Year: 1865

the country the restoration OF the Union and the


return of harmony and love- that he should be taken
from US, and taken just the prospect Of peace
brightly opening upon torn and bleeding country,


ana just as he was beginning to be animated and glad


dened with the hope Of long enjoying with the people
the blessed frut and reward OF his aud their toll and


care and patience, and self sacrificing devotion
terests of liberty aud the Union-ohl Is mysterious
and most affecting dispensation. But It IL Father
q in heaven, the God Of fathers who permits US
4 TO be suddenly and sorely smittcn, and We know
ithat His judgments right, and that in faith
7 Nfuness He has afflicted In the midst Of
rcjocngs. We needed this stroke. This dealing


this discipline and therefore He has sent it. Let us


m mber affection has not forth of the dust and


our trouble has not sprung out Of the ground. Through
and beyond all second let look and the
sovereign permssive agency of the first great It


His prerogatve to bring light Of darkness and good
out of evil Surely the wrath of shall praise Him.
and the remainder of wrath He will restrain In the


light of clear day may yet that the wrath which


planned and perpetated the death Of the President
overrued by Him, whose judgments unsearchabls


His ways past finding out for the highest welfare Of


all those interests which dear to the Christian pa


triot and phiantrophist and for which loyal people


made such unexamped sacrifice Of treasure aud
gof blood Let US not be faithless. but believing.


Blind unbelief is prone to err,


And scan his work In vain;


God Is his own interpreter,


And He will make IL plain.


We will wait for His Interpretation, and we will wait In
faith nothing doubling He who has led WELL and
defended and prospered wonderfully during the


last four years of TOLL and struggle and sorrow will not
4 lorsake He may chasten, but He will not de-
stroy He may purify and more in the furnace
I OF trial, but He will not us: no. He has


chosen u.s. He did His people Of old the furnace Of


afic,ion and He has said Of He said of them 'his
speoe have formed for myself; they shall show forth
imy praise" Let principal anxiety be
that this may be sanctded sor-
Arow that II may lead US 10 deeper repentance,
4 to humbing Of our dependence upon God,
Sand the unreserved conservation OF ourselves


and all that have to the Of truth and Justice
of law and order of liberty and good government Of
;pure and undelled religion Then, though weeping
may endure for night oy viii come in the morning


Blessed be God despite OF tho great, and sudden and
Temporary darkness, the morning has begun to dawn
the morning Of bri Int and glorious day, such
scountry has That day will come and not


,arry and the death OF hundred presidents and their
Il cabinets can never never prevent IL. While we arc
y hopeful however, let also be humble The occasion
i. calls Ms to pmyerful and fearful humiliation. It
q demands Of Va that lie low, very low,
e before Him who has stricken US for our
ss sins o that all our rulers and all people
= may bow in the dust to-day beneath the chssten-
y ing hand of God, ard may their voices go up TO
~ Him Voice their hearts 20 up to him
81 heart, r. d.ng with Him for mercy and


grace sanctiy srca, and sore bcreavcm mt and
~ or wisdom TO guide az thr time OF need. Such


united cry and pleading VIII not he in vain. 1t viii


into the and heart Of Him who sits upon the
k lrone and Hc will say 10, to Ills ancient Israel,
I'd ''In I,tc wrath hid my (. e from thee FOR n g
FL bit with evcr.aghng kindnes vii have mercy
thee saith the Lord thy rracemer" have -ad 'nat


the people ccnGicd In tho e lamcnied President with
IA full and loving confidence. Probably
Isl since the days of Washington was 30 deeply
n and firmly imbedded and cnshrnod In the very hearts
N OF the people Abraham Lincoln Nor IL a mis-.
M taken confidence and love- c deserved itdcserved IL


wcil--dcsorved it ali lie me,ited by his character by


acts and by the whole tenor and tone aud spirit Of his
- life He was simple and sincere, plain and honest,
~ rusiu aud just b,r cvolent and kad His perceptions
"A we're quick and clear his Judgments calm and
~ curate and his purposes Coci and pure Beyond
n question. Always and everywhere he aimed ari
IN deavored to be rigi. and TO DO right Hs integrity
= thorough all pervadlng all controlling and incoup:bh-
tf was the in every place and relation In the con-
N sderation and tho control or matters great or small
n tho same firm steady principle Of powcr and beauty


ta, shed a clear orownng usrc Upon all his other
fexccenccs OF mind and heart and recommended him to
/. his fellow citizens as tho man Who, In time of
yunexanpled peril when the very life OF the nation





Coz the coun,ry-s hghes, post Of POKER aud pom
u ssbity. How wisely and wel how purely and
~ faithfully how firmly and stcads, how Justly and
: successfully, he did occupy that post and meet its
R nave demands In circumstances OF suraHinG trial


md diGci'y is known To you az, known % tho ooun-


y ty and the world Hc c0nprchs dcl from the Grst Tho


pcrs which had cgYosed tho irccst and best


fgovernment the earth the vast Interests of liberty


and humanity that to 10 saved or lost forever in
the urgent impending conflict Ito to the Dig


nifty and momeutousnesl Of the occasion, his du-
lty as Chief Magistrate Of great and imperlled
y people, and he determined to do his duty and
"a his whole duty, seeking the guidance and leaning upon
the arm Of Him Of whom Is written, Hc givoth power
the faint and to them that have might he Increases
n their strength "Yes he leaned upon His ARM he rccog
nzod and received the truth that 'ho kingdom Is tho
Lords, and lie il the governor among the nations"
~ He remembered that "God in hstory.n and he felt
Y. that where had His hand and His mercy been
N 1yeiousy conspicuous in the history Of this nation
lie hoped aud prayed that "that hand would con
linuc to guide us, and that mercy continue to
q abound to us in the time Of greatest need speak
n what know and testify what have often heard him say
81 when | affirm that that guidance aud mercy
q were the prop which he humbly and habit
.sualy leaned; that they the best hope
= he had for himself and for his country
4 Hence when lac leaving his home in Illinois aud


coming TO this city TO take bis scat in the Executive
chair Of disturbed and troubled nation he fad to s


old aud tried friends who gathered joyfully nd him
Z and badc him farewell IL you with this request
|. ny ior me" They did pray for him. And millions Of
q others prayed for him. Nor did they pray In van


Their prayers wero heard and the appears al


his subsequent hesory II shines forth with heavenly
\ radiance the whole and tenor Of Ia admins
raon from It's commencement TO It's close God raised
him up for great aud glorous mission, furnished him
a his work and aided him It's accomplishment Nor
4 IL merely by strength OF mind and honesty OF
4 heart and purity and pcr.lnacity Of purpose that


he furnished him In add ton to these things he gave
/ him calm and abiding confidence In tho overriding
providence OF God and In the ultimate triumph OF truth
H.. al