White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-02
From the Kentucky Presbyterian Herald.)
"REMINISCENCES OF HENRY CLAY
By REV. ). .. BULLOCK.

IL mas Oeen Suggested 70 me 0y mu
tual friend, that it might do good to Civ
publicity to some facts that came unde
my personal observation, touching the re
ligious character of Mr.. Clay. Havin,
been born in his neighborhood, and beinI
the son of personal friend, though of
political onnoneDt. I IA not remembe
when first formed his acquaintance. Ii
the fall of 1885, I travelled with hin
from Kentucky to Philadelphia. He wa
on his way to Washington. Twas goinl
to Princeton to prosecute my theological
studies. He recognized me at once, and
treated me with great kindness and atten
ton. During our journey, though at tina
time he made no pretensions to persona
religion, l remember well the emphatic
manner in which he spoke of the truth
and importance of Christianity, and ex.
pressed the hope that he would some day
be Christian himself. He spoke to me
words of encouragement, and expressed q
high appreciation of learned and pious
ministry. l can never forget the consid,
crate kindness and attention which he
showed me, an unknown young man, on
the way, and after our arrival in Phila.
delphia, where we remained a few days.
He introduced me to a number Of the
most distinguished men in the nation, and
such were his kind attentions that was
taken by many to be a member of his
family.
After my settlement in the ministry,
whenever we met, which was frequently,
he always treated me as friend, and Of
ten referred to our journeying together.
In the winter of 1847-S, saw him in
New Orleans, and travelled with him to
Mobile. Hespoke freely on the subject
of religion, and also gave his views of
some of the churches that were very stri-
king. From the conversation, which he
introduced himself, 1 was satisfied that he
was thinking seriously of making a pro-
fession of religion, which he did soon af-
ter. My impression was. and while he
was perfectly sincere and earnest, yet that
he had at that time an inadequate concep-
ton of the spirituality Of religion.
Not a great while after he united with
the Episcopal Church. I called to see
him at Ashland, in company with two
distinguished ministers from a distance,
and from his conversation then, the i'm
preston was deepened upon my mind,
and made also on theirs. In the course of
few years, / returned to the neighbor-
hood Of Ashland to reside. No one gave
me a heartier welcome than Mr.. Clay.
do net rem ember ever to have passed him
without acordisl salutation, and general
ly a somewhat protracted conversation.
Upon meeting him, on one occasion,
he said to me, "Sir, / wish to come and
spend day in the country. There are
some things about which l wish to con-
verse with N" Shortly after he came
early in the morning and spent the entire
day. 1t was not long before he LEFT his
home for the last time for Washington.
1 can never forget that day. Mr.. Clay
was very feeble, and evidently believed
that his busy and eventful life was rapidly
drawing to a close. / had seen him in
the vigor of his manhood, aad he GER
tainly was the most imposing and COM
manding man / ever saw. Now, he was
gentle and tender as a woman his mind
was clear and strong; his views about
religion had evidently undergone great
change. They were evangelical and cath
Ole, and his feelings were those of a large
hearted Christian. He spoke freely upon
the whole subject. He expressed great
doubt about his living to take his seat in
the Senate, but hoped that God wonld
spare his life until he could once more
speak to his countrymen. / was exceed
ingly struck with the purity and depth Of
his love OF country and the Union. He
seemed to have merged his character as
the greatest Of party leaders into that Of
a second Father of his Country.
Just before he left, the young ladies of
my family, (about sixty of them, to
whom he had been introduced in the
morning, at his own request, came to re-
ceive his farewell. He arose, and with
great feeling addressed them for about
twenty minutes. 1t was one of the most
appropriate and pious addresses
ever heard. He alluded to his age and
and its being in all probabili-
ty, the lasttime he would ever meet them
on earth, and he desired to leave with
them his testimony Of the value and i'm
pertance of the Christian religion. He
expressed his deep interest in the educa-
ton of tine rising generation Of females,
Of the refining and slevating influences Of
education with religion, to fit them for
the positions they would be called upon
to take in the world. He also alluded to
his past life, and in the most feeling and
manner recommended TO them
the daily study of the Bible, as well as
attention to the text books oisthe school.
He said 81 am an old man,I have
been a very wicked man. zen a
great deal of the world, and ] ell You
nothing is so important to you as to be
the true follower Of Christ" 1t was to
me beautiful and sublime spectacle to
see the very first citizen OF our great and
glorious Republic. upon whose accents
our Senate had often hung entrsced, and
whose name and fame were worldwide.
standing in the midst Of that lovely,
Youthful band, counselling and blessing
them in patriarchal style.
Although had heard Mr.. Clay in
some of his greatest efforts at the bar and