The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-02-27

and had talked with God. if not face to
face, at least spirit to spirit.
! shall be forced to rely upon his own
words to show his deepening faith III
God and the truths of universal
religion. Just before leaving his west
ern home to assume his duties of the
Presidency, lie addressed the people of
the capital of Illinois, as follows: "Un-
less the great God who created Wash
ington shall be with me and assist me.
| must fail. If the same omniscient
mind and almighty arm that protected
and directed him shall guide and sup
port me. shall not fail. shall succeed.
Let us all pray that the God of cur
Fathers will not forsake us now" In
concluding that speech at Springfield he
said: Il now leave YOU, not knowing
when or whether ever | may return.
With a task before me greater than
! that which rested upon Washington,
/ without the assistance of that Divine
Being who ever attended him, | cannot
succeed. With that assistance, l can
not fail. Trusting in Him, who can go
with me, and remain with you and be
everywhere for good, let us confidently
hope that all will yet be well. To His
care commencing you, as | hope in
your prayers you will commend me,
bid you an affectionate farewell"
These words surely do not make Lincoln
out to be the semi-skeptic and agnOstic
that the famous Robert G. Ingersoll
made him appear to be. They are
rather the words of a man devoutly
trusting i'll God; fully relying on his
guidance and goodness in the time of
doubt, trial and storm. In the year
! 1860 Lincoln said: 81 know that there is
a God, and that he hates injustice.
see the storm coming. | know that his
hand is in it." Again, at later time he
said: Il saw that the issues of the great
struggle depended upon the Divine III
terpostion and favor Relying as ] do
upon the Almighty power, | shall not
hesitate to use all means to secure the
! termination of the rebellion and will
hope for success The basis for the
assertions of inhdelity and skepticism
on the part of Abraham Lincoln by the
famous agnostlc, seems to be very
small. That he was skeptical of Ger
| tain of the old dognas and creeds of
the churches is true enough, but that
he ever doubted the vital truths, the
essential ideas of religion, is entirely
unWarranted and unjustilied, as appears
from the mass of testimony that might
be brought as evidence. We will con-
fine our thought to the most memoir
able speeches and utterances of our
great President. This little story is
told of him. A clergyman who was
advising him said, Il hope the Lord is
on our side" Lincoln nobly replied:
81 am not at all concerned about that,
for ! know that the Lord is always on
the side of the right, but it is my con-
slant anxiety and prayer that | and
this nation shall be on the Lords side"
That Lincoln believed in the Christ
ian Sabbath is evident by his words
spoken at Washington on Feb. %, 1868:
''The birthday of Washington and the
Christian Sabbath coinciding this year,
and suggesting together the highest
of this life and of that to come, is most
propitious for the meeting proposed"
As additional evidences of his belief in
the Sabbath, read an extract of a mill
tary order under date of Nov. 10th, 1862:
''fhe President, Commander-in-Ch
of the Army and Navy, desires and en-
joins the orderly observance of the
Sabbath by officers and men in the