Concerning a statement made by Frederick D. Power, long-time minister of our Vermont Avenue Christian Church, Washington, D. C., to the effect that Judge Black, Attorney-general under Buchanan, and one of Lincoln's closest friends, once stated to Power that Lincoln had made all the arrangements for his own immersion but was later deterred by the opposition of his wife, we have the following word from G. M. Weimer, 549 E. 87 Place, Chicago, Illinois:

"I met Brother John O'Kane, who was state evangelist in Illinois. It was at a convention We were together about all the time. The Lincoln matter as to whether he (Lincoln) had ever been baptized came up. Brother O'Kane told me one day, 'Yes, Brother Weimer, I know all about the affair. On the night before Lincoln was to be baptized his wife cried all night. So the matter was deferred, as she thought. But soon after Lincoln and I took extra clothing and took a buggy ride. I baptized him in a creek near Springfield, Illinois. We changed to dry clothing and returned to the city. And by his request I placed his name on the church book. He lived and died a member of the church of Christ'."

There has been a prevailing tradition to the effect that George Washington was immersed by a Baptist progenitor of the famous Gano family of Kentucky. However it does not appear to be possible to raise the story from the realm of tradition to that of authentic history. F. D. Power very definitely asserted, both in his Milligan lecture and in personal conversation with us after the address, that the Black incident was absolutely authentic, and that he (Power) had heard Judge Black make the statement more than once. Nothing, however, was said about the alleged baptism by John O'Kane. O'Kane was very prominent in Indiana and Illinois and undoubtedly knew the Lincoln family. Lincoln's opposition to creeds and ecclesiasticisms combined with his deep personal faith in the Bible will always give color to stories of this kind. There is much to be said in favor of his adherence to the principles of the Disciples of Christ, whether he went any further or not.