The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-14
SAYS LINCOLN IS
sAUTH0R OF ANEW
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The Rev. Line Takes Life of
Great American for
His Sermon.

Abraham Lincoln stands out as
one of the unique personalities of
history the Rev. Fred A. Line said
Sunday while speaking on "a Char
acter Sketch, Abraham Lincoln" at
the Central Universalist Church.
His name is written the Eev.
Line said, Into the constitution
and life experience of the American
people and he served not alone a ma
ton, but a world.
First of all, he gave, birth to a
new type of craftsmanship. Gov
eminent of the people, for the peo
pie and by the people was to him
no eunmeaning phrase. He was es-
sentially man of the people. Dis
regarding political eXpediency, in
public life he gave himself unre-
servedly to the service of the masses.
In his service of the State and Ma
ton he exemplified the truth of the
axiom that nothing can be politically
right which is morally wrong.
He knew that if the righteous
ness that eXalteth nation was to
be realized in our nations life there
must be honesty on the part of pub
Nc officials from the lowest to the
u ighest.
Coming to fill the highest Office in
the land, when the nation was dis
rupted, when families were divided
on the great question Of states
rights, and the institution of human
slavery was being weighed in the
balances-this great man, with NAL
ice toward none, with charity for ALL
conducted the ship Of state over
troubled sea of four long yers of civil
strife, with the nations of the world
looking on, and made the stars and
stripes living symbol of freedom.
"Good Citizenship"
Another fruit of his life is noted
in the fact that he emphasized good
citizenship as a manifestation of re-
Hgious experience. According to es-
Iablished standards of theology,
Abraham Lincoln was not religious
man. He was not of the saved. He
made no profession of religion ac-
cording to approved method. He
never Joined the church. And yet,
who dares to say that Abraham Lin
coin was not a religious man? His
daily life was his profession. He
lived very close to God by living very
close to Gods people. The law of
love was written into his heart and
he endeavored to render obedience
in his most insignificant act. Read
and reread that immortal. address
delivered on a nations greatest bat
tlefield and see if you do not con-
clude that the saviour of his coun-
try was d man of deep religious con-
victions and experience.
Basis of Life
Abraham Lincoln made service
hlle basis of his life. He was great
Because of his humanity. What a
rare gem is that letter written to
Mrs. Bixby, who had sacrificed her
best loved treasures upon freedoms
altar. We see him as he stays the
execution of the old mans son, con-
trary to the expressed wish of his
general; puts joy into the heart of
the little girl who pleads for her
father, and again as he writes his
emancipation proclamation and gives
emphasis to his faith in the universal
brotherhood. His achievements were
born out of a great love for his fell
lowmen.
1.-THE problems of our lives today,
my frineds, is to translate the Lin
coin sentiment into present day life.
TO be true to the ideals of great
republic in our day as Abraham Lin
coin was true to the ideals of our
republic in his day is to make his
life mean something in the expert
ence of our lives.
''Are we ready to fight shoulder to
shoulder with this great American
today, ready to prove true to the
memory and abiding influence Of
Abraham Lincoln by measuring up
TO the highest standards of American.
citizenship in Indiana and in Indian
apolis today?" the Rev. Line asked.