Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-13

/. G. A. r., celebrated the Lincoln
centenary on Friday evening with the
members of the Woman's Relief corps,
the Citizens corps, and the Sons of
Veterans present as guests, the attend
ance filling the post hall to overflow
ing. Quarternaster Sergeant Stocking
had the rooms decorated in the ma
tional cOlors in a very elaborate and
attractive manner showing at the rear
of the platform a picture Of Lincoln,
framed in the national colors.
Commander Vine s. Stetsou presid-
ed, and the exercises opened with a
selection. March Veritas. by the Broad
way school orchestra Of u pieces, di-
rected by Prof J. Herbert George. post
patriotic instructor. Their delightful
music was greatly enjoyed. They also
rendered during the evening the fol-
lowing: Old Glory; selection, Wonder
land selection. Old Shady, with solo
by Professor George.
Commander StetsOn first called upon
Mayer Costello Lipitt. who spoke feel
ingly Of the inspiration to great and
noble effort in the life Of Lincoln and
affirmed his belief that our entire ma
tional history showed Divine guidance
and in no case more son than in the
life OF Abraham Lincoln.
A finely rendered violin duet, Springs
Awakening, was rendered to much APP
lItLNoN pN MISS AI4AhdDtLu LANE anu IlGI
taecher, Prof. Franz z. jain.
DR.. Kaufman Speaks.
This was followed by the Grafton of
the evening by Rev. NJ. s. Kaufman,
d. d., an eloquent address. which was
warmly commended by his hearers,
and in which he spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1t is my conMMtion that Lincoln was
born great, H%nherited from his an
cestors the qualities just suited to his
providental mission to humanity. He
came into the world with all the ger
ninal forms Of true greatness. so
adapted the one to the other that all
he had to do was to develop and nur-
ture each form to its normal maturity
and give to each its legitimate train
ing. This was no easy task. 1t was
herculean; it was mountainous.
Measure him by what he said;
measure him by what he did; measure
him by what he was, and by what he
is, then tell me where in all the an
nails Of earth can be found another
who possessed more richly than Lin
coin all he elements of true great
ness.
First, measure him by what he said.
Both by tongue and pen he uttered
sentiments and epunciated principles
more enduring than the everlasting
hills and more beaueiful than the
light
Second. measure Lincoln by what he
did Not only could he express his
superb personality in forceful speech
and Hautless literature, but in deeds
that told upon the circles in which he
moved-upon the character of our ma
ton and ultimately the destiny Of
mankind. From boyhOJd to the day
or his final coronation he was the
overcomer of huge obstacles.
Third. measure him by what he was
After all 1t is this that counts
1t is the man in the speech that
gives force and accompHshes results.
SO IL was Lincoln the man who ever
lowered in radiant grandeur above all
that he said above all that he did.
Was he Christian man? Emphatical-
~ yes. A lifelong student of Gods
Book, he believed profoundly in the
Almighty-believed in prayer-believed
in divine guidance-fn an overruling
Providence. Once he said: Il know
there IS God and that He hates
slavery I am nothing, but truth is
everything"
Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln's an
tagonist for twenty-five years. was
aptly called The Little Giant. one Of
the prettiest things he ever did was
to hold LincOln's hat when Lincoln was
-
Douglas was a little giant, but Lincoln
was giant. lie was master-master
Of men-master Of assemblies-master
Of circumstance of political
parties-master Of Observation-Disclosures
Of destiny-ma ster. master, master
Finally and briefly. Measure him by
what he is-the idol Of America-the
admiration of the world. Is it too much
to say that he is on this hundredth |
of his birth the best loved |
most highly hOnored man who has ever
lived?
A. II. Brewer, a member Of the Citi- !
zens' corps made a contribution of |
much interest by reading "The Atone
ment of M Punch" a poem appearing
in the London Punch at the time Of |
Iincoln's death. Mr.. Brewer cOnclud-
ed his speech by presenting the post |
with fifty copies OF a short history of |
Lincoln.
Gen. William A. Aiken was heard |
from in an informing line Of comment |
upon Incidents Of the war times
among which he reminded the younger |
people present that Lincoln took din |
ner about forty-nine years ago in the |
room just below the post han. He /
spoke In appreciation OF the gift of |
the books made by Mr.. Brewer and |
also his rift Of the Lincoln tablet pre- |
viously made. a letter written by |
Horace Greeley. Gin the depths of Bit |
,erness." to President Lincoln was |
read by General Aiken. brinning |
laughter from his hearers at the out |
come Of the war so different from
Greeley's feelings just after Bull Run. |
DR.. Kaufman also spoke briefly of /
MS schoolboy experience of seeing /
Lincoln. The singing of America closed |
he programme, after which a buffet |
lunch was served in the post room, |
where an attractive feature was the /
orange cups Assisting the quarter
master IN serving were Mrs. Marietta /
Wright. Mrs. Lydia Perkins, Mrs. |
aura Hutchins, Mrs Baker Miss I
Baker and Mrs. Annie T. Rawson, |
m ornbnre nf fba Relief oOrue