The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-02-22
NU NJ B ER7


al strife and awaiting difficulties.
Just as the train was about to leave
the Station, Mr.. Lincoln came to the
rear platform of his car and raising his
long arms and bony fingers. with mois-
tened eyes and tender voice, said.
Friends, No one who has never
been placed in like position can under
stand my feelings at this hour, nor the
impressive sadness feel at this part
ing. For more than a quarter of a
century have lived among you, and
during all that time | have received
nothing but kindness at your hands.
Here | have lived from my youth.
until now am an sid man, Here the
most sacred ties ST earth were assum-
ed. Here all my children were born;
and here one of them lies buried, To
all that am. All the strnnge. check
cred past seems to crowd now upon my
mind. Today leave you. l go to
assume a task more difficult than
that which devolved upon Washington.
Unless the great God, who assisted
him, shall be with and aid me, l must
! fail; but if the same omniscient mind
and almighty arm that directed and
protected him shall guide and support
me, shal. not fail,-I shall succeed.
Let us all pray that the God of our
fathers may not forsake US now. To
him commend you all. Permit me to
ask, that, with equal security and faith
YOU will invoke his wisdom and guild
ance for me. With these few words
must leave: for how long know not.
Friends, one and all, must now bid
YOU an affectionate farewell.
But the question is often asked. "Did
Mr.. Lincoln believe in Christ as the
uneque Son of Cod? In reply, would
say, There is evidence that in Mr..
Lincolns early life, he had doubts as
to the Divinity of Christ; but. there is
abundant evidence to show that later
in life. that these doubts wers removed
and thathc acceptedChrist as his per
sona Divine Saviour. Ignorance is the
basis of most skepticism as well as
Superstition. The sainted Bishop
Simpson, who saw more of this side
of Lincolns s character than any other
man, and who delivered the eulogy at
his grave, said that Mr.. Lincoln be-
lieved in Christ as the Son of God. Such
testimony from such a source ought to
be valuable. In 1860, Lincoln said to
Mr.. Bateman, State Sup't. of Schools,
81 am nothing, but the Truth is every
thing. know l am right for | know
liberty is right, for Christ teaches it
and Christ is God. y
would not be unaerstood as affirm
ing that Mr. Lincoln held any particular
doctrine as to the deity of Chist. or
that his Faith could be squared in every
particular with what is commonly called
"Orthodox" position. But as one
evidence that he was good, SO many
denominations have claimed him. The
"Dccplcs' or "Campellites as they
were originally known, claimed him be-
causehis mother was of that faith. The
Baptist, say, ''He belonged to them
because his father was of that order.
The Prcsbyterians lay claim to him
because his wife was a member OF
their church, and that he attended
their servivcs with her. The Meth
odist say. "He belongs to them because
Bishop Simpson was his spiritual ad-
wiser, during his Presidency. The
The Un.tarians claim him. because he
had intellectual difficulty in his youth
in understanding the divinity of Jesus
Christ. And see no reason why the
Catholics might not own him, as he
first went to their school for a few
months; and the Episcopalians and ALI
other denomination because he loved
everybody and all churches.
But may not offer one more con
fession of Lincoln himself, which
think is sufficient to clear up all doubt
OF to his faith in Christ as his personal
Saviour. He said, "When was first
inaugurated | did not love my Saviour
But when | stood on the battle field of
Gettysburg, Il gave my heart to
Christ and can now say, Do Love
The Saviour.
(Continued Next Week,