The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-14

throughout the country. Somebody cut these
editorials out of the different numbers OF the
paper, and mailed them oil to the President
under one envelope. One rainy Sunday he took
them from his drawer, and read them through
to the very last word. One or two OF the artt-
cles were in Mr.. Beechers strongest style, and
criticized the President in no measured terms
| As MIR. Lincoln finished reading them, his face
| flushed up with indignation. Dashtng the pack
age to the floor, he exclaimed Is tiny servant
a dog, that he should do this thingP
The excitement however, soon passed off.
| leaving no trace behind of ill-will towards Mr..
| Beecher: and the impression made upon his
| mind by the criticism was lasting and excellent
Mr. Lincoln's popularity with the soldiers and
| the people is well illustrated in the following
Incidents
| been made in 1864 discussion arose in a GER
| tain regiment of the Army OF the Potomac as to
| the merits of the two candidates. Various
opinions had been warmly expressed, when at
| length German spoke. 81 goes y said he "fOr
| Fader Abraham. Fader Abraham, he likes the
| soldier-boy. Ven he serves tree years he gives
him four hundred tollar, and re-enlists him Won
| veteran. Now Fader Abraham, he serve four
| years. We re-enlist him four years more, and
make UOn UettTdn OF hln.n
The night following the election. clergyman
of Middletown, Conn.,, at torchlight display,
| exhibited a transparency over his door, with
| quotation from Genesis xxi. l5:-"The angel of
the Lord called unto Abraham out OF heaven
second time"
A few days before the renauguration of Mr..
Lincoln, my picture was placed temporarily on
exhibition in the Rotunda of the Capitol. As
the workmen were raising it to its place, over
the northern door leading TO the Senate Cham
Der, group gathered in front of It, among
whom was Policeman R, OF the Capitol
squad. As the painting reached its position.
wandering sunbeam Crept in from the top OF the
great dome and settled full upon the mead OF
Mr.. Lincoln, leaving all the rest OF the picture
in shadow. The effect was singular and won
derful. Look p exclaimed the enthusiastic
R, pointing to the canvas; that is as it
should be. God bless him; may the sun shine
upon his head forever"
1t is of interest to know of Mr.. Lincoln's
religious feelings, and Of these Mr.. Carpenter
speaks from personal knowledge
Much has been said and written, since Mr..
Lncolns death, in regard to his religious eXpe-
rience and character. Two or three stories have
been published, bearing upon this point, which
/ nave never been able to trace TO a reliable
source; and feel compelled to state my belief
that the facts in the case-if there were such
have received in some way an unwarranted en-
bellishment. Of all men in the world, the late
President was the most unaffected and truthful.
He rarely or never used language loosely or
carelessly, or for the sake OF compliment He
was the most Indifferent to the effect he was
producing, either upon official representatives
or the common people, OF any man ever in pub
lie position.
\
would scarcely have called Mr.. Lincoln Teti-
qiOuS man. and yet believe him to have been
sincere Christian. A constitutional tendency to
dwell upon sacred things, an emotional nature
which finds ready expression in religious con-
versation and revival meetings the culture and
development of the devotional element till the
expression of such thought and experience be-
comes habltual, were not among his character
istics. Doubtless he felt as deeply upon the
great questions of the soul and eternity as any
other thoughtful man; but the very tenderness
and humility OF his nature would not permit the
exposure OF his lnmost conviction, except upon
the rarest occasions, and TO his most intimate
friends. And yet, aside from emotional express
sion, believe no man had more abiding sense
Of his dependence upon God, or faith in the
divine government, and in the power and ulti-
mate triumph of truth and right IN the world.
The Rev. j. 2, Thompson OF New York, in an
| admirable discourse upon the life and char
| acter of the departed President very Justly OBJ
| served:-"lt is not necessary to appeal to apo
| cryphal stories-which illustrate as much the
assurance of his visitors as the simplicity of his
| taith-for proof of Mr. LincoIn's Christian char
acter." II his daily life and various public ad-
dresses and writings do not show this, surely
nothing can demonstrate it.
Fortunately there is sufficient material before
the public upon which to form judgment IN
this respect, without resorting to apocryphal
resources.
The Rev. Mr.. Wlllets, of Brooklyn, gave me
an account of conversation with Mr.. Lincoln,
on the part of lady of his acquaintance, con-
QeCteQ Win Gne 'ClrlSlan COmnl1SSlO0," VINO
in the prosecution OF her duties had several in
terviews with him. The President, it seemed,
had been much impressed with the devotion
and earnestness of purpose manifested by the
lady, and ON one occasion, after she had dis
charged the object OF her visit, he said to herr
'Mrs. -, / have formed high opinion OF
your Christian character, and now, as we are
alone, have mind to ask you to give me, IN
briet, your idea of what constitutes true reli
gious experience The lady replied at some
length stating that in her Judgment it con-
! sisted of conviction of ones own sinfulness
and weakness, and personal need of the Saviour
| for strength and support; that views OF mere
| doctrine might and would differ, but when one
| was really brought to feel his need of divine
help, and to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit fol
| strength and guidance, it was satisfactory evil
| dence OF MS having been born again. This was
| the substance of her reply. When she had con
cluded, Mr.. Lincoln was very thoughtful for 9
| few moments. He at length said, very earn
| estly, IF what you have told me is really cor
rect view OF this great subject, / think can say
| with sincerity that ! hope am a Christian.
had lived" he continued. until my boy Willie
| died, without realizing fully these things. Tha
| blow overwhelmed me. 1t showed me my weak
| ness as had never felt it before, and ii l car
| take what you have stated as test think
can safely say tnat l know something of thai
/ change OF which you speak; and will further
add, that it has been my intention for some
time, at suitable opportunity, to make a pub
lie religious profession"
Mr.. Noah Brooks, In some "Reminiscences
already quoted from in these pages gives thC
| following upon this subject
Just after the last Presidential election h,
aid:-'Being only mortal, after all, l SHOULD
have been q little mortified if / had been beatel
| IN this canvass; but that sting would have beef
| more than compensated by the thought that tn
| people had notified me that all my official re
| sponsiblities were soon to be lifted Off my back
| In reply to the remark that he might remembe
that in all these cares he was daily remembered