A new book about Lincoln's faith

[RJNorton]

Rob, I just edited your post, and I italicized the word italicize in your message to Mike Burkhimer. If you press the edit button for your post you can see the code I used to create the italics. If the "highlight" method is not working for you, then just use the actual code to create italics for words or phrases.

Regarding the link you posted that is working fine from my end.

[Rob Wick]

Thanks Roger. When I go to the hyperlink button and try to put in the URL for my old blog it just gives me [undefined=undefined]. If I put it in like this it works OK.

[RJNorton]

Rob, I do not know why the other method is not working. I just modified your post above, and I made the word "this" a link to your website. If you press the edit button for your post you can see the code for that.

I will see if I can figure out why the other method is not working. I spent nearly 5 hours antique shopping today with wife and daughter, and now my brain is even more of an antique itself. I may not have an answer soon...

[Rob Wick]

There's no hurry, Roger. Thanks!

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Rob, are you using Firefox as your browser? My first guess is that this may be a browser issue. I do not see the problem - I am using Internet Explorer. Possibly Firefox is not recognizing the commands and therefore returns an "undefined" message.

If you are not using Firefox (especially Firefox 16) just ignore this message. Mozilla has had a lot of problems with the release of Firefox 16.

[Linda Anderson]

You're right. Roger. Firefox does not recognize the commands anymore but Explorer does.

[Rob Wick]

Yep, that's what it is. I also noticed today I couldn't open any of my e-mail in Hotmail, but going to IE has allowed me to do so. I wonder if they didn't get the bug in 16 fixed, or if something else is wrong.

Thanks Roger,

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Anyone read this yet? Below is a book promo. The excerpt makes me wonder how historically accurate this may be
I'm undecided whether to get it or not

http://www.lincolnsbattlewithgod.com/

[Rob Wick]

I started to read it and quite honestly put it down. There are too many books out there that are much better.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

thanks that's what I wanted to know.

[Christine]

Last week a friend asked me if I had seen 'Lincoln.' When I told her how much I had enjoyed it and that I loved to read about Lincoln and had studied the assassination a bit, she told me that her brother had written a book about him: A Lincoln God's Humble Instrument by Ron L Anderson. Then she brought me a copy the next day! Anybody heard of it or read it?

[Gene C]

I checked this out of the Library, and I was disapointed. After watching the trailer on the authors web site I was expecting more drama portrayed to this part of Lincloln's life. I really didn't see any battle or even a stuggle with God, just an evolving of Lincoln's beliefs. I also didn't see much in the book that compared Lincoln's stuggles in life and faith to our stuggles. The trailer was misleading and so is the title.

He relies heavily (to much) on Herndon's writing for Lincoln's early years and attitude towards God.
Lots of footnotes and quotes for making his point, but found the book only somewhat interesting.

It did have some redeeming points. It made me take a deeper look at his second inaugural address - a good thing.
It is the shortest one ever given, and the second half has several thought provoking references to God. Read his 2nd inaugural . It will make you think.

If you are really interested in this aspect of Lincoln's life, you might find this book usefull. I'm content to return this book to the library.
I give it a C+.

[My Name Is Kate]

Were Lincoln's last words really about seeing the Holy Land? I thought his last words were something rather mundane, like, "They won't think anything of it", in response to Mary's question, "What will people think of two old people holding hands?" The other seems like a dramatization and isn't the way life usually happens.

[Gene C]

Mrs. Lincoln recalled that on their last carriage ride together, Mr. Lincoln talked about what they would do after his second term expired. He mentioned that, among other things, he would like to visit the Holy Land. The author of "Lincoln's Battle with God" also repeats the story that you mentioned; Mary, in her later years, would recall this as the last thing the President said to her. The author puts much validity to Mary's statement. Many historians do not, as Mary's mind was slipping some in her later years.

[RJNorton]

Most books say something like this:

"She whispered to him, "What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?" The president replied, "She won't think anything about it."

I believe the source for that is Dr. Anson G. Henry. Dr. Henry was a close friend of the Lincolns, and he attended Mary during the weeks she remained in the White House following the assassination. On April 19, 1865, Dr. Henry wrote his wife a letter which contained the last words of Abraham Lincoln as told to him by Mary. Because of the close proximity of the dates of the assassination and this letter, I think most historians feel Dr. Henry's account is the most reliable when it comes to those last words.

Here is part of the letter Dr. Henry wrote his wife on April 19:

"She set close to him and was leaning on his lap looking up in his face when the fatal shot was fired, his last words being in answer to her question "What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so" — "She won't think anything about it" — and said accompanied with one of his kind and affectionate smiles. Yes, that look & expression is stamped upon her soul too indelibly to ever be effaced by time, and its recollection will never fail to soothe and comfort her in her hours of darkest affliction. God in his mercy will sanctify this personal and National affliction for great good, and this is my greatest and almost only consolation under the terrible bereavement."