Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-18
LINCOLN'S ANNIVERSARY.
Rev. r. s. Wheeler'S Address Upor
the Life of Abraham Lincoln.

\ special program had been pre-
pared by members of the COngrega-
tional church to commemorate Lin
coins anniversary on Sunday evening
last. a large audience was present.
The readings, recitatiOnS and singing
were all fine and creditably rendered.
The pastor delivered the following
address upon Lincoln:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
80 ] returned and considered all
the expressions that are done under
the sun, and behold the tears of such
rs were oppressed and they had no
comforter. EcclesiaSteS fl.
Sacredly conspicuous in the annals
Of history, towers sublime in its
peaceful repOse the lofty figure of him
upon whose broad shoulders for five
years of mOmentOuS national events,
at the most crucial test of our national
history, rested the burden of national
existence. His was the unique life
the great unSOlVed mystery of the
WeSt-aS mysterious and unexplained
as some untraCked, traced comet flash
ing up in our heavens, eClipSing ali
celestial yiSitantS in magnitude and
brilliancy for a brief period and then
vanishing us suddenly from the field
OF the telescope, yet this very life, in
It's simple granduer and greatness,
holds the. mind and enchains the
hearts best affections of poet and
peasant, philosopher, craftsman and
statesman with deathleSS fascination
and reverence. EmblaZoned on the
i
sons in letters brilliant beyond COM
pare, nation freed from bitter and
lnSatiate rapaCity, to-day, in fond re-
membrance, records the name of him
whose herCulean efforts broke the
shackles of CALLING slavery and pro-
claimed through greater than King
emancipation of a human being to
whom life was as sacred as his tyran-
meal liege lord and maSter-that mar
Vicious prodigy of modern timeS-the
sphinx OF the SangamOn-Ab raham
Lincoln.
We celebrate the birthdays OF noble
and g0dlike men whose names have
been inscribed upon the roll of fame
because of great craftsmanship, mill
tary achievements or the production
of some masterpiece in literature, art
or music. The day will never dawn
when the story of their lives and in
tiuence may fade as a sunset after the
days glory. They may no longer live
among us in living presence, but their
memories continue on and still on and
their deathleSS renOwn will ever in
Spire with the passion of divine en-
thusiasm the passing generations OF
men.
In the sentiments of that gifted
southern orator, Henry WaterSOn,
words most beautiful, truthful and
tender-with-all an elegant tribute to
the great cOmmOner ahd emancipation,
our greater than Oliver Cromwell
Abraham Lincoln: Born as lOwly as
the Son of God, reared in penury and
SQualor with no CLEAN Of light or fair
surroundings, 1t was reserved for this
strange being, late in life. without
name or fame or seeming preparation,
to be Snatched from ObScurity, raised
to supreme command. at a supreme
moment and entrusted with the deS-
tiny of d nation. Where did Shake
speare get his genius? Where did
Mozart get his music? Whose hand
SmOte the Tyre of the Scottish plOw-
man, and stayed the life of the Ger
man priest? God alone, and as surely
us these were raised by God, inspired
of God was Abraham Lincoln. and Il
thousand years hence, no story, no
tragedy, no epic poem will be filled
with greater wonder than that which
tells of his life and death. If Lincoln
was not inspired of God then there is
no such thing dis special providence or
the interposition of Divine power in
the affairs of men,
All great men are partially inspired
Cicero.
Verify a noble manhood, nobly con-
Secrated to man never dies. The mar
tyr to liberty. the emancipation of a
race, the saviour of the only free gov
eminent among men. may be buried
from human sight, but his noble deeds
will live in human gratitude forever.
1t is especially appropriate that our
country annually commemorate the
birth of the nohleSt character the