Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1884 — Mr. Lincoln’s Religious Belief. [ARTICLE]

Mr. Lincoln’s Religious Belief.

There has been discussion as to Mr. Lincoln’s religious belief. He was silent as to his own preference among creeds. Prejudice against any particular denomination he did not, entertain.. Allied all his life with Protestant Christianity, he thankfully availed himrself of the services of an eminent Catholic prelate—Archbishop Hughes, ei New York—in a personal mission to England, of great importance, at a crisis when the relations between the two countries were disturbed and threatening. Throughout the whole period of the war he constantly directed the attention of the nation to dependence on God. It may, indeed, be doubted whether he omitted this in a single state paper. In every message to Congress, in every proclamation to the people, he made it prominent. In July, 1863, after the battle of Gettysburg, he called upon the people to give thanks because “it has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the supplication's and prayers of an affiicted people, and to vouchsafe signal victories to the Army and Navy of the United States,” and he asked the people “to render homage to

[ the Divine Majesty and to invoke th v influence of His Holy Spirit to anbdu the anger which has produced and s long sustained a needless and cruel re bellion.” On another occasion, recoun ing the blessings which had come to th Union, he said: “No human counse hath devised, nor hath any mortal ban. worked out, these great things, The are the gracious gifts of the Most Higi God, who, while dealing with us in an ger for our sins, hath nevertheless re membered mercy.” Throughout hi entire official career—attended at a times with exacting duty and painfu responsibility—he never forgot his owi dependence, or the dependence of the people, upon a Higher Power. In his last public address, delivered to an im mense crowd assembled at the Whit. House the 11th of April to congratulate him on the victories of the Union, the President, standing, as he unconsciously was, in the very shadow of death, said, reverently, to his hearers: “In the midst of your joyous expressions He, from whom all blessings flow must first be remembered.” —Blainfa Twenty Years in Congress.