The Washington herald., 1909-02-13
LINCOLN IS LAUDED
Centenary Services Held in
His Own Church.
PEW IS DRAPED IN BLACK
Impressive Exercises Held in New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
with Son of War Presidents At
tOrney General. Lieut.. Gen. John G.
Bates, Acting as Presiding officer.


In the same edifee where he knelt in
prayer nearly fifty years ago Abraham
Lincoln. the martyred President, was
iauded and honored last night
The New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church was the place Of worship OF Pres
ident Lincoln when he lived in the, Ex-
ecutiTe Mansion. The same rafters and
walls that saw the scanned. careWOrn face
of Lincoln the President last night saw
hundreds of veterans who fought for the
cause espoused by him. their families,
and friends kneei in prayers Of thansgiv-
ing and lift their voices IN praise Of his
great works and rugged character.
Under the auspices Of the Department Of
the Potomac. G. A. r. the special cen
tennisl services were given a touch Of
martial coloring that aroused the patriot
! ism Of all present and recalled TO the vet
erals the troubles OF 81
LincoIn's Pew Black.
The black outline OF the pew occupied
BY Lincoln stood in bold relief against
the rows al stained lighter color. In
the great church only the pew Of the
| former President and a large likeness.
( hung under the altar. showed dull and
dark All else was draped with the na-
tional oOlors-
So large was the crowd that Capt.
Williams, OF the First precinct, and de-
tail OF policemen were on hand Long
before the hour set for beginning the
services every seat IN the edifice was
taken, and many people crowded along
the walls in the rear Of the pewS.
l John s Walker, department com
mander. G. A r. issued the call TO or
der. The woman's Relief Corps went
Z through a flag exercise. and Mrs. B. II
/ Smart sang THE Star Spangled Banner.
/ With due impressiveness. the cOlOrs were
presented by Hazard Wheeler, color ser
/ geant-
Lieut.. Gen. John c. Bates, the presid-
+ ing officer. was introduced. and pre-
sented Rev. John Reid Shannon, who
/ pronounced the invocation DR.. Shannon
! alluded 70 the sterling qualities Of Lin
coin and spoke OF his loyalty. HIS patriot
/ ism. and self-sacrihce and said he was
a good example for the men Of to-day to
/ follow.
Gen Bates made n short address, in
which he spoke OF his great respect and
I admiration for President Lincoln, saying
/ he had a great personal interest in cele-
/ hrating his memory, because the former
/ President attended the same church with
! Edward Bates, his father. and his mother
and sister.
The speaker told OF the warm friend
! ship existing between President Lincoln
l. L.
/ Attorney General. the first Cabinet posi-
I ton given by Lincoln.
Letters OF regret were read from Ad-
rniral George Dewey. Vice PresidentSeleci
James s. Sherman, and Vice President
4 Fairbanks.
DIR. RadcIine's Address.
Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe was the next
! speaker. He told OF the love and respec'
( held by the whole world for Lincoln, and
said It was HIS belief that Lincoln was
a great man because he was a good man
He told OF his deep-rooted religious senti-
ment. citing instances where he had
shown this feeling He alluded TO Lin
coin as being almost a child Of acci-
dent" a backwOods boy. untaught, q
subject OF ridicule and laughter in the
early years Of his career, but standing
at last the greatest figure IN American
history.
Lincoln stands as the first American
the Moses Of his race" said DR.. Rad
cliffe. "yet he was not a genius He
was not born in favored circumstances
he was not known socially, and had nc
Iambitions in that direction; be had no
/ vanity. and certainly no glamour o.
iveneer. He was great simply in the mat
ter OF character The only explanation
can offer for his greatness was his good
ness"
In closing. Dr.. Radcliffe said LincolI
was 2. man of sorrow and Of grief, feel
I ing the great needs and shortcomings o.
his people he drew parallel betweel
Lincoln and Jesus of Nazareth. saying
I both realized the need Of the people snS
! assumed the burden he said LincolI
uvss born IN q century that produced TIT
greatest men in the world.
/ Following a reading Of IsincOln's favor
ite poem "Oh. Why Should the Spirit ol
Mortal be Proudq~ By Prof. E c. Town.
send, John P. Swasey, Representative
from Maine. made a lengthy address, Il
which he spoke Of LincOln's deep re
/ Hgious feeling. and told how his minC
/ vas broadened by his troubles.
Early HardzhipS His Strength.
Gen. S s. Burdette took issue witt
those who decried the troubled and uphill
I life of the President In HIS early days
saying that had he not been in poor cir
eumstances and had TO fight adversity
his character would not have been formed
as Il was, and he would never have be
come the great leader he was
] The benedicLiOn WIS pronounced by Rev
Charles E Guthrie
Music was furnished BY the Thirteenth
Cavalry Rand. under tho leadership Of T
Eneelsberg. Solos were sung by Mrs B
II. Smart and Capt. George H Lillihridge
A quartet composed OF Ms Smart so
1 pTano; Mrs. Eieaner Baker Spencer, alto
/ George Newton, tenor. and Dana c. Hol
land bassG. rendered several selections.