Lincoln's Christianity by Michael Burkhimer

[Rob Wick]

I hired a researcher to go through William E. Barton's papers at the University of Chicago and among the 700 or so papers he sent me, I found a letter written by J.E. Burton to Barton on April 27, 1919 that I think perfectly encapsulates Lincoln's religion. At this time, Barton was in the process of researching and writing The Soul of Abraham Lincoln. Burton wrote:

"He was religious in his nature and as Grace Greenwood (Mrs. Appleton) once wrote me (as her private opinion) 'he no doubt had religion but did not know it.' I have always felt that she expressed it well."

I agree. In other words, Lincoln never found it necessary to wear his religion on his sleeve and considered it more of a private virtue than a public badge. If only we had more of that today.

Best
Rob