The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-15

After an hour of pleasant conversation
We left. 1 went out first, the doctor fol-
loving. AS the doctor passed outdoor
partly closed. he re-opened it, and said:
Mr. Lincoln, if agreeable, l should like
to see you in our church some day. DIR.
Smith," said Lincoln, L will be there
next Sunday" Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln
were in the church. and the following
Sunday they were there also.
l was an elder, trustee, treasurer. col
lector. superintendent of the Sunday
school, and pew-renter The following
! Tuesday, after the second Sunday. Mr.
Lincoln called on me and inquired if
there were any pews TO rent in the
church. l replied Yes and a very de-
sirable one. vacated by Governor Mad
ison who has just left the city" What
is the rent" said he Fifty dollars,
payable quarterly" He handed me $3.50
Said he: Put il down TO me- and from
date TO date he paid each three months
on said pew until he left for Washing
ton: and from the first Sunday he was
there l have not known of his not occu-
pying that pew every Sunday he was in
the city until he left The seat was
Sunday his children came in the Sunday
school.
Shortly thereafter there was revival
in the church. and Mr.. and Mrs Lincoln
when he was in the city, attended meet
ing. In his absence she was there. They
attended not only the quarterly meet
ings. but the inquiry meetings also, and
il was the belief that both would unite
with the church. When the candidates
were examined Mr.. Lincoln was in De-
troit prosecuting a patent right case.
branch of the profession. in which he had
acquired an enviable reputation. Mrs. Lin
coin stated that she was confirmed in the
Episcopal church when Il years OF age.
but did not wish TO join the church by
letter but upon profession of faith. as
she was never converted until Dr.
Smiths preaching. She was admitted.
Mr. Lincoln never applied. Some months
later the session of the church invited
Mr. Lincoln 10 deliver a lecture on the
Bible. When il became known that Mr..
Lincoln was 10 lecture in Presbyterian
church il assured full house II was
said by divines and others to be the
ablest defense of the Bible ever uttered
in that pulpit.
From the introduction Of Mr.. Lincoln
to Dr. Smith their intimacy was OF the
most cordial character. At their last
meeting previous TO Mr.. Lincoln's leaving
for WASHINGTON. as they parted Mr.. Lin
coin said: Doctor, l wish to be remem-
bered in the prayers of yourself and our
church members.
Among the first Of Mr.. Lincolns ap-
-pOintment was DR.. James Smith. consul
TO Scotland, who died at his post \ few
words as TO DR.. Smith. who gave me his
history on many occasions. He was a
classic scholar. with few peers in the
general assembly OF the Presbyterian
church Said he left Scotland for the
United States Cor the purpose OF advo-
eating Tom Paine's doctrine: how he
came to so 10 Cumberland Presbyterian
camp-meeting in Tennessee; his CONVEX
sion and commenced TO preach before
the meeting closed. and when he was H.
censed TO preach and how he came TO
change his connection 70 the Presbyterian
church II was not 3 party appoint
rnent, as they were Of different political
faith
Shortly after the assassination OF Mr.
Lincoln. Rev. l. Reed. D. D. successor
OF Or. Smith. in vindication Of the mar
tyred president wrote q lecture in which