Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-15
LINCOLN IS LIFE
WAS RELIGIOUS
MAJOR. r. p. SPiLMAN TELLS OF
MARTYRED PRESIDENTS BE-
LIEF IN GOD.
NEVER JOINED CHURCH
Great Emancipation Was Shown to
Have Been Without House of
Worship, But
Christian.

Abraham Lincoln though never at
flliating with any church, was shown
by Major T. P. Spilman in his address
at the Sunday afternoon mems meet
ing in the Y. M. G. A., to be "the
phophet of liberty, called by God for
this work" The address of Major
Spilman on abraham Lincoln's Re-
ligion," was heard with interest by his
audience that filled the auditorium and
sprinl1led among the men were many
old soldiers.
81 think of Lincoln" said the
major, "as the prophet of liberty, call
ed by God for this work, and inspired
by the Almighty, he was irresistibly
carried forward.
Mr. Lincoln's life had its limitations
and it is but fair that they should be
church and so far as we know never
partook of the ordinances but it is
well to remember that Mr.. Lincoln's
religious life is great, not because he
failed to value these things, but in
spite of that fact. The average man
has need of every help and influence
that makes for the growth of his
spiritual nature and there was a very
obvious need of the church and it's
ordinances else it would not have been
instituted The world will never cease
to need such lives as Lincoln's life.
They are the salt of the earth. Such a
life never ceases to live Such devo-
ton to principle, such trust and such
power of heart does not nor can not
cease with the grave.
Believed in PRAYER
81 would not undertake to say that
the views of Mr. Lincoln could be
squared in every particular with what
is commonly called orthodox position.
only insist and the record will show
that this great man grew into an in
creasing application of the claims of
Christ and that in all love and tender
ness became one of his disciples. Mr..
Lincoln believed in prayer. He had
the habits of prayer. He said himself
that he was often brought to his knees
| in prayer to God in times of awful
responsibility, because he had no
place else to go. His many state
papers are permeated with the atmo-
| sphere Of prayer. His proclamations
breathe prayer. On one occasion
when the clouds were blacklist Lincoln
said to Bishop Simpson: I feel the
need Of prayer as never before. Please
pray for me- And these two great
men dropped on their knees before
God in fervent prayer for strength
and guidance. But the browning glory
OF Lincoln's religious life was his love
his boundless charity. He was the
tenderest, most affectionate of men
He never spoke unkindly Of any man
but always tried to find excuses for
his adversaries. He stated at one time
4 have never knowingly planted a
/ thorn in any human heart, but | have
always endeavored to pluck thorn
and plant a rose wherever rose
would grow To have written such q
sentence as this is a great achieve
ment, but to have lived it is sublime
and Christ-like. Lincoln wept witt
those who wept more than once. This
man of sorrows said, I have not suf
fered for the SOUTH but ] have sui
fered with the south All the broker
hearted mothers who visited him a
the White house and appealed to hin
to save their boys from prison or sen
tence of court martial, found mar
like unto Him who stood up in the
synagogue at Nazareth and said, HI
hath sent me to proclaim release t
captives and to set at liberty then
that are Bruised