The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-06-22
Mistellaneuns.
MIR. LINO0LN's RELIGIOUS FAITH
AND CONVICTIONS.

AND CUNVlUTlUNS.
II has been moro than year since the death OF
President lincoln, and the country still mourns
for him scarcely less than during the first month
after his decease. The sorrow felt in view of his
loss Is deepencd rs We learn moro of his true
character as compared with that of his successor
The conversation of which the following Is an
account, took place in room occupied by him In
the State House Mt Springfield, ILL.,, during the
fall and winter previous to his leaving for Wash
ington;
Mr.. Newton Bateman. Superintendent Of Pub:
lie Instruction for the State Of Illinois. occupied
q room adjoining and opening into the Executive
Chamber. Frequently this door was open dur
Ing Mr.. Lincoln's receptions; and throughout the
seven months or more of bis occupation, MIR.
B,tcman saw him nearly every day. Often when
Mr.. Lincoln was tired he closed the door against
all intrusion. and called Mr. Bitemnn into his
room for quiet talk. On one of these occasions
Mr.. Lincoln took up book containing careful e,
ell, showing the candidate for whom each citizen
had declared IL his intention to vote in the np-
preaching election. Mr.. Lncoln's friends hail.
doubtless at his own request, placed the result or
the canvass In his hands. This was toward the
close of October, and only few days before the
election. Calling Mr. Ba,eman TO n seat at his
side, having previously locked oil the doors, no
said: 'Let us look over the book. wish partic-
uarly to see how tho ministers Of Springfield arc
going to vote" The leaves were turned, one hy
one and rs tho names were examined, MIR. LIN
coin frequently asked if this one and that were
not minister. or an elder, or the member OF such
and such church, and sally expressed his sur
prise on receiving nm Affirmative answer. In that
manner they went through the book, and then he
closed II and sat silently and for some minutes re-
yarlng n memorandum In pencil which lay be-
fore him At length he turned to Mr.. Bateman,
with face full of sadness, and said: "llcre arc
twenty. three ministers, OF different denomna.
tons, and all Of them arc against me but three;
aud here arc great many prominent members OF
che churches, q very large majority OF whom are
against me. Mr.. Datcman, am not q Christian
God knowoI would be one-but have carefully
read the Bible, md I do not So understand this
books" and he drew from his bosom a pocket New
Testament. "These men well know" he con.in-
ued, "that nm for freedom in the territories,
freedom everywhere as TAR ms the Constitution and
laws will permit, and that my opponents are for
slavery. They know this, and yet. with this book
in their hands, In the light of which human bon
dage cannot live moment, they are going to vote
against mel do not understand 1t at all"
Here Mr.. Lincoln paused--paused for long min
utes, his features surcharged with emotion. Then
he rose and walked up and dowh tho room In the
effort to retain or regain his self.possession.
Stopping at last, he said, with trembling voice
anil his checks wet with tears: ~ know there Is
a God. and that he hates injustice and slavery. !
see the storm coming, and know that Ills hand
is In it.-If lie has place and work for me-and
think lie has-I believe | am ready. lam moth
because know that liberty is right, for Christ
teaches It, and Christ |, God. I have told them
that a house divided against itself cannot stand,
and Christ and reason say the same; and they Will
iud It so. Douglas don't care whether slavery Is
voted up or voted down, But God cares, and hu.
manity cares, and l care; and with Gods help
shall not fail. may no! see the end; but 1t will
come and shall be vindicated; and these men
will find that they have not read their Bibles
Alright"
Much of this was uttered as II he were speaking
TO himself, and with sad and earnest solemnity
of manner impossible to be described. After q
pause, he resumed:-"Doesn't It appear strange
that men can ignore the moral aspects OF this
contestI A revelation could not make 1t palmer
to me that slavery or the government must he de.
stroyed. The future would be something awful,
AS look at Il, but for this rock on which stand"
(alluding to the Testament which he still held In
his hand,) especially with the knowledge o! how
these ministers are going to vote. II seems rs II
God had borne with this thing lslavery) until the
very teachers Of religion have come to defend 1t
from the Bible. and to claim for 1t divine char
actcr and sanction; and now the cup Of iniquity,
Is full, and the vals of wrath will be poured out "
His last reference was to certain prominent
clergymen In the south, Drs. Ross and Palmer
among the number: and he went on to comment
on the atrociousness and essential biaspheny ol
their attempts to defend American slavery from
the Bible After this the conversation was con-
tinued for long time -Everything he said was
of a peculiarly deep, tender and religious tone,
and all was tinged with touching melancholy.
lie repeatedly referred to his conviction that the
day of wrath was ut hand, md that he was to be
an actor in the terrible struggle which would Is.
sue m the overthrow Of slavery, though he might
not live to see tho end. He repeated many pas:
sages of the Bible, and seemtd specially impressed
with the solemn grandeur Of portions OF kevela-
ton, describing the wrath Of Almighty God. In
the course Of the conversation, he dwelt much up.
on the necessity Of faith 10 the Christians doi'
as an element OF successful statcsmauship, espec'
ally In times like those which were upon MN, ana
said that II gave that calmness and tranquility oi
mind, that assurance Of ultimate success, which
made a man firm and immovable amid the wiidest
exc,tements. Alter further reference to belief
in Divine Providence, and the fact OF God In MS
tory, the conversation turned upon prayer. lie
freely stated his belief in the duty. privilege and
efficiency OF prayer, and intimatea: IN NO uh.
misiakable terms, that he had sought IN 'ha way
the Divine guidance and favor. =,
Tho effsct Of this conversation upon the mind o'
Mr.. Bateman,, a Christian gentleman whom MT.
Lincoln profoundly respected: Was TO convince
him that Mr.. Lincoln had, In his quiet way, found
path to the Christian stand point that no had
found God, and rested on the eternal truth o.
| Mr.. B,temsu remarked: "I have not supposed
that you were accustomed to think 90 much upon
this class Of subjects. Certainly your friends
generally are ignorant of the sentiments you have
expressed to me-" lie replied quickly: 81 know
they arc. am obliged to appear different to
them; but think more on these subjects than
upon ali Others, and have done 90 for years
and I am willing that you should know IT..
This remarkable conversation furnishes go'di.
en- link in the chain Of Mr. Lincoln's history. II
flashes strong light upon the path he had already
trod, and illumnstes every pete of his suoseqSsn'
record. Men have wondered at his abounding
charity, his love of men, his equanimiy under
mos. distressing b: PssnI: Pssesi:
under insult and misrepresentation, nn Ssn0si. ~.
cousideration OF tho feelings OF the humble, nii
Apparent incapaoity Of ressntmsnt, hh loys. 9 o.
justice his transparent simplicity his y, 'LuinsS. S.sn
ti6,l and nnshsken faith IN the triumph OF ths
right Ihsre was undoubtedly ,somesnlng la nu