Over the years I have found a number of interesting articles and facts about Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth President, and will share some of these with you on this page from time to time.

President Lincoln's outlook on religion has been questioned and explained by many noted Lincoln biographers. I feel his own views on the subject should take precedent over all others.

THE CREED OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - IN HIS OWN WORDS

I believe in God, the Almighty Ruler of Nations, our great and good and merciful Maker, our Father in Heaven, who notes the fall of a sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads.

I believe in His eternal truth and justice.

I recognize the subline truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history that those nations only are blest whose God is the Lord.

I believe that it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.

I believe that it is meet and right to recognize and confess the presence of the Almighty Father equally in our triumphs and in those sorrows which we may justly fear are a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our reformation.

I believe that the Bible is the best gift which God has ever given to men. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book.

I believe the will of God prevails. Without Him all human reliance is vain. Without the assistance of that Divine Being I can not succeed. With that assistance I can not fail.

Being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, I desire that all my works and acts may be according to His will; and that it may be so, I give thanks to the Almighty, and seek his aid.

I have a solemn oath registered in Heaven to finish the work I am in, in full view of my responsibility to my God, with malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right as God gives me to see the right. Commending those who love me to His care, as I hope in their prayers they will commend me. I look through the help of God to a joyous meeting with many loved ones gone before.

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Someone, on the Genealogy Rootsweb, asked about any information that indicates Abraham Lincoln might have arranged for a 'substitute' soldier replacement during the Civil War. Many of the Lincoln and Civil War buffs who responded, including this writer, indicated they knew nothing of such an arrangement by President Lincoln. However, in reading a re-issue of Horace Porter's book "Campaigning With Grant" who was an aide-de-camp to Grant during his Commander-In-Chief status the final years of the war, I found that Porter makes the following comment on page 388 of that book: "The fact is generally not known that Mr. Lincoln already had a personal representative in the army. He had procured a man to enlist early in the war, whom he always referred to as his 'substitute.' This soldier served in the field to the end with a good record, and the President watched his course with great interest, and took no little pride in him."

And noted Lincoln researcher, Roger Norton, passed this information along, "Abraham Lincoln directed a man named Noble D. Larner to secure a substitute. Larner obtained the services of a man named John Summerfield Staples to be President Lincoln's substitute. Both Staples and Staples' father were invited to the White House to meet the President. Lincoln shook hands with Staples, who was only 19 years old, and wished him well hoping that he would be one of the fortunate ones. Lincoln then gave him $ 60.00.

Staples was enrolled as a Private in Company H, 2nd District of Columbia regiment. Staples' father was the chaplain of that regiment. Staples become known for his steady and faithful service for the Union."

To learn more about President Lincoln, visit Roger Norton's Award-winning webpage "Abraham Lincoln Research Page."

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