Magyar Egyház, 1982 (61. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1982-03-01 / 3-4. szám
16. oldal A Tribute To and Lessons From one of the Greatest of our Presidents— I ABRAHAM LINCOLN “Lives of great men remind us we can make our lives sublime!” Where is there a life in all history so honored and universally appreciated as is Lincoln? For sincerity of purpose; for transparency of character; for cleverness in statesmanship; for brilliancy in oratory; for magnanimity of soul; for reverence for God and truth; for unselfish devotion to the best interest of humanity; for high patriotism; for tenderness and sympathy; for great, fine, clean manhood Lincoln stands peerless before the world. I am quite sure I personally agree with Bishop Newman in his appraisal of Lincoln: “There is no name more deserving of imperishable fame than Abraham Lincoln. He is enbalmed in song, recorded in history, eulogized in panegyric, cast in bronze, sculptured in marble, painted on canvas, enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen, and lives in the memories of mankind. “Some men are brilliant in their times, but their names fade from the memory of the world. Some are not honored by their contemporaries, but in subsequent ages their memories are recalled with gratitude. But here is one who was more honored than any other man while living, more revered when dying, and destined to be loved to the last syllable of recorded time. “He has his three-fold greatness: Great in life, great in death, great in the history of the world. He was the staunchest patriot, the greatest statesman, the truest friend, the kindest father, the purest husband, and the noblest citizen. “In nothing are the sagacity and might of Lincoln’s statesmanship more apparent than in his determination to save the Union. He would have a Union—with or without slavery. He preferred it without, and his preference prevailed. Time has justified the wisdom of his statesmanship. When Lincoln was murdered the South lost its best friend.” I’d like to tell you of just one experience from the many of which I’ve read: One day Lincoln was riding in a stagecoach in company with a Kentucky Colonel. After they had ridden a number of miles together, the colonel took a bottle of whiskey out of his pocket and said, “Mr. Lincoln, won’t you have a drink with me?” Mr. Lincoln replied, “No, Colonel, thank you. I never drink whiskey.” They rode together for a number of miles more, visiting very pleasantly, when the gentleman from Kentucky reached into his pocket and brought out some cigars, saying, “Now, Mr. Lincoln, if you won’t take a drink with me, won’t you take a smoke with me? Here are some of Kentucky’s finest cigars.” Mr. Lincoln said, “Now, Colonel, you are such a fine, agreeable man to travel with, maybe I ought to take a smoke with you. But before I do let me tell.you a little story, an experience I had when I was a boy.” This is the story Abraham Lincoln told: “My mother called me to her bedside one day when I was about nine years of age. She was sick, very sick, and she said to me, ‘Abey, the doctor tells me I am not going to get well. I want you to promise me before I go that you will not use whiskey nor tobacco as long as you live. ’ And I promised my mother I never would. And up to this moment, Colonel, I have kept that promise. Now would you advise me to break that promise to my mother and take a smoke with you? “The colonel put his hand gently on my shoulder and with a voice trembling with emotion replied. ‘No, Mr. Lincoln, I wouldn’t have you do that for the world. It was one of the best promises you ever made, and I would give a thousand dollars today if I had made my mother a promise like that and kept it as you have.” tAc l/nitec/It /ten5ew //? tAy Ao/yjlteotection, • tAat tAou an/t /ncAnc t/e Aeartx o/tAc citizen# to ca/timrte (r .sjAirit o/-,sa/orc/ination erst// o/tecAence to government; am/ entertain a ArotAer/y ajfrctton am/ Aooe/Ar one anotAer am/Jor tAeirJc//out citizens o/tAe /Anice/ < Jtatc.s at ///ye.- (nc/fimr//y tAa/t tAoa a>i/t mo.styracioa-s/y Ac Jb/ea.sec/ to c/isJAo-se m a// to t/t jmtice, to /ooc mercy, ana to c/emcan oar.se/te-s toitA tAat Jbacific tem/ter of mine/ atAicA c/emon-strate-s cAarity, Awni/itiy, one/ to ere tAe cAaracteristie-s o/tAe QAioine . (atAor of oar //e.s.scc/ re/igion, one/ (oitAoat a Aam//e imitation of atAo.sc c.xamf/e in tAc.sc tAing.s toe can neoer Aojftc to Ac a /er/tity nation, //rant oar .sttff/cation, ate Ac.seeeA tAce, tAroagA ffc.sa-s ÓArist oar /Art/. _ (men. Washington’s prayer for the United States, 1789
