The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-11
LINCOLN's BELIEF.

MT. Lincoln was a very honest, con-
scientious, moral man, not addicted to
mtemperance or profanity. He could
tell stories, to suit any audience. He
was not a church-going man. I always
considered him somewhat skeptical. yet
never thought him a believer in the
Tom Paine or Robert lngersoll school.
In the tifties he went with his wife
to Kentucky to visit her uncle. on his
return, ] paid him social call In
the meantime, he said
Lewis, while at my wife's uncles.
got hold of book entitled Smith on
Iniidelity, by your Dr.. Smith. 1t gave
me views on the Bible that never be-
fore had. l read it about half through.
and want to get hold of it to'fnish read
ing it." I told him [ doubtless could
secure a copy, for though [ had heard
the doctor say recently that heahad sold
his last book, | supposed that some who
had read it would perhaps be glad to
give 1t up for the five dollars paid for
thelT copy. said he; Il wish you
, woula see the doctor for, asslong as he
mas peen here, | have never had an
introduction to him. / wish YOU would
pring him around and give me an. in
trouuclion. | saw DIR. Smith, He
secured book the next daY. and we
Went TO MIR. Ltncoln's office. / intro
Gauced them. We spent a pleasant
noIr' On leaving, l went out first
5nd as the doctor passed out of the
qI?or' he turned back and said: 2+tMr.
Lincoln. 1 should be pleased to see you
sWhen convenient, at our church" doc
TOR SAID he, u will be there next Sun
gay. True to-, his promise, the next
sunday he and his wife were there. The
following Sunday both were thaS@
At that time 1 was an elder trusfrs
treasurer, Sunday school euparintend.
ent, and pew-renter. During thaa week
Mr. Lincoln called on me and intI1i,.sJ
If he could rent a pew. / replied mar
he could, as desirable one had i,.st
been vacated by a family about tH
leave the CITY, and that the rent would
be fifty dollars year, payable o,ISr-
terlY He paid twelve dollars ana' tlTtv
cents then. and a like sum each mar.
ter until he went to WASHINGTON ma
next Sunday his children were i,,4 +ba
Sunday school and with their narants
in the church. Shortly Thereafter tfSre
was a revival in the church Mr. Ana
Mrs. Lincoln attended reguIarIv at-rbe
~. iiieetllSs and it was -expec eed
~ anu A1IS. Lincoln would
be admitted to the church AZ fbe tin
When the communion ee,ue Mr. Tlnnnln
was at Detroit, Michigan. attendin,y a
patent right case. Mrs. tincoIn ca,oe
before the session, said she was CON.
hrmed in the Episcopal church when
twelve years old, and did not wish 40
pc admitted on profession of faith as
she was never converted until under
Or Smiths preaching. MIR. .Iincoln
never applied for admission te inc
some months later the session invited
nm nm TO deliver discourse on The Bible
from the pulpit. He accepted and
When 1t became known that abe
Lincoln was to occupy the pulpit. Of the
FIRST Presbyterian Church on sunday
night 1t was guarantee Of 4 f,fil
mouse, If the opinions cf dfyines are
authority, there never was uttered a
stronger vindication of the Bibls IN
mat pulpit. Those who knew him hest
ana heard him on that occasion believe
mat Abraham Lincoln had as much
falth IN the efficacy of prayer during
the clVll war as George WASHINGTON
mad during the revolutionary war
THOMAS Lewis Recollections of Lin
com IN Leslie's Weekly. ..o.