Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-09-16
Family worship.


The nTlowius is related lya highly respectable
Baptist minister afkguluekv:
-- TIE lad just commenced preaching and had,
fora lwTUl-=. been married and keeping house.
lla Eaa iu humble circumstance. and uf "a lrli-
tcl firu-ruodeet ami retiring 20 q fault
Dc WAS with great difficulty that he could sum
mon resolution 90 address q CuBgrt.arruu.
Nlr Clay. Dan the discharge 0fh.s duties as
lawyer. came Co The ueIEhhCrhuod of our mlor-
W8ut Glover Bottom. W oodIorj county, Co have
surveys made ois1mg land thcn in liti-ation.-
He was accompanied bv another lawyer Of note.
They made the humble cabin OF Brother b. their
home On the first night they stayed with him.
our HgGL her was reduced 20 great extremity. He
was In the habit of holding family worship, NOR
ming aud evening, but he trembied at the thought
OF doing so in the presence Of guests so distin-
guishei as Mr.. Clay and his friend. His little
children were becoming sleepy, and las wife, by
sIgQIlicant gestures. sUggcsrCd that the time for
prayer had come. Brother B. hinted to his
guests that perhaps they would like TO go to
bed" But AIr. Clay with great politeuess, said
that he did not feel at all sleepy, and unless It
were intrusive he wOuldbc happy to enjoy his So
ccty longer" OF course Brother B. could not
object. Still the matter Of prayer could not be
postponed without sending the children to bed
in advance, which was contrary to his settled
principles Of procedure. At last, with coOSldeTa-
bic trepdation, he stated to Clay and his friend
what was his usual custom, and said that they
could stay and unite with his family IL their de-
y0JiOns, or retire, at their option. Mr.. Clay,
promptly and with some feeling, replied that
. they would remain by ali means that the car
lest TCcOLcCtIOus Ofhls life were associated with
such exercises that his father was a Baptist min
ister, and his mother was still member Of that
communion. and that they had taught him to
reverence the institution of religion, and none
more so than that offamily worship"
" Brother 3. then proceeded with his wonted
exercises, but with much fear and trembling
IIa no
in his life. When the season of prayer was pas
sed, bIr. Clay approached him and said
- Mr.. B., never again feel the least hesitation
in the discharge Of your duty TO God on account
/ Of the presence ofmen. saw your cmbarrass-
ment, and remained on purpose that you might
never feel it again. Remember, my dear sir, that
every man of sense VIII respect the individual
who is not ashamed TO acknowledge his dcpcn-
dence upon his Maker and he deserves only CON
tempt who can cherish any other feeling than
reverence for = the cOnsecrated hour ofman III an
dience with the Deity" And what are myself
and friend here but frail and feeble mortals like
your little children indebted for all that we are
to the great fountain Of good and dependent upon
/ Him for every blessing ofiie We and You are
destined to the same grave, and TO the same final
retributiOn. The king upon his throne and the
beggar in his rags the same IN the eyes of the
/ Omniscent. Think Of this, Ar. B., and You vii
/ never hesitate again to engage III prayer 10 Goo
ON account ofthe presence ofmen. For myself
I would rather know that the prayers ota poui
/ man, no matter how humble his position IN life
/ were ascending III my behalf, than 20 have In,
! widest applause oflstcuing Senators"
! 8. Mr. Clay and his friend then retired i0- th
night Alr B. SAYS 1t was the best lesson OF mi
life He afterwards heard the great Statesman
in all the grandeur of his eloqueuce, bat he in
ssts that in no effort he ever heard was lac so i'm
/ prcssivca as on the occasion named. "-GeTmGA Re
formed Messenger.