Title
Document Type
Opinion
Publication Date
Spring 2018
Department 1
Civil War Era Studies
Department 2
History
Abstract
On the day in April 1837 that Abraham Lincoln rode into Springfield, Illinois, to set himself up professionally as a lawyer, the American republic was awash in religion. Lincoln, however, was neither swimming nor even bobbing in its current. “This thing of living in Springfield is rather a dull business after all, at least it is so to me,” the uprooted state legislator and commercially bankrupt Lincoln wrote to Mary Owens on May 7th. “I am quite as lonesome here as [I] ever was anywhere in my life,” and in particular, “I’ve never been to church yet, nor probably shall not be soon.” Lincoln blamed this on his own shyness and lack of social grace:”“I stay away because I am conscious I should not know how to behave myself.” [excerpt]
Copyright Note
This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Version
Version of Record
Recommended Citation
Guelzo, Allen C. "God and Mr. Lincoln." Lincoln Lore 1917 (2018): 15-21.
Required Publisher's Statement
The original article can be found on the publisher's website: https://www.friendsofthelincolncollection.org/lincoln-lore/god-and-mr-lincoln/