the humble cabin of brothe, Il.
their home On the FIRST night they staid
with him, cur brother was reduced to great
Extremity. lie WAS in the habi: Of hold
ing family worship morning and evening
but be trembled at the thought Of doing
so in the presence Of guests so distinguished
as Mr.. Clay and his friend. His little
children were becoming sleepy, and his
wife by significant gestures suggested that
the time for prayer had come. Brother
3. limited to his guests that " perhaps they
would choose bed" But Mr.. Clay with
great politeness replied, that he did not
feel at all sleepy, and that, unless it was
intrusive, would be happy to enjoy his
society longer" OF course brother B.
could not object Still the matter of
prayer could not he postponed without
sending his children to bed in advance,
which was contrary to his settled princi-
pies of procedure. At last, with conside-
rahle trepidaton, he stated to Mr.. Clay
and his friend what was his custom and
said that they could stay aud unite with
his family in their devotions, or retire at
their option Mr. Clay promptly and with
some feeling replied, that they would
remain by all mcans-that the earliest
recollections Of life were associated with
such exercises-ihat his father was Bap-
tist minister, and his mother was still a
member of that communion, and that they
had taught him to reverence the institu-
,ions of religion, and none more so than
that of family worship
Brother B. then proceeded in his wonted
exercises, but with much fear and tremb
ling. He says that he never felt 50 much
embarrassment In his life. When the sea
son Of prayer vas passed, Mr.. Clay. ap-
proarhe1 him and said, "Mr. B., never
again feel the least hesitation in the dis
charge of your duty to your God on ac-
OF the presence Of men. saw
your embarrassment, and remained on
purpose that you might never feel it again.
Remember, my dear sir, that every man Of
.ense will respect the individual who is
not ashamed to acknowledge his depend
once upon his Maker; and he deserves
nnly contempt who can cherish any other
feelings than reverence for the consecra- .
ted hour of man in audience with the /
Deity And what are myself and friend
here, but frail and feeble mortals like you
and your little children-indebted for all /
that we are to the great Fountain of Good,
and dependent on Him for every blessing
Of life! We and you are destined to the
same grave and to the same final retribu-
tion. The king upon his throne and tho
bccgar in his rags are the same in the eyes
of the Omniscicnt Think Of this, Mr. B.,
and you will never hesitate again tc engage
in prayer to God on account of the presence
Of men. For myself, l would rather know
that the prayers of pious man,
matter how stumble his position in life,
were ascending in my behalf, than to have
tho widest applause Of listening Sen
ates"
Mr. Clay and his friend then retired for
the night. Brother B. says it was the best
lesson of his life. lie often afterwards
heard the great Statesman in all the gran
deur of his rcsis:less eloquence, but he
insists that in no effort he ever heard was
he so impressive as on the occasion named
Bro b. is, as he has long been, sukscri-
ber of ours, and win correct Us if in aught
We have mistaken or misrepresented what
he told us-IIeSt. Rec.
Singular Incident.