Dr. C. H. Ray--Wm. H. Hannah, Esq.--James W. Keys--Hon.
Jesse W. Fell--Col. John G. Nicolay--Hon. David Davis--Mrs.
Mary Lincoln--Injustice to Mrs. Lincoln--Answer to Reed's
Pretended Refutation of the Testimony of Lamon's Witnesses.
Seven of Lamon's witnesses--Ray, Hannah, Keys, Fell, Nicolay, Davis, and
Mrs. Lincoln--remain to testify. The testimony of these witnesses will
now be presented.
DR. C. H. RAY.
Dr. Kay, editor of the Chicago Tribune, a prominent figure in Illinois
politics thirty years ago, and a personal friend and admirer of Lincoln,
testifies as follows:
"You knew Mr. Lincoln far better than I did, though I knew him well; and
you have served up his leading characteristics in a way that I should
despair of doing, if I should try. I have only one thing to ask: that
you do not give Calvinistic theology a chance to claim him as one of its
saints and martyrs. He went to the Old School Church; but, in spite of
that outward assent to the horrible dogmas of the sect, I have reason
from himself to know that his 'vital purity.' if that means belief in
the impossible, was of a negative sort" (Lamon's Life of Lincoln, pp.
489, 490).
Dr. Kay states that Lincoln held substantially the same theological
opinions as those held by Theodore Parker.
WILLIAM H. HANNAH.
A leading member of the Bloomington bar, when Lincoln practiced there,
was Wm. H. Hannah. He was an honest, truthful man, and knew Lincoln
well. Concerning Lincoln's views on the doctrine of endless punishment,
Mr. Hannah says:
"Since 1856 Mr. Lincoln told me that he was a kind of immortalist; but
that he never could bring himself to believe in eternal punishment; that
man lived but a little while here, and that, if eternal punishment were
man's doom, he should spend that little life in vigilant and ceaseless
preparation by never-ending prayer" (Life of Lincoln, p. 489).
JAMES W. KEYS.
Mr. Jas. W. Keys, an old and respected citizen of Springfield, who
became acquainted with Lincoln soon after his removal there, and who had
many conversations with him on the subject of theology, says:
"As to the Christian theory, that Christ is God, or equal to the
Creator, he said that it had better be taken for granted; for, by the
test of reason, we might become Infidels on that subject, for evidence
of Christ's divinity came to us in a somewhat doubtful shape" (Life of
Lincoln, p. 490).
HON. JESSE W. FELL.
Jesse W. Fell, who died at Bloomington in the spring of 1887, was one
of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Illinois. He was
Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee during the memorable
Lincoln-Douglas campaign, and was largely instrumental in bringing
Lincoln forward as a candidate for the Presidency in 1860. It was for
him that Lincoln wrote an autobiographical sketch of his life, which
formed the basis of his campaign biographies, the _facsimile_ of which
appears in Lamon's "Life of Lincoln," and in the "Lincoln Memorial
Album." Mr. Fell was a Christian of the Unitarian denomination, and
there were few men for whom Lincoln had a more profound respect. The
following is his testimony:
"Though everything relating to the character of this extraordinary
personage is of interest, and should be fairly stated to the world, I
enter upon the performance of this duty--for so I regard it--with some
reluctance, arising from the fact that, in stating my convictions on the
subject, I must necessarily place myself in opposition to quite a
number who have written on this topic before me, and whose views largely
pre-occupy the public mind. This latter fact, whilst contributing to
my embarrassment on this subject, is, perhaps, the strongest reason,
however, why the truth in this matter should be fully disclosed; and I
therefore yield to your request. If there were any traits of character
that stood out in bold relief in the person of Mr. Lincoln, they were
those of truth and candor. He was utterly incapable of insincerity,
or professing views on this or any other subject he did not entertain.
Knowing such to be his true character, that insincerity, much more
duplicity, were traits wholly foreign to his nature, many of his
old friends were not a little surprised at finding, in some of the
biographies of this great man, statements concerning his religious
opinions so utterly at variance with his known sentiments. True, he may
have changed or modified those sentiments after his removal from among
us, though this is hardly reconcilable with the history of the man, and
his entire devotion to public matters during his four years' residence
at the national capital. It is possible, however, that this may be the
proper solution of this conflict of opinions; or, it may be, that, with
no intention on the part of anyone to mislead the public mind, those who
have represented him as believing in the popular theological views of
the times may have misapprehended him, as experience shows to be quite
common where no special effort has been made to attain critical
accuracy on a subject of this nature. This is the more probable from the
well-known fact that Mr. Lincoln seldom communicated to anyone his views
on this subject. But, be this as it may, I have no hesitation whatever
in saying that, whilst he held many opinions in common with the great
mass of Christian believers, he did not believe in what are regarded as
the orthodox or evangelical views of Christianity.
"On the innate depravity of man, the character and office of the great
head of the church, the atonement, the infallibility of the written
revelation, the performance of miracles, the nature and design of
present and future rewards and punishments (as they are popularly
called) and many other subjects, he held opinions utterly at variance
with what are usually taught in the church. I should say that his
expressed views on these and kindred topics were such as, in the
estimation of most believers, would place him entirely outside the
Christian pale. Yet, to my mind, such was not the true position, since
his principles and practices and the spirit of his whole life were of
the very kind we universally agree to call Christian; and I think this
conclusion is in no wise affected by the circumstance that he never
attached himself to any religious society whatever.
"His religious views were eminently practical, and are summed up, as
I think, in these two propositions: 'the fatherhood of God, and
the brotherhood of man.' He fully believed in a superintending and
overruling Providence that guides and controls the operations of the
world, but maintained that law and order, and not their violation
or suspension, are the appointed means by which this Providence is
exercised.
"I will not attempt any specification of either his belief or disbelief
on various religious topics, as derived from conversations with him
at different times during a considerable period; but, as conveying a
general view of his religious or theological opinions, will state
the following facts: Some eight or ten years prior to his death, in
conversing with him on this subject, the writer took occasion to refer,
in terms of approbation, to the sermons and writings generally of Dr.
W. E. Channing; and, finding he was considerably interested in the
statement I made of the opinions held by that author, I proposed to
present him a copy of Channing's entire works, which I soon after did.
Subsequently, the contents of these volumes, together with the writings
of Theodore Parker, furnished him, as he informed me, by his friend and
law-partner, Mr. Herndon, became naturally the topics of conversation
with us; and though far from believing there was an entire harmony of
views on his part with either of those authors, yet they were generally
much admired and approved by him.
"No religious views with him seemed to find any favor, except of the
practical and rationalistic order; and if, from my recollections on
this subject, I was called upon to designate an author whose views
most nearly represented Mr. Lincoln's on this subject, I would say that
author was Theodore Parker. As you have asked from me a candid statement
of my recollections on this topic, I have thus briefly given them, with
the hope that they may be of some service in rightly settling a question
about which--as I have good reason to believe--the public mind has been
greatly misled. Not doubting that they will accord, substantially, with
your own recollections, and that of his other intimate and confidential
friends, and with the popular verdict after this matter shall have been
properly canvassed, I submit them" (Life of Lincoln, pp. 490-492).
Mr. Fell's testimony is full and explicit. He affirms that Lincoln
rejected nearly all the leading tenets of orthodox Christianity; the
inspiration of the Scriptures, the divinity of Christ, the innate
depravity of man, the atonement, the performance of miracles, and future
rewards and punishments. "His expressed views on these and kindred
topics," Mr. Fell says, "were such as, in the estimation of most
believers, would place him entirely outside the Christian pale." Mr.
Fell, himself, was not disposed to withhold from Lincoln the appellation
of Christian, but it was only because he stood upon the broad Liberal
Christian, or rather non-Christian, platform which permitted him to
welcome a Theist, like Parker; a Pantheist, like Emerson; or even an
Agnostic, like Ingersoll.
COL JOHN G. NICOLAY.
The next witness introduced by Lamon, is Col. John G. Nicolay, Lincoln's
private secretary at the White House. Nicolay's relations with the
President were more intimate than those of any other man. To quote the
words of Lincoln's partner, "Mr. Lincoln loved him and trusted him."
His testimony is among the most important that this controversy has
elicited. It proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that all these stories
concerning Lincoln's alleged conversation at Washington are false, that
he did not change his belief, that he died as he had always lived--a
Freethinker. In a letter written May 27, 1865, just six weeks after
Lincoln's death, Colonel Nicolay says: "Mr. Lincoln did not, to my
knowledge, in any way, change his religious ideas, opinions or beliefs,
from the time he left Springfield till the day of his death. I do not
know just what they were, never having heard him explain them in detail,
but I am very sure he gave no outward indications of his mind having
undergone any change in that regard while here" (Life of Lincoln, p.
492).
HON. DAVID DAVIS.
One of the most important, and in some respects the most eminent witness
summoned to testify in regard to this question, is the Hon. David Davis.
In moral character he stood above reproach, in intellectual ability,
almost without a peer. Every step in his career was marked by unswerving
integrity and freedom from prejudice. His rulings and decisions in the
lower courts of Illinois, and on the bench of the Supreme Court of the
United States, commanded universal respect. As a legislator, his love
of truth and justice prevented him from being a political partisan. As
United States Senator and Vice-President of the United States, the party
that elected him could obtain his support for no measure that he deemed
unjust. Referring to his acquaintance with Lincoln, Judge Davis says: "I
enjoyed for over twenty years the personal friendship of Mr. Lincoln.
We were admitted to the bar about the same time, and traveled for many
years what is known in Illinois as the Eighth Judicial Circuit. In 1848,
when I first went on the bench, the circuit embraced fourteen counties,
and Mr. Lincoln went with the court to every county." A large portion
of this time they passed in each other's company. They often rode in
the same vehicle, generally ate at the same table, and not infrequently
slept together in the same bed. The closest intimacy existed between
them as long as Lincoln lived, and when he died, Mr. Davis became his
executor. Judge Davis would not intentionally have misrepresented the
opinions of an enemy, much less the opinions of his dear dead friend.
Briefly, yet clearly, he defines the theological views of Lincoln:
"He had no faith, in the Christian sense of the term--had faith in laws,
principles, causes, and effects--philosophically" (Life of Lincoln, p.
489).
Speaking of the many stories that had been circulated concerning
Lincoln's religious belief, such as the Bateman and Vinton interviews,
together with the various pious speeches he is reported to have made
to religious committees and delegations that visited him, such as his
reputed speech to the Negroes of Baltimore, Judge Davis says:
"The idea that Lincoln talked to a stranger about his religion or
religious views, or made such speeches, remarks, &c, about it as are
published, is to me absurd. I knew the man so well. He was the most
reticent, secretive man I ever saw, or expect to see" (Ibid).
MRS. MARY LINCOLN.
But one of Lamon's witnesses remains--the wife of the martyred
President. Her testimony ought of itself to put this matter at rest
forever. Mrs. Lincoln says:
"Mr. Lincoln had no hope, and no faith, in the usual acceptation of
those words" (Life of Lincoln, p. 489).
In addition to what Colonel Lamon has presented, Mrs. Lincoln also
stated the following:
"Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were, 'What is to be, will be, and
no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined any church.
He was a religious man always, I think, but was not a technical
Christian" (Herndon's "Religion of Lincoln").
It may be charged that Mrs. Lincoln subsequently repudiated a portion of
this testimony. In anticipation of such a charge I will here state a
few facts. This testimony was given by Mrs. Lincoln in 1865. When it was
given, while her heart was pierced by the pangs of her great grief, her
mind was sound. About Jan. 1, 1874, a brief article, purporting to come
from her pen, appeared, in which the testimony attributed to her was in
part denied. At the time this denial was written, Mrs. Lincoln had been
for more than two years insane. The chief cause in dethroning her reason
was the death of her universally beloved Tad (Thomas), which occurred
on July 15, 1871. Referring to this sad event, Mr. Arnold, one of the
principal witnesses on the Christian side of this controversy, says:
"From this time Mrs. Lincoln, in the judgment of her most intimate
friends, was never entirely responsible for her conduct" (Life of
Lincoln, p. 439).
The only effect of this denial on the minds of those acquainted with the
circumstances, was to excite a mingled feeling of pity and disgust--pity
for this unfortunate woman, and disgust for the contemptible methods of
those who would take advantage of her demented condition and make her
contradict the honest statements of her rational life.
Before dismissing this witness, I wish to advert to a subject with
which many of my readers are familiar. For years, both before and after
Lincoln's death, the religious press of the country was continually
abusing Mrs. Lincoln. If a ball was held at the White House, she became
at once the recipient of unlimited abuse. If Lincoln attended the
theater, she was accused of having dragged him there against his will.
It was almost uniformly asserted that he would not have gone to the
theater on that fatal night had it not been for her, and in not a few
instances it was infamously hinted that she was cognizant of the plot
to murder him. But even the Rev. Dr. Miner, who was acquainted with the
facts, is willing to vindicate her from these imputations. He says: "It
has been said that Mrs. Lincoln urged her husband to go to the theater
against his will. This is not true. On the contrary, she tried to
persuade him not to go."
Lincoln's biographers have, for the most part, endeavored to do his wife
justice, and have rebuked the insults showered upon her. Alluding to
President and Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Herndon says: "All that I know ennobles
both." Colonel Lamon says: "Almost ever since Mr. Lincoln's death a
portion of the press has never tired of heaping brutal reproaches upon
his wife and widow, whilst a certain class of his friends thought they
were honoring his memory by multiplying outrages and indignities upon
her at the very moment when she was broken by want and sorrow, defamed,
defenseless, in the hands of thieves, and at the mercy of spies." Mr.
Arnold says: "There is nothing in American history so unmanly, so devoid
of every chivalric impulse as the treatment of this poor, broken-hearted
woman."
The evidence of Colonel Lamon's ten witnesses has now been presented.
This evidence includes, in addition to the testimony of other intimate
friends, the testimony of his wife; the testimony of his first law
partner, Hon. John T. Stuart; the testimony of his last law partner,
Hon. Win. H. Herndon; the testimony of his friend and political adviser,
Col. James H. Matheny; the testimony of his private secretary, Col. John
G. Nicolay; and the testimony of his lifelong friend and executor
after death, Judge David Davis. No one can read this evidence and
then honestly affirm that Abraham Lincoln was a Christian. This is the
evidence, the perusal of which so thoroughly enraged that good Christian
biographer, Dr. J. G. Holland; this is the evidence, the truthfulness of
which the Rev. J. A. Reed, unmindful of the fate of Ananias, attempted
to deny.
As a full and just answer to this attempted refutation of Lamon's
witnesses by Reed, I quote from the New York _World_ the following:
"This individual testimony is clear and overwhelming, without the
documentary and other evidence scattered profusely through the rest
of the volume. How does Mr. Reed undertake to refute it? In the first
place, firstly, he pronounces it a 'libel,' and in the second place,
secondly, he is 'amazed to find'--and he says he has found--that the
principal witnesses take exception to Mr. Lamon's report of their
evidence. This might have been true of many or all of Mr. Lamon's
witnesses without exciting the wonder of a rational man. Few persons,
indeed, are willing to endure reproach merely for the truth's sake,
and popular opinion in the Republican party of Springfield, Ill., is
probably very much against Mr. Lamon. It would, therefore, be quite
in the natural order if some of his witnesses who find themselves
unexpectedly in print should succumb to the social and political
terrorism of their place and time, and attempt to modify or explain
their testimony. They zealously assisted Mr. Herndon in ascertaining the
truth, and while they wanted him to tell it in full they were prudently
resolved to keep their own names snugly out of sight. But Mr. Reed's
statement is not true, and his amazement is entirely simulated. Two only
out of the ten witnesses have gratified him by inditing, at his request,
weak and guarded complaints of unfair treatment. These are John T.
Stuart, a relative of the Lincolns and Edwardses, and Jim Matheny, both
of Springfield, whom Mr. Lincoln taught his peculiar doctrines, but who
may by this time be deacons in Mr. Reed's church. Neither of them helps
Mr. Reed's case a particle. Their epistles open, as if by concert,
in form and words almost identical. They say they did not _write_ the
language attributed to them. The denial is wholly unnecessary, for
nobody affirms that they did write it. They talked and Mr. Herndon
wrote. His notes were made when the conversation occurred, and probably
in their presence. At all events, they are both so conscious of the
general accuracy of his report that they do not venture to deny a single
word of it, but content themselves with lamenting that something else,
which they did _not_ say, was excluded from it. They both, however,
in these very letters, repeat emphatically the material part of the
statements made by them to Mr. Herndon, namely, that Mr. Lincoln was
to their certain knowledge, until a very late period of his life, an
'Infidel,' and neither of them is able to tell when he ceased to be an
Infidel and when he began to be a Christian. And this is all Mr. Reed
makes by his re-examination of the two persons whom he is pleased to
exalt as Mr. Lamon's 'principal witnesses.' They are but two out of the
ten. What of the other eight? They have no doubt been tried and plied by
Mr. Reed and his friends to no purpose; they stand fast by the record.
But Mr. Reed is to be shamed neither by their speech nor their silence."