The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-13

nests. How beautifully significant of his character How sweetly come back to us those words of the Master
 Are not two sparrows sold for farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your fa- ther." Thy gentleness," said the psalmist, hath made me great" Great in his strength, Lincoln was even greater in his gentleness How exquisite those words of his to friend: Die when I may, l want it said of me by those who knew me best. that I always plucked a thistle and planted flower when I thought a flower would grow" His generals complained of him that he impaired the discipline of the army by his con stant attention to private grievances, and his granting of pardons. Secre- tary Stanton ragged at times, but Lin coin persisted in the course which his deepest instincts dictated. "Benevo- lence and forgiveness" says his biog
 rapher, Nicholai, were the very basis of his character-His nature was deeply religious, but he belonged to no denomination: he had faith in the eternal justice and boundless mercy of Providence, and made the Golden Rule of Christ his practical creed"
 Is not this. wonder. enough to say of any man? Benevolence and forgive ness towards men, a boundless trust towards God, and whole -souled en- deavor to make the Golden Rule of Christ his law of live-what more can we ask? If some say. He did not Join himself 10 the church" I can only answer, some of the most religious men I have known were not members of any church. All the more does it re- fleet credit upon Lincoln that he would not make the church, as many poli
 ticans have made II, mere stepping stone 10 popularity. Besides Lincoln was ahead of his age and the church of that day had not the tolerance of the present time Lincoln himself gave Christian church. T have never" he said, united myself 10 any church. be- cause have found difficulty in giving my assent. without mental reservation, 10 the long, complicated statements Of Christian doctrine which characterize their articles of belief and confessions of faith. When any church will in- scribe over its altar, as it's sole quali- fication for membership, the Sayiour's condensed statement of the substance of both Law and Gospel Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thy self that church will I join with all my heart and with all my soul" There are a number of churches to-day tha would be glad to accept Lincoln on that statement. I myself preach in such a church, one requiring no other condi- tions for memDership than those which he laws down. Should we not rejoice that we have come at last to an age in which men go deeper in their test of what constitutes true religon-deep- CT, I say, than mans ecclesiastical affiliations. Should we not rejoice that men aye no lcnger judged by their be- l,efs concerning the Bible, and the na- ture of Christ, and the providences of God. but are Judged by their exempii- ficatlons to the world of that Christ spirit of sympathy with and cpmpas- sion for, the men and women around ,is whose wrongs are crying out to be righted. 1t was this spirit that made Lincoln what he was, one of the most Christ like men known 10 history-a man deeply and essentially religious.
 And here leave the subject to your farther consideration; not, however, without one last straight word of ap- neal Do not hesitate in making the vital decision to cultivate your relig- ions faculties. Do not shrink from be- ing known as a religious man. It Is nossible. I grant you, to be religious in such a way as to cramp your powers to put shackles upon your mind, and hedge vour life about with meaningless: forms. Ii is not to such a religion that I call you, but to one that will bring you freedom, which means mastery the thing above all things else that a man ought to love. Is it not possible to be religious after the manner of ths great men, who have always struck straight al the prime essentials? The religion that I commend to you is that of the old prophet, which also is the religion of every new prophet-"What doth the Lord require of thee, but tC do justly, and to love mercy. and tC walk humbly with thy God This wal inc religion of Lincoln. How prone ht was to mercy all men knew; how per
 sistently and patiently he sought tc render justice friends and enemies alikt hore. testimony; and as to watkins humhlv with his God. l have only |, recall vonr minds to the well establish
 ed fact. too intimate for any analysis of mine, that he passed whole nights il prayer. Let me repeat the words tha
 I quoted before from one who knep him intimately. He had faith in tht
 eternal justice and boundless mercy o