“Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.” (Annual message to Congress, Dec. 1, 1862)
    I now offer a paraphrase:
    “Fellow members of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, we cannot escape history. We of this organization will be remembered for our presentations. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trials through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor to the name of Abraham Lincoln.”

    In 1958 Richard N. Current published The Lincoln Nobody Knows. Forty years after the book was published, Current had not changed his opinion, but he made the following tongue-in-cheek statement: “I know—the correct answer to each of the questions I have raised. The only trouble is that, whatever side I pick, I face the tremendous weight of authority on the other side. This does not deter me from making up my mind, and it should not deter you from making up yours. Just as long as you agree with me!”
    Today I will tell you about the Lincoln I know. But first I affirm that Jesus is my Saviour and Lord, not Abraham Lincoln. My opinion is that if you first have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it will be easier to stand for what Lincoln stood for.
    We Lincoln presenters have a profound respect for the man Abraham Lincoln. Herein we find a tie that binds, but sometimes we view Lincoln differently. Why is that so? We have the same fact territory; the same evidence is available to all. There is no such thing as a raw fact; we impose our presuppositions on the facts.
    I will give you a few examples. When Lincoln moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1837 he shared a room and a bed with Joshua Speed. From that fact territory two very different conclusions are now reached. Considering time, place, customs, and circumstances some conclude that Lincoln was in need and that Joshua Speed was very generous. Today some infer that Lincoln and Speed were homosexuals because they shared a room and a bed. On Jan. 16, 2006 Gore Vidal and other scholars presented that view of Lincoln on the History Channel. Based on hearsay evidence, plus the availability of prostitutes, we were lead to the doorway of another conclusion.
    While viewing “Lincoln” on the History Channel I applied some standard tests of evidence: Was the evidence incomplete, withheld, inaccurate, or misinterpreted? Problems existed in each area. In addition the filming of the program produced a planetary paradigm of unreality. We were whisked down long hallways at jet speed then swung wildly over acres of green grass. Many blurred images of people were presented. One can only guess how the audience was expected to react to those effects.
    I pondered why such a program was produced. Perhaps it is because Lincoln could be denigrated without any great cry of protest. Also, many will praise it. Such was the case when I met a friend who said that he really liked the program and admitted that prior to viewing the production he knew very little about Lincoln. Now I suspect that there are people all over this broad land who believe they met the real Abraham Lincoln on the History Channel.
    We should not be surprised that people view Lincoln differently. For everything in this world there are opposite opinions.
    Here is a modern example of the point I am making. Two men look at a tree and one says, “I see intelligent design, plan, and purpose.” The other replies, “I don’t see that at all. I see time and chance.”
    How you view Lincoln determines how you present him. Like the blind men examining the elephant, the creature may feel different to you. For example, Gerald Bestrom probably sees Lincoln as an evangelist with a saw. Maybe a man who could make an ax sing also played a saw. I don’t know. I wasn’t there. In his very fine book, Honestly Abe, Charley Brame introduces Lincoln in cartoons providing insights both liberal and conservative.
    Who is the Lincoln you know and portray? My presentation is not the same as that of Jim Sayre, Fred Priebe, Max Daniels, or any other member of the ALP. Neither would you be comfortable with my invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory. There are times when we should be aware of the Apostle Paul’s observation that “they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Cor. 10:12)
    I will, however, tell you about the Lincoln I know, and how I came to know him.

I. THE LINCOLN THAT I KNOW, I MET AS A TEACHER
    During the 80s and early 90s I taught “The Lincoln Senior
Seminar” at Eastern Illinois University. During the first half of the semester we saturated ourselves with Lincoln Speeches, Proclamations, and Documents.
    For example I had my students read and we discussed: “Address to the Young Men’s Lyceum, Springfield, Illinois Jan. 27, 1863; Speeches in Congress on the Mexican War, 1847-48; “Discoveries and Inventions,” Bloomington, Illinois April 6, 1858; “The House Divided Speech,” Springfield, June 16, 1858; The Lincoln/Douglas debates at Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton, August-October, 1858; “Cooper Union Address” New York City, Feb. 27, 1860; “Farewell Address at Springfield” Feb. 11, 1861; “First Inaugural” March 4, 1861;”Annual Message to Congress” Dec. 1, 1862; “Compensated Emancipation of Slaves” March 10, 1862; “Homestead Act” May 20, 1862; “Union Pacific Railway Act” July 1, 1862; “Federal Income Tax Law” July 1, 1862; “Morrill Land Grant College Act” July 2, 1862; “Emancipation Proclamation” Jan. 1, 1863; “Proclamation on Prayer and Fasting,” March 30, 1863; “Proclamation for Thanksgiving” Oct. 3, 1863; “Gettysburg Address” Nov. 19, 1863; “Second Inaugural” March 4, 1865.
    Often our discussion was guided by the identification of Lincoln’s philosophies: moral, social, political, economic, scientific, aesthetic, and theological. Following those identifications I asked the students to submit current controversial topics from each of those areas. They submitted over ninety topics. Next we took not a WWJD (what would Jesus do) but a WWLD (what would Lincoln do) approach to the topics. I will mention only two of the identifications. Their first listing under moral topics was abortion. Because my students had studied the Dredd Scott decision it did not take them long to decide that Lincoln would be pro-life. Even today it does not take a mental giant to make that transition in reasoning.
    Students of the eighties were also concerned about freedom of speech. Clement Vallandigham, former congressman from Ohio, provided one of the most notorious freedom of speech cases during the Civil War. On April 13, 1863, Ambrose E. Burnside issued General Order No. 38 announcing that those committing “acts for the benefit of the enemies of our country” would be arrested and tried as spies or traitors. Vallandigham was the leading Peace Democrat in the West and he decided to test the Order. On May 1, 1863, he gave a vitriolic address at Mount Vernon, Ohio, denouncing the tyrannical power of “King Lincoln.” Burnside had Vallandigham arrested and a military commission found him guilty of “declaring disloyal sentiments and opinions with the object and purpose of weakening the power of the Government in its efforts to suppress an unlawful rebellion.”
    Even then some took a worried look at the freedom of speech issue. Lincoln stated his dilemma, “Must I shoot a simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of a wily agitator who induces him to desert?” Lincoln bluntly asserted that Vallandigham was “personally, in a greater degree than. .any other one man,” responsible for the desertions from the army, the resistance to the draft, and even the assassination of Unionists.
    In dealing with military matters Lincoln authorized the suspension of habeas corpus at least eight times from April 27, 1861 to Dec 2, 1861. On Sept. 24, 1862, and Sept 15, 1863 Lincoln suspended the privilege of habeas corpus throughout the country. The suspension was first controlled by the Secretary of State and some 864 persons were imprisoned without trial during the first nine months of the War. The number of arrests greatly increased in February 1862 when the Secretary of War was given the responsibility. Most of those imprisoned were smugglers, spies, blockade runners; few were political prisoners.
    Most of my college students had been brain washed into being left-wing liberals. They came down hard on Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus and the imprisonment of Vallandigham. I sent them scurrying to read Walter Bagehot’s “Metaphysical Basis of Toleration,” in which he said: “No government is bound to permit a controversy which will annihilate itself. It is a trustee for many duties, and if possible, it must retain the power to perform those duties.” Where is the line between freedom of speech and freedom of action to be drawn? Bagehot gives an answer: “If, therefore, society sees a man maintaining opinions which by experience it has been led to connect with actions such as it discountenances, it is justified in provisionally discountenancing the man who holds those opinions.”
    I also had my students read Understanding the Constitution by Edward S. Corwin. Said Corwin: “The right of freedom of speech and press is essential to the preservation and operation of a democracy, but even this right is not absolute.” Corwin offers some criteria for evaluation. Freedom of speech should not be suspended for the expression of ideas, but if evidence exists to show advocacy of action then the right of free speech is forfeited.
    Next we found that Lincoln answered his critics with a reasoned, constitutional, argument. A crisis existed and in the interest of self-preservation he had to act placing upon Congress the responsibility to ratify the measures he had taken. The right of self-preservation he found in Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, whereby he was required to “preserve, protect, and defend” it, and in section 3, that he “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
    These texts, plus the laws of war conferred upon a commander in chief, gave Lincoln necessary constitutional authority. The whole of the laws which were required to be “faithfully executed” were being resisted, and failed of execution in nearly one-third of the States. The question Lincoln faced is this: Are all the laws but one to go unexecuted, and the government itself go to pieces lest that one be violated?
    Lincoln’s position on habeas corpus and freedom of speech was vindicated by history and by constitutional critics, but some of my students still believed he was wrong.
    Lincoln’s decisions could be instructive during our current war on terror. There are those whose speech is giving aid and comfort to the terrorists. I share an example that appeared in our local paper, written by a local college professor who charges that our troops in Iraq are not “heroic and brave.” He said: “So explain to me again how our troops in Iraq are heroes and brave? They’re covered from head to toe in Keylar, travel in armored vehicles, are heavily armed with comparatively unlimited ammunition, and have direct support from weapons of mass destruction unheard of in the history of the planet; they’re following the orders of liars, cowards, draft-dodgers, substance abusers, and deserters—who have perverted information that they knew was bald-faced lies...” The man who wrote those words is employed by one of our junior colleges.
    The liberal spiral in education continues. The Lincoln Senior Seminar that I taught at Eastern Illinois University has been dropped. Bible reading, prayer, Christmas celebration, and identifications of Christian morality are now largely forbidden in our public schools. For the past fourteen years I have been able, however, to go into public schools and quote what Lincoln said about the Bible, The Saviour, and matters of right and wrong. That freedom may also soon be forbidden.

II. THE LINCOLN I KNOW, I MET AS A PASTOR.
    While preparing sermons I often noted that Lincoln reflected the character of biblical personalities.
    Lincoln and the Gospel writer Luke are very similar. Luke presented the longest Gospel because he validated truth with specific evidence, including events, names, offices, dates, conversations, and circumstances. Lincoln demonstrated a devotion to the discovery and defense of truth. To Horace Greeley on Aug. 22, 1862 Lincoln defended the ethics of changing an opinion. “I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views as fast as they shall appear to be true views.”
    In Luke’s Gospel the words of Christ are related to Old Testament prophecies and other Gospel accounts. Lincoln also validated truth by established systems of truth. In Lincoln’s speeches, debates with Stephen Douglas, and decisions during the Civil War, he demonstrated that his foundations were the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and Holy Writ. He often quoted the Declaration of Independence and held unswervingly to that philosophical statement of the meaning of existence and value.
    Luke presented precise descriptions of events. Lincoln formed that habit as a lawyer. At Beardstown, Illinois, on May 7, 1858 Lincoln cleared Duff Armstrong of murder. A witness for the prosecution said that he had seen Duff commit the murder by the light of the moon. Lincoln produced an almanac for August of 1857 to prove that there was no bright moonlight.
    Lincoln was also like the Apostle Paul who said, “...I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some...” Lincoln had an ability to adapt to people with different opinions. At Peoria on Oct. 16, 1854 Lincoln demonstrated sincere understanding of the south when he said: “...let me say I think I have no prejudice against the Southern people. They are just what we would be in their situation.”
    In many ways Lincoln was a counterpart to the Apostle Paul’s logical strategies. Paul’s presentation of the resurrection in 1 Cor. 15, his sermon on Mars Hills in Athens, Acts 17, his reasoned discourse before Jews and Greeks, Acts 18, his defense before Herod Agrippa, Acts 26—all remind me of logical strategies by the Great Emancipator.
    Many of Lincoln’s arguments were simple but logically cogent.
For example:
“Judge Douglas declares that any community that wants slavery has the right to have it. He can say that logically if he admits there is no wrong in slavery. But if he admits there is wrong in slavery, nobody can say that he has the right to do wrong.”
    “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. That expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from that, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.”
    “When the white man governs himself that is self-government; but when he governs himself, and also governs another man, that is more than self-government—that is despotism.”
    Nehemiah was dedicated to the goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. In like manner Lincoln persevered during the War in order to save the Union. Nehemiah had much opposition from within and without in his efforts to rebuild the walls. Lincoln suffered with criticism and opposition. When the walls were rebuilt Nehemiah united the people in a celebration of thankfulness. Lincoln did not wait for the final victory to thank Almighty God. On Oct. 3, 1863 Lincoln issued a Proclamation of Thanksgiving.
    Lincoln believed in and practiced the kind of forgiveness advocated by the Apostle John and by Jesus. During the War Lincoln granted many pardons. We all know that beautiful conclusion to the Second Inaugural which begins, “With malice toward none, with charity for all...”
    On April 3, 1865 Richmond fell to Union forces. President Lincoln entered the city and stayed for two days at the former house of Confederate President Jefferson Davis while Union forces began the job of policing a conquered people. To General Godfrey Weitzel, the commanding Union officer, Lincoln advised: “If I were in your place, General, I’d let ‘em up easy; let ‘em up easy.”
    Any student of the Bible may identify many other biblical analogues to the character of Abraham Lincoln.

III. THE LINCOLN I KNOW ACKNOWLEDGED GOD, THE SAVIOUR, AND QUOTED FROM THE BIBLE.
    The History Channel interlocutors of Jan. 16, 2006 presented Lincoln as a believer in a kind of generic god detached from Jesus Christ, who was little more than a timid atheist. Much information was withheld concerning Lincoln’s identification with deity. Let us set the record straight. I quote what Lincoln said at Baltimore on Sept. 7, 1864 when a group of loyal black people presented a copy of Holy Writ to him. “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it. To you I return my most sincere thanks for the very elegant copy of the Great Book of God which you present.”
    At Springfield, Illinois on June 16, 1858 Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” That is a biblical analogy.
    In his farewell address at Springfield, Feb. 11, 1861, Lincoln said: “Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate, farewell.
    In his meditation on divine mind, Sept 2, 1862) Lincoln wrote: “The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God cannot be for, and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party—and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose. I am almost ready to say this is probably true—that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet. By his mere quiet power, on the minds of the now contestants. He could have either saved or destroyed the Union without a human contest. Yet the contest began. And having begun He could give the final victory to either side any day. Yet the contest proceeds.”

    On March 30, 1863 Lincoln proclaimed a National Fast Day. “And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

    On Oct. 3, 1863 Lincoln issued a Proclamation on Thanksgiving. “No human counsel hath devised nor bath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins bath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

    How do I know Lincoln. I know him because I was a teacher. I know him because I was a pastor. I know him because I have read what he said about God and the Bible.

    Lincoln said to Joshua Speed: “Die when I may I want it said of me, by those who know me best, that I plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

    My fellow ALP members, as you represent Lincoln throughout this broad land, you are plucking thistles and planting flowers. May God bless you in your work. And, remember, you cannot escape history.