In addition to the foregoing, I have my own Lincoln library, which, while a working collection rather than one of incunabula, and modest in size as compared with some that I have used, is still not small. The Bibliography at the end of the volume is virtually a catalogue of my own Lincoln books.
Claims of completeness are dangerous, and I make none. But I have been diligent in pursuit of all probable sources of knowledge of this subject, and I do not now know where to look for any other book of manuscript that would greatly alter or add to the material which this book contains. I am glad, therefore, at this stage, to share the fruits of my investigations with the reader.
W. E. B.
The First Church Study
Oak Park, Illinois
CONTENTS
| PART I: A STUDY OF RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I | The Conflict of Testimony | [19] |
| II | Why the Biographies Differ | [24] |
| III | The Environment of Lincoln's Boyhood | [29] |
| IV | The Environments of Lincoln's Young Manhood | [51] |
| V | The Environment of Lincoln's Life in Springfield | [71] |
| VI | The Environment of Lincoln's Life in Washington | [86] |
| PART II: AN ANALYSIS OF THE EVIDENCE | ||
| VII | The Rules of Evidence | [101] |
| VIII | The Bateman Incident | [114] |
| IX | The Lamon Biography | [128] |
| X | The Reed Lecture | [135] |
| XI | The Herndon Lectures, Letters, and Biography | [140] |
| XII | Lincoln's Burnt Book | [146] |
| XIII | "The Christian's Defence" | [156] |
| XIV | "Vestiges of Creation" | [166] |
| XV | Other Formative Books | [172] |
| XVI | Chittenden and Chiniquy | [188] |
| XVII | The Beecher and Sickles Incidents | [198] |
| XVIII | "Behind the Scenes" | [203] |
| XIX | From the Housetops and in the Closet | [210] |
| PART III: THE RELIGION OF LINCOLN | ||
| XX | What Lincoln Was Not | [225] |
| XXI | Why Did Lincoln Never Join a Church? | [244] |
| XXII | The Constructive Argument | [260] |
| XXIII | The Creed of Abraham Lincoln | [291] |
| APPENDICES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY | ||
| I | Extract from Newton Bateman's Lecture on Lincoln with Variants of the Springfield Farewell Address | [303] |
| II | "High-Handed Outrage at Utica" By Artemus Ward | [307] |
| III | "The Conversion of Abraham Lincoln" By the Rev. Edward L. Watson | [309] |
| IV | The Reed Lecture | [314] |
| V | Two Herndon Letters Concerning Lincoln's Religion | [336] |
| VI | The Irwin Article, with Letters | [341] |
| VII | "The Christian's Defence" With full chapter analysis | [358] |
| VIII | Lincoln and the Churches By Nicolay and Hay | [377] |
| IX | "Bound together in Christianity and Patriotism" Hitherto unpublished address of Lincoln | [385] |
| Bibliography | [387] | |
| Index | [401] | |