The Lincoln Bible

[Lincoln Wonk]

I'm sure everyone else did, but I never knew/realized that the Lincoln Bible was just borrowed for his inauguration. Interesting line in this story about the Bible only being used three times -- Lincoln, Obama and Trump.
https://qz.com/887109/donald-trumps-inau...years-ago/
(Of course, Osborne Oldroyd's collection includes the original Lincoln family Bible with little Abraham Lincoln's signature written in.)

[RJNorton]

Thanks for posting this, Kathy. I think there may have been some confusion on this because the Lincoln family Bible is also at the LOC.

[Lincoln Wonk]

(01-18-2017 10:39 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks for posting this, Kathy. I think there may have been some confusion on this because the Lincoln family Bible is also at the LOC.

Roger, That's interesting. I've never seen it. Is it the one from the Oldroyd collection or the one they mention in the story? Kathy

[RJNorton]

I think it's neither one. I think the one from the Oldroyd collection was the Thomas Lincoln Bible; this is the one in which Abraham Lincoln entered the family record c.1851. This Bible is now at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana.

[STS Lincolnite]

(01-18-2017 10:18 AM)Lincoln Wonk Wrote:  I'm sure everyone else did, but I never knew/realized that the Lincoln Bible was just borrowed for his inauguration. Interesting line in this story about the Bible only being used three times -- Lincoln, Obama and Trump.
https://qz.com/887109/donald-trumps-inau...years-ago/
(Of course, Osborne Oldroyd's collection includes the original Lincoln family Bible with little Abraham Lincoln's signature written in.)

The bible just came up in the "Symbolic Inauguration Moments" thread, here is what I just posted there as it is relevant here:

"From what I remember reading, Mr. Carroll purchased the bible for Lincoln to use at the inauguration because Lincoln's belongings (including their family bible) had not yet arrived from Springfield. I don't have a reference for where I read that much less if it is true. I also remember that Mr. Carroll kept the bible (makes sense if he purchased it) but that it somehow came into Lincoln's possession at a later time. "

It looks like the article you linked to explained how the bible came into the Lincoln family hands.

There does seem to be some confusion about the Lincoln Bible or should I say Lincoln Bibles. There are several bibles that are all referred to as "The Lincoln Bible". The bible of Thomas Lincoln, The bible of Abraham Lincoln and his immediate family, and the bible he used for the 1st inauguration are one that come to mind immediately. I think two are at the Library of Congress and the other is at the Lincoln Birthplace site in KY but I am not for sure about any of those. Something I need to look up!

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Scott. There is another Bible I can think of, but I do not know if it still exists today. Joshua Speed's mother, Lucy, gave Lincoln an Oxford Bible in 1841. But I do not know where it is nowadays. Does anyone know?

[STS Lincolnite]

(01-18-2017 11:19 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, Scott. There is another Bible I can think of, but I do not know if it still exists today. Joshua Speed's mother, Lucy, gave Lincoln an Oxford Bible in 1841. But I do not know where it is nowadays. Does anyone know?

Roger, this is a great question. I was not familiar with that bible. I hope someone is able to shed some more light on it.

Another question just sprung to mind. What bible did Lincoln use to be sworn in at his second inaugural? Was it one of the 4 now mentioned or was it another altogether. Perhaps the answer is in Ron White's book on the second inaugural address, but I don't have access to that right now. I will look when I get home and get a chance.

[Lincoln Wonk]

(01-18-2017 11:38 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  

(01-18-2017 11:19 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, Scott. There is another Bible I can think of, but I do not know if it still exists today. Joshua Speed's mother, Lucy, gave Lincoln an Oxford Bible in 1841. But I do not know where it is nowadays. Does anyone know?

Roger, this is a great question. I was not familiar with that bible. I hope someone is able to shed some more light on it.

Another question just sprung to mind. What bible did Lincoln use to be sworn in at his second inaugural? Was it one of the 4 now mentioned or was it another altogether. Perhaps the answer is in Ron White's book on the second inaugural address, but I don't have access to that right now. I will look when I get home and get a chance.

On a different Bible note, Noah Brooks wrote that Lincoln was a tad uneasy about the famous photo of him reading with Tad because the photographer gave them a photo album as a prop, to make them look as if they were reading together, and the large size of the album led people to think they were reading the Bible. President Lincoln didn't want to come across as falsely pious, Brooks wrote.

[Eva Elisabeth]

There is (was?) also the "Baltimore Bible":
http://www.nytimes.com/1864/09/11/news/p...ident.html

Some more general info on the topic:
http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/...the-bible/

[RJNorton]

(01-18-2017 11:38 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Another question just sprung to mind. What bible did Lincoln use to be sworn in at his second inaugural? Was it one of the 4 now mentioned or was it another altogether. Perhaps the answer is in Ron White's book on the second inaugural address, but I don't have access to that right now. I will look when I get home and get a chance.

Good question, Scott. I am not sure based on Ron White's book. But since the clerk of the Supreme Court was Mr. Carroll, maybe it was the same one used at the First Inaugural (?)

Here is what it says in White's book:

Chase gestured to the clerk of the Supreme Court, who handed him a Bible. George Washington, who brought his own Bible to his first inauguration, had initiated this part of the ceremony. Lincoln placed his right hand on the page of the Bible open to Isaiah 5. Chase asked Lincoln to swear upon the Bible. Lincoln repeated the presidential oath after the chief justice.

Lincoln ended with an emphatic "So help me God." He bent down and kissed the Bible. The dignity and solemnity of the scene were in stark contrast to Vice-President Johnson's earlier unseemly demeanor. The inauguration was completed at seventeen minutes past twelve 0'clock.
Chief Justice Chase presented the Bible to Mrs. Lincoln. He pointed to the pencil-marked verses from Isaiah kissed by the president.

None shall be weary nor stumble among them;
none shall slumber nor sleep;
Neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed,
nor the latchet of their shoes be broken.
Whose arrows are sharp,
And all their bows bent,
their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint,
and their wheels like a whirlwind.
[Isaiah 5:27-28, KJV]

[STS Lincolnite]

(01-18-2017 05:03 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  There is (was?) also the "Baltimore Bible":
http://www.nytimes.com/1864/09/11/news/p...ident.html

Some more general info on the topic:
http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/...the-bible/

Eva,

Thanks for reminding me of the "Baltimore Bible" which is also a Lincoln Bible. Can't believe I forgot about that one. I was just reading last week about the fact that when Sojourner Truth visited with Lincoln in October of 1864 he showed her the Bible. Even though she was illiterate she was quite moved as she understood what the gift of the bible represented. I have attached a photo of a painting of Lincoln showing the bible to Sojourner Truth.

This bible currently resides at Fisk University. It was donated to them in 1916 by Robert Lincoln.

---

(01-18-2017 06:14 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(01-18-2017 11:38 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  Another question just sprung to mind. What bible did Lincoln use to be sworn in at his second inaugural? Was it one of the 4 now mentioned or was it another altogether. Perhaps the answer is in Ron White's book on the second inaugural address, but I don't have access to that right now. I will look when I get home and get a chance.

Good question, Scott. I am not sure based on Ron White's book. But since the clerk of the Supreme Court was Mr. Carroll, maybe it was the same one used at the First Inaugural (?)

Here is what it says in White's book:

Chase gestured to the clerk of the Supreme Court, who handed him a Bible. George Washington, who brought his own Bible to his first inauguration, had initiated this part of the ceremony. Lincoln placed his right hand on the page of the Bible open to Isaiah 5. Chase asked Lincoln to swear upon the Bible. Lincoln repeated the presidential oath after the chief justice.

Lincoln ended with an emphatic "So help me God." He bent down and kissed the Bible. The dignity and solemnity of the scene were in stark contrast to Vice-President Johnson's earlier unseemly demeanor. The inauguration was completed at seventeen minutes past twelve 0'clock.
Chief Justice Chase presented the Bible to Mrs. Lincoln. He pointed to the pencil-marked verses from Isaiah kissed by the president.

None shall be weary nor stumble among them;
none shall slumber nor sleep;
Neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed,
nor the latchet of their shoes be broken.
Whose arrows are sharp,
And all their bows bent,
their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint,
and their wheels like a whirlwind.
[Isaiah 5:27-28, KJV]

Roger,

Thanks for looking that up. You're right, it is not really clear what bible was used. Since Chase handed the bible to Mary Lincoln, it makes me wonder if it was the Lincoln family bible that was used in this case. I'll have to investigate this further and see what I can dig up.