Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-10
JOSIAH MARVEL
RELATES FACTS
ABOUT LINCOLN
ellis St. Stephens Brotherhood
the Civil War President Re
spccted the Law.
MAKES AN EARNEST PLEA

In an address delivered TO memners
and friends of the brotherhood ot st
Stephens Lutheran Church, last night,
Josiah Marvel touched ON high spots IN the
life of Abraham Lincoln, spoke OF his
respect for law and applied it to the
present time. He said the church and
schoolhouso produce the Amcricanism
we love.
The occasion was the Brotherhood q
first public meeting. In the absence OF
Canbv G.. Mammele, the president, who IL
suffering from tonsilitis and grip, Rev.
Frederic Doerr presided.
Announcing Thursday as Lincolns
Birthday, Mr.. Marvel stated great part
of the civilized world will stop moment
to commemorate IT.
Mr.. Marvel outlined Abraham Lin
coins early life. He said Lincoln's family
was The poorest of the poor white families.
We should know this to properly measure
him His father, the most shiftIess Of the
whites surrounding him, moved from Ken
tucky to Indiana Abraharn's stepmother
assisted him in every way she could. The
total Of his schooling was less than II
months He grew up IN rough country
and was an overgrown hoy His father
hired him out for 25 and 30 cents per day.
The family moved from Indiana to
Illinois. At the age of 23 years Abraham
was elected captain of 2 company organ
ized 10 fight Indians but its services were
not required His success in the contest
for the captaincy greatly pleased h,m.
After 60 ling in several business ventures
he aspired TO the Legislature, but was de-
fcatcd In another campaign he 'eceived
1O5 out of POS votes, which showed his
Inability.
Relating incidents to show AbrahaIn's
honesty Mr.. Marvel said he was a little
more honest than his neighbors. He served
three or four terms In the Legislature and
next was sent to Congress. During those
times he did nothing special. He was dull
md sluggish. His wife WAS shrewd,
bitter tongued, spiteful woman and did
nothing TO make hum better man. Later
le keenly felt the wrong Of human slavery.
His hatred of slavery arose from an
ngrained feeling for human rights. He
oaid little ttention to it until 1854. Then
le began to warm up to the work of his
ife and stood out from his fellows and was
marked. From 1854 TO 1858 he spoke
vigorously against the slave trade. In
1855 the Democrats nominated stephen
A. Douglass for United States Senator, and
the Republicans nominated Abraham
Lincoln Then the real life of Lincoln
,egan. Had there been no Douglass we
probably would never had President
Lincoln. Douglass was challenged TO
debate on slavery. The whole country
awoke Lincoln became famous and
rightly so. Douglass WAS elected Senator,
tut Iincolns defeat for the senatorshIp
made him President. He WAS invited 70
New York and his speech there made him
known in the East. He was elected Prcsl-
lent IN 1860 and inaugurated in 1861.
MIR Marvel said villihcation Of Lincoln
increased after his inauguration, but be
patiently stood il. Lincoln became famous
4s opposing slavery and was elected on
that platform. We should remember
his efforts to maintain the law and sustain
the Constitution. He contended, whether
slavery won or lost, the Union should bc
saved. Some persons now want to destroy
the law. Men who would set aside the
Constitution are traitors TO the country
and flag. Say to them In the name OF the
Constitution, Abraham Lincoln and Al
mighty God 60 back 10 the country from
which thev came. Sixty thousand have
cen marked as not deserving an asylum
Inder our flag. Lincoln obeyed the law;
le recognized a government OF the
,eople. by the people and for the people.
While observing high ideals this week let
: rededicate ourselves to follow Lincoln
md the Law.
The congregation gave Mr.. Marvel
ising vote Of thanks.
s miscellaneous program included organ
elections by William Parry, patriotic
,ongs by a choir and recItations by Miss
katherine Zock. Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence
Hope were soloIstS.
4 troop of Boy Scouts, recently organ
zed BY st. Stephens Church, was present,
md Scout Executive Frank 4. Green
hawk illustrated scout work. Edward
knoblock is master OF the troop.