The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-24
THEY EARNED FAME
Washington and Lincoln Set an Ex-
ample for Mankind.
REV. Mr.. GROENEVELD'S TALK
The Christian Faith OF the Martyr
President His Dependence
In the Divine Being-A
Scriptural Lesson.
REV. Mr.. GROENEvELD'S TALK

terlan cnurcn yesterday was devoted TO
thoughts on patriotism, and Rev. E. j.
Groeneveld the pastor. delivered two
eloquent and instructive sermons on
Washington and Lincoln.
The Lincoln anniversary on the 18th
and the Washington anniversary on the
22d suggested a number of lessons ap-
propriate to our day and present con-
ditions. The text was: "A Good Man
Leaves an Inheritance to Children's
Children" The order in which the story
of each life was told was Lincoln first
then Washington. I'VE love the father
of his country" said Mr.. Groeneveld,
but somehow the savior of ii comes
closer to us in time, as well as in the
ordinary sympathies of our common
lives. Abraham Lincoln is in a true
sense the first American, the most illus
trious birth of the new nation. 1t may
be profitable to inquire why the fame
of these two men endures, and what the
principles were that make them the
most precious heritage to-day. In youth
they were earnest, full of purpose, high
minded, loyal to manly ideals, steering
with a steadfast helm towards a lofty
goal. The present demands such men
with heroic souls, unselfish patriotism
and exalted manhood. The biography
of good and great man is stimulating
and helpful. 1t is an inspiration to the
young, and a source of instruction to
those in the midst of the active strug-
giles of life.
1T is now more than 80 years since
the mightiest funeral procession that
this land ever saw wended its way from
Washington to Springfield, and yet, at
this distance, the fame of him who lay
In that coffin rises up in higher and
larger proportions with every passing
day. The facts are few: Born in a log
hut eighty-five years ago, later woods
mn N nd ola In
islator, congressman, president, mar
tyr, going to his crown of glory with
100000 of letters in his good right
hand! What's the use of telling a story,
however fascinating, which every boy
and girl in our schools is familiar with?
Here are some traits of the man that
may not be so well known, the first Of
which was his respect for the Bible:
Shortly before his death he wrote to
the Hon. Joshua Speed: L am profita-
bly, engaged in reading the Bible. Take
all of this Book upon reason that you
can, and the balance on faith, and you
will live and die a better man. After
his first election to the presidency and
before Inauguration, in letter to Judge
Joshua Gillespie, he said: L have read
on my knees the story of Gethsemene,
where the Son of God prayed in vain
that the cup of bitterness might pass
from Him / am in the Garden of
Gethsemene now, and my cup of bitter
ness is full and overfiowingr Alexander
Williamson, a tutor in the presidents
family in Washington, said that Mr..
Lincoln very frequently studied the
Bible with the aid of Cruden's Concord
ance, which lay on his table He once
addressed the annual meeting of the
Springfield Bible society, and in the
course of his remarks said: 1T seems to
me nothing short OF infinite wisdom
could by any possibility have devised
and given to man this excellent and
perfect code (the decalogue) 1t is suit
ed to men in all the conditions of life,
and inculcates all the duties they owe
to their Creator, to themselves. and
their fellow menv He wrote of the BIZ
BILE that this Great Book of God is the
best gift which God has ever given to
man. and that all things desirable for
man to know are contained in it, His
second inaugural, which even the hos
tile London Times called the most su-
blime state paper of this century, gives
evidences of Mr.. Lincoln's appreciation
of the force and beauty of Bible lam
guage, and showed that he was thor
oughly familiar with the book.
"Lincoln's trust in God was also a
prominent trait in his character. We
here find perfect trust in one who was
no saint at ALL He believed in God he
believed in Christ also. His faith grew
stronger the very last. He relied upon
God to help him in the face of the ire
mendous responsibilities. 1 might cite
scores of instances to prove his unfal-
tering trust in the Almighty God. When
all was gloom and despair during the
war, he would not give up; when 9TH
ers were discouraged he stood firm as
rock. Human hands could not help
him bear his burden, so he fed to God.
Three or four years before he became
president his friends advised him to be
more polite In his utterances respect
ing slavery, as they might cost his DO
litical preferment. He said: L know
there is a God and that He hates the
injustice of slavery. / see the storm
coming. and knw that His hand is in
II. II He has a place and a work for
me, and think He has, believe / am
ready. I am nothing, but truth is
everything. / know 1 am right, because
i know that liberty is right, for Christ
teaches IL, and Christ is Cod The Bible
teaches that this is the trust that God
delights to bless
Mr.. Lincoln was also a man OF
prayer After the battle OF Gettysburg.
when General Sickles, wounded almost
to death, was brought to Washington.
the president was his first caller. After
making anxious inquiries about the |
personal condition OF the general. he |
inquired of him about the battle. MFR. |
Slckles went into all the details. and |
when Mr.. Lincoln had finished his in |
quiries, the general turned to him and /
said: President Lincoln, what do you |
think of Gettysburg? The answer 1
was: L had very little thought about \
Why, that is strange I
said the general. L understood there
was CONSERVATION in the city of Wash !
ington when Lee went over into Penn
sylvania.' Mr.. Lincoln said: so there
was. and Stanton and Wells put some
Of the most important archives of the
upon the gunboats. and 4
they wanted me to go there for safety,
but 1 declined. I said l had no fear
about Gettysburg 'How's that, Mr. /
Lincoln?' Well. will tell you. IL you
viii never tell anybody. Before the
battle Of Gettysburg. l went into my
little room in the white house and / /
got down on my knees and l prayed 10