Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-29
SUNDAY READING,
AnecdOte of Henry Clay.

A highly respectable Baptist minister of
Kentucky, still living, related the following
anecdote to us: He had just commenced
preaching, and had for a few years been
married and housekeeping. He was in hum
BILE circumstances and of limited education
modest and retiring to a fault. 1t was
with great difficulty he could summon reso-
luton to address congregation. Mr.. Clay,
in discharge Of his duty as a lawyer, came
to the ~neighborhood of our informant, (Clo-
verbottom, Woodford county, to have sur
veys made Of some lands then in litigation.
He Vas accompanied by another lawyer of
note. They made the humble cabin ofbroth-
staid with him our brother was reduced to
great extremity. He was in the habit Of
holding family worship morning and even
ing; but he trembled at the thought of do
ing so in the presence of guests SO distin-
guished 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 B.
limited to his guests that perhaps they
would choose to go bed But Mr.. CLAW with
great politeness replied, that he did not
feel at all sleepy, and that, unless it was in.
trusive, would be happy to enjoy his socie.
ty longer Of course brother b. could not
object. Still the matter of prayer could not
be postponed without sending his children
to bed in advance, which was contraryto hi
settled principles of procedure. At last
with considerable trepidation, he stated t.
MIR. Clay and his friend what was his custom
and said that they could stay and unite will
his family in their devotions, or retire, a
their option. Mr.. Clay promptly and Will
some feeling replied, that they would stay
by all means-that the earliest recollectiol
Of his life was associated with such exercis
-that bis father was a Baptist minister, an,
his mother was still a member of that con
muniou, and that they had taught him t
reverence the institutions of religion, an,
none moro so than that of family worship
Brother b. then proceeded in his wor
ted exercises, but with much fear and tren
bling. He says that he never felt so mac
embarrassment in his life. When the Sc;
son Of prayer had passed. Mr.. CLAY a,
preached him and said, Mr.. B.. neye
again feel the least hesitation in the discharo
Of your duty to your God on the account
tho presence ofmen. | saw your embarrass
ment, and remained on purpose that 20
might never feel it again. Remember, m
dear sir, that every man of sense will r
spect the individual who is not ashamed
acknowledge his dependence upon his NJ
ker; and he deserves only contempt WI
can cherish any other feeling than reverend
for the consecrated hour of man in aud
ence with the Deity And what are m
self and friend here, but frail and feeb
mortals, ike you and your little children
indebted for all that we are to the gre
Fountain Of goc5, and dependent upon Hi
for every bless of life? We and you a
destined to the same retributiOn. The XIII
upon his throne and the beggar in his ra
are the same in the eyes of the Omniscier
Think of this, Mr.. B., and you will new
ngoin hesitate to engage in prayer to God