Lincoln and religion

[Rob Wick]

As it happens, I am in the "H's" in Tarbell's papers, and one of her correspondents was John Hill, who was Samuel Hill's son. On February 17, 1896 he wrote to Tarbell the following:

There was one feature of Mr. Lincoln that I wish to mention--Mr. Herndon was an infidel. I have often talked with him on this subject. He was Mr. Lincoln's partner. His publication as to Mr. Lincoln's religious belief has a great deal of truth in it, but had better never have been said. The Edinburgh Review made a fearful onslaught on Mr. Herndon's life and the appearance of statement as to Mr. Lincoln's belief. It is a fact that my father burned up the manuscript of a book which Mr. Lincoln wanted to publish, after having tried to dissuade him. When you get to the matter of Mr. Lincoln's religious belief, if you wish to stand by the facts, I think you will obscure all previous to the death of his son "Tad" while he was President. [Obviously, this should have been Willie. RW]. From that time to his death, I have no doubt but that he was a Christian. As he took no part in religious matters in Ill., I think Mr. Herndon made a great error in the publication. When he was searching for facts, he wished to get statements from my mother who was a Presbyterian all her life, and who had often talked religion with Mr. Lincoln at the table of her home and I advised her under no circumstances to make any statement as to his belief and she would not and I think the world's better off than if this matter had been sustained. It could only do harm and no possible good. He died a Christian beyond doubt and that was his final record whatever may have been the earlier.

Hill later asked Tarbell not to mention anything he said about Lincoln's religion.

Best
Rob