Tuesday, May 26, 2015

June 1, 1865---The National Day of Mourning for President Lincoln

JUNE 1, 1865:             

The belated “National Day of Mourning” is held for President Lincoln. Flags (which had been raised to full staff for the Grand Review of The Armies) were dipped again. And though it may seem incredible to 21st Century Americans who suffer from a kind of cultural Attention Deficit Disorder, the National Day of Mourning was marked by many church and memorial services  and weeping throughout the nation even six weeks after Lincoln’s death. To an extent, this June memorial day was of particular import in the south where Unionists and other southerners touched by Lincoln’s death had an officially-sanctioned opportunity to publicly mourn the fallen President. 

 
Rabbi Sabato Morais of Congregation Mikve-Israel in Philadelphia gave a published sermon, which began:

If the essence of religion is what the great Hillel taught us, then I unhesitatingly say that the breast of our lamented President was ever kindled with that divine spark. "To forbear doing unto others what would displease us" . . . is the maxim he illustrated in the immortal document of emancipation that bears his honorable signature. It is that which he exemplified by his numerous acts of clemency . . .

And ended

We must bear his name with a blessing upon our lips.



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