The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-21
DAN1GL BAKER AND JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

The following is from the very interesting Biography
Of the Rev. Daniel Baker D. D., which William D. and
Alfred Martien are about publishing. Dr. Baker was at
this time settled in Washington city. Presbyterian.
at was USUAL for to write with care,
and commit it to memory r Sabbath morning for 9TH
occasions had only brief notes, and sometimes
written notes at all and here will mention d incident
which turned out better than feared One Sabbath af-
ternoon, just had announced my text, which was
this 'Ephraim is cake not turned John Quincy
Adams the Secretary of State stepped in and walking
up the aisle took his seat the pulp The
which, had for this great man. the singuiarty of the
text and my want of due preparation oil united to dis
concert me- was thrown off my balance, and preached
as then thought and still think very Indifferent dis
1t had however, excellence, not found in
most of my sermons--t very short not than
twenty or twenty-five minutes long When finished
excessively mortified, and thought would never
the Secretary of State in that church again but to my
astonishment the next week told he had rented
Of the best pews in the church Whether the exceeding
brcvity of my sermon pleased him, the freedom
with which pointed out the Inconsistencies Of profess
ing Christians whether he had previously resolved
to take pew at any rate l know not but thing
soon had the pleasure of hearing that Mr.. Adams
had taken pew and that not all after
the Secretary of State became of the most efficient
trustees of my church. and of the best friends
had. As proof of this, certain emergency he
loaned the church twelve hundred dollars and,
other occasion, having bought house Tor twelve hun
dred dollars to be paid in four nstaments Icalled upon
Mr.. Adams at that time President Of the United Satcs
ana 10 lenu TWO hundred nity uOllirS
which promised to pay in short time. He listened
with much interest inquired all about the matter, and
when informed that the gentleman from whom bought
the house resided in Ohio he said i think Mr. Baker
had better advance the whole amount and you pay
me. This most generous and most unexpected. /
expressed my gratitude, and observed If pay the full
amount down the gentleman would doubt allow some
considerable discount That replied he, will be your
advantage Thus saying he took up his pen and gave
check the bank for twelve hundred dollars This
certainly doing handsome thing very handsomely
but not more than another thing few years after
Wishing to sell my house going TO Savannah, / re-
quested friend to call upon the President and ask him
ii he would not like to purchase it and If So what he
would give. Mr.. Adams told him that he had no par
tcular wish to purchase the house. but he would give
fifteen hundred dollars cash and he would be willing
should have six months to look around and If
could not do better This another noble act need
scarcely say hatI sold the house him. and prompt
ly paid
:. Mr. Adams never failed to be IN his pew Sab
bath afternoon, whatever might be the weather. and
was most attentive hearer. After he took pew in
my church. aud became trustee il seemed to
into notice Mr. Crawford the Secretary OF the Treas
ury, and Judge Souhard the Secretary Of the Navy,
each took pew, aud did General Jackson, then a
senator. Here may mention an incident Of which
am reminded by mentioning the same Of Judge South
ard certain debt pressing heavily upon the church,
ono OF the elders Mr. James Handy, and myself were
sent out bcggng expedition, and succeeded in get
ting all that We needed except seven hundred dollars