The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-17
A Sermon on Lincoln.

[Sermon on Lincoln preached in the Belfast
Baptist Church by the pastor, Rev. J. Wilbor
Richardson, before the Sons of Veterans,
Ladies' Auxiliary and Daughters Of Veterans.
Sunday morning. Feb 18th
The minister pronounced the name "Lincoln''
as text. then said in part: ave look into q
f1oorless one.room Kentucky hut. The loving,
patient, Christian mother is teaching her boy
how to read. The first textbook was the Holy
Bible; before ten ye ,rs of age Abraham had
men and women, that the Bible has been the
basis of everything grand and distinctly
American. It was the Bible that made him
the true eAmerican-magnifcent We may not
know how many prayers that mother offered
for her boy; but we do know that the Bible
was SO woven into his character, that over one
hundred years from his birth Lincoln stands
/ apart in striking solitude, an enigma to all
men. There we're two brief periods of about
six months each when he attended school
this was his only college course; but he read and
absorbed every book within radius of fifty
miles. There was a storekeeper in the distant
village who subscribed for paper published
in Louisville; when the paper arrived young
Lincoln was on hand to read the news and dis
cuss events. The neighbors gathered in the
store to listen to this seventeen year old boy, as
he read and commented on politics and slavery.
Then, too, special occasions he would de-
liver speeches and poems with such marvellous
effect. the assembly would applaud him to the
echo--on several such occasions he would say
Iau Proo 70 he uo
began to prophesy young. Also at this time
he began contributing articles for the local
press. AS with Moses, the great emancipator
of the Old Testament, who lived forty years
in the desert before he was prepared. SO Lin
coin needed that life in the wilderness ere he
was qualified to face millions and take up the
colossal duty for which Gcd gave him birth. At
81 years of age he stood forth Ike young Saul
at Hebron, taller than all his brethren from
his shoulders up; he measured feet 4 inches
in height; he possessed giants strength and
not a wrestler could sweep him from his feet.
He was perfect pattern of young American
manhood. he did not swear. He would not
lie. He was strictly temperate. One hundred
years later when the students of history search
his past. this man. greater than any king. ap-
pears without an immortality for which the
American people must apologize.
God, who times nations and events in the
interests of His Christ, timed to second a
trip to New Orleans. There was great slave
sale on the day he arrived he learned what
bargain day in human flesh meant. And the
lightnings kindled in Lincoln's soul-and there
was not water enough, nor money enough, to
quench the new fire. He said to people de-
manding to know where he stood, II have seen
slavery in the nude; will use all the strength
of my mind to abolish the withering, damning
curse" He begins to study law. Now he has
reached the opening at the bottom of the lane.
way off on the distant elevation stands the
White House-and the msts and clouds float
between - but the Prophet Lincoln looks
through the haze while whispering to his sou,
81 am going to be President" AS God whisper
ed to Isaiah, so God gave message to His
later great prophet-that's why Lincoln was
SO wierd, startling.
By dint of tremendous application he passed
his examinations and in 1887 received his
license to practice law. He had crossed the
threshold of the arena.
Lincoln Was An Ideal Lawyer.
He was not Of the same brand as some of
those who now practice Law-for instance in
Boston, New York, or Washington. A fat fee
never tempted his cupidity ambition.
she possessed wide awake conscience He
never resorted to trick to win case. He
fees. Strange as it may seem, yet tits true,
Lincoln practiced law that those who retained
him might have justice done them-no more.
1t is to the eternal credit of Lincoln that,
though great lawyer, no man with wicked
case, no man with an unjust demand, dare ask
him to plead his cause. If he found a client
had deceived him, Lincoln would abandon the
case in the midst of the trial. Only one
thought was uppermost in his soul-not money.
but justice! justice! justice! Can you wonder
that more volumes have been written concern
ing Lincoln than about any other character of
the verdict hinged on the testimony of one of
his own witnesses. The cross questioning Of
the opposing counsel had failed to shake this
witness. But the witness told lie. No one
but i Lincoln knew it was lie, Success de-
pended upon the testimony of this witness.
But Lincoln leaped to his feet and exclaimed.
Your honor, my witness has lied ask that
his testimony be stricken from the record. l
will win this verdict honestly or not at all He
won! We ought not to wonder that the people
called him Honest old Abe.
Was Sincere as Politician.
at is remarkable fact that, though we are
able to ransack this mans past. and in cold
blood analyze his deeds and words, yet it is i'm
possible to find the stain of dishonest deal.
There is no pitch clinging to his sacred mem
ory. Lincoln proves beyond contradiction
that man genuinely sincere at heart can enter
politics and remain sincere. Lincoln teaches
every generation of Americans that it is not
politics which are rotten. but rotten men in
politics. We have splendid revelation of his
innermost character. When Lincoln was study
ing for the har, William Butler practically sup
ported him. When Lincoln went to Congress,
Butler wanted to become Register of the Land
Office as recompense for the past Lincoln
acknowledged, with tears in his eyes, the debt
of gratitude, but declined to make the appoint
ment. He refused to use public office as the
means to pay private accounts. He was the