The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-17
WAS LINCOLN A DEIsTs
Rev. ID. G.. Garrett Discusses the Mar
tyred Presidents Greed.


birthday, an anniversary now made stin
more prominent by its recognition and OBJ
servarce as a holiday IN this state has re-
vived the somewhat worn discussion as 70
whether the martyred president was a be-
lever IN Christianity. II is OF course an
accepted fact OF his biography thai he was
not at any time during his life a member
OF any church: but earnest Christians have
no; been slow 10 claim as their fellow so
great = man as Lincoln, while On the other
hand various writers and speakers have
classsd him among the agnoSIics or the
7 delsts Rev. u. c. Garrett. rector OF ST.
Marks church. took advantage OF the first
Sabbath after Llncoln's anniversary 70 dis
cuss appropriately kst night the subject.
''I.sncoln's Religion
Mr.. CARROTS position summarized Is that
while Lincoln was not q church member,
yet he had a definite creed which would
have qualified him for membership in the
church Of today.
"a few days age" he began. Il was
asked whether Lincoln was not free
thinker. There may be some dispute as
/ 10 the exact meaning OF that term, but
taking & IN i1s common acceptati0n II may
seem strange thai such a question should
be asked. Yet so noted A lecturer as Col
Robert G. IngersoIl places Lincoln in the
same class with Noisalre and Tom Paine,
pronouncIng him g drist. ! have noticed.
too. number Of newspaper clippings re-
Gently which seem 10 cast some doubt upon
his religious belief. IL seems therefore ap-
propr.ate that on this Sunday night fol-
lowing Iincoln's birthday for me 20 speak
OF the religion Of Abraham Lincoln.
First Of all what Col. Ingersoll has
said OF Lincoln Is untrue. And while our
bishops remarks about Ingersoll last
Sunday were 20 a certain extent correct.
as 70 his being charitable rsan. yet IN
TIE broader charity IngeTsol IS backing.
gersoil through the paper OF the town
where was then living, and where In
geEEoI was 10 lecture, In which called
attention 70 rngersosfs position. THAT
according 20 orthodox Christianity Lorg-
fellow Sc IN bell. although IN a beautiful
piece az statGary az Salem Mass. there
Is a scsne depicted, IN which LongfeIicw
appears ST the baptism Of his little grand
child. on which OCCASION waea asked
whether he believed the Apostles creed.
re repise5: I do Notwithstanding this,
Ingersou consigned him 70 hell tie has
a way OF consigning great and good men
10 hell. Just 10 make point Well. IN
xe-soll read my letter. and when he came
10 lecture. instead Of making fun OF -
and holding II W 20 riiiclle, IL scanned
20 make him very angry. He grew very
angry, and said that somebody had writ
ten a letter stat.n. tAat Longtellow be-
Neves thus ard So when hs didn't And
ing my appeal 20 him 10 take him cut.
So I say our bishop vas mistaken when
he pronounced Tnre-soll a man o. chart
~. I an inclined 90 thInsS shat we pat
Ingerso1 On the back too tnGch. He Is a
dishonest man"
Tier. after stating that IL Is difficult
80 CATALOGUES any mans religion (which
term by the way. Mr.. Garrett used
throughout his discourse as meaning re-
iigsous views or bsl.s1. ana that church
membership Is not Indispensable 70 SAL
walton. or. tn otcer words, 20 a saving
faith in Christ. Mr.. Garrett undertook -
show frcrn Iincoln's own acts ard words
his adherence TO The terefs q Christian
ity lie spoke os the great prssz fesst's
regular attendance az church during hiz
lsrein WashlngtonCsiy. ard OF bis actually
taking part in the services, and contend-
e. that IAncosn's well-knowD sincerity
would have forbidden his doing fais Tad
he not been a. heart q believer.
Coming 20 Ltncoln's utterances. the
SPEAKER expressed his own obligation for
material On this point 70 Gen. Charles p.
Cells. OF New York. who some time ago
had q controversy with TngerSon On this
very point Mr. Garrett then quoted from
a speech made by lincoln at Springfield.
tuxt before leaving his home TO assume the
grave responsibilities Of ths presidency;
from his speech in Washington City 70 :
body OF PreshytertanSs from another in
the same city 10 b-e6y OF Meth01tsts. In
which occur the memorable words, God
bless al the churches. and blessed be God
who glSeth Us the churches" from his aa-
dress TO the peace commissioners. FeeTis-
R-v =. isSS: from his military order 81 No
veznSssr Is ls-. enloiring the orderly cb-
saryance OK the sabbath IN the army and
navy: ard frorn hts response 20 a body %
colorei men IN Baltimore. who had pre-
sentsd him with Bfbie. when hs referred
20 that book as ''the best gsft which God
has given 70 nan." From these weil-au-
thensicats5 words of I4ncain. Mr. Garrett
argued that * vas in evidence that LIN
coin believed IN q personal Cod God
who hears prayer. a God who exercises
r~cvf1enEfa1 care over HIS people IN
Christ As tae Savior os the world. IN ths
p4AIe as the best g4f; OF God 20 MAJ. and
IN TIRE aivinesy appointed Sabbath as 3 day
OF rest ard worship
While thus arguing. Ia cisciaiEaes ths
i5ez that ha Was preaching TO bolster Up
a weak cause. Christianity" re sad.
sso@s rot ne~S tire support q even 80
Crezf q nsrse as Izncoin'ss bit ne owe Sc
70 hts memory that be shall be fairly rep
resented,