The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-25

guished speaker. render this occasion most
suspicious and significant. Time cannot eff
face the memory Of the immortal Lincoln,
nor the passing years dim the glory of his
illustrious life. Born in adversely, reared
in poverty, his great nature was schooled
in sympathy for the poor and the OPP
pressed. He was a divinely chosen leader
to guide this Nation through years of inn
minent peril He proclaimed freedom to a
race in bondage. He removed the bhghting
curse that had separated families, divided
churches rent i'm twain political parties
and was threatening the dismemberment or
the Union. Through the long, dark years
of war, with unwavering faith and unfal-
tering courage, this patient leader meekly
endured the Jeers of adverse criticism, 'ur
I'll vlndicated by his supreme triumph. the
world FASTENED to make amends for its
cruel censure and to honor him in the light
OF his true, transcendent worth
HE had gained the summit of human
fame from which he passed into the I'M
seen, bearing the broken shackleS of four
million slaves, leaving behind a Nation
ages yet to come the poet will laud the
virtues, the historian record the deeds and
the orator extol the greatness of our mar
tyred President, Abraham Lincoln. You
are to be congratulated tonight upon the
favored privilege of hearing an orator
worthy of this great theme, a speaker
bounds. have the honor to present to you
Bishop Fowler"
Just at the close Bishop Fowler arose and
was given the Chautauqua salute. hundreds
of handkerchiefs waving before him to
show the welcome accorded The speaker
began by saying: Gods prophets have the
right of way. They come by night. open a
new door plant a new republic Mankind
cannot forget Abraham, Moses, Pericles,
st. Paul. Richelieu, Cromwell or Washing
ton" Abraham Lincoln he pictured as
possessing the great qualities of each of
these noble men. With calm, clear sem
fences Bishop Fowler told of the lowly be-
ginning of Lincoln, of his birth and early
life i'm a shack hut his scanty education,
his copying on a wood shovel, with piece
of charcoal the matter he found in the
few books he could get The bishop de-
scribed his limited schooling, his six
books, the Bible, Pilgrims Progress, .
Weems's Life of Washington" a history
Of the United States and law book; of
his good sturdy physique, his wrinl1led
visage and his face, 1.-The saddest face you
ever saw" His strength made him a
chieftain in the wilderness and fitted him
to carry the burden for four years of a
nations destiny, and made him the judge
of a nations life" said the lecturer. ma
ture made him of the best material to wade
through torrents of blood and tempests of
fire.
The speaker drew attention to the con-
ditions of Illinois in the early forties. He
referred to William Lloyd Garrison's pa
per, which made the South frantic. In the
recital he told of many incidents more or
less familiar to those who have read of
the great martyred President. The thrill
ing scene of the nomination of Lincoln in
Chicago, and the graphic style in which
Bishop Fowler told it made each one feel
as if he had been a witness OF the event.
All the problems of the hour which con-
fronted Lincoln were recited until the
audience was in thorough sympathy with
the condition of affairs at the time.
The task that was given to Lincoln the
speaker considers the greatest that was
ever given to a single man to perform The
relations of Mr.. Lincoln with members of
his Cabinet, public men, private individuals
were all touched upon and interesting m
cidents cited. His strength and power. as
well as his wonderful gentleness, were
combinations that brought forth some of
the greatest state papers ever produced.
On and on through all of the discourse the
audience listened closely, frequently APP
plauding. The last of the lecture was de-
voted to the strong religious character of
Lincoln, and frequent amens came from
the clergy, who formed large part or the
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