The National tribune., 1910-12-08
"SOUL GROWTH OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN"

I recently returned home with Mrs.
Bingham, after an absence of 10 weeks
at Harper's Ferry. Among some mail
awaiting me 1 found a copy of your
"SouI Growth of Abraham Lincoln"
which you had been thoughtful enough
to send me. 1 read it with much in
terest and profit the night we came
home and have since read it to Mrs.
Bingham, who greatly enjoyed its sem
timents and highly commended the an-
thor for his beautiful thoughts OF the
character and life of Abraham Lin
coin. 1 think nothing I have ever read
upon Lincoln and his grand achieve
ments has so touched and moved me
as the reading and pondering over your
Soul Growth of Abraham Lincoln
The leading thought running all thru
it from the first to last is SO ennobiing,
so uplifting and, best of all, so true,
that one sees the mighty Lincoln in a
newer, grander and more picturesque
light, and differing from any viewpoint
given him by painter or writer before.
The comparison between Abraham Lin
coin and Him who spake as never
man spake" is unusual when used as
the argument in every paragraph, and
proving by words set in pictures of sill
yer, the assertion made by the author
at the beginning that mot since the
kind seen such an eXaltation of the
soul as in Abraham Lincoln" and then
the fact set out that "Lincoln's supreme
work lasted precisely as long as
Christ'S-four years" struck me with
force. and makes the comparison all
the more pointed, l think. And your
of the argument. so true and
unique, and set forth in well-chosen
words I must quote it as a whole. as
showing best my deep sympathy in and
appreciation of your subject: HIS
heart went out in unfailing sympathy
and love to everything that breathed.
He not only noted the sparrcw,s fall,
but fastened to help the sparrow to
wing again. Responding like SEN
sitive harp to the lofty seif-sacritice of
every boy fighting for the Nation, sor-
rowing for every bereaved mother of
a fallen son, he yet brooded over his
as Christ did over stiff
necked Jerusalem" Nothing better
than that can be said of Abraham Lin
coin, Comrade McEiroy. Sincerely do
/ congratulate you upon your very
creditable and remarkable production.
1t is classic, and will be so regarded
by others, | am certain. Too much
praise cannot be given it, nor too much
to the writer. The
Grand Army of the Republic owes you
for Ihifiiting out and pub
fishing your Soul Growth of Abraham
and / trust it will have wide
therein, as well as outside.
l thank you for the copy you mailed
me. with your compliments. / appre-
ciate the remembrance from my friend
and comrade, and shall keep the
among my treasures, for L
am sure | shall never have in my po-
session its equal, or a substitute for it.
I have a little poem written by the
Rev. Samuel W. Small (you may have
seen it,, published in April, 1909, and
entitled Abraham Lincoln, 18091S65-
1909:
The strangest man since Him who
came to earth,
That men of clay might know their
Potters will,
Grew stalwart in the ways of Ma
ture, It'll
Twin calls of Faith and Fate revealed
his worth.
Degraded Freedom groaned for a new
birth
That sordid masters thwarted by
their skill,
Which warning statesmen stopped
twixt throe and thrill,
And a bold leader was our Unions
dearth.
The God called Lincoln to the seat
of power,
Strangely as Saul was thrust 10
IsraeTs need;
And the strongest heart of all the ages
Out of war-blown forges formed the
hour
OF that full Liberty that's now our
creed.
And glorifies his name on historys
pages"
B. F. Bingham, Past Department