The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-29
Life and Habits Of abraham lincoln

II e Hon. Isaac n. Arnold lectured
last evening in Plymouth Church on
the " Life and Habits of Abraham
Lincoln" Mr.. Arnold, after his in
PRODUCTION by the Hon. Geo. B. Lin
coin, said be was proud to speak of
Abraham Lincoln in a place where
his principles have been so long, so
often. and So ably vindicated, and his
grand character so justly appreciated.
Cowper, said the lecturer, has sketch
ed in his Pioneers " one of the loft
lest characters to be found in poetry
or fiction in his ideal man of the
frontiers. In his hero he has de-
scribed a man of the greatest good
ness of heart, of the most direct
and guileless simplicity of character,
a man who never knew fear, of great
natural sagacity, nobility, and truth,
and to this creation of genius
Abraham Lincoln bore in all his
life a very close resemblance The
hero of the Pioneers " was not
purer, not Drawer. in spirit, or more
tender toward woman, not of higher
or truer type of gentleman, than the
pioneer backwoO0sman of the prairies.
Mr.. Arnold then recounted the labors
Of the early life of Mr.. Lincoln, and
his. struggles to-obtain an education,
and said that having known him for
more than twenty years in~puolic and
private lie, he would affirm that
everything he either said or did was,
honest, truthful, frank, generous.
manly - his personal character was
without a .blemish, The lecturer then
read a quotation from letter written
byFGen. Sherman, in which he. said
that God In giving to America two
such men as w ashington and Lincoln,
gave US the greatest aids that could
be given toward the formation of a
nationality, a higher purer, more
Christian civilization than any
which has gone before. /. 1t was
not until 1856 that Abraham
Lincoln became known to the nation. :
From that time, after the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, until the
overthrow of slavery, 1t was the long
head and the stout heart of the Hi =
nois rail-splitter that was to guide the
tempest and direct the storm of the
great conflict. Planting his foot firm
" on the prineiples.of the Declaration
of Independence, believing in the
brotherhood of man, and with the
people for his guide. be entered upon
his tempestuous political career, lead
ing through, the the Presidential man
sion tosa martyrs grave. As an Illus
tration ef his political and moral
character, the Speaker said that
Hro6a6ne Is memBerEof Congress once
asked Mr.. Lincoln why he did not
ioihsa church; to which, after men
tioning some doubts that he felt in
regard to some articles Of faith he
made reply: Whenever any church
will inscribe over its altar, as its
sole rule of faith, : Thou q shalt
love the + Lord /. thy God &c,
that church win L join with my whole
heart MIR. lincoln, notwithstand-
ing his want Of early educational
training, was thoroughly at home in
all thf liberal studies and scientific
quesi ans Of the day. He had mas
tered i%uciid and made some progress
in Lati!ls and knew the Bible more
thoroQ b y than many who have spent
their ,Egfe ~ its perussi, and in it he |
had thEppgIh9qt the most implicit con
hdenee aud faith AIR. LincoInswas /
indebted, inca great measure for his |
success. to his competitors. :. Thirty I
years ago there used to- gather, in an |
Illinois log hut, around a plain deal |