The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-02-04
LINCOLN AND MRS. CUR
NEY.


volume OF the Society OF Friends. en-.
titled the annual Monitor for 1883.
1t is related in connection. with q
memoir of the late Mrs. E. p. Cur
ney, widow OF the well known
Quaker, Mr.. Joseph John Quincy, of
Norwich, On her husband g decease
Mrs. Gurrty returned to America,
the land of er birth, and chiefly re.
sided for the remainder of her life at
Burlington, in New Jersey. She was
one of the recognized lady preachers
OF the Society OF Friends, ard as such
undertook several missionary jour.
neys. Dur;2g the terrible civil war
she telt great sympathy Tor the very
difficult and responsible position In
which President Lincoln had been
placed by the course OF events, and
che believed il to be her duty to seek
an interview with him for the pur-
pose of endeaVoriDg TO animate him
by religious exhortstion and prayer.
In company with three of her friends
as companions, she proceeded to
Washington. What followed is thus
described in the memoir in the An
nuGI Monitor, which is written by an
English bsrrister, a Friend. who was
intimately acquainted with Mr.. ]. j.
Quincy and herself:
''It was a critical period in the
autumn OF 1862. The armies of Lee
and Mcclellan we're confronting each
other in the neighborhood OF Wash.
ington, and the president, finding the
capital in danger, had issued q call
fol several hundred thousand addi-
tional troops. Every available mo-
mont of his time was precious, and
two days were spent by Mrs. Quincy
and the friends who accompanied her
in fruitless efforts to see him. They
had given up all hope, when, to use
her own words, "the great iron door
seemed to open Of itself, and a most
interesting interview We had It was
on Sunday morning, in a beating
rain, that the little party repaired to
the white house, where they were at
once introduced into the private
apartment OF President Lincoln.
They quickly recognizedihis tall, com.
handing figure as he rose to receive
them, and the cordial grasp OF his
hand, as they we're separately named
to him, at oncs placed them at ease.
Deep thoughtfalness and intense anx.
iety marked his countenance and Gre
ated involuntary sympathy for him
in this great national crisis. He at
first supposed Mrr. Quincy to be from
England but was soon undeceived.
She gave him TO understand that it
vac no motive of idle curiosity which
had induced her to seek such an in
;erView, but that she had come in the
eve of the gospel OF our Lord and
saviour, Jesus Christ, that blessed
gospel which breathes GLORY to God
n the highest; on earth peace, good
will toward men, She then pro-
,eeded to assure him OF the deep
which, in common with
he other members of the Sosiety of
and, indeed, with every
rue-hearted citizen OF the United
states, she had felt for the president
n his srduous duties. He listened
With respectful attention while she
,aimly unfolded an address, the de-
livery of which occupied about fifteen
her religious wishes on his
behalf. She then knelt in fervent
for him and her country.
L was an affecting scene. The little
party stood in reVerential awe, the
president appearing bowed in heart
lnder the weight of his responsible
les. The bright waters OF the Poto-
mac we're glistening in the distance,
upon the banks of which stood, even
,hen, two opposing armies, srrayed
against each other, awaiting the aw-
iul moment when they should meet
n mortal combat.
"As Mrs. Quincy was leaving the
president took her hand, and, holding
i for few moments in silence, said,
n q very deliberate manner: I am
glad OF this interview. III the very
situation IN which am
placed, as an humble instrument in
The Lands Of my heavenly Father.
| have desired that all my words and
actions may be in accordance with
bis will; but If, after endeavoring to
do my best, with the light he affords
me, I find my efforts fail, then
must believe that. for some purpose
unknown TO me, He wills it otherwise.
If l had had my way, this war would
never had been, but nevertheless it
came. II had had my way this war
would have ended before this; but
il still continues. We
must conclude that He permits it for
some wise purpose, though We may
not be able to comprehend it. For
We cannot but believe that he who
made the world still governs it. /
repeat that I am glad OF this inter-
view
Some time afterward Mrs. Quincy
addressed letter to President Lin.
boln, to which, after a considerable
interval he replied as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, Sept. 4, 1864
Eliza P. Gurney;
My Esteemed Friend: 1 have no! for
gotten, probably never shslI forget.
the very impressive occasion when