Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN
Historical Society Hold Com
memorating Exercises.
LAUDS HIM TO THE SKY
Lessons That Are Taught Along His
Road to Fame.
MIR. ANDREWS DOES HIM HONOR
He Declares That Providence Seems to
Have Mysteriously Trained
Him for Work.
Or. ANDREWS DOES HIM HONOR


held in the McKendree Methodist Episcopal
Church, Massachusetts avenue near 9th
street northwest, and, in spite of the I'M
favorable weather, a large number of men,
bers Of the society and their friends we're
in attendance. Mr.. H. A. Colman, president
Of the society, acted as chairman, and
speeches were made by Senator Moses E.
Clapp Of Minnesota, Mr.. William E. An
drews, auditor of the treasury, and Rev.
E.. L. Hubbard, pastor Of McKendree
Church. Patriotism was the keynote of
the whole evenings proceedings, and each
speaker paid tender tribute to the love Of
country and the love of his fellowman dis
played in Office and out Of it by the martyr
President Of the United States.
Mrs. Inez Seymour Mcconnell, the we'll
known local soprano and president of the
Washington Canteen Club sang in excel
lent voice The Star Spangled Banner" the
audience rising and standing during its
rendition. Mrs. McConnell's song seemed to
fit nicely at the conclusion Of Senator
Clapp's address and was warmly applauded.
A portion Of the choir of Mckendree
Church led in the singing of other patriotic
songs. DR.. Florence Donohue, vice presi-
dent of the society, sat with the speakers
on the platform. The auditorium of the
church was draped with flags and there
was picture Of Lincoln in front Of the
pulpit.
President Colman's Address.
In his opening remarks President Col
man said in part:
Although February is the smallest
month in the calendar considered by days,
1t is the grandest month considered by re-
suits, for within its twenty-eight days were
born the two greatest figures in American
history, George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln. All people concede that Lincoln
should stand shoulder to shoulder with
Washington in the worlds temple of fame
while many claim that he should occupy the
first place on the roll of honor His fame
increases with the fight of time. He was
a great President great statesman, but
the best of all great man. The greatness
of his character is shown in the following
extract from the memorable speech he de-
livered at Gettysburg:
1T is for us, the living, rather, to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work which
they who fought here have thus far SO
nobly advanced. 1t is rather for US to be
here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us; that from these honored dead we
take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last measure of de-
votion; that we here highly resolve that
these dead shall not have died in vain;
that this nation, under God, shall have a
new birth of freedom, and that government
OF the people, by the people, for the people,
shall not perish from the earth.'''
Sacrifices of Lincoln.
Senator Clapp, who was introduced as the
first speaker, referred to the sacrifices
made by Lincoln in assuming his high Of
fee, and of his courage and fortitude dur
ing the darkest days of the four years of
civil strife.
mo charge against Lincoln" he declared,
could have been so unfair or baseless as
the one heaped upon him by his enemies
that he was recreant in settling the ques-
n MOI oil NJ
the life and character Of Lincoln and
then doubt that he ever turned his gaze
once from the one predominant thought
of the liberty as guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition.
1.-The sacrifice of the south was unique
because it was a struggle for political
rights. The sacrifice of the north was no
less great, because it was centered in the
preservation of that union which our fore
fathers fought for so bravely and success
fully"
In conclusion, Senator Clapp declared that
the idea of a federation of the states faded
with the shattering of Lees forces at
Appomattox. With the signing of that
surrender, he said, began the centraliza-
ton of the national power into "a nation
one and imperishable."
His Life and Deeds.
The principal address of the evening was
delivered by William E. Andrews, who ex-
pressed eloquent tribute to the life and
deeds Of Lincoln. I'VE honor ourselves to-
night by honoring the memory of the
worlds greatest commoner, Abraham Lin
coln," he said providence seemed to have
taken the man into communion with itself
and mysteriously trained him for the great
service to which, under God and the will
of the American people, he was commits
stoned in his mature manhood.
His career at the bar, in the Illinois
legislature, in Congress, and in his mem
orable debates with Douglas, and his can
vass for the presidency, is fraught with
incidents Of deep significance. In his
broad survey Of human rights and govern
mental institutions he looked to the human
soul and its native endowments as the chief
cornerstone from which he took all his
bearings. He loved peace and earnestly
sought Its continuance upon the ground of
the non-extension Of human slavery to the
virgin soil of American territory. But
when the nation was assailed by hostile
guns this man of peace clearly saw the
duty of the hour, and at his call the grand
est army that ever trod the earth came
into existence to maintain the Constitution
and the Union. Thus the federal SWORD
was drawn in a defensive warfare for the
sole purpose of preserving the life of the
nation.
"Abhor the Sword"
"Abhor the sword? stigmatize the
sword? No! For by the sway of the tri-
umphant sword of Lincoln the boys In
blue brought back the wandering stars of
the American constellation and fixed them
permanently in their constitutional orbits
and christened the nation anew with the
blood Of their fallen comrades
"Abhor the sword! Stigmatize the swordi
No! For by its victories at Manila and
Santiago Spanish tyranny was banished
from the western continent and the en-
shaved Of the islands of the sea were eIe.
waited into the sunlight of American civili-
cation and opportunity.
His Inaugural Address.
Study carefully the inaugural addresses
of Abraham Lincoln and his Official mes
sages and proclamations. Add to these the
important lessons of our national history
from 81 to So. With such information be-
fore you view the intellectual, moral and
patriotic characteristics of the man. Would
that he could have been spared to guide
the progress of the nation through the re-
naming portion Of his second presidential
term and thereafter throw the light of his
knowledge, wisdom, logic. loyalty and pa
triotism upon the readjustment Of our ma
tional affairs. OF course we can only con-
lecture as to the measure of the loss we
sustained by his premature death and the
benefits we would have gained through the
continuance of his service to the country
in subsequent years. Nevertheless in his