The record-union., 1898-02-13

feet.
The next element of his character was
his common sense, the mos. uncommon
thing to be found among men. His sto-
ries, which We're many, We're parallels
and fables embodying the deep philoso-
ply of common sense They were concrete
arguments for the common people Once
Sumner, Edmunds and number of
the great Senators waited upon Mr..
Lincoln to induce him to make some
radical Cabinet changes. Mr.. Lincoln
routed their hopes by homely COM
parison. When they had retired Sum-
Eer was very indignant, but Edmunds
said: Possibly the comparison is not
classical, but there is a world of common
sense in it. and that is what we most
need just now"
These three points-his moral sense
his reason and his common sense-are
three fixed POINTS through which the
great circle of his majestic character
was drawn. Had he lacked either of
these he would have been buried be-
meath the ruins of the Republic Had
he lacked the first he would have beer
villain. Had he lacked the second
he would have been a fool. Had he
lacked the third he would have been
a dreamer Having them all he was
Abraham Lincoln.
He was the Great Commoner He
loved the common people and he had
his great triumph with the common
people. When he landed in Richmond
after its surrender the officer in COM
mand ran down the gangplank to clear
a place for the President. Turning
about he saw Mr.. Lincoln standing half
way down the gangplank. A big
colored man with his arms around Mr..
Lincoln's feet and his face turned up
was shouting at the top Of his voice:
THE Lord bless Massa Lincoln" Mr..
Lincoln stood with his hat eff and his
tears dropping down into the upturned
face of the old bondman He was
happy that he could bless these con-
mon people Educated in the wilder
ness and the cabin his calloused hands
never slipped from the poor mans
hand. He was as acceptable in the
White House as he had been in the
cabin.
Under the unmeasured responsible
ties that pressed him every hour of his
administration he grew into stalwart
and majestic Christian experience He
was constant and close student of the
Bible; quoted it most frequently and
plead its promises most persistently.
He repeatedly said: Il am driven to
my knees, for l have nowhere else to
60" Murdoch, the actor and reader,
was guest at the White House He
says over his own name: "One night l
was disturbed; l could not sleep. /
got out of my bed; it was 2 o'clock. /
went out into the hall; / heard a
strange moaning; / went along the hall.
l saw door partly open. Looking in
| saw Mr. Lincoln on his knees on the
floor, praying nightly to God for help.
turned about and went away as quiet
ly as / could over the velvet carpet,
feeling every step I took that was in
the presence of Almighty God, and l
never from that night doubted which
way the war would terminate
AS patriots we can afford to take
courage in every storm when God raises
up such men from among the common
people for the deliverance of the ma
tion.-Bishop c. H. Fowler.
THE FIRST AMERICAN AN IN
SPIRATION.
Probably no better service can be
rendered the American people than
by frequently calling attention to Gods
great gift to our country in the char
acter and career of Lincoln. can
scarcely think of an evil tendency in
our national life which is not rebuked
or corrected by the teachings and ex-
ample of the martyr President First
Of all, his career stimulates and justifies
national hopefulness, faith in America
and her institutions and her people.
1t is hardly credible that such a light
as comes from Lincoln's noble and Won
dcrful career should have been given
US if America is to sink into darkness
and betrayal of God. Such a gift as
Abraham Lincoln is the pledge of Di-
vine care and regard. Mr.. Lowell calls
Lincoln "the first American" and d
study of this man is a rebuke to those
who are aping the ideas and manners
of Great Britain, and is stimulus TO
genuine, intelligent, hopeful Ameri-
canism. One cannot find in any other
nation any man of this century who
represents so much of deep universal
human interest as Abraham Lincoln
His writings place him among the clas-
sizes of mankind. His career and SER
vices are such that he can be named
only with the greatest characters Of his
tory. while his manhood, in it's sym
metry, genuineness, tenderness, wisdom,
may we'll form an example for the ad-
miration and emulation of young and
old among all peoples and through all
time
What are the prevailing perils of our
country? Intemperance, the love of
sudden riches, political dishonesty, ex-
treme partisanship, sectionalism. disre-
gard Of the highest moral obligations.
Indifference to the Divine rule and au-
thority. Every one of these perils would
be removed If the people should con-
slider the teachings and initiate the ex-
ample of Abraham Lincoln.-Rev. John
Henry Barrows
HONEST OLD ABE-A SKETCH OF
HIS LIFE.
Honest Old Abe was the title By
which, during his early life. he was
known among his friends and neigh
bors In Southern Illinois. the word odd
being an expression of homely endear-
ment. He was born in Kentucky in
1859 Of family Of poor whites" a
type well known in the slave States,
deteriorated by years of poverty. illit-
ercy and intemperance. yet not without
manly and kindly characteristics. For
trnately, his father. soon after his
birth, moved into the free States-first
Indiana. then Illinois There the boy
grew up in the rcNgh h equality of the
frontier, where all ansen and women
were. on footing ~sof = perfect social
equality. Hardy. uncouth. and illit-
crate. he grew into manhood. clearing
and, splitting rails. tending store, nav