Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-08
MEMORY OF LINCOLN HONORED.
Hon. Robert E. Luce of Somervie, Addressed Large
Gathering at Y. M. C. A. Hall-Many Invited Guests

pie, to trust them, and he was the
greatest of American politicians and
a master of the science of government.
Yet in the legislative services he was
called upon to perform there was
nothing to indicate greatness. He had
not yet found himself, but he kept on
learning, and in that is the important
lesson.
Passing along to his election as
president, the speaker characterized
Lincoln as the mainstay Of the repub-
lie through the four years of battle
days, amid the derision, the scoffing
and the jealousy of those who could
not understand their leader. 1t was
during these times that the mystical
nature of the president developed and
he seemed to reflect the very spirit
and life of the people from which he
sprang, in truth the true type of our
nation and a portrait of the true
American. He represented the ma
LiOnal characteristic of sadness, yet the
keenest enjoyment Of true humor, he
represented our love of physical
pleasures of companionship. a lover of
men. yet shy and diffident. Like the
American, he was Indifferent to dress,
but man Of true courtesy and char
ity and a tender heart, yet so stern in
time of necessity that he could issue
those commands that he knew would
send thousands to death upon the field.
Above all he was Of the loftiest patri-
otism, the many sided Lincoln, who
wins our love and service and respect.
Bible His Companion of Early Life.
He was not what we would call to-
day a regular churchgoer and from
this we may gather some respect for
those who do not feel it necessary to
give this public expression of their
faith. But the Bible was the COM
panion Of his early life, and he camo
to realizing sense of the responsible
tiles of man to his creator when the
duties Of the presidency were thrust
upon him and to a Springfield audi
ence he declared his reliance in a di-
vine providence.
So he filled those tasks that came to
him, and in the words of Sumner there
were no accidents in the providence of
God and Lincoln's death was no acct
dent. 1t is one Of the mysteries be-
yond the ken Of man. We know but
the result, that he was taken away,
and has LETT us his imperishable mem
DRY. Such q service this afternoon and
such a life would be idle If there were
no lessons from 1t for us. Lincoln
achieved greatness by the mastery of
his surroundings and of himself he
lived that the supremacy Of law might
be eStaDilShed. ODed1ence TO law Is
the safety Of society In his day it
was a question affecting constitutional
law, in ours it is upon statute and
common law, that there shall be spe-
cial privileges to none.
Roosevelt and Lincoln.
Today we see a president Of the
United States, about to go out of Of
flee, and reviled, villifed and scoffed
at because he has given much OF his
life to this principle Of obedience to
law Inspired by our recollections Of
the great Lincoln, who suffered much
of the same scoffing and villifcation,
may we not perchance imagine that
we Of this generation have attempted
under great generalship to do our
share to obtain something of this ODE
dience to law and are we not to be
thankful that the Creator has set
among US types Of the true Christiani-
ty.
Led by Mr.. Geer, who sang the
verses Of The Star Spangled Banner,
the audience Joined in the chorus, and
after the benediction had been pro-
nounced by Rev. NJ. S. Kaufman, d. D..
the service concluded with the national
melodies played by the orchestra.
Sunday morning and evening in
many Of the churches Of the city the
memory of Lincoln was honored by
special sermons by the pastors.