The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 12

TWELVE THE AXT AG RAP II, BLOOMEfGTO. ILLINOIS, SUNDAY, FEB. IJ. 195. Was Lincoln a Christian? m-'vm Dwight to Decide Whether to Start Development Job Bloomington Writer Recounts Past Research DWIGHT (PNS) Thursday night, March 1, the first "town meeting" of the Dwight commu nity betterment program will be Bloomington's Busiest Furniture 4 Store and here are 9 held at the Dwight Township High School gymnasium.

Dr. Richard W. Poston of Southern Illinois (Abraham Lincoln's religious belief has been the subject of years of inconclusive research by many men. In the following article Elwell Crissey, former newspaper and magazine writer, and now director of his own Bloomington-Normal public relations service, recounts some of the contradictory documented evidence assembled and published by several of these researchers. Editor.) By ELWELL CRISSEY University will conduct the mass session and explain the program.

Those attending will be asked whether or not they wish to conduct a community development program. If the answer is af a few reasons why! What Values! Stafford E. D. Barf! firmative, permanent officers wui be elected, including a chairman. Barff Geneva vice chairman and secretary.

A committee has been appoint During the autumn of 1846 throughout the Seventh Con ed. and has been empowered to Talk To Start gressional District representing accept nominations for the three offices, with the deadline set for Central Illinois, listened to an an iimm xmmi maw i Feb. 28. It is requested that those Adult Series gry election campaign, the hottest issue of which seemed to be nominated must express willingness to run and to serve. The Stafford E.

D. Barff, OBE, di names of, the nominees will be. whether or not one of the candidates was an "infidel." The target was Abraham Lin put before the entire populace at the town meeting, and an election coln. His accuser was the Rev. rector of British Information Services in the Midwest since 1949, will be the speaker at the first in a o.

It kZ A 'Xtk -vT "4 i will be held. Peter Cartwright, fiery Methodist circuit nder and Presiding Elder. The committee members who will handle the nominees are H. Lincoln, the Whig, was contesting series of Adult Education program on foreign affairs Monday night at the Bloomington High School caf Cartwright, the Democrat, for C. Boyer, chairman.

William vacant seat in the Thirtieth Con Steichen, Miss Catherine Wieg-mann. Harvey Gantzert and Ches eteria. gress. Lincoln had never joined ter Pierce. Mr.

Barff will discuss the "New church, and it had been often nv our soldiers, then and there, ticed that whenever somebody appeared on the verge of questioning Look Since Geneva." Time of the meeting is 7:30. Season tickets and consecrated myself to Christ. Yes Lincoln about his personal faith I do love Jesus." single admissions will be available at the door. at once he retired into stony si So, it can be hoped, at last, at long last, Lincoln's great lonely lence. Worse still, he was known to scoff at the camp-meeting type soul found its eternal home.

Soon of religion. Cartwright, a zealous after, the assassin's bullet struck evangelist, believed he could de him down. The word "Jerusalem' stroy his opponent by denouncing A coffee hour will follow the forum session. Mr. Barff, in private business from 1930 to 1940, joined the Information Service in 1940.

He worked with American correspondents attached to SHAEF during World War IL was on the President's lips at him as an infidel. And that was the very moment. Mrs. Lincoln, describing the instant of assassi exactly the kind of attack Cart nation, stated they were quietly wright enjoyed. Criticism Not New conversing together: Nevertheless, Lincoln was elect "He said he wanted to visit the ed, receiving 6,340 votes to Cart- Holy Land and see those places wright's 4,829.

outcome may hallowed by the footprints of the1 Savior. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see you lOHNGf in I Yea SUlf III Ech $(Q50 Section v3)xDj Distinctive sectionals that function as smart and comfortable seats, in decorator settings, by day, and at night open into a deeply luxurious bed! You'll be thrilled with their buoyant famous make construction and special 24-hour comfort! as Jerusalem. And with the word half spoken on his tongue, the bullet of the assassin entered his brain, and the soul of the Presi THE PICTURE ABOVE is considered the finest photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln In existence. The original photograph was made In 1860 by Alexander Hesler, of This portrait, made from a duplicate negative, taken from a brochure prepared by Rand McXally publishers and map makers. Unlike practically all other Lincoln portraits, the face is absolutely unretouched.

The picture Is part of Rand McNally's centennial observance this year. In the brochure, Paul M. Angle, director of the Chicago Historical Society and an eminent Lin-coin scholar, "Most, photographs of have been copied and recopied so often that the true appearance of the man, has been lost beyond recovery. This picture shows him as he was." dent was carried by the angels to the New Jerusalem above." Son's Opinion Some 40 years ago, Robert T. Lincoln, last survivor of the Civil Wan TH-AciArtf a 1 have indicated either frontier indifference to religion, or resentment toward Cartwright's bigotry, or both'.

That Lincoln, then nearing middle age, was vulnerable to this kind of attack was in itself significant. And the 1846 campaign was not the first time Lincoln's religious faith (or lack of it) had been criticized; nor was it to be the last. It is a peculiar truth that mystery has ever been a Lincoln concomitant. From his obscure birth to his assassination, Abraham Lincoln's career and character evolved within shadows. Consequently, both career and character have generated endless controversies.

But nothing about that mysterious, majestic man has ever been more misunderstood rentnrv and haw Tjassed from a me. It showed me my weakness 4rx tuL' youth to an old man. Here my as I had never felt it before, and A paragraph WTitten by children have been born, and one if I can take what you have stat- Isaac Arnold, one-time Repre-is buried. I now leave, not know- ed as a test, I think I can safely Church, usually accompanied by her husband. Dr.

James Smith was then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Springfield. He scarcely knew Lincoln, except by sight. But since Mrs. Lincoln several years earlier had attended it ing when or whether ever I may say that I know something of that and Qr a quarter century rptin-n. with the task before me change of which you speak; and AKJ.

r-srv r- AT STERN i i invAaun ah uHviui a ouiicu greater than that which rested I can lurtner aao, inai friend, was quoted by Robert Lin- 1 upon Washington. Without the as- been my intention for sometime, best summarizin2 his own the Presbyterian Church for a while, Mr. Smith called to com-: fort the bereaved parents. Later sistance of that Divine ueing tnai ai a suuaDie opponuimy, hwm estimate: ro ever attended him, cannot sue- a pudiic reugious pruieaaiuii. "When the unbeliever shall con ceed.

With that assistance I can- Never Joined Church he described his visit thus: vince the people that this man, whose life was straightforward, "I found Mr. Lincoln very much not fail, irusung in mm, wno Tn wainc Lincoln remilar- than his religious convictions. This is not surprising, however, when one discovers that Lincoln's "It Says Here depressed and downcast at the truthful, clear and honest, was a sham and hypocrite, then, but not death of his son, and without the consolation of the Gospel. Up to in 'Mdm Photography thl ono can got ilartorf in amateur pho before, may he make the world can go with me, and remain with ly attende(i New York Avenue you and be everywhere for good, presbyterian Church, both for let us confidently hope that all Sunday services and the midweek will yet be well. To His care prayer meetings, but never joined, commending you, as I hope in His reasons he explained to Con-your prayers you will commend greSsman Henry C.

Deming of this time I had heard but little doubt his Christianity." But it remained for Jesse concerning his religious views. tography for yotf than $5.00. and that was to the effect that he was a Deist and inclined to Fell of Normal, close friend and me, diu you an aiiecuuiiaic Connecticut- Wo will bo happy to lhow yoa hew you con toko 9004 pictwro snnnsnr of I.inmln. -ritine' Sprit fareweU." skepticism as to the divine origin religious views progressively changed all during his life. His faith passed through many tribulations before it came to maturity.

Abraham Lincoln was born into a backwoods environment saturated with ignorance and superstition. The Kentucky frontiersman's natural emotional instability was aggravated by frenzied camp meetings. This hyer-emo-tional religion prevailed also in 'I have never united myseii ioi26, 1870, to Ward H. Lamon of the sincere faith Here sounds of the Scriptures. Though, unlike with a $2.93 Comoro.

of a Deist, or of a Universalist, -ull-IV 1 1 most skeptics, he had evidently Bloomington, to confute old misgivings by a single forthright sen been a constant reader of the perhaps of a devout, praying Uni- 'iy 6 without mental reservation, to the tence: "Abraham Lincoln's prin Bible. which could not be derived from i.comPbc.a "I found him an honest and ciples and practices, and the spirit of his whole life, were of the kind anxious inquirer. He gradually the Old Testament only, ignoring Qrintnroe Tf ie oe terize their articles of belief and Southern Indiana, where Lincoln we universally agree to call revealed the state of his mind and When any Christian." a confessions of faith heart, and at last unbosomed his David's psalms. But Jesus Christ will inscribe over its al- sole for doubts and struggles and unrest tars, as its qualification of soul. In frequent conversations is not mentioned in it spent his adolescence.

But it did not appeal to him. Something in the sensitive young Lincoln revolted against these orgies. If he attended, it was only to ridicule. Often he made them butts of his membership, the Savior con En route East Lincoln spoke I found that he was perplexed and unsettled on the fundamentals of at Columbus and Steubenville, densed statement of the substance of both law and gospel, "Thou Ohio; at Buffalo, Albany and New religion." York City; at Newark and Tren- alt love the 1 Lord Thy God vith loll 4Vit hfiart onH with all thv 1 1 vSL-' $Q50 ton, New Jersey; and at Fhila- Acknowledges Truth Mr. Smith placed in Lincoln's hands a treatise defending the divine authority of the Scriptures.

ribald jokes jokes well remembered in later years by his Indiana friends. Shunned Liquor, Tobacco However, between the years delphia. In each speech he men- ttU tioned the Deity, but never Christ. Lincoln studied it carefully, and Death at White House heart and all my soul." i Family tragedy struck Lincoln Mav rnnsinVr thf 1819 and 1831 his stepmother ex is quoted as saying later, "I have erted a wholesome religious in within a year after he moved into most impressive aspect about been reading a work by Dr. Smith on the evidence of Christianity fluence on him, and he loved her for it.

All biographers agree that and I am convinced of the ijf ,0.0 Abraham Lincoln was his capaci- 20 1862, his 11 year old son Wdbe ty for continuous growth. He -his Pet and favorite-died. Gaz- dem0nstrated this by his gradual truth of the Christian religion." Neglected AUTO REPAIRS Mean Added OPERATING COSTS! EPAOK MOW. PAY LATii! Have ALL Needed Repairs Done At One Time Pay In SMALL WEEKLY PAYMENTS! Most biographers mention the revival at the First Presbyterian iu5 we uujra ystr, wwm acquisition of a Christian's faith, was heard to murmur, "My poor and his ultimate acceptance of young Lincoln held aloof from the coarse depravity around him. He never used tobacco.

He had no taste for liquor, and rarely touched it. One mark of his boyhood Lin Church, Springfield, in 1832, at 100 jopa. "lis Chrisfs churCh. His pastor in tended faithfully night after night tT?" Washington, Dr. Phineas D.

Gur-I know that he is much better off BV bt- by the Lincolns. But when Mrs coln never outgrew. All of his Lincoln made a re-affirmation of I faith, her husband was in Detroit Heaven, but then we loved published by scribner's Magazine, him so. It is hard, hard, to have in julVi 18f3. him die." tu prosecuting a patent case.

Upon Complete $3650 Each Thursday, thereafter, his return he did not apply for membership as the pastor had life he was superstitious, and admitted it. He believed in prophetic dreams (and with some justification in view of subsequent events). In later years he embraced firmly Calvin's doctrine of predestination, a dictum widely coin secluded himself, seeing no after the death of his son mi DOWN" DELIVERS YOUR CHOICE hoped he would do. one wime ne spent me aay aione anH ic vicit tha The seeds of doubt in Lincoln's said, with tears in soul lingered stubbornly. In 1860 w.

Hccuiu, iiiiuiincu riu- vm that ha Via lnct mnK just before the Presidential elec tion, a touching incident is re copal Church, New York. The. that hn Great Values in ported to have occurred at Lin a rLXri uie fre51eni was changed and that he loved coin's Springfield office although the Savior, and, if he was not its veracity has been questioned. respected in the nineteenth century. Never was Lincoln indifferent to devout religion nor unaware of its power, but his approach to it was troubled.

At New Salem, Lincoln discovered Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason," and absorbed much of Paine's skepticism. Years later Cartwright's Newton Bateman, then Illinois rf-f-T CUi deceived in himself, it was his SrT at v' intention soon to make a proles- I.inviin'c ntfiTTifiA frrnvHe rAhmn State Superintendent of Public In I sun of religion." struction, said he showed Lincoln See the Biggest Q.C "ave.ttueiea-... An alleged interview, once very the result of a canvass, revealin Tv widely publicized, further sustains that all but three Springfield min Assortment in Town Lincoln's change of heart-U true. denunciations reflected the after isters plus a large majority of at Stern's UiC Unfortunately, it cannot be veri Springfield church members in effects. By that time many who fied.

O. H. Oldroyd. Washington. Check These Possible Xeeded Repairs motor nT0RQUE TUNE-UP L-1 CONVERTER MOTOR HI AUTOMATIC OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION GRIND PI ELECTRICAL VALVES LJ SYSTEM brakes rn BODY AXD RELLNED L-1 FENDER WORK FRONT WHEEL I I ALIGNMENT CARBURETOR WHEEL CLASS BALANCING LJ REPLACEMENT BATTERY OR TIRE REPLACEMENT POWER PI RESTORE BODY STEERING I1 FTNISII tended to vote against Lincoln knew Lincoln considered him an unbeliever.

During the 1840s at 1 3 5 1 P- c- Lincoln collector and source eluded many religious delegations 4m Josiah G. Holland, in his "Life Down Delivers Delivers of Lincoln," (a source often con Springfield, another skeptical book Ig" ffr sidered debatable) described the Francois Volney "Ruins of Sff' identiry the clergyman quoted. In-SSSt ef ytenans. Episco- credulity by some critics "fAT ending, the incident accords scene: Your Drawing forth a pocket New Choice! aW vac uic with Linrrvln's tpmnnrammt Hnnr In 4. TI I TZZZZ membering his sensitive reti Time'' further impelled him in a wrong direction.

Thereafter, Lincoln, traveling the eighth judicial circuit, apparently enjoyed poking sarcasm at others' religious faith. Politically, he found this an expensive indulgence, and soon stopped it. K. inese cence, his yearning for a faith lesxament, uncoin said, am not a Christian God knows I would be one but I "have carefully read the Bible, and I do not understand this book." With trem OnJ of unshakable, his gradual groping One of these visitors was a tou-arrfs r-hrict ma sjp elnoti'rafter uZrTr of almost unbearable trav The foregoing provides a quick bling voice and his cheeks wet with tears, he continued, "I know there is a God and that He hates injustice and slavery. I see the '1 Lu au: under such circumstances -1 VF the occurrence is altogether plau juuiicu YV1UJ UilCOUl.

Till- I ciMa At A it storm coming, and I know that I'S at least it rings true to character! ROOMY CHESTS His hand is in it. If He has a vignette of Abraham Lincoln's religious faith in his early Springfield years. Life-Long Bible Reader Lincoln's career was checkered with paradoxes. One was his enjoyment of Bible reading all EXPERIENCED SERVICE MEN GENUINE PARTS ALL WORK GUARANTEED! Drive In Tomorrow For Your FREE CHECK-UP and ESTDIATE After several interviews. th Admits Love of Jesus -rJ Good Size Wk 1150 place and work for me and I think He has I believe I woman won Lincoln's confidence.

According to the story, victory 1375 ready. I am nothing, but truth is Privately one day he asked her, was siht and the war almost everything. I know I am right, have a mind to ask you to over, wnen, at the White House because I know that liberty is 0195 give me, in brief, your idea of one day uncoln talked with what constitutes a true relieious visiting Illinois clergyman. Per LI through these very years when he doubted the church. Lincoln began reading the Scriptures at New Salem, and continued through the remainder of his life.

At the White House, years later, Lincoln experience." She sketched the haps sensing some new spiritual Christian fundamentals. emDhasiz- quietus in the Great Emancipa- 0795 ne ine the second birth. me clergyman lelt embold LI The biographer continues: cned to ask the President, "Mr. read often from a time-worn Bi SONS c. w.

right, for Christ teaches it, and Christ is God." Lincoln's Farewell Frequently quoted is Lincoln's exquisite little farewell oration, delivered Feb. 11, 1861, at Springfield in a drizzling rain, from the rear train platform, as Lincoln started for Washington: "My friends, no one, not in my position, can appreciate my feel Mr. Lincoln was silent and Lincoln, do you love Jesus?" To ble, said to have belonged to his thoughtful. After a few moments which Lincoln is alleged to have mother. Eventually he became thoroughly familiar with the Bi he said verv earnestlv: "If what repued solemnly you have told me is really a cor- "When I left Springfield I asked ble, and on occasion quoted long not a Christian.

When I buried Your De SOTO-PLYMOUTH Dealer '51 Years In The Automobile Business" 302 W. Washington SU Bloomington Phone 4-3259 passages from memory. rect view of this great subject, I think I can say with sincerity A turning point in Lincoln's re the people to pray for me. I was my son, the severest trial of my ing of sadness at this parting. To ligious growth occurred February 504 12 X.

MAL ST. life, I was not a Christian. But this place and the kindness of 1, 1850, when his four year old that I hope I am a Christian. I had lived until my boy Willie died without realizing fully these things. That blow overwhelmed Lincoln I these people I owe everything.

son. Eddie, died. Mrs, when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of regularly attended the Episcopal Here I have lived a quarter of a 1 1.