The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-02-08

lhe FOLLOWING would nave appear.
ed last week but owing to a faiure.of
the mails did not reach us in time. /
Having promised the writer before
last issue that it should appear, aud
the fault that it did not reach us not
being his, we give it place, but no
further discussions of the kind will be
admitted, -EDIToR,
Reviewer Reviewed.
My excuse for this article Is that | am
advertised in the Free Thought column
of the SITTER by IL, A. Il. as having do
rived my statement that Abraham Lin
coin once ''wrote and published book to
dlsprove the divine origin of the scrip
lures" from every erroneous authority"
The word, published in my statement
should have been modified by the phrase,
intended TO, The error was most prob
ably NINE and not the printers, but is
non ssential. As some of II. A. Us ar
guments against my statement are not
covered by my every erroneous authori-
ty" preface my defense with birds
eye view" of his strong reasons. First,
"Lincoln's Whole career" No more fault
to fnd with it than with the daily motion
of the sun, but 1t don't prove that he was
born the second time. A similar case is
on record and Jesus said some thing thou
lackest." Second. "One of his most au-
thentic biographers, Isaac Arnold"
never had an introduction to Isaac, but
know about Benedict Arnold and know
that Washington kept rope in "pickle"
for his neck. Now Isaac please give us
the number and names of the church
members that "sat" In the executive
chair" before Lincoln so that We can
judge of their "reverent' Christianity.
"He not only himself continually prayed
for Divine assistance but constantly ask
ed the prayers Of his friends for himself
and his country" Was that what he
twas at Isaac when he was assassnated
in Ford's theater CONTINUALLY" and
"constantly" are strong words and Meth
er Lincoln nor anyone else ever answered
that description. The statement is false
on the face of it. How dared you make
it, Isaac? Did you think the fate of
poor Ananias was in 'innocuous desue-
tude ?" ellis faith In Divine Provi-
dence began at his mothers knee and ran
through all the changes of his life."
What pity Isaac that you didn't trace
that faith to the anxious seat, to convic-
tion and conversion, to baptism, to church
membership, to Rev. to D. D. You must
know Isaac that "his mothers knee" was
in the coffin before he was ten years old,
and you must know that the little boy
was bubbling over with fun and that
when he went to meeting at all he went
for fun. You must know that that little
boy was choke-full of the seeds Of the
jokes and storytelling. the fun-loving
and flaming wit of the man, Abraham
Lincoln. All you have got to do, Isaac,
is to say am sorry. Goodbye.
Thirdly. Hollands Life of Lincoln.
Of the Holland-Bateman story, Lincoln's
old law partner, w. H. Herndon, to
whom he turned over his interest when
he left Springfield for Washington, says
in a published letter, II know the whole
story is untTue-untrue in substance, I'M
true in fact, and spirit" And further
t'The idea that Mr.. Lincoln carried the
New Testament or Bible in his bosom or
boots to draw on his opponents in debate
ia Ridiculous Hon david Davis IT g
Senator from Illinois in q published let
ter says "The idea that Lincoln talked
to stranger about his religion or relig-
ious views or made such speeches, re-
marks etc. about it as are published is to
me absurd. | knew the man. 50 we'll he
was the most reticent, secretive man
ever saw or expect to see." Ward II.
Lamon In his life of Lincoln says:
"There is no dealing with Mr.. Bateman
except by fat contradiction" page
50l.)
Fourthly But II. A. Us last and
knock-down argument that especially
shows how absolutely erroneous is the
statement that Abraham Lincoln once
"wrote book to disprove the Divine Or
igin of the scriptures" is drawn from his
writings and speeches, F." "second inaug-
| ural address and reply to Baltimorians
who presented him Bible. Assuming
that Mr.. Lincoln ID correctly quoted l of
fer in Offset the following: Ward H. La
mon in his life of Lincoln says: When
he Oincoln) came to New Salem he con-
sorted with free thinkers, joined with
them IN deriding the gospel history of
Jesus, read Volney & Paine and then
wrote deliberate and labored essay
wherein he reached conclusions similar
to theirs. The essay was burnt but he
never denied or regretted its composition.
On the contrary he made it the subject
of free and frequent conversation with
his friends at Springfield and stated with
much particularly and precision the ORR
gin, arguments and objects of the work.
1t was not until after Lincoln's death
that his alleged orthodoxy became the
principal topic Of his eulogists; but since
then the effort on the part of some polit-
ical writer's and speakers toimpress the
public mind enormously. seems to have
been general and systematic.
W. H Herndon says: The points that
Mr.. Lincoln tried to demonstrate in his
book were: First. That the Bible was
not Gods revelation; and second, that
Jesus was not the son of God.
w. d. Herndon: About the year 1884
he( Lincoln) chanced to come aLross Vol
ney's Ruins and some of Pains theolo9i-
oil ,,.l,rl.r ~ s-l,izal Lcll ..f